Warner Independent Pictures has tapped HIGHLANDER writer Greg Widen to adapt Kelley Eskridge's sci-fi thriller SOLITAIRE, according to VARIETY. Cherry Road Films co-presidents Kendall Morgan and Bo Hyde will produce.
The story is set in a future world where the software and pharmaceutical industries are about converge and chronicles the tale of a female computer engineer who is wrongly sent to an experimental prison.
Walt Disney Pictures has hired TREMORS scribes Brent Maddock and Steve Wilson to pen an untitled film about the Navy Marine Mammal Program, reports VARIETY. Starring otters, sea lions and dolphins, the film will follow their training for military rescue operations. The project will combine the ideas of two pitches the studio has heard on the subject. Producer Patrick Aiello along with Mayhem Pictures Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray had pitched a live-action film while I AM SAM director Jessie Nelson and children's book author Nina Laden had proposed an animated film. All five will produce.
DreamWorks has called off its talks with NBC Universal to buy the independent powerhouse, reports the trades. On Sept. 26, 2005, after two months of exclusive talks between the studios, DreamWorks founder and chief negotiator David Geffen walked away from the table when GE and Universal tried to renegotiate the price after previously settling on a price of around $1 billion.
FAMILY GUY showrunner David Goodman has signed a two-year deal with 20th Century Fox TV, according to VARIETY. The seven-figure deal will keep the former co-exec producer of FUTURAMA on as exec producer/showrunner for GUY and give him the opportunity to develop comedies for the network through 2007.
Intel Indies Film ContestWorld Wide WebJanuary 2006Deadline: November 21, 2005
AtomFilms and Intel Corp. launched the Intel Indies Film Contest. Filmmakers will compete for a grand prize that includes worldwide distribution from AtomFilms, $25,000 in cash and $20,000 in digital home equipment from Intel. Two runners-up will receive $10,000 cash prizes. Winners will be announced at a major film festival in January 2006.
Central Park Media announced that on Sept. 27, 2005, it will re-price and re-release an assortment of its best-selling mainstream anime titles for $9.95 each. Slated for re-release at are the popular AGENT AIKA series from the creators of PROJECT A-KO, the supernatural adventure, GEOBREEDERS, and the comedic PING PONG CLUB series. Box sets for two of these series will also be re-priced and re-released; the two-disc GEOBREEDERS DVD COLLECTION will be available at $19.95, and THE PING PONG CLUB DVD COLLECTION, which includes all 5 of the DVDs, will be $49.95.
Escape Studios will provide sales, training, and support services for Pixar Animation Studios s Academy Award-winning RenderMan software in the European digital content creation market.
Pixar has embarked on a major expansion of Rendermans market and user base through a growing product line, including RenderMan Pro Server, RenderMan Artist Tools, and the brand new RenderMan for Maya.
Activision Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) announced today (Sept. 28, 2005) a four-for-three stock split of its outstanding shares of common stock to be distributed as a 33-1/3% common stock dividend.
Wild Brain Inc. has appointed Charles Rivkin, the former head of The Jim Henson Co., as ceo. This comes on the heels of Dan Rounds becoming a producer and development head at Wild Brain to nurture 3D-animated features.
B1 Media has completed 69 visual effects shots, including 3D and live-action, for the History Channels upcoming EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD (airing second quarter 06). Morningstar Ent. produced BOOK OF THE DEAD, which focuses on a young mans quest to find the true meaning behind the ancient text and happiness in the afterlife.
The Visual Effects Society (VES) has defined 21 categories in which you may enter to participate in the 4th Annual VES Awards competition. The submission deadline is Dec. 2.
The categories cover commercials, music videos, television, games, special venue and feature films. The nominees will be announced on Jan. 9, 2006, and the winners will be presented at the gala event on Feb. 15, 2006, at the Hollywood Palladium.
The 2006 categories are:
1. Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture
JUICY, a new spot for ABCs DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, directed by acclaimed fashion photographer and director Matthew Rolston, is set in a surrealist environment that combines the theme of forbidden fruit specifically apples and the drama inherent in each of the main characters lives. Santa Monica -based digital studio, STEELE, handled a number of post duties, including editorial, photoreal CG environments and animation, compositing, beauty, visual effects and online.
Aardman Animations other great franchise, CREATURE COMFORTS, makes its way to DVD Sept. 27, 2005, by way of THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $19.94). Spawned by the 1990 Oscar-winning stop-motion short, Nick Park continued his ingenious mockumentary format with 13 TV episodes in 2003. New to DVD, the COMPLETE FIRST SEASON expands the animals witty and philosophical perspectives beyond the local zoo (culled from interviews with ordinary British folk). Co-directed by Richard Goleszowski.
Bonus features include:
The 9th Annual Hollywood Film Festival will honor Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki with the "Hollywood Animation Award" and ILMs Oscar-winning senior visual effects supervisor Dennis Muren with the "Hollywood Visual Effects of the Year Award" at the awards gala Oct. 24, 2005, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Oscar-winning production designer Grant Major (KING KONG and THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy) will also be honored with the Hollywood Production Design of the Year Award.
PBS KIDS Sprout launched a new 24/7 preschool network on digital cable and satellite with more than 16 million committed subscribers dedicated to offering little ones safe, fun, quality content as well as a new website to give viewers online access and activities.
The PBS KIDS Sprout lineup of shows includes: SESAME STREET, BOB THE BUILDER, BARNEY & FRIENDS, THOMAS & FRIENDS, ANGELINA BALLERINA, SAGWA: THE CHINESE SIAMESE CAT, CAILLOU, THE BERENSTAIN BEARS, JAY JAY THE JET PLANE, TELETUBBIES, DRAGON TALES, PINGU, NODDY and more.
TV-Loonland has launched Loonland Pictures to market in-house and third-party productions. Loonland Pictures will be marketing the new TV-Loonland feature film, HEIDI, as its first production.
Loonland Pictures was able to sign on 20th Century Fox und NFP marketing* as marketing and distribution partners for the films Dec. 22, 2005 release.
Bandai Ent. and Manga Ent. have launched GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX 2ND GIG. Volume One of the second season of this smash hit Japanese animated television series was released in both a Standard Edition DVD as well as Special Edition DVD featuring DTS audio and a CD soundtrack on Sept. 27, 2005.
NARNIA partners Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media will reteam to produce the film adaptation of Katherine Paterson's Newberry Medal-winning children's novel, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, reports VARIETY. Gabor Csupo, co-founder of Klasky Csupo, will make his live-action directing debut on the film. Jeff Stockwell is adapting the script. Disney will be co-financier and U.S. distributor with Walden retaining international rights.
DreamWorks Animation and Kellogg Co. have sealed a multi-year promotional agreement, reports VARIETY. Starting in 2006, Kellogg will have exclusive worldwide rights to DreamWorks film and home video properties for cereals, toaster pastries, cereal bars and fruit-flavored snacks, and exclusive U.S. rights for pancakes, waffles, cookies and crackers. Kellogg will market in more than 180 countries the DreamWorks-themed products on television, online and in stores. This marks the first deal between the companies. The agreement gives Kellogg exclusivity to DreamWorks, but not visa versa.
As part of the The Visual Effects Societys events for eDIT 8, the Filmmakers Festival, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from Oct. 911, 2005, will highlight digital intermediate (DI) and digital editing.
ROBOTS, Foxs latest 3D-animated feature from Blue Sky Studios and director Chris Wedge and production designer/producer William Joyce makes its way to DVD (Fox Home Ent., $29.98) on Sept. 27, 2005. Whether or not the comedy or emotions connect with you, ROBOTS is pure CG eye candy and tailor made for 3D animation. The DVD transfer, therefore, is quite stunning and shows off the design quite well.
As part of the official program of the Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival, the Australian Embassy will support an Australian animation showcase with a series of internationally recognized animated shorts from Australia. Films include Bruce Petty's LEISURE (Academy Award winner for best animated short in 1976), Adam Elliot's HARVIE KRUMPET (Academy Award winner for best animated short 2004) and Park Sejong's BIRTHDAY BOY (Oscar nomination for best animation short 2005). In addition to the screenings, Australian animation experts will host discussions during the event.
The 2005 Ottawa International Animation Festival announced the winners of the official competition during its closing ceremonies held this evening at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Following the award presentations, attendees enjoyed the Best of the Festival film screening that showcased the award winning films.
MERCURY FILMWORKS GRAND PRIZE FOR ANIMATED FEATURE THE DISTRICT! (NYOCKER!)/ Aron Gauder/ Hungary"for its visual innovation, energetic style, and fearless satire of contemporary culture and politics."
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