Ray Harryhausen in Person

Stop-motion maestro Ray Harryhausen will be making a series of appearances in California this month, most of them in the Los Angeles area. Lawrence French provided a list over at Cinefantastique Online:

• Friday, February 15, 2008: Hollywood Collectors Show – Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel – Burbank, California. Harryhausen will be signing his books, DVD’s and art prints. Friday only.
• Saturday, February 16, 2008 International Ballroom, Beverly Hilton Hotel. Harryhausen will accept the Art Directors Guild’s Cinematic Imagery Award.
• Sunday, February 17, 2008: 3 p.m. Every Picture Tells A Story gallery and book store Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, California. Harryhausen will sign his books and his latest limited edition art print, a pre-production drawing of Sinbad battling a group of terrifying Bat People ( a scene planned for the The 7th Voyage of Sinbad but abandoned).
• Sunday, February 17, 2008: 5 p.m American Cinematheque presents at The Aero Theater – Live commentary on Ray Harryhausen’s The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. This event will feature a star-studded cast of Harryhausen’s associates giving a live commentary to this screening of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Featured effects artists will be Dennis Muren, Randy Cook and Phil Tippett, while actors from Harryhausen’s films will include Kathyn Grant, John Philip Law (from The Golden Voyage of Sinbad), and Joan Taylor (from Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers) along with film historian Arnold Kunert.
• Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Rafael Theater -San Rafael, California. Harryhausen ventures north to where Willis O’ Brien began his stop motion experiments in San Francisco before Harryhausen was even born in 1920, and where stop-motion animation still flourishes. He will appear for a discussion of his films and career with Matte World principal Craig Barron, Tippett Studios head, Phil Tippett and ILM’s dean of special effects, Dennis Muren, along with film historian Arnold Kunert. Harryhausen’s books and DVDs will be available for purchase and signing.
• Saturday, February 23, 2008: 2 p.m. Dark Delicacies Book Shop – Burbank, California. Harryhausen will on hand to sell and sign his books, his latest DVDs and various other Harryhausen items.
• Monday, February 25, 2008: 7:30 p.m. Mystery and Imagination Book Shop – Glendale, California. Harryhausen will sign his books, DVD’s and other items.

French’s post also includes a nice interview with Harryhausen, so if you’re a fan you should check it out.