Sporn, Gagne, Reilly win Carnegie Medal for “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers”
Contacts:
Larra Clark/Macey Morales
ALA Media Relations
312-280-5043/4393
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2006
Sporn, Gagne, Reilly win Carnegie Medal for “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers”
Michael Sporn, of Michael Sporn Animation, Inc., and Paul Gagne and Melissa Reilly, of Weston Woods Studios, producers of “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers,” are the 2006 recipients of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children’s Video. The video is based on the book by Mordicai Gerstein and is narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, with music by Michael Bacon. The award was announced January 23 during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio, January 20-25.
Established with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Carnegie Medal honors an outstanding American video production for children released during the previous year. The award is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA.
On the morning of August 7, 1974, a young Frenchman stepped out on a high wire strung between the towers of the World Trade Center. For almost an hour, astonished onlookers a quarter of a mile below stared up in amazement as Philippe Petit “walked, danced, ran and knelt in salute upon the wire.” This is a powerful story that celebrates the heights of human accomplishment.
The subtle interplay between animation, narration and musical score in Sporn’s film not only remains true to Gerstein’s Caldecott Award-winning picture book, but creates a work worthy of acclaim in its own right. Bacon’s versatile score both evokes quiet moments and builds suspense. As the narrator, Gyllenhaal beautifully captures Petit’s exhilaration and spirit.
“The thrill and triumph of one man’s extraordinary walk remains alive in this sensitive and moving animated film,” said Chair Susan Pine.
Members of the 2006 Carnegie Award Committee are: Chair Susan Pine, New York Public Library, New York; Joan Atkinson, University of Alabama SLIS, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Janis Cooker, St. Mary’s County Library, Lexington Park, Md.; Diane Janoff, Queen’s Library, College Point, N.Y.; Maeve Visser Knoth, San Mateo County Library, San Carlos, Calif.; Sharon McQueen, University of Kentucky SLIS, Lexington, Ky.; Elizabeth A. Sahagian, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, Conn.; Kate Schiavi, Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville, Ky.; Kay Weisman, Willowbrook Elementary School, Glenview, Ill.
The Carnegie Medal, established with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, honors an outstanding American video production for children released during the previous year. The award is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC).
