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AWN Headline News

Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for June 27, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, a poster celebrates his year anniversary on the AWN Forums with a thank you to other members. Another member wants the skinny on Indian animation schools. A member from Germany needs some help and advise. More people discuss MADAGASCAR. In addition, more members post their thoughts on other members work. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!

Headline News

Animetrics 3D Facial Imaging Used in National Geographic Channel's Explorer

National Geographic Channel (NGC) selected Animetrics 3-Dimensional face imaging software to make the EXPLORER: "Search for Adam." (NGC's) signature series EXPLORER: Search for Adam premiered June 26 at 8:00 pm with a rebroadcast on June 29 at 2:00 pm and July 2 at 7:00 pm. It features renowned scientists as they follow the genetic DNA trail of mans ancestors in a quest to solve one of the greatest questions of all time was there actually an Adam, an ancient man that all men today are descended from?

Lucas Headline News

Letterman Digital Arts Center Unveiled in San Francisco

The Letterman Digital Arts Center (LDAC), the new home of Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic and LucasArts, located in the beautiful 23-acre campus in San Franciscos Presidio, had its grand opening on June 25.

Digital Headline News

Chicken Little To Hatch Disney Digital 3D Experience

Disney Digital 3D, a brand new three-dimensional digital experience in movie theaters, will be launched with the release of the studios first 3D-animated feature, CHICKEN LITTLE, on Nov. 4.

In collaboration with Disney, Dolby Laboratories plans to install its Dolby Digital Cinema systems in approximately 100 high-profile theaters in 25 top markets that will present the 3D film with special glasses. Industrial Light & Magic, meanwhile, will render the movie in 3D with new proprietary software so it can be played on Dolby Digital Cinema servers in theaters.

Total Headline News

Bewitched No Match for Batman

Warner Bros. BATMAN BEGINS (with vfx from Double Negative, MPC, Rising Sun Pictures and BUF) continued its box office reign for the weekend ended June 26, 2005, grabbing $27.5M and a two-week cume of $122.5M. Sonys BEWITCHED (with vfx from Sony Pictures Imageworks) bowed in second place with $20.1M. However, it wasnt enough to prevent the overall domestic box office from slumping for the 18th consecutive week.

Game Headline News

Max Payne Comes to Film

Collision Ent. and Firm Films have teamed up to turn videogame MAX PAYNE into a feature film for 20th Century Fox, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Collision Scott Faye and Firm Films topper Julie Yorn are producing with Abandon Ent.s Karen Lauder serving as exec produce. Fox exec Robbie Brenner will shepherd the film for the studio.

Headline News

Disney Gets Invisible with Blade Trinity Director

Disney has secured domestic distribution rights to BLADE TRINITY director David Goyers next project, THE INVISIBLE, reports VARIETY. Goyer will helm the picture for Spyglass Ent., who picked up the project from DreamWorks, where Goyer became attached. Production is set to start in September in Vancouver.

Spyglass will finance the entire film and retain all the international rights. Any rights that Spyglass cannot sell will go to Disney. Spyglass bought the remake rights in 2002.

Headline News

War Of The Worlds Graphic Novel in Development for TV

The WAR OF THE WORLDS graphic novel from Best Sellers Illustrated is in development for television by producer Richard G. Murphy.

"This is an entirely fresh take on WAR OF THE WORLDS, which focuses on how a diverse group of New Yorkers fights back against the Martians," said Murphy, whose credits include UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: THE RETURN and TIMECOP.

Books Headline News

Tor Books & SCI FI Channel Create SCI FI Essential Books Program

Tor Books has teamed up with SCI FI Channel to bring readers the finest new voices in science fiction and fantasy. Each month, one Tor title will receive the SCI FI Essential stamp of approval, which will appear on the spine and cover of the book. Tor and SCI Fi will partner on live author chats on SCIFI.COM, and sample chapters and sneak peeks of upcoming books in the program on the site www.scifimonthlypick.com.

Headline News

Voice of Piglet John Fiedler Passes Away

Actor John Fiedler, whose distinctive high-pitched voice brought life to Winnie-the-Poohs Piglet, died on June 25, 2005. He was 80.

Fiedler began voicing Piglet in the Oscar-winning short WINNIE THE POOH AND THE BLUSTERY DAY in 1968 and continued up until his death. His other animation roles included Porcupine in THE FOX AND THE HOUND, Sexton Mouse in ROBIN HOOD, Deacon Owl in THE RESCUERS and a small role in THE EMPERORS NEW GROOVE.

Special Headline News

AWN & VFXWorld Sponsor eDIT/VES’ eDwards Filmmaking Contest

Animation World Network and VFXWorld are proud to announce that we are a special media sponsor for the Visual Effects Societys eDIT 8. Filmmakers Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 9-11, 2005. We will be sponsoring eDward VI, a young filmmakers contest and awards which celebrates the work of talented artists under the age of 30. Filmmakers from all over the world participate each year, creating 30-second films based on the given theme.

Union Headline News

SAG Board Takes Up Rejection of Gaming Contract

A special SAG board meeting will be held next Wednesday (June 29, 2005) to further address the national executive committees rejection of the contract hammered out with the gaming industry, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. NEC turned down the offer despite the support on negotiators.

Award Headline News

Starz Presents First Starz Ion Award at Maui Film Festival

Starz Ent. Group Llc. (SEG) presented its first Starz Ion Award to animator Jennifer Shiman at the Maui Film Festival earlier this week during the festival's Cosmic Closing Night Party. Shiman, creator of Angryalien.com, was honored for her 30-second animated bunny shorts that spoof famous Hollywood films.

The Starz Ion Award was developed to recognize creativity and innovation and to pay tribute to emerging talent in the field of short form entertainment. Shiman's bunny shorts have been featured on Starz, Starz On Demand and Starz Ticket.

Headline News

Gothika Director Headed for Babylon

Twentieth Century Fox and Canal Plus will co-finance BABYLON A.D., a big-budget futuristic thriller to be directed and written by GOTHIKA helmer Mathieu Kassovitz, reports VARIETY.

Inspired by Maurice Dantec novel BABYLON BABIES, tale is set in the near future where genetic manipulation occurs. In the book, a mercenary charged with bringing a young woman from Russia to Canada learns that she has been infected with a synthetic virus, which could wipe out all humans on Earth.

Games Headline News

Nickelodeon Online Drives Paid Gaming Initiative with Nick Arcade

Nickelodeon introduces an offering of paid downloadable games for kids on Nick.com and Nickjr.com with the re-launch of Nick Arcade (www.nickarcade.com/) on July 1. To introduce the gaming platform, Nick Online has partnered with industry leaders Big Fish Games and TryMedia.

"Nick Arcade provides a unique platform of rich game experiences for our audience that they can download and own," said Mike Skagerlind, svp/gm, Nickelodeon Online. "With the combined expertise of Big Fish Games and TryMedia, Nickelodeon will move to the forefront of this arena."

Game Headline News

Ziff Davis Media Game Group Announces Pocket Games Research Study Results

According to a recent POCKET GAMES readership research study conducted by videogame magazine publisher Ziff Davis Media Game Group, portable gamers are shifting to an older and more diverse demographic segment than it has been historically. POCKET GAMES readers are now 20 years old on average, and 13% of the readership is female compared to 9% in 2003.

Festival Headline News

Kid-Friendly Flicks Wanted for San Diego Children's Film Fest

San Diego International Children's Film Festival San Diego, California, USAOctober 21 - 30, 2005Deadline: August 31, 2005

San Diego International Children's Film Festival will showcase full-length films for children of all ages & teens, shorts for children ages 7 & under, at the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego's historic Balboa Park.

The festival held its first-ever event in April, showing 65 short films from around the world. Actor-director LeVar Burton appeared at the festival, as did several other filmmakers.

Television Headline News

Siobhan Kenny New VP, Communications, Walt Disney Television, EMEA

The Disney-ABC Television Group has appointed Siobhan Kenny vp, communications, Walt Disney Television EMEA, for the European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) territories. She will be responsible for the implementation and coordination of all corporate and entertainment communication strategies across the EMEA territories, and will play a key role as a senior member of the Walt Disney Television EMEA executive team.

Animation Headline News

Vi Ly New Dean of The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles

Vi Ly has been appointed as the new Dean of AcademicAffairs for The Art Institute of California Los Angeles, where she had been serving as the assistant dean of Academic Affairs since 2004. Previously she was department chair of the Media Arts & Animation and Game Art & Design programs.

Studios Headline News

Rhythm + Hues Commercial Studios Signs Steve Beck

Acclaimed spot and features director Steve Beck has been hired by Rhythm + Hues Studios to bolster its commercial group.

This follows R+H (www.rhythm.com) bringing on Paul Babb as its new live action exec producer, as the studio has refocused its energies to create what it calls, The Complete Digital Studio a full service shop for both advertising agencies and production companies.

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