| The Sparky Book | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mary Lewis |
| Written by | Mary Lewis |
| Produced by | Annette Clarke |
| Starring | Maggie Hickey Joel Thomas Hynes Leah Lewis Gordon Pinsent |
| Cinematography | Eli M. Yonova |
| Edited by | Lawrence Jackman Mary Lewis |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 14 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $CAD274,000 (estimated) |
The Sparky Book is a 2006animated/live-action short film byNewfoundland filmmakerMary Lewis, about the near-death of a young girl who undergoesheart transplant surgery, and the death of her beloved pet dog, Sparky.[1]
The story is based on the experiences of the director's own sister, Leah, who had twokidney transplants as a child.Michael Winter wrote ashort storyThe Sparky Book after their dog had died. Director Lewis then loosely based her film on the short story. The film is narrated by agoldfish, voiced byGordon Pinsent, with voice of Sparky byJoel Thomas Hynes. Leah Lewis appears in the film as "Bridget," a character based upon herself.[2][3]
Produced by theNational Film Board of Canada, the film received theGolden Sheaf Award forbest experimental film and the Bill Boyle Award for Excellence in Screenwriting atFlicks: Saskatchewan International Youth Film Festival.[4] In 2008,The Sparky Book was the sole film fromNewfoundland and Labrador to be selected forCBC TV's "Short Film Faceoff", a six-part series showcasing films fromAtlantic Canada.[2][3]