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This book offers an in-depth look into the creative process of director Joanna Quinn and screenwriter Les Mills, including a range of sketches, storyboards, final artwork and entertaining and insightful commentary from both Joanna and Les. Included is a scene-by-scene adaptation of the Academy Award®- and BAFTA-nominated Affairs of the Art, a film about Beryl’s extraordinary family whose interests become all-consuming – from pickling, to body painting, to taxidermy, no passion is off limits. Welcome to the extraordinary world of Beryl!

Beryl is the unconventional heroine and a beloved star of the animation world – a middle-aged woman navigating life’s challenges with determination and humour. From factory worker to aspiring artist, Beryl’s journey is a celebration of female empowerment and the pursuit of dreams, making her an endearing character who resonates deeply with audiences everywhere. 

Animator Joanna Quinn and screenwriter Les Mills show how they collaborate in bringing their distinctive stories and characters to life. You’ll discover the inspiration and creative process behind their unique characters and groundbreaking films, which have so far earned them two Academy Award® nominations, two BAFTA UK, four BAFTA Cymru and three Emmys. 

Through revealing and often hilarious anecdotes, you’ll learn about Joanna and Les’s creative backgrounds and how they develop their ideas. With comprehensive behind-the-scenes insights, you’ll see how they take the initial concept of an idea to final production. Ideal for animation students, Beryl fans, 
and everyone really! 

A full list of awards and festival selections for Affairs of the Art can be seen here:
http://www.berylproductions.co.uk/ films/affairs-of-the-art/.

Cardiff based Beryl Productions has been in existence since 1987 and specialises in individually hand-drawn character animation. Their raison d’être is to produce high quality, accessible animation using humour as an essential element. Apart from their film work, they have created TV commercials for clients including Procter & Gamble, Fallon, KalKan, Coca Cola, Nestlé, United Airlines. 

'I have long been a fan of Joanna Quinn and Les Mills’s brilliant short films and their sharply observed Beryl. Always exceptionally staged, wonderfully animated and featuring Joanna’s rocksolid draughtsmanship, and featuring the trenchant and acerbic dialogue of Les. Their films celebrate the art of hand drawn animation as few films do.’
John Musker, Academy Award® nominated Director, Producer and Writer at Disney (including Hercules, Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Moana)

‘Joanna Quinn is an animator like no other. When she puts pencil to paper, she expresses the ridiculousness of life with extraordinary beauty and skill. Joanna’s character Beryl is the most truthful, absurd and entertaining expressions of true femininity I have ever seen. Readers are in for such a treat!’
Nora Twomey, Academy Award® nominated Director, Producer and writer and partner in Cartoon Saloon studios (incuding The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner, My Father’s Dragon)

‘Joanna Quinn has long been one of the world’s leading lights in animation and most inspirational and affable of people. Her prolific, and highly observant drawing style, is as fluid and generous as her sense of comedy and fun, and the earthy and memorable characters that ignite into life whenever she puts pencil to paper.’
Nick Park, Academy Award® and Bafta winning Director, Producer, Animator and Writer (inc Creature Comforts The Wrong Trousers, Chicken Run)

‘Joanna Quinn’s drawings always make me gasp; they are stunningly beautiful! My admiration for her talent in drawing and animation knows no bounds. Whenever I discuss Joanna’s films with fellow animators, I notice that we always agree: Joanna is the Great Master of Animation. Therefore, I was thrilled to read this book by Les and Joanna, as it honestly and clearly reveals their creative thought process behind the Beryl films.’ Michaël Dudok de Wit, Academy Award®-and BAFTA-winning Director, Animator and Illustrator