Shuhei Morita’s “Possessions” Nominated for Animated Short Film of 86th Academy Awards

February 18, 2014 The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has nominated Shuhei Morita’s “Possessions” for the 86th Academy Awards in the category of Animated Short Film. “Possessions” was released in Japan on July 20, 2013 as part of Katsuhiro Otomo’s “Short Peace” film omnibus. “Possessions” has already garnered a strong reputation overseas and was previously included in the official selection for the 2012 Annecy International Animated Film Festival under the original title “Tsukumo”.

“Possessions” is themed around the idea that spirits reside inside things, and it portrays how people interact with these supernatural beings. The film fuses 3D computer graphics with animation in the style of old Japanese paintings, creating an aesthetic that is both highly original and magical.
“I’ve struggled for the past few years to understand what the style of anime is that I am trying to make. With ‘Possessions’ I could finally make a film that I was satisfied with, one that I was able to put all my soul into,” says director Shuhei Morita. “It is rare for a short film like this to see the light of day in Japan and it was very tough to make it. We are all so happy that ‘Possessions’ has been nominated and will be seen by more people around the world.”
The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held at the Dolby Theater on March 2 (EST).

Shuhei Morita: Born in Nara, 1978. Representative of YAMATO WORKS, LLC. “Kakurenbo: Hide and Seek” (2005, OVA), “FREEDOM” (2006-2008, OVA) “Koisento” (2010, OVA)

Story: One stormy night in the 18th century Japan, a man loses his way deep in the mountains. He comes across a small shrine and takes shelter inside. But as he enters the shrine transforms into a strange fantasy world. He finds himself in a room filled with a host of tools in various states of disrepair. He sets about skillfully fixing the household objects. But these tools are not just tools. They are inhabited by spirits harboring deep-seated grudges that are not easily appeased.
Running time: 14 min Director & screenplay: Shuhei Morita Original story & conceptual design: Keisuke Kishi Character design: Daisuke Sajiki CGI director: Ryusuke Sakamoto Art direction: Goki Nakamura Animation: Hiroyuki Horiuchi Music: Reiji Kitazato Cast: Koichi Yamadera, Aoi Yuki, Takeshi Kusao Production: SHORT PEACE COMMITTEE Official website: http://shortpeace-movie.com/ (c) SHORT PEACE COMMITTEE ! (c) KATSUHIRO OTOMO/MASH ROOM/SHORT PEACE COMMITTEE


Academy Award for Animated Short Film: The Academy Award for Animated Short Film was established in 1932 for the 5th Academy Awards. “Possessions” is the first Japanese animated short film in 5 years to be nominated for the award since Kunio Kato’s “La Maison en Petits Cubes” in 2008, which won the 81st Academy Award for Animated Short Film.
Contact: Kanako Miyamoto Contents/Creative Section DENTSU TEC INC. miyamoto-kanako@contract.dentsutec.co.jp
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Film Director, Shaka King

Film director Shaka King won the Someone To Watch Film Independent Spirit award, which includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.

The news was announced by the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, Film Independent, and the Los Angeles Film Festival, at the annual Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch held at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

Spirit Awards Honorary Chairperson Angela Bassett and actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola hosted the event.

TRAE HARRIS. Lesbians and films!

NEWLYWEEDS, a New Kind of Stoner Romance and will be available on DVD, OnDemand.

Writer-Director Shaka King created the pot comedy, NEWLYWEEDS that neither condones nor condemns the recreational use of marijuana as it tells the story of Lyle and Nina, a young couple trying to keep their lives and relationship together while sharing a voracious appetite for cannabis.

Out lesbian spoken word artist Trae Harris plays 'Nina,' a tour guide for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.  Their grass habit stokes a hallucinatory safe zone setting off a series of wacky, urban drama!

Trae and I shared a round of perfectly poured espressos in the house; courtesy of expert barista & rising fine artist Richard R (@Starbucks on 9th).

Hyped on caffeine here is what the young beauty had to share about being out and weed!

myNewYorkeye: Did the film director, Shaka King, actually find you via Facebook?

Trae Harris: Part true and false.  First through mutual friends and then from an interview in my blog that I did for Stylelikeu.com

myNewYorkeye: Describe your character, 'Nina,' and how she fits into the world of "Newlyweeds"?

Trae Harris: Well for me she does not strive to fit into the world, she is more or less hovers around it trying to find the path that looks most colorful and dreamy.

myNewYorkeye: What single piece of advice did your two co-stars, AMARI CHEATOM and COLMAN DOMINGO give when working on a film?

Trae Harris: To be honest, and have fun. Everybody was really good at being in truth.

myNewYorkeye: Your a Performance artist, what's next for you?

Trae Harris: Releasing my writing and more solo performance work. I wanna really flex my wings and showcase the full range of what I have to offer artistically.

myNewYorkeye: As a working and out lesbian, what's the best part of being a creative sappo?

Trae Harris: The best part of being out and being a creative is I get the opportunity to be a face and voice for a group that does not usually have one!!

myNewYorkeye: What do you love about NYC?

Trae Harris: I love that when I'm walking down the street people are not staring because I'm black or queer or even a woman, people are namely staring because I have on a sick outfit or because I'm standing next to someone famous!!

myNewYorkeye: Where do you get creatively charged?

Trae Harris: I get really creatively charged in my spiritual world. My dream state is where I come up with my work.

myNewYorkeye: Whose your favorite up and coming fashion and jewelry designers?

Trae Harris: Why and show Right now I would say L'Enchantuer which is a luxury life style brand based in NY!! They are twin sisters and I live and love their work!!

They incorporate their heritage and culture in their pieces and they have such a international feel!! They utilize the textures and materials that are rich and rare!! I love them!!

Larry Morgan : The Voice of The Movies, Sort of!

So, I was at the press conference for "The Grudge Match," (directed by Peter Segal) which you can not catch on netflix. I am minding my own business-which the NYC  way-and I heard a booming voice that instantly reminded me of film authority. 

The distinctive voice kept growing louder, like an impending thunder storm until the supersonic source was literally in front of my blinking eyes.

"Good golly Miss Molly," this man has a voice.  I know this voice but the face was not familiar.  Throwing my shy demeanor to the wind and attaching my "journalism hat," snugly and fashionably, to my fuzzy heard, I ventured the question and the answer came bubbling out.

myNewYorkeye: Are you the voice of AMC theaters?

Larry Morgan: Yes'mam.  I'm that voice inside AMC and UA/Edwards/Regal cinema chains theaters telling you to hurry up, wash your a hands because the movie is about to begin!  Plus other cool stuff!

myNewYorkeye: Nice to know that I am not (that) crazy! Wait, why are you at the Warner Bros. "Grudge Match"  press junket?  Did Robert Di Niro or Sly forget to wash their hands?

Larry Morgan: No (I don't think) the director, Peter Segal is one of my best friends.  We go all the way back to our USC days!  Coming to surprise Peter is now a tradition!

myNewYorkeye: Awesome.  I get the loyalty part and the movie link.  So, whats the tradition you have with Peter?

Larry Morgan: One of the traditions is ambushing his press junket any time he has a new film coming out.  It started back in 2003 when he had me in a small role as "Guy Playing Pool."  I teamed up with my long-time friend Mark S. Allen who hosts the show "Mark at the Movies" on the Reelz Channel and we surprised Pete by me hopping in the chair asking him sarcastic and personal questions. 

Since then we've done the same on "50 First Dates", "The Longest Yard", "Get Smart" and this year for "Grudge Match" I showed up in boxing shorts and gloves - and nothing else.  I think he appreciates the special attention since, usually, directors get the short end when it comes to publicity. 

He's a good sport, though, and it certainly breaks up the junket process.

myNewYorkeye:  I am touched that you and Peter are friends after all these years!

Shout out to the folks you love brother!  It's the holidays, show love!

Larry Morgan: Shouting to my amazing wife, Charla, who has been putting up with the bizzaro radio, tv, film business adventures!  Second shout to our amazing child, Alex,  who we managed to bring up and turn into an incredible young man!  He's now attempting to live the actor's life in New York.

Last shout out to my personal/professional pals Mark S. Allen and Peter Segal who, for many many years, remain two of my closest friends and are still the most grounded, most talented and most silly people I know.  And silly is important.

Happy holidays,Larry and tell young Alex to visit us in Harlem.  I'll make sure he gets a good seat at the movies, after all his father is the voice that hurries millions back to their movie seats and with clean hands!