Film Critic, Author, Historian to Be the Special Host

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Fall Fundraiser

Costa Mesa, CA: The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity announced today that noted film critic, author, and historian, Leonard Maltin will be the special host for the fall fundraiser, Creativity Season, to be held Saturday, September 22, 2012 from 6 PM to 10 PM at the Center, 3321 Hyland Avenue, Suite B, Costa Mesa, CA in the South Coast Collection (SoCo). Creativity Season will include a Chuck Jones Big Draw starring several of today’s most noted artists working in animation and other media.

“Red Carpet” tickets are $100.00 per person and include an exclusive cocktail party to meet Mr. Maltin along with artists and film directors such as Rob Minkoff (director, “The Lion King”), Kelly Asbury, (director “Gnomeo and Juliet”), George Daugherty (Creator and Conductor of “Bugs Bunny on Broadway”), and Mike Peraza (Disney Art Director “The Little Mermaid”).  

“Gala” tickets are $50.00 and include cocktails beginning at 7 PM, the Chuck Jones Big Draw, and dinner. Silent and live auctions will be presented throughout the evening and after dinner Mr. Maltin will deliver a short paean to Chuck Jones.

The evening will be catered by the Center’s partner, 24 carrots Catering & Events. Tickets may be purchased online at or by phone at 949-660-7793.

“If you love the movies, you’ll love meeting Leonard,” said Linda Jones Clough, Chuck Jones’s daughter, Board member of the Center as well as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.  “His depth of knowledge of all things film and his love for the work my father created during his lifetime are astonishing. We’re delighted he has agreed to join us for this important fundraiser.”

“The Chuck Jones Big Draw we have planned will give our patrons and donors the opportunity to interact with some of today’s most creative talent working in animation and the arts today,” said Craig Kausen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Center and Chuck’s grandson. “And it will also help explain the important work we do. It is a challenge these days to find adequate arts education; creativity is one of the most important attributes of highly successful scientists, mathematicians, and business leaders. The Center is committed to helping everyone, but particularly children, find the creative genius that resides in each of us.”

The artists who will be attending include:

George Daugherty – Symphonic conductor, Creator and Conductor of Bugs Bunny On Broadway and Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, producer/director of Chuck Jones’ Peter and the Wolf, Emmy Award winning producer and director for ABC, Warner Bros., and PBS
David Ka Lik Wong – Creator and Producer of Bugs Bunny On Broadway and Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, producer of Chuck Jones Peter and The Wolf, Emmy Award winning producer for ABC, Warner Bros., and PBS

Rob Minkoff: Director of Lion King, Stuart Little, The Forbidden Kingdom, The Haunted Mansion

Jeff DeGrandis: Producer of Dora the Explorer, Director for Chuck Jones Enterprises, Animator at Disney and Warner Bros.

Chris Bailey: Animation Director of Hop, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Kim Possible, Animator on Lion King

Kelly Asbury: Director of Gnomeo and Juliet, Shrek 2, Writer of Chicken Run and Beauty and the Beast

Eric Goldberg: Director of Pocahontas, Fantasia/2000, Animation Supervisor of Aladdin, Princess and the Frog, and Hercules

Mike Peraza: Disney Art Director The Little Mermaid, Warner Bros. Animation Director, Production Designer- Anastasia, Concept- Ice Age, Beauty & Beast, Roger Rabbit, Aladdin, Ducktales, Darkwing Duck; Disney Parks Designer Carsland, Fantasyland.

John Ramirez: Designer, Art Director, Animator, Illustrator for such films as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Hercules, and Toy Story II 

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity was founded in 1999 by four-time Academy Award recipient and legendary animation creator and director, Chuck Jones. The Center’s vision is to inspire the innate creative genius within each person that leads to a more joyous, passionate, and harmonious life and world.

These are important goals, particularly in today’s world, when arts education is practically non-existent; we are dedicated to re-invigorating the creative spirit and we are doing it through art classes, exhibitions, lectures, and film festivals, all of which spring from the material in the Chuck Jones archive. Jones was a determined saver and his writings, art, and other ephemera from a nine-decade life, along with his philosophy of guiding and nurturing instruction, form the basis of our programs.

For more information, photo files, or to arrange an interview, please call Robert Patrick at 949-660-7791 x 22103 or via email [email protected].