![]() ![]() In 1998, he won an Academy Award for the short animated film, Bunny. He is the owner of WedgeWorks, a film production company founded by Wedge. Wedge is co-founder and Vice President of Creative Development at Blue Sky Studios, one of the premier computer animation studios and producer of Wedge's films. ![]() Some of his other works include Where the Wild Things Are (1983), Dinosaur Bob, George Shrinks, and Santa Calls. In 1982, Wedge worked for MAGI/SynthaVision, where he was a principal animator on the Disney film Tron, credited as a scene programmer. He has taught animation at the School of Visual Arts in New York City where he met his future film directing partner, Carlos Saldanha. He received his BFA in Film from State University of New York at Purchase in Purchase, New York in 1981, and subsequently earned his MA in computer graphics and art education at the Ohio State University. He attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School, graduating in 1975. It was so simple, effective and magical in outcome and I stuck with creating things throughout my childhood, teenage years and then college." That fascinated me and it got me started. He became interested in animation when he was 12 years old: "Back then, there was a TV special about kids making cut-out animation in a workshop-as I recall it was Yellow Ball Workshop-it was a clear technique to follow and I followed it. Markel is a painter and graphic designer.Wedge was born in Binghamton, New York. Wedge and Markel currently live in Katonah, NY. “We’re very proud of everything Chris has accomplished in the film industry, and grateful for his continuing support of the School of Film and Media Studies and the next generation of film directors, writers, and editors.” “On behalf of the college, I thank Chris Wedge for this generous donation,” says President Thomas J. ![]() Professor of Film Iris Cahn ’76 ( film) moderated the talk. On January 26, 2016, Wedge came to Purchase College to speak about his life as a student and his career journey. ![]() In 2009, Wedge was given the Presidential Distinguished Alumni Award from Purchase College, and he served on the honorary committee for the Purchase College Arts Gala in 2012. He recently completed his first live action/hybrid film Monster Trucks, released in 2017. He directed Epic, which was released in 2013. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who !, and the global hits Rio, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and Ice Age: Continental Drift. He was executive producer of Ice Age: The Meltdown, Dr. Wedge went on to direct Blue Sky’s first two computer-animated feature films, Ice Age (nominated for an Oscar® in the category Best Animated Feature Film) and Robots. He wrote and directed Blue Sky’s first film, Bunny, which won more than 25 international awards for animation excellence, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1998. In pursuit of his graduate degree he created two short films: Tuber’s Two Step and Balloon Guy. Wedge also holds an MA in Computer Graphics/Art Education from Ohio State University’s Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. He started his career in computer animation at MAGI/Synthavision, where he animated key sequences for the 1982 cult classic, TRON. Chris Wedge’s generous gift will ensure that our current and future students will have the opportunity to shoot their own films in a state-of-the-art sound stage.”Īs co-founder and vice president of creative development of Blue Sky Studios, FOX, Wedge is the driving force behind the rise of Blue Sky Studio’s prominence as one of the most respected computer animation studios in the world. Agustín Zarzosa, chair of the School of Film and Media Studies says, “The sound stage is a space of historical significance in which our celebrated alumni have shot their first films. The sound stage is a critical space for film students as they begin to produce their own bodies of work. I appreciate the education this school provided for me, and I want to make it possible for students in the future to benefit, too. One of the best ways I can demonstrate my loyalty to Purchase is by giving back. Purchase College set me on my path and because of that I will always have a special affinity for my alma mater. “When colleges get it right, they produce graduates who are successful in their chosen path. The gift honors Wedge’s fondness for Purchase-a place he credits for helping to build the foundation for his enormously successful career. Their generous gift will help fund the renovation of the film sound stage in the Music building. Academy Award-winning director Chris Wedge ’81 ( film) and his wife, Jeanne Markel ’81 ( visual arts), recently donated a major gift to the School of Film and Media Studies. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |