Press Release from motion09

At this year's motion09 (www.motionconference.com) held October 11-14, 2009, Zoic Studios' Executive Creative Director/VFX Supervisor Andrew Orloff will present "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants." An entertaining examination of present-day creative and past inspiration, "Giants" is part of a weekend-long event that unites professionals and students from the design and effects community.

Tony Parker, a professional basketball player with the San Antonio Spurs, has signed on to a new French cartoon production called BASKETBALL ADVENTURES, Variety reports.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures that will be delighting Disney guests for years to come.

Press Release from Six Flags, Inc.

Six Flags, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SIXFQ), the world's largest regional theme park company, announced today that it will expand its partnership with Nintendo and provide theme park guests with the unique opportunity to play the upcoming Wii Sports Resort(TM) video game. The game features 12 different fun sports activities like archery, basketball and table tennis that everyone in the family can play and comes with the new Wii MotionPlus(TM) accessory, which makes games even more precise.

Press Release from Universal Studios Hollywood

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., June 30 -- Universal Studios Hollywood introduced "Creature from The Black Lagoon - A Raging Rockin' Show," featuring an all-original score and dazzling Broadway-level production values in a hip, musical stage adaptation of the Universal cult classic, opening exclusively at The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

Disney is set to spend roughly $452 million to upgrade the underperforming Hong Kong Disneyland, per VARIETY.

The money will buy 30 new attractions and three new theme areas, increasing the total area of the park by 23 percent over five years. The Hong Kong government (and Disney) wants to boost attendance before a planned larger Disneyland opens in Shanghai in 2014.

"If there is no expansion, the attraction of the theme park will fall over time," government economist Helen Chan said at a media briefing to announce details of the expansion Tuesday.

Broadway show THE LITTLE MERMAID will close August 30, per VARIETY, after a run of less than two years.

Disney Theatrical Productions will closet the show to avoid the box office slowdown that occurs every year in August, and to concentrate resources on the future touring show, set for a fall 2010 tour.

"For us, it feels disappointing," David Schrader, exec VP of Disney Theatrical said.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is set to open this fall in San Francisco, reports the trades. Located at the Presidio, home of Lucasfilm's Industrial Light and Magic, the new three building museum will feature 10 interactive galleries and a 113-seat theater. On display will be rare photos, memorabilia and 4 1/2 hours of film footage. Walt Disney's voice will serve as a virtual tour guide. The door will open on Oct. 1.

Press Release from Universal Studios Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, June 18 -- A marching band, famous movie "characters," and a champagne christening welcomed the re-opening of the famous Courthouse Square film location to Universal Studios Hollywood's Studio Tour trams, which are now newly equipped as "mobile movie theaters" with hi-def video monitors, all-new video content and state-of-the art audio systems.

Press Release from Toons for Toddlers

TORONTO (June 17, 2009) -- Robyn Green-Ruskin, President of Sunflower Productions and Owner of the highly successful cinema series, "Movies for Mommies" today announced the addition of two more theatres to the Toons for Toddlers national program bringing the total number of screening locations to 18. The Kingsway Theatre in Toronto and The Magic Lantern Duggan Cinema in Camrose, Alberta have been added to the program starting this August.