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.

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.

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.

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.

Cinematographer Andrew Lesnie (THE RETURN OF THE KING), who was in Los Angeles over the weekend competing at the 18th annual ASC Awards (John Schwartzman won for SEABISCUIT), told VFXWORLD that he will be reuniting with director Peter Jackson to lense the upcoming KING KONG remake -- and that he's very open to shooting in black and white.

3D Awards entries for the 2nd Annual International 3D Awards will close on midnight, Feb. 29, 2004. Instructions and guidelines for submitting to the 3D Awards can be found at www.3dawards.org.

Online image uploads for the following categories 3D Art (still), Architectural Visualization (still) and Design Visualization/Industrial Design are also available at the 3D Awards Website.

Digital Hero trophies will be awarded in the following categories:
* Feature Film Visual Effects
* Animated Feature Film
* Television Visual Effects

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.