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!
Newspeak has started up in New York City as a young design boutique specializing in motion design, art direction and identity development. Founded by Erik Montovano, its creative director, he is joined at Newspeak by Andreea Prichea as exec producer. The companys initial projects are a major show package for mtvU MTVs 24-hour college network, and show packages for three Vh1Classic series.
Sid Ganis was re-elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by the organizations Board of Governors for his second consecutive term in the office.
In addition, Robert Rehme, an Executives Branch governor and past Academy president, was re-elected first vp; Music Branch governor Arthur Hamilton was re-elected to a vp post; Sound Branch governor Donald C. Rogers was elected to a vp post; Actors Branch governor Tom Hanks was elected treasurer and Actors Branch governor Kathy Bates was re-elected secretary.
Studio ArtFX has released ANIME GENESIS: HOW TO TURN YOUR ANIME DREAMS INTO REALITY, a new podcast series that will continue in the Studio ArtFX tradition of showing how it was done. ANIME GENESIS, or ANIGEN for short, can bring users up to date information on the state of independent animation and the tools that continue to allow artists to create studio quality work without millions of dollars or major studio backing.
Registration for Fall Term at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects (Sept. 25-Dec. 10) begins today, Aug. 21, 2006.
Meanwhile, Gnomon is offering four new classes for Fall Term: * Creature Development & Creation: Taught by Puddnhead, takes students through the entire process of designing creatures for film and videogames.* ZBrush Digital Sculpting and Anatomy: Taught by Scott Spencer, builds on the skills acquired in the 10-week ZBrush class, guiding students through using ZBrush to convey accurate anatomical form.
New Lines SNAKES ON A PLANE (with vfx by CafeFX and Hybride) proved less venomous in its box office opening than experts predicted, drawing only $13.8M for the weekend ended Aug. 20, 2006, with an overall take of $15.2M, thanks to a Thursday night preview. Coming in a very close second was Sonys TAKKADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, which hauled in $13.75 for a cume of $114.3M. Holding the third spot was Paramounts WORLD TRADE CENTER (with vfx from Double Negative and Animal Logic), which earned $10.9M for a cume of $45.1M.
The Mill London team has produced a new commercial for Infiniti. Directed by French directing team Pleix for Chiat Day/ TBWA through BlinkInk, the spots contain a very clever use of paint for dramatic effect. In the first spot, we see the Infiniti creating and parting huge waves as it drives through a sea of warm colored paint, and in the second spot a stormy sky of deep blues, purples and yellows crash above the cars below.
The Irish animation industry has had an excellent year and the most recent success has been the selection of the Irish animated feature film THE UGLY DUCKLING AND ME, for the Toronto International Film Festival, which takes place next month. It will screen as part of the Sprockets Family Zone, which is dedicated to featuring films that represent the best in contemporary international childrens cinema.
In 2001 when Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall created Video Games Live, no one knew whether audiences would be interested in a concert of videogame music or whether the videogame generation actually go to an orchestral concert. However, in July 2005, the critics were silenced when the first concert filled the famed Hollywood Bowl making it the biggest videogame concert in history.
In Singapore, schools are looking to animation for more creative ways to teach national education, reports ChannelNewsAsia.com.
A particular video using sand art, which was screened at the National Day Rally, is the result of four months of hard work. The skydiving sequence alone took 10 days to create.
Mui Rui Yi, student, CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent, said, "We actually have to rehearse it 80 times, and when we feel we are ready, we did the filming, and then we actually have to film about 60 times, then we took the best part of it."
E-Saan Software Park, a Thai software development agency in this northeastern province, and Singapore-based 3 View Group will jointly develop an animation and multi-media business to penetrate overseas markets, reports ETNA.MCOT.Net.
E-Saan Software Park director Panupong Wanjantuk said that the Animation and Multimedia Innovation Centre (AMIC) under the supervision of Khon Kaen University is coordinating with 3 View Group under a business plan to create job opportunities and generate income.
THE SIMPSONS and BEFORE THE DINOSAURS won the Animated Programming categories in the 58th Annual Emmy Awards race during the 2005-2006 Creative Arts Primetime Emmys presentation Aug. 19, 2006, for programs and individual achievements at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. THE TRIANGLE and ROME won in the Visual Effects categories.
CASINO ROYALEs new James Bond, Daniel Craig, has joined the cast of THE GOLDEN COMPASS, the first film in a planned New Line trilogy based on the Philip Pullman series HIS DARK MATERIALS, reports VARIETY. Chris Weitz wrote the script and will direct.
Craig will play Lord Asriel, a ruthless and mysterious adventurer who is the uncle of Lyra Belacqua, the young girl who journeys to a parallel universe to save her best friend.
Southbank Publishing has released a richly illustrated book a part-history, part-tribute, part-critical analysis of the Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Studio, Britains leading and most influential animation company between 1940-1995. It draws on the archives of the Halas & Batchelor Collection and looks at the key works of the studio, including ANIMAL FARM, Britains first full length animated feature; THE TALES OF HOFFNUNG, with the legendary Peter Sellers; AUTOBAHN, featuring the music of Kraftwerk; and BUTTERFLY BALL, with the work of Beatles illustrator, Alan Aldridge.
