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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
The 2005 Stand Up For Freedom PSA ContestNew York, New York, USAOctober 21-30, 2005Deadline: October 4, 2005
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 (NaFF) 2006Nashville, Tennessee, USAApril 20-26, 2006Deadline: December 2, 2005
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
IDT Ent. announced that Rob Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Brian Dennehy, William H. Macy, Mandy Patinkin, Dana Reeve, Robert Wagner, Richard Kind, Raven-Symone and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre will head an all-star voice cast in its first CG-animated feature film, YANKEE IRVING. In addition, Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning composer John Debney will create the films original score.
Square Enix Inc. announced that FINAL FANTASY XI: THE VANA'DIEL COLLECTION is now on sale. The special gold foil All-In-One packaging includes the RISE OF THE ZILART and CHAINS OF PROMATHIA expansion packs as well as TETRA MASTER, the wildly popular and addictive mini-game, on one DVD. FINAL FANTASY XI: THE VANA'DIEL COLLECTION will provide the easiest installation ever of the first cross-platform, cross-continent massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).
Anthony Utley departs BBC Worldwide to become the new md of Cosgrove Hall Films, Europes largest and most prolific animation company.
Utley had been worldwide director of TV distribution at BBC Worldwide since 1999.
Marketing veteran Carol Laumen joins DIC Entertaiment Inc. as vp, retail development to serve as the companys retail expert and liaison between the licensees and retailers. Laumen will be responsible for building relationships with the retailers and developing support for DICs brand properties, including Trollz, Classic Trolls, Strawberry Shortcake and Strawberry Shortcake Baby.
Lions Gate Entertainment, in Toronto, and Crest Animation Studio's U.S.-based subsidiary, RichCrest Animation (RCA), have struck a co-production and co-financing deal to produce three animated feature films.
The first film under the new agreement will be the previously announced SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE. A second, currently untitled feature project is in development, and the third project is yet to be identified. Lions Gate will distribute the three films worldwide, except in India where Crest is headquartered.
Septagon Studios will directly move toward the publishing market of comicbooks, graphic novels and soon expand into other formats. The objective of Septagon Studios is to add to the diversity of the comicbook market with a wide variety of titles in a wide range of different genres. Septagon Studios will not limit itself by targeting a specific audience.
Based upon studies that say humor will improve a childs life, Cartoon Network has launched a weekday morning franchise, Tickle U, featuring original and acquired television shows from around the world such as PEPPA PIG, GERALD MCBOING BOING AND YOKO! JAKAMOKO! TOTO! designed specifically for preschool children. Tickle U, which premiered Aug. 22, 2005, airs weekdays from 9-11:00 am, focuses on developing and nurturing a childs sense of humor and optimism as essential life skills.
Amelia Bedford joins BKN International A.G. as brand manager for the U.K. responsible for licensing in the U.K. across the range of BKN's brands, including LEGEND OF THE DRAGON, KONG - THE ANIMATED SERIES and KONG: KING OF ATLANTIS. She joins the New Media team and will help coordinate and implement marketing and promotional activity.
Bedford was senior brand manager at HIT Ent., working on renowned brands Angelina Ballerina and Barney. Prior to that she worked at Jetix Consumer Products as U.K. licensing manager.
