Aardman Academy Pacts With New Zealand’s Canterbury University for Stop-Motion Animation (Exclusive)
New Zealand’s University of Canterbury has signed a five-year exclusive agreement with the Aardman Academy, the training arm of the Aardman Animations, the British film and TV studio behind “Wallace and Gromit” and “Shaun the Sheep.”
The agreement enables the Christchurch-based university to become the only educational institution in New Zealand to specialize in Aardman’s unique version of stop-motion animation. It has the potential to upend the country’s animation industry.
The Aardman Academy was created at a time when the studio urgently needed more animators to produce “Chicken Run.” Released in 2000, the film went on to become the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time. The Aardman Academy has since trained hundreds of world-class animators, directors, model makers and other specialists.
Training will be offered to animation students studying for the university’s Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours degree. And it creates the opportunity to receive training...
The agreement enables the Christchurch-based university to become the only educational institution in New Zealand to specialize in Aardman’s unique version of stop-motion animation. It has the potential to upend the country’s animation industry.
The Aardman Academy was created at a time when the studio urgently needed more animators to produce “Chicken Run.” Released in 2000, the film went on to become the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time. The Aardman Academy has since trained hundreds of world-class animators, directors, model makers and other specialists.
Training will be offered to animation students studying for the university’s Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours degree. And it creates the opportunity to receive training...
- 4/16/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
★★☆☆☆The latest offering to emerge from Bristol's iFeatures micro-budget funding scheme, which also saw Polish-born director Katarzyna Klimkiewicz's impressive Flying Blind (2012) secure a UK theatrical release last year, Mark Simon Hewis' debut feature 8 Minutes Idle (2012) (based on a novel of the same name by Matt Thorne) also had the added backing of funds from Kickstarter to help ensure it managed the same distribution pathway. Unfortunately, Hewis' amiable twentysomething drama doesn't quite impress in the the same way as its predecessor, despite an appealingly straight-faced performance from lead actor Tom Hughes and the abstract, sometimes almost Lynchian comedic tone.
- 6/2/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Her | The Lego Movie | Bastards | The Monuments Men | Cuban Fury | 8 Minutes Idle | Love Is In The Air | Endless Love | Bette Bourne: It Goes With The Shoes
Her (15)
(Spike Jonze, 2013, Us) Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara. 126 mins
Technophilia will only get you so far, Jonze's near-future parable suggests, as it engineers a blind date between a lonely man and a sentient operating system with no concept of privacy settings – and finds both partners wanting. More successful is the marriage of sci-fi and romantic drama: the focus is more on the heart than the hardware in this soulful, often sorrowful movie.
The Lego Movie (U)
(Phil Lord, 2014, Us) Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett. 100 mins
Using pop-culture humour and star voices to overcome blatant product placement, this canny, rapid-fire comedy adventure is like a Matrix parody rendered in CGI plastic bricks.
Bastards (18)
(Claire Denis, 2013, Fra/Ger) Vincent Lindon, Chiara Mastroianni.
Her (15)
(Spike Jonze, 2013, Us) Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara. 126 mins
Technophilia will only get you so far, Jonze's near-future parable suggests, as it engineers a blind date between a lonely man and a sentient operating system with no concept of privacy settings – and finds both partners wanting. More successful is the marriage of sci-fi and romantic drama: the focus is more on the heart than the hardware in this soulful, often sorrowful movie.
The Lego Movie (U)
(Phil Lord, 2014, Us) Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett. 100 mins
Using pop-culture humour and star voices to overcome blatant product placement, this canny, rapid-fire comedy adventure is like a Matrix parody rendered in CGI plastic bricks.
Bastards (18)
(Claire Denis, 2013, Fra/Ger) Vincent Lindon, Chiara Mastroianni.
- 2/15/2014
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Arriving in cinemas and on demand today, Mark Simon Hewis’ 8 Minutes Idle promises to be a charming comedy perfectly timed for the Valentine’s festivities over the weekend, with an element of office romance thrown in for good measure.
Following the rather brilliant first trailer we saw last month, we’ve now got an exclusive new clip from the film to share in tandem with its release, teasing a little of the comedy we can expect. Antonia Thomas’ retorts, in particular, are just genius.
8 Minutes Idle is a contemporary comedy adapted from the award‐winning novel by Bristol author Matt Thorne. This is the story of Dan, early 20s, who gets kicked out of his home by his mother and not knowing who to turn to ends up packing up his most prized possessions and his cat and moves into his office, a Call Centre.
Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction) leads a stellar cast,...
Following the rather brilliant first trailer we saw last month, we’ve now got an exclusive new clip from the film to share in tandem with its release, teasing a little of the comedy we can expect. Antonia Thomas’ retorts, in particular, are just genius.
8 Minutes Idle is a contemporary comedy adapted from the award‐winning novel by Bristol author Matt Thorne. This is the story of Dan, early 20s, who gets kicked out of his home by his mother and not knowing who to turn to ends up packing up his most prized possessions and his cat and moves into his office, a Call Centre.
Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction) leads a stellar cast,...
- 2/14/2014
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
As part of an initiative called iFeatures, where three movies were made on modest-sized budgets in Bristol, England, 8 Minutes Idle is the final of the trio of films (Flying Blind and In the Dark Half being the other too) to finally make its way to cinemas. Though director Mark Simon Hewis’ debut production had hit a snag when the film’s initial distributor went bust – fortunately cash raised by members of the British public and celebrities such as Stephen Merchant and Dom Joly, have ensured this film will get a theatrical release after all – and given the creativity and jocular charm to this low-budget piece, that can only be a good thing.
Based on the novel by Matt Thorne, we delve into the idle existence of Dan (Tom Hughes) – a twenty-something who spends his days working in a call centre, and his evenings contending with a dysfunctional and erratic mother,...
Based on the novel by Matt Thorne, we delve into the idle existence of Dan (Tom Hughes) – a twenty-something who spends his days working in a call centre, and his evenings contending with a dysfunctional and erratic mother,...
- 2/10/2014
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Based on the award-winning novel of the same name, 8 Minutes Idle is on the cusp of release, heading into cinemas and available on demand on Valentine’s Day.
The Bristol-shot and -set comedy sees Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction, About Time) take the lead as the young Dan, who gets kicked out of his home and is forced to move into his office. And with the film’s release right around the corner, the very promising first trailer has launched online.
8 Minutes Idle is a contemporary comedy adapted from the award‐winning novel by Bristol author Matt Thorne. This is the story of Dan, early 20s, who gets kicked out of his home by his mother and not knowing who to turn to ends up packing up his most prized possessions and his cat and moves into his office, a Call Centre.
The film follows Dan and Teri’s attempts at romance,...
The Bristol-shot and -set comedy sees Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction, About Time) take the lead as the young Dan, who gets kicked out of his home and is forced to move into his office. And with the film’s release right around the corner, the very promising first trailer has launched online.
8 Minutes Idle is a contemporary comedy adapted from the award‐winning novel by Bristol author Matt Thorne. This is the story of Dan, early 20s, who gets kicked out of his home by his mother and not knowing who to turn to ends up packing up his most prized possessions and his cat and moves into his office, a Call Centre.
The film follows Dan and Teri’s attempts at romance,...
- 1/22/2014
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: Kickstarter fundraising paves the way for theatrical release after Revolver’s shuttering.
Following the collapse of its distributor in March, Bristol-set indie comedy 8 Minutes Idle has now secured a 2014 Valentine’s Day release in the UK thanks to fundraising on Kickstarter.
The film, a dark romantic comedy based on a novel by Matt Thorne (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Blincoe), was initially set to be distributed by Revolver, but the company’s collapse in March shortly before the planned release date left the project’s theatrical release plans in limbo.
The producers decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise £20,000 with a promise of matched funding from Creative England, in order to fund the P&A costs for a theatrical release (the film will get a TV airing via its BBC Films deal).
Two weeks and six days into the campaign, 277 national and international donations meant that they surpassed their target by £1,000, and 8 Minutes...
Following the collapse of its distributor in March, Bristol-set indie comedy 8 Minutes Idle has now secured a 2014 Valentine’s Day release in the UK thanks to fundraising on Kickstarter.
The film, a dark romantic comedy based on a novel by Matt Thorne (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Blincoe), was initially set to be distributed by Revolver, but the company’s collapse in March shortly before the planned release date left the project’s theatrical release plans in limbo.
The producers decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise £20,000 with a promise of matched funding from Creative England, in order to fund the P&A costs for a theatrical release (the film will get a TV airing via its BBC Films deal).
Two weeks and six days into the campaign, 277 national and international donations meant that they surpassed their target by £1,000, and 8 Minutes...
- 12/18/2013
- ScreenDaily
Plans afoot to resurrect British indie comedy after its release was derailed by the demise of Revolver Entertainment
• RoboCop statue to guard Detroit after successful Kickstarter campaign
• Spike Lee crowdfunds film project on Kickstarter
The makers of a new British indie comedy stuck in limbo after its distributors went bankrupt have turned to crowdfunding in an effort to secure a release on Valentine's Day 2014.
Described as a "darkly romantic comedy that follows the perils and traumas of your first job", 8 Minutes Idle is directed by Mark Simon Hewis, written by Matt Thorne – from whose novel it was adapted – and Nicholas Blincoe, and stars Tom Hughes and Ophelia Lovibond. It was produced as part of the UK Film Council's microbudget iFeatures scheme, securing one of three places after defeating more than 500 rival applicants. The film was originally scheduled to hit cinemas in May 2012, but the collapse of distributors Revolver two...
• RoboCop statue to guard Detroit after successful Kickstarter campaign
• Spike Lee crowdfunds film project on Kickstarter
The makers of a new British indie comedy stuck in limbo after its distributors went bankrupt have turned to crowdfunding in an effort to secure a release on Valentine's Day 2014.
Described as a "darkly romantic comedy that follows the perils and traumas of your first job", 8 Minutes Idle is directed by Mark Simon Hewis, written by Matt Thorne – from whose novel it was adapted – and Nicholas Blincoe, and stars Tom Hughes and Ophelia Lovibond. It was produced as part of the UK Film Council's microbudget iFeatures scheme, securing one of three places after defeating more than 500 rival applicants. The film was originally scheduled to hit cinemas in May 2012, but the collapse of distributors Revolver two...
- 11/26/2013
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
South West Screen have just sent over these brand new set pictures from their latest movie, Eight Minutes Idle which is currently shooting in Bristol, UK. This is the second film to be made by iFeatures, Sws’s micro-budget filmmaking scheme.
The movie is directed by Mark Simon Hewis and has features great list of rising UK talent in it’s cast. This cast includes Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) and Ophelia Lovibond (No Strings Attached, 4.3.2.1., Nowhere Boy), Montserrat Lombard (St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus), Divian Ladwa (Saxon), Jack Ashton (Holby City) and Antonia Thomas (Misfits). Pippa Haywood (Tamara Drewe) and Paul Kaye (The Infidel, Match Point) also cameo in the movie.
Check out the full synopsis below and scroll down to view the new images. After our set visit to The Knot yesterday and Cockney’s vs.
The movie is directed by Mark Simon Hewis and has features great list of rising UK talent in it’s cast. This cast includes Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) and Ophelia Lovibond (No Strings Attached, 4.3.2.1., Nowhere Boy), Montserrat Lombard (St Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus), Divian Ladwa (Saxon), Jack Ashton (Holby City) and Antonia Thomas (Misfits). Pippa Haywood (Tamara Drewe) and Paul Kaye (The Infidel, Match Point) also cameo in the movie.
Check out the full synopsis below and scroll down to view the new images. After our set visit to The Knot yesterday and Cockney’s vs.
- 4/20/2011
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Shooting has begun in Bristol on Eight Minutes Idle, the second film to be made under iFeatures, South West Screen's groundbreaking micro-budget filmmaking scheme. The first film being In The Dark Half (previously known as The Dark Half) starring Jessica Barden which completed shooting at the end of last year and is now in post-production.
Eight Minutes Idle is a warped urban comedy about life in a Bristol call-centre, directed by BBC New Filmmaker finalist and multi award-winning shorts director Mark Simon Hewis, based upon Matt Thorne's award-winning novel.
An exciting cast of rising British talent is also lined up for Eight Minutes Idle.
25 year old Tom Hughes (represented by Gordon & French) stars as Dan Thomas, a man who has always taken the path of least resistance - in his work life, home life and love life. But when Dan finds himself kicked out of the family home, he's...
Eight Minutes Idle is a warped urban comedy about life in a Bristol call-centre, directed by BBC New Filmmaker finalist and multi award-winning shorts director Mark Simon Hewis, based upon Matt Thorne's award-winning novel.
An exciting cast of rising British talent is also lined up for Eight Minutes Idle.
25 year old Tom Hughes (represented by Gordon & French) stars as Dan Thomas, a man who has always taken the path of least resistance - in his work life, home life and love life. But when Dan finds himself kicked out of the family home, he's...
- 3/28/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (ScreenTerrier)
- ScreenTerrier
Principal photography of Eight Minutes Idle has begun in Bristol .The cast includes Tom Hughes and Ophelia Lovibond along with Montserrat Lombard, Divian Ladwa , Jack Ashton and Antonia Thomas. Pippa Haywood and Paul also have cameos.Eight Minutes Idle is a warped urban comedy about life in a Bristol call-center, directed by Mark Simon Hewis, The film is based upon Matt Thorne’s novel, and the script was co-developed by Thorne with novelist Nicholas Blincoe, also the co-founder of the New Puritans literary movement. Producing the film is Sarah Cox, whose ...
- 3/23/2011
- BusinessofCinema
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