Cleveland Conquers Pixar: Two Chagrin Falls Filmmakers Up for Animation Oscars

'Coco,' top, and 'LOU,' both directed by Clevelanders and up for Oscar

If you’re wondering who to root for during Sunday’s Oscars telecast, I have two names for you: Lee Unkrich and Dave Mullins. Both are Chagrin Falls, Ohio, natives. Both work for animation powerhouse Pixar. And both are nominated for Academy Awards in animation.

Unkrich directed Coco, the Pixar Animation Studios 2017 hit up for Best Animated Feature Film. The film tells the tale of Miguel Rivera, a 12-year-old boy who is transported to the land of the dead. There, he seeks the help of his ancestors to get back to the land of the living. The story is Unkrich’s too, although he didn’t write the screenplay.

Mullins wrote and directed the Pixar short Lou, which played alongside Pixar’s summer hit, Cars 3. Lou, the main character in the short, is made from the assorted unclaimed items of a kindergarten class. Lou’s gifts allow him to reshape the life of a class bully. Lou is up for Best Animated Short Film.

Clevelanders conquer Pixar

Unkrich was an actor in his youth, performing at Cleveland Playhouse. He would later attend the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. He joined Pixar in 1994, eventually co-directing Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo and Toy Story 3.

Mullins graduated from Chagrin Falls High School and attended classes at the Cleveland Institute of the Arts. He has more than 20 years at Pixar, working as a supervising and directing animator, working in some way on nearly every Pixar film to date, including Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, all three Cars films, Up, Brave, Inside Out and the upcoming Incredibles 2.

Comments

‘Too Many Cooks’ creator shooting horror feature ‘Arnie’ in Cleveland this summer

AI imagines the characters from 'Arnie' >> The next juicy horror feature is about to creep onto the streets of Cleveland, and it comes from Chris “Casper” Kelly, creator of the cult classic Too Many Cooks . The feature, Arnie , is tentatively shooting from July through August in the Cleveland area, according to a casting call from Angela Boehm Casting . (It's a live-action film. We don't want our AI interpretation confuse you!) Arnie was one of 14 projects awarded more than $26 million of $33 million in tax credits from the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program (OMPTC) aimed at boosting production and infrastructure across the state. Northeast Ohio’s Low Spark Films will produce. Filmmaker Casper Kelly Who is Casper Kelly? Kelly is an American writer, director, and producer known for his work in television and film. His work often blends humor, horror and absurdity. He gained attention with the viral short Too Many Cooks and ...

Mike Judge's 'Automated Trucking' one of several films awarded tax credits for 2025

Mike Judge and Alec Berg, creators of 'Automated Trucking' >>> Automated Trucking , a new comedy feature from Mike Judge, creator of Office Space , Beavis and Butthead , and King of the Hill , will shoot in Ohio this year - but where in Ohio is the real question. Automated Trucking was one of 14 projects awarded more than $26 million of $33 million in tax credits from the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program (OMPTC) aimed at boosting production and infrastructure across the state. The newly launched Ohio Film & Theater Capital Improvements Tax Credit Program (OFATCI) will provide more than $7.3 million to support capital improvements for film and theater production. "Our film tax credits bring producers and stars to Ohio, and they create opportunities for the local businesses, skilled trades, and creatives already here," said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. "The expansion of film in...

How illness, identity, and 'Antiques Roadshow' inspired 'Lost & Found in Cleveland'

Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman >> Whatever chronic illness he was battling, it was a mystery to Keith Gerchak and his doctor - several doctors, if we’re being honest. For six months, he battled a host of vague symptoms, including fatigue and a lingering fever. Gerchak’s physicians ran him through the gauntlet - blood cultures, viral panels, X-rays and CT scans. They were hunting for infection, autoimmune disease, cancer, thyroid issues, and deep-seated inflammatory conditions. They were coming up with nothing. “Finally, one of them told me, ‘I think your body is rejecting the path you’re on.’” Gerchak let that sink in. His illness wasn’t from a virus. It wasn’t an autoimmune disorder. It was his career choice. Santino Fontana as Gary Lucarelli Facing the fever Doctors have a name for it: psychogenic fever . It’s a real, measurable, stress-induced fever that can persist for months, common among people dealing with burnout, depression and - get this - intense life dissatisfact...

Midwest Movie Maker

Search This Blog