A. Film L.A. test

Working with Børge was fun, hard, boring, exciting, unusual, normal, and most of all educational. Over a year before leaving high school, in March 1978 I found out he lived in my neighborhood from a tv program about him and his wife Joanika. So I found him in the phone book (remember those?) and called him up. While studying art history, for a year I was his "pupil" doing animation tests, dropping by and having him correct them. Then, fed up with my art history professors, I moved my animation desk with my Neilson-Hordell disc into his Blaricum attic! (I am pointing at it in this photo taken last year:) Here, for almost four years, from March 1980 to November 1983 I smelled of his Douwe Egberts Red Amphora pipe tobacco and every day incl. weekends, Christmas and New Year from 10 to 6 we worked to the sound of BBC World Service if there were no jazz songs he had to listen to over and over again for an upcoming gig. I started doing simple non-production tests from his animation...

Today, February 17th -- as it is now in Holland and Denmark -- my old mentor and friend Børge Ring celebrates his 97th birthday! Last time I visited was in April 2017, when I showed him my CG recreation of Walt Disney's Hyperion Ave. studio in 1929 and 1939. Børge is listening and watching intensely as I explain: ← Click to see full image! I hope to soon be able to visit again! Tillykke med fødselsdagen, ex-B-96!

This was quite the weekend! Not only did Coco win all 11 Annies it was nominated for, and The Breadwinner won as best independent feature - a warm congrats to all winners! - but on the local front, a lot happened, as well! Saturday morning saw the premiere of our latest animated feature film Hodja fra Pjort in Imperial Bio here in Copenhagen, which Wikipedia describes as having "the largest single screen in Northern Europe with 1002 seats, which is also the biggest screen in the world to feature Dolby Atmos." It is also the first cinema where Atmos was installed. That was very exciting (but boy, was it cold outside)! Then, Yesterday, at the Danish Film Academy's 2018 Robert Awards (the Danish "Oscars"), our film The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear won in these two categories: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Children's/Youth Film! As editor (among other functions) of both movies, it was a time to be pretty darn proud! This images shows our trio of dire...

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The reason I moved to Denmark in 1984 was the film Valhalla. My mentor Børge Ring had already worked on the film for some time when he asked me to take the trip with him from Holland to Copenhagen, to make sure he didn't fall asleep behind the wheel after a long night of playing his bass at a famous Jazz Cafe. I had heard so much about Denmark that I leapt at the chance, and two days later I was asked to start as supervising animator on the project. The time following that was some of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding of my life, and that's why I am so happy to finally see some artwork for sale on this project: at FLAD.DK ! Though it is all in Danish, it is pretty straight-forward. Shipping and handling costs are only indicated within Denmark... If you understand Danish, you might like the latest "StegelCast," which is a podcast by TV personality, all-round great guy (and first producer on Valhalla, who asked me to work on the film) Jakob Stegelmann. In thi...

On the eve of one of the most spectacular Disney auctions of the later years, I want to make sure that you all are aware of it! There are items of all eras of Disney's past, and the range of material is vast! Drawings, records, merchandize, you name it, it's there to bid on. Here are a few of my favorites: (click the images!) Original parts for the Minnie's Yoo Hoo trailer by Carl Stalling! Original layouts for Mickey's Nightmare (1932)! Scenes animated by Hardie Gramatky (of Little Toot fame) and Harry Reeves under supervision by Ben Sharpsteen. Original layouts for Mickey's Mellerdrammer (1933)! Animated, again under Sharpsteen's supervision, by Jack Kinney (later director) and George Drake (later supervisor of the trainees). One of the most spectacular lots is this: A set of original KEM Weber furniture from the Burbank studio, designed around 1938-39! The auction starts tomorrow, Saturday June 18, 2016 at 11 am! You can see the info and browse the amazing ca...

Opening in Denmark on February 26th! On this project, I spent most of the last year editing and taking care of the final frame stack plus general IT stuff. I am still exporting new versions for different festivals daily. On Sunday is the gala premiere. Well, as gala as it gets at 9.15 am. I am looking forward to the audience's reaction! Hope they'll find the main characters as likeable as I do. Directed by my old friend and colleague Karsten Kiilerich. For those reading my blog needing a Disney tie-in: it's distributed in Scandinavia by Buena Vista International. ( IMDb )

Taking a little break - What? No! - Yes! - for a very good cause. It is that not many days ago that everyone's sweetheart Annette Funicello passed away from the terribly debilitating illness Multiple Sclerosis. It is therefore my pleasure to present below fun little film featuring Annette, in the hope that The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases gets a little more awareness. For that reason also I skip today's Lady and the Tramp draft - but it WILL continue tomorrow! Note that the animation mimics the title sequence of "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones," which gave Kevin the idea for his paper sculptures in the first place. The animation is styled to move within the range of a physical, paper puppet. (Also see the Oscar-nominated featurette "A Symposium on Popular Songs," with similar stop-motion sequences by Justice and Atencio.) Here is the official press release: LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2013 -- A new 97-second musical video, starring...

Finally, the film I directed called " nijntje de film " ( miffy the movie ) has gone into general release in 118 cinemas in Holland today! As you can imagine, I am very proud of this film. Interestingly, the reviews are split in two: the ones where the reviewer saw the film WITH a children's audience all give the film four out of five stars, while the ones who have NOT seen the film with kids give it three out of five, and mention "I doubt if the film can keep the young audience captivated." The "four star" reviewers note that it can - that the film "works!" In the Dutch TV guide Troskompas , in the very first review published a week ago, I found a very clear view on this: the reviewer wrote that he feels he has no way of judging the film, but as his kid loved it and was entertained all the way, he could not but give the film four stars. To me, that is the only way to look at it: does our target audience like it? Are they amused and entertai...

A quick heads-up: I haven't forgotten you, folks! I just have been exceedingly busy. But I have Prod. 2074 almost ready to go. Just think of a wonderful thing - it's the same as having wings!

Thinking fondly of my old friend Frank - who would have been 100 today (where I am now), September 5th. I would like to share a few things, remembering Frank.    First, from the Disney Archives, a listing of all the productions that Frank is credited for. This sheet was sent to me in 1984, before Frank and Ollie came to Holland. (I am aware I posted this before ). Second, in my opinion very interesting, a letter sent by Frank to Peter Madsen during production of Valhalla, the film that had me move to Denmark. Valhalla was Peter's baby, he drew the comic strip and later directed the movie, which had its premiere 10/9/1986. We had lots of interesting things going on tracking the scenes, so to help, Frank sent his suggestions, as elaboration on the text in The Illusion of Life. Attached was an annotated copy of a draft page. "It is the most important document that everyone uses to find out who is responsible for what, and when." Remember this from an earlier posting ? See al...

Just a quick heads-up - more to follow soon! I am busy as never before... Are you visiting for the first time? Check out the archives in the right-hand column! >>>

Today, my old mentor Børge Ring turns 91! Want to send him a present? Then please visit the donation page dedicated to restore some kind of normal life for his wife Joanika and himself after the terrible fire that destroyed their home and all their belongings on Feb.1st! All my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Børge, who currently is in hospital. For the occasion, I found a few images that I shot in 1981 at the animation festival in Annecy, France. This was around the time we started to seriously work on Anna & Bella. < Click to < show the < entire < picture! The left image shows, left to right, Marv Newland (of Bambi vs. Godzilla fame), Dutch-Canadian film maker Paul Driessen, Børge and Kaj Pindal, Børge's old apprentice and life long friend. On the right, on the terrace of Hotel Trésoms, we find, similarly left to right, Børge's long time animation partner and fellow Dane Bjørn Frank Jensen , then the back of Joanika Ring, Harold Whitaker ...

Here are some more items that never again will see the light of day because they went up in flames in the terrible fire in my old mentor Børge Ring's house two weeks ago. First one of the most delicate drawings of Wendy I have ever seen. This photo I made in 1983 does not do the original justice at all! Børge also had two other Wendys in his scrapbook. As far as I remember, these and the earlier one were sent to him by Marc Davis after Dave Hand conveyed him Børge's best wishes back in 1951. In the fire, Børge and his wife Joanika lost EVERYTHING, so please visit the site set up for donations !

While speaking with old mentor Børge Ring's daughter Anne-Mieke, I suggested posting some more Lost Memories - images from his scrapbooks, now gone forever. We agreed that this might get more attention to the devastating event of February 1st, only 11 days ago, when the 300 year old farmhouse that was Børge and his wife, artist Joanika Ring lived in was completely destroyed by fire. Børge had lots of mementos dating from his time in Denmark, pre-1952. Animation done by David Hand in Denmark... A great scene by Børge of a cow being scared running off screen that to me was an action scene that ranked with the best of John Sibley's work... Also among them was the early storyboard for the 1950 film "Fest i Skoven," in English "Party in the Forest" that I showed you earlier . Here are the first six panels, sadly the only part that I photographed around 1983 for use in the Danish magazine Carl Barks & Co. They - and the rest of this storyboard - are now lost f...

I posted this before, but it has new relevance: Makin' Whoopee! played by Børge Ring in 1978. His guitar - also lost in the blaze, together with his uncle's double bass and all his other musical memories. Børge played these instruments on his award winning shorts Oh My Darling and Anna & Bella. I have many memories myself, of hearing him play his bass downstairs while I was drawing in his attic, and of him practicing his guitar before recording Anna & Bella - and of the recording sessions, of course. Visit the fund-raising site for Børge and Joanika, created by their daughter Anne-Mieke, where you can donate to help them.

ASIFA-Hollywood's 39th Annual Annie Awards ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall, hosted by actor/comedian Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille), was streamed live here, Saturday February 4th, 2012 at 7 p.m. Pacific, 10 p.m. Eastern, which is Sunday February 5th at 3 a.m. in England or 4 a.m. in central Europe. For me a highlight was the reception of Børge Ring's Winsor McCay Award by his daughter Anne-Mieke. As you read earlier , Børge's house burned down to the ground only two days ago, so I hope he will find some consolation in this support from the industry. Three screen grabs of Anne-Mieke's accepting her father Børge's Award. Note in second image (click on it!), Jamie Bolio wiping away a tear - really the only emotional moment in the entire show. Not one word about the fire, though. Let me remind you to please visit the fund-raising site that Anne-Mieke produced for Børge and Joanika, where you can donate to help them in their hour of need! Being a member of ASIFA-Hollywood m...

The devastating news just reached me that the home of my old mentor, now 91 year old Oscar winner Børge Ring and his wife Joanika has been completely laid in ashes by fire only some four hours ago! A fire in the chimney ignited the thatched roof of their old farm in the south-east of Holland. Børge and Joanika are safe and cared for, but they have reportedly lost EVERYTHING. Art, memories, even the Oscar went up in flames. A fund is being set up to help them. Check borgering.com where you can find information on how you can help. In the mean time I wish them all the strength in the world! [News: Donations can be made through the new fund-raising site !] Børge is recipient of the Winsor McCay Award at the Annies on Saturday, and throughout this ordeal Børge and Joanika have insisted that their daughter Anne-Mieke not change her plans to receive the award in Børge's name. (The award ceremony will be available to watch on computers as a streaming fee...

Just got the Annie Award nominee list and I read: "Special juried awards honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation will also be awarded: Winsor McCay Award Walt Peregoy, Borge Ring and Robert Searle for career contributions to the art of animation" - how about that? Congratulations, Børge! Oh - the others, too, of course.

It had gone past me, though I meant to mark it: I have been blogging for five years, starting May 22nd, 2006! (Thus the "today" in the title is somewhat misleading: I am actually posting this two days too late. Oh, well...) May I suggest you check out some of the older postings ?