Voice Stars and Filmmakers Take the Stage at Lincoln Center for ANIMATION NOW: IMAGINATION INNOVATION INSPIRATION

Voice Stars and Filmmakers Take the Stage at Lincoln Center for ANIMATION NOW: IMAGINATION INNOVATION INSPIRATION

MIKE MYERS, CHRIS ROCK and JERRY SEINFELD, and a Special Surprise Appearance by the Just Announced New Star of the Next 'Shrek' Film, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, Headline the Event

NEW YORK, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight, a variety of animation talents -- from voice stars to producers, directors, writers and others -- came together on the stage of Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for Animation Now: Imagination Innovation Inspiration. This exciting one-of-a-kind event, presented by The Film Society of Lincoln Center, took audiences from sketch to screen, as the Academy Award(R)-winning DreamWorks Animation SKG unveiled a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of one of the film industry's most enduring and successful art forms.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050501/LASU001 )

In ANIMATION NOW: IMAGINATION INNOVATION INSPIRATION, DreamWorks Animation filmmakers and voice talents gave the audience a sneak peek at the making of several DreamWorks Animation releases -- past, present and future -- as they took them through the ever-changing challenges of creating contemporary animated features, from the first glimmer of an idea to story development, production design, voice work. Al Roker, the co-host and resident weatherman on NBC's "Today" and a long-time animation aficionado, hosted the event, which was sponsored by HP, DreamWorks' preferred technology provider.

Participants in the event include:

From DreamWorks Animation's next computer-animated release, MADAGASCAR, opening nationwide on May 27, 2005:

Voice talent Chris Rock, was joined by producer Mireille Soria; director/writers Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath; and Oscar(R)-winning composer Hans Zimmer. The audience was given a preview of scenes from the computer- animated comedy about a group of pampered zoo animals who learn the true meaning of the phrase "It's a jungle out there" in the wilds of Madagascar.

From DreamWorks Animation's and Aardman's WALLACE & GROMIT -- THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT, coming to theatres on October 7, 2005:

Nick Park, the Oscar(R)-winning creator and director of the cheese-loving inventor, Wallace, and his loyal canine companion, Gromit, was on hand to showcase scenes from the first full-length Wallace & Gromit feature film from the acclaimed British animation studio Aardman. Nick Park previewed scenes and also demonstrated the painstaking work of stop-motion animation.

From OVER THE HEDGE, slated for release on May 19, 2006:

One of the film's directors, Tim Johnson, was joined by head of story Jeff Snow for the part of the presentation featuring the new computer-animated comedy based on the popular comic strip by Michael Fry and T Lewis. The film's story centers on the unlikely friendship between a mischievous raccoon and a timid turtle who, together with their other woodland friends, must learn to co-exist with -- and even exploit -- the strange new world called suburbia.

From FLUSHED AWAY, set for release on November 3, 2006:

Aardman co-founder David Sproxton, and Sam Fell, who is one of the film's directors, was on stage to showcase Aardman's first foray into computer animation. This new comedy from Aardman and DreamWorks Animation tells the story of a pampered British rat who accidentally gets flushed from his posh penthouse flat and must find his way home with the help of a few sewer rats.

From the third installment of the SHREK franchise, slated to open on May 18, 2007:

Mike Myers, who provides the unmistakable voice of that lovable ogre Shrek, took center stage to present some early work on the third installment of the "Shrek" franchise. In a surprise appearance, Justin Timberlake joined Myers on stage and it was announced that Timberlake will be providing the voice of Artie, King Harold's rebellious nephew, in the new film. Also on stage for this portion of the presentation was Aron Warner, the Oscar(R)- winning producer of the first two "Shrek" movies, who is also producing this latest chapter; and Andrew Adamson, the writer/director of both "Shrek" and "Shrek 2."

From BEE MOVIE, coming to theatres on November 2, 2007:

Jerry Seinfeld wrote this computer-animated comedy and is also producing and starring in the film, so who better to start the buzz on this new film from DreamWorks Animation set in an anthropomorphized world of bees. Taking the stage with him was one of the directors, Steve Hickner, to talk about the process of animation in its earliest stages.

Contact: Graham Leggat at 212/875-5416 or gleggat@filmlinc.com

Ines Aslan at 212/875-5625 or iaslan@filmlinc.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050501/LASU001 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Film Society of Lincoln Center

CONTACT: Graham Leggat, +1-212-875-5416, gleggat@filmlinc.com, or Ines Aslan, +1-212-875-5625, iaslan@filmlinc.com, both of Film Society of Lincoln Center

NOTE TO EDITORS: Complete materials and hi-res images for all Film Society of Lincoln Center events are available for download from our online press office on our website, www.filmlinc.com. Direct link is http://209.10.196.104/intro.htm. Password is xx9c2t. [Note: If your browser has pop-up blockers, you'll need to hold down the shift or ctrl key when clicking to submit password.] Writers and editors: This special event anticipates a large-scale animation series to be presented at the Film Society's Walter Reade Theater in August.

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