CENTER FOR COMPUTATION & TECHNOLOGY

The Times-Picayune By: Michael H. Kleinschrodt What: The film festival focuses on the conveergence of art and technology in the field of animation. It is produced by the Laboratory for Creative Arts and Technologies, a research division within the Louisiana State University Center for Computation and Technology When: Thursday through Saturday at various venues in downtown Baton Rouge. Tickets: Screenings are free, passes that include admission to workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and the awards ceremony range from $50 to $80 ($35 to $65 for students). Registration is required, even for the free passes. Quantities are limited For more information, registration: Visit www.redstickfestival.org or call LSU at (225) 578 - 8903. The Big Draw: International animation festival debuts this week in Baton Rouge Entertainment, education, and economic development are the three goals of the Red Stick International Animation Festival, a three-day event beginning its inaugural run Thursday in Baton Rouge. The festival, which carries the English translation of the state capital's name, concludes Saturday. It is being produced by the Laboratory for Creative Arts and Technologies, a research division within the Louisiana State Univeristy Center for Computation and Technology. Festival Director Stacey Simmons said recently that the festival is a way to showcase the convergence of art and technology as more and more animation moves to the digital platform, requiring vast amounts of computing power to render the three-dimensional worlds seen in films such as last year's "The Incredibles" and "Shrek 2." Computerized Creativity is Big Box Office One of the most powerful computers in the world is the device at LSU known as SuperMike, Simmons said, adding that the animation festival was conceived as an opportunity to educate the public about LCAT's work. "We wanted people to understand what we do," she said. She said scientific visualization is much like animation created for entertainment. The primary difference is that scientists are working with real data. Simmons also said a long-term goal for the festival is to stimulate the economy by encouraging tourism and by promoting the possible development of a Baton Rouge-based animation industry. Red Stick is modeled after the Animex International Festival of Animation sponsored by the University of Teesside in Middlesbrough, England. Winning films from Animex will be among the works shown at Red Stick In addition to separate competitive divisions for students and professionals, Red Stick also includes screenings of family favorites from creators such as Pixar Animation Studios and Dreamworks Animation and selections from Cartoon Networks "Adult Swim" lineup. There also will be workshops, lectures and panel discussions devoted to both the art and the business of animation. Expected guests include Ed Hooks, an acting coach who regularly works with animators; Curtis Jobling, the creator of "Bob the Builder"; Rachelle Lewis, a recruiter of artists; Stuart Sumida, a biologist who has worked as an anatomy consultant on such films as "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King," and "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmaron"; and Mark Walsh, a Pixar animator whose credits include "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles." Festival venues include the Louisiana Art and Science Museum Planetarium, the Shaw Center for the Arts and the Old State Capitol -all near LSU's Baton Rouge campus. Interested parties must register for a festival pass to attend. Because of contractual obligations to some film distibutors, only registered festival goers will have access to the complete schedule of events. The free Red Pass is good for first-come, first-serve admission only to the film screenings. The Purple Pass ($50, $35 for students) gains admission to one workshop plus the free screenings. The Gold Pass ($80, $65 for students) gains admission to all lectures, the free screenings and the festival-ending awards ceremony. For those with Red or Purple passes, separate tickets to the awards ceremony are $20.