FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 June 2009

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Academy Award® Winner Chris Landreth to Speak at SIGGRAPH 2009

(Chicago, IL) - SIGGRAPH 2009 announces Academy Award® winner Chris Landreth as a special guest speaker during this year's renowned Computer Animation Festival. Landreth will show his newest short film, The Spine, and share insights into the development, and psychologically-driven animation of the film's characters during a special discussion held on Thursday, 6 August.

The Spine Directed by Chris Landreth
Produced by Steven Hoban (Copper Heart Entertainment Inc.), Marcy Page (NFB), Mark Smith (Copper Heart Entertainment Inc.) Photo taken from the production (c) 2009 National Film Board of Canada All Rights Reserved.

Landreth will discuss the unintended consequence of the "Uncanny Valley" - the "creepy" effect of making CGI characters too realistic - as well as how The Spine attempts to avoid this outcome. He will describe how his animators used a method acting approach to create movement in these characters including how they mimicked subtle gestures, ticks, and micro-expressions in faces and bodies. Highlights of how the film's crew balanced realism and stylization to create characters who are "Uncanny", in a positive way will also be discussed.

"It is an honor to have Chris return to give back to the SIGGRAPH audience. He has a wonderful story to tell that should be applicable across multiple industry lines," stated Carlye Archibeque, SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival Executive Producer. "Chris' animation expertise, as well as his long-standing history with SIGGRAPH, specifically his participation in the Computer Animation Festival, offer a great example of the caliber of work showcased in this great venue and what is possible by showcasing your talents at SIGGRAPH."

Landreth first received acclaim in 2004 at SIGGRAPH when his animated short, Ryan, won its Best of Show Award. The film's story was based on the life of Ryan Larkin, a former animator who produced some of the most influential animated films of his time at the National Film Board of Canada. Ryan went on to receive an Academy Award for Best Animated Short later that year.

The Spine was produced by the National Film Board of Canada in association with Copperheart Animation and C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, with the creative participation of Autodesk Canada CO. and Seneca College School of Communication Arts.

Complete information on this session and other details related to the Computer Animation Festival is available at http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/computer_animation_festival/index.php. The SIGGRAPH 2009 Computer Animation Festival Preview Video is also available for download.

For detailed information on the SIGGRAPH 2009 dynamically evolving program or to download a copy of the SIGGRAPH 2009 Preview Video visit www.siggraph.org/s2009.

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About SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH 2009 will bring an anticipated 20,000 computer graphics and interactive technology professionals from six continents to New Orleans, Louisiana, USA for the industry's most respected technical and creative programs focusing on research, science, art, animation, music, gaming, interactivity, education, and the web from Monday, 3 August through Friday, 7 August 2009 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. SIGGRAPH 2009 includes a three-day exhibition of products and services from the computer graphics and interactive marketplace from 4-6 August 2009. More than 200 international exhibiting companies are expected. More details are available at www.siggraph.org/s2009.

About ACM
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery www.acm.org, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.