Kevin Schreck is a film student who is working on a documentary about Dick Williams' The Thief and the Cobbler. I have to admit being very ambivalent about Williams. He's a brilliant draftsman and technician, but I have serious doubts about him as a screenwriter and director. Considering the film a "lost animated masterpiece" is, in my opinion, going too far.
However, I think that a documentary on the film is a worthy project and so I'm doing my bit to publicize Schreck's attempt to raise money. You can read more about the project and see a promotional trailer for the documentary here.
(For the record, I pledged $25.)
I've watched the "Recobbled Cut" of the film on YouTube, and I have mixed feelings. Design wise, it's beautiful and very nice to look at, but the animation is slow. I believe it was animated on 1's (as Williams liked to do), and thus it's timing is slow. Also, the characterizations are not that great. Nobody really changes. It's another film where the technical side is brilliant, but there's no substance to it.
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful discussion with the director, and I do not think the documentary will be a "this masterpiece was hidden by a hollywood conspiracy" film, but an honest look at the breathtaking production and what a single person's vision over 30 years can end up as when it collides with reality, both financial and artistic. I too support it strongly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the plug, Mr. Mayerson!
ReplyDeleteLike Jason said so eloquently, this documentary will not be the naive, simple "artist vs. Hollywood" story. There is a lot more ambiguity and complications to the story of the three-decade-long production timeline of "The Thief." As much as I admire "The Thief and the Cobbler" (or Williams' version of it), the man himself is of even greater interest to me. The fact that the film is incomplete (or was never finished as intended by its creator) raises even more questions: Could it have been a masterpiece at all? Would Richard Williams ever finish it? How would it be remembered if it was completed? I'm hoping to present a realistic account of the making of that epic film. I think the truthful story is far more important and far more fascinating.
Anyway, thank you again for your support!
Kevin Schreck