USA Network has ordered 13 one-hour episodes of the Emmy-nominated series THE 4400. The series will return to USA Network in summer 2007 with production scheduled to begin in Vancouver in early 2007. THE 4400 is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in Association with Sky Television, Renegade 83 and American Zoetrope for USA Network.
Twin brothers Michael and Mark Polish (TWIN FALLS IDAHO, NORTHFORK) have sold two projects to Warner Bros. Pictures, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The first film will be LOOT, a heist movie set in Middle America that follows a group of blue-collar workers who pull off jobs during tornado season. They will follow that film up with HOW TIME FLIES, a cause-and-effect look at a world where time travel becomes accessible to the common man.
Michael will direct the films, while both he and Mark will write and produce. Mark also plans to act in LOOT.
Rogue Pictures has bought the feature rights to Chris Kirby's comicbook series LOST SQUAD, VARIETY reports. Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter have been attached to produce.
Illustrated by Alan Robinson, the comic tells the tale of a ragtag unit of Allied soldiers who fight Hitler's occult agents and other supernatural threats during WWII.
Devil's Due Publishing has published five issues since its debut last fall. Devil's Due publisher Josh Blaylock will co-produce the film project.
Relaxing in the stylish and comfortable client lounge at Pacific Soundwaves new post sound facility, it is evident how this veteran company has been able to cultivate its cool in a furiously hot industry. Their innovative 12,000 sq. ft studio embodies the critical ingredients needed to avoid the pitfalls of large-scale expansion; talented and experienced mixers, bleeding edge technology and unrivaled carte blanch client service.
Digital 04 studios presents, ADAPT 2006, a conference promoting the advancement of digital art. Seminars and demonstrations will create an educational environment for participants wishing to learn and be inspired from those who have worked on the biggest films and videogames of our time. For two days, on Sept. 23-24, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal the digital world will come together under one roof.
Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) 2007 Nashville, Tennessee, USAApril 19-26, 2007 Deadline: Nov. 15, 2006
San Diego Latino Film Festival 2007San Diego, California, USAMarch 8 - 18, 2007Deadline: Nov. 1, 2006
Animation talent agency Gotham Group its stretching its wings in the production vein, signing deals with Lionsgate and IDT Ent. to co-finance 19 direct-to-DVD toons over the next three years for roughly $50 million, it was reported by DAILY VARIETY.
Gotham and its prez/founder, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, will produce 10 features for Lionsgate and nine for IDT under the deal. Gotham will pony up half the budget for each DVD, about $3 million, from a fund it has raised from Korean firm Sovic Venture Capital.
Viacom Inc. announced Aug. 21, 2006, that MTV and Nickelodeon will become full labels under the Paramount Motion Picture Group (PMPG) as part of a new structure designed to deepen their already successful track record with their core target audiences. The two former production companies, which had operated as on-lot producers, will now join several other labels under PMPG's umbrella, including Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Vantage and Paramount Classics.
Nickelodeon presents a fun blend of Japanese and European animation design to viewers this August with new series, SHURIKEN SCHOOL, a quirky comedy with a martial arts twist about a boys adventures at Ninja school. SHURIKEN SCHOOL, which debuted on Nick Aug. 20, 2006, at 11:30 a.m. with new episodes following each week in the series regular timeslot, Sundays at 11:30 am. The original animated comedy series was created by Emilio and Jesús Gallego and co-produced by Xilam Animation in France and Zinkia Ent. in Spain.
KAPPA MIKEY, the breakout Nicktoons Network hit anime/comedy series about a struggling American actor-turned-Japanese anime star, migrated to Nickelodeon as of Aug. 20, 2006, at 11:00 am, leading into the net's new series, SHURIKEN SCHOOL at 11:30 am.
The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future are back, Looney Tunes style, when Warner Home Video (WHV) releases BAH, HUMDUCK! A LOONEY TUNES CHRISTMAS on Nov. 14 on DVD for $19.98.
Autodesk Media & Ent.s new community portal, Area (www.the-area.com), is now live. The site is intended to be a centralized repository of content created using Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max animation, modeling and rendering software; Autodesk MotionBuilder character animation software; or Autodesk VIZ 3D modeling, rendering and presentation software. To foster collaboration and networking within the industry, content on the Area is intended to be generated by the community, and supported by Autodesk.
Disneys PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST, the years biggest smash hit and number six all-time and climbing with $923.3M, will hit DVD shelves on Dec. 5 (Buena Vista Home Ent.) in single disc ($19.95) and double-disc collectors editions ($24.95), reports THE MAN ROOM.
After a disappointing summer theatrical run, Wolfgang Petersens POSEIDON remake comes to DVD on Aug. 22, 2006 (Warner Home Video, $34.98). Despite being trimmed, there is no extra footage or directors cut in this two-disc special edition. And, unfortunately, there is nothing about the innovative fluid simulation advances.
Arnold & Richter Cinetechnik GmbH (ARRI) has selected Iridas FrameCycler DI for the film scanning department at its Digital Film facility in Munich. ARRI will use the advanced application for review of uncompressed frames for quality testing of scanned material and applying initial tech-grade color correction.
GenArts Inc. announced the immediate availability of Sapphire Plug-ins version 1.08 for After Effects and compatible products. The new version features enhancements for both Mac and Windows platforms. Version 1.08 for Mac adds Universal Binary support for FCP 5.1 and all After Effects compatible host products. The new release will also run under Rosetta and on Power PC Macs for use with applications such as Adobe After Effects that have not yet been compiled specifically for Intel-based Macs.
BCI is set to release Filmations animated adventure series BLACKSTAR as well as 70s sci-fi animation series SPACE SENTINELS and THE FREEDOM FORCE on DVD.
Originally aired in 1981, BLACKSTAR follows the tale of an astronaut sucked through a black hole, who finds himself stranded on a faraway planet, facing enchantment and danger. This two-disc, 13-episode set, from BCI's Ink & Paint brand, and media company and underlying rights owner, Entertainment Rights Plc will be available on Aug. 22, 2006, for $19.98.
Diane Nelson has been named president, Warner Premiere, the brand new direct-to-DVD production arm of Warner Bros. Ent. Nelson will report to both Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Ent. Group and Jeff Robinov, president, production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Under pressure from regulators and the U.K. anti-smoking lobby, Turner Broadcasting will edit out scenes of cartoon characters smoking in U.K. versions of classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, including THE FLINTSTONES, TOM AND JERRY and SCOOBY-DOO, according to various news outlets.
In all, more than 1,700 episodes will be re-edited after the Office of Communications (Ofcom) received a complaint about two TOM AND JERRY toons "Texas Tom" and "Tennis Chumps" which aired on Turner-owned Boomerang.
For their next foray into features, SOUTH PARK creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have high school comedy and rubber suit monster movie in the works at Paramount, reports the trades.
The demented duo, who have re-named their Paramount-based company Important Pictures, will first make the Jeff Roda-scripted high school laughter MY ALL-AMERICAN. They will follow that film up with GIANT MONSTERS ATTACK JAPAN!, a film written by J.F. Lawton (UNDER SIEGE) that will combine live-action with the "rubber suit" monsters like GODZILLA.
5th Annual Visual Effects Society (VES) AwardsHollywood, California, USAFeb. 11, 2007Deadline: Dec. 2, 2006
The Visual Effects Society (VES) presents the 2007 VES Awards, a celebration of the best in visual effects. The 5th annual event will be held at the Kodak Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland. Dennis Muren will received the VES Award for Lifetime Achievement this year.
Independent Exposure 2007Various Locations Dec. 15, 2006Deadline: Dec. 15, 2006
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, members keep explaining why drawing is so important. Others are talking about A SCANNER DARKLY and V FOR VENDETTA. Debate continues to rage on whether Walt Disney was a scumbag or not. Another member is looking for the best schools in India. Others continue to post their work for members to critique. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!
