Michael PlanteThe AuthorMike Plante is the Director of Programming for CineVegas and editor of the Cinemad blog. He was a Short Film Programmer for Sundance for the 2003-2006 festivals.

Slide 1: Intro

Quite often filmmakers take on a short film only to find that after it’s finished there is so much more to say. Shane Acker worked for years to finish his 11-minute short 9 in 2004. And when it was released, audiences and filmmakers paid attention: it was invited to festivals around the world; it received a Academy Award nomination in the Best Animated Short Film category; and it got watched by two directors––Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov––who would soon step up to produce a feature film version of 9. What sold these directors and others on making a16mm film over one day in Preston, Idaho.

Peluca follows a day in the life of Seth (Jon Heder, who became Napoleon), who thoughtfully tosses action figures out the bus window on a string and helps friend Gael (the character that became Pedro) find some hair (the film's title is Spanish for "wig"), both scenes that are repeated in the feature. Almost a scrappy, extended trailer for the feature, the tone of the short is great, quick and fun, a perfect intro to the long version. The short played Slamdance and the team went on to make the feature for $400,000, selling it to Fox Searchlight at its Sundance premiere. Big box office and clever merchandise later, a comedy classic was born. There is even a festival every year