Get Transdimensional With the Transdimensional Short Film Festival
Transdimensional Short Film Festival 2005Beverly Hills, California, USAJune 3, 2005Deadline: June 1, 2005
AWN Headline News
Skillset Launches U.K. Animation Courses Accreditation Scheme
The first ever animation courses in the U.K. to receive the British animation industrys official seal of approval were today (April 26, 2005) announced by Skillset. Skillset devised the pilot accreditation scheme in consultation with the industry and education providers.
The successful courses are BA Hons Animation Production at the Arts Institute, Bournemouth; BA Hons Computer Animation and Visualization at Bournemouth University; and HND in Art & Design (Computer Animation)/BA Hons Animation at the Glamorgan Centre for Art & Design.
Comedy Central Seeks Ultimate South Park Fan
If you are a loyal SOUTH PARK fan and think you know all there is to know about these hilariously bad little boys then you might have a chance to take over the programming on COMEDY CENTRAL for four straight days in the South Park Your Way contest.
From May 9 to May 19, fans can compete online at comedycentral.com to test their knowledge about SOUTH PARK factoids. The winner will choose his/her favorite episodes of SOUTH PARK to air during the primetime slot, May 23-26, 2005, at 9:30 pm.
Alienware Unleashes New MJ-12 7550A Desktop Workstation
Alienware announced the availability of the new Alienware MJ-12 7550A workstation featuring dual AMD Opteron processors and dual PCI Express graphics with support for SLI-enabled NVIDIA Quadro graphics. Powered by the new NVIDIA nForce Professional chipset and featuring an exciting new case design, the MJ-12 7750A is the ultimate tool for computer aided design and manufacturing, digital content creation and other rendering-intensive applications.
KromA Handles CG Chores in Ford Trucks Spot
KromA put an ordinary guy behind the wheel of a NASCAR racer in an amusing new spot for Ford Trucks and Detroit agency J. Walter Thompson. The Los Angeles-based visual effects and animation studio combined images of real cars with CG vehicles in telling the story of a race fan whose ultimate dream almost turns into a nightmare.
3Dlabs Ships Wildcat Realizm Drivers Supporting OpenGL 2.0
3Dlabs Inc. Ltd. has released a driver that supports OpenGL 2.0 for Wildcat Realizm professional graphics accelerators. OpenGL 2.0 integrates the OpenGL Shading Language into its core so that software developers can create advanced shader programs and easily port them to any OpenGL 2.0-enabled platform.
Fortunately, Lemony Snicket Comes to DVD
One of last years vfx gems was certainly the Burtonesque LEMONY SNICKETS A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (kudos to ILMs crew supervised Stefen Fangmeier for their photoreal effects and breathtaking CG Sunny baby). The morbid Brad Silberling movie with Jim Carrey Fellini for families, according to Fangmeier arrives on DVD April 26, 2005 (Paramount Home Ent., $38.99) in a two-disc special collectors edition that contains the following bonus goodies:
Geneon Releases Saiyuki Reload & Human Crossing
On April 26, 2005, Geneon Ent. will release on DVD SAIYUKI RELOAD VOLUME TWO and HUMAN CROSSING VOLUME TWO.
SAIYUKI RELOAD VOLUME TWO features four full episodes, as well as four extra episodes of URA-SAI. The DVD also features bilingual Dolby Digital 2.0 audio, English subtitles, a non-credit ending, original Japanese ending, Geneon previews and a Limited Edition Pencil Board.
In Anime, Home Entertainment, Anime, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, North America
Buena Vista Games to Self-Publish Videogames in U.K., Germany & France
Buena Vista Games (BVG) announced it will become a multi-platform publisher in summer 2005 and launch a portfolio of high profile videogames in the U.K., Germany and France as well as extend its current portfolio of kids- and family-focused titles to a wider audience, to include 'tween, teen and core gamers.
Jill Lindeman New Disney Channel Marketing VP/Creative Director
Jill Lindeman joins Disney ABC Cable Networks Group as vp/creative director for marketing, Disney Channel, responsible for the creative direction and management of all on-air promotion for Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Jetix, Playhouse Disney and ABC Kids, including the development and production of interstitials for Disney Channel. Additionally, Lindeman has oversight of the creative direction for off-air initiatives including print production, online development and marketing collateral.
She reports to Matt Palmer, svp, marketing, Disney Channel, in Burbank, California.
Aaron Lyle Upped to Media Arts & Animation Academic Director at The Art Institut
The Art Institute of California Los Angeles has promoted Aaron Lyle to academic director for Media Arts & Animation.
Aarons connections to industry are an enormous benefit to the program and school; our students and faculty will benefit tremendously from his expertise, said Dave Moughalian, dean of Academic Affairs.
The Interpreter Translates to Number One at the Box Office
Sydney Pollacks THE INTERPRETER, starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, captured the top spot at the box office in its debut weekend ended April 24, 2005. The old-fashioned suspense thriller took in $22.8M for Universal, upending MGMs remake of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, last weeks champ, which hauled in $13.7M and $44.3M for a second place finish. Paramounts SAHARA (with vfx from Cinesite and Double Negative) dropped to third with $9M for a cume of $48.9M. Buena Vistas A LOT LIKE LOVE with Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher bowed in fourth place with $7.5M.
Lucas Confirms Two Star Wars TV Series
At Star Wars Celebration III, director George Lucas enthralled fans by confirming that he is working on two STAR WARS-themed television series one a CG animated CLONE WARS.
HP Introduces Microsoft Windows x64 for Business Users
HP launched the first business desktop system for Microsoft Windows x64 Editions. The new business desktop PCs and workstations with advanced security features are specifically designed to take advantage of enhancements planned for Microsofts upcoming Longhorn operating system. HP also is enhancing system performance with support for the new Microsoft Windows x64 Edition operating systems across the HP ProLiant server line and on new business desktops and workstations.
In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe
Avid to Preview 64-bit SOFTIMAGE|XSI 3-D at WinHEC
Avid Technology Inc. will be demonstrating a technology preview of a native 64-bit version of SOFTIMAGE|XSI 3-D animation software during WinHEC, Microsofts annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, from April 25-27, in Seattle, Washington.
NVIDIA Demonstrates Alignment With Microsoft at WinHEC
NVIDIA Corp. announced that it is a sponsor at WinHEC, Microsofts annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, from April 25-27, in Seattle, Washington.
"NVIDIA's participation in WinHEC is important to Microsoft because of the growing role of powerful graphics and 64-bit platforms to support key initiatives including 'Longhorn' and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition," said Brian Marr, senior product manager of Windows at Microsoft Corp. "We value our relationship with NVIDIA and look forward to continued collaboration."
Best of Show, Jury Honors Selected for SIGGRAPH 2005 Computer Animation Festival
Shane Ackers 9 was selected Best of Show and Tomek Baginski becomes the first Computer Animation Festival repeat winner, as ACM SIGGRAPH announced the Computer Animation Festival's Best of Show Award and Jury Honors winners for SIGGRAPH 2005. The 32nd International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques will be held July 31 through Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, California.
The Computer Animation Festival jury selected three award winners from 560 entries for exemplary use of computer-generated imagery and animation, and compelling storytelling.
Silent Hill Gets its Star
PITCH BLACKs Radha Mitchell will star in the film adaptation of the hit videogame SILENT HILL, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. TriStar Pictures will release the film in the States. Christophe Gans (BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF) will helm the $45 million-$50 million picture, which has started production in Toronto.
Buena Vista To Release 8 More PSP-Compatible DVDs
Buena Vista Home Ent. has announced it will release eight additional UMD titles on June 21, 2005, including two day-and-date with the standard DVD release. UMD is the mini-DVD format that plays on Sonys new PSP. The releases include KING ARTHUR: THE DIRECTORS CUT, TRON, KILL BILL: VOL. 2, GONE IN 60 SECONDS: UNRATED DIRECTORS CUT, ARMAGEDDON, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, HOSTAGE and CURSED. The later two titles are the day-and-date releases.
Will Ferrell Travels to the Land of the Lost
Universal has tapped funnyman Will Ferrell to star in a big screen adaptation of campy '70s kids show THE LAND OF THE LOST, reports the trades. TV series original exec producers Sid and Marty Krofft will produce the film for the studio along with Mosaic Media Groups Jimmy Miller and Julie Wixson-Darmody. ANCHORMAN director Adam McKay will direct the film based on a screenplay by Chris Henchy (TVs SPIN CITY, ENTOURAGE) and Dennis McNicholas (TVs SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE).
Through My Thick Glasses Wins at Animated Encounters
The U.K.s most prestigious animation festival, Animated Encounters, handed out its awards on April 23, 2005, at a packed ceremony at Bristols Watershed, hosted by Bristol radio, GWRs popular breakfast show presenters Bush and Troy.
Picking up the Audience Award for the most popular film at the festival was Norwegian director Pjotr Sapegins THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES. Sapegin was in Bristol to receive his award in person, which was an unusual trophy specially designed by Bristol prop and model-makers Cod Steaks.
Looney Tunes Artist Syndicates Comic Strip
LOONEY TUNES artist David Alvarez that his indie comic strip YENNY will be syndicated by Ucomics.com. The strips follows lead girl Yenny as she deals with the trials and tribulations of daily modern life. The strips originated as part of comic ZACHA AND ANYELIN.
Paramount Pictures Names Brad Weston Co-President, Production
Brad Weston joins Paramount Pictures as co-president, production, overseeing the day-to-day development and production of the studio's annual slate of films and literary acquisitions along with fellow co-president Alli Shearmur, who was appointed on April 14, 2005. Weston will report to Paramount Pictures president Gail Berman.
A52 Infuses Infiniti M Campaign With CGI Art
A52 has finished design, animation and visual effects work for the new Infiniti M campaign from TBWAChiatDay in Los Angeles. Two campaign broadcast spots, DUSK and ALL WHEEL DRIVE, recently debuted, featuring environments created completely in CGI, as well as CGI light flourishes which are widely being used in the agencys print and outdoor elements of the nationwide campaign.
eBay Chief Joins DreamWorks Animation Board of Directors
Margaret C. Whitman, president/ceo of eBay, has been elected to DreamWorks Animations board of directors.
"Meg is someone that both Roger Enrico and I have been courting to join our board of directors for many months," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation ceo. "Having had the opportunity to work with her in the past, I know firsthand what an exceptional talent she is and believe that her expertise in building a global brand combined with her consumer technology experience really makes her a perfect fit for our company."
