Animation World Network

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for August 7, 2006

This week in AWN's Forums, theres a new thread dedicated to good podcasts about animation. A member is getting advice on how to turn his big Flash bummer into an animation success. Others discuss why drawing is important. Theres a thread discussing racist imagery in classic cartoons. A member has a question about copyrighting scripts. Others are posting their work or equipment for sale. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

In Flash, Flash | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Company ANIMATIONWorld

Career Coach: Show Me the Money

Pamela Kleibrink Thompson tackles the toughest request a new hire has to ask their new employer show me the money.

In ANIMATIONWorld | Columns: Career Coach

Film Headline News

Romero Travels to Solitary Isle

Co-financing partners, Hyde Park Ent. and Kadokawa Pictures, have hired George A. Romero to write and direct the thriller SOLITARY ISLE, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Based on a short story by Koji Suzuki (THE RING, DARK WATER), the $20 million-budgeted film will follow an expedition to a deserted island, which turns deadly as the explorers face an unknown force.

The film most likely will be distributed by 20th Century Fox, where Hyde Park has a five-year, first-look deal. Hyde Park Intl holds the foreign rights.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Headline News

Weinsteins Bring Jerry Lewis Back as Nutty Professor

The Weinstein Co. has snatched up the rights to produce an animated version of THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, in which Jerry Lewis will provide the voice of at least two characters. Mainframe Ent. will produce and animate the project, which will be released direct-to-video by Genius Products Inc.

In Home Entertainment, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

SIGGRAPH 2006 Attracts Nearly 20,000 in Boston

SIGGRAPH 2006, the 33rd conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, registered 19,764 artists, research scientists, developers, filmmakers and academics from 80 countries for its conference in Boston last week (July 31-Aug. 3). More than 230 companies exhibited, including 76 first-time exhibitors.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Special Events: SIGGRAPH | Geographic Region: All

Autodesk Headline News

Autodesk to Launch ‘The Area’ Community Portal

Autodesks Media & Ent. division will launch a new community portal on Aug. 22 called The Area (www.the-area.com), which will enable artists to network with peers and enjoy a repository of Autodesk 3D content. Content will be posted by community members and Autodesk.

Initially, the site will focus on content created using Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Motion Builder or VIZ used in games, film, post-production or design visualization. Membership is free.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Comedy Headline News

Talladega Nights Races First

The Will Ferrell NASCAR comedy, TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, raced to the top of the box office chart in its first outing. For the weekend ended Aug. 6, 2006, the Sony release scored a whopping $47Mthe best comedy opener of the year and a personal best for Ferrell. Debuting in second place with $15.8M was the 3D-animated BARNYARD from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and director Steve Oedekerks O Ent.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

iThentic Looking For Shorts For Mobile Distribution

iThentic.com is looking for original animated short to distribute over cellphones. The company is looking for film under three minutes and 15 MB file size. Visit www.ithentic.com for details or contact rachael@ithentic.com for more information. Entries that arrive before Aug. 15, 2006, will be considered for iThentics September release.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

August Gets Even Hotter On TELETOON

TELETOONs highlights for August 2006, kick off with the debut of the new series, DI-GATA DEFENDERS. Premiering on Aug. 5 with a special 90-minute CINETOON presentation of the first three episodes, the series will regularly air Saturdays at 7:00 pm starting August 12.

In Television, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Viewers Program YTV ZAPX In August

In August 2006, YTVs programmers are taking a summer break, allowing viewers to help decide what movies to air on YTVs popular movie block ZAPX, hosted by Simon every Sunday at 6:00 pm. Kids can vote online at www.YTV.com for the movies they want to see. Each week YTV offers kids a new themed block of movies to vote for including: ZAPX Prankster Movies on Aug. 13, ZAPX Summer Phreakend Movies on Aug. 20 and ZAPX Teen Queen Movies on Aug. 27.

In Television, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Star Headline News

TOKYOPOP Goes Where No Manga Has Gone Before — Star Trek

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of STAR TREK, TOKYOPOP and CBS Consumer Products have joined forces to produce STAR TREK: THE MANGA, based on the original STAR TREK TV series. Like the television classic, these new journeys venture into the terrain of social politics, personal reflection and bare-knuckled brawls between Captain Kirk and the galaxy's most cunning alien species.

In Books, Books | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe

David Events

Party To Honor David Chai & Arne Wong

Begins: August 5, 2006

ASIFA-SF is hosting a party to honor David Chai and Arne Wong, two members who showed work at Annecy this year. Chai

In Event Types: Discussion, Screenings, Animation, Short Films

Events

2006 Script Pimp Screenwriting Competition

Begins: August 4, 2006

The 2006 Script Pimp Screenwriting Competition allows fledgling writers the chance to break into the industry. The 2006 Script Pimp Screenwriting Competition is an international competition open to all original, English-written feature film screenplays that have yet to be produced, optioned or sold. For the 4th consecutive year, Script Pimp will host the 2006 Script Pimp Awards Party at the Hollywood Improv. More than 20 companies have already reserved their tickets to meet the writers of Script Pimp's twenty best in 2006. Industry: email pro@scriptpimp.com to make reservations.

In Event Types: Contests, Animation, Features, Live Action, Other

Design Events

VisMasters Design Visualization Conference

Begins: August 4, 2006

The VisMasters Design Visualization Conference is a one-day event focused on the business, art and technology of design visualization. Featuring speakers from some of the most prestigious and well know architectural and visualization firms, participants from all facets of the industry will find a new found appreciation for the art of visualization and insights into what lies ahead.

In Event Types: Conferences, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Animation, Business / Management, Visualization

Animation Events

AOD 2006: The San Francisco Animation Convention

Begins: August 4, 2006

AOD 2006 is operated by the Federation for the Promotion of Animation, a not-for-profit organization established to educate people on the art of animation and make use of its richness to promote cross-cultural learning and understanding in a fun, family-oriented environment. Formerly known as Anime Overdose, AOD 2005 was packed with all-star guests, events and tons of family-friendly fun.

In Event Types: Conferences, Contests, Discussion, Exhibits, Seminars / Workshops, Screenings, Animation, Features, Short Films, Television, Web / Internet, Other

Awards Events

2006 Architectural 3D Awards Competition

Begins: August 4, 2006

Following up on last year's huge success, CGarchitect.com is hosting the 3rd annual Architectural 3D Awards to be awarded at this year's VisMasters Design Visualization Conference. The Awards Competition is open to everyone in the Architectural Visualization industry to highlight the best imagery and animations done in 2005/2006.

In Event Types: Contests, Animation, Other

Show VFXWorld

'Eureka': Finding New Possibilities for TV VFX

Tara DiLullo uncovers the secrets of the vfx wizards working on SCI FI Channel new original series, Eureka.

In Production | VFXWorld

Million Headline News

DreamWorks Animation Posts Gains Over Q2 2005

For the second quarter of 2006, DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. reported total revenue of $74.9 million and net income of $13.7 million, or $0.13 per share on a fully diluted basis. This compares to revenue of $35.4 million and a net loss of $3.7 million, or ($.04) per share on a fully diluted basis, for the same period in 2005. The company ended the period with $526.9 million of cash and cash equivalents.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Headline News

Hellboy 2 Finds Home at Universal

Universal Pictures is set to fully finance and distribute HELLBOY 2, Guillermo del Toros sequel to his 2004 film, which was produced by Revolution Studios and distributed through its deal at Columbia Pictures, reports VARIETY. Universal plans to release the film based on the Dark Horse comic in summer 2008.

Del Toro has penned the script and Ron Perlman and Selma Blair will return as Hellboy and his pyrokinetic love interest, Liz Sherman, respectively.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America

Film Headline News

Pate Director Finds After.Life

Agnieszka Vosloo has been tapped by new production company Constellation Ent. to write and direct AFTER.LIFE, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

The story follows a young woman in limbo between life and death who fights to avoid being buried alive by the funeral director who holds her fate in his hands.

The supernatural thriller will be co-produced and co-financed by the Collective. Production is scheduled to begin in the winter.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Udderly Ridiculous: The Making of 'Barnyard'

Bob Miller chats with the filmmakers of Barnyard to find out what animators do when theyre not being watched.

In Production | ANIMATIONWorld

Events

X-short Competition

Begins: August 3, 2006

Designflux, the french DVD magazine specializing in motion graphics is currently organizing a competition called 'X-Shorts' which is an open call for professionals and students to create an ultra short animation designed for the mobile phone. http://www.designflux.fr/starshooterxshort/

The competition winners will be announced and projected in Chaumont, France, as part of a collaborative initiative between Designflux and the Chaumont International Poster festival. http://www.ville-chaumont.fr/festival-affiches/index.html

In Event Types: Animation, Short Films

FUNimation Acquires Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Feature

FUNimation Ent. announced that it has acquired rights to the feature film ROBOTECH: THE SHADOW CHRONICLES from Harmony Gold. In the agreement, FUNimation acquired home video, broadcast and theatrical rights.

In Anime, Home Entertainment, Anime, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Die Hard 4 Coming in 2007

20th Century Fox has announced that the next installment in the DIE HARD action franchise will hit theaters next summer on June 29, taking on TRANSFORMERS for the Independence Day weekend, reports the trades.

Bruce Willis will again play tough-talking, New York cop John McClane in LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, which plans to start shooting next month. Len Wiseman (UNDERWORLD) has been hired to helm the film from a screenplay by Mark Bomback.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Effects Headline News

Weta Tapped for James Cameron’s Avatar

Academy Award-winner Joe Letteri and Weta Digital have signed on to create visual effects, creatures and digital environments for James Cameron's much-anticipated next picture, AVATAR, which was previously known as PROJECT 880.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All