Hollywood, Calif. - The Gnomon School of Visual Effects has announced the addition of Shane Acker, who is joining the staff as the
newest resident artist. Acker is known for his Academy Award
nomination in 2006 (in the Best Animated Short Film category) for
writing, directing, and animating the 11-minute short film 9.
9 garnered
critical acclaim around the globe, screening at more than a dozen film
festivals and picking up several awards along the way. With Acker in
the director’s chair again, 9 has now been made into a feature film and
will premiere on September 9, 2009.
With some time to do a special
project in his schedule, he will now write and direct Gnomon’s next
in-house short film as a collaboration between students and
professionals.
"I love the short film format," says Acker. "It's such a liberating medium that allows filmmakers to take risks with story and techniques not possible in the Hollywood arena. I'm thrilled Alex has asked me to come on board to develop a short film here at the school. Gnomon is this amazing nexus, an artistic crossroads where industry professionals and students come together to study and cross-pollinate ideas. It's the perfect environment to create innovative short films using the latest in technology and techniques. I always learn an incredible amount from the artists and students I work with, whether in a classroom or in a studio, so I look forward to this great opportunity at Gnomon."
Prior to 9, Acker wrote, directed, and animated the 2-minute short "The Hangnail" (1999) and the 1-minute "The Astounding Talents of Mr. Grenade" (2003); and worked as an animator on Peter Jackson’s Academy Award-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which starred Elijah Wood of 9.