Strange Creatures tour Europe!

 SEAT, Short Film Programs, Strange Creatures  Comments Off on Strange Creatures tour Europe!
Jan 032015
 
Still from Drew Christie's Song of the Spindle

Still from Drew Christie’s Song of the Spindle

It’s been more than a year since the premiere of Strange Creatures: Contemporary Independent Animation from Seattle in August 2013.

Since that fateful day the program, comprised of 10 animated shorts from Drew Christie, Stefan Gruber, Britta Johnson, Clyde Petersen, Webster Crowell, Tess Martin and Bruce Bickford, has screened in Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Amsterdam (twice!), Brussels, Oldenburg and Ljubljana. Programmer Tess Martin has been able to present the program at every screening so far, and in some cases she has curated a short Act 2 of local films to complement the film. This has ensured that lots of local animators and fans have attended the screenings and been introduced to the Seattle scene. Here is a full list of the screenings so far:

EUROPE:
Ljubljana, Slovenia: ANIMATEKA International Animated Film Festival, Dec 8-14, 2014
Oldenburg, Germany: zwergWERKchen, Nov 30, 2014
Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Fay’s Film Festival, Free Fringe Festival, Sept 7, 2014
Brussels, Belgium: Cinema Nova, April 18th, 2014
Amsterdam, the Netherlands: OT301, presented by the A/V Club, April 13th, 2014
Prague, Czech Republic: Kavarna Liberal, March 11, 2014
Budapest, Hunagary: Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, March 5, 2014
Vienna, Austria: Under the Radar Animation Symposium, TopKino, March 1, 2014

NORTH AMERICA:
Seattle, USA: NW Film Forum, August 3, 2013

Below is a selection of documentation of the European screenings. To keep up to date with Strange Creatures news, check here or with the portion of Tess’ website devoted to it. Email Tess at tess[@]tessmartinart.com to bring this program to your venue!

In this interview for the Animateka festival Tess Martin talks about the differences in animation scenes between the US and the Netherlands, SEAT, the Strange Creatures program, and specifically Bruce Bickford!

Animateka International Animated Film Festival, Photo courtesy of Animateka

Animateka International Animated Film Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia, December 2014, Photo courtesy of Animateka

Tess Martin answering questions about Strange Creatures from Animateka festival director Igor Prassel. Photo by Andrej Firm

Tess Martin answering questions about Strange Creatures from Animateka festival director Igor Prassel, December 11, 2014. Photo by Andrej Firm

Strange Creatures film details in the Animateka program

Strange Creatures film details in the Animateka program, Ljubljana, Slovenia, December 2014.

Strange Creatures programs and zwergWERKchen program at the CineK cinema in Oldenburg, Germany, Nov 30, 2014

Strange Creatures programs and zwergWERKchen program at the CineK cinema in Oldenburg, Germany, Nov 30, 2014

Poster for Amsterdam screening, sponsored by A/V Club, April 13, 2014  (Poster by Helena Sanders)

Poster for Amsterdam screening, sponsored by A/V Club, April 13, 2014 (Poster by Helena Sanders)

OT301, venue for the Strange Creatures screening in Amsterdam, hosted by the A/V Club, April 2014

OT301, venue for the Strange Creatures screening in Amsterdam, hosted by the A/V Club, April 2014

Cinema Nova, Brussels, Belgium, host of a Strange Creatures screening in April 2014

Cinema Nova, Brussels, Belgium, host of a Strange Creatures screening in April 2014

Strange Creatures information in the Cinema Nova program, Brussels, Belgium, April 2014.

Strange Creatures information in the Cinema Nova program, Brussels, Belgium, April 2014.

A map of locations on Tess Martin's March 2014 tour - she presented Strange Creatures in Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

A map of locations on Tess Martin’s March 2014 tour – she presented Strange Creatures in Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

Strange Creatures rated Best of 2013!

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Dec 242013
 

The Strange Creatures program, which features 10 animated short films from members of the Seattle Experimental Animation Team, was listed on the Seattle Weekly’s Best of 2013:

“Loosely concerning the interaction between humans and animals, Strange Creatures offered a charming collection of local independent animation from S.E.A.T. (the Seattle Experimental Animation Team) at Northwest Film Forum in August. Watching hilarious shorts about beer-guzzling and weed-smoking (drawn frame by frame by Clyde Petersen), Tess Martin’s marker-on-glass animation about cats, and Drew Christie’s tradigitally animated philosophical dialogues between humans and whales made me swell with pride about the state of Seattle animation.”

Thanks Kelton Sears! What a nice holiday gift!

Strange Creatures – thank you!

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Aug 042013
 

Thank you to everyone who came to yesterday’s screening of Strange Creatures: Contemporary Independent Animation from Seattle. There were a lot of people, laughter and warm fuzzy feelings. Thank you for supporting your local indie animation community! If you have an idea of where the program could screen next, get in touch! Email tess [@] tessmartinart.com.

Britta Johnson and Tess Martin answering questions. Photo by Michael Wallenfels

Britta Johnson and Tess Martin answering questions. Photo by Michael Wallenfels

Seattle Weekly also thinks you should go to today’s screening!

 Short Film Programs, Strange Creatures, Upcoming  Comments Off on Seattle Weekly also thinks you should go to today’s screening!
Aug 032013
 
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Seattle Weekly preview article

Kelton Sears from the Seattle Weekly wrote up a nice piece about the Strange Creatures screening today (4PM, NWFF), where he talks a little about the history of SEAT as a group and Seattle’s animation scene compared to other cities’:

“SEAT is one of the main reasons those animators have found such a cohesive community in Seattle. In 2002, animator Stefan Gruber, who teaches animation at The Nova Project, assembled animators in the city to create SEAT, which started out as a sort of workshop that would meet in cafes. For animators who spend most their time locked away making characters bop around frame by frame, SEAT was a chance to meet up and talk shop.”

Thanks Kelton!
And we hope to see you this afternoon at 4PM at the NW Film Forum!

 

Webster Crowell talks Strange Creatures on New Day NW

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Jul 312013
 

Animator Webster Crowell was a guest this morning on New Day NW, where he talked about his webseries Rocketmen, and the Strange Creatures screening he’s a part of on Saturday, Aug 3rd, 4PM. Watch it here:

And buy your tickets for the Strange Creatures screening here.

Strange Creatures: 4Culture and Beacon Hill Blogs

 Short Film Programs, Strange Creatures, Upcoming  Comments Off on Strange Creatures: 4Culture and Beacon Hill Blogs
Jul 292013
 

Tess Martin was invited to write a guest blog post for Blog 4Culture, about the Strange Creatures program she curated that is screening on August 3rd. Most of the artists in the program have been fortunate to receive 4Culture support over the years, for which they are all grateful! Read it here to learn more about why these 10 shorts are so special.

Also the excellent Beacon Hill Blog wrote up a nice preview of the program, pointing out that yes, the best-known artist in the show is undoubtedly Bruce Bickford, who is well known for the claymations he made with Frank Zappa, and who has a documentary made about him. We are so happy to be showing a beautiful five minute excerpt from one of his ongoing pencil animations, with a custom made soundtrack.

Have you bought your tickets yet?

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Blog 4Culture post

7_29_2013_BHB_cropped

Beacon Hill Blog post

 

Strange Creatures – more zine illustrations and stills

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Jul 282013
 

Here are two more protraits you’ll find in the custom zine program when you attend the Strange Creatures screening on August 3rd, made by the talented Kelly Froh. These are of animator Stefan Gruber and Bruce Bickford.

Bruce Bickford by Kelly Froh

Stefan Gurber by Kelly Froh

Stefan Gurber by Kelly Froh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, here are some stills from the films, showing all the strange creatures you’ll see!

stlls_composite

 

Capitol Hill Times covers Strange Creatures

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Jul 112013
 

So happy that Tyler Mangrum from the Capitol Hill Times decided to cover the animation scene here in Seattle. In this article for which I was interviewed earlier in the week, he covers SEAT, the status of indie animation compared to other kinds, as well as the Strange Creatures screening on August 3rd:

“These films will break your heart and make you laugh at the same time,” Martin said. “This is why I love doing these collections; the films are just awesome. Once I get people in the theater, there’s nothing else I have to do. The films will win them over. It’s just a matter of letting people know that it’s happening, that this scene exists here, that they should be proud of it, and that it’s inspiring as a medium.”

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Strange Creatures zine illustrations

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Jul 102013
 

The August 3rd screening of the new SEAT program Strange Creatures is getting closer, and comic artists Kelly Froh and Marc Palm are sending in their designs for the custom zine program. First up is Marc’s awesome title page:

Strange Creatures zine cover by Marc Palm

Strange Creatures zine cover by Marc Palm

Next are three of the seven animator portraits. Here we have Tess Martin, Clyde Petersen and Drew Christie:

Portrait of Tess Martin by Kelly Froh

Portrait of Tess Martin by Kelly Froh

Portrait of Clyde Peterson by Kelly Froh

Portrait of Clyde Peterson by Kelly Froh

Portrait of Drew Christie by Kelly Froh

Portrait of Drew Christie by Kelly Froh

Check the SEAT Facebook page for regular updates about the zine program and other aspects of the evening!

Strange Creatures: Contemporary Independent Animation from Seattle

 Strange Creatures, Upcoming  Comments Off on Strange Creatures: Contemporary Independent Animation from Seattle
Jul 032013
 

Strange_Creatures_Seattle_Flier

I’m happy to announce that on Saturday, August 3rd, you’ll have a chance to see the second program of animated shorts I’ve curated. These are also all by members of the Seattle Experimental Animation Team, and this time around they all have animal/nature themes.  Ten films by seven artists (including Bruce Bickford!) plus a custom zine program by Kelly Froh and Marc Palm. It’s going to be an awesome show and you don’t want to miss it. Buy your tickets on the NW Film Forum website.

Strange Creatures
Contemporary independent animation from Seattle

The Pacific Northwest has more than its share of curious creatures. This series of animated films, curated by Tess Martin, showcases the relationship between humans and the natural world in the wet and wild city of Seattle. Whales, owls, bumblebees, frogs, cats, dogs and the hairy forest-dwelling giant known as Bigfoot inhabit these flights of fancy created by award-winning members of the Seattle Experimental Animation Team, themselves a rare breed: truly independent creators who push the boundaries of animation.

1. Rocketmen trailer, Webster Crowell, 0:53 (2013)
The Rocketmen are the last surviving remnant of a WPA jobs program; their hardware, uniforms and budget haven’t changed since the great depression; generations of men employed atop rooftops and radio towers, waiting to save us from the threats of tomorrow. An adventure serial about what to do until the robots arrive, seven thrilling episodes written and directed by Animator Webster Crowell. Coming in 2013!
www.panicbuttonpictures.com

2. The Whale Story, Tess Martin, 3:46 (2012)
A fisherman experiences a moment of connection with a female humpback whale in the waters off of San Francisco. Is this an example of inter-species communication or a mysterious fluke? This true story is retold in paint on a 16 foot high wall with the help of the passing public in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park.
www.tessmartinart.com

3. Song of the Spindle, Drew Christie, 4:03 (2011)
A man and whale argue about who is smarter and finally come to something of an understanding.
Animated in Flash and drawn by hand with tablet.
www.drewchristie.com

4. Crashing Waves, Britta Johnson, 6:53 (2010)
In this film, featuring a combination of stop-motion animation and time lapse photography, two shipwreck victims spend their days on a deserted shore, making the sun rise, the tides move in and out, etc. Are they gods, or have they been driven mad by their predicament?
www.thekmpi.net

5. Hi! I’m a Nutria, Drew Christie, 3:45 (2012)
In this animated Op-Doc for the New York Times, an invasive rodent asks how long it takes to become a native. Animated and colored in Photoshop with scanned ink drawings.
www.drewchristie.com

6. Harsh Tokes and Bong Jokes, Clyde Petersen, 3:46 (2013)
Hand drawn for his band Your Heart Breaks, Harsh Tokes and Bong Jokes is a drug-fueled teenage ride through the grunge rock streets of Seattle, Washington in the 1990’s.  Climb into a car with a bunch of queer teenagers as they take bong hits, rock out to mix tapes and play guitar on the beach.
www.doitforthegirls.com

7. Excerpt from Dream of a Beatnick Poet, Bruce Bickford, 5:24 (2000-present)
Bruce Bickford, known for his claymation videos for Frank Zappa from the 1970s, continues to animate every day. Working primarily now in fine-pencilled drawn animation, this is a five minute excerpt from one of his work-in-progress films, Dream of a Beatnick Poet.
www.brucebickford.com

8. Edible Rocks, Stefan Gruber, 2:49 (2013)
This animation recounts the time when the animator convinced his little brother that there were some rocks you could eat. Made with charcoal, colored pencils and gel pens.
stefangruber.tumblr.com

9. They Look Right Through You, Tess Martin, 9:02 (2013)
Whether cat people or dog people, we all think we have relationships with our pets. But do our pets feel the same way? Can we ever really know how our animals see us, or are our relationships with them ultimately a leap of faith? This marker-on-glass animated short uses interviews to explore the depth and limitations of human-pet relationships, and how we communicate, feel for and understand each other.
www.tessmartinart.com

10. King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O, Britta Johnson, 3:02 (2012)
The strange courtship of a frog and a mouse – an animated music video made with watercolors for Laura Veirs’ song King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki- Me- O, featuring Bela Fleck on the banjo.
www.thekmpi.net

Total running time: 44 minutes

Here is some additional info from the press release:

Seattle’s vibrant alternative animation scene is on display in Strange Creatures, a screening of local independent animated shorts that explore our relationship with the natural world. Don’t miss this great opportunity to see films on the big screen that have previously shown at Sundance and SIFF, by award-winning filmmakers of the Seattle Experimental Animation Team: Drew Christie, Bruce Bickford, Stefan Gruber, Webster Crowell, Britta Johnson, Clyde Petersen and Tess Martin.

Curator Tess Martin will herself be bringing the program to European venues over the next year, echoing her 2011 tour where Seattle films screened in 15 venues in 9 countries.

ABOUT THE SCREENING and ZINE PROGRAM:

This screening takes place on Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 at 4:00PM at the NW Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122. Price is $10/general public, $6/Film Forum members, $7/Seniors, Children under 12 and Students with valid photo ID.

Each guest will receive a zine program designed by Seattle cartoonist Marc Palm, featuring portraits of the filmmakers by comic artist Kelly Froh. This zine will be distributed at every future screening of the program, and will serve to showcase the local comics community as well as the animation scene.

PRESS/MEDIA:

Seattle Weekly 8/2/2013: “Strange Creatures” Populate this Weekend’s Indie Seattle Animation Show, Kelton Sears

Central District News 8/2/2013: Work of Central District resident Britta Johnson featured in local screening, Megan Hill

CityArts Online 8/1/2013: Animator Tess Martin Unleashes ‘Strange Creatures’ at the Northwest Film Forum, Tony Kay

New Day NW 7/31/2013: Discover Strange Creatures with animator Webster Crowell

Blog 4Culture 7/29/2013: One night only screening of Seattle animation, guest contributor Tess Martin

Beacon Hill Blog 7/29/2013: Beacon Hill animator presents evening of short films, Andrew Hamlin

Capitol Hill Times 7/11/2013: Animation to win you over at Northwest Film Forum, Tyler Mangrum