Musician/actor Tom Waits and director Terry Gilliam are the singular names to join the voice cast of The Monster of Nix, the latest film by Dutch artist/filmmaker Rosto.
Press Release from Studio Rosto A.D
AMSTERDAM – April 05, 2011 - Musician/actor Tom Waits and director Terry Gilliam are the singular names to join the voice cast of The Monster of Nix, the latest film by Dutch artist/filmmaker Rosto. The highly anticipated dark fairy tale is in official selection at the Annecy Animated Film Festival, the world's leading festival for animated films.
The Monster of Nix is a 30-minute long animated musical which tells the story of Willy, a troubled boy who fights the destructive force of an all-devouring monster in the village of Nix. The existentialist fairy tale is as compelling and visually overwhelming as Rosto’s previous films, but this time it’s suitable for kids from 10 to 100.
Tom WaitsTom Waits gave his voice to one of the main characters, Virgil, a terrifying giant pitch-black swallow. “Tom Waits was always the main inspiration for the dark and theatrical appearance of Virgil,” Rosto explains. “But I had never expected to actually have the privilege to work with Tom. The results are gobsmacking..." The eclectic American artist gained a worldwide following with his raspy vocals and ramshackle, cinematic songs on world-famous albums such as Rain Dogs and The Black Rider. The theatrical swagger of his live performances led to a parallel career as a film actor. Tom Waits has appeared in about 25 films, and is also noted as a composer of film music.
Terry GilliamTerry Gilliam plays the ranger, who locks himself up in terror in his forest cabin. Rosto: “I asked Gilliam because I thought his voice was made for this role. He felt rather uncomfortable about the singing. And that’s exactly how I wanted this character to sound: scared and insecure. The poor bastard suffered but I got exactly what I wanted."
Terry Gilliam was a founding member of Monty Python, creating the animations for the legendary comedy troupe. Gilliam co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and went on to become one of the most celebrated directors of our age, making such classics as Brazil and Twelve Monkeys. He is famous for a unique visual style, dark humour and surreal story lines. Gilliam is also known as a screenwriter and producer, and has played cameo roles in several films. This is the first time Gilliam has lent his voice to a film since his own animations for Monty Python.
Animated MusicalMusic has always been an important ingredient in Rosto’s films. However, The Monster of Nix is truly driven by music. "It is ironic because I hate musicals,” says Rosto, who composed all of the music himself, “but somehow I ended up making one. Also, to my amazement, we recorded the film score with a world famous orchestra and some genuine musical heroes.”
Musical contributors to the film score are the Dutch Metropole Orkest, American eyeball art rockers The Residents and rising French indie band The Dø.
The Monster of NixThe Monster of Nix is the most ambitious film production by Rosto to date. Development of the international co-production has taken more than five years. Main producer Studio Rosto A.D and co-producers Autour de Minuit (France) and CinéTé (Belgium) made the film in association with French broadcaster Canal+ and the Dutch broadcaster AVRO.
www.monsterofnix.com (check out the teaser)
ABOUT ROSTO/STUDIO ROSTO A.DDirector/artist Rosto, and his Studio Rosto A.D, are well known for music videos, television work and independent short films. The short (the rise and fall of the legendary) Anglobilly Feverson had its world premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival, followed by an impressive string of prestigious international festivals and worldwide recognition of Rosto’s work. The next short film Jona/Tomberry, winner of the Grand Prix Canal+ at the Cannes Film Festival 2005, concluded the trilogy of Mind My Gap films. Mind My Gap is Rosto A.D’s mixed media project that started with an online graphic novel (still running on www.rostoAD.com), and continued with music and print as well as films. Rosto is currently working on several spin-offs from the Mind My Gap universe, like The Monster of Nix and the music project Thee Wreckers.
ABOUT AUTOUR DE MINUITAutour de Minuit is a film production company based in Paris created in 2001 by Nicolas Schmerkin. The company aims at supporting aesthetically innovative projects, and develops original graphic worlds with a solid content. Hybridization gives the opportunity to explore new ideas and sensations in plastic art and intent to provide with visuals never to be seen before. The production catalogue includes short classics as Obras, Flesh, Carlitopolis, Dix and Logorama, Oscar winner in 2010 and awarded for best short film at the French Academy Awards in 2011. Since 2004, Autour de Minuit also deals with world distribution of animations and digital works, including Rosto’s previous works. The company is now developing several feature films and animation shows.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
