Digital Musings From the Editor:
VFXWORLD turns its attention this month to the global market perfect timing with yesterdays surprise announcement that Autodesk had just acquired Alias.
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AWN Headline News
Madagascar Penguins Get Supporting Role in Wallace and Gromit Release
Movie audiences are in for a double treat as DreamWorks bundles up an animated short featuring the adorable penguins from MADAGASCAR to play with the new movie, WALLACE AND GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT, opening in theaters today (Oct. 5, 2005) in the U.S. The penguins star in DreamWorks Animations, A CHRISTMAS CAPER, directed by Gary Trousdale.
Jules Borkent Upped to VP, Programming, Nickelodeon Int’l
Jules Borkent has been promoted to vp, programming, Nickelodeon International, responsible for coordinating Nickelodeon's global programming and acquisitions strategy, with a particular emphasis on working with our local programming heads to coordinate and develop pan-regional deals for Nickelodeon's 13 localized channels across Europe.
VIZ Brings Global Issues to Manga with World Bank
VIZ Media Llc. has announced a partnership with the World Bank to present 1 WORLD MANGA, an original new series that will use the universal appeal of the graphic novel to address key global issues, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and the environment. As part of its depositary library program, the World Bank will donate copies of the manga to 300 libraries around the world. VIZ Medias proceeds from the sales of 1 WORLD MANGA will go to several noteworthy charities.
Emmerich Travels to 10,000 B.C.
Columbia Pictures has tapped INDEPENDENCE DAY director Roland Emmerich to direct 10,000 B.C., a prehistoric epic that depicts tribal life at the dawn of modern man, according to the trades. This film is the first under Emmerich's production deal with Columbia, which he signed in April.
John Orloff (HBO's BAND OF BROTHERS) is writing a new draft of the script, which is based on an idea that Emmerich forged a decade ago. Emmerich and Harald Kloser wrote the original screenplay.
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Tony Scott Won’t Do Deja Vu
Director Tony Scott has left Touchstone Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer thriller DÉJÀ VU, reports VARIETY. Scotts spokesman states that the move is due to logistical and scheduling problems that were created by Hurricane Katrinas destruction of New Orleans, the films key location. Filming was set to begin today (Oct. 5, 2005).
Sundance Channel Premieres Animated I Am NOT an ANIMAL Oct. 5
Sundance Channel will premiere the audacious animated satirical series, I AM NOT AN ANIMAL, on Oct. 5, 2005, at 11:00 pm. Episodes premiere in October Wednesday nights at 11:00 pm, with encore presentations Thursdays at 6:00 pm, Fridays at 11:00 pm, Saturdays at 8:30 pm and Tuesdays at 8:30 pm.
Digital photomontage animation gives the series a colorfully surreal look that suits a story about furry creatures who do Pilates, use shoe trees and subscribe to cell phone horoscope services.
Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks Debut Moved to November
THE BOONDOCKS, the new Adult Swim original series based on Aaron McGruders award-winning and politically charged comic strip of the same name, was moved from an early October debut to now premiere on Nov. 6, 2005, at 11:00 pm on Adult Swim, Cartoon Networks late-night sister network showcasing animation for adults.
Performer/Voice Over Actor Hamilton Camp Exits
Performer, singer, songwriter and Smurf voice over actor Hamilton Camp (aka Bob Camp and Hamid Hamilton Camp) died on Oct. 2, 2005, after a fall outside his Hancock Park home in Los Angeles, at the age of 70. The cause of death is still being determined, said his son, Hamilton Camp Jr.
Slamdance Guerilla Gamemaker Competition Creates Scholarship
The Slamdance Guerilla Gamemaker Competition and the DigiPen Institute of Technology have announced the establishment of a scholarship to DigiPen Institute of Technology. Every member of the winning student design team for the Physics award will receive a $15,000 scholarship to DigiPen Institute of Technology, subject to admission to the program. Winners choosing not to attend DigiPen, or unable to qualify for admission, will receive cash and prizes valued at $5,000. The Physics Award judges engine, tool and A.I. programming, implementation and game play.
Vanguard Lands Gnomes!
Vanguard Films has announced that they have acquired the feature comedy GNOMES!, written by Micah Herman and Kyle Newman. The high concept plot centers on a boy who discovers that the garden gnomes in his backyard are actually alive. When the boy starts to suspect that his mom's new suitor is a gnome-eating troll, the boy enlists the gnomes' help and all sorts of trouble ensues. Herman and Newman are slated to direct the project.
Digital-Tutors Announces First Training for Maya 7 DVD
Digital-Tutors announced the availability of INTRODUCTION TO MAYA: 2ND EDITION and INTRODUCTION TO PAINT EFFECTS training kits.
Nickelodeon Debuts Second Breakfast PSA Series
Nickelodeon unveils the second of its PSA on-air series, which focuses on the importance of breakfast. The spot, entitled "It's Breakfast Time," animated by Klasky Csupo's commercial division ka-chew!, is based on research findings that Nickelodeon released this summer, and features animated utensils rhyming and singing about breakfast foods as needed sources of energy for the start of the day. To view the spot, visit www.cbiapprove.com/ (password: breakfast).
Taffy Ent. Adopts Second Season of Pet Alien
Mike Young Prods. begins production on a second season of its groundbreaking 3D, CGI animated character comedy, PET ALIEN. Taffy Ent. has ordered 26 new half-hour episodes (52x11) of the series aimed at kids 6-11 to feed the demand for new episodes now playing in more than 160 countries worldwide.
Peter Jackson to Exec Produce Halo Feature
Bungie, creator of the HALO game, has announced that Peter Jackson and his partner Fran Walsh have joined the film adaptation of the game as exec producers. In addition, WETA will be fabricating Covenant weapons, building life-sized Forerunner structures and handling live-action/CG integration for the project. Universals Mary Parent and Scott Stuber are producing.
Drawn Together: Season One Uncensored! DVD Hits Stores
Comedy Central Home Ent. and Paramount Home Ent.s DRAWN TOGETHER: SEASON ONE UNCENSORED! DVD arrives in stores in the U.S. Oct. 4, 2005, and will also be available at http://shop.comedycentral.com. DRAWN TOGETHER, TVs first animated reality show, features eight cartoon characters, picked to live together in a house to find out what happens when people stop being real and start getting animated.
Autodesk to Acquire Alias
Autodesk Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Alias for $182 million in cash. This acquisition will grow Autodesk's expertise and offerings for the design of consumer products and automotive, as well as in the media and entertainment markets. The merger brings the chief 3D software applications 3ds Max and Maya under one roof. Autodesk anticipates that the transaction will close within the next four to six months.
Latest Animation World Magazine Acrobat Ready for Download!
The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now available to download.
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AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for October 3, 2005
This week in AWN's Forums, a member has a question about freelance stop-motion animation.
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One Month Left to Enter British Animation Awards
The British Animation Awards (BAA) 2005London, U.K.March 9, 2006Deadline: October 31, 2005
The British Animation Awards (BAA) covers all aspects of the U.K. animation scene, from student work to commercials, childrens entertainment, short and experimental films to music videos, new technologies, scriptwriting and craftsmanship.
Zoom Girl Seeking Lesbian Shorts
Zoom Girl Media Lesbian Shorts Competition World Wide WebFebruary 1, 2006Deadline: November 30, 2005
Zoom Girl Media is accepting entries for its first competition to name outstanding lesbian-themed comedy short films. Filmmakers are invited to submit original comedies, 10 minutes or under in length, dealing with lesbian themes and related cultural and social issues. Films will be judged on originality of subject matter, production values, technical excellence and overall merit.
Creative Screenwriting Opens Latest AAA Script Contest
AAA Screenplay Contest WinterWorld Wide WebJanuary 1, 2006Deadline: December 1, 2005
Cinderella Comes to the DVD Ball
As with the earlier BAMBI, CINDERELLA (1950) gets the complete digital treatment for its DVD debut on Oct. 4, 2005 as part of the select Disney Special Platinum Edition (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99), including 4K scanning of the original negative. The results are razor-sharp image and 5.1 audio. Voice work included Ilene Woods as Cinderella, Lucille Bliss as Anastasia and June Foray as Lucifer. Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske, with standout color and styling contributions from famed illustrator Mary Blair.
LAIKA Names Dale Wahl CEO
Dale Wahl joins LAIKA as ceo in Portland, Oregon. Robert Harold, the longtime Nike financial exec who came out of retirement to serve as interim ceo since March, 2005, will assist in the transition and retains his seat on LAIKAs board of directors.
AccessIT, Christie Commit for Long Term Digital Cinema Agreement
Spurred by positive industry acceptance of their digital cinema funding plan, Access Integrated Technologies Inc. (AccessIT) and Christie Digital Systems USA Inc. (Christie) strengthened the commitment to their Digital Cinema Framework, removing provisions that had originally allowed either party to terminate their agreement by Sept. 30. The companies viewed the move as an expression of their long-term pledge to the innovative template they designed for funding a nationwide rollout of theater-based digital systems.
