North Hollywood, California-based FILM ROMAN has hired WILLIAM SHPALL as chief operating officer. For the past two and a half years, Shpall has been a principal in the financial consulting firm, Inter.comm, and was previously CFO of Carolco Pictures. Film Roman CEO David Pritchard commented on Shpall’s appointment, “I’m delighted to have Bill join me in shaping the company as we continue to implement the new strategy at Film Roman. The critical ingredient of a successful entertainment company is financial planning and operating discipline and Bill brings us both.”

Canadian animation channel Teletoon announced the winners of its first Animation Scholarship Competition, at the Ottawa International Animation Festival awards ceremony on October 4. The prize money--a total of Canadian $28,500--is being divided among 15 selected winners in three categories. First place winners received $4,500, second place $2,000, third place $1500, fourth place $1,000 and fifth place $500. The winners are as follows:


Entrance Category:


1st place: Liem Nguyen, Kelvin High School (Winnipeg, MB).

* Tuesday, October 13 - Friday, October 16. Pasadena, California, U.S.A.


Miller Freeman presents the Digital Video (DV) Conference and Exposition at the Pasadena Center. Highlights include courses on Maya and After Effects software, character modeling and animation for the web. For information visit www.dvexpo.com.

Venice, California-based DIGITAL DOMAIN has hired ENRIQUE SANTOS as director of technology, a role in which he will oversee the company’s technology department and assume responsibility for its overall technical direction. Santos was previously senior manager of technology at WALT DISNEY FEATURE ANIMATION, where he managed technical support for animated features from “The Lion King” to “Mulan.” At Digital Domain, Santos will report to vice president of digital operations, Edward Kummer, with whom he worked at Disney for four years.

* Tuesday, October 13. New York City, New York, U.S.A.

* Saturday, October 10. San Francisco, California, U.S.A.


The Mill Valley Film Festival presents an animation program including Dave Thomas’ “A Dog Cartoon,” Ryan McCulloch’s “Without You,” Frazier Bradshaw’s “Baker, Paints, Cakes,” Velvy Appleton’s “Hervic in Cloudland,” and Matt Broersma and Shari Rubin’s documentary on San Francisco independent animators, “Meet the Mole People.” For information and location, visit www.finc.org/mvff.

* Thursday, October 8, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.


Jeffrey Scott, Emmy-winning writer of over 450 animation scripts (“Wacky World of Tex Avery,” “Dragon Tales”), is scheduled as speaker for the Women In Animation Writers’ Seminar series. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. at Saban Entertainment. Admission is $5. Reservations are required. Call Jean Ann Wright at (818) 360-8321.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television presented the 13th annual Gemini Awards on Sunday, October 4 in Toronto. The winner in the “Animated Program or Series” category is Nelvana Limited’s 2D series, “Sam & Max,” produced by Patrick Loubert, Gwenn Saunders Eckel, Michael Hirsh, Stephen Hodgins, Robert Ross, Clive A. Smith and J.D. Smith. The winner in the “Preschool Program or Series” category is Cochran Entertainment’s mixed-media show, “Theodore Tugboat,” produced by Andrew Cochran.

On October 8, McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. will start distributing a new animated video series starring the company spokes-clown, Ronald McDonald. All three of the productions were produced by Los Angeles-based animation studio, Klasky Csupo. Just in time for Halloween, the first release is a 40-minute video titled “Scared Silly” (directed by John Holmquist), featuring Ronald and friends on a camping trip to a haunted house. It will be available for $3.49 with any purchase.

* Tuesday, October 13. New York City, New York, U.S.A.


Animation legend Chuck Jones will make an appearance at the Warner Bros. Studio Store Gallery at One East 57th Street (corner of 57th and 5th). The event is by invitation only, so be sure to call first: (212) 754-0300.