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.

Universal Pictures is in final negotiations with AMERICAN SPLENDOR creative duo Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini to write and direct a re-envisioning of the horror classic, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Set to produce the project are Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer and Alphaville's Sean Daniel and James Jacks with Universal's Ally Brecker-Shearmur and Imagine's David Bernardi serving as exec producers. The story would be set in modern New York and center around a college student who over time begins to suspect that she died and was resurrected.

Producing the Future: A Producer’s Perspective on "What’s Coming Next in Visual Effects?"
Los Angeles, California, USA
February 11, 2004

An episode of the fantasy series DINOTOPIA has won a Bronze World Medal in the 'Action/Adventure' category at the International Film & Video Awards, part of the New York festivals. The awards were presented on January 30, 2004 along with the Television Programming and Promotions Awards. Framestore CFC created the digital VFX for the episode.

A list of winners in every category can be found at: http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/main.taf?p=3,1

New Line Cinema have tapped writers Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN) to pen the screen adaptation of DC Comics' SHAZAM!. William Goldman (PRINCESS BRIDE) had been working on the script previously. The film would chronicle the easygoing Billy Batson and his superhero alter ego Captain Marvel. Batson changed by saying the word "shazam," giving the attributes to six Greek gods. The character appeared in DC Comics in the 1970s and originally appeared in the 1940s as a Fawcett Comics title.

Stargate Digital, which recently opened a new facility in London, is currently revamping of all the visual effects for Highlander 2, to be released on DVD this spring through Artisan Home Ent.

Radium recently welcomed five new members to its team: head of production Dennis Hoffman, CG supervisor Kirk Cadrette, Inferno artist Jon Wank, digital effects artist Chris Biggs and CG artist/matte painter Darin Hilton.

ALIAS star Jennifer Garner will present the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards on Feb. 14, 2004 at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.

Discreet has begun shipping worldwide its non-linear editing and finishing systems, fire 6 and smoke 6. Discreet's editing systems are shaping a new generation of powerful data-centric workflows for digital film, high definition television (HDTV) and standard definition television projects.

Creative collective Psyop recently completed LOTTOLAND, a :30 CG animated spot for the Colorado State Lottery via Karsh & Hagen, Denver. The spot began airing late January 2004.

Psyop collaborated with designer Justin Fines to anthropomorphize lotto balls and give them their own parallel world -- a unique ball town. They experimented with different looks and shadings to create a unique dimensional feel and in the end came up with a fresh style of 3D animation and rendering.