Gargoyles and Scary Monsters that go bump in the night!

Gargoyle - Writer/director/animator Michael Cusack

Writer/director/animator Michael Cusack brings to Fitzroy Shorts his AFI award winning animation GARGOYLE. ’It’s fantastic that Gargoyle has been recognised by the AFIs. Gargoyle was considered something of a risk for me. Animation is always a labour of love, but as a work of personal expression, Gargoyle was an attempt to make something that would resonate and make people feel differently about animation. Of course, you always hope that an audience will respond, but it’s still a terrific surprise to be recognised in this way.’

A poetic work of dramatic fantasy, Gargoyle was a departure for Cusack, who is well known for his crowd-pleasing comedies.

Gargoyle came more from a place of personal inspiration. There’s significant expense involved with any self-funded short, and the production timeline involved with animation means that choice of material is important. In making this kind of mood-oriented drama, I was hopeful that people would emerge with an emotional response, in a way that perhaps isn’t always expected these days from the medium. It seems that this has been the case - and that’s very rewarding.’

Michael Cusack is a creative force behind production company Anifex. Anifex works almost exclusively in traditional stop-motion frame-by-frame animation on 35mm motion picture film.

Gargoyle was completed over a 3 year period with 13 560 individual frames needed to capture the action of the characters. Each frame required the animators to move the characters by hand - a painstaking process that has been recognised by the AFI.

WHY YOU NEED TO COME: Win a bean bag from Crumpler to the value of $300.00 and DVD’s from Madman to the vlaue of $200.00.

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NEXT SCREENING
WHEN: Wednesday, May 2nd 2007
WHERE: The Spanish Club 59 - 61 Johnston St Fitzroy
MAP REF: Fitzroy Melways reference 2C:C7
TIME: Doors open 7pm, Screening at 8.30pm (wheelchair access available)
COST: $10 Full $5 conc and students - Tickets available on the door!
Other News
- Also screening April 25th is Short Cuts @ Big Mouth

- AFI CALLS FOR ENTRIES & JURORS FOR THE 2007 AFI AWARDS
Entries are now open for the 2007 AFI Awards in the categories of Feature Film, Television, Documentary, Short Fiction and Short Animation. For deadlines, eligibility and all other entry details, log onto the AFI website www.afi.org.au