Oscar-Nominated Short Film "War is Over": Screening and Q&A with filmmakers Dave Mullins, Brad Booker and Sean Ono Lennon

Dave Mullins is a distinguished American writer, director, and animator renowned for his significant contributions to storytelling and filmmaking. As the co-founder of ElectroLeague, he draws from a rich two-decade career at Pixar Animation Studios. Best known for his directorial debut, the emotionally resonant short film "LOU," Dave earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Short Film. The film received acclaim at events such as SXSW® Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival, earning nominations for Best Animated Short and Best Family Film, respectively. During his tenure at Pixar, Dave played a pivotal role in overseeing animation for Academy Award®-winning masterpieces like "UP" and "SOUL." His artistic contributions extended to other acclaimed projects, including the Academy Award®-nominated "INCREDIBLES 2" and Golden Globe®-nominated films like "CARS 2" and "THE GOOD DINOSAUR." Dave's animation journey began in 1995 at Walt Disney Feature Animation, leading to notable roles at Sony Imageworks and Digital Domain. His credits include iconic films like "STUART LITTLE," "MONSTERS INC.," "FINDING NEMO," "CARS," "RATATOUILLE," "BRAVE," "INSIDE OUT," and "COCO." In addition to his creative pursuits, Dave studied computer science at Brown University and earned his BFA at Rhode Island School of Design. His technical expertise at Pixar is evident in four awarded patents, showcasing his vital role in developing groundbreaking animation tools for some of Pixar’s most successful films.

Brad Booker is a seasoned film producer and former animator with three decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Fueled by a passion for dramatic storytelling, innovative technology, and a dedicated mission to maximize budgetary impact on the screen, he has seamlessly integrated these elements under one umbrella in the formation of ElectroLeague. Prior to the inception of ElectroLeague, Brad made significant contributions to the film landscape. His noteworthy productions include "RUMBLE" (2020) for Paramount Pictures and "THE BOOK OF LIFE" (2014) for 20th Century Fox. The latter garnered a nomination for "Best Animated Feature" at prestigious events like the Golden Globes®, the Producers Guild of America, and The Critics' Choice Movie Awards but also secured 5 Annie Awards. During his illustrious 15-year tenure at Reel FX Animation Studios, Brad served as a producer as well as spearheading film development, playing a pivotal role in bringing all three of the studio's animated feature films to the big screen. Before venturing into film production and development, Brad's passion for gaming led him to Acclaim Game Studios, where he directed game cinematics for the hit title "RED STAR." His career commenced as an animator at renowned studios such as Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, and Weta FX, with animation credits that include iconic films like "IRON GIANT," "OSMOSIS JONES," "STUART LITTLE," "SPIDER-MAN," and "LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS."

SEAN ONO LENNON, is an American musician, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist and filmmaker. He is the son of music legends John Lennon and Yoko Ono and half-brother to Julian Lennon. Sean has cultivated a multifaceted career marked by a blend of his parents' influential legacies and his own unique artistic endeavors. Over the course of his career, he has been a member of the bands, Cibo Matto, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and his parents' group, Plastic Ono Band. From his acclaimed debut solo album "Into the Sun" to diverse collaborations across genres, Sean's talent and innovation continue to resonate, complemented by his advocacy for social causes, reflecting a harmonious balance between his family's storied history and his distinct contributions to the world of music and activism.

Aidan Martin is an Animation Supervisor at Wētā FX with 18 years of professional experience. He manages the creative and technical execution of CG characters across animation, motion editing, and performance capture. Aidan specializes in creating emotive facial performances for performance capture shows, such as Wētā’s latest iteration of Pogo for the third season of The Umbrella Academy. Aidan has most recently wrapped on the animated short film War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko. He joined Wētā FX in 2013 to work as an Animator on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. He was Lead Animator for the sweet and earnest performance of The BFG, Animation Supervisor on War for Planet of the Apes, and a Senior Animator on Avengers: Endgame. Aidan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Mediated Art and a Diploma of Animation. In 2013, he was nominated for a VES Award for Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature for his contribution to Bad Ape from War for the Planet of the Apes.