AWN Headline News
SF Shorts Wants Your Films
SF Shorts: The San Francisco International Festival Of Shorts 2006San Francisco, California, USAAugust 10 12, 2006Deadline: June 31, 2006
Sony Reorganizes Home Entertainment Division
Sony Pictures Home Ent. (SPHE) has reorganized to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital era.
Digital Musings From the Editor:
T-RIFF Looking for Films
Tahoe Reno International Film Festival (T-RIFF) 2006Lake Tahoe & Reno, Nevada, USAAugust 23 27, 2006Deadline: May 31, 2006
Imagineer Releases monet v2, mokey v4
Imagineer Systems announced the immediate availability of monet v2 and mokey v4. monet is a unique tracking and compositing toolset for commercial, film and corporate video post-production work such as virtual product placement and visual effects work. mokey offers an essential toolset for removing wires, rigs, logos, scratches and other undesired elements in commercial, film and corporate video post-production work. Both products will be on display in Las Vegas at NAB 2006 (booth #SL5564).
Ubisoft to Offer Interactive Open Season Videogame
Ubisoft announced that the OPEN SEASON videogame, based on Sony Pictures Animation's first feature-length 3D-animated movie (opening Sept. 29), will ship mid-September on all available videogame platforms. Developed by Ubisoft's award-winning Montreal studio, OPEN SEASON will allow gamers to relive the humor and adventure of the movie by creating a fun and immersive interactive world that conveys the same comedic storyline, zany characters and artistic images projected in the animated film.
Boris Blue 1.0 Released
Boris FX has released Boris Blue version 1.0. Boris Blue is a 3D compositing and motion graphics application based on the award-winning Boris technology.
Corus Ent. Multiplatform Projects Bolstered By Bell Fund
Corus Ent. Inc. has received four production grants from the Feb. 1, 2006 round of applications to the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund.
Nominees For 1st Internet, Cellphone & iPod Emmy Announced
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominees for the first Emmy Award to be presented for original entertainment programming created specifically for non-traditional viewing platforms, including computers, mobile phones, iPods, PDAs and similar devices. The new Emmy Award will first be presented at the 33rd Annual Creative Arts Daytime Emmy Awards, hosted by Meredith Vieira, on April 22, 2006, at New York Citys Marriott Marquis.
Massive CEO Claims Gaming Ads To Reach Nearly $2B by 2010
During the keynote address delivered at the 2nd annual Advertising in Games conference in New York, Massive Inc. ceo Mitch Davis predicted that ad spending on in-game advertising will reach between a $1.6 and $1.8 billion in the U.S. by 2010, accounting for roughly 3% of total media spending, reports MEDIAWEEK. In comparison to previous estimates, Davis' claim is far larger than forecasts issued by both JupiterResearch and The Yankee Group last year.
Society of Motion Picture Character Designers Launched
Cinerouge, The Honorary Society of Motion Picture Character Designers, has launched. Each year the organization will give an award a deserving living and deceased artist based on their career body of work.
The first award will be given to Ray Harryhausen after a special screening of THE SCI FI BOYS at Universal Studios Hitchcock Theater on April 30, 2006, at 7:00 pm. An invitation is necessary for entrance.
Very Hungry Caterpillar Stories Coming on DVD
The Illuminated Film Co. is teaming up with Ventura International to release THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR AND OTHER STORIES for the first time in the U.K. on DVD. The films are based on the bestselling books by writer/illustrator Eric Carle (published by Hamish Hamilton/Penguin, with worldwide sales exceeding 10 million copies).
Fox to Release IDT Ent. & Vanguard’s Space Chimps
Vanguard Animation and IDT Ent. have announced the launch of production of their CG-animated feature film, SPACE CHIMPS, which will be distributed domestically through IDT Ent.s multi-picture deal with Twentieth Century Fox. The comedy follows the galactic misadventures of a hapless descendant of the first chimps in space.
Tentacle Sex Coming to Live-Action Via Wicked Manga Adaptation
Germany's Stallion Film will adapt notorious Japanese manga WICKED CITY into a live-action English-language film, according to VARIETY. SPAWN director Mark Dippe will helm, co-write and co-produce. Hideyuki Kikuchis bestselling manga was adapted into a cult anime film, which introduced demon tentacle sex into the lexicon.
Johnny Hartmann will also co-adapt the story, which tells the tale of demon beasts from a parallel dimension and the secret resistance that fights to prevent the apocalypse.
Jetix Europe Acquires Multi-Territory Pay TV Rights To Planet Sketch
Jetix Europe announced the Pay TV rights acquisition of Aardman Animation and DECODE Ent.s co-production PLANET SKETCH. The CGI animated comedy sketch show will air on Jetix Europe Channels in Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe (including Poland, Turkey and Greece), Middle East, Israel and Netherlands.
Ad Students Wanted for Future Lions Global Student Competition
Future Lions Global Student CompetitionCannes, FranceJune 20, 2006Deadline: May 21, 2006
In collaboration with the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival, AKQA has organized the first ever "Future Lions Competition" for advertising students around the world. The global student competition is now open and accepting entries. The goal of the competition is to showcase forward-thinking ideas and concepts created by the next generation of global advertising superstars.
Sacramento Fest Celebrates Music & Film
The Sacramento International Film & Music Festival 2006Sacramento, California, USAAugust 2-6, 2006Deadline: May 26, 2006
The Sacramento International Film And Music Festival brings the world of independent cinema to the California capital. Screenings will be both competition and non-competition, with special categories for music videos, social impact documentaries and student films. Go to www.sacfilm.com for more information.
Chicago International Children's Film Fest Now Open For Entries
Chicago International Children's Film Festival 2006Chicago, Illinois, USAOctober 19-29, 2006Deadline: May 30, 2006
Now in its 23rd year, The Chicago International Children's Film Festival is the largest and longest running festival of films for children in the U.S. Last year the festival screened 220 films and videos from 40 countries for audiences of 24,000 children and families. It is the only Academy Award qualifying childrens festival in the world.
Diego, Dora & Friends' Animal Jamboree CD Hits Stores
Dora and Diego joins forces on their new CD DIEGO, DORA & FRIENDS' ANIMAL JAMBOREE, featuring kids' favorite animal songs. The 10 song-album, hitting stores April 11, 2006, is the latest release from Nick Records in partnership with the SONY BMG Strategic Marketing Group.
Iridas Joins the Pipeline at Cinesite
Iridas announced that Cinesite in London has purchased site licenses of FrameCycler Professional and SequencePublisher, as well as two seats of the new high-end FrameCycler DI application. Together, these will provide Cinesite with new review and file conversion capabilities, speeding up the facility's workflow and increasing efficiency.
Fusion is the Tool of Envy
Envy Post in London has made Fusion 5 from eyeon Software its principal compositing system.
Fusion is a perfect fit in every suite and were very excited to begin working with it, said Dave Cadle, co-owner and managing director, Envy. eyeons pedigree of A-list productions and dedicated support staff effectively made this an easy decision.
Nikki Grass New Marketing Chief at Entertainment Rights
Nikki Grass joins Entertainment Rights (ER) as head of marketing at a time when ER is experiencing increasing demand for its content from the rapidly growing digital media sector.
Matthew McManus Joins R!OT
Matthew McManus has come aboard RIOT as exec producer for commercials and other short-form work. McManus will oversee sales, marketing and production for the studios Los Angeles and New York facilities as they continue to sharpen their focus on the upper end of the advertising market and visual effects-driven, project-based work.
Anthem to Serve IDT’s Masters of Horror Second Season
Anthem Visual Effects has once again been tapped to create visual effects for IDT Ent.s anthology series MASTERS OF HORROR, now in its second season.
This new season, a series of 13 original one-hour movies in HD produced by IDT in association with Industry Ent. and Nice Guy Prods., will feature a creative mixture of both former and new MASTERS directors and writers.