Tuesday, March 18, 2008

do puppets dream of plasticine sheep?

I am reporting today from the greater Portland area---from the film set of Coraline, Neil’s newest book come to life on film. This beautifully odd story about "other mothers" and secret doors is being made by Henry Selick @ Laika. Henry, who created the amazing Nightmare before Christmas, Tim Burton’s vision, had a cocktail party for Neil where we met his family and many of the Laikans who have been working so hard for so long on the film. To make about one minute of finished film, can take up a week of time, maybe more, all told. (this is approx, mind you)

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Here is a photo of our resident DJ Harry, Henry’s son, who was responsible for the beautifully diverse & surprising music at the party. I met Heather, Henry’s wife, who was a fascinating woman, a gracious hostess and very devoted to her man. The house was studded with art and props from the films that Henry has created, i am so in awe of his vision and talents. The first thing I saw when i walked in was an original Mark Ryden painting, *sigh.

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Yesterday we went on a studio tour of construction and sets (there are over forty active sets!)
We were on hot sets that I did not photograph, sensitive properties that are not yet to be released to the public. What I can say, this movie is going to be ageless, transcend the years, the set of the "other house" and the glittering sky there is one thing i will always remember....A dream sequence waiting to be dreamt.




This is where Maddy made quite a splash as the on-air correspondent at the behind-the-scenes DVD extras etc

Maddy interviewed Henry & her Dad and the wardrobe lady, Deb and the head of puppets, George---
she was a natural, had no hesitation in going after the question, making sure she was looking at the right camera, everything went so smoothly. Here she is having her hair & make up done...

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This is Shelley, Henry’s amazing assistant, & girl Friday and superwoman, Look at her tights. Astounding. She & her man Kevin came out to see me on the Tool tour, so it was her turn to show me her town, her gig & her way around the magic. Ask Lorraine, she will testify. (And our FabLo’s standard bar is set so very high.)

Shelley fed us breakfast & she fed us well.

However, during the filming i heard a rumbling that i thought was an errant cell phone...it turned out to be head of marketing’s stomach growling. It was so cute, she and i shared a moment of levity on the completely quiet & serious set.

Right now i am sitting next to Boss while he does a signing for the crew of Coraline, an internationally mixed bunch. They have been working so hard on the film, and it gives them a chance to meet the mind from which such a story sprung. Neil, as always, was very generous with his time, for a sincere thank you to the crew.



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We walked in the sprinkly rain from the hotel to a sushi bar, w/Merrilee, Neil’s literary super-agent who came in from NYC to see the progress. A nourishing meal of fresh fish & rice, and good conversation.

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This is Maddy about to eat the chocolate pig that Laika left for her in the hotel room.

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Speaking of hotel,----- yesterday I rode up in the elevator 9 floors chatting away with the ever-lovin’ SHaQ! SHaquille O’Neal...in town to play w/Phoenix against Portland...
He asked me if i was from Portland, i said, no i am from where you once where....hmmmph. man, he really is tall. More photos tomorrow, i can’t download the ones i just took of the signing line, until we return to hotel. Tonight we see lots of old friends, and i am looking forward to hanging out with Nancye & William on my last night in Portland...
then off to the frozen lands. I will get my winter fix & my Quiche & MiM & Princess & Misty fixes.
xo

6 comments:

Yoga Gal said...

These photos bring Da ja vu (I bet I missed spelled that , my French skills suck) still saw some of these photos on the "Boss's" blog. But your text was very interesting! Sounds as if the Boss brought an entourage. I saw actress Terri H. (not certain of her last name but know she's the voice of the evil / dark side mother in Caroline) On the Rachel Ray show this morning and hoped she would mention the movie but she mention every other project she was working on but that one! Sigh! Actresses! It's always about "me, wonderful me!" Well, they have to promote themselves I guess. Sounds like you're having a great time in wet Portland! Keep dry and enjoy the sushi! Love - Geri

Yoga Gal said...

"It's like deja-vu all over again." Yogi Berra
My bad, I spelled it wrong! Well, I'm a little tipsy; okay I'm drunk! But, it's cool because I'm home and will not be on the road! Anyway, during my wine tasting adventure in northern California I got carried away and joined not one but three wine clubs! This Monday I got boxes full of wine from all three. You want any wine? Anyway, I love reading about your excellent adventures on the road as well as your wonderful photos! By the way, when are you going to be having a showing of your photos?
Well, enjoy the rain and snow. "I've seen fire and I've seen rain, I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.." Told you, I'm drunk. Well, "It;s ain't over till it's over." another quote from Yogi Berra.
Love and good wishes from Geri

spacedlaw said...

Looking forward to more pictures. And I am SO jealous that you will soon see Lorraine (and the kitties! Mimsy must have grown a lot already in a month). But it is fair so I won't grumble. Please take (and post) loads of pictures wile you are there.
N.

EmilyLady said...

Hello Cat,

I'm glad to know you're enjoying your time in Portland ... How is the weather? (It's really cold here in Rhode Island -- but then of course the first day of spring is never warm, no matter how mild it may have been lately ...)


Did you take all the pictures? Maddy is very photogenic.


(As a small sidenote, I do have a blog. I don't know whether you're interested, but you asked me to send you the link -- and I started one. First post is not very interesting, only about a book I quite liked, but if you would like to take a look the URL is www.emilylady.blogspot.com.)


Best,

~Emily

Kitty Cat said...

hey all!
i did in fact take all the photos,
my Dad raised me to be a photo-happy kid.
Emily, good for you on your blog, and YG, wine is the liquid of the Gods...

Dan Guy said...

I can't wait to see Maddy's interviews; I loved the audio interview of her dad she did and her blog-voice.

I can't wait to see Coraline!