Synopsis
The Pixar Story takes audiences behind the scenes of the groundbreaking company that pioneered a new generation of animation and forever changed the face of filmmaking. Using never-before-seen footage from the Pixar library, along with historic archival animation and first hand accounts by animators, studio executives, directors, producers and voice performers, Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks tells the riveting story of the Bay Area start-up that revolutionized Hollywood.
In the mid 1980s, an inspired and inspiring trio of innovators combined their gifts in art, science and business to launch a new way to make 3-D animated films and changed the face of filmmaking forever. Ed Catmull, John Lasseter and Steve Jobs overcame years of creative struggle and financial loss to launch an entirely new animation industry. Starting with the first full length CG film Toy Story, Pixar has entertained millions of people worldwide, and established an unprecedented and as yet unparalleled record of box-office success. Iwerks takes viewers on a dramatic journey filled with personal sacrifice and fueled by passionate belief in the possibilities of a new medium as Pixar Animation Studios is born.
The Pixar Story features exclusive interviews with some of the key players in the Pixar story including John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, George Lucas, Michael Eisner, Bob Iger, Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Tim Allen, Brad Bird and more.
The first in-depth look at the most influential animation studio of its time, The Pixar Story goes behind the scenes of the groundbreaking company that pioneered a new generation of animated feature films. Iwerks uses never-before-seen footage from the Pixar library, along with historic archival animation and first hand accounts by animators, studio executives, directors, producers and voice performers to chronicle the remarkable company that revolutionized an industry. The Pixar Story includes exclusive interviews with some of the key players in the Pixar story including John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, Steve Jobs, George Lucas, Michael Eisner, Bob Iger, Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Tim Allen, Brad Bird and more.
In 1984, animator John Lasseter left his job at Disney to join a quiet revolution in filmmaking taking place in Northern California. A small group of imaginative artists and computer scientists had joined forces to explore the possibilities of computer generated animation in a project that would transform the art form. Working with two other talented visionaries, engineer Ed Catmull and entrepreneur Steve Jobs, Lasseter imagined a world in which a computer becomes “a multimillion dollar pencil.” From early explorations such as Luxo Jr. to Pixar’s triumphant feature debut, Toy Story, they and their colleagues transformed animation like no one since Walt Disney himself. With unparalleled access to the people who shaped its history, The Pixar Story traces the company’s initial struggles, early failures and ultimate successes as it reaches the upper echelons of the entertainment business.
A joyful celebration of the art form in all its variety, the film also takes audiences back to animation’s earliest successes, with rare archival footage from classic features and short films.
Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks has documented the ongoing events at Pixar on and off since 2001. “In a relatively short period of time, Pixar went from a bootstrap enterprise run by some pretty daring risk takers to a multi-billion dollar corporation that sets the standard for an entire industry,” says Iwerks. “The film is in large part a tribute to their tenacity and creativity, their unwillingness to give in when it seemed impossible to win, and to continue their creative journey no matter how difficult it became.”
Producer, director and writer Leslie Iwerks is a third generation filmmaker from a two-time Oscar® winning family. Her recent documentary short film, Recycled Life, chronicled the thousands of people living and working in the largest and most toxic landfill in Central America over the last sixty years: the Guatemala City garbage dump. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2006 and has won nine top film festival awards.
Iwerks’ award-winning theatrical documentary The Hand Behind the Mouse-The Ub Iwerks Story chronicles the life of her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, Academy Award winning motion picture pioneer, and the original designer and co-creator of Mickey Mouse. In addition, she is co-author of a book of the same title, published by Disney Editions in 2001. The Hand Behind the Mouse was honored with the 2002 E.G. Lutz Award for top animation book of the year.
Iwerks also directed, wrote and executive produced “Pixar’s 20th Anniversary Special for The Wonderful World of Disney,” hosted by John Ratzenberger, which aired on ABC on June 3, 2006.
A companion book to The Pixar Story titled To Infinity and Beyond—The Story of Pixar Animation Studios, by Karen Paik, is based on interviews and research by Iwerks, and is scheduled for release by Chronicle Books in Fall 2007.
The Pixar Story is written, directed by and produced by Leslie Iwerks. It was edited by Iwerks and Stephen Meyers, A.C.E. The director of photographer is Suki Mendencevic. Original Score is by Jeff Beal. The Post Production and Visual Effects Supervisor is John Locke. The film is narrated by Stacy Keach.
SCREENING SCHEDULE:
October 23-25, 2007
Chicago –
Landmark Century Centre Cinema
2828 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 509-4949
Times: 10/23 (12:00p/2:00p), 10/24 (12:00p/2:00p), 10/25 (12:00p/7:00p)
Dallas –
Landmark The Magnolia
West Village
3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 764-9106 Times: 10/23 (12:00p/2:00p), 10/24 (12:00p/9:00p), 10/25 (12:00p/5:00p)
Detroit –
Landmark Maple Art Theatre
4135 West Maple Road at Telegraph
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
(248) 263-2111
Times: 10/23 (12:00p/2:00p), 10/24 (12:00p/2:00p), 10/25 (12:00p/5:00p)
October 30 – November 1, 2007
Washington DC –
Landmark E Street Cinema
555 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 452-7672
Times: 10/30 (12:00p/2:00p), 10/31 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/1 (12:00p/5:00p)
New Orleans –
Landmark Canal Place Cinema
333 Canal Street in the Canal Place Center
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 363-1117
Times: 10/30 (12:00p/7:00p), 10/31 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/1 (12:00p/2:00p)
Denver –
Landmark Chez Artiste
2800 South Colorado Boulevard at Amherst
Denver, CO
(303) 352-1992
Times: 10/30 (12:00p/2:00p), 10/31 (12:00p/9:00p), 11/1 (12:00p/5:00p)
Seattle –
Landmark Metro Cinemas
4500 9th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 781-5755
Times: 10/30 (12:00p/5:00p), 10/31 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/1 (12:00p/7:00p)
November 6-8, 2007
San Diego –
Landmark La Jolla Village Cinemas
8879 Villa La Jolla Drive
La Jolla, CA 92037
(619) 819-0236
Times: 11/6 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/7 (12:00p/5:00p), 11/8 (12:00p/2:00p)
Boston –
Landmark Kendall Square Cinema
One Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 499-1996
Times: 11/6 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/7 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/8 (12:00p/5:00p)
Atlanta –
Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
931 Monroe Drive
Atlanta, GA 30308
(678) 495-1424
Times: 11/6 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/7 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/8 (12:00p/2:00p)
Milwaukee –
Landmark Downer Theatre
2589 North Downer Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 276-8711
Times: 11/6 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/7 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/8 (12:00p/2:00p)
Indianapolis –
Landmark Keystone Art Cinema
8702 Keystone Crossing, Suite 201A
Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 579-3009
Times: 11/6 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/7 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/8 (12:00p/5:00p)
Minneapolis –
Landmark Lagoon Cinema
1320 Lagoon Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 825-6006
Times: 11/6 (12:00p/7:00p), 11/7 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/8 (12:00p/2:00p)
November 13-15
San Francisco –
Landmark Lumiere Theatre
1572 California Street at Polk
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 267-4893
Times: 11/6 (12:00p/7:00p), 11/7 (12:00p/2:00p), 11/8 (12:00p/2:00p)
