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AWN Headline News

Headline News

GenArts to Unveil New Sapphire Plug-Ins at IBC

GenArts Inc announced that the IBC will mark important milestones for the company: the unveiling of the next version of Sapphire Plug-ins for Avid AVX 2.0, the availability of Sapphire Plug-ins v3.07 for 64-bit Discreet systems and the introduction of new managing director Anish Dhanda. The conference takes place in Amsterdam from Sept. 9-13.

Headline News

National Lampoon Gives Gumby Post Modern Treatment

In celebration of the series' 50th anniversary, National Lampoon Inc., Premavision and Clokey Prods. announced plans to recraft the beloved GUMBY TV series for a new generation.

The edgy, irreverent reinvention, called GUMBY: THE LOST TAPES, will see National Lampoon create and produce all-new dialog (and, in some cases, music) tracks for the classic clay animation series. GUMBY: THE LOST TAPES will offer an original take on the TV staple, updating the series' legendary characters Gumby, Pokey, the Blockheads and Nopey.

Headline News

Million Dollar Baby Writer’s Next Bout with Bond

MILLION DOLLAR BABY scribe Paul Haggis has been hired to rewrite the script for Sony and MGM's 21st installment of the lucrative Bond franchise, according to HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The movie is based on the 1953 Ian Fleming novel, CASINO ROYALE, which is the first, darkest and most violent of the Bond books. Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who penned the Bond films THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH and DIE ANOTHER DAY, took the spin at the screenplay.

Film Headline News

Zaentz & New Line Reach Deal for Rings Royalties

Earlier this month, Saul Zaentz and New Line reached a settlement on a $20 million lawsuit in regards to royalties on the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, reports VARIETY. Zaentzs company, who purchased the rights to the books in 1976, has made nearly $168 million from the film series without having actually served as a producer on the film. The additional money earned via the suit was not released by either party. The case was set to go to trial on July 19, but the two parties went into negotiations instead.

Series Headline News

TELETOON's September Full Of Premieres

Throughout September TELETOON will premiere its new fall lineup of series.

Debuting Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7:00 pm, CARL2 follows 14-year old slacker Carl Crashman and his secret industrious clone. The program will air weekends at 7:00 pm.

DELILAH & JULIUS premieres on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 4:00 pm, where it will air every weekend. Both Delilah and Julius reside at The Academy, a school and training ground for young spies.

Headline News

Fox TV Options Animated Stories From a Moron Series

Ed Broths STORIES FROM A MORON was optioned by 20th Century Fox TV for an animated series. Former JERRY SEINFELD scribes Barry Marder and Kenneth Braun have been hired to write an animated comedy pilot script based on the book, along with Broth in a six-figure deal, it was reported by DAILY VARIETY. No network is yet attached.

MORON is a collection of short stories Broth submitted to wildly inappropriate magazines, such as an article, "I Love Dogs," sent to the I LOVE CATS magazine editor. The book also contains correspondence between Broth and incredulous editors.

Headline News

Liza Burnett & Dani Weinstein to Lead Weinstein Co. Film Publicity

Liza Burnett has been named evp of publicity for The Weinstein Co. and will head the domestic publicity department, including oversight of all PR staff and the company's extensive film roster and for its genre label, Dimension Films. Veteran Miramax publicity exec Dani Weinstein has been named svp of publicity and will continue to supervise The Weinstein Co.'s film slate.

An executive to supervise Dimension's film slate is forthcoming and the rest of the publicity team will be announced in the coming weeks.

Japan Headline News

Japanese Book Distributor Buys American Stone Bridge Press

Yohan Inc. of Tokyo has purchased Stone Bridge Press, an English-language publisher based in Berkeley, California, specializing in books about Japan and Asia. Founded in 1989 by publisher and editor-in-chief Peter Goodman, the company has more than 85 titles in print and has received numerous awards for publishing excellence.

Interactive Headline News

Atari Sells off Humongous Ent. for $10.3 Million

Atari Inc., a leader in interactive entertainment, has sold its Humongous Entertainment studio to Infogrames Ent. SA, the company's majority stockholder, for approximately $10.3 million.

About $2 million of the purchase price represents pre-payment of future costs Atari will incur related to platform royalty advances, manufacturing costs and milestone payments. Atari will have exclusive distribution rights for Humongous products in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through at least March 31, 2006.

Mainframe Headline News

Mainframe Launches Expanded Creative Services Division

Mainframe Ent. Inc. has launched a full service Creative Services division that will specialize in all areas of graphic design, motion graphics, titling, opening sequences and branding. The first project of the newly-expanded division will be an alliance with McLean Mashingaidze-Greaves to design the new website for the popular TV Series PINK PLANET, which airs on CityTV, Vancouver. Pinkplanet.tv will feature e-commerce, video blogs and wi-fi based social networking. In addition, the division is working with IDT Ent.

Series Headline News

Lincoln Center “I Love to Singa”

By Guest (not verified) | Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at 12:00am

Lincoln Center I Love to SingaNew York, New York, USAAugust 19-September 4, 2005

The Film Society of Lincoln Center is presenting I Love to Singa: Cartoon Musicals, a 12-program series of music-themed animated shorts and features. The series, assembled by animation historian Greg Ford, include standbys like Chuck Jones ONE FROGGY EVENING and WHATS OPERA DOC plus Walt Disneys FANTASIA, as well as lesser- or rarely-seen SILLY SYMPHONIES, Ub Iwerks cartoons and a program of Columbia Pictures shorts.

Imax Headline News

All-Star Cast Helps Voice IMAX’s Magnificent Desolation 3D Film

MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON 3D, a Playtone/IMAX 3D space film, presented and narrated by Tom Hanks, will feature an all-star voice cast of top Hollywood talent, including Paul Newman, Matt Damon, Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, John Travolta, Gary Sinise and Bill Paxton. It opens exclusively in IMAX theaters starting Sept. 23.

Game Headline News

Urban Video Game Academy Expands with SOFTIMAGE|XSI v. 5.0

Avid Technology Inc. announced its support for the Atlanta chapter of the Urban Video Game Academy (UVGA), a program created to enable high school students to enhance their math, science and art skills by learning the principles of game development and design. Students enrolled in the program will use SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.0 to create 3D art for videogames, and Avid Xpress Pro Academic for editing cut scenes and game trailers. An open house is being held today to launch the Atlanta chapter at the American Intercontinental University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Headline News

Stitch Has Glitch in New DVD Sequel

For those who were disappointed by the STITCH! THE MOVIE DVD sequel (the precursor to the TV series), youll probably find LILO & STICH 2: STITCH HAS A GLITCH (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99) closer to the original Disney animated feature. Animated at the recently shuttered Walt Disney Animation Studios in Sydney, Australia, LILO & STITCH 2 streets Aug. 30, 2005. The Australian team, guided by unit director Kelly Baigent and unit producer Kara Lord Piersimoni, strove for lush watercolor backgrounds and stylized imagery, which characterized the Chris Sanders feature.

Total Headline News

40-Year-old Virgin Still Best at Box Office

For the second consecutive week, THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN ruled the box office for the weekend ended Aug. 28, 2005, the first time an R-rated film has done so since last years THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. The Universal comedy raked in $16.2M for a total of $48.5M. Dimensions THE BROTHERS GRIMM (with vfx by Peerless Camera Co. Ltd., Lip Sync Post and Artem Ltd.) bowed in second with $15M. DreamWorks RED EYE (with vfx by Digital Dream) slipped to third place with $10.2M for a two-week cume of $32.5M. Paramounts FOUR BROTHERS (with vfx by Mr.

Effects Headline News

Gnomon School Announces Fall Term Classes

Registration for the Fall term 2005 at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects (Oct. 3 - Dec. 11) began Aug. 22. In addition, Side Effects Houdini joins the curriculum as the latest tools package.

New Courses:

* Artists interested in adding high-end effects capabilities may be interested in Introduction to Houdini Visual Effects in which instructor Garman Herigstad, production consultant at Side Effects Software, will introduce Houdinis procedural approach to 3D.

Headline News

Gorillaz Feel Good With Special Effects VMA Win

"Feel Good Inc.," the still blazing first single from Gorillaz' already platinum-certified DEMON DAYS, won Breakthrough Video and Best Special Effects In a Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Aug. 28 in Miami. The hypnotic clip, which features flying windmills and landmasses as well as a cameo from De La Soul, was directed by Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and Passion Pictures' Pete Candeland, and produced by Cara Speller and Emilie Walmsley. Production company Passion Pictures also handled vfx.

Winners of the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards:

Autodesk Headline News

Autodesk to Kick Off 3ds Max 8 North American Launch Tour

Autodesk Inc. announced the 3ds Max 8 North American launch tour, titled What is Real, showcasing new software features designed to help customers realize their ideas to meet the demands of increasingly complex 3D production environments.

Television Headline News

Newly Formed Marketing Agency Announces TV Clients

Newly formed motion graphics and animation company National Television has announced its current TV network clients.

G4 Television has retained National Television to brand The G-Spot and Barbed Wire Biscuit late-night blocks of programming, as well as promotion for the individual TV program ATTACK OF THE SHOW. CMT hired National Television for its Happiest Girl image campaign, and 100 GREATEST DUETS program package.

Headline News

Spielberg to Produce When Worlds Collide Remake

With Stephen Sommers, leaving the project, Paramount has tapped Steven Spielberg to produce their remake of sci-fi flick, WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE, according to the trades. The 1951 original was an inspiration for 1998s DEEP IMPACT, which Spielberg produced. In addition to wrapping up directing on MUNICH, Spielberg is producing DreamWorks' upcoming MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA and Sony's LEGEND OF ZORRO. For Paramount, hes been working with George Lucas and writer Jeff Nathanson on the development of a fourth INDIANA JONES film.

Universal Headline News

Almighty Sequel Goes with 40-Year-Old Virgin

With Jim Carrey declining to reprise his role in a BRUCE ALMIGHTY sequel, Universal has tapped the original films co-star Steve Carell to reprise his role as Bruces anchorman nemesis, giving him a mission to build a new ark in preparation for second Great Flood, according to VARIETY. Titled EVAN ALMIGHTY, the film will garner THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN star close to $5 million. Thats 10 times what he earned for VIRGIN.

Dreamworks Headline News

ABC & TNT Share War of The Worlds

ABC and TNT have dished out approximately $25 million to share the network broadcasting rights to Steven Spielbergs WAR OF THE WORLDS, reports VARIETY. Previously, HBO secured the exclusive pay TV window from summer 2006 through the end of 2007. ABC will be able to air the film, beginning the second quarter of 2008 exclusively for three years. ABC plans to air WORLDS three times in primetime before it goes to TNT for multiple runs over the next two years. In 2013, HBO will gain a second pay window of 12 months after which the film will return to ABC and TNT.

Film Headline News

Helm Helms Magorium's Emporium

Screenwriter Zach Helm will make his directing debut filming his script MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM, reports VARIETY. Natalie Portman is set to star in the family film along with Dustin Hoffman. When the owner of a magical toy store dies, the shop is willed to his manager (Portman), who struggles with depression and keeping the business alive. Film Colony and Mandate Pictures are producing. James Garavente and Richard N. Gladstein will serves as producers with Jim Miller co-producing. Exec producer will be Nathan Kahane.

Studio Headline News

Disney Signs Exclusive Deal with Wal-Mart for Wise Men Pic

For the animated feature THE THREE WISE MEN, Disney has stuck an unprecedented deal with Wal-Mart, where the retailer will sell the film exclusively from Nov. 1 through the holidays, according to VARIETY.

Buena Vista Home Ent. is distributing the 76-minute film, produced by Animagic Studio, for Latino marketing and acquisition company Arenas Ent., which purchased the rights from Spain-based Cartel.

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