Tim Mccanlies is a fifth generation Texan, but rarely called one place home for long. Mccanlies’ father was in the Air Force and the family travelled extensively. In his early years he was interested in both acting and the technical processes that took place behind the scenes, along with process of filming.[1] By second grade he was writing his own novels. While he was in high school he did not participate in the school’s theatre program, but instead went to the local movie theatre and learned how to run the projector. Once Mccanlies starting taking graduate classes at Southern Methodist, he learned proper screenplay techniques and made several short films that were well accepted in national film competitions. After the making of these films he was offered the opportunity to direct commercials near the Dallas area, but he decided against this and moved to Los Angeles to attempt movie screenplays in 1978. After moving to Los Angeles he planned on attending the American Film Institute. While he was in L.A. he found his first paying job for writing was a low budget film called Crazies. While these low budget screenplays did give him experience in the business, it did not pay a great deal he needed another income. He supported himself during this time by writing computer programs. With money being low during this time, Mccanlies decided against enrolling in the Film Institute as he had planned. After signing a two year contract with Disney Studios as his first job in the Hollywood system, he pitched his own screenplay to the studio, but was turned down. After marrying his wife, Suzanne, in 1988 they moved back to Texas after Mccanlies finished out his contract with Disney. At this time he started to work with most of the major studios as a script doctor and writer for hire. He worked on films such as Touchstone’s Shoot to Kill (1988), Warner Bros’ Little Giants (1994) and My Fellow Americans (1996). Around this time he was also invited to speak at the first Heart of Austin Heart of Texas Film Festival and Screenwriters conference in 1994.[2] Mccanlies film Secondhand Lions was released by New Line in 2003.
Dancer, Texas Pop. 81
editMccanlies started production on his directional debut, Dancer, Texas Pop. 81, in 1997, thanks to the support from Ignite Entertainment. The film grossed just under $700,000 in the United States. It was met with mixed reviews, with the film staying in theatres longer in Mccanlies’ home state of Texas, while being removed from New York theatres after only a week. The film began to be played in other rural areas after its initial release. The film then made its way to the London Film Festival, as well as playing in Austrailia. The film grossed just under $700,000 in the United States. It was met with mixed reviews, with the film staying in theatres longer in Mccanlies’ home state of Texas, while being removed from New York theatres after only a week. The film began to be played in other rural areas after its initial release. The film then made its way to the London Film Festival, as well as playing in Austrailia.
The Iron Giant
editMccanlies wrote the screenplay for The Iron Giant in 1999. Critics received the film well and ranked seventh in Premiere’s list of the 100 best movies of 1999, which was a summary of the critics’ picks for the year. He won multiple awards for this work, including an Annie Award (accomplishments in animation) and an award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.