Shane Acker
 |
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2009) |
| Shane Acker | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1971 Wheaton, Illinois |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Animator Film Director Screenwriter Animation Teacher |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Shane Acker (born 1971, Wheaton, Illinois)[1] is an American film-maker known for directing/creating 9, which is based on his 2005 Academy Award-nominated film, 9. He is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Contents |
[edit] Background
As a child Acker was hyperactive, so his parents encouraged him to draw and read. He often read books by Brian Froud.
Acker originally set a goal of becoming an architect; he earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Florida in 1994 as well as a masters degree from the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
Upon graduating in 1999, he decided to become a film-maker and went to study at UCLA's Animation Workshop. There he created The Hangnail, The Astounding Talent of Mr. Grenade, and 9.
In 2005 he wrote, directed, and co-animated the award-winning animated short film 9, which won a student award and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and was shown at SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater. Tim Burton saw Acker's short film, and together along with producer Tim Burton (director of Beetlejuice) and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted), made the feature film with Attitude Studios in Luxembourg and Starz Animation in Toronto.
He was also a visiting professor at Loyola Marymount University.
Acker is currently[when?] “Artist in Residence” at Gnomon School of Visual Effects, a provider of online tutorials for visual effects artists.[2] He has been working at Gnomon on a short film Plus Minus[3], due for release in late 2011.[4]
In June 2011, Acker was chosen chosen to direct a new live-action adaptation of the children's book and TV series, Thomas & Friends. He will be working from a script by Chris Viscardi, Will McRobb and Josh Klausner. Weta Digital will create the film's visual effects, with design by Weta Workshop Design Dept. It is expected to be released in 2014.[5]
[edit] Influences
Shane Acker has cited The Brothers Quay, Don Hertzfeldt, Jan Švankmajer, and brothers Wolfgang and Christoph Lauenstein as inspirations.[6] His other influences are John Kricfalusi, Tex Avery, Tim Burton, John Lasseter, and Brad Bird.
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Feature films
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Visual Effects | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
 |
Animator | ||
| 2009 | 9 |
|
|
directorial debut | |
| 2012 | Journey 2: The Mysterious Island |
|
Previsualization Artist | ||
| 47 Ronin |
|
Previsualization Supervisor | |||
| 2014 | Untitled Thomas and Friends Film Project |
|
[edit] Short films
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Animator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Hangnail |
|
|
|
| 2003 | The Astounding Talent of Mr. Grenade |
|
|
|
| 2005 | 9 |
|
|
|
| 2009 | A Jake and a Tom |
|
||
| TBA | Plus Minus |
|
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.independentexposure.com/filmmaker/181/ShaneAcker.html
- ^ http://www.gnomonschool.com/?p=839
- ^ http://www.plusminusmovie.com
- ^ http://www.awn.com/news/cg/gnomon-studios-unveils-shane-ackers-new-short-plus-minus
- ^ http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/9-helmer-shane-acker-boards-feature-based-on-the-thomas-the-tank-engine-toys/
- ^ http://steveogden.com/blog/2009/04/shane-ackers-9-2/
[edit] External links
 |
This article about a United States film director born in the 1970s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
