Daniel Ellsberg and Allen Ginsberg

They have very little in common, right? Perhaps the fact that their names both end with “berg” or the controversies surrounding them. Well, for me they both represent good fortune – that I was involved, though to a small degree in the two recent films about them. The Allen Ginsberg film, “Howl” is based on the obscenity trial around the famous poem by the same title. I, along with other board artists were commissioned by Animation Director John Hays to help flesh out storyboard sequences for the animated portion of the film. While the actor James Franco as Ginsberg, recited the poem, the visuals were expressed through a CG/2D animated sequence.

Here are few sequences I worked out from notes by John Hayes:

Billboard animation

Billboard two

Subway

Subway to rooftops

motorbike and spectral figures

The documentary film, “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” used simple animation for it’s reenactment sequences. For this, Eli Noyes of Alligator Planet worked out these moments with the Directors of the film. Eli commissioned me to help with the layouts. Here are some scenes.

Xerox

Xerox

Xerox

Columns

Columns

Columns

Columns

So go catch the films when you get a chance. They are both really worth it!

-Tom

About Administrator

Tom has worked for over two decades in television, advertising, and feature film animation. Tom was Character Sculptor and Effects Animator on the Warner Bros/Lorimar Gumby Adventures‚ TV series (1987-1988) and Gumby Movie‚ the stop-motion feature film (1991). In 1991 at Colossal Pictures, Tom's Animation Direction debut Coca-Cola Watch‚ won a Clio Award. In 2000 he became Co-Partner at Way Out West Prods in San Francisco. Tom joined Maverix Studios in October of 2002 and was a dedicated principal member of the group until September 2011. Tom is now an artist for hire.
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2 Responses to Daniel Ellsberg and Allen Ginsberg

  1. Chris Boyd says:

    Cool! Both look like interesting projects to be involved in.

    I’ve been thinking “Howl” looks really good. The other one I hadn’t heard of, but I will keep my eyes open for it.

  2. I have yet to see either of them in their entirety myself, Chris!

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