AWN Headline News

Headline News

SynthEyes Makes Tracks on Moon for IMAX’s Magnificent Desolation

IMAXs new MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON 3D takes viewers back to the United States lunar landings, using the high res, large-screen 3D format for a compelling lunar experience.

Behind the scenes, the format posed challenges for visual effects providers Digital Dimension and Sassoon Film Design. The large screen necessitated a 4K resolution, and the 3D process required that separate images be processed for left and right eyes.

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

Headline News

Rhythm + Hues Helps With CGI ‘Fry Fight’

Pencil Neck. Pigtail. Corkscrew! These are just a few of the pleasantries flying around in the new Jack in the Box spot, FRY FIGHT. Director Michael Wright and Rhythm + Hues Commercial Studios created the CGI French fries for the spot, which was directed by Dick Sittig of Secret Weapon Marketing and @radical.media.

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

Headline News

Rendercore Launches RenMan 2.70

RenderCore announce that RenMan client 2.70 has been launched, which now supports Maya 7.

Integrated Alias MotionBuilder technology, and enhancements to deformers and skinning tools make animating characters faster, easier and more accurate. The industry's leading full-body IK solver makes rigging and posing characters faster and easier, and enables the natural articulation of biped and quadruped models. Deformations are now more flexible.

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

Headline News

No Box Office Curse for Wallace & Gromit

While Aardman Animation studios in Bristol, England, was tragically engulfed in flames today, destroying its entire history, its latest stop motion feature, WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT debuted at the top of the U.S. box office for the weekend ended Oct. 9, 2005. The DreamWorks release (with vfx from MPC) posted $16M.

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

Games Headline News

Prominent Neuroscientist To Keynote Serious Games Summit D.C.

Renowned researcher and neuroscientist David Warner will discuss the complex relationship between humans and computers in a keynote address, slated for Nov. 1, 2005, at this year's Serious Games Summit D.C. in Washington D.C. The summit serves as a primary forum for experts within various fields to network, learn and share information about the growing demand for games designed for practical applications.

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

Music Headline News

mtvU Launches MTV Networks' First Broadband Distributed Channel

mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, today (Oct. 10, 2005) unveiled MTV Networks' first channel distributed entirely over broadband, "mtvU Uber" (www.mtvu.com). "mtvU Uber" is available everywhere, through both non-stop streaming and a unique on-demand capability, enabling viewers to customize their experience.

The channel offers mtvU's on-air programming available to everyone, and will also showcase a powerful lineup of original programming driven by new music, short-form series, as well as student-produced short films, music videos, animation, webisodes and more.

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

Kids Headline News

Little Einsteins Play Primetime Premiere Oct. 9

Disney's LITTLE EINSTEINS, a new series for preschoolers, premieres with two episodes in a special primetime presentation Oct. 9, 2005, at 7:00 and 7:30 pm, on the Disney Channel.

Beginning Oct. 10, LITTLE EINSTEINS will air in its regular timeslot, daily at 8:00 am during Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney programming block. A second telecast airs weekdays at 12:30 pm.

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

Disney Headline News

Paul O’Higgins to Market Walt Disney Television, EMEA

Paul OHiggins has been appointed vp, marketing, Walt Disney Television, EMEA, to oversee all aspects of marketing, on and off air, across Europe, Middle East and Africa. He will be responsible for creating major marketing campaigns for Disneys key TV shows and channel launches, plus work with local markets to create the most successful strategies for them.

OHiggins was vp, creative at Nickelodeon, where he led the creative plans for on- and off-air, creating programming stunts, marathons, competitions and short-form interstitials.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Television Headline News

Jim Moloshok New President, Media Ventures, HBO

Web veteran Jim Moloshok joins Media Ventures in the newly created position of president, responsible for exploring new opportunities for HBO, focusing on the point of intersection between innovative content and changing technology.

"Jim has a keen understanding and much valuable experience in the world of cross-media programming, said Chris Albrecht, ceo of HBO, who made the announcement. We are really excited to have him on our team."

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

Film Headline News

Rogue Pictures Backs Doomsday

Rogue Pictures, Universal's NYC-based genre unit, has teamed with L.A.-based Crystal Sky Pictures to produce DOOMSDAY, the next film from DOG SOLDIERS writer-director Neil Marshall, reports VARIETY. This is the first project greenlit from Rogues new president of production Andrew Rona. The film is a futuristic action thriller with political overtones, set in northern England and Scotland. Rogue will hold worldwide rights to the film, which they hope to get into production next spring in the U.K.

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

Million Headline News

Eisner Exits Disney Board Early

Set to step down from the Walt Disney board at the next annual meeting, Michael Eisner quietly exited the post early on Sept. 30, the same day he left the company as ceo. Buried in a filing late Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Disney included the statement Eisner "no longer provides any services" for the company.

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

Headline News

Levy Leaps Into Live-Action/CG Museum

Twentieth Century Fox has tapped Shawn Levy and his 21 Laps Ent. to produce the live-action/CG feature, A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. The deal will see Levy direct the picture as part of a two-year, nonexclusive, first-look production pact with the studio.

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

Effects Headline News

Side Effects Launches Houdini 8 with Road Show

Side Effects Software, developer of the award-winning Houdini family of 3D software, announced the immediate availability of Houdini 8. Developed to provide creative freedom without compromise, Houdini 8 combines innovation with practicality with powerful features such as new dynamics architecture, light linking, Interactive Photorealistic Rendering (IPR), character animation enhancements and more.

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

Design Headline News

Gnomon Launches First Workshop Weekend

The Gnomon Workshop announced Gnomon Workshop: Live!, its first ever workshop weekend, Nov. 12-13, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, giving artists the opportunity to learn more about cutting edge techniques and processes in the visual arts. The weekend offers classes in concept design, matte painting, 3D modeling, ZBrush, character design, rendering in Photoshop, art direction, production design and more.

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

Headline News

Cine-tal to Support Iridas File Format

Cine-tal, a leading developer of image processing, display and collaboration solutions, and Iridas, which first pioneered non-destructive color grading, announced that the Cinemage Intelligent Display Server product line will include full support for Iridas .look file format. Looks created in SpeedGrade OnSet can now be applied directly in Cine-tals Cinemage calibrated HD display system providing a simple solution for graded shot review and digital dailies during production.

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

Interactive Headline News

EA, Warner Bros. & DC Comics Unite on Superman Returns: The Videogame

Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. and DC Comics have joined forces on SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME, scheduled for a summer 2006 release in conjunction with the release of Warner Bros. Pictures film, SUPERMAN RETURNS, on June 30, 2006.

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

Animation Headline News

Ittina Launches Animation Studio, Academy In Bangalore

The Ittina Group, a leading name in property development, announced the launch of an animation studio and academy Ittina Studios and Takshaa, respectively in Bangalore. Both will be housed in a six-story building in Whitefield. Ittina plans to invest about $5 million in the new venture over the next year.

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

Headline News

Conran Exits, Favreau Joins John Carter of Mars

Paramount announced that ELF and ZATHURA director Jon Favreau has been hired to direct the film adaptation of JOHN CARTER OF MARS, reports the trades. Previously, SKY CAPTAIN helmer Kerry Conran was attached to direct after Robert Rodriguez had to step down from the production after he quit the Directors Guild. Exec producer Harry Knowles said on his website Aint It Cool News that Conran left the film to work on another pulp sci-fi project that he was more passionate about.

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

Headline News

EA Settles Overtime Lawsuit

Electronic Arts announced it will pay $15.6 million and re-classify some salaried employees as hourly workers to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by workers over overtime pay.

Entry-level computer graphic artists in the U.S. will start earning overtime pay and will receive a one-time ownership grant of restricted company stock. However, they will no longer receive stock options or bonuses. The settlement, which is waiting approval by the San Mateo County Superior Court, is expected to take five months.

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

Digital Headline News

PlasterCITY Unveils Its Non-linear 10-bit 4:4:4 RGB Facility At Open House

PlasterCITY, an all-new nonlinear high-definition post house in Hollywood, recently showcased seven new HD edit suites, a 4GB HD Fibre SAN network, an HD Digital Intermediate workflow and a complete HD theater/screening room. At an open house on Oct. 6, 2005, PlasterCITY introduced its advanced non-linear 10-bit 4:4:4 RGB studio networking, enabling clients to edit, color-correct and perform all other picture post-production processes at the highest quality rate, including uncompressed codecs, for theatrical and broadcast projects.

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

UK Headline News

UK Showcase 2005 Announced

Top professionals from the U.K.s movie service industry will convene at the second UK Showcase, Nov. 8-9 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles. CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, V FOR VENDETTA and MATCH POINT will be just a few of the movies discussed as collaborative efforts between the U.S. and U.K.

Industry speakers at UK Showcase 2005 will present seminars and Q&A sessions on finance, production and shooting, post-production, digital distribution and interactive budgeting.

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

Headline News

Digital-Tutors Releases XSI Render Tree Training

Digital-Tutors announced the availability of INTRODUCTION TO XSI RENDER TREE training kit, a comprehensive training resource for SOFTIMAGE|XSI and the latest release in a growing library of popular training resources for emerging digital artists. A free trial of SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.0 Foundation is included with INTRODUCTION TO XSI RENDER TREE, allowing for immediate access to learn and explore the software.

In Education and Training, Education and Training | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Cinematics Headline News

Digic Pictures Creates Cinematics for Warhammer: Mark of Chaos

Digic Pictures, a computer animation studio based in Budapest, Hungary, announced work on the cinematics for the new WARHAMMER: MARK OF CHAOS RTS game. The anticipated classic will be published by Namco Hometek Inc. in 2006. A subsidiary of Cinergi Interactive, Digic Pictures previous works include rendered cinematics for ARMIES OF EXIGO, an RTS PC game, as well as 60 visual effects created for the Hollywood blockbuster, TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES.

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

Software Headline News

DAZ Prods. Hosts Ridiculously Big CG Sale

DAZ Prods. Inc., a leading developer of professional quality 3D software and models, will host the "Ridiculously Big CG Sale," an exclusive two-week promotion, Oct. 7-22 on the DAZ Prods. website (www.daz3d.com). This promotion offers discounts on products from top industry companies, including: Caligari, Eovia, Right Hemisphere, Strata Software, EVGA, Corel, E-Frontier, e-on software and TheBest3D.com. Starting Oct. 7 at 8:00 am, MT, each of these companies will offer one of their products at a 30-60% discount for one day each to everyone who is a registered member on DAZ's website.

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

Digital Headline News

LaserPacific Puts Duma Through DI

The finishing touches were completed on Warner Bros. DUMA during digital intermediate (DI) timing sessions with director Carroll Ballard (THE BLACK STALLION, FLY AWAY HOME) at LaserPacific in Hollywood. DUMA is an adventure story that revolves around the relationship between a boy and an orphaned cheetah rescued in the wilds of Africa.

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