AVIT is a community based and led organization dedicated to creating a place where artists, developers, educators and manufacturers from all around the world can come and share their knowledge with each other. AVIT aims to help those who are eager to learn about the tools and techniques available for live audio/video performance and to provide a platform for performance.

The objective is to bring together both established and up-and-coming artists within the field of live audio-visual arts and new media, thus creating a space to explore and share views and techniques. To further raise the profile of this new media to educators, curators and related industry leaders, to introduce the artists to the technology and the manufacturers and developers to the artists.

This month's CATNAP meeting features Jim Rohn, formerly of Midway Gaming, who will examine the development process for games. He will walk through the pre-visualization process from storyboard to 3D layout in Maya. The meeting begins at 1:00 pm with networking. Bring works for the open screening session as well as technical questions you may have. The new meeting location is the Illinois Institute of Art, 180 N. Wabash (corner Lake and Wabash), Room 234 in downtown Chicago.

eyeon Software USA will be holding the first event in a series of Digital Fusion user group meetings. This inaugural event will be hosted by Digital Dimension, 4100 W. Burbank Blvd., 2nd Floor, beginning at 7:00 pm. The evening will be hosted by Rony Soussan from eyeon USA. A compositing artist from Digital Dimension will show off their recent visual effects work on the film SCOOBY-DOO 2. Other topics will include: flow management; techniques for keeping a complex flow organized; efficiency techniques; maximizing memory; how to use live preview; caching to disk; snapshot your display; and make a specific notes node. An open discussion will also be held for anyone with specific questions or comments. Food and beverages will be provided. If you would like to attend please RSVP to rony@eyeonline.com with the number of guests attending. Seating is limited so please make sure to respond ASAP. For more information, visit www.eyeonline.com or call (310) 571-1571.

Anime Expo 2004 (AX2004) is the largest convention in the United States devoted to anime (Japanese animation) and manga (comic books). More than 20,000 fans and professionals from across the country are expected to attend. Artists and designers from Japanese computer game companies, computer animation companies and American animation companies will also be on hand to discuss the growing influence of anime on mainstream American entertainment.

The 13th Annual Anime Expo will host panel discussions, video and film programming, workshops, masquerade events, karaoke contests, anime art exhibitions and much more. A center piece of the Expo are the Cosplay (costume play) events, where participants dress up and compete as their favorite anime characters.

Thousands of devoted fans are expected to attend and participate in an Anime Masquerade event, AX Idol karaoke and Anime Music Video contests.

Hosted by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, a non-profit organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans.

For more information, visit http://www.anime-expo.org/.

The May meeting of CATNAP focuses on stop-motion animation. Guest speakers will be independent filmmaker Tom Brierton and Dave Brooks, vp of Creative for Bix Pix Entertainment. The meeting will begin at 1:00 pm at the Illinois Institute of Art, 180 N. Wabash, Room 234. Networking and open screenings are part of the monthly meeting schedule.

Avid and Softimage, along with event sponsors HP and Intel, are pleased to invite you to the

The September meeting features independent animator Chris Sullivan. Sullivan, a professor at School of the Art Institute will discuss his body of work, including the recently completed feature "Consuming Spirits". The meeting will take place at the Illinois Institute of Art, 180 N.Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Room 234 from 1 to 4 PM. Networking and open screenings are a regular part of this monthly gathering of Chicago area animators and students.

Gnomon School of Visual Effects and Pixologic are hosting the first official Pixologic ZBrush User Group meeting. Bay Raitt will discuss the strengths of ZBrush and its use in various production pipelines, i.e. Weta Digital, Valve Software. Meats Meier, The Gnomon Workshop, will demonstrate how he has used ZBrush in the creation of his personal artwork. Timur "Taron" Baysal will demonstrate modeling and displacement (medium to high rez details) and possibly rendering displacement in Messiah.

It will take place at Gnomon School of Visual Effects, 1015 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California 90038. A meet and greet time will start at 6:00 pm with the meeting beginning at 7:00 pm. RSVP to rsvp@gnomon3d.com. Please include your name, phone number and number of people you are bringing including yourself. For more information, visit www.gnomon3d.com/title.html.

Discreet invites the public to its Data Overdrive and Open House events that will showcase Discreet

Discreet invites the public to its Data Overdrive and Open House events that will showcase Discreet