VIII International Short Film Festival of Barcelona MECAL 2005Barcelona, SpainSeptember 10-18, 2005Deadline: June 30, 2005
MECAL 2005 is international and contains three principal sections: short films, documentaries and obliquas section. Entries can have originated from 16mm. or 35mm film, digital or Betacam, but must be converted to DVD, VHS-NTSC or PAL for submission. For more information, visit www.mecalbcn.org.
The Golden Elephant 14Hyderabad, IndiaNovember 14-20, 2005Deadline: July 15, 2005
BOXX Technologies announced the BOXX 7400 series of workstations featuring dual AMD Opteron Dual Core processors and the NVIDIA nForce Professional Media and Communications Processors (MCPs).
FamilyGuy.com begins its rollout today (April 28, 2005), offering FAMILY GUY fans loads of interactive online entertainment goodies as well as a community to coincide with the return of the animated series May 1, at 9:00 pm on FOX. The site launches with its first of what will be many Family Guy-centric sweepstakes offerings, Stewies Radical Remodel, with a prize package that includes dozens of FAMILY GUY stuff to fill the winners house, including limited edition cel art, action figures, lunchboxes, inflatable chairs, posters, pillowcases and dartboards.
Midway Games Inc. has shipped action thriller videogame, AREA 51, to retail outlets in the U.S. for the PlayStation2 and Xbox. The version for PC will ship on May 23, 2005. AREA 51 is an action/thriller featuring an intense storyline packed with scripted events, an arsenal of both human and alien weapons, and powerful multiplayer modes that allow up to 16 players to battle it out online.
Marvel Enterprises Inc. and Paramount Pictures announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Paramount will distribute a slate of feature films to be produced by Marvel, which include titles such as CAPTAIN AMERICA and NICK FURY. Marvel also announced a new, non-recourse financing facility to be provided by Merrill Lynch Commercial Finance Corp. that will allow the company to produce its own slate of feature films based on its renowned comic book characters.
The National Film Board of Canada has announced the creation of the Norman McLaren Prize, under the aegis of the Cannes Film Festival. The prize will be presented each year to the winner of the Short Film Palme dOr.
Turner Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS Inc.) unveiled GameTap, a first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network that offers games-on-demand plus original programming via a broadband connected PC. GameTap launches fall 2005.
Platinum Studios and The Shop Prods. have chosen Alan McElroy (SPAWN) to write the screenplay for the $18 million budgeted first ever CG theatrical horror feature, BONESAW, based on the Platinum Studios graphic novel by acclaimed Scots writer Rob Moran. Relativity Management, one of Hollywood's leading talent management firms, will be co-financing the picture and is arranging the international elements. Production is set to begin in early 2006, and be completed fall 2007. McElroy will be splitting his time between his Ohio home and the Vancouver production offices of BONESAW.
Chatsworth, California-based computer-animation house GigaPix Studios has opened a new 32,000-square-foot facility, according to HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The company intends to expand to 120-160 artists. Ceo Chris Blauvelt and president John Savage plan to move from shorts to independent computer-animated features.
"GigaPix is entering the market at an opportune time for the independent," Blauvelt said. "Financing for moderate-budget, well-crafted CGI features with great storytelling is readily available."
The Gnomon Workshop has released animator David Schonevelds three-DVD series on Maya Fluids. The series gives the artist a detailed perspective on the principles of fluid dynamics, the controls needed to implement dynamics from within the application and the numerous methods the artist can use to create dynamic, non-dynamic and texture-based effects.
Digital Vision announced that Industrial Light & Magic has used its AGR4 ME motion-compensated grain & noise management system to prepare the digital cinema master for George Lucas STAR WARS: EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, which hits theaters May 19, 2005.
An all-day Mother's Day marathon celebration, an AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG marathon including an all-new episode, a Movin' and Groovin' with JoJo Week featuring dance-filled episodes of Playhouse Disney's JOJO'S CIRCUS and a THAT'S SO RAVEN Memorial Day marathon featuring guest stars Cyndi Lauper, Paula Abdul, Kathie Lee Gifford, Susan Lucci, Macy Gray, James Avery, Bobb'e J. Thompson and Ricky Ullman, are featured during May on Disney Channel. Also, new episodes of THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY, LILO & STITCH: THE SERIES and BRANDY & MR. WHISKERS are presented.
The long awaited, highly requested STAR WARS: CLONE WARS VOLUME II (Chapters 21 - 25) premieres for TELETOON viewers on Wednesday, May 4, 10:00 pm on The Detour on TELETOON. This back-to-back "May the 4th be With You" special 90-minute presentation is a Canadian exclusive. VOLUME II picks up right where VOLUME I left off with a team of Jedi trapped in a wrecked starship on Hypori, being hunted maliciously by General Grievous.
Best-selling strategy game STRONGHOLD 2 was developed by FireFly Studios and published by 2K Games, a publishing label of Take2 Interactive, using Lifemode Interactives LifeStudio:HEAD.
NAB has come and gone and the buzzword was workflow. Every company large and small is looking to improve the process and performance of its pipeline. Its a leaner and meaner industry, with everyone learning how to leverage digital assets and technology for problem solving as outsourcing becomes more prevalent. No wonder both Alias and Autodesk, which have restructured and rebranded lately, are figuring out how to apply workflow solutions from their non-entertainment divisions to their entertainment divisions while expanding their consulting businesses.
A former boyfriend of Sydney teenager has been committed to stand trial for allegedly murdering an 18-year-old Walt Disney animator, Lyndsay van Blanken, according to many newspaper accounts in Australia.
William Matheson, 22, was committed on April 27, 2005, in Sydney's Central Local Court over her death in November 2003. A trial date has yet to be set.
Accounts say he was the last person known to see van Blanken alive on Nov. 24, 2003, outside the Charing Cross Hotel in Waverley, in Sydney's east.
Former Comedy Central and MGM Interactive executive, Kenneth Locker has joined Cookie Jar Entertainment, the programming and licensing arm of Cookie Jar Group, in the newly created position of svp of Digital Media, Cookie Jar. Locker will be responsible for leveraging new and existing content for the company, across a variety of platforms, including the Internet, wireless, broadband and IPTV.
Vince Roberts has been promoted to the newly created position of evp, worldwide technology and operations, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group and Walt Disney Television International. He will be responsible for the global technical and operational strategic direction and ongoing management of all television and IT functions across the Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group, including Disney Channel, Toon Disney, SOAPnet, ABC Family and JETIX; and Walt Disney Television International, including, Disney-branded networks in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Japan and Canada.
THQ Inc. has released HELLO KITTY BUBBLEGUM GIRLFRIENDS for PC and Mac. Published by ValuSoft, a division of THQ, the videogame based on the SANRIO property is rated "E" for Everyone and is available at retailers in the U.S. for $19.99 SRP.
Romania-born cartoonist and illustrator André François, whose satirical style moves editorial cartooning away from traditional realism, died on April 11, 2005, at his home in Grisy-les-Plâtres, France, reports THE NEW YORK TIMES. He was 89. Cause of death was heart and kidney failure.
ADV Films released four new DVDs on April 26, 2005. Titles include DNANGEL: MAGICAL GIRLS, SHUTEN DOJI: BIRTH OF DEMONS, DIVERGENCE EVE: CORE MISSION and PETITE PRINCESS YUCIE: MAGICAL MISCHIEF.
DNANGEL: MAGICAL GIRLS is the fourth disk in a seven disk series. Adapted from the international best-selling manga series by Yukiru Sugisaki, DNANGEL is a funny romantic adventure with a fantastic premise. High school hottie Risa has two suitors: shy Daisuke and his dashing alter-ego, the magical thief Dark.
SCI FI Channel will start production on the two-hour pilot movie EUREKA on British Columbia's Vancouver Island. Starring Colin Ferguson (ARMISTEAD MAUPIN'S MORE TALES OF THE CITY), Salli Richardson-Wittfield (ANTWONE FISHER), Greg Germann (ALLY MCBEAL, FRIENDS WITH MONEY), Joe Morton (PAYCHECK), Debrah Farentino (THE DIVISION) and Jordan Hinson (GO FIGURE), EUREKA will be helmed by Peter O'Fallon (HOUSE, M.D., WONDERFALLS).
Earthworks Ent. has been selected to serve as the merchandising and licensing representative for the celebrated infant and toddler franchise LITTLE SUZYS ZOO. Under the agreement, Earthworks Ent., through the companys recently inaugurated brand management division, will represent select product categories from the SUZYS ZOO branded world, including LITTLE SUZYS ZOO, WAGS and WHISKERS.
Universal Pictures is set to remake Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1963 horror film, THE BIRDS, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes is in talks with the studio to produce along with Peter Guber and his Mandalay Pictures. The new version will be based on the original short story by Daphne Du Maurier, which inspired the Hitchcock film. The story chronicles the events that transpire in a small Pacific Coast town after the birds begin attacking in mass for no reason.
