AWN Headline News
Pork and Beans Short Makes Nextoons: The Nicktoons Film Festival
Pork and Beans Productions animated short, THE LAWS OF GRAVITY, has been selected to appear in Nicktoons the NEXTOONS: THE NICKTOONS FILM FESTIVAL, a weeklong festival of shorts submitted by animators worldwide. The short airs in the seventh episode on Aug. 27, 2005, at 9:00 pm ET/12:00 am PT and August 28 at 12:00 am ET/3:00 am PT on Nicktoons, as well as be simulcast on www.nicktoons.com.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Grand Championship U.S. Premiere Aug. 27
Kids WB! gears up early for the new 2005-2006 season the exclusive U.S. premiere of YU-GI-OH! GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP, the fifth season of the hit anime series, beginning Aug. 27, 2005, at 8:00 am ET/7:00 am PT) and 11:00 am ET/10:00 am PT).
Trollz Feature Premieres on Disney Channel
Disney Channel will broadcast the worldwide television premiere of the animated feature, TROLLZ: BEST FRIENDS FOR LIFE, from DIC Entertainment (DIC), on Aug. 27, 2005, at 2:00 pm with subsequent airdates scheduled September 3 and 29 on Toon Disney.
The Trollz world revolves on the adventures of five teenage best friends Amethyst, Onyx, Sapphire, Topaz and Ruby each of whom is very different from the other. Each friend offers her unique style in personality, color, fashion symbol and gemstone, but together they form the Magic of The Five.
Susanne Daniels New President, Entertainment, Lifetime Entertainment Services
Former The WB programming chief Susanne Daniels joins Lifetime Entertainment Services as president, entertainment, on Sept. 12, 2005, and will be based in Los Angeles. Daniels will be responsible for all programming on Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network, the two highest-rated women's networks, as well as Lifetime Real Women.
She joins and reports to Betty Cohen, president/ceo, Lifetime Entertainment Services, who previously was founder/president of Cartoon Network Worldwide, part of Time Warner along with The WB.
Pixar Shares Drop After SEC Probe Reported
Pixar shares dropped after the WALL STREET JOURNAL reported the company is being investigated by regulators over its home entertainment release of THE INCREDIBLES. The informal Securities and Exchange Commission probe is looking to the facts behind Pixar cutting its second-quarter profit forecast in June, stating slower than expected sales of the DVDs.
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride Soundtrack Features Danny Elfman Score
Warner Sunset Records/Warner Bros. Records will release the soundtrack of three-time Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfmans evocative and atmospheric original score for TIM BURTONS CORPSE BRIDE on Sept. 20, 2005. The stop-motion animation film stars Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Emily Watson.
THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK TO TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE highlights the original score by Elfman, who previously collaborated with Burton on BEETLEJUICE, BATMAN, BIG FISH and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.
Sid Ganis Elected Motion Picture Academy President
Sid Ganis was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Aug. 23, 2005, by the organization's board of governors. He succeeds Frank Pierson, who had served the maximum four consecutive one-year terms in the office.
Ganis, beginning his 19th year as a governor representing the public relations branch, has served as first vp of the Academy for the past two years.
Digital Pictures Uses Autodesk Pipeline for Chinese Epic
SEVEN SWORDS, a new epic Chinese feature film by director Tsui Hark, was realized with six of Autodesk's media and entertainment solutions. Based on Liang Yu-Shen's classic novel SEVEN SWORDSMEN FROM MOUNT TIAN, the film will be released worldwide in fall 2005.
MPC Gets a Little Sunshine
London-based Moving Picture Co. (MPC) will handle VFX work on director Danny Boyles latest sci-fi feature, THE UNTITLED SUNSHINE PROJECT, announced this week by DNA Films and Fox Searchlight Pictures. MPCs vfx supervisor is Tom Wood (KINGDOM OF HEAVEN). Principal photography began Aug. 22 in London. Boyle is once again teamed up with scribe Alex Garland, who last worked together on 28 DAYS LATER, which MPC also worked on.
REALVIZ Team Hits Road for 2005 SFX Tour
REALVIZ has confirmed that the first leg of its 2005 SFX tour will kick off in the U.K. at the beginning of next month. The tour will run from September through to November 2005, and will visit a selection of towns and cities internationally in the U.K., France, Sweden, Greece and Australia, with additional countries being added over the course of the next few weeks.
Extended Gladiator Now on DVD
Director Ridley Scott has added 17 minutes of footage to his Oscar-winning GLADIATOR, which was released in an extended edition DVD set on Aug. 23, 2005 (DreamWorks Home Ent. $39.99). Most of the new footage was previously available on DVD as deleted footage, but can now be enjoyed in the context of the narrative, fleshing out character motivation as well as the political conspiracy. Both versions are available on this three-disc set.
Capcom Releases Darkwatch
Capcom announced the release of DARKWATCH for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Developed by High Moon Studios Inc., DARKWATCH is an immersive FPS (first person shooter) that blends the lawless action of the Wild West with the thrilling horror of vampire movies. The game is now available at retailers across North America and carries an M rating for mature audiences by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board).
Scholastic to Publish Kazu Kibuishi’s Graphic Novel Amulet
Scholastic announced that it has acquired AMULET, a two-book deal won at auction. Written by 27-year-old graphic novelist Kazu Kibuishi, the first title will be released in spring 2007 under Scholastic's Graphix imprint.
Seven News Titles Make PlayStation 2 Greatest Hit Status
Demonstrating the massive appeal of the PlayStation 2 and its software library, Sony Computer Ent. America announced seven additions to its PlayStation 2 "Greatest Hits" software portfolio ATV OFFROAD FURY 3, HOT SHOTS GOLF: FORE!, JAK 3, KILLZONE, RACHET & CLANK: UP YOUR ARSENAL, SLY 2: BAND OF THIEVES and SYPHON FILTER: THE OMEGA STRAIN. These seven titles have accounted for sales in excess of 4.5 million units and join an expansive library of 123 "Greatest Hits" titles.
Beavis & Butt-Head Return To MTV & DVD
MTV and Paramount Home Video Ent. will be releasing BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: THE MIKE JUDGE COLLECTION, VOLUME 1. The DVD box set is scheduled for release on Nov. 8, 2005. To help promote the set, Beavis & Butt-Head will return to MTV to present the Viewer's Choice Award at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 28.
Digital Musings From the Editor:
VFXWORLD continues its new technology focus with Janet Hetheringtons Rendering: The Shape of Things to Come, an in-depth look at advancements in rendering, concerns about scalability and the coming of full spectral rendering.
Take a Stand In ACLU PSA Contest
The 2005 Stand Up For Freedom PSA ContestNew York, New York, USAOctober 21-30, 2005Deadline: October 4, 2005
Delray Beach Film Fest Kicks Off First Year
Delray Beach Film Festival Delray Beach, Florida, USAMarch 8 12, 2006 Deadline: December 1, 2005
The inaugural season of Delray is set to support both emerging film talent and veterinary medicine. Delray Beach, also an exquisite and unique surfing destination spot, will offer filmmakers a fun, warm, beautiful place to meet, mingle and party. The relaxed and welcoming atmosphere will be a breath of fresh air to any filmmaker who has been busy producing or promoting their film. For more information, visit www.delraybeachfilmfestival.com.
Nashville Film Festival Beckons!
Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) 2006Nashville, Tennessee, USAApril 20-26, 2006Deadline: December 2, 2005
HP Named Preferred Technology Provider for Lucasfilm
HP and Lucasfilm Ltd. announced a three-year, multi-million dollar technology and marketing agreement.
Lucasfilm will use HP Adaptive Enterprise solutions to generate new videogames, visual effects and animation as well as store and manage its business applications. The HP technology will be deployed at Lucasfilm's new Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio of San Francisco and at the company's Singapore operations.
KromA Helps Put Julia Roberts in Dream World
KromA provided Julia Roberts the role of her dreams in creating vfx services for the new Dave Matthews music video, DREAM WORLD. The studio worked with director Dave Meyers in concocting the videos surreal world in which a faceless stranger pursues Roberts. The video marks the first screen appearance for Roberts, a long-time Dave Matthews fan, since giving birth to twins last year.
Upcoming Polar Express DVD to Highlight Performance Capture
When THE POLAR EXPRESS hits retail shelves on Nov. 22, the two-disc special edition (Warner Home Video, $29.95) will contain lots of bonus features devoted to the performance capture (Imagemotion from Sony Pictures Imageworks) that was the driving force behind the Robert Zemeckis/Tom Hanks movie adaptation of the popular Christmas tale by Chris Van Allsburg.
Disc two bonus features include:* You Look Familiar: Hear about Hanks' five unique roles, how each character was different and what it took for him to bring each one to life.
Disney and Baby Einstein Launch Little Einsteins DVD
Little Ensteins, the newest preschool franchise from The Baby Einstein Co. and The Walt Disney Co., was launched Aug. 23 with the DVD release of DISNEYS LITTLE ENSTEINS OUR [BIG] HUGE ADVENTURE (Buena Vista Home Ent., $19.99).
This "next generation" of animation and learning, the lead-in for a new TV series slated to launch on Disney Channels Playhouse Disney block in October, is intended to spark the curiosity of children with fun new ways to enjoy classical music, art and the wonders of nature.
EA Bases MoCap Pipeline on Vicon
Gaming powerhouse Electronic Arts (EA) has purchased an 86-camera Vicon MX 40 motion capture system. EA is one of the most prolific users of motion capture content, and has been employing MoCap techniques as part of its game development pipeline for more than 10 years.