Poster for September 19th Benefit Concert

What makes a cartoon a cartoon?

Well here we are.  After months of laboring over the finer points of a cartoon soundtrack, it’s all coming to the theatre for 4 live performances.   The last months of production have felt somewhere between running a marathon and watching Saturday morning cartoons.   There is so much work and dedication on the part of the artists and designers to create something so patently absurd.

It’s hard to know what the experience of the original soundtrack performers from the 1939 film was, however we can safely say that ours has been a remarkable ride with a lot of experimentation and new challenges.  When the movie rolls on Friday we’ll have some of the best talent in Portland on hand for a performance that brings live arts back to the movies.  Gulliver’s Travels is an experience, like every Filmusik show it has a bit of the classic and a bit of the new.

Filmusik: Gulliver’s Travels

This summer Filmusik is turning a local movie theatre into a Hollywood Soundstage. A team of 20 Portland professionals from the field of movie soundtracks create the sound for a classic animation live in the pit. As the movie plays on the big screen, 4 cartoon actors give voice to the on-screen characters, sound effects artists create the noises from over a hundred foley props and the Filmusik Chamber ensemble performs the music from the film including many musical numbers and several sing-a-longs. For cartoon buffs, family, new music lovers and anyone who’s ever wanted to know how they make that funny noise when Daffy Duck falls over. Filmusik: Gulliver’s Travels is a new way to experience movies and sound. Incidentally, it’s also the only place in town where you can sing along to a bouncing ball with a live orchestra and chorus backing you up!

Filmusik profile on NW32 “Outlook Portland”

Composer Galen Huckins talks with Rick Emerson on the NW 32′s Outlook Portland show.  Galen demonstrates what cartoon noises sound like and Rick gets the Gamera theme song stuck in his head.

Filmusik Teams up with Film Action Oregon for Animation Workshop

ANIMATE IT!

A DIY STOP-MOTION CLASS FOR YOUTH

Film Action Oregon presents Animate It! in partnership with Filmusik.  Youth ages 7-11 will learn the fundamentals of stop-motion animation while developing characters and stories relating thematically to the famous Fleischer Brothers’ production of GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.  Participants will create animated shorts and dub them with live vocals and sound effects courtesy of Filmusik’s pro foley artists.  Completed projects will be screened before the 2pm Filmusik presentation of GULLIVER’S TRAVELS at the Hollywood Theatre on July 18^th.”

Proceeds from Animate It! will help provide scholarships for underserved youth to attend Project Youth Doc, Film Action Oregon’s summer camp for young filmmakers. Visit www.filmaction.org/educating to learn more.

WHERE: The Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd.

WHEN: July 17^th & 18^th, 9:30am-12:30pm each day.

TUITION: Just $50, including all equipment, materials and admission for 1 to Filmusik’s production or Gulliver’s Travels at the Hollywood Theatre.  Reserve a spot by calling 503.493.1128, visiting us on the web at www.filmaction.org, or at the Hollywood Theatre box office.

About Film Action Oregon: Now in its 18th year of operation, Film Action Oregon (FAO) supports working artists producing independent film projects, educates youth in the art of filmmaking and animation, and presents a nationally recognized film exhibition program on three screens at the historic Hollywood Theatre. FAO creates a genuine cinematic alternative for Portland’s artistic community, providing the opportunity for close to 100,000 audience members to experience the best in independent, documentary, classic and foreign films each year. Additionally, FAO preserves the Hollywood Theatre as a venue for arts organizations to present live performances and community events in a historic, magnificent setting.