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Featuring a Q&A with The Emperor's New Groove director Mark Dindal, writer Dave Reynolds, and production manager Tracey Miller-Zarneke-- their first-ever appearance for this unreleased documentary! Moderated by LA Filmforum programmer and Animation Historian Sam Gurry.

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Barred from release due to its raw exposé of the corporate filmmaking process, The Sweatbox is one of the best- and least available- inside-filmmaking movies. Packed with unrivaled insights into the animation process, it documents a tumultuous big budget production through Sting’s work on a film called The Kingdom of the Sun. Until it wasn’t.

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What follows is a timeless story of ambition, adaptive ingenuity, Incan myths, ego, emotion, and flutes as directors John-Paul Davidson and Trudie Styler document Sting’s dissatisfaction watching the film’s tone and story shift dramatically amid executive doubt, uninspiring test screenings, and the unyielding deadlines dictated by Happy Meal toy production. Paralleling the intensely focused musician’s work with the tireless efforts of heroically talented animators, the film takes its title from the grueling processes of review and revision that make this chaotic milieu a thrilling viewing experience and often disillusioning look at creative collaboration.

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“At first, I was angry and perturbed. Then I wanted some vengeance.” - Sting, 2000

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dirs. John-Paul Davidson & Trudie Styler, 2002
United States, digital projection
95 min

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TUESDAY, 8/11
7:30 DOORS
8:00 SCREENING

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$14 general admission.

Basic & Microcinephile members, please log-in to your account and checkout for your discounts to apply. Don't have a membership? Get one here.

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‍Whammy! is located at 1200 N Alvarado St, near the intersection of Sunset & Alvarado and in between Tierra Mia Coffee and Manly & Sons Barbershop. Street parking only, please do not park in the library parking lot, as your vehicle will get locked in when the library closes. The corner of Sunset & Alvarado is served by 3 major bus lines, the 2, the 4, and the 93.