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AWN Headline News

Festival Headline News

Roma Independent Film Fest Calls for Entries

2006 Roma Independent Film FestivalRome, ItalyMarch 24-31, 2006Deadline: December 15, 2005,

After the success of the fourth edition, the Roma Independent Film Festival with the support of the Directorate for Cultural Policies of the City of Rome and with the contribution of the Ministry for Cultural Activities (DGC) and of the Lazio Region is becoming an important appointment for independent cinema, on a national and international level.

Special Headline News

Don’t Miss Out On AWN’S MIPCOM Special Newsletters!

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for MIPCOM. This event is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff is gearing up for the Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.

MIPCOM Flash NewslettersSept. 27, 2005Oct. 4, 2005Oct. 11, 2005

Check out our previous special Flash newsletters.

Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for September 12, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, a student wants to find out what positions are available for a student in animation studios. A beginner wants to know some tools to check out. More members are discussing whats wrong with animation in India. Moderator Larry L. talks about animation directors especially his fav Chuck Jones. A director posts some tips for animation supervisors to follow so they can meet their deadlines while still having fun. Another member is researching outsourcing. Debate still continues on FOSTERS HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS.

Animation Headline News

Hangzhou Designing to Become Animation Capital

Following the first China International Animation Festival held this past June in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang province, the government has released 15 new measures to help build the area into an "animation capital," reports PEOPLE'S DAILY ONLINE. The incentives call for developing animation industry in Hangzhou over a five-year plan period.

Channel Headline News

Indian and Malaysian Studios to Launch Two Kids Channels

UTV Software Communications Ltd. of India has announced a joint venture with the Malaysia-based Astro, a DTH and pay TV operator, to create two new channels in the region, reports the BUSINESS STANDARD. UTV will handle the content, marketing and brand building with the capital investment coming entirely from Astro. UTV will receive nearly $1 million a year as well as an option to invest up to 20% equity in the channel at par over three years.

Television Headline News

ASIFA-Hollywood Calls for Help & Annie Footage

ASIFA-Hollywood is looking for individuals interested in serving on the various nomination committees for the upcoming 2005 Annie Awards. Categories include: * Home Entertainment * Short Subject * Games * Television Commercial * Television Production * Character Animation * Character Design (Feature and Television) * Directing (Feature and Television) * Effects Animation * Music (Feature and Television) * Production Design (Feature and Television) * Storyboarding (Feature and Television)

Sound Headline News

Skywalker Sound Names Randy Thom Director of Sound Design

Randy Thom has been appointed as director of sound design at Skywalker Sound. Thom, recipient of last years Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing on THE INCREDIBLES, and previously a Best Sound Oscar for THE RIGHT STUFF, began working for Lucasfilm in 1979. His film projects this year include HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, as well as additional sound design for WAR OF THE WORLDS. A highly prolific sound designer and mixer, Thom is equally at home with animation or live action, with an additional 11 Oscar nominations during his career.

Entertainment Headline News

War of the Worlds Helps Paramount Post Record Summer

Paramount Pictures has delivered the biggest summer at the domestic box office in the studio's history, with $503,031,989, besting the previous record of $412M, set in 1994, when the studio released FORREST GUMP.

Series Headline News

Global Mechanic Launches New TV Series Division

Vancouver and Boston-based production company Global has created a new TV series division anchored by three new animation projects: 20 episodes of a new series for PBS and WGBH called FETCH!; three childrens books for the next season of the award-winning PBS series, BETWEEN THE LIONS, produced by WGBH Boston, Sirius Thinking Ltd. and Mississippi Public Broadcasting; and a five-episode original series created by Lincoln Pierce for a new programming block on Cartoon Network.

Headline News

IBM'S TotalStorage Tape Solution Implemented at Sony Imageworks

IBM has shipped its 500,000th IBM TotalStorage Linear Tape Open (LTO) drive solution to Sony Pictures Imageworks. The company purchased the new storage technology solution to back up its digital animation productions.

Television Headline News

Bruce Rosenblum President of New Warner Bros. Television Group

WB vet Bruce Rosenblum has been named president of the newly formed Warner Bros.Television Group, to oversee and grow the entire Warner Bros. portfolio of television businesses, including worldwide production and distribution as well as broadcasting.

Headline News

Man with the Screaming Brain Film Arrives on Sci-Fi Channel & Dark Horse Comics

Bruce Campbells telemovie, MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN, debuted on the Sci-Fi Channel, Sept. 10, 2005, at 9:00 pm and will be rebroadcast Sept. 15 at 9:00 pm as part of SCI FI's original movie franchise.

Self-proclaimed B-movie star Bruce Campbell of EVIL DEAD, ARMY OF DARKNESS and BUBBA HO-TEP fame co-wrote MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN with David Goodman, and also directed and starred in it as well. The film chronicles the adventures of an uptown banker who is brought back to life by a mad scientist with humorously bizarre results (www.scifi.com/screamingbrain).

Cartoon Headline News

Naruto Makes Cartoon Network Debut Sept. 10

NARUTO, made its U.S. and English-languae debut on Sept. 10, 2005, at 9:00 pm during Toonami, Cartoon Networks high-rated action block. The series, which first aired in Japan in 2002, has already acquired a huge fan base in the U.S. through DVD sales and bootleg tapes.

NARUTO is an adaptation of the popular manga series, NARUTO, created by Masahi Kishimoto. Cartoon Network will air 52 episodes of the anime series during Toonami, Cartoon Networks Saturday primetime action block.

Headline News

Gilligan’s Island’s Bob Denver Dies

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 12:00am

Bob Denver, the pop culture icon who will forever be remembered as the title character on GILLIGANS ISLAND, died on Sept. 2, 2005, from complications due to surgery for throat cancer. He was 70 years old. For animation fans, Denver again took on the role of Gilligan for the Filmation produced cartoon, GILLIGANS PLANET. The series lasted one season on CBS in 1982, with the original cast of characters marooned on a distant planet instead of an isolated island.

Disney Headline News

Disney Channel Kicks Off Fall Lineup

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, September 8, 2005 at 12:00am

Disney Channel's September is highlighted by two new series joining the Jetix action/adventure lineup GET ED and KONG: THE ANIMATED SERIES presented mornings on ABC Family and evenings on Toon Disney.

Also in September, Toon Disney's popular Jetix block expands by 20 hours weekdays (7:00 pm 2:00 a. ET/PT) and weekends (4:00 pm 2:00 am ET/PT), delivering programming for kids 6-11, especially boys 6-11.

Digital Headline News

Digitally Restored Cinderella to Premiere at El Capitan

Walt Disney's fully restored animated classic, CINDERELLA, which debuts on DVD Oct. 4 (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99), will be digitally projected during a special theatrical engagement at Hollywoods El Capitan Theatre, Sept. 15-25, 2005.

Home Headline News

Charlie Arrives on DVD Nov. 8

Tim Burtons CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which collected a sweet $205 million at the box office with the help of vfx from Moving Picture Co., Framestore CFC, Cinesite (Europe), Digital Domain, Darkside Effects Ltd. and Neal Scanlan Studio, makes its DVD debut on Nov. 8 (Warner Home Video, $30.97 two-disc deluxe edition, $28.98 single disc).

Special edition bonus features include:

* Five making-of featurettes:

Chocolate Dreams: Learn about Burton's vision for the film and how he adapted the story.

Animation Headline News

T-Splines Maya Plug-in 1.0 Starts Shipping

T-Splines LLC, leading developer of 3D animation modeling software, has begun shipping the T-Splines Maya plug-in 1.0, opening a new frontier in 3D modeling by solving two problems that have plagued the 3D modeling industry since its inception: greater surface control and seamless merging. A free trial of the T-Splines Maya plug-in Learning Edition may be downloaded at the T-Splines website, www.tsplines.com.

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