Da, da, da. Da, da, da let the boy be Blade. Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones has been cast as the half-vampire vampire killer Blade for the upcoming TV series, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Based on the comicbook and film franchise of the same name, the Spike TV series will continue the adventures of the Marvel superhero as he attempts to save the human race from a demonic underworld.
Electronic Arts Inc. announced that THE LORD OF THE RINGS: TACTICS, exclusively for the PSP, has shipped and that Hugo Weaving will lend his voice to THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH II.
Bruce Campbell has been upped to evp, business development for NBC Universal, replacing Brandon Burgess, who resigned as evp, business development & International Channels at NBC Universal and will join Paxson Communications Corp. as ceo.
The Animation Writers Caucus (AWC) of the Writers Guild of America, west will presented its eighth annual Animation Writing Award for lifetime achievement in the medium to veteran animation writers Al Jean and Michael Reiss at its annual reception held Nov. 9, 2005, at WGAw headquarters in Los Angeles.
The NBC Universal Entertainment Associate Program is now accepting new candidates for the 2006 class that offers career development opportunities for external and internal applicants interested in creative entertainment programming.
Jeff Zucker, president, NBC Universal Television Group, said, "We are extremely proud of the Entertainment Associate Program and the top creative executives it has produced throughout the years and we look forward to recruiting talented future programmers for our 2006 class of Entertainment Associates."
Atari Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. announced that the highly-anticipated videogame THE MATRIX: PATH OF NEO is now available in stores nationwide for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows. The follow-up to the multi-million-unit selling ENTER THE MATRIX, THE MATRIX: PATH OF NEO marks the second collaboration between Atari and its Shiny Ent. development studio; the Wachowski brothers, creators of THE MATRIX trilogy; Joel Silver, producer of the trilogy; and Warner Bros. Interactive Ent.
DreamWorks Animation announced that two-time Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan and Ian McShane (TVs DEADWOOD) are joining Jack Black in the cast of KUNG FU PANDA. In addition, award-winning actress Lucy Liu is in talks with the studio to voice another main role.
New Line has hired Seth Bass and Jonathan Tolins to write an adaptation of SANTAKID, based on James Patterson's children's book, reports VARIETY. The story follows a billionaires daughter who after receiving an imperfect doll for Christmas has her father buy Santa Claus and tries to improve on holiday operation. David Kirschner and Corey Sienega will produce with New Line execs Mark Kaufman, Matt Moore and Luke Ryan shepherding for the studio.
Gold Circle Films has purchased Greg Erb and Jason Oremland's pitch CREATURE FEATURE, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The film centers on a 13-year-old budding horror filmmaker who discovers a mysterious old camera that brings his monster props to life. Craig Mazin will produce with Paul Brooks overseeing for Gold Circle Films.
The second UK Showcase hit town this week at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel perfectly timed with the dank weather. It was nice catching up with some of the Soho vfx boutiques, which you can read about in our news coverage of the vfx seminar. Speaking of the global community, Barbara Robertson recently caught up with Christian Kubsch, gm of the newly opened Lucasfilm Animation Singapore. They discussed how the nascent operation is going and how theyre gearing up for CLONE WARS and developing a feature.
Although the rainy weather put a damper on Wednesdays turnout for the second UK Showcase at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, the visual effects seminar was worth attending for its updated information. VES founder Tom Atkin moderated a panel that consisted of VFX producers Stephanie Austin (SAHARA) and Angie Wills of Cinesite; Rebekah Rudd, exec vp, Spyglass Ent. (THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY); William Sargent, chairman of Framestore CFC; and Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor, business development exec with Moving Picture Co. (MPC).
IDT Ent. has licensed all animation rights to the HELLBOY property from Revolution Studios and plans to develop animated content for television and home entertainment, as well as a full range of integrated marketing applications across all categories. The key creatives from live-action film on board for animated adventures to be produced at IDTâs animation studios in Los Angeles. IDT Ent. Sales will handle worldwide sales and Anchor Bay Ent., an IDT Ent. company, will distribute DVD/video product.
Comedy Central has ordered a third season of TVâs first animated reality show, DRAWN TOGETHER, featuring a mix of cartoon characters from various genres of animation brought together to live under one roof. The characters leave their animated "reality" and enter a new world where their cartoon universes collide with a bang, combining different styles of animation and different personalities, all "drawn together."
Pixar Animation Studios has released RenderMan for Maya, the studios next-generation 3D rendering plug-in. Now all Maya artists can enhance their productions with the functionality and prestige of Pixars Academy Award-winning RenderMan.
With its seamless integration into Mayas workflow, Pixars RenderMan for Maya is designed for intuitive ease of use while providing digital artists with the competitive advantages of RenderMans reknown quality and performance.
Tim Burtons CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which collected a sweet $407 million overall at the box office, makes its DVD debut on Nov. 8, 2005 (Warner Home Video, $30.97, two-disc deluxe edition, $28.98 single disc). The movie benefits greatly from Alex McDowells imaginative production design and vfx from Moving Picture Co., Framestore CFC, Cinesite (Europe), Digital Domain, Darkside Effects Ltd. and Neal Scanlan Studio.
Deluxe edition bonus features include:
* Five making-of featurettes:
Legendary Disney animator Ollie Johnston the last of the fabled Nine Old Men will be the first animator to receive the prestigious National Medal of Arts in an Oval Office ceremony at the White House on Thursday. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush will present Johnston, who turned 93 on Halloween, and nine other recipients, with their medals.
Each year the National Endowment for the Arts selects the National Medal of Arts recipients; it is the nations highest honor for artistic excellence.
Native New Orleanian Mo Willems is hosting The Pigeons Auction For Children Affected By Katrina. The online auction begins Nov. 15 and runs through Nov. 25, 2005. Willems asked a group of friends who happen to be renowned childrens authors, illustrators and television creators to join him in auctioning off original art, signed books and signed memorabilia to benefit the Foundations for Recovery, a Louisiana-based group that has organized funds for children and education affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
Artists participating include:
With more than 650 works in 2005, the IMAGINA AWARDS is a leading competition worldwide for computer-generated images and special effects. With prizes in 10 categories, three of which are awarded by audience voting, the IMAGINA AWARDS put digital creation within the reach of everyone's mind, enabling an evaluation of international talent, which makes no concessions.
Dimension Films has obtained the North American distribution right to CASTLEVANIA, a thriller based on the Konami videogame franchise, reports VARIETY. Paul W.S. Anderson will adapt and direct. Just last week, production house Crystal Sky Pictures purchased the film rights to the franchise.
Monsters HD, the first-ever and only 24-hour channel exclusively devoted to the horror and creature feature category, announced the acquisition of 44 classic and contemporary horror titles from Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution that will air in HD, beginning 2005. Among the titles is the recently restored version of the original 1933 KING KONG as well as RKOs SON OF KONG and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG. Monsters HD is one of 10 high-definition core channels available through VOOM HD Networks.
Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. have release the HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE videogame for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and Windows PC. Launching in conjunction with the Warner Bros. Pictures film based on J.K. Rowlings fourth book, the game allows players to experience moments from the movie and master magic in cooperative play with up to two of their friends.
Oscar-winner Brad Bird will be honored with the first Texas Avery Animation Award at the Deep Ellum Film Festival (DE/F2) on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005. Taking place at the North Dallas High School where famed animator Tex Avery attended, the event will be hosted by popular childrens author William Joyce (GEORGE SHRINKS, ROLIE POLIE OLIE) and film critic Gary Cogill. Tex Averys daughter, Nancy Avery Arkley, will also make an appearance.
Los Angeles-based producer/distributor PorchLight Ent. has signed an exclusive agreement to collaborate with LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. to develop television programming based on LeapFrogs valued educational content and popular brand.
Under terms of the agreement, PorchLight acquires the rights to develop and attract new television properties that will be launched with the LeapFrog brand name and make TV stars of the lovable LeapFrog characters Leap, Lily, Tad and others.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, members are posting three sentences on CHICKEN LITTLE. A junior member wants to know why students first have cover 2D in colleges and cant go directly into 3D animation? Theres a thread on painting in Photoshop. Members are still talking about Cartoon Networks SUNDAY PANTS. Others have questions on exporting layers from Flash. Moreover, theres a thread on pricing animation. As well, lots of members have posted their work for others to check out and critique.
