In its 17th year, the Showbiz Expo and Conference is a major spot for companies to showcase their production products and discuss the future of the entertainment industry. Among this year's seminars will be "Digital Hollywood: Bringing Entertainment Project Management into the New Millennium." The event will be hosted by Creative Planet and feature a look at how new technology will transform the efficiency of entertainment production. Another seminar of interest is "Storyboards For People Who Can't Draw." The discussion will be lead by James O. Fraioli, the author of STORYBOARDING 101. On Saturday, the expo will hold "Compositing Live-Action and Animation." The seminar will be moderated by Mark Simon, author of STORYBOARDS: MOTION IN ART and owner of AARGH! Animation Inc. On Sunday, there will be a seminar entitled "Live-Action Special Effects." Various other seminars will center on production, direction, scriptwriting and much more.

The 10th Annual Sensual & Erotic Art Exhibition is open to all artists using animation as their primary medium in the category of erotic art. This year's exhibition will focus on challenging works by promising new talent in this medium.

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's exhibit "Star Wars: The Magic of Myth" has come to the Field Museum. One of the most popular Smithsonian exhibits of all-time, "Magic of Myth" features costumes, characters like Chewbacca and Jabba the Hut, as well as production props and models. The exhibit opens with the actual 8-foot model of the Imperial Star Destroyer used in the film. Tickets are US$5 on top of the basic Field Museum admission for adults; $2.50 extra for children aged 3-11 and $4 extra for seniors and students. Museum admission for adults is $8 and for children, seniors and students it's $4. Wednesdays are free.

SIGGRAPH 2000 is the foremost conference and expo on computer graphics. This year's event will feature an art gallery of some of the best digital work being created in the world. The event gives students, educators and artists a chance to communicate with the international computer graphics industry. The computer animation festival has the following categories: entertainment, visualization, education, art, non-narrative and experimental. The expo will feature in-depth labs, programs, seminars, forums, workshops and discussion on the industry of visual effects. The keynote address will be given by Ray Kurzwell, the author of THE AGE OF SPIRITUAL MACHINES: WHEN COMPUTERS EXCEED HUMAN INTELLIGENCE.

Cine-Clube de Avanca and the C

Friday, July 28

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Auction Extravaganza will feature original comics artwork, signed prints and comics, rare collectibles, toys and much more. The auction begins in July on eBay and climaxes at Wizard World. The CBLDF Auction Extravaganza is orchestrated by CHAOS! COMICS publishers Brian and Francisca Pulido, and sponsored by eBay and WIZARD. Many comics creators and publishers have donated work from the likes of Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, Adrian Tomine, Judd Winick, Steve Lieber and Billy Tucci.

The 15th Animated Cartoon Festival For Young People is a biannual event which gives young people an opportunity to discover a wide array of productions from all over the world. The festival will hold tributes, exhibitions and workshops. The official selections will be screened within several programs during the festival. An international jury will give out official prizes to the films in competition. In addition, a jury made up of 11

"bit by bit" is an all digital visual exhibition of "on-screen" art that aspires to recognize, promote and reward the best digital work being produced around the world today. This juried gallery exhibition will be installed on large format monitors in the Main Gallery of the Business of Art Center. The exhibition has three categories: still, dynamic and interactive. Prizes -- including a US$1,000 best of show award -- will be awarded to artists based on quality, skill and originality. Additional prizes will include cash awards, hardware, software and services. Current sponsors include Peachpit Press, www.firesale.com, Corel, Castlewood, scip.net and Artis Software.

Northern Westchester Center for the Arts presents an exhibit of animator Jack Zander and his children's artwork, entitled "Three Zanders: Jack Zander and His Artistic Legacy." Zander's career as an animator spans six decades and won him worldwide acclaim. Jack has animated, produced and directed such classics as TOM AND JERRY. His daughter Maggie is an award-winning fine artist and illustrator. His son Peter is an internationally known advertising photographer. The exhibit includes films, stills, drawings and cels. A food and wine reception is being held on Saturday, September 23 at 6 pm to give the public an opportunity to meet the artists.