Time to Enter San Francisco International Film Festival
49th San Francisco International Film FestivalSan Francisco, California, USAApril 20 - May 4, 2006Deadline: December 1, 2005
49th San Francisco International Film FestivalSan Francisco, California, USAApril 20 - May 4, 2006Deadline: December 1, 2005
Capcom announced that renowned film title designer Kyle Cooper has created the opening sequence for their upcoming videogame, DARKWATCH. The flagship title from development house High Moon Studios Inc., DARKWATCH is an immersive first person shooter (FPS) for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox, that blends the Western and vampire-horror genres. Darkwatch will be released on Aug. 16, 2005.
Electronic Arts announced that it has been granted the rights to develop games based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic literary fiction, THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Since 2001, EA has developed games based exclusively on New Line's Academy Award winning theatrical productions of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, as depicted by Peter Jackson. The expansion of the rights allows EA to introduce players to depths of the fiction never before explored in an EA game.
LAIKA Ent. (recently doing business as Vinton Studios) has greenlit a second feature film project in less than a week. JACK & BENS ANIMATED ADVENTURE is an original idea from LAIKA Ent.s director of story Jorgen Klubien, a veteran writer, director, storyboard artist, and designer, who joined the company earlier this year.
Long John Baldry, a British blues-rock singer who helped start the careers of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Elton John and other British stars, died of a severe chest infection on July 21, 2005, in Vancouver, British Columbia, reports THE NEW YORK TIMES. He was 64.
After producing an ambitious slate of direct-to-video movies, The Walt Disney Co. has decided to close its animation studio in Sydney, Australia and notified its 250 employees there this will take effect next year.
Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures jointly announced that the upcoming film being directed by three-time Academy Award-winning director-producer Steven Spielberg will be titled MUNICH.
Out of Our Minds Animation Studios lands nearly $2 million in funding from private investors for production of its first feature-length animated film.
This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member pitches to the members to work on his new project for free and gets some interesting responses. Another blogger wants know more about exposure sheets. A member wants to know how good people were at animation when they were 15 years old. Theres also a request for advise on doing stop-motion animation. A new thread has popped up talking about the Sick & Twisted Festival. Theres another post asking whether taking a course or using online tutorials is a better learning option.
Join AWN and RES Magazine on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005, at the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood to celebrate the best in animated short films and music videos. The screening will focus on the years best animation and coincides with the 32nd annual SIGGRAPH computer graphics and interactive festival. See great new films, hear from special guests in attendance. Check out www.res.com for the programming lineup and where to buy tickets. As well, join us for a reception after the show. Buy your tickets today!
ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE will offer a tribute story to animation advertising veteran Lou Hertz, who died at his home in Atlanta on July 4, 2005, at the age of 73. He had been serving as president of the Atlanta ASIFA chapter and sat on the ASIFA International board of directors. Messages and remembrances from his colleagues and students have been pouring in to us. If youd like to add yours, please send them to editor@awn.com by Aug. 3. Artwork is also welcome, please send high-res, at 300 dpi.
Makers of commercials, IDs and music video were looking for your work to highlight in the August addition of Animation World Magazine.
Launched at the Annecy Animation Festival where many of its contributors were present, Avoid Eye Contact Volume 2, the best of NYC Independent Animation is available on DVD from The Animators of Square Footage Films at www.avoideyecontact.com.
Animators Bill Plympton, Patrick Smith, Fran Krause, PES and John Dilworth are some of the offerings on the new volume along with some newer independent filmmakers from New York.
4Kids Entertainment Inc. will handle exclusive worldwide merchandising rights TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES CGI-animated feature film expected to be released in early 2007. Playmates Toys will develop a toy line for the all-new TURTLES film from The Weinstein Co., Warner Bros. Pictures and Imagi Animation Studios
Tim Burtons CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (with delightful vfx from MPC, Framestore CFC, Cinesite and Digital Domain), is a double delight for Warner Bros., leading the box office for a second week in a row, taking in another $28.2M for a total of $114M for the weekend ended July 24, 2005.
Konami Digital Ent. Inc. announced a multi-year agreement with FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas that gives the company the exclusive interactive videogame rights for AMERICAN IDOL. Pursuant to the agreement, FLW, Americas grants Konami the rights to develop games for current and next generation videogame systems. The games will be distributed throughout America, Canada and Latin America with more details to be revealed at a later date.
Renny Harlin is set to helm an adaptation of the graphic novel THE COVENANT, by CROSSING JORDAN writer Aron Coleite and artist Tone Rodriguez, reports PRODUCTION WEEKLY.
Adapted by J.S. Cardone, the story follows a group of four families whose patriarchs have great powers that have been passed down from father to son for generations. During that summer of fun and experimentation, the four boys next in line unknowingly release an evil into the world, which the Covenant must stop.
Shane Acker has landed an animation student's dream. Focus Features has agreed to turn his student short 9 into an animated feature with Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov (Russian director of NIGHT WATCH) and Jim Lemley (exec producer of RED EYE) producing, reports the trades. Acker will even get to direct. Focus president of production John Lyons will shepherd the film.
Colette Scott has been promoted to worldwide manager of the education Segment of Kodak's Entertainment Imaging Division, where she will guide ambitious programs aimed at developing Kodak's ongoing commitment to providing support for the next generation of filmmakers and their mentors at film schools around the world.
Janet Hill takes on the newly created position of evp of corp. communications, Paramount Pictures, overseeing internal and external business plus media communications and public relations.
Universal Studios president/ceo Ron Meyer has signed a new five-year contract and will continue to lead the studios motion picture, parks & resorts and studio operations.
THQ Inc. announced that it has engaged United Talent Agency (UTA), a leading Hollywood talent and literary agency, to expand the brand of THQ's recently-released, top-selling DESTROY ALL HUMANS! videogame title. UTA aims to guide the property through its development into major motion picture and television projects, overseeing activities related to development, financing, production and distribution. This is the first time THQ has secured agency representation for one of its own original properties.
The law firm of Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP announces that an amended class action lawsuit was filed on July 21, 2005, on behalf of purchasers of the securities of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. that extends the Class Period. The previous Class Period was from October 28, 2004, to May 10, 2005. The new Class Period is from October 28, 2004, to July 11, 2005.