Leslie Iwerks Movies
- 2007
Famed cartoonist Ub Iwerks's granddaughter Leslie turns the camera lens on the artists and storytellers behind some of the most widely hailed animated films of the modern era in the in-depth documentary The Pixar Story. Featuring such key members as John Lasseter, Steve Jobs, and George Lucas, the doc tells the story of the company's humble roots all the way to being one of the biggest power players in Hollywood. Featuring unseen footage of early output from the studio, as well as a full overview of its many box-office successes and technological breakthroughs, Iwerks's film celebrates the artistic spirit that has pushed the boundaries of what animation can deliver, while staying true to the ideals that its parent company Disney once held so dear. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brad Bird, Loren Carpenter, (more)
Leslie Iwerks, documentarist granddaughter of famed animator and Disney collaborator U.B. Iwerks, helms the 38-minute muckraking nonfiction film Recycled Life. In this sobering, haunting work, Iwerks and her team carry their cameras into The Guatemala City Garbage Dump, Central America's most toxic landfill, where thousands of indigenes ('guajeros') have lived, worked and eaten for well over six decades, ostracized by Guatemalan society. Iwerks and co. meet the residents and evaluate the devastating health effects that the conditions continue to have on the populace, contrasting this with the inner grace, stoicism, resilience, and sense of humor that the residents continue to project in the face of calamity. The filmmakers also trace the effects of a devastating cataclysm from January 2005, that made the already-reprehensible conditions absolutely unbearable. Iwerks directs, photographs, and edits; Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor Edward James Olmos (Stand and Deliver, American Me) narrates. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Directed by Iwerks' granddaughter, this documentary seeks to highlight the cinematic accomplishments of Ub Iwerks, a forgotten genius overshadowed by the towering presence of Walt Disney. The details include his early life in Missouri, his teaming up with Disney, and the creation of his most famous work: Mickey Mouse. The film provides an in-depth look into the world of American animation during the '20s and '30s, including some rarely seen animated gems. After Iwerks left Disney to set up his own company, he became one of the key innovators of animation and helped train a future generation of cartoon masters, including Chuck Jones. Also featured are interviews with film critic Leonard Maltin and animators Mark Kausler and John Lasseter. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelsey Grammer
