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| Truly CA: Our State, Our Stories: Gumby Dharma kicks off a new season of Truly CA: Press Release |
Season 3 begins with a touching look at Art Clokey,
the grandfather of stop motion animation
Premieres Sunday, March 25 at 6pm on KQED Public Television 9
February 28, 2007, San Francisco, CA --- The third season of KQED's documentary series Truly CA (www.kqed.org/trulyca) begins this March with the story of Art Clokey, a pioneer of stop motion animation and creator of the lovable clay characters Gumby and Pokey. Clokey's evolving spiritual quests inspired many of the adventures of these characters, enjoyed by audiences for half a century. Gumby Dharma premieres Sunday, March 25 at 6pm on KQED 9.
Gumby Dharma introduces viewers to an artist that took a simple slab of clay in 1954 and molded it into a legend that is still recognizable today. Art Clokey's life took many turns, from an orphanage to adored adopted father, from the seminary to Hollywood, from nuclear family to hippie counterculture, and from the traditional Episcopalian church to Buddhism and Indian guru Sai Baba. His world famous characters Gumby and Pokey, and animation of Davey and Goliath, often seemed to echo the spiritual path their creator was taking.
Candid and revealing interviews with an 85-year-old Clokey bring the viewer into his unique personal and professional worlds. At once colorful and quirky, heartbreaking and redemptive, the film uses vivid scenes from 1950's Gumby episodes, home movies shot by Art when he was a kid, and interviews with those closest to Clokey to show us what goes into the making of an icon.
Gumby Dharma features interviews with contemporary leaders in animation, including Director Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and special effects legend Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts, Adventures of Sinbad). Also included is new stop motion animation of Gumby and Pokey (directed/animated by Academy Award nominee Timothy Hittle), who narrate this playful and touching homage to the grandfather of clay animation, Art Clokey.
About the Filmmakers
Robina Marchesi (1965 - 2005), Director and Producer, passed away in May 2005. This is Marchesi's first full-length documentary. She worked on a variety of Bay Area independent films, including first assistant director for Trinh Minh Ha's Night Passage. She was the manager for the 2002 and 2003 Sundance Film Festival's House of Docs, and Festival Coordinator for The Mill Valley Film Festival for the past six years.
Tim Hittle, Director of Animation and Producer, is the creator of Jay Clay and Blue, the lead characters of his films Potato Hunter and Canhead. Canhead was nominated for an Academy Award in 1996, for Best Animated Short. Hittle's credits include Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, Pixar's A Bug's Life, and iThe Incredibles, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Hittle currently animates for Pixar Animation Studios.
Klara Grunning-Harris, Director of Photography and Producer, has worked as an independent producer, director and cinematographer for the last 15 years. Her credits include Gumby Dharma, What Do You Believe?, Nice Chinese Boy, and Looking For Buddha, as well as several commercials, industrials, web-interactives and music videos. Grunning-Harris currently works as the Coordinating Producer for ITVS International and is producing a feature narrative film called Firstborn directed and written by Tiffany Golden.
About Truly CA
Truly CA is KQED's series of independent documentaries about life in the Golden State. It airs monthly on Sundays at 6pm on KQED 9. Truly CA is a KQED production presented in association with the Bay Area Video Coalition and Film Arts Foundation. Support for Truly CA is provided by The Campaign for the Future Program Venture Fund, by Ambassador James C. Hormel and Timothy C. Wu, The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, and the members of KQED.
About KQED Public Television
KQED Public Television 9 (www.kqed.org), a service of Northern California Public Broadcasting, Inc. (NCPB), is one of the nation's most-watched public television stations during primetime. KQED produces local weekly series in high definition and available on Comcast On Demand: The Josh Kornbluth Show; Quest; Spark; Check, Please! Bay Area and This Week in Northern California; and national series: Jacques Pepin: Fast Food My Way and Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. KQED's digital television channels include KQED HD, KQED Encore, KQED World, KQED Life and KQED Kids, and are available 24/7 on Comcast. Download programs for viewing and video podcasts at www.kqed.org, featuring unique content on one of the most-visited station sites in public broadcasting.
About BAVC
The Bay Area Video Coalition is the nation's largest noncommercial media arts center dedicated to providing access to media, education and technology. BAVC is a production facility, an affordable training center, a pioneer in technology-based workforce development and a critical resource for independent filmmakers.
About Film Arts Foundation
Film Arts Foundation supports the creation and success of independent film and video makers by providing education, comprehensive information, state of the art facilities and equipment, financial support and exhibition opportunities. Film Arts Foundation is a catalyst and advocate for the diverse voices of the independent film community on the West Coast and nationally.
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