G R E G M A N W A R I N G

April 2009

I had a fantastic trip back to L.A. for meetings about a couple of my projects and to attend the Oscars. I stayed a few days at the home of old friend and colleague, Annie Guenther, who was a delightful host, really looking after my business partner Holger, his girlfriend and myself! She will hopefully come over here and visit us here in Munich sometime this year.

I also stayed the last couple of days with my old friend and roomate, Joe Haidar and his lovely girlfriend Sally. Joe and Jim Baker recently finished a 15 minute live action film mixed with animation (ala' Roger Rabbit), which is a heck of an accomplishment! I salute them both on an entertaining job well done.

I won't go through the whole list of friends that I saw (and the many I didn't get to see), but a special thanks goes out to my old CalArts friend, Ms. Abigail Caro and old Army brat buddy Mark Demos!

This past Friday I finished putting my spin on a Script that has been written for a film to be produced here in Germany soon called "Little Big Panda" (which is more akin to 'Bambi' than 'Kung Fu Panda'). Hopefully it gets into production soon and gets steady employment for many of my friends over here.

I'll hopefully be able to update you all soon with any developments on my own projects.

February 2009

Wow, I can't believe that my last post was back in August of 2008. Time just seems to fly when you're really busy, as I have been while working in Edinburgh on "Le Illusionist"!

I am temporarily back home in Munich, which gives me a chance to concentrate on my projects. I won't say much, but I am very excited about the near future!

I'll be back in Hollywood for the Oscars and have already set up some amazing meetings and am in the process of setting up more. It's also a nice chance to meet up with old friends there. I've actually been gone 9 years now. That means I was 16 when I left there!

Okay, so my math isn't great.

I have been working with some extraordinary artists in Edinburgh on "Le Illusionist". Many of them are very young (early 20's) and are really holding their own with the very realistic human acting involved with the film! I commend them all! What a wonderful smorgasboard of cultures as well - the Studio is filled with French, Spanish, German, Canadians, Americans, Dutch, Scots and English!

I can tell you that the viewer will be in for quite a treat, as the film looks AMAZING!

Roger Rabbit Mini-Reunion!

Here at Django Studios in Edinburgh we had a mini Roger Rabbit reunion when Al Gaivoto visited the Studio! Jacques Muller, Al and myself have not been together like this in 20 years! Funny, but I look exactly the same as I did back then! (Of course, that is, if you take away the added pounds and the designer bald look!)

Long lost "Iron Giant" test scene

David Zart, the worlds biggest "Iron Giant" fan, recently got hold of a test scene I made before the start of production. It was one of two that Brad had me make so that we could see how the characters interact with the Giant. In this one, Hogarth beckons his buddy before having to dive out of the way of his impending step down into the scene. In the other one the Giant actually scoops Hogarth up and carries him as the camera pulls back to reveal the Giant's height in regards to his surroundings.

Unfortunately David was only able to film the scene in slo-mo, and without the camera shakes (from the Giants incoming steps) - but you'll get the gist of it. (of course I only wish I could go back in time to fix up some things! But that's always the case isn't it?!)

The Illusionist

I'll soon be heading to Edinburgh to help animate on Sylvain Chomet's new film, "The Illusionist"! The craftsmanship in Chomet's films is amazing, as one can see in "Les Tripplettes De Belleville", and makes the allure of working on his new film that much stronger!

Here is an image from the film:

Andy Knight R.I.P.

I was shocked and saddened to hear about Andy Knight's passing away over the weekend. I want to send my condolensces to his family, friends and team, and hope they can find solace in the many wonderful memories he left us all.

Andy was one of the "good ones"!

Rest in Peace Andy.

Oscars 2008

I attended the Oscars again this year and had a great time! I made the most out of my trip by pitching projects to both Disney and Paramount studios. Both projects were well received. This makes 4 projects of mine that are actively moving forward (one t.v. series was bought in December)!

Upon arrival at L.A.X. I was picked up by my old friend Fabrice Morvan (1/2 of Milli Vanilli). We attended a pre-Oscar party at the German Consulate where we met up with the German Hollywood correspondant Dierk Sindermann. Dirk has a weekly column that I read in my local Munich newspaper, so it was a pleasure meeting him!