Filmmaking | Interviews

Animation Escapade

1 Sep , 2004  

Written by Randy Steinberg | Posted by:

Children’s author John Michael Williams breaks out of his shell as his first children's book becomes the animated film, 'The Easter Egg Escapade.'

With "Shrek," "Monster’s Inc," and "Finding Nemo" all the rage these days, when the studios came calling on local children’s author and filmmaker John Michael Williams, seeking to option his screenplay for the animated film "The Easter Egg Escapade," naturally, he turned Hollywood down.

In 1991, Williams, a native of Melrose, Massachusetts, published his first children’s book, "The Easter Egg Escapade," a work that has sold over 100,000 copies. "From the moment I wrote the book, I had it in my head that this would also be a great film," Williams explains. The making of the film itself became somewhat of an escapade as it was nearly 13 years before the movie was completed. "I wrote the script for ‘The Easter Egg Escapade’ soon after finishing the book but got sidetracked for a few years before I began an effort to sell it in Hollywood," Williams says. Indeed, he had an offer on the table from Dreamworks but was informed that it would take seven years to finish, and, more importantly, Williams would lose creative control of the project.

Williams turned the offer down and decided to make the film himself. He traveled the world, taking pictures of different towns, bridges, gazebos — anything to give the film a non-Disney feel. The animators he hired were from Poland, and the movie has a decidedly European look to it. This tale is more Grimm than Disney.

But if you think "The Easter Egg Escapade" has no star power, think again. While the film was in its early stages, Williams made a trip to New York for a book signing. "I was in the Carnegie Deli," he relates, "and I saw Joe Pantoliano. I thought it had to be more than a coincidence, a guardian angel on my shoulder. I had a longtime fantasy of asking Pantoliano to provide the voice for the dark character in ‘Easter Egg Escapade’ — Terrible Timothy Take-It. I summoned some courage and approached him." Pantoliano was at the height of his popularity, having appeared on "The Sopranos," among a long list of distinguished credits. Pantoliano, dining with his two daughters, took an immediate interest in "The Easter Egg Escapade." Pantoliano came aboard and was instrumental in wooing other stars to provide voices: the film also features Brooke Shields, James Woods, Sandra Bernhardt, Nancy Kerrigan, with Eli Wallach narrating and Natalie Cole singing several songs.

"The Easter Egg Escapade" tells the story of Eggtown, a peaceful village where rabbits and chickens live together in harmony. However, a band of thieving roosters, the Take-Its (led by Terrible Timothy Take-It), live in the murky swamps and forests beyond Eggtown, and they conspire to steal all of Eggtown’s Easter Eggs. In order to retrieve the eggs, an unlikely group of heroes, which includes Big Boring Benedict Bunny, Horrible Harriet Hare, Good Gracious Grasshopper, Tiny Tessie, and Boss Baker Bunny, volunteer to go on the perilous journey. The ending features the redemption of Terrible Timothy Take-It and is sure to please pre-teens.

But John Williams is hoping "The Easter Egg Escapade" reaches older audiences, too. The score was performed by the Czech Republic Symphony Orchestra, and the artwork and coloring will be of keen interest to cult film and animation fans. The notion that this is more than a children’s film is already starting to pay off. With the help and backing of the Boston-based film production company Dream Alley Pictures (https://newenglandfilm.com/news/archives/04april/dream.htm), which created trailers and a marketing package for the film, "The Easter Egg Escapade" premiered at the Spudfest in Idaho on August 3. Spudfest is a drive-in film festival in the Teton Valley of Idaho co-founded by Dawn Wells (best known as Marianne on "Gilligan’s Island"). "The Easter Egg Escapade" won Spudfest’s prize for best animated film, beating out an offering from Charlton Heston and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Williams hopes the momentum continues as he takes the movie to the renowned Jackson Hole and Hollywood Film Festivals. And in between those screenings is a stop in New England at the Boston Film Festival. At these fests, "The Easter Egg Escapade" will compete for major prizes and industry exposure, resulting, Williams hopes, in a distribution deal.

John Michael Williams has been a storyteller and a performer from his earliest days. He recalls, "One of my fondest memories is of my father trying to get us to sleep by singing to us and telling us stories. By the time I was 10, I had taken over my father’s role, spinning yarns and singing my siblings to sleep. My reputation grew in the neighborhood, and eventually, I would put on shows in our garage where I would sing and tell stories to the kids in the neighborhood."

At the age of 12, Williams began voice lessons with Dr. James Houghton, a German Opera star, and the future seemed bright. However, in his teens Williams was diagnosed with a rare heart disease, and for the better part of three years, he was in and out of hospitals for treatments. He managed to attend and graduate Northeastern University but was bedridden much of the time. One thing he was able to do during his convalescence was write songs and stories. After reading an article about a special treatment at Duke University Medical Center, he felt he had some hope. He underwent the procedure and was able to gain a new lease on life.

Many of John Williams stories are fairy tales with fairy tale endings, and it makes sense since he feels fortunate to be healthy and alive today. He sold his first manuscript, "The Easter Egg Escapade," in 1990 and has never looked back. He has published over a dozen children’s books and stories since then, and he has also written and produced a musical album. A songwriter at heart, he wrote all the songs and lyrics performed in "The Easter Egg Escapade."

Regarding the movie, Williams says, "I wanted to tell a story for children that would help them to think about important issues while also entertaining them. However, this story is not meant to preach; it is a tale where nothing and no one are as they seem. Untapped potential was the main theme I wanted to communicate, that anyone has the ability to overcome his or her flaws — to be the best they can be. I also wanted to convey the notion that people can and should be loved despite their imperfections. Look more deeply. That’s the message of ‘The Easter Egg Escapade.’"

Williams envisions several more chapters to "The Easter Egg Escapade" story, and he also has plans to produce and direct a live action romantic comedy. Whatever his next project, one thing is for sure, John Michael Williams has certainly come out of his shell.

More information about ‘The Easter Egg Escapade’ and John Michael Williams can be found at www.eastereggescapade.com and www.johnmichaelwilliams.com.


More information about 'The Easter Egg Escapade' and John Michael Williams can be found at www.eastereggescapade.com and www.johnmichaelwilliams.com.

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