As standard definition video is being replaced with high-definition, many production facilities must still utilize their existing content libraries. NewTek SpeedEDIT allows producers to mix multiple formats (avi, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, QuickTime) and multiple resolutions (SD 4:3, SD 16:9, HD 720p and 1080i) on the same timeline without transcoding or rendering.
4th Annual International Student Film Festival HollywoodNorth Hollywood, California, USANovember 1-5, 2006Deadline: August 31, 2006
The International Student Film Festival Hollywood offers student filmmakers from all over the world a unique opportunity to gain the recognition of film industry leaders, creating career development opportunities in their home countries as well as in the U.S. For more information, visit www.isffhollywood.org.
CBS, DIC and AOL present "KOLs Secret Slumber Party on CBS" set to premiere Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, on the CBS Television Network. The three-hour, E/I-compliant branded programming block exclusive to broadcast television is comprised of four animated series and two new live-action shows. The slate includes MADELINE, SABRINA: THE ANIMATED SERIES, TROLLZ, HORSELAND, CAKE and DANCE REVOLUTION! The programming block is targeted to children 6-12.
VFX powerhouse studio Digital Domain has received a $31 million investment from Falcon Investment Advisors and GunnAllen Financial.Rafael Fogel, a principal at Falcon, will join the Digital Domain board of directors, which is led by Digital Domain co-chairmen John Textor and director Michael Bay.
As a follow up to last year's blockbuster BATMAN BEGINS, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures' THE DARK KNIGHT, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. In addition to Christian Bale returning as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Warner Bros. has announced that Heath Ledger (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN) has been cast as The Joker. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan.
Sony Pictures Animation has announced that HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA will be the companys third animated project, following Sony Pictures Animation, OPEN SEASON, on Sept. 29, 2006, and SURFS UP!, on June 8, 2007. All three films will be released by Columbia Pictures.
At SIGGRAPH 2006, D2 Software Inc., a subsidiary of Digital Domain, Inc., is announcing strong momentum for its NUKE high-end compositing software with four visual effects companies in the U.S. and Canada purchasing the software in June and July. Mr. X, Image Engine, Furious FX and SpeedShape all selected NUKE to handle high-end compositing work for film, video and animated projects.
Mark Burnett Prods. and AOL are collaborating with DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Features to create the FLUSHED AWAY UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE, DreamWorks first online game with custom animation integration, based upon the animated feature, FLUSHED AWAY, which opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 3, 2006.
At SIGGRAPH, Mova, a San Francisco-based motion-capture studio, unveiled its new Contour Reality Capture System, which allows film and game makers to use digital cameras to capture and depict full-motion, photorealistic computer-generated characters and other imagery. Movas booth at SIGGRAPH is #1027.
"Mova Contour takes us from motion capture to reality capture," said Steve Perlman, founder/president of Mova.
Empire Pictures has signed an agreement with Transcience Corp. to develop an animated film and possible franchise from the infamous children's toy line, THE AMAZING LIVE SEA-MONKEYS, reports VARIETY. As part of the deal, Empire obtained entertainment rights to the line, which has been sold in more than 50 countries over the past 45 years.
Nicole Kidman has signed on to play the villainous and glamorous Mrs. Coulter in New Line's adaptation of Phillip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS: THE GOLDEN COMPASS, reports VARIETY. The $150-million budgeted film is scheduled to start lensing in September at London's Shepperton Studios.
Chris Weitz will direct from his own script. British actress Dakota Blue Richards will make her major screen debut in the lead role of Lyra Belacqua, who must travel to a parallel universe to save her best friend from the forces of evil.
Warner Bros. and Graham King's Initial Ent. Group have snatched the rights to Kit Whitfields werewolf novel BENIGHTED, according to VARIETY. King is set to produce with NARNIA helmer Andrew Adamson, whose eyeing the project as a directing job.
Originally published in the U.K. as BAREBACK, BENIGHTED is an alternate reality story where 90% of the population is werewolf and the other 10% must keep the peace during the full moon. Random House, which published in the U.K., is set to publish the book in the U.S. as well.
Only a few weeks after joining, Oscar-winner Hayao Miyazaki has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, VARIETY reports.
A spokesman for Studio Ghibli stated the reason the director resigned was his desire to "concentrate on his creative activities." Miyazaki is in pre-production on his next feature and does not want to be distracted by Academy duties.
Miyazaki received an Oscar for his film SPIRITED AWAY and was nominated this year for HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE.
Producer/director Sam Raimi and his producing partner Joshua Donen have optioned the film rights to Terry Goodkind's bestselling SWORD OF TRUTH adventure series to turn into a miniseries, published by Tor Books, the ComingSoon.net website reported.
Goodkind's novels have been international bestsellers, translated into 20 foreign languages, with more than 10 million copies in print. The SWORD OF TRUTH series began in 1994 with WIZARD'S FIRST RULE. The 10th novel in the series, PHANTOM, is on sale now. The 11th and final volume is under contract to be published in 2008.
Disneys original animated comedy series THE REPLACEMENTS, will air Sept. 8, 2006, at 9:00 pm on the Disney Channel. The show, about orphaned tween siblings who can replace any adult in their life with the help of a mysterious agency, will move to its regular timeslot beginning Sept. 8 at 8:00 pm.
Universal's MIAMI VICE (vfx by EntityFX, Illusion Arts and Eden FX) made off with a cool $25.7M to take top spot at the box office for its debut, bumping Disneys PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST (with vfx support from ILM) to second place, taking in $20.6 M for a treasure chest total now of $358.5M. Following in third was Fox's JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE) opening with $14.3M. Dropping slightly to forth place was all-CG MONSTER HOUSE scare fest from Sony and Sony Pictures Imageworks, taking in $11.6M for a two-week cume of $44M. All this competition pushed Warner Bros.
Vivendi Games' Sierra Ent. has released MIAMI VICE THE GAME to U.S. retail stores. Set in present-day Miami, the third-person action shooter is inspired by the Universal Pictures crime drama, MIAMI VICE, in theaters July 28, 2006. Players will go deep undercover as narcotic officers Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs in the notorious world of MIAMI VICE.
Developed by U.K.-based Rebellion, MIAMI VICE THE GAME is available exclusively for PSP. The development of the game comes through an agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group.
Autodesk Inc. has launched Autodesk Maya 8 and 3ds Max 9. Both Maya 8 and 3ds Max 9 will be showcased at the Autodesk booth #1706 at SIGGRAPH 2006, August 13, 2006, at the Boston Convention Center.
The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now online for download this month covering recruiting and jobs. Jan Nagel gets to the root of why and how people transform mundane jobs into fulfilling careers and make transitions in response to changes in the animation industry. Pamela Kleibrink Thompson provides the ins and outs of cutting a killer demo reel, which will help you open door to employment. Marisa Materna looks into the progress of AnimationMentor.com bringing animation education into the comfort of our homes via the Internet.
Each month, ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE focuses its attention on a particular theme.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
This week in AWN's Forums, a member posts his big Flash bummer. Another member is looking for information on masters degrees. There are multiple threads asking software and hardware questions from 3D scanners to Flash. Theres a post discussing Disneys latest short, LITTLE MATCH GIRL. The worlds funniest cartoon quotes are being collected in one thread. Theres a member that needs help on walk cycles.
Walt Disney Pictures has announced that Patton Oswalt, Brian Dennehy, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Ian Holm and John Ratzenberger will voice Disney/Pixar's animated-adventure RATATOUILLE, opening June 29, 2007.
Brad Pitt has agreed to star in the long-in-development Paramount/Warner Bros. production, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, reports VARIETY. The film will reunite Pitt with FIGHT CLUB director David Fincher and BABEL co-star Cate Blanchett. The project has been developed for more than a decade in several different incarnations.
Bandai Ent.s series EUREKA 7, a co-production with mega animation house Studio BONES, won two SPJA Awards at the 2006 Anime Expo, held annually in the U.S. The series won for Best TV Series and Best Female Character (Eureka) for the USA release. EUREKA 7 airs on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim block, is on DVD by Bandai Ent. and is available for streaming and download at Bandai Ent.ts Animevillage.com.
