“Mel has seen the video and is interested,” co-producer Nigel Tierney said after sending the concept for the animated short film Addicted To It to Mel Brooks.rte.ie reported that Brooks, who celebrated his 100th birthday last June, stars as a mischievous smartphone character in the seven-minute production, which has qualified for Oscar consideration in the Animated Shorts category.
Casting Mel Brooks as an Agent of Chaos in Addicted To It
The project follows main character Dace as he attempts to take a walk among Redwoods without his phone, only to have the device transform into “Phoney Bunny.” Tierney described the character as an agent of chaos and the ultimate narcissist designed to pull users back into doomscrolling. Rather than recording remotely, Brooks showed up in person at the studio wearing a suit with a red pocket square, accompanied by his production partner and assistant. Tierney co-directed the short alongside Federico Heller, with original music and lyrics by Tony Award winner Jeff Marx and vocal contributions from singer Dionne Warwick.
International artists produce short film for global festival screenings
Production spanned Argentina, Ireland, and the United States, utilizing an international team of over 200 artists and musicians. The short film has already secured screenings at multiple international events, including the BITBANG festival in Buenos Aires, the Tampa Animation Festival in Florida, the Open World Animation Festival in Pennsylvania, the Coronado Island Film Festival in San Diego, the Manchester Animation Festival in England, and the Anchorage International Film Festival in Alaska.
Filmmakers draw inspiration from personal device dependency habits
The narrative drew inspiration from the filmmakers’ own experiences with device dependency, particularly after Tierney noticed similar habits forming around his children, 13-year-old Nigel Jr. and eight-year-old Crystal. Uniquely, the end credits explicitly state that the project was made entirely with human hands and hearts without the use of artificial intelligence.
Common Questions About the Animated Short
Where was Nigel Tierney born?
Tierney is originally from Kilkenny, Ireland, though he has lived in California since 2009.
Who wrote the music for Addicted To It?
Tony Award winner Jeff Marx composed the original music and lyrics for the production.
When did Mel Brooks celebrate his birthday?
Brooks celebrated his 100th birthday last June.
Which festivals are hosting screenings for the film?
Confirmed screenings include events in Buenos Aires, Tampa, Pennsylvania, San Diego, Manchester, and Anchorage through late October and December.
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