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SIGGRAPH Vancouver Announces Directing Madagascar Event

Tickets Go On Sale Today At Noon

Siggraph Vancouver [1] Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH [1] makes a big-screen splash to celebrate its sixth anniversary, presenting one of DreamWorks Animation’s [2] bright lights, Director/Writer Eric Darnell [3], fresh from the success of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa [4]. Start the evening in style mingling at the licensed industry mixer with free snacks and drinks. The first 50 through the door receive a free movie poster. Eric Darnell will be on hand at the mixer signing copies of the book for sale: The Art of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. At 7:30 pm get set for the main presentation and a screening of this visionary experimental director’s latest animated film.

6:30 pm – Book signing & industry mixer*
7:30 pm – Directing Madagascar w. Eric Darnell
8:30 pm – Q&A & door prizes
8:45 pm – Intermission
9:15 pm – Screening: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (free)

* All ticket holders are automatically registered to industry mixer and screening.
DreamWorks Animation feature film director and writer Eric Darnell (Antz, Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) will share his thoughts on directing, animation and developing one’s own vision and career. In this open and far-ranging session, Eric will talk about his early days as an animator, treat us to some rarely shown early films and behind-the-scenes development clips, and share stories from the front lines of the films he has directed.

Eric Darnell has been with DreamWorks Animation since 1995. He directed DreamWorks’ first animated feature, Antz, and then went on to direct and share writing credit on Madagascar and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He is currently developing the third and final installment in the Madagascar series.

Before coming to DreamWorks, Darnell was with Pacific Data Images, where he helmed numerous commercial and film projects. His in-house animated short entitled Gas Planet garnered international recognition, including the Ottawa Animation Festival [5] Special Jury Prize.

The Ahmanson Foundation [6] and the Princess Grace Foundation [7] funded two of Darnell’s experimental film projects, Grasslands and Filter Gallery which have been shown at venues around the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. He also directed a music video for REM’s Get Up off of the Green release.

Darnell earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Colorado in 1984 and an MFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts in 1990.

Directing Madagascar is presented in part by the following sponsors:

Gold Sponsors: VANarts [8] and Sophia Books [9]
Bronze Sponsors: Offload Studios [10], AnnexPro [11] and Stash DVD Magazine [12]
Friends: VEA[BC] [13] and Society of Graphic Designers Canada – Vancouver Chapter [14]