On 9-9-09 the film "9" will be opening. Hmm? Think they planned that? At Comic-Con this past July filmmaker Shane Acker and voice actor Elijah Wood spoke with me about bringing Acker's UCLA student film to the big screen. See the video of their interviews.
Shane Acker made an impressive animated student film called "9" while he was at UCLA. The story was set in a steam punkish, post apocalyptic world inhabited by tiny hand-sewn creatures. The film screened at the Comic-Con Independent Film Festival a few years back and took home the best in show award. Now the film arrives on the big screen with producers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov backing him up. It's been one of those amazing Hollywood success stories. At Comic-Con, Acker noted that he had never been able to get into Hall H as an attendee so his first time in the 6500 seat venue was to present a panel. Pretty cool! I had a chance to sit down with Acker and Wood to dicuss the process of making an animated film. Usually interviews at Comic-Con are frantic round tables or crowded press lines. But thanks to Focus Features for allowing me to have some nice one-on-one time with the director and star. You can also watch Acker's original short film below.
