:: Dano's Production Journal ::

:: 12/13/2007 ::

Take a look! It's in a book! The new edition of Flatland book..." With an in-depth look at developing, designing, and animating Flatland by yours truly!
:: Dano 3:51 PM [+] ::
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Flatland featured on MSNBC's Cosmic Log! Awesome!
:: Dano 5:59 PM [+] ::
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I'm flabbergasted! Texas does it again! Is there anything my state could do to NOT make me hang my head in shame?

The Director of Science Education for the Texas Education Agency was forced to resign for 'seeming' to endorse evolution over intelligent design. How did she do this? By forwarding an email about a presentation by Barbara Forrest, author of 'Creationism's Trojan Horse' and witness for the plaintiffs in Kitzmiller v Dover (the intelligent design trial). You can see Barbara's great talk HERE.

So by forwarding a notice about this event, which you would think might be important for science teachers to know about, Ms. Corner showed 'the appearance of bias' against ID. You see, Don McLeroy, Perry's new choice for Board Chair, has actually given anti-science polemics at churches in Texas, denouncing evolution and anyone with a non-fundamentalist worldview. Clearly, he's aware of how intelligent design failed in Dover and he's using new tactics.

First, he mandated that the TEA remain 'neutral' between evolution and creationism/ID. That's like saying they should be neutral between astrology and astronomy or chemistry and homeopathy! There is NO neutral ground between good science and bad science. But its part of the new bag of tricks: teach the controversy. Barbara Forrest is a threat to that tactic, and by association, so is Ms. Corner.

Why should this matter to you, Texan or non-Texan? Because McLeroy's not done yet. Next year Texas' Board of Education will "update/revise" the science curriculum. If they mandate that Texas science teachers 'teach the controversy' or 'point out the weaknesses in evolution' for the TEKS test, that means that teachers must choose textbooks to the SBoE's liking. This means textbook publishers who want to sell to Texas must water down the facts that support evolution. Or the state could adopt the trojan horse textbooks - the intelligent design textbooks that played such a crucial role in Kitzmiller v Dover (Barbara Forrest pointed out that textbook editors for 'the Panda's Thumb' literally did a search/replace for 'creationism' to 'intelligent design' at one point resulting in the hilarious typo: 'cdesign propentsists'). So Texas is a big influence on national textbooks, and therefore could be a big influence on the scientific proficiency of millions of American kids.

So maybe I'm using a bit of a slippery slope argument. America won't turn into Afghanistan overnight obviously. But if we can't stand up for one woman, doing a good job and keeping teachers, students, and parents well informed about science then what will we stand up for?

I encourage people to get involved with Texas Freedom Network, Texas Citizens for Science, the National Center for Science Education, and Center for Inquiry Austin.
:: Dano 5:11 PM [+] ::
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It's a great month for Flatland: The Movie!

1. Read Ian Stewart's Review of Flatland in Notices magazine. Besides Tom Banchoff, Ian Stewart knows the second-most amount of knowledge about Edwin A. Abbott and Flatland. He really digs our interpretation and wants more!

2. Check out November's Discover Magazine and turn to the Puzzles Page. Some familiar Flatland faces help Scott Kim with some inter-dimensional brain-twisters! It doesn't seem to be in stores yet (it's not the cover with the children's drawing) but subscribers are telling me it's arriving.

3. Flatland: The Movie Home Edition DVD starts shipping next week! Pre-order yours now! It has the same old features plus Italian subtitles. Mamma Mia!

4. I just finished up the artwork for the "Flatland: The Movie: The Book" coming out next February from Princeton University Press. I wish that was the real title...

Sweet!
- Dano
:: Dano 2:48 PM [+] ::
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Flatland wins again!

Also, pick up the October issue of Seed Magazine for a Flatland review on page 92!
:: Dano 2:17 PM [+] ::
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Flatland: The Movie blurb at the Austin-American Statesman education blog.
:: Dano 2:12 PM [+] ::
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from Flatland: The Movie composer Kaz Boyle:

I am writing to announce that my soundtrack album: "Flatland - Music from the Motion Picture" is finally on sale. I'm very proud of the film and the music, and I really hope you give it a listen and enjoy it.

‘Flatland: The Movie’ is an animated movie featuring the voices of Martin Sheen, Kristen Bell, Tony Hale, Michael York, and Joe Estevez. The movie is based on Edwin A. Abbott’s classic novel Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. Flatland is a world that exists entirely on a two-dimensional plane. This is the story of how Arthur Square (Martin Sheen) and his six-sided granddaughter Hex (Kristen Bell) travel to a world that most Flatlanders consider ridiculous and blasphemous -- the 3rd dimension.

Kazimir Boyle's music shines as an integral part of the classic animated storytelling of "Flatland". Memorable themes imbue the characters with real heart, and bring the listener right into their world, to join in their adventures. Featuring orchestral and choral textures, (performed by the Fremd Chamber Singers) the music is at times joyous, treacherous, whimsical, heartbreaking, and mysterious.

The Compact Disc is on sale in Hollywood at Amoeba Records
and via the web from CD Baby

Digital downloads of the album (or individual tracks) are available through Apple's iTunes store and from Digstation.com

Happy listening, Spacelanders!

:: Dano 12:11 PM [+] ::
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MathFest 2007 video of Professor Tom Banchoff introducing FLATLAND: THE MOVIE to a crowd of 500 math enthusiasts!


:: Dano 10:02 PM [+] ::
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Interview on Channel Frederator

Off to Mathfest '07!
:: Dano 10:28 AM [+] ::
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Flatland: The Movie is on the new Channel Frederator podcast!



Coming up Friday, the west coast premiere of Flatland at MathFest 2007!
:: Dano 12:36 PM [+] ::
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Get 'em while they're hot!


:: Dano 3:49 PM [+] ::
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The new Flatland Trailer


:: Dano 1:48 PM [+] ::
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Flatland: The Movie is now for sale!

The Special Educational Edition is now on sale and the Home Edition is up for pre-sales!

Check it out now!

Some clips:




:: Dano 11:58 PM [+] ::
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Seth & Dano discuss Flatland on Fox Morning News!


:: Dano 3:06 PM [+] ::
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Come see the world/Austin premiere of Flatland: The Movie!

Regal Arbor Cinemas
Sunday, May 20th
3:00 PM
FREEEEEEE!
Program will last approximately 1 hour
Local cast & crew in attendance!

Flatland: The Movie is an animated adaptation of the beloved mathematical fantasy by Edwin A. Abbott. Developed for educators to inspire their students, the film is also an entertaining and humorous adventure through multiple dimensions. Note I did not use the word 'mathemagical'... despite the overwhelming temptation.

Starring: Martin Sheen, Kristen Bell, Tony Hale, Joe Estevez, and Michael York. With Danu Uribe, Lee Eddy, Gary Peters, Shannon McCormick, T. Lynn Mikeska, & Robert Murphy.

Screenplay: Seth Caplan, Dano Johnson, & Jeffrey Travis
Producer: Seth Caplan
Director of Animation: Dano Johnson
Original Music: Kazimir Boyle
Directors: Jeffrey Travis & Dano Johnson

For more info:
Flatland: The Movie site
Austin Film Festival - event sponsor
:: Dano 12:04 PM [+] ::
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Awesome!

:: Dano 3:22 PM [+] ::
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Carl Sagan performs Flatland!


:: Dano 9:28 AM [+] ::
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:: Dano 6:36 PM [+] ::
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Please register, vote, leave comments and repost!


:: Dano 11:47 PM [+] ::
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The Dutch math teacher conference included us on their official poster. Is 'A Beautiful Mind' on the poster? No. But Flatland: The Movie is! And it's just a still from our webpage!

Take that, Ron Howard!
:: Dano 7:25 PM [+] ::
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Dano on Channel Frederator:


:: Dano 6:23 PM [+] ::
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Shots from the Channel Frederator party:

:: Dano 3:19 PM [+] ::
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:: Dano 1:42 PM [+] ::
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:: Dano 2:24 AM [+] ::
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