Digital Musings From the Editor:
Its a busy week! E3 begins Wednesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center and REVENGE OF THE SITH opens Thursday.
Its a busy week! E3 begins Wednesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center and REVENGE OF THE SITH opens Thursday.
Seventeen French TV companies are attending the seventh meeting of French and Italian distributors and producers organized by TV France International, which will be held in Rome on May 19, 2005 at the Intercontinental Hotel and on the following day in Milan at the Sheraton Diana Majestic Hotel.
Italy is Frances second largest market for television productions, buying 10.64 million euros worth of French programs in 2003. Italy ranks sixth amongst countries participating with France in co-productions and presales in 2003.
This years 2005 VES-VFX Festival of Visual Effects kicks off June 24-26 at the newly renovated Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, California, with a lineup that includes behind-the-scenes looks at STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH, BATMAN BEGINS, MADAGASCAR, SIN CITY, BEWITCHED, LORDS OF DOGTOWN, CSI, LOST and ALIAS.
The Animation Guild and Affiliated Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts, Local 839 IATSE, has updated their website, which is hosted by the Animation World Network.
The newest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now online and this time around covers pitching and development. Sarah Baisley outlines some of the basic concerns when pitching for sub-contracting work. Christopher Panzner looks at how independent producers have to be a vertically-integrated individual as well as a little of a cowboy to survive in the industry. Jan Nagel write two articles one deal with the rules of the pitching game and the other dealing with the essentials of a show bible.
This week in AWN's Forums, a would-be animation student wants to know what the best 3D schools are. Another member wants to know where they can get Flash character animation training. The question how do I make a song continue to next scene has been presented. Theres a thread that wants to know what other members think is the best Pixar film. A junior member wants to find some great tutorial sites. Lots of members continue to post there work for other to check out.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, has signed an exclusive, long-term distribution agreement to take THE ROACH APPROACH videos, created by design and animation studio Wacky World Studios, to the general market and Christian retail markets in the U.S. and Canada.
Despite leading the pack in its debut, New Lines MONSTER-IN-LAW did nothing to quell the 12-week dry spell at the box office that should get a big jolt with this weeks anticipated monster hit, STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH. The Jennifer Lopez/Jane Fonda comedy collected $23.1M for the weekend ended May 15, 2005. That was better than two other newcomers: KICKING & SCREAMING, which kicked up $20.1M for Universal, thanks to the presence of Will Ferrell, and UNLEASHED, which grabbed $10.9M for Universals specialty division, Focus.
Leading game developer and publisher Midway will be using 3ds Max 7.5 to bring new levels of dimensionality and artistic quality to its next generation of game titles.
Midway has been a 3ds Max software customer for years, creating scores of successful game titles, including AREA 51 and the upcoming MORTAL KOMBAT: SHAOLIN MONKS and BLITZ: THE LEAGUE, out of its Chicago, San Diego, Austin and Los Angeles studios. The decision to advance its use of 3ds Max software comes as the company wraps up an intensive review of tools to drive future development.
On July 15, 2005, SCI FI Friday premieres with brand-new episodes of hit original series STARGATE SG-1 (8:00 pm), STARGATE ATLANTIS (9:00 pm) and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (10:00 pm). In addition to STARGATE SG-1's newest team member Ben Browder (FARSCAPE), Emmy winner Beau Bridges, Oscar winner Lou Gossett, Jr. and sci-fi favorite Mitch Pileggi (THE X FILES) have joined the STARGATE family. Bridges will join the cast of STARGATE SG-1 and will also appear in a several episodes of STARGATE ATLANTIS.
The Jim Henson Co. is in the planning stages for a sequel to its 1982 fantasy cult classic, DARK CRYSTAL, reports VARIETY. David Odell (THE MUPPET SHOW) is writing THE POWER OF THE DARK CRYSTAL along with Annette Duffy. No director has been announced as of yet. Odyssey Ent. will worldwide sales for the film.
The film will combine live action, animatronic characters and CG animation and is set to start filming this fall. The film will be available in the early part of 2007.
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group is the pre-production stages on a sequel to Stephen Chow's KUNG FU HUSTLE, according HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Chow and his writing team from HUSTLE, including Tsang Kan Cheong, have been writing the first draft while on the 30-country Sony Pictures Releasing International press tour for the original film.
"He works well within our system," Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia md Barbara Robinson said. "He knows we love (HUSTLE); he's seen the way we've gotten behind him, and we have great distribution clout."
France's most successful movie franchise ASTERIX THE GAUL will return to the big screen, reports VARIETY. The last effort to bring the franchise back a Viking-themed installment was turned down by the original ASTERIX cartoon books rights holders. Now Thomas Langmann (BLUEBERRY) has devised a new script ASTERIX AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES with director Frederic Forestier attached.
The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists have broken off talks with the videogame industry, which makes a strike likely, reports the trades. No agreement was reached on May 13, 2005 the last day the current contract extension which was one more extension than the actors said they would concede to. Even though a caucus of SAG and AFTRA must meet to decide if there will be a strike, insiders say it is curtain.
WIA will be holding its annual Salon to celebrate the work of a veteran animator on June 18, 2005. This year the organization is celebrating the career of Margaret Loesch.
Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) leads its multi-platform product lineup for E3 with Blizzard Entertainment's STARCRAFT: GHOST, a tactical-action console game set in Blizzard's epic STARCRAFT universe. VUs booth (1200) is located in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Television/film producer Antony Root joins Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) as svp, international production, Europe. In this newly created position based in London, Root will oversee SPTI's production operations in Europe.
PEEP and ROLIE POLIE OLIE were the big animation winners as the National Television Academy presented the 32nd Annual Creative Craft Daytime Emmy Awards on Saturday, May 14, 2005 during simultaneous black-tie ceremonies held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City and the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles. Outstanding Children's Animated Program was awarded to PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD while Outstanding Special Class Animated Program went to ROLIE POLIE OLIE.
Toon Boom Animation announced that Algonquin College has chosen Toon Boom Harmony as part of its three-year Animation program. Algonquins program provides students with training in both traditional and digital animation. Following a first year of studies, students have the option of pursuing either traditional or digital animation. They learn the skills necessary to work effectively as animators in a variety of settings. Graduates acquire the skills necessary to work independently, collaboratively and in studio settings.
Melwood Pictures and Exodus Film Group announced that they have optioned the rights to world-famous magician and illusionist Nicholas Nights CG-animated/live-action feature film PAVLOVS DOG.
Celluloid Dreams has inked several animation deals, which includes THE FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS, GRASS ROOTS, KIRIKOU AND THE WILD BEASTS and WALLACE AND GROMIT, reports VARIETY.
Celluloid Dreams will handle international sales on a feature length clay-animation adaptation of cult 1960s comic series THE FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS.
4Kids Ent. Inc. has acquired the worldwide licensing rights to CHAOTIC, Apex Marketing and Dracco Company Ltd.'s trading card game.
4Kids Entertainment will manage the licensing, marketing and promotional initiatives for this trading card property and will join creative forces with Apex Marketing to develop and produce an all-new children's animated series based on the property. 4Kids will jointly own the copyright to the television series, which is expected to debut on 4Kids TV in fall 2006.
Kellogg and Lucasfilm Ltd. have teamed to supply new Kellogg's products inspired by the May 19 release of STAR WARS: EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH.