The Circuit

"I chose this film because it's great," said Geoff Gilmore before introducing writer/director Adam Elliot and his producer Melanie Coombs.

Elliot, clearly overjoyed to be here, said he's often asked what it's like to make a feature-length, stop-motion, animated film -- "It's like making love and being stabbed to death at the same time."

Elliot explained production took 57 weeks with 6 animators who produced only a thimble-full of animation -- 5 seconds a day.

The film follows an unlikely pen pal relationship between an Australian girl and New York man with Aspergers Syndrome (voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman).  Elliot said he dedicated the film to his own pin friend.

"He couldn't be here today because he had an operation to straighten his leg," he said.

Lastly, Elliot thanked his parents, saying with particular pride -- "My dad sold a trampoline to John Wayne.  Had to set it up in his backyard."


Photo by Fred Hayes/WireImage.com.