SHAUN THE SHEEP THE MOVIE

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RICHARD STARZAK
Richard Starzak (aka Golly) joined Aardman in 1983 and during his first nine years with the studio is credited with working on MORPH, SLEDGEHAMMER for Peter Gabriel, PEE WEE HERMAN’S PLAYHOUSE in New York, his own film IDENT and two REX THE RUNT pilot films.
In 1992, Golly left Aardman to pursue a freelance career during which time he worked in New Zealand as Production Adviser for OSCAR AND FRIENDS, and wrote and directed 13 episodes of REX THE RUNT for BBC Two, winning the Carlton Award for International Animation at The Indies in 2000.
He then went on to direct ROBBIE THE REINDEER for BBC One. Robbie went on to win 19 international awards including a prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA).
After writing and directing the second series of REX THE RUNT, and series 2 of CREATURE COMFORTS, Golly rejoined Aardman full time as Creative Director of the Broadcast and Development department going on to develop SHAUN THE SHEEP for television. For the last three years he has been working on SHAUN THE SHEEP THE MOVIE with fellow director Mark Burton.

MARK BURTON
Prior to co-writing and co-directing SHAUN THE SHEEP THE MOVIE, Mark has enjoyed a long history with Aardman having been a writer on both CHICKEN RUN (2000) and WALLACE AND GROMIT CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT (2005), which won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and a BAFTA for Best British Film. He has also acted as consultant for Aardman’s Feature Development team.
Mark started out as a comedy writer on numerous British TV shows including SPOTTING IMAGE, ALAS SMITH AND JONES, CLIVE ANDERSON TALKS BACK and HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU. He co-wrote two series of BBC sitcom THE PETER PRINCIPLE and later adapted John O’Farrell’s novel “May Contain Nuts” for ITV.
He has subsequently worked as a screenwriter on both sides of the Atlantic with projects for BBC Films, Working Title, Universal, Fox, Warners, Disney and DreamWorks. His other film credits include MADAGASCAR, GNOMEO & JULIET and ALIENS IN THE ATTIC.

NTERVIEW with Mark Burton and Richard Starzak

Synopsis

Shaun is a clever, mischievous sheep who lives with his flock on Mossy Bottom Farm, under the nominal supervision of The Farmer, and Bitzer, a well-meaning but ineffectual sheepdog. Despite Shaun’s best efforts, life on the farm has got into a bit of a rut, and Shaun concocts a cunning plan - to have a day off.
But be careful what you wish for. Events rapidly escalate out of control and Shaun’s mischief inadvertently leads to the hapless farmer being taken away from the farm. With the flock’s help, Shaun must leave the farm for the first time and travel into the Big City in order to rescue The Farmer - and failure is not an option.
But how will the sheep survive? Can they avoid being recognised as sheep? And thus avoid the clutches of a fearsome animal catcher? In the course of an action-packed adventure they experience a host of wild, funny mishaps.
And Shaun meets a little orphan dog called Slip who makes him realise that having a home and a family is not something to be taken for granted.

Film Info

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