The Abandoned Block
A useless, damaged, forgotten block of marble after years of neglect, emerges as one of the greatest and most beautiful works of art.
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James BourneDirector
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James BourneWriter
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James BourneProducer
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Project Type:Animation, Short
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Genres:Drama, Historic, animation, cartoons, art
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Runtime:5 minutes 45 seconds
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Completion Date:May 21, 2020
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Production Budget:45,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada, United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:digital
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Flicker's Rhode Island International Film FestivalProvidence, Rhode Island
United States
August 6, 2020
World, North America, United States, East Coast, Rhode Island Premiere
First Place Best Children's Animated Short -
Independent Shorts AwardsLos Angeles, California
United States
September 13, 2020
Southern California
Gold Award: Best Animated Short, Official Selection: Best First Time Director (Male), Best Original Score -
Los Angeles Lift Off Film Festival
United States
September 13, 2020
Los Angeles
Official Selection -
Boston Film FestivalBoston, MA
United States
September 24, 2020
Massachusetts
Official Selection -
Tokyo Cinemasters International Film FestivalGinza District, Tokyo
Japan
October 1, 2020
Asia
Honorable Mention -
San Diego International Film FestivalSan Diego, Ca
United States
San Diego
official Selection -
Glendale International Film FestivalGlendale, CA
United States
October 15, 2020
Official Selection -
The Animator ShowcasePinewood Studios
United Kingdom
October 18, 2020
European; UK Premiere
Official Selection -
Indie Memphis Film FestivalMemphis, Tennessee
United States
October 21, 2020
Tennessee Premiere
Official Selection -
San Jose International Short Film FestivalSan Jose, California
United States
October 22, 2020
West Coast US, California Premiere
Official Selection -
Indie X Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
October 24, 2020
Outstanding Achievement Award -
SPARK AnimationVancouver, BC
Canada
October 29, 2020
Canada, BC
Official Selection -
SCAD Savannah Film FestivalSavannah, Georgia
United States
Southeastern Premiere
Official Selection -
Indie Short FestLos Angeles, CA
United States
November 1, 2020
Official Selection/ Award of Excellence -
Studio City Film FestivalLos Angeles, CA
United States
November 6, 2020
Official Selection -
FEEDBACK Animation Film and Screenplay FestivalLos Angeles
United States
November 7, 2020
Official Selection -
Toronto Shorts International Film FestivalToronto
Canada
November 12, 2020
Toronto
Finalist -
ARPA International Film FestivalLos Angeles, California
United States
November 12, 2020
Nominee: Best Short Animated Film Award -
Montreal International Animation Film FestivalMontreal, Quebec
Canada
August 27, 2020
Canada, Quebec, Montreal Premiere
Official Selection -
Foyle Film Festival
United Kingdom
November 20, 2020
Northern Ireland
Official Selection -
Cyrus Monthly Short Film FestivalToronto, ON
Canada
December 1, 2020
official selection -
Canada ShortsSaint John, NB
Canada
December 12, 2020
Official Selection -
Seattle Film FestivalSeattle, WA
United States
Washington State Premiere
Official Selection -
Florence CinefestFlorence
Italy
December 20, 2020
Italy
Official Selection -
Palm Springs International Animation Festival and ExpoPalm Springs, CA
United States
December 22, 2020
Palm Springs
Official Selection -
Golden Knight Malta International Short Film Festival
Malta
January 30, 2021
Malta
Golden Knight Award -
Venice ShortsVenice
United States
January 30, 2021
Winner Best International Animation -
Love your Shorts Film FestivalSanford, Florida
United States
February 11, 2021
Florida -
Omaha Film FestivalOmaha, Nebraska
United States
March 2, 2021
Nebraska -
Dublin International Film FestivalDublin
Ireland
March 3, 2021
Ireland -
Garden State Film FestivalAshbury Park, New Jersey
United States
March 24, 2021
New Jersey -
CinequestSan Jose, CA
United States
March 20, 2021
official selection -
Taos Shortz Film FestivalQuesta, New Mexico
United States
March 19, 2021
New Mexico
official selection -
Utah Film FestivalVineyard, Utah
United States
April 8, 2021
Best Animated Short -
Columbus International Film and Animation FestivalColumbus, OH
United States
April 17, 2021
Ohio
official selection -
USA Film FestivalDallas, TX
United States
April 21, 2021
Dallas Fort Worth
Finalist -
Worldfest HoustonHouston, TX
United States
April 22, 2021
Texas
Platinum REMI Animated Short -
Sunscreen Film FestivalSt. Petersburg, FL
United States
April 29, 2021
official selection -
Clean Shorts Film FestivalChoctaw, OK
United States
May 7, 2021
Oklahoma -
The Animation Festival of Halifax
Canada
May 8, 2021
Nova Scotia -
Florida Animation FestivalTallahassee, Florida
United States
June 11, 2021 -
Oakville Film FestivalOakville, Ontario
Canada
June 23, 2021 -
Neum Animated Film Festival
Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 26, 2021
Bosnia Herzegovinia -
La Guarimba Film Festival
Italy
August 7, 2021 -
Los Angeles Animated Film Festival
Born to a family of doctors in Rochester Minnesota, James Bourne took a career path in the arts instead of the family profession. After high school, he was accepted into Brigham Young University's Center for Animation. Since graduating with a BFA in Visual Arts Animation he has worked in various departments for different animation studios including Blue Sky, Bardel, and Moonbot. Currently living in British Columbia, James now specializes in storyboarding for animation and film. Much of his inspiration for storytelling comes from history and mythology, both of which are sacred to him. The Abandoned Block is his directorial debut. After storyboarding for television series in Vancouver, his future goals are to storyboard and direct for Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks, and be a creator and showrunner for several pilot episodes he is currently pitching.
"This is a great story! Why hasn't someone made a film about this?" That's what I asked myself as I learned the origins of one of the greatest works of art. I was so moved by the humble beginnings of this masterpiece: a useless, damaged block of marble abandoned for decades, and how someone saw it not for what it was, but what this block COULD BE. From then on, I became determined to not only tell this moving story, but to tell it through the medium of animation, or as the old Disney artists refer to it, "The Illusion of Life". I love a good underdog story; seeing how obstacles are overcome, defying all expectations and meeting the end of a journey in triumph. That is the essence of storytelling in and of itself and what I want audiences to feel from this film: amazement at the humble origins of a masterpiece and that there is untapped potential in all of us, no matter our background.