I met Tim and Danny Reckart last year at the Tepeyac Leadership Initiative’s The Hour of the Laity Conference and we had a few fantastic conversations! I wanted to keep it going and so I invited the two to talk about art, filmmaking, story, and more. Enjoy!
Who is Tim Reckart?
Timothy Reckart is an Oscar-nominated writer, director, and animator, best known for directing The Star in 2017 and the Oscar-nominated short Head Over Heels in 2012. Prior to directing, he worked as a stop motion animator, serving as a lead animator on Charlie Kaufman’s Oscar-nominated film Anomalisa and animator on Amazon’s multiple Emmy-winning preschool series Tumble Leaf. In 2015, Variety named him one of its “10 Animators To Watch.”
He holds a master’s degree in directing animation from the National Film & Television School of the UK and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history and literature from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Edward H. Potter Prize for “great enthusiasm and curiosity for truly eclectic learning.” He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.
Who is Danny Reckart?
Danny Reckart is a LA-based screenwriter and playwright. A graduate of NYU Tisch, Danny wrote numerous plays and musicals that were performed throughout New York City, including writing for Broken Box Mime Theater for which he won a New York Innovative Theater award. His screenplays have been recognized by the Nicholl Fellowship, the Sundance Screenwriting Lab, and the BlueCat Screenwriting Competition. He is currently in development at Dreamworks working on an animated TV show he co-created with his brother based on their childhood road trips.
Summary:
In this conversation, Will Wright speaks with Tim and Danny Reckart, two brothers who are passionate about storytelling and filmmaking. They discuss their backgrounds, the importance of storytelling in conveying wisdom, and the role of art in reflecting truth. The Reckart brothers emphasize the responsibility of Catholic filmmakers to integrate their faith into their work and the need for a supportive community among artists. They also explore the current cultural landscape, noting a bifurcation in society and the challenges and opportunities it presents for Christian artists.
Takeaways:
Storytelling is a fundamental human experience that helps us retain wisdom.
Art serves as a medium to convey deeper truths and experiences.
Preachiness in art often stems from poor execution rather than the message itself.
The role of the artist is to remind audiences of truths they may have forgotten.
Catholic filmmakers have a unique responsibility to present a counter-cultural worldview.
Art can be a powerful tool for evangelization and cultural engagement.
Community among Catholic artists is essential for growth and support.
The current cultural climate presents both challenges and opportunities for Christian filmmakers.
Art should resonate with audiences on a personal level, reflecting their own experiences.
The Reckart brothers are launching Sycamore Studios to create family-oriented animated films rooted in their values.
Keywords
storytelling, Catholic filmmakers, art, truth, culture, animation, Reckart brothers, film industry, creativity, wisdom
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