Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) January 20, 2012
Ringling College of Art and Design today announced that actor Elijah Wood is participating in the Ringling College Digital Filmmaking Studio Lab on January 23rd and 24th. The Studio Lab is a collaboration between Ringling College and Future of Films, LLC.
Elijah Wood was a critically acclaimed actor by age 9, now known best known for his high-profile role as Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson?s stunning The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Mr. Woods has been successful in resisting typecasting by choosing varied roles in critically acclaimed films such as ?Bobby,? ?Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,? ?Sin City,? ?Green Street? and ?Everything Is Illuminated.? Widely regarded as one of the most gifted actors of his generation, Elijah Wood continues to challenge himself with roles spanning the spectrum of style and genre.
Wood is currently in production on Franck Khalfoun’s re-make of the thriller “Maniac.” Wood stars as Frank Zito, a serial killer who works in an antique shop that sells mannequins, and preys on women after years of abuse from his mad mother. Wood will soon be seen among an ensemble cast in “Celeste and Jesse Forever,” a Rashida Jones and Will McCormack film that will be screened at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Wood will play a metrosexual co-worker of Celeste, who masquerades as her gay friend.
In the summer of 2011, Wood was seen in his first TV series, “Wilfred,”on FX which ran for 13 episodes straight. The show is a U.S. remake of the Australia hit sitcom which was adapted by ?Family Guy? writer David Zuckerman and revolves around a guy (Wood), a girl, and a mixed-breed dog named Wilfred, which Zuckerman describes as part Labrador retriever and part Russell Crowe on a bender. The series was recently picked up for another season.
?We are looking forward to Elijah Wood sharing his experience with our filmmaking students,? said Ringling College president Dr. Larry R. Thompson. ?He has been the central lead in an impressive roster of fine film and television projects and his unique viewpoint as one of the younger actors to have worked with our students. Having ?grown up? in the business, Elijah has an incredible amount of experience for someone his age and we think he will be a particularly insightful guest for our students.?
Mr. Wood will be hosting a private screening and discussion of selected clips for Ringling College students on Monday, January 23 from 11:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. and another session for invited guests on Tuesday, January 24 from 5-7 p.m.. Both events will be held at the Ringling College Academic Center Auditorium. Media is invited to attend either Q&A session. RSVPS are required.
The Ringling College digital filmmaking academic program ? now in its fifth year ? is ranked as one of the top 25 film schools in the world by The Hollywood Reporter. Since its inception in 2010, the Digital Filmmaking Studio Lab has hosted film and media luminaries including James Woods, Edward Burns, Werner Herzog, Bill Paxton, Martha Stewart, Andy Garcia, Paul Schiff, Oren Moverman, Ben Foster, Steve Michelsen, and Ed Carroll. The 2011-2012 Studio Lab is made possible in part thanks to corporate support from PNC Wealth Management (https://www.pncsites.com/wealthinsight/), Sarasota Magazine (http://www.sarasotamagazine.com) and Biz941 (http://www.Biz941.com).
The Ringling Studio Lab was established two years ago and is a unique program that has as its goal the integration of Ringling?s top tier academic program with industry leading film and TV projects. Last year, the Studio Lab assisted in the production of Anna Paquin?s movie ?FREE RIDE?. ?We are very lucky to host Elijah. He is extraordinarily talented and involved in all aspects of filmmaking. We are all looking forward to learning from him and hope that, in the future, we can work with him on one of his many projects,? said David Shapiro, co-founder of Future of Films, LLC.
Mr. Wood?s Biography follows the press release.
About Ringling College of Art and Design
Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offering the Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in 13 disciplines: Advertising Design, Computer Animation, Digital Film-making, Fine Arts, Game Art & Design, Graphic & Interactive Communication, Illustration, Interior Design, Motion Design, Painting, Photography & Digital Imaging, Printmaking, and Sculpture, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Business of Art & Design. Located in Sarasota on Florida?s Gulf Coast, the picturesque 48-acre campus now includes more than 110 buildings, and enrolls 1,368 students from 42 states and 53 countries. It is recognized as being among the best and most innovative visual arts colleges in the United States as well as a leader in the use of technology in the arts. http://www.Ringling.edu
About Future of Films, LLC.
Future of Films leverages unique opportunities in media production and content as the old models rapidly change, focusing on convergences between traditional and new media. Co-founders Sam Logan (Sarasota) and David Shapiro (New York) are bringing to bear their extensive relationships in the film and TV industry to provide for rapid development of the Ringling Digital Filmmaking Studio Lab, a groundbreaking project that combines education with film development. The Studio Lab is designed to provide Ringling College of Art and Design students have hands-on experience with top-tier directors, producers, writers, and cinematographers as well as to help Sarasota become an integral part of the film industry.
ELIJAH WOOD BIO
Widely regarded as one of the most gifted actors of his generation, Elijah Wood continues to challenge himself with roles spanning the spectrum of style and genre.
Wood is currently in production on Franck Khalfoun’s re-make of the thriller “Maniac.” Wood stars as Frank Zito, a serial killer who works in an antique shop that sells mannequins, and preys on women after years of abuse from his mad mother.
Wood will soon be seen among an ensemble cast in “Celeste and Jesse Forever,” a Rashida Jones and Will McCormack film that will be screened at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Wood will play a metrosexual co-worker of Celeste, who masquerades as her gay friend.
In the summer of 2011, Wood was seen in his first TV series, “Wilfred,”on FX which ran for 13 episodes straight.The show is a U.S. remake of the Australia hit sitcom which was adapted by ?Family Guy? vet David Zuckerman and revolves around a guy (Wood), a girl, and a mixed-breed dog named Wilfred, which Zuckerman describes as part Labrador retriever and part Russell Crowe on a bender.
Wood recently wrapped production in New Zealand on Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” where he will be reprising his role as Frodo. He has also completed work as ?Ben Gunn” in Stewart Harcourt’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” alongside Eddie Izzard and Donald Sutherland. The two part four hour miniseries will be airing on SKY TV in the UK in December 2011 and on the SyFy channel in the US in 2012. Alan Moloney is producing with Steve Barron directing. Wood was also seen in the short ?Fight for your Right Revisited? directed by Adam Yauch and starring John C. Reilly and Seth Rogen, which premiered in Sundance this year.
Wood can soon be heard lending his voice alongside Robin Williams and Pink in the sequel “Happy Feet 2″ which will be released in 3D on November 18, 2011. He also will be voicing the character ?Beck? in ?Tron: Uprising? due out in 2012.
Wood was also seen in Galt Niederhoffer’s “The Romantics” opposite an all-star cast including Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel, Anna Paquin, Malin Ackerman and Adam Brody. The film premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
In 2009, Wood gave his voice to the Shane Acker animated film “9″ produced by Tim Burton. The Focus Features film tells the story of a post-apocalyptic nightmare in which all of humanity is threatened. The film was released on 9-9-09 and co-stars Jennifer Connelly and John C. Reilly.
Wood made an indelible mark in the trilogy of films based on J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings” in the lead role of the hobbit, ‘Frodo Baggins.’ Directed by Peter Jackson, the films; “The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers,” and “Return of the King” were all critically lauded as well as being box office record setters. In addition, “Return of the King” won the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as 11 Academy Awards in all, tying “Titanic” for the record. The series of films also starred Viggo Mortensen, Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellan, and Sean Astin.
Additional credits Oxford Murders,” opposite John Hurt “Paris, Je T’aime” “Day Zero” , George Miller’s animated film “Happy Feet, Emilio Estevez’s “Bobby, Liev Schreiber’s “Everything is Illuminated,” and Michel Gondry’s critically acclaimed “Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.include Lexi Alexander’s “Hooligans,” Frank Miller’s graphic novel “Sin City” co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and Miller, Ang Lee’s film “The Ice Storm” Martin Duffy’s independent film “The Bumblebee Flies Away” , Jeffrey Porter’s “Try Seventeen” , “Ash Wednesday”, James Toback’s “Black and White.”
Wood is an active member and supporter of The Art of Elysium, a non-profit organization founded in 1997 that encourages working actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. The Art of Elysium provides artistic workshops in acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing.
Wood currently resides in LA.
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