UNITED TALENT AGENCY CANCELS ANNUAL OSCARS PARTY TO PROTEST TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION BAN

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On Wednesday, the United Talent Agency announced they canceled their annual Academy Awards party to protest Trump’s travel ban.  Instead, the UTA will donate $250,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union and the International Rescue Committee, as well as host a rally to support immigration.  The rally will take place on February 24th, two days before the Oscars, to “express the creative communities' growing concern with anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States.”  The UTA said the rally will aim to combat the “potential chilling effect on the global exchange of ideas and freedom of expression.”

UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer said in a letter to agency employees: “This is a moment that demands our generosity, awareness, and restlessness.  Our world is a better place for the free exchange of artists, ideas, and creative expression.  If our nation ceases to be the place where artists the world over can come to express themselves freely, then we cease, in my opinion, to be America.”

Trump’s travel ban affected the UTA personally since they represent Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, who is nominated this year in the Best Foreign Language Film category for “The Salesman.”  Farhadi has chosen to boycott the Oscars this year in protest of Trump’s order.  When contacted by the UTA about their decision, he responded with a text saying he was “honored and in tears.”

Ya Know You Wanna!

THE FUTURE OF FILM: FIRST "PAINTED" FEATURE BASED ON VAN GOGH’S ARTWORKS!

lovingvincent.com

Vincent Van Gogh is known throughout the world as one of the greatest artists to ever pick up a paintbrush.  Van Gogh is known for both his unique painting style and his real life struggle with severe mental illness that led to his suicide.  His paintings “Starry Night” and “Café Terrace at Night” are among the many Van Gogh paintings you can find exhibited in most art museums and on bedroom walls.

In honor of the great artist, Polish painter Dorota Kobiela and filmmaker Hugh Welchman decided to create a film chronicling Van Gogh’s turbulent life and work.  The film, entitled “Loving Vincent,” will use a cutting-edge technique to create a "fully painted" look in the style of Van Gogh.  Over 120 of Van Gogh’s paintings will be used as source material, as well as 800 of his own handwritten letters.  After an advertising promo for the film was released, artists all around the world eagerly sent in applications to be a part of the film, and the few that were chosen traveled to Poland to begin training earlier this year.

The creation process begins with the actors in front a green screen or a Van Gogh-styled set.  Then animators have to translate the paintings of the selected artists into motion in the scene.  Apparently there are 59,874 frames in the film, so that could take a while.

A film has never been done in the “fully painted” style before, so this is a groundbreaking take on a new genre of film.  While the process is arduous, it will pave the way for future films and presents a bold new style of art.  “Loving Vincent” will no doubt turn out to be an incredible, beautiful feast for the eyes.

While we await the “Loving Vincent” film premiere in 2017, check out these amazing behind the scenes clips presented by director Hugh Welchman to help tide you over.

A presentation by Director/ producer Hugh Welchman, describing the behind the scenes production process of the world's first most eagerly awaited hand painted, animated, feature film. Drawn in the style of artist Vincent Van Gogh.

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