Welcome to the Crowdsourcing Mornings segment! Every weekday morning, Geek Alabama talks about and features one crowdsourcing project from crowdsourcing sites such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and others. The hope with Crowdsourcing Mornings is to feature and help a project be successful and reach its fundraising goal. Please enjoy today’s featured project!
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Kent Melton is a legend in the world of animation, yet his name may not be as familiar as some of the characters he’s brought to life. From iconic Disney classics to Oscar-nominated stop-motion films, Kent’s artistic vision and technical expertise have left an indelible mark on the industry. But his impact extends far beyond his onscreen creations. While bringing these beloved characters to life, he was also making a lasting difference in the lives of those around him.
In 2011, I was lucky to meet Kent on my first day working at Laika. Unlike everyone else at the studio, I had no idea that this unassuming master sculptor was actually the genius behind so many of the works of art I (and the world) had loved since childhood. My first job on The Boxtrolls was scaling the many character designs so Kent could sculpt them, then photographing his work and replacing lineup drawings with his sculpts. We bonded instantly over our love for the Beatles and of course the Disney classics, and he was so excited to share stories about his part in making them.
Every day I was mesmerized by the care and skill that he used to bring each character to life in record time, all with the biggest smile on his face. He would never acknowledge his genius but anyone who came by to meet him would get an impromptu master class in sculpting and walk away with their life changed. We spent many days at the movies, museums and pizza dinners, and stayed friends long after we both left Portland.
From the moment I met Kent and especially as I became deeper acquainted with his life over the years, it became unequivocally clear that his story had to be told. In 2020, he finally agreed to let me direct a documentary about his life. We talked for hours on the phone creating a timeline of his life and choosing stories and topics to discuss in the film. Hours became months and Kent started to see a profound value in sharing his thoughts with more than those who were lucky enough to stop by his work table or live in his orbit.
Unfortunately, we lost Kent earlier this year to Lewy Body Dementia. He passed peacefully in his sleep surrounded by so much warmth in his art studio, with a lit fire, his wife Martha at his side and his children and pets nearby.
The loss of my dear friend and mentor has only strengthened my resolve to honor his memory, share his story, and preserve his legacy. I have chosen to capture Kent’s interview segments using stop-motion animation, while employing live-action for the remainder of the interviews. While undertaking this ambitious mixed-media project will undoubtedly present its challenges, I am confident that the outcome will be both meaningful and impactful.
As of November 25th, this project has raised $13,000 of their $85,000 goal. This project has 39 days left to raise the $85,000 or it will not be funded. For a pledge of $25, you will get a thank you credit. For a pledge of $50, you will get a digital soundtrack. To learn more and to pledge money, go to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mariaandreotti/untitled-kent-melton-documentary?
Categories: Crowdsourcing Mornings Stuff
