Gene Warren

Documentary/Sequel to 1960 adaptation of "The Time Machine"

Berton Pierce travelled around America and Europe to interview model makers. Each offers a personal account of their work, and thoughts on the changes in the industry. The documentary is an oral history of the amazing hand crafted workmanship that has produced many iconic film effects over the last 35 years. It focuses on a subject Berton cares deeply about; how computer technology is slowly taking away practical hand made craftsmanship.

George Pal, known for his science-fiction films in the 1950s and 60s, was also known for making a series of animated shorts called Puppetoons in the 1930s and 40s. This short was made for Chuck Jones children's series THE CURIOSITY SHOP and later fell into the 16mm market. By that time, everyone from Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass to Jim Henson, said that they were influenced and inspired by George Pal's Puppetoons. After making a series of great films that turned out to be box-office flops, such as ATLANTIS THE LOST CONTINENT (1961), THE 7 FACES OF DR. LAO (1964), and THE POWER (1968), all of which had stop-motion scenes, perhaps it was time to go back to his roots. Directed by Gene Warren and animated by Harry Walton.