Paramount Pictures confirmed that it is developing a live action version of THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN, based on E.B. White's final children's book, which would include some CGI animation. Katie Ford (co-writer of MISS CONGENIALITY) will script. This marks the second film adaptation of THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN. Back in 2001, Rich-Crest Animation produced an animated feature directed by Terry Noss and Richard Rich.

THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, the last of the Wachowski brothers' groundbreaking trilogy and vfx feast (supplied by ESC Entertainment a host of other houses) debuts on DVD April 6, 2004 (Warner Home Video, $29.95). The two-disc set will include the following bonus features in an attempt to top its predecessors:

Media 100 Inc., a leading provider of advanced media systems, will release the "Visual Effects" release--new version 3.0 software for 844/X in January 2004. The largest software expansion of 844/X since its inception in 2002, Version 3.0 advances 844/X with many new realtime, multi-stream capabilities:

- Advanced keying
- 3D digital video effects (DVEs)
- Shadow and glow effects
- XML-based metadata interchange
- New performance optimizations for editing longer-form, layer-intensive projects

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held Jan. 8-11, 2004, in Las Vegas was huge, glitzy and overwhelming, as it should be. Whereas many of the products were more-of-the-same-slightly-better, some gadgets and trends stood out.

LOST IN SPACE - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (Fox Home Entertainment, $79.98) lands on DVD Jan. 13, 2004 in an eight-disc set containing all 29 black and white episodes of the Space Family Robinson from '65. Cheesy effects, but producer Irwin Allen offered a fun sci-fi romp that took place in '97. The first season was definitely the best. Includes the unaired pilot, "No Place to Hide" with no Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) and no robot.

Disc 1
The Reluctant Stowaway
The Derelict
Island In The Sky
There Were Giants In The Earth

Disc 2

Travel back to medieval times, where alien dragons are transported inside an earth-bound meteor, in DRAGON STORM, the two-hour original feature airing on Sci Fi Channel on Jan. 24, 2004 at 9:00 pm. John Rhys-Davies (THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) stars along with Maxwell Caulfield and Angel Boris. Stephen Furst (ANIMAL HOUSE) directs.

Two enemy kingdoms must unite and, following the lead of a reclusive hunter (Caulfield), fight off the beasts before they scorch the countryside bare. VFX were provided by UFO.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary year, Video Symphony, a TV & Film College and Career Center in Burbank, California has been awarded National Accreditation by Washington, D.C.'s ACCET (The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.)

The first Oscars awards of the season have been decided as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced recipients of this year’s scientific and technical achievement awards to be presented at a gala black tie dinner on the evening of Feb. 14, 2004, at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California.

Digidesign, a leading manufacturer of computer-based digital audio production systems, will receive an Oscar for the creation and development of the Pro Tools digital audio workstation.

In continuing to define a new collaborative design and production strategy with the Rockwell Group, IOMEDIA has produced a series of presentations combining 3D animation, interactive design and video production for the Starhill Shopping and Entertainment Center located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Vancouver Canada-based Global Mechanic has expanded its operations to the United States in order to serve its increased business in commercial, television production, and independent film work.