AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for November 21, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, members want other members to post pictures of themselves.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
AWN Headline News
Goblet of Fire Lights Up Box Office
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE had the best opening yet for the popular franchise, raking in $102.3M for the weekend ended Nov. 20, 2005. In fact, the Warner Bros. wizard fantasy is second only to REVENGE OF THE SITHS $108.4M for openers this year. The first POTTER directed by Mike Newell and the first to don a PG-13 rating, THE GOBLET OF FIRE also boasts more impressive vfx from Double Negative, Framestore CFC, MPC, ILM, Cinesite, Animal Logic, The Orphanage, BUF and Rising Sun.
Polhemus Launches PATRIOT Class B
Polhemus has released the PATRIOT, a 6 Degree-of-Freedom (6DOF) tracking product, which been verified to meet the requirements of Class B digital device standards.
The PATRIOT is now available in both Class A and Class B emissions standards. The new Class B version of the PATRIOT meets the more stringent emissions requirements specified by the FCC and CE standards. The Class B PATRIOT also has a new look and is easily identified by the white plastic chassis. PATRIOT B can now be used in more rigorous residential and industrial laboratory environments.
Estonia Makes Strong Effort for Golden Elephant
At this years International Childrens Film Festival in Hyderabad, the tiny eastern European country of Estonia is showing a big presence, reports the BUSINESS STANDARD. In 2003 at the 13th Childrens Film Festival, the Estonian short CONCERT FOR A CARROT PIE won the Silver Elephant in the best animation short film category.
3D Buzz Offers Video Training for Half-Life 2 Level Design
3D Buzz has released a new Video Training Module (VTM) series entitled HALF-LIFE 2 LEVEL DESIGN. This VTM will introduce students to Hammer, the powerful level editing tool within HALF-LIFE 2'S SDK. Lessons include full covering of Hammer's UI, creation and editing of geometry, creation and placement of entities, including props, weapons, lights, NPCs and more. Students will also see the entire process of creating a basic level, so that they can follow along and see how to start generating your own environments. The VTM is free and ready for download at www.3dbuzz.com.
Classic Media Sings with Frosty, Swings with Kong
Classic Media is set to release a new animated Frosty the Snowman feature as well as the first two volumes of KING KONG: THE ANIMATED SERIES.
THE LEGEND OF FROSTY THE SNOWMAN DVD ($21.98) is an all-new animated comedy adventure based on the original 1969 television classic. Burt Reynolds narrates the movie and sings the popular title song. In addition, Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, also stars.
Animated Personalities Invade 79th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has announced the new additions to this years event. For the 79th annual Macy's Parade, four new character balloons and a specially created work of flying art take to the sky on Thanksgiving Day. The new balloons include Nickelodeon's DORA THE EXPLORER, United States Potato Board's Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD, Disney Channel's JOJO'S CIRCUS and Warner Bros.' SCOOBY-DOO, as well as, a new novelty sized balloon designed by world-renowned artist Tom Otterness, Macy's Parade Humpty Dumpty.
Bill Plympton Music Video on MTV
A new music video, with animation by Bill Plympton, will be premiering on MTV on Monday, Nov. 21, 2005. The video is for a song called "Heard 'Em Say" by Kanye West, and should air during TRL on MTV on Monday afternoon. Plymptons third music video, and perhaps the most high profile one he's worked on, depicts Kanye as a mythical urban cabdriver.
Time to Enter Zagreb 2006
Zagreb 2006Zagreb, CroatiaJune 12-17, 2006Deadline: February 15, 2006
Zagreb: 18th World Festival of Animated Films is an ASIFA sanctioned competitive festival. The festival was formed in 1969 to encouraging creativity, which eschews pre-set patterns and ideas/notions/conceptions, and finds new ways of exploring the possibilities of film animation. Awards with cash prizes will be given as follows: grand prize, best first production, best student film, plus five special prizes and three special distinctions.
Cisco Systems Acquiring Scientific-Atlanta
Cisco Systems Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Scientific-Atlanta Inc. Scientific-Atlanta is a leading global provider of set-top boxes, end-to-end video distribution networks and video system integration. The combined entity creates a world-class universal digital communicator for watching video, making phone calls and shopping online.
Trey Parker And Matt Stone to Open Trunity in Paramount Pictures 3-Year Deal
Paramount Pictures has entered into a three-year first look deal with SOUTH PARK creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, setting them up as ceos of their new company Trunity. Trunity, a Mediar company, a division of True Mediar, a Unity Corpbopoly, will be based on the Paramount lot.
Perfect Hair Forever Debuts Nov. 20 on Adult Swim
PERFECT HAIR FOREVER, a comedic anime series with Adult Swim sensibilities, will premiere on Nov. 20, 2005, at 12:45 am and, beginning Nov. 27, the series will air at 12:30 am Cartoon Network.
An all-news original series, created at Williams St., Adult Swims production facilities,
DIC Sells Slate of Animated TV Properties Around the Globe
DIC Ent. (DIC) reports a raft of deals with an extensive roster of key international broadcasters and pay TV channels concluded from the close of MIPCOM 2005 for animated programming, led by TROLLZ, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, SABRINA: THE ANIMATED SERIES, TOTALLY SONIC and more.
In Television, Television | Headline News | Special Events: MIPCOM | Geographic Region: All, Australia, Europe, North America
Morph Desires Your Stop-Motion Animation
Morph 2005World Wide Web November 30, 2005Deadline: November 30, 2005
Stopmotionfilm.de hosts the fourth Morph to highlight the best in short stop-motion films. The length should be two minutes and it doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a professional. There are two main topics: best stop-motion quickie and best stop-motion character. The best character of the second category will be assessed by a jury and those of the first category by the audience. For more information, visit www.stopmotionfilm.de.
IAC Wants Your Web Ads
2005 Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) AwardsWorld Wide WebMarch 2006 Deadline: January 31, 2006
The Web Marketing Association announces the launch of its fourth annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. The IAC Awards is the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. The competition website is located at www.iacaward.org and the deadline for entry is Jan. 31, 2006.
Arizona State Short Film Fest Calls for Entries
10th Annual Arizona State University Art Museum Short Film and Video FestivalTempe, Arizona, USAApril 15, 2006Deadline: February 10, 2006
Sponsored by the Arizona State University Art Museum, the Arizona State University Art Museum Short Film and Video Festival highlights the best in short subjects. The event is free to enter and no paper work is needed. The screening of the films will take place at the museum with the exact date announced later in the year. For more information visit asuartmuseum.asu.edu/filmfest/.
Cascade SIGGRAPH Brings Electronic Theater to Portland
Cascade ACM SIGGRAPH, Oregon and Southwest Washingtons local SIGGRAPH chapter announced a showing of the Electronic Theater 2005, a film and video extravaganza, showcasing dazzling and innovative imagery, on Dec. 5, at 6:30 pm at the Hollywood Theater, located at 4122 NE Sandy Blvd., in the Hollywood District of Portland.
The Orphange Exclusive VFX Provider of Korea’s The Host
The Orphanage has been awarded THE HOST, South Koreas most expensive and ambitious film to date for Chungeorahm Films. The VFX creature film will be directed by internationally acclaimed director Joon-ho Bong and star two of Koreas top marquee names Song Kang-ho and Park Hae-il. As the exclusive vfx house on the over 100-shot project, The Orphanage team led by veteran vfx supervisor Kevin Rafferty, exec producer Marc Sadeghi, CG supervisor Shadi Almassizadeh and vfx producer Arin Finger will be working hand in hand with the production on location in Seoul.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia
Meet the Robinsons to Go Disney Digital 3-D
After the successful launch of CHICKEN LITTLE in Disney Digital 3-D, which had an opening gross of approximately $2.1 million in 79 specialty theaters, Walt Disney Pictures will do it again with its next 3D-animated feature, MEET THE ROBINSONS, opening December 2006. To date, CHICKEN LITTLE has garnered more than $83 million at the domestic box office
Escape Studios to Launch First Houdini Class in November
Escape Studios and Side Effects Software will partner to provide training in the U.K. animation and visual effects market for the Houdini line of products. Houdini has long been recognized as a key contributor to feature film production pipelines and is a popular choice for technical directors working on high-end visual effects (CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, ANT BULLY, STEALTH, the SPIDER-MAN franchise, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy).
Comet Ent. & BBI Computers Telecom Join Forces
Tonronto-based companies Comet Ent. Inc. & BBI Computers Telecommunications have signed a joint venture for the development of several business opportunities including:
* Distribution of Olympic licensed products for the upcoming Olympic games.* Distribution and promotion of sports events merchandise.* Promotion of Olympic athletes.* Promotion of Greek participation in AMERICAS CUP.* Marketing campaign for the promotion of the Greek Film industry.* Creation and development of the animation industry in Greece.
Eric Kops New Paramount Pictures SVP Worldwide Publicity
Eric Kops has been named svp, national publicity, Paramount Pictures, to lead the department in strategizing and executing national campaigns for the companys diverse slate of upcoming releases, including GET RICH OR DIE TRYING, AEON FLUX and YOURS MINE AND OURS. He will be based at the companys worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles.
Kops joins the Paramount team from MGM, where he led the campaigns on such commercial and critical hits as the James Bond installment DIE ANOTHER DAY, the LEGALLY BLONDE and BARBERSHOP series, HOTEL RWANDA, GHOST WORLD AND SAVED.
Toon Boom Releases Opus II & Harmony Service Packs
Toon Boom Animation has released Opus II Service Pack 1 and Harmony Service Pack 1. As Harmony incorporates all Opus capabilities, all added features and enhancements apply to both products. Service pack highights include:
* Support of news scanners, namely Fujitsu fi-5750c and Epson GT 15000
* New shortcuts, optimized memory management and workflow enhancements in the Scanning module
* Optimization of templates management
* Batch rendering improvements
* Several other bug fixes
Walden & New Line Journey in 3-D
Walden Media and New Line are teaming to co-finance JOURNEY 3-D, a modern spin on the Jules Verne classic JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. Academy Award-winning effects man Eric Brevig will make his directing debut on the film, which will be based on a screenplay by D.V. DeVincentis (HIGH FIDELITY). Visual effects vet Charlotte Huggins will produce the project, which is set to start production in April.
Punisher Actor Role-Plays for Mutant Chronicles
Pressman & Co. Films has hired THE PUNISHER actor Thomas Jane to star in its sci-fi/action film, THE MUTANT CHRONICLES, which is based on the role-playing board game of the same name, according to VARIETY. Producer Ed Pressman has had his project in development for nearly 10 years. At AFM, he signed a deal with Voltage Pictures for them to serves as the foreign sales representative for the film.
