Shari Weisenberg joins SCI FI Channel in the newly created position of vp, strategic marketing, to lead all sales marketing initiatives for the SCI FI brand. Her appointment signals the Channel's commitment to leveraging its multimedia assets to maximize the reach and impact of all sponsor messaging.
It's been under a year since 20th Century Fox and Universal's film adaptation of Microsoft's mega-franchise HALO fell about and now Fox has inked an agreement as the primary licensor for the gaming franchise, reports VARIETY. Previously, Fox's licensing unit handled licensing for Microsoft's Xbox 360 titles, PERFECT DARK ZERO AND KAMEO: ELEMENTS OF POWER.
Eric Algren passed away unexpectedly on May 25, 2007, at the age of 32, reports the BIG CARTOON DATABASE.
His most recent work was as a Flame artist on FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER. He also served as a digital compositor on the upcoming sci-fi thriller THE INVASION, which is set for release in the U.S. on Aug. 17.
He worked for such companies as Hydraulx, Digital Domain and Creo for projects including 300, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, AEON FLUX, LITTLE MAN, FAILURE TO LAUNCH and TITANIC. In 2000, he was an animation assistant on Disney's DINOSAUR.
With its new three-year first-look deal with Sony Pictures in place, Aardman Animation has announced its slate of animated features.
Writers Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah (LIFE ON MARS) will team with director Steve Box on the heist comedy, THE CAT BURGLARS. The feature follows a group of milk stealing stray cats and has been described as "family friendly Tarantino."
Veteran storyboard artist Mark Simon tries out Toonboom's Storyboard Pro to find out how the new software ranks in the world of digital storyboarding.
Fox's FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (with vfx by Weta Digital, SOHO VFX, Hydraulx, Giant Killer Robots, Hammerhead, The Orphanage, Frantic Films, Lola Visual Effects, Digiscope and Image Engine) crested the box office to the No. 1 position taking in $58.4M for the weekend ended June 17, 2007. Warner Bros.' OCEAN'S 13 dropped to the second position with $19.7M and a cume of $70.4M.
Neil Gaiman has revealed on his website (www.neilgaiman.com) that DreamWorks Animation has optioned the author and Michael Reaves' INTERWORLD, which has been confirmed by a DreamWorks spokesperson.
SIGGRAPH 2007 announced the selection of Vilayanur S. Ramachandran as the third Featured Speaker at the 34th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, Aug. 5-9 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Ramachandran is the director of the Center for Brain and Cognition and a professor at the University of California, San Diego. Topics will include his groundbreaking research in cognition and perception and their impact on the research field and daily life.
Chuck Jones is often credited to the quote, “if you can do it in live-action than it shouldn’t be animated.” With today’s technology this solid rule has weakened, but for this 1988 anime feature there is nothing in it that would have kept it from being a live-action feature at the time of production. So why make it an animated feature? As a director I wouldn’t want to put real children through the torture that these children must endure during the U.S. fire bombing of Japan during WWII. This heartrending feature is the most emotional devastating feature I’ve ever seen. It’s also one of the best animated features I’ve ever seen.
The story begins at the end with Seita, a 14-year-old boy, dying alone is a train depot. After this, we flashback to him living with his sick mother and his 4-year-old sister Setsuko. During one bombing Seita and Setsuko are separated from their mother, who is severely burned and eventually succumbs to her injuries. With their father away in the Navy, Seita and Setsuko go to live with their selfish aunt, uncle and cousin. Their aunt cares little for them, barely paying them attention unless to tell them how worthless they are or to take advantage of them. It gets to the point when the siblings must go out on their own.
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival is one of the most important advertising events in the world. For the week-long event, participants can absorb more than 25,000 ads in film, press, outdoor, interactive, radio, media, direct marketing and sales promotion. Up to 9,000 delegates and 11,000 visitors from more than 75 countries meet at the festival to learn from the best in international advertising, creativity and marketing communications, attend cutting-edge seminars and network in Cannes.
SOUTH FLORIDA'S ONLY MONTHLY COLLECTIBLE SHOW OF ITS TYPE RETURNS SATURDAY JUNE 16 2007. WHERE YOU CAN BUY, SELL OR TRADE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS COMICS, ANIME, MANGA, PLUSHIES, BUSTS, STATUES, CCGS CARDS, SPORT AND NON SPORT CARDS, SPORTS MEMORABILIA, PINS, COINS, DISNEYANA, POSTERS, TOYS, ACTION FIGURES, CCG COMICS, STATUES AND MUCH MORE!! LOCATION: MICCOSUKE RESORT AND GAMING ADDRESS: 500 SW 177 AVE (KROME AVE). MIAMI, FL. 33194 (INTERSECTION OF SW 8 ST AND KROME AVE) SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2007 FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM ADMISSION IS FREE!
CG Overdrive is a dedicated event for Computer Graphics and Animation professionals and enthusiasts. It takes place as part of the Singapore Expo from June 16-22, 2007. This year marks the event's second time running and will be strategically held alongside BroadcastAsia2007. A week long event, CG Overdrive 2007 will commence with Interactive Forums aimed at discussing issues critical to the healthy development of the CG industry and hands-on masterclass sessions that strive to impart vital techniques and artistry to professionals and students.
The coveted short film Annecy Cristal award at the 31ST International Festival of Animated Film at Annecy went to PETER AND THE WOLF by Suzie Templeton for the U.K. and Poland, as well as the Audience Award, while the Cristal for Best Feature went to FREE JIMMY by Christopher Nielsen for Norway and the U.K. The awards were presented at the closing ceremony held on Saturday, June 16, 2007, in Annecy, France.
ASIAF-San Francisco is hosting the screening, "Brainwashed," filled with animated Soviet and U.S. propaganda films. Program will be introduced by Karl Cohen. This selection will include a few of the highlights of the DVD set, ANIMATED SOVIET PROPAGANDA: FROM THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION TO PERESTROIKA, and American propaganda produced by John Sutherland Prods. in Hollywood.
Beginning at 7:30 pm, the screening will take place at The Exploratorium's McBean Theater. It is free and the public invited. For more details, e-mail president@asifa-sf.org.
IFTA Production Conference brings together key players in the independent film and television industries to discuss the impact of the introduction of new distribution technologies and content formats on a global basis. The cost (which includes a continental breakfast & parking) is $60 per person for IFTA members and $90 for non-IFTA members. The conference will run from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. For additional information, contact Lezlie Brazil at (310) 446-1043 or e-mail: lbrazil@ifta-online.org, or visit www.ifta-online.org.
The Women in Animation Voice-Over Group's next meeting will be Friday, June 15, at 7:00 pm. Meetings are held on the third Friday of the month at RBC Studio, 5723 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, California, between Gower and Vine. Parking in front is Tow-Away until 7:00 pm, and then it is free. The meeting will last for three hours.
MyLifeBrand is hosting a gamers' contest where you could ultimately win an HDTV home theatre system -- just by creating your own gaming community. In order to build awareness for this exciting new community, MyLifeBrand is hosting a contest where you could win prizes, the grand prize being a complete HDTV home theater system.
Cuppa Coffee Studios extended their services to Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman to animate a PSA to offer support. Chapman currently faces charges in Mexico due to the capture of Andrew Luster, an American felon who fled to Mexico to avoid prison. The PSA features a stop-motion Dog the Bounty Hunter encouraging viewers to lend their support by signing an online petition. A PSA endorsing a celebrity is a first for Cuppa Coffee, an outfit better known for stop-motion programming such as MTV's CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH, E!
Bozo the Clown is coming to DVD with the collection BOZO THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CLOWN hitting the street on June 26, 2007. The four-disc collector's set features 30 live-action full color episodes of this classic as nationally syndicated for 47 years, with each episode including a five-minute cartoon. Special features include an interview with Larry "Bozo the Clown" Harmon. The episodes are restored and digitally remastered from film masters held by Harmon, who administers the rights to the Bozo character. Infinity Entertainment distributes the product.
Nicktoons will unveil 13 new episodes of THE SECRET SHOW beginning Sunday, July 1, 2007, at 8:00 pm, and in conjunction will debut a new tie-in online game called, SUMMER MARATHON MISSION. Viewers also will get the opportunity to catch up on the first season of the show with a four-hour marathon from 4-8:00 pm. New episodes of the series will air subsequent Sundays at 8:00 pm, with encores Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm.
According to Imagi, Robert Mark Kamen will be writing the screenplay for GATCHAMAN, to be produced as a CG-animated motion picture by producer Lynne Southerland and director Kevin Munroe (TMNT). The CG work on GATCHAMAN will expand the visual boundaries of action sequences and dynamic camera work. Kamen's credits include 18 produced feature films, including THE KARATE KID and its sequels, THE FIFTH ELEMENT, TAPS, A WALK IN THE CLOUDS, THE PROFESSIONAL, LETHAL WEAPON 3, and KISS OF THE DRAGON.
The winners in the animation categories of the 34th Annual Creative Arts and Entertainment Emmy Awards were announced June 14, 2007, at a black tie gala at Hollywood & Highland ballroom in Hollywood. More than 1,100 producers, performers and craftspeople came together for the event. The gala's sponsors included American Airlines, Kmart, Purpose and Soapnet.com. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences introduced new categories this year for Outstanding Broadband Program in comedy, drama, variety and childrens.
Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA was recently released on DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc (Warner Home Video, $34.99 for DVD and Blu-Ray, $39.99 for combo HD-DVD/DVD and $49.96 for five-disc Collectors Edition with FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, from Paramount Home Ent.).
Shown from the vantage point of the Japanese military during World War II, the film chronicles the horrors of Iwo Jima and the struggles of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) and his troops as they prepare for battle.
The adaptation of Marvels GHOST RIDER starring Nicolas Cage bowed on DVD, Blu-ray and PSP on June 12, 2007 (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $34.95 for two-disc extended cut, $38.96 for Blu-ray and $28.95 for PSP). The extended cut contains 15 minutes of never-before-seen footage that offers a bit more characterization rather than tantalizing sex or violence.
