Buena Vista Games (BVG) announced it will become a multi-platform publisher in summer 2005 and launch a portfolio of high profile videogames in the U.K., Germany and France as well as extend its current portfolio of kids- and family-focused titles to a wider audience, to include 'tween, teen and core gamers.
Jill Lindeman joins Disney ABC Cable Networks Group as vp/creative director for marketing, Disney Channel, responsible for the creative direction and management of all on-air promotion for Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Jetix, Playhouse Disney and ABC Kids, including the development and production of interstitials for Disney Channel. Additionally, Lindeman has oversight of the creative direction for off-air initiatives including print production, online development and marketing collateral.
She reports to Matt Palmer, svp, marketing, Disney Channel, in Burbank, California.
The Art Institute of California Los Angeles has promoted Aaron Lyle to academic director for Media Arts & Animation.
Aarons connections to industry are an enormous benefit to the program and school; our students and faculty will benefit tremendously from his expertise, said Dave Moughalian, dean of Academic Affairs.
Sydney Pollacks THE INTERPRETER, starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, captured the top spot at the box office in its debut weekend ended April 24, 2005. The old-fashioned suspense thriller took in $22.8M for Universal, upending MGMs remake of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, last weeks champ, which hauled in $13.7M and $44.3M for a second place finish. Paramounts SAHARA (with vfx from Cinesite and Double Negative) dropped to third with $9M for a cume of $48.9M. Buena Vistas A LOT LIKE LOVE with Amanda Peet and Ashton Kutcher bowed in fourth place with $7.5M.
At Star Wars Celebration III, director George Lucas enthralled fans by confirming that he is working on two STAR WARS-themed television series one a CG animated CLONE WARS.
HP launched the first business desktop system for Microsoft Windows x64 Editions. The new business desktop PCs and workstations with advanced security features are specifically designed to take advantage of enhancements planned for Microsofts upcoming Longhorn operating system. HP also is enhancing system performance with support for the new Microsoft Windows x64 Edition operating systems across the HP ProLiant server line and on new business desktops and workstations.
Avid Technology Inc. will be demonstrating a technology preview of a native 64-bit version of SOFTIMAGE|XSI 3-D animation software during WinHEC, Microsofts annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, from April 25-27, in Seattle, Washington.
NVIDIA Corp. announced that it is a sponsor at WinHEC, Microsofts annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, from April 25-27, in Seattle, Washington.
"NVIDIA's participation in WinHEC is important to Microsoft because of the growing role of powerful graphics and 64-bit platforms to support key initiatives including 'Longhorn' and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition," said Brian Marr, senior product manager of Windows at Microsoft Corp. "We value our relationship with NVIDIA and look forward to continued collaboration."
Shane Ackers 9 was selected Best of Show and Tomek Baginski becomes the first Computer Animation Festival repeat winner, as ACM SIGGRAPH announced the Computer Animation Festival's Best of Show Award and Jury Honors winners for SIGGRAPH 2005. The 32nd International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques will be held July 31 through Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, California.
The Computer Animation Festival jury selected three award winners from 560 entries for exemplary use of computer-generated imagery and animation, and compelling storytelling.
PITCH BLACKs Radha Mitchell will star in the film adaptation of the hit videogame SILENT HILL, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. TriStar Pictures will release the film in the States. Christophe Gans (BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF) will helm the $45 million-$50 million picture, which has started production in Toronto.
Buena Vista Home Ent. has announced it will release eight additional UMD titles on June 21, 2005, including two day-and-date with the standard DVD release. UMD is the mini-DVD format that plays on Sonys new PSP. The releases include KING ARTHUR: THE DIRECTORS CUT, TRON, KILL BILL: VOL. 2, GONE IN 60 SECONDS: UNRATED DIRECTORS CUT, ARMAGEDDON, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, HOSTAGE and CURSED. The later two titles are the day-and-date releases.
Universal has tapped funnyman Will Ferrell to star in a big screen adaptation of campy '70s kids show THE LAND OF THE LOST, reports the trades. TV series original exec producers Sid and Marty Krofft will produce the film for the studio along with Mosaic Media Groups Jimmy Miller and Julie Wixson-Darmody. ANCHORMAN director Adam McKay will direct the film based on a screenplay by Chris Henchy (TVs SPIN CITY, ENTOURAGE) and Dennis McNicholas (TVs SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE).
The U.K.s most prestigious animation festival, Animated Encounters, handed out its awards on April 23, 2005, at a packed ceremony at Bristols Watershed, hosted by Bristol radio, GWRs popular breakfast show presenters Bush and Troy.
Picking up the Audience Award for the most popular film at the festival was Norwegian director Pjotr Sapegins THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES. Sapegin was in Bristol to receive his award in person, which was an unusual trophy specially designed by Bristol prop and model-makers Cod Steaks.
LOONEY TUNES artist David Alvarez that his indie comic strip YENNY will be syndicated by Ucomics.com. The strips follows lead girl Yenny as she deals with the trials and tribulations of daily modern life. The strips originated as part of comic ZACHA AND ANYELIN.
Brad Weston joins Paramount Pictures as co-president, production, overseeing the day-to-day development and production of the studio's annual slate of films and literary acquisitions along with fellow co-president Alli Shearmur, who was appointed on April 14, 2005. Weston will report to Paramount Pictures president Gail Berman.
A52 has finished design, animation and visual effects work for the new Infiniti M campaign from TBWAChiatDay in Los Angeles. Two campaign broadcast spots, DUSK and ALL WHEEL DRIVE, recently debuted, featuring environments created completely in CGI, as well as CGI light flourishes which are widely being used in the agencys print and outdoor elements of the nationwide campaign.
Margaret C. Whitman, president/ceo of eBay, has been elected to DreamWorks Animations board of directors.
"Meg is someone that both Roger Enrico and I have been courting to join our board of directors for many months," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation ceo. "Having had the opportunity to work with her in the past, I know firsthand what an exceptional talent she is and believe that her expertise in building a global brand combined with her consumer technology experience really makes her a perfect fit for our company."
A Jay Jay The Jet Plane live stage show featuring Brenda Blue and Jay Jay will take place at 2:30 pm on April 23, 2005, at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on the Reading by 9 Storytelling Stage in the Children's Area, on the UCLA campus.
ONE PIECE, an anime series featuring pirate adventures, makes its U.S. debut on April 23, 2005, during Toonami, Cartoon Network's popular Saturday night action-animé block. New episodes will air back-to-back at 10:00 and 10:30 pm. Set in the age of the greatest pirates who ever lived, ONE PIECE, from 4Kids Ent., follows the Straw Hat Pirates in search of a hidden treasure that once belonged to the legendary Gold Roger.
Cartoon Network has promoted Pola Changnon to vp of on-air and exec producer of program production. She will be responsible for managing and directing all on-air production that comprises the signature environments of both Cartoon Network and Boomerang-from network IDs and spots, to original and acquired series promotion and packaging, to interstitials and production work on network specials and stunts.
fmx/05, the 10th International Conference on Animation, Effects, Realtime and Content, commences April 27 to April 30 in Stuttgart, Germany.
Topics range from film and TV production, animation, effects and realtime to scientific applications, games and the latest software solutions. The organizers anticipate about 2,000 visitors a day, ranging from artists, technical directors, vfx supervisors and post- production companies to animators and broadcasters along with students and young professionals.
Hyderabad-based Green Gold Animation has sold the India satellite rights for its 85-minute 2D animated feature VIKRAM AUR BETAAL to Cartoon Network, reports IndianTelevision.com. The feature is targeted at an 11+ audience.
The most ancient example of animation, which was discovered at Irans 5,200-year-old Burnt City, will be displayed at the session of ASIFA, International Animated Film Association held in Seoul in August.
French children's book author Franck Le Calvez, who suited Disney claiming FINDING NEMO infringed on his creation orange-and-white clown fish named Pierrot, was convicted of fraud on April 20, 2005, and now must pay nearly $80,000 in damages and legal fees, according to Canada.com.
Cherry Road Films and Darko Ent. announced that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will star opposite Seann William Scott (AMERICAN PIE films, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD) and Sarah Michelle Gellar (THE GRUDGE) in the science-fiction thriller SOUTHLAND TALES for writer-director Richard Kelly (DONNIE DARKO). Sean McKittrick will produce under the Darko Ent. banner he co-founded with Kelly. Cherry Road principals Bo Hyde and Kendall Morgan will produce.
