The Sparky Book Explained

The Sparky Book
Director:Mary Lewis
Producer:Annette Clarke
Starring:Maggie Hickey
Joel Thomas Hynes
Leah Lewis
Gordon Pinsent
Cinematography:Eli M. Yonova
Editing:Lawrence Jackman
Mary Lewis
Studio:National Film Board of Canada
Runtime:14 minutes
Country:Canada
Language:English
Budget:$CAD274,000 (estimated)

The Sparky Book is a 2006 animated/live-action short film by Newfoundland filmmaker Mary Lewis, about the near-death of a young girl who undergoes heart transplant surgery, and the death of her beloved pet dog, Sparky.[1]

The story is based on the experiences of the director's own sister, Leah, who had two kidney transplants as a child. Michael Winter wrote a short story The Sparky Book after their dog had died. Director Lewis then loosely based her film on the short story. The film is narrated by a goldfish, voiced by Gordon Pinsent, with voice of Sparky by Joel Thomas Hynes. Leah Lewis appears in the film as "Bridget," a character based upon herself.[2] [3]

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada, the film received the Golden Sheaf Award for best experimental film and the Bill Boyle Award for Excellence in Screenwriting at .[4] In 2008, The Sparky Book was the sole film from Newfoundland and Labrador to be selected for CBC TV's "Short Film Faceoff", a six-part series showcasing films from Atlantic Canada.[2] [3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Sparky Book. Teachers' guide. National Film Board of Canada. 30 September 2010.
  2. News: Wicks. Heidi. Newfoundland filmmaker faces off. 30 September 2010. The Telegram. 15 May 2008.
  3. News: The Sparky Book a labour of love for Newfoundland filmmaker Mary Lewis. 30 September 2010. Western Star. 12 August 2009.
  4. Web site: The Sparky Book. Collection. National Film Board of Canada. 30 September 2010.