Social viewing platform Scener is teaming up with Oregon stop-motion studio LAIKA to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated dark fantasy feature ParaNorman with a worldwide watch party on Saturday, October 15 at 5 p.m. PT (virtual doors open at 4:45 p.m. PT).
ParaNorman writer and director Chris Butler, who went on to helm the studio’s 2019 feature Missing Link, will join fans for a special screening, sharing live commentary over video for the first 30 minutes of the film and answering questions fans drop in the live text chat. Following the screening, five emerging filmmakers — JP & Beyond (Jesse Perrotta), ACM Official (Alex Magana), Ridder Films (Blake Ridder & Louis James), InCamera (Tommy Martin) and Film It Yourself (Ash Blodgett) — will showcase their unique spin on the timeless stop motion classic.
“The nostalgic bond ParaNorman cultivates each Halloween is incredible,” said Butler. “Scener provides the perfect place for all fans to experience the film together, whether you’re rediscovering and reigniting your love for the film or experiencing it for the very first time.”
Starting today, fans can sign up for the ParaNorman Watch Party for free, which grants them access to Scener’s custom-built virtual theater designed to host thousands of guests. To join the watch party, simply download the Scener Google Chrome extension for laptop or desktop viewing. Those joining from the United States can watch from their mobile devices with Scener’s mobile app. To join LAIKA’s official ParaNorman Watch Party, hosted by Scener, RSVP for free at paranorman.scener.com.
“This is gonna be fun! ParaNorman is one of the most celebrated films of its genre, and has created a global community that spans generations and backgrounds. We can’t wait to host Writer and Director Chris Butler and fans, to celebrate the magic behind his filmmaking and the creators who have been inspired by it,” commented Scener CEO David Baron.
