Wallace and Gromit film...

It’s a ‘who-doughnut?’ mystery Gromit!
Bristol, 3rd October 2007: Today, fans throughout the world can see Nick Park talking about Wallace and Gromit’s forthcoming new film. Within an interview style short film, available only on the internet, Nick reveals that the plasticine duo’s new adventure will be made for TV.
Trouble At’ Mill will join multi award winning The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave as a TV half hour.
The film can be viewed exclusively at www.wallaceandgromit.com from today Wednesday, 3rd October.
Trouble At’ Mill, to be shown on BBC1, is in pre-production now, shooting starts in January, it will be finished for Autumn/Christmas 08. All production will take place at the Aardman studios in Bristol.
After the incredible success of Curse of The Were-Rabbit Nick is delighted to return to the 30 minute format, "I love making films for the cinema but the production of Chicken Run and Curse of the Were-Rabbit were virtually back to back and each film took 5 years to complete, Trouble At’ Mill will be so much quicker to make and I can’t wait to get back into production." The new film will reunite Nick with writer Bob Baker who co-wrote both The Wrong Trousers and
A Close Shave.
Wallace and Gromit have a brand new business. The conversion of 62 West Wallaby Street is complete and impressive, the whole house is now a granary with ovens and robotic kneading arms. Huge mixing bowls are all over the place and everything is covered with a layer of flour. On the roof is a ‘Wallace patent-pending’ old-fashioned windmill. The transformation is perfect.
Although business is booming, Gromit is concerned by the news that 12 local bakers have ‘disappeared’ this year – but Wallace isn’t worried. He’s too distracted and ‘dough-eyed’ in love with local beauty and bread enthusiast, Piella Bakewell, to be of much help.
While they enjoy being the ‘Toast of the Town’, Gromit, with his master’s life in jeopardy, must be the sleuth and solve the escalating murder mystery - in what quickly becomes a ‘Matter of Loaf and Death’.
Nick Park models Piella Bakewell ©Aardman Animations
Gromit juggles chores in the bakehouse
Fans will be able to visit www.wallaceandgromit.com to follow the progress of the production via a video blog filmed by the crew. The blog will reveal many of the day to day production techniques at the Aardman studio. Fans can enter a special competition at www.wallaceandgromit.com to be the first to see the completed film at a special preview hosted by Nick Park.

For more information please call +44 207 706 1046
Arthur Sheriff Aardman - Head of Communications
arthur@halfpastseven.com arthur.sheriff@aardman.com
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DVD News

I have two pieces of Creature Comforts news to report. The first is that we were recently awarded two Silver Telly Awards! The second is that the DVD of the ENTIRE season will be released in the U.S. on October 9th. To all of you who joined the campaign to save Creature Comforts, thank you again, and please let everyone know about the DVD release. To anyone unfamiliar with the saga of "Family Guy", the show was cancelled after one season and then brought back after demand for the DVD was so strong that it was difficult for FOX to ignore. And speaking of difficult to ignore...here's the cover art for the DVD:

Animation Celebration

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who has been supporting the show and making their thoughts known to CBS. Some shows that get pulled from TV quickly fade from peoples' consciousness but it's clear that the fans of Creature Comforts are passionate and are not going to forget about this very special show.

Last weekend our executive producer, Kit Boss, presented an unaired episode at the Platform International Animation Festival in Portland. Kit was joined by Aardman founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton, as well as two American animators from Creature Comforts- Teresa Drilling (animated the pigs, and contributes to our blog) and Juliana Cox (animated the racoon, buttsniffer dogs, and others). I wish I could have been there, but luckily Kit sent along pictures. The first is the crowd (pretty good for 9:30 AM on a Saturday) and the next features Kit alongside festival volunteer Kit Vohs- who's name in Spanish is pronounced Kit Boss!

We will not be silenced!

If you want to know what these cats have to say on the topic of Communication, you'll have to make your voices heard by the powers that be at CBS. Creature Comforts was pulled from the schedule but there are still 4 wonderful unaired episodes, along with many animals that have yet to be seen. The feedback we have received about the show has been amazing and we know there are passionate fans out there who are tired of seeing the same old thing on TV. Democracy worked in the campaign to save Jericho so if enough people voice their opinion to CBS, perhaps they will rethink their decision and allow you to see these episodes. Many bloggers have mentioned that Creature Comforts was the only show that brought them to CBS and without it they will not be watching the network again. If you share that feeling, let them know. Here are some ways you can make your voice heard:

Click on the link below to get to the CBS feedback site and select Creature Comforts from the dropdown menu:

CBSfeedback

You can also send an email to the following addresses:

Nina Tassler, Sr. Executive VP of Programming
nina.tassler@cbs.com

Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment
kelly.kahl@cbs.com

Audience Services
audsvcs@cbs.com

Or Call Kelly Kahl (that sounds funny if you say it out loud) at:
323-575-2442

UPDATE: From the Creature Comforts forum at www.creaturecomforts.tv, kittysquared says:

I'm sending in my Play-Doh tomorrow to the following address:

CBS Television Network
ATTN: Kelly Kahl
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019


If any of you have any more ideas of how to help spread the word, please contribute in the comments section of this post.

The human face of horse and mule

Here is a picture sent in from Hannah and Jared, the always entertaining horse and mule couple.




You can also befriend both their human and equine bands on myspace:

Mr. Moccasin

Horse Heart Mule

Character Parties Continue in Week 2!

Dr. Richard Bay, our painting Gorilla from Virginia, hosted 100 friends for his TV debut! Check out the pictures:

Up on the marquee.


A gorilla's favorite treat!


We love the decor.


A classic dilemma: watch the show, or eat dinner?


Read more about Richard in the Roanoke Times.

Premiere Party Animals- San Francisco

The report back from the party our pugs, Betsy and Ian, had at their interviewer's house in San Francisco? "Best thing I've seen in years."

But of course, "Betsy and Ian were the funniest." Check out the pics!

Betsy and friends watch the show.



Ian gets on the floor to commune with his character.



Kids get in on the fun.