Distinguished Lecture Series
Renaissance Computing Institute & Art+Design, NC State University
Presents Chris Landreth, Independent Filmaker and Animator
Copper Heart Entertainment and the National Film Board of Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“From Fluid Mechanics to Animated Filmmaking: A Personal Journeyâ€
Thursday, April 12, 2007 – 4:30pm
Talley Student Center Grand Ballroom
NC State University
Raleigh, NC
An Introduction to Bold Thinking and Innovation
The RENCI Distinguished Lecture Series brings to North Carolina and the Triangle area speakers who personify the renaissance ideal: people who take original approaches; who solve problems by thinking of bold and creative solutions; who are unafraid to step outside their comfort zone. RENCI Distinguished Lecturers have earned reputations as experts in their fields through collaboration, a willingness to learn from others, and by having the courage to take risks in order to achieve meaningful results. Their ideas, inventions and innovations inspire other bold thinkers and impact the way we live, work and play. RENCI Distinguished Lectures are held three times each year at sites around the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. Lectures generally last an hour to 90 minutes, followed by questions from the audience. All lectures are free and open to the general public.
Register Online
Registration is free. Space is limited. Seating preference will be given to those that pre-register. Register Now
About the Speaker
Chris Landreth began his career as a fluid mechanics engineer and followed a somewhat circuitous path to become an Oscar-winning animated filmmaker.
After receiving a degree in theoretical and applied mechanics from the University of Illinois, Landreth spent three years as an experimental researcher at the university before making the transition into the netherworlds of computer animation. In 1994, Landreth joined Alias Inc., where his responsibility was to define, test and abuse animation software products before they were released to the public, including Maya, a well-known animation software package. The job also led to production of the animated short films Bingo and the end. Bingo was nominated in 1996 for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Landreth’s most recent film is the 2004 Academy Award winning production Ryan, which is about the life and career of Canadian animator Ryan Larkin, a one-time Oscar nominee who today panhandles for spare change. In addition to winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film, Ryan received over 60 other international awards, including three prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, the Special Jury Prize at Siggraph 2004 and the Grand Prize at the 2004 Ottawa International Animation Festival.
Landreth’s current works in production are a new short film with the National Film Board of Canada, entitled The Spine, and an animated feature film entitled Lovecraft, based on the life of the early 20th century American writer H.P. Lovecraft.
This post is tagged: Animation, business, experiment, information design, innovation, new media, workshops