Kaydara announced its first Certified Courseware DVD for MOTIONBUILDER, the company's award-winning character animation solution. INTRODUCTION TO MOTIONBUILDER 5.5 is an interactive training guide that teaches users the fundamentals of using MOTIONBUILDER more effectively to create character animation. From interface and general concepts to exporting to other 3D applications, users will learn step-by-step how use MOTIONBUILDER for their own projects.

The Academy Foundation, the educational and cultural arm of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has distributed $400,000 in financial grants to 43 college and community film programs across the United States.

The Academy Foundation's Grants Committee, chaired by actors branch member Janet MacLachlan, selected the following programs for the 2004-2005 allocation:

The allocations include:

INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

$12,500 to:

California Institute of the Arts, Valenica, California.

The Art Institute of California – San Francisco (http://www.aicasf.aii.edu) has announced a new scholarship program designed for videogame industry professionals interested in furthering their education. The school is offering special scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to individuals who are or have worked in the game industry. Scholarships must be applied for tuition in the school's Game Art & Design (Bachelor of Science) or Visual & Game Programming (Bachelor of Science) degree programs.

Renowned sound designer and mixer, as well as USC alumnus, Gary Rydstrom will deliver the commencement address at the 2004 USC School of Cinema-Television Commencement Ceremony on May 14, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium. Rydstrom will accept the prestigious Mary Pickford Outstanding Alumnus Award, given in recognition of his innovative and prolific work in film sound.

World-renowned designer, concept artist and futurist Syd Mead will speak and sign the books OBLAGON and SENTURY (his latest) at Gnomon School of Visual Effects on Thursday, May 20 at 7:00 pm.

The Art Institute of California - San Francisco is hosting special Summer Studio Workshops, June 22-25, giving high school seniors the opportunity to explore the creative arts, meet fellow young creative people and learn about new design technologies. The hands-on workshops will be held for students interested in learning more about videogame development, computer animation, graphic design, fashion design, interior design and Web design. Students can choose one of five different workshops.

After two years in production and more than 40,000 drawings later, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh has completed a 12-minute animation, titled TIMMY'S JOURNEY TO UNDERSTAND MS, for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Allegheny District Chapter. The children's short was developed and animated by a group of Media Arts & Animation students to help kids across the U.S. whose parents have MS better understand the disease.

Oregon3D Inc., The Academy for Digital Arts & Sciences, is offering a four-week Oregon3D combustion 3 Boot Camp, May 12 - 28, 2004. It features a series of three comprehensive courses devoted to Discreet’s combustion 3, an award-winning motion graphics, vector paint, visual effects and 3D compositing desktop software.

Vinton Studios will launch Project Backpocket June 21 - August 20, 2004 in Portland, Oregon, where a team of college students will team with top creatives from the advertising industry to create an original short film.