The WB announced it has cancelled the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER spin-off ANGEL after five seasons on the air. With nine episodes left in the season, the announcement was released early to allow "the show's creators time to wrap up the season appropriately." The cancellation doesn't spell the complete end of the character, which the network might give special movie events to next year.

To promote the fifth season of THE SOPRANOS, due to begin in March, HBO built on its ongoing relationship with New York's design/post boutique Perception to create a "countdown campaign." The promo campaign, which is part of the HBO's first quarter subscription drive, will air on most television networks beginning in February.

"In addition to promoting THE SOPRANOS…we've been doing their quarterly campaigns for the last year-and-a-half or so," says Brendan Werner, editorial director at Perception.

Cinesite (Europe) Ltd. has been awarded the digital effects contract for THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (Hammer and Tongs, Walt Disney), which begins shooting at Elstree Studios in April 2004. The f/x house plans to start work on the 300-plus effects shots by the end of summer 2004. Cinesite's Sue Rowe will be providing on-set visual effects supervision for the production.

Upon the success of the network’s mini-series, SCI FI Channel has given the go ahead for the production of a new BATTLESTAR GALATICA TV series. Based on the top-rated December miniseries, which was based on the 1970s TV series, the one-hour drama is scheduled to begin production on 13 episodes in Vancouver next month.

The STAR WARS trilogy is finally debuting on DVD in a four-disc set on Sept. 21, 2004 from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. (for an estimated retail price of $50). All three movies, STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI - a.k.a. EPISODES IV, V AND VI - are the special editions that have been digitally restored and remastered. Per George Lucas' request, the original theatrical versions will not be included, to the dismay of many fans.

IMAX Corp. has signed an agreement with Daytona USA, the official attraction of NASCAR, to open a new IMAX 3D theatre alongside the Daytona International Speedway. Scheduled to open in April 2004, the theater will premiere the Warner Bros. Pictures first IMAX 3D film, NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE.

Howard Anderson Jr., ASC received the American Society of Cinematographer's Presidents Award at the 18th annual Awards dinner, Feb. 8, 2004, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. This tribute is presented annually to an individual who has made unique contributions to the art form. Anderson is a visual effects pioneer who has earned several Oscar nominations, but is best known for his work on the classic television series I LOVE LUCY and STAR TREK. Anderson is a second-generation filmmaker. His father, Howard Anderson, began his career in Hollywood in 1919.

Side Effects Software, developer of the award-winning Houdini family of 3D software, and Syflex LLC, a leader in cloth simulation, announced a Houdini-compatible version of the popular Syflex cloth simulator. Available now as a plug-in for Houdini users on Linux and Windows, the fast and versatile software enhances the Houdini toolset for applications that require highly realistic cloth animations.

Reports state the long-in-the-works fourth installment in the INDIANA JONES series is again on hold. VARIETY reports that creator George Lucas was unhappy with SHAWKSHANK REDEMPTION director Frank Darabont's script. The film was scheduled to hit theaters in the summer of 2005, but 2006 looks like the soonest it could arrive on the big screen. Lucas, director Steven Spielberg and star Harrison Ford have wanted to do another film in the series chronicling an aging adventurer, however, the trio has said they wouldn't do it if they all were not thrilled with the same script.

Southern California-based DigiCel Inc. has released FlipBook 4.0 offering greater speed, power, ease-of-use and more affordability. Virtually every aspect of the program has been enhanced.