Oscar Parties & the CAM Exhibit Opening

Oscar Parties & the CAM Exhibit Opening

(February, 2015)  March, 2015

We sure did have a full month (a full 6 months!) here in LA.

The month began with a celebratory dinner between Cartoon Saloon & Brunners.

Didier Brunner with his wife (Chantal and associate, Dimitri Granovsky

Tomm with Eric Beckman of GKIDS
The Song team in LA, with Didier, Chantal and Dimitri.

Tomm & Paul attended the exclusive AMPAS Nominees Luncheon.

We then went to the Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap Nominee Parties.

Tomm & Paul interviewed on the red carpet

Our souvenir keepsake…

The following day, Tomm was interviewed on Last Call with Carson Daly.

Tomm interviewed on Last Call...

http://www.nbc.com/last-call-with-carson-daly/video/tomm-moore/2846757

We then had our last few private screenings here in LA with Q&A with Tomm & legendary Irish actress, Fionnula Flanagan, who played both Granny & Macha in SONG.

Over the next few days, SONG took home best Animated film at THE SATELLITE AWARDS!

Producer and studio co-founder, Paul Young with Danish co-producer, Claus Toksvig Kjaer (photo courtesy of Claus Toksvig Kjaer)

We then had a Cartoon Saloon/Irish Film Board party at The Den on Sunset…

And then came the Oscar® Directors’ Symposium at The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.

David Rawle – the voice of Ben in SONG

All of the animated feature nominees along with AMPAS Governor, Bill Kroyer (L) and moderators, Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.

We attended a private luncheon hosted by the Luxembourg Film Board and the Irish Consulate…

Tomm was interviewed…

David was interviewed…

With many a toast given - this one by Eric Beckman, the president of SONG’s distribution company, GKIDS.

We then attended Ron Diamond’s annual Nominees’ Party…

Tomm with GKIDS Head of Distribution, Dave Jesteadt (L) and his lovely wife, Monica and Eric Beckman, President of GKIDS (R).

SONG’s writer, Will Collins (C) – surrounded by (L to R), Elena Ø Alexa, Liselott Olofsson, Yvonne Ross, Cartoon Saloon co-founder, Nora Twomey and yours truly.

We were then invited to Fionnula’s for tea to celebrate the SONG OF THE SEA and BAFTA-winning Northern Irish film, BOOGALOO AND GRAHAM.

Tomm with Boogaloo and Graham’s producer, Brian J. Falconer

The party included dignitaries from the Irish Consul, colleagues from the Irish Film Board…

Fionnula and her husband Garrett were presented with an award from Ireland to thank them for, I believe, their generosity, hospitality and commitment to the arts.

Tomm presented Fionnula and Garrett with a DESIGNING THE SECRET OF KELLS book which both Tomm and Paul drew in and signed for her.

Fionnula (Granny/Macha) and the film’s Young Ben (David Rawle) were reunited…

As were the films two Ben’s – David Rawle, and the inspiration for the real Ben, Tomm and Liselott’s son, Ben Moore.

Later that night, SONG was awarded a Chocolate FOSCA at the annual nominees party, this year hosted by Marilyn Zornado, Libby Simon and Amid Amidi at the home of Kevin Bannerman.

The following morning was the Oscars – and our team was sadly 3 tickets short.

We were so thrilled to have, however, gotten all of the co-founders and co-producers in — and David Rawle.
What a wonderful opportunity for our bright star.

Tomm & Liselott

Yvonne & Paul

Yvonne & Nora Twomey (who will also be directing The Saloon’s next feature, THE BREADWINNER)

SONG’s writer, Will Collins and co-founder, Ross Murray

The French Producers, Clement & Jeremie

Stephan Roelants (C), the Belgian Producer

Tomm & Paul were interviewed by Irish Television…

With all of us in the background (including GKIDS distribution partners, Eric Beckman & Dave Jesteadt) – where we all waved to those back in Kilkenny.

It was a great ride.
Thanks for the indelible support, folks…

Gerry Shirren, CS’ Managing Director and two animators from both KELLS and SONG who flew in just to hang out for a few days, Alfredo Cassano and Alessandra Sorrentino.

The day after the awards, we had a lovely luncheon at the French Consul’s home where all of the French nominees were celebrated.  SONG was a co-production, so our team was included…

The rest of the team flew home and Tomm & I then flew to San Francisco for SONGS AND SECRETS, an exhibit celebrating the pre-production artwork for SONG OF THE SEA and THE SECRET OF KELLS.
The exhibit runs through June 21st at the Cartoon Art Museum.

http://sfcartoonartmuseum.tumblr.com/post/111930799291/songs-and-secrets-the-art-of-song-of-the-sea-and

We came early to check out the goods…
Amazing.

And then we had an opening reception with a book signing for DESIGNING THE SECRET OF KELLS.
Sold Out.

Thanks, San Francisco.

jkb | Cartoon Saloon-US

Nominations Announced & Annie Awards

Nominations Announced & Annie Awards

(January, 2015)  Feb, 2015

Welp — I am just about caught up folks.
This is January’s entry, written in February — thank you for your patience.

As I’ve said, we had a wonderfully busy few months which culminated in January.
On the 15th, nominations were announced and we all watched with bated breath (except Tomm, who was too nervous — and instead, at lunch, went down to watch the ducks at the pond).

[Oscar®-Nomination photo courtesy of Scainnan, IFB.]

And, holy smokes…!!  Cartoon Saloon received its second Oscar®-nomination for SONG, going 2 for 2 — and GKIDS received 2 (for both SONG and THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA – which garners their/our team 6 nods in 6 years for THE SECRET OF KELLS, CAT IN PARIS, CHICO & RITA, ERNEST & CELESTINE and this year’s two nods for SONG and KAGUYA).

Amazing.

We continued the month on a high with a host of Europeans coming in for ASIFA-Hollywood’s 42 Annie Awards, as SONG OF THE SEA had earned 7 nominations including: Best Animated Film, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Editing, Best Music, Best Character Design & Best Production Design.

[The International Animated Film Society / ASIFA-Hollywood’s 42nd ANNIE AWARDS.]

14 members of the SONG team (plus!) came in as nominees, Director & Producer of CODA (Alan Holly & Ciaran Deeney) came in for the festivities as their film (one of the 10 Oscar®-shortlisted films) was also nominated for Best Animated Short, and French producer extraordinaire, Didier Brunner was honored with the Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award.

[Cartoon Saloon & Cartoon Saloon-US, photo courtesy of David Derks.]

[Didier Brunner on the red carpet.]

[Alan Holly & Ciaran Deeney of CODA on the red carpet.] 

[Tomm & Paul on the red carpet.]

[The Salooners on the red carpet…]

[Liselott, Tomm Eric of GKIDS and Claus – SONG’S Danish co-producer.]

[Best Music nominee for SONG, Colm of KILA, and Best Editing nominee for SONG, Darragh.]

Inside the awards, Tomm presented Didier Brunner (the producer of THE SECRET OF KELLS, THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE, and ERNEST & CELESTINE), with The Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award.

[Tomm Moore]

[Benjamin Renner’s ERNEST ET CELESTINE]

[Tomm Moore’s THE SECRET OF KELLS]

[Sylvain Chomet’s THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE]

[Sylvain Chomet’s THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE]

[Tomm Moore, “and the Winsor goes to…”]

[Didier Brunner.]

[Didier & his  lovely wife (L), his Annie and Nicole Renaud (R), the composer of Bill Plympton’s CHEATIN’.]

[More SONG nominees, Darragh with Rosa (one of the character design nominees) & SONG’s Best Writing nominee, Will Collins.]

[All of the women nominated for SONG in Best Character Design – sans Tomm, plus Liselott Olofsson.]

[SONG’s French co-producers, Clement & Jeremie, Alan Holly & Ciaran Deeney of CODA, Marie Thorhague (Best Character Design Nominee for SONG) and the lovely Liselott…

[Alan of CODA and Colm of KILA.]

Congratulations to our fellow nominees, to all of the winners and to ASIFA-Hollywood for a great time had by all.





jkb | Cartoon Saloon-US