"Shane and I talked for many years about him coming to do a project at Gnomon," Alex Alvarez, Founder and CEO of Gnomon, Inc. explains. "We couldn't be more thrilled to have someone of his caliber and talent join our staff. Our students are getting an opportunity of lifetime to work with someone who has the diverse background and expertise that Shane does. When 9 hits the theaters in September, the world will see just how brilliant Shane is and we couldn't be more excited for him. His pitch for the Gnomon produced short is something with the potential to be quite powerful and we can't wait to get started on it."

Although many of the final details of the upcoming project are being fleshed out, Mr. Acker was able to give a sneak-peek at the theme and premise of the short film. "It's about how these two demons bide their time above the lower planes of hell. Each character lacks a part of themselves, vital for communication, yet they must find a way to work together. When conflict arises their misunderstanding escalates, hurtling them towards a tragic climax."

Prior to 9, Acker wrote, directed, and animated the 2-minute short The Hangnail (1999) and the 1-minute The Astounding Talents of Mr. Grenade (2003); and worked as an animator on Peter Jackson's Academy Award-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which starred Elijah Wood of 9. Acker lives in Los Angeles and is a UCLA alum, receiving dual Masters Degrees, for Architecture (in 2000) and Animation (in 2004).

More Information at www.shaneacker.com or www.gnomonschool.com. Image and Video Courtesy of Shane Acker