The Art Directors Guild (ADG) Film Society and American Cinematheque conclude the 2013 ADG Film Series with a special screening of Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Tengoku No Tobira) (2001), a futuristic animated feature from Japan that blends film noir, spaghetti western, Hong Kong style action, and much more into a remarkable work of film art on Sunday, August 25 at 5:30 pm at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, though considered anime, has all the emotion and visceral impact of any great live action film, with a story that mixes past and future architecture and wild action with a feeling of genuine urban realism. Cowboy Bebop is unique as it creates its world with a minimum of computer graphics and just a bit of clever rotoscoping — the vast majority of both human and mechanical action is rendered entirely by hand.
The program, sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, will begin with a short visual presentation introducing the audience to the special universe of Cowboy Bebop. A discussion will follow with Peter Ramsey, an ADG Illustrator who advanced to feature Director on the award winning Rise of the Guardians (2012) and special guest Steve Blum, the acclaimed actor who voices “Spike Spiegel,” Bebop’s lead character, as well Wolverine, The Avengers, and Transformers, among many others. ADG Film Society Founder, Co-Chair and Production Designer John Muto will moderate the program.
Representing the ADG are Film Society Co-Chairs John Muto and Thomas A. Walsh, and Debbie Patton, ADG Manager, Awards and Events. Working with them are the American Cinematheque’s Gwen Deglise, Margot Gerber, and Grant Moninger.
General admission: $11. American Cinematheque members: $7. Students/Seniors with valid ID: $9. All screenings start at 5:30pm 24-hour information is available at 323-466-FILM (3456).
