“The Nightmare Before Christmas” with visual effects animator Pete Kozachik in person (brother of Councilman Steve Kozachik) at Loft Film Fest

Special Loft Film Fest showing of the “Nightmare Before Christmas” on November 10, 2 p.m., 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.

Pete Kozachik is an award-winning animator, visual effects artist and cinematographer, who will present a 20th anniversary screening of his first major film, the animated classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Pete’s other credits include Corpse Bride and Coraline. Pete’s next project has just been announced: Auntie Claus, a stop-motion animated feature based on Elise Primavera’s book. Pete is also the brother of Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik.

And so begins Tim Burton’s fanciful tale of Pumpkin Kings, Oogie Boogies, and Sandy Claws, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Filled with terrifyingly beautiful sights and one hell of a catchy soundtrack, The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the simple story of Halloween Town’s most famous citizen, Jack Skellington, and his desire to bring the colorful joy of Christmas Town to the German-expressionistic gloom of his community of ghouls through some of the most remarkable stop-motion animation ever seen. (Dir. by Henry Selick, 1993, USA, 76 mins., Rated PG)

About Pete Kozachik
Animator, visual effects artist, and cinematographer Pete Kozachik began collaborating with Henry Selick in 1990, and was the director of photography on the director’s features James and the Giant Peach (for the stop-motion portions) and The Nightmare Before Christmas. On the latter, Mr. Kozachik was also part of the movie’s visual effects team, and as such was an Academy Award nominee.
He was the cinematographer on Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton; that stop-motion project was lensed with digital SLR cameras, which had never previously been used for an animated feature.
The Michigan native began his career working as an assistant to an industrial filmmaker while studying graphic arts and physics in school in Arizona. By the time Mr. Kozachik moved to Los Angeles circa 1980, he had directed local area television news and variety shows; shot and edited documentaries for a PBS affiliate; and produced and directed commercials as well as two low-budget animated films. He has since worked on over three dozen features, including James Cameron’s The Abyss and George Lucas’ Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and several hundred commercials.

Pete Kozachik is a graduate of Catalina High School in Tucson, and the University of Arizona (B.A. in Education). He is the Director of photography in this film.

Younger brother Councilman Steve Kozachik is the Honorary Chair of this Loft Film Fest this year. He just won re-election to his Ward 6 seat on November 5, 2013 (click here).

This is a fantastic animated film, which I have seen several times since it came out in 1993. For tickets to the Loft Film Fest running Nov. 7 to 11, click here. Loft members cost $100, General members $125. Individual movie tickets $10 non members, $8 members.

Breaking News: Councilman Steve Kozachik to join Democratic Party – updated

Just received a constituent letter from Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik indicating his unhappiness with the Republican Party, and he says he intends to become a Democrat. He is up for re-election this year for another 4 years for his Ward 6 Council Seat. The Mayor and all other Councilmembers on the Tucson City Council are Democrats.

January 11, 2013

Councilman Steve Kozachik

Open Letter to my Constituents:

In 2009, when I was first approached by the local Republican Party leadership to consider running for the Tucson City Council, there was a clear mutual understanding that my political inclinations are to the center. I committed to looking at each issue on a one-by-one basis, studying the merits of all sides and voting based on the set of facts, not on the basis of a rigid ideology. From the standpoint of being able to win cross-over votes, and drawing out the center of the Republican Party, leadership felt my candidacy would be attractive to the voters. From a personal perspective, I entered the race comfortable believing that if elected, my role would be to demonstrate that bi-partisanship could work. My hope was to be a standard bearer for what I believed to be a large, centrist component of the party.

During the past three years, I have maintained my commitment to study issues individually, invite to the table the diverse set of voices that make up our community, and participate in crafting public policy that attempts to reflect the varying points of view I have heard. Simply applying hard work and common sense, and not starting from a preconceived notion of the ‘right answer,’ I’ve dug into the complex issues we face and have tried to vote in ways that reflect the
greater good of the community. I have heard supportive comments from members of both the Republican and Democratic party, and from registered Independents as well. I thank each person who has acknowledged the work ethic I have tried to demonstrate.

And yet, over the past two election cycles it has become clear that the local and Arizona State Republican Party is being driven by a small, but vocal faction that has taken it far to the political right. That faction has effectively taken over the Party leadership and is driving an ideological agenda that I do not believe reflects the common will of the community. I continue to believe that there is a healthy contingent of registered Republicans who gravitate to the center and are willing to listen to all sides of an issue before forming a position. I hear from them, and they voice both a frustration and an embarrassment over the image the Party has brought upon itself in this State.

In the past two years I have made an effort to resist the lurch to the right that the Party leadership has embraced. I have written, spoken out and voted in ways that I believe reflect not only the centrist approach the voters supported in 2009, but I have also openly attempted to prevent the erosion of the Party label that has now occurred throughout the State. In that time, the local Republican party leadership has disengaged from its involvement in local issues. The Pima
County GOP was completely silent throughout our 9 month Ward Redistricting process, has played no role what so ever in our budget prioritizing discussions, and has not engaged at even a minimal level when we have addressed other significant issues such as our water policy, public safety or transit. Instead, what is heard from Party leadership is extreme partisan rhetoric that serves no productive role in crafting good public policy on the bread and butter issues with which the Mayor and Council deal.

With that approach, the leadership does not reflect those who wear the Party label but who are not inclined to embrace a far right wing ideology. There is a centrist element in the Party, but it is not allowed a seat at the table at which the Party agenda is set. Party leadership cannot expect that group to continue to wear a label that does not reflects its central values. The Arizona Republican Party is an ideological outlier. I am not, and I see nothing that indicates
that leadership is inclined to move in any direction but further away from what I believe are the values of this community. I appreciate the support I have been given by those in the Party who share these feelings. I also appreciate the support I have been given by both Independents and Democrats who have openly recognized my efforts to craft common sense public policy, untethered from an extreme ideological position. But the Republican Party leadership cannot expect those of us whose purpose it is to reach common ground across varying political interests to continue to wear a label that rejects that core principle.

I will therefore be changing my party registration to Democrat. In doing so, I will not change the manner in which I have approached the study of each issue, and I will not abandon the common sense, hard work I have shown that I have committed to this seat on the Council. My colleagues and I will continue to agree on many issues, and we will disagree on some as well. What is most important though is that as we craft public policy, we each respect the fact that every person at the table brings a unique perspective, and each deserves a voice in the discussion.That dynamic does not exist within the leadership of the Arizona Republican Party.

Sincerely,
Steve Kozachik

UPDATE: Response from new Pima County Democratic Party Chair Don Jorgensen:

The Pima County Democratic Party appreciates Councilman Kozachik’s insightful comments and thoughtful decision, and we welcome him to our party. Councilman Kozachik’s choice highlights the fact that the Democratic Party represents mainstream Arizona values that place common sense and the public good ahead of partisan ideology.

The Councilman’s statement reflects the strength and understanding of the Democratic Party a “big tent” which respects diversity of opinion, and we believe, as he aptly noted, “that every person at the table brings a unique perspective, and each deserves a voice in the discussion.”

I call upon all of my fellow Democrats in Pima County to join me in welcoming Councilman Kozachik as the newest Pima County Democrat.