Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks Filmmaker Presentations and Recruitment Opportunities at CTN animation eXpo Nov. 16-18 in Burbank

CULVER CITY, Calif.,, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks will lead several engaging panels, signings and recruitment opportunities November 16-18 at the CTN animation eXpo, the preeminent gathering of professionals from both the traditional and digital worlds of animation, in Burbank, CA.

Hotel Transylvania, Sony Pictures Animation's monster hit currently in theaters which broke box office records in the U.S. and already opened #1 in 17 international markets, provides the centerpiece with a dedicated behind the scenes panel and follow-up "Shop Talk" led by award winning director Genndy Tartakovsky.

Hotel Transylvania activities run the length of Saturday's convention hours, starting with a 10:00am "Meet the Talent Behind the Making of Hotel Transylvania" panel in the City Ballroom moderated by animation historian Jerry Beck. Tartakovsky will lead the 45-minute presentation of the hit film's inception and production alongside Producer Michelle Murdocca, Supervising Animator William Haller and CG Supervisor Karl Herbst. The quartet will then segue into an 11:00am "Shop Talk Lounge," where the filmmakers can provide greater detail during a more intimate 45-minute Q&A with the audience.

The Saturday afternoon activities surrounding Hotel Transylvania center on the creative vision of the film - starting with a 4:30pm panel on "The Art of Hotel Transylvania" book, in the Sunset A+B Room, and followed by an hour-long autograph signing of the stunning "The Art of Hotel Transylvania" book at 5:30pm. Author Tracey Miller-Zarneke will moderate the panel, which features four of the key individuals responsible for the unique, critically-acclaimed look of the popular film: Production Designer Marcelo Vignali, Art Director Noelle Triaureau and Storyboard Artist Rebecca Sugar. All four panelists will take part in the book signing, which is sponsored by Sony Pictures Animation and co-sponsored by Stuart Ng Books.

Hotel Transylvania Production Designer Marcelo Vignali will also be featured in a pair of events over the weekend. A respected artist well known within the industry for his visual development and illustrations, Vignali will present a live demonstration of "Drawing Skills" on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 11:00-11:45am on the Main Stage/Classic Demo. On Sunday, Nov. 18 at 4:00pm, Vignali will take part in the "Being a Visual Development Artist" panel in the Sunset A+B Room.

Animation Supervisor Spencer Cook (Men in Black 3, Spider-Man, The Matrix Reloaded) will also join a panel about "Character and Creature Animation in Today's World of VFX" on Friday, Nov. 16 at 3:30pm in the CTN East Tent.

Recruitment will be a priority for Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks at CTN eXpo. Sony Pictures Animation Director of Recruiting Jana Day will be amongst the knowledgeable panelists assisting students on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2:30pm in a panel entitled "How to Best Present Yourself at Recruiting" in the CTN East Tent.

Taking full advantage of CTN eXpo's unique talent search opportunities for both Sony Pictures Animation (SPA) and Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI), the companies will have expansive recruiting windows each day during the convention. Recruitment will be open Friday, Nov. 16 (Noon-7:00pm) at both the SPA and SPI booths. On Saturday, Nov. 17, SPI will be open for recruiting from 10:00am-2:30pm, and SPA will welcome interested participants from 2:30-7:00pm. On Sunday, Nov. 18, SPA will be accepting potential recruits from 10:00am-1:30pm and SPI will meet with individuals from 1:30-5:00pm.

CTN animation eXpo (http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com) will be held at the Burbank Convention Center (2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505).

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits-the 2012 monster hit comedy Hotel Transylvania (3D), the 2011 hybrid live action/animated blockbuster, The Smurfs (3D) and the 2009 mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (3D)-with The Smurfs 2 (3D) in July 2013 and a sequel to Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (3D) in September 2013. Sony Pictures Animation, in conjunction with Aardman Animations, has produced two critically acclaimed feature films: the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas (3D); and the stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits (3D). In 2007, Surf's Up received an Academy Award(r) nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. The division, whose first feature film Open Season led to a very successful movie franchise, is turning 10 this year. Sony Pictures Animation is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions.

    --  Website: http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/
    --  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SONYPicturesAnimation
    --  Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sonyanimation
    --  YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonyAnimation
    --  Tumblr: http://sonyanimation.tumblr.com/
    --  Instagram: http://instagr.am/p/Hj3ABwIWs3/

ABOUT SONY PICTURES IMAGEWORKS
Sony Pictures Imageworks is the Academy Award® winning visual effects and animation unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions known for live-action visual effects and dynamic creature and character animation, all-CG animation, and stereoscopic 3D imagery. The company, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is currently in production on Oz the Great and Powerful, the animated sequel to Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (3D) and the hybrid live-action/animation film The Smurfs 2. Other recent credits include Hotel Transylvania (3D), The Amazing Spider-Man (3D), Men in Black 3 (3D), The Smurfs (3D), Alice in Wonderland (3D) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (3D).

    --  Website: http://www.imageworks.com/
    --  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonyPicturesImageworks
    --  Twitter: http://twitter.com/imageworksvfx
    --  YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/imageworksvfx

SOURCE Sony Pictures Animation; Sony Pictures Imageworks

SOURCE: Sony Pictures Animation; Sony Pictures Imageworks

CONTACT: Olivier Mouroux, Vice President, Publicity & Corporate Communications, Sony Pictures Animation, +1-310-840-8230, omouroux@spanimation.com

Web Site: http://www.imageworks.com