Film Track - 2011
Video: Guy talks about film at Karitos
Butch Hartman is creator and executive producer of
T.U.F.F. Puppy, The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom. A Michigan native, Butch Hartman remembers wanting to create cartoons as far back as kindergarten. “I drew a picture of my teacher and she kept raving about it,” said Hartman. “I realized art was a good way to get attention and I was hooked.” Now Hartman has a prolific career in animation, which includes creator of the new, upcoming Nickelodeon animated comedy, T.U.F.F. Puppy. The series follows a gung-ho, dim-witted dog named Dudley Puppy (voiced by Jerry Trainor, iCarly) who is thrust into the role of “hero” when recruited by the super secret crime fighting organization T.U.F.F. (Turbo Undercover Fighting Force).Hartman took up drawing in high school and then attended Cal Arts to study animation. Although he was originally interested in acting, Hartman decided to pursue animation as a career after working freelance as an assistant animator for Don Bluth on An American Tail during his senior year. Upon graduation, he worked as a character designer and storyboard artist for Marvel Productions, and later, Ruby Spears Productions.
Soon after, Hartman earned a job working on Family Dog for Amblin Television before joining Hanna-Barbera in 1991. He worked at Hanna-Barbera for six years doing storyboard work, directing cartoons and creating his own shorts for What A Cartoon! He also wrote and directed episodes of Dexter’s Laboratory, Cow & Chicken and Johnny Bravo before churning out three shorts: Pfish & Chip, Hillbilly Blue and Gramps.
Following his time at Hanna-Barbera, Hartman began working on Nickelodeon’s Oh Yeah, Cartoons! where he created a new short, The Fairly OddParents. It was then developed into an animated series and soon became a mega-hit for the network. Since its premiere in 2001, over 100 episodes of The Fairly OddParents have been produced and production has recently begun on the highly anticipated first-ever live-action version of the series, A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!, which will air in 2011.
The Fairly OddParents was nominated for an Emmy in 2002 in the Outstanding Music and Lyrics category for an original song co-written by Hartman, entitled “I Wish Every Day Could Be Christmas.” The series garnered two additional Emmy nominations the following year, in the same category, for original songs co-written by the creator entitled “What Girls Love” and “It’s Great to Be a Guy.” The show was nominated in 2005 for the song “When Your Wish Comes True,” also co-written by Hartman. The Fairly OddParents received two BMI Cable Awards for Outstanding Theme Song and Underscore in 2002 and 2003, and in 2009, the series also scored its first Emmy nomination for writing. The series has also earned several Annie Awards.
In 2004, Hartman created his second Nicktoon, Danny Phantom. The wildly popular animated series featuring a teenage boy endowed with ghost-like superpowers can currently be seen on Nicktoons.
Hartman currently resides in Bell Canyon, Calif. with his wife, two daughters, five dogs and two cats. He also has a charitable foundation he co-founded with his wife called “Hartman House.” For more information, go to: www.hartmanhouse.org.
Inside the Karitos Studio
Butch Hartman joins actor, voiceover artist and screenwriter Craig J. Harris for a one-on-one, "In the Actor's Studio"-styled interview with Hartman. They'll explore Butch's prolific career in animation, the charitable foundation he co-founded with his wife, Julieann, called "Hartman House" and the role his Faith has played in navigating the complex and chaotic business of Hollywood.
During this in-depth interview, Butch will share his immense experience as a highly successful artist, producing content for major networks and studios, providing answers for Believers and Artists wanting to understand working and creating in the entertainment industry, getting started in animation and animated voiceover work, keeping your faith while being a successful artist and living a grounded family and spiritual life in Hollywood. Following the interview there will be an audience Q&A session.Meet and Greet
Butch will share his immense experience as a highly successful artist and will help provide answers for believers and artists wanting to understand working and creating in the entertainment industry, getting started in animation and animated voiceover work, keeping your faith while being a successful artist and living a grounded family and spiritual life in Hollywood.
Craig J. Harris (SAG/AFTRA) a Chicago native, is an accomplished actor and award winning screenwriter.
He began writing with the hope of bringing diverse roles to film, television and theatre. Movies produced from Harris’ scripts have garnered Five Emmy Awards, a Telly Award, an AFTRA American Scene Award and a Proctor & Gamble Dreambuilder Celebration Scribe Award.
Critics describe Harris’ nationally aired television screenplay, Skin Complex, a provocative, innovative and cleverly crafted story dealing with race relations, as a “thought provoking premise”…”it is one of the more provocative and daring ways to deal with race issues”…”Skin Complex breaks the mold, working on several levels as a bit of science fiction and a search for self discovery.”
Harris served as the head writer of the television series Stories from the Soul, produced by Masequa Myers and Associates in conjunction with Robert Townsend. Additionally, Harris wrote the Holiday radio drama “The Kettle”, which was performed on NPR and co-wrote the film, The Truth, which will serve as actor Hill Harper’s directorial debut.
A much sought after script consultant and screenwriting instructor, Harris developed and taught the hugely successful Harris Screenwriting Method, in addition to performing work-for-hire assignments and script doctoring.
Harris numerous credits include principal roles in Films (The Unborn, Eagle Eye, Fred Claus) and TV (Chicago Code, Detroit 187, PrisonBreak). Harris has studied and performed on the stages of the Second City, ImprovOlympic, and Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.
Harris also has voiced numerous national commercials and video games for well known clients including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Allstate, Kellogg’s, KFC, Proctor & Gamble, OnStar, US Bank and Western Union, may be best known as the character voice of Lt. Jackson “Jax” Briggs in Midway Games’ Mortal Kombat video game series.
Harris is an active member of the Screen Actors Guild, The American Federation on Television and Radio Artists, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Illinois Production Alliance.
For more information, please visit www.craigharris.com.
SCREENWRITING: The Harris Technique
Based on his extremely popular class at Act One Studios in Chicago, award-winning screenwriter and actor, Craig J. Harris, presents a condensed, 70 minute workshop version of his eight week course, SCREENWRITING: The Harris Technique.This exclusive seminar, specially created for Karitos, features an overview of Harris’ unique screenwriting methodology, for both aspiring and experienced screenwriters and will cover his writing approach and techniques derived from his experience as a writer and professional actor.
Harris’ disciplined approach and organizational style can get any dedicated writer from concept to a finished first feature draft in as little as three weeks!
Topics covered include:
- Industry standards and guidelines regarding screenplay formats (Do ’s and Don’ts)
- Introduction to the Harris method: Brainstorming and developing story idea and concepts
- Keys to character development
- Logline, Synopsis, Outline, and “Scriptments”
Mimi Sagadin began her acting career in Chicago during the 90’s and studied improv at The Players Workshop. She also performed children’s shows at Second City, and co-founded the improv troupe Mission IMPROVable, doing “clean comedy.”
That same year Mimi attended the very first Karitos, where she was deeply impacted by the conferences’ theme of “Reclaiming the Arts for Christ.” She later became involved in the conference as a Drama and Film department head, a position she held for ten years. It was there she was introduced to film from Guy Silagi and got the opportunity to act in her first video. God was beginning to open the door.
By 2005, Mimi gained enough acting experience to get agent representation and has since appeared in over 40 projects. As an actor Sagadin has worked directly with Vince Vaughn, Ron Howard, Emma Thompson, Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Katherine Heigl, Kurtwood Smith, and John Rhys-Davies in the upcoming film Return to the Hiding Place, where she had the honor to play Corrie ten Boom. To view the movie trailer go to:
www.hide-movie.comAmbassadors for Christ: Being Salt and Light in the Film and Theater Community
As actors and artists we have the amazing opportunity to tell the world, “… be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). How do we do that? What doors will be opened? What is required? Mimi will tackle these questions practically, so you will have the confidence you need to be on the front lines of the entertainment industry. She will also share her personal experience on the set of the upcoming film, Return to the Hiding Place, as Corrie ten Boom. Mimi Sagadin has over 21 years of acting experience in Improv, Theater, Film, and Commercials.
Michael Spooner has worked in the animation industry for twenty-five years with such notable studios as Walt Disney, Warner Brothers and DreamWorks.
Michael’s professional career in art began in 1976, when he was invited to join the faculty at Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, after graduating with distinction. He taught for twelve years, simultaneously working as a freelance illustrator for clients that included the Public Broadcasting System, Zondervan Publishing House, Mazda Motors, the National Football League, NBC Television, Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox.
Michael ventured into animation as a Layout Artist with Ralph Bakshi’s feature production of Tolkien’s, Lord of the Rings. Shortly after he worked with Filmation Studios on He-Man,
Bravestar and Fat Albert and on the Bagdasarian feature, The Chipmunk Adventure.
Joining the Walt Disney Television Animation team in 1988 as a Visual Development Artist and Production Designer, Michael set the style for such episodic shows as, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Talespin, Goof Troop, The Little Mermaid, New Bonkers and Aladdin. He also worked on the direct-to-video production of Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
In 1994, Michael and his family moved to Paris, France, where he headed up the Production
Layout team for Disney’s feature film, A Goofy Movie.
Returning to Los Angeles in 1995, Michael Co-Art Directed Warner Brothers first full-length
animated feature, Quest for Camelot. Following that he worked independently as a Visual
Development Designer Consultant on Disney’s Dinosaurs, The Emperor’s New Groove,
Treasure Planet and Lilo and Stitch. Michael also assisted on early development design of
Dreamworks,’ Shrek.
Michael moved to the Chicago area in 1999 to become Vice President of Visual Development and Artist Education with Big Idea Productions, home of the popular 3D animated video series, Veggie Tales. There he developed and headed up the Visual Development process in Story, Concept Design, Modeling and Layout. He also served as Art Director on various productions and as an Art Direction Consultant on Big Idea’s first feature animated film, Jonah.
Today, Michael owns Spoonerville Animation Design, an independent visual development
studio, providing both traditional and CGI design concepts for clients such as Big Idea, Inc.,
Star Farm Productions, ReelFX Creative Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
He lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his writer-wife Beverly, and son Philip.
Michael is a visiting artist and lecturer, presenting in universities, art schools and animation
studios throughout the United States.
Feature Animation Visual Development
Breaking ground in preproduction – a detailed description of the early development stage of a feature animated film. So what is Visual Development anyway? On any given feature length animated film, it’s during the visual development phase where exploration is made to visually discover the world in which the story takes place and the characters who occupy it. With over 25 years experience in the animation industry as a visual concept designer, Michael describes this visual development process of feature animation.Production Design of Disney’s ‘Treasure Planet’
As a senior visual concept designer on Disney’s animated feature, Treasure Planet, Michael shares his art and describes the development of the overall production design strategy that shaped the visual direction of this Disney project. A real show and tell experience.
Sharon King was born, raised and educated in the State of Illinois. Her entrepreneurial drive was inspired by the self-employment example of her father. As a student at Columbia College, she began her career in production as an intern at The Oprah Winfrey Show. With a definite eye for talent, Sharon extends her search to the streets as well as the obvious sources for those with potential and raw talent in addition to seeing the dedicated professionals. A wealth of casting experience and a desire to bridge the gap between talent and production has led Sharon to her latest professional role of Producer.
While Sharon penetrated the industry as an Extras Casting Associate, she quickly ascended the ladder to Casting Director and Producer. In 1987, she started working as an Extras Casting Associate on feature films and series productions such as “Another Cup of Coffee” “The Babe” and “Brewster Place”. As a Casting Associate, she worked with other Casting Directors on feature films and pilot presentations that include: “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, “The Five Heartbeats”, “Meteor Man” and “Moe’s World”.
Her Casting Director/Extras Casting Director credits are extensive. They include music videos, short films, feature films, and commercials. Most notably, “Nothing Like the Holidays”, “Scenes for the Soul”, “Soul Food”, “Light It Up”, “Love Relations”, “Barbershop & Barbershop 2”, “Roll Bounce”, Of Boys and Men”, “Witless Protection”, ”Elektra”, ”Fat Albert”, “Spider Man II”, “Normal”, “Proof”, “Ice Harvest”, “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment”, Ron Isley / R Kelly “What Would You Do”, and the “Illinois Lottery”.
She is an active member on various boards including The Governor's Visual Media Task Force, the Illinois Production Alliance – Diversity Committee Chair, Chicago International Film Festival – Black Perspectives Committee. Sharon is dedicated to producing and developing more feature films and television projects in Illinois while striving to unite the visual media community.
Film Faculty Panel Discussion
In this opening session, Guy Silagi will conduct a panel discussion with Craig Harris, Mimi Sagadin, Michael Spooner and Sharon King to discuss various challenges Christians face while working in the film industry. Be prepared for a power packed session filled with personal stories and the wonder of God.