Scott Sava's sketchbook recounts his journey with "Animal Crackers"

Director Scott Sava shares some sketches that tell about his experience

make the animated film Animal Crackers

animal Crackers it was my first film experience as a writer, director and producer. It was all new. Flying from Nashville to Los Angeles, New York and London to meet these legendary stars was incredibly intimidating, and from time to time I found myself retiring to my art to concentrate.
I've always found that it helps me deal with situations by drawing, so I keep a notebook with me wherever I go.

Listening to Ian McKellen's words that I wrote from a story I created was mind blowing. Watching John Krasinski and Emily Blunt laugh and joke at each other over a silly idea I had in my backyard is just insane. To be honest… the whole thing was surreal.

Fortunately, I had friends like my co-director Tony Bancroft (Mulan) and co-writer Dean Lorey (Arrested Development) with me who were experienced professionals. Jamie Thomason and Curtis Koller brought this fantastic cast together and directed the sessions. I was in good hands.

I love browsing my sketchbook and reliving the moments I managed to capture in images and words. Sometimes I could just do a quick “doodle” due to the hectic nature of a studio session and finish the sketch (complete with watercolors) when I walked back into the hotel room that night. Other times, I could sit in a quiet corner and paint. Get lost completely in the moment.

Production was a dream. It was everything I hoped it was… and more. From 2014 to early 2017, it was “pure creative bliss”, as I like to tell people. It really was. The three years that followed were the real struggle. Finding the right home for our passion project turned out to be more difficult than we could ever have imagined. Thankfully, Netflix saved us and on July 24 the world can finally see our little movie.

I couldn't be happier.

Animal Crackers will be previewed on Netflix on July 24th.