SIGGRAPH 2006, the 33rd International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, will be held July 30-Aug. 3 at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center in Boston, Massachusetts, announced sponsor ACM SIGGRAPH.
Iridas announced the release of SpeedGrade DI. The new application offers an industry-leading feature set for digital color grading and film finishing. In addition, SpeedGrade DI anchors the industry's first complete color pipeline with SpeedGrade OnSet (look management) and FrameCycler (calibrated review with grading applied). The result is complete mobility of color data up, down, and across production pipeline, opening the door to new, collaborative color workflow models.
KING KONG: PETER JACKSONS PRODUCTION DIARIES, which have been posted on the KONG website (www.kongisking.net), will be released Dec. 13 as a special two-disc pre-release (Universal Home Ent., $39.98), reports THE DIGITAL BITS.
The set will include 54 production diaries (in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio), an 80-page scrapbook, four exclusive art prints, "collectible packaging" and more. Jacksons highly anticipated remake opens Dec. 14.
Marking a major step forward in the companys international expansion of the award-winning VEGGIETALES property, Classic Media announced that the all-new TV format featuring the popular VEGGIETALES characters has achieved critical and commercial success in Brazil for leading Brazilian distributor Top Tape. The announcement was made by
Gokaza, a content provider specialized in J-pop culture, has announced the release of the two-DVD documentary HELLO ANIME! The DVD delivers a firsthand look at the dawn of anime in America, the rise of the otakus, the anime Internet community, anime in Hollywood films like KILL BILL and THE MATRIX and the Japanization of America. In 19 exclusive interviews, the pioneers who defined the movement talk about their personal success stories and reveal the inside scoop on anime.
SportsBlast, a producer of animated content for the Internet and traditional media, in partnership with Turner Broadcasting, announced the upcoming release of its animated series THE KELLYS. This special series of extended episodes was launched on NASCAR.com in conjunction with the MBNA NASCAR Race Points 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 25.
FUNimation Ent. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corp., launched the FUNimation Channel today (Sept. 29, 2005), a 24-hour, digital network that will feature distinguished anime programming from FUNimation's anime brands. Working with OlympuSAT, one of the leading distributors for independent programming in the U.S., the channel will be available to video service providers throughout the nation. The plan is for the FUNimation Channel to be part of the basic and extended digital packages, so it will be a regular channel in the lineup.
Take a trip high above the skyscrapers and cities of the northeast United States with Northeast City Aerials, Artbeats newest installment of royalty-free aerial footage. Featuring spectacular footage of Baltimore; Boston; Concord, New Hampshire; Dover, Delaware; Hartford, Connecticut; New York City; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Providence, Rhode Island; and Trenton, New Jersey. This new title is sourced from HD video and was captured using the highly accurate Gyron Eagle Camera system.
New York-based studio Version2 has added Dante Piacenza as head of production/exec producer and Lydia Holness as vfx producer of its visual effects and design division.
Youll find invisible VFX at its best in Roman Polanskis OLIVER TWIST.
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.
