AWN Headline News

Lucy Liu has signed on to star in Ghost House Pictures horror/thriller, RISE, reports VARIETY. Sebastian Gutierrez has written and will direct the film, which will start shooting this summer.

Liu will play a reporter who wakes up in a morgue to discover she is a vampire, spurring her to seek revenge on the vampires responsible.

Kingsgate Films Greg Shapiro (RULES OF ATTRACTION) and Carsten Lorenz (exec producer of THE GRUDGE) are producing. Ghost House will fully finance the flick. Sister firm Mandate Pictures will handle worldwide sales.

Michelle Rodriguez (RESIDENT EVIL), Taryn Manning (8 MILE), Oliver Hudson (TVs THE MOUNTAIN), Hill Harper (THE SKULLS) and Eric Lively (TVs THE L WORD) have signed on to star in Wes Craven-exec produced horror film THE BREED, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. First Look Media and DEJ Prods. are handling worldwide rights. Cravens longtime collaborator Nick Mastandrea will make his directorial debut on the film, which starts filming next week.

Beginning Sept. 5, 2005, PBS KIDS JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS will begin airing Mondays through Fridays. The Emmy-winning, CGI-animated program from Entara Ltd. has run on weekends for the past two years.

2nd Annual Zoom In Awards New York, New York, USAOctober 31, 2005Deadline: October 31, 2005

The 2nd Annual Zoom In Awards recognizes exceptional talent in digital production in both student and professional categories for each of the following competition areas: digital editing; digital cinematography; graphics & FX.

A complete list of finalists and winners for all categories can be found at the awards website (zoominawards.com), along with information on submissions and sponsorships.

Alphanim and M6 Web have signed a two-year agreement to exploit more than 250 episodes of animated content provided by Alphanim in the areas of mobile and VOD. Under the terms of the agreement, M6 Web has the exclusive mobile and video-on-demand rights of eight animated series including Alphanims French and international hits POTATOES AND DRAGONS (78x7) and RALF THE RECORD RAT (104x1).

Final negotiations are coming to a final stage in the discussions between the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA and a group of major videogame publishers, reports VARIETY. The current contract is in its second extension and the actors unions have said there will not extend it again after the Friday deadline. The current contract was hammered out with Electronic Arts and nearly 70 other companies followed its guidelines. Unlike the film and TV industry that have the Assn.

With editor Bill Desowitz away at ILM getting the skinny on VFXWORLDs STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH coverage, Im giving my musings this week. Alain Bielik covers last weekends #1 box-office champ, SAHARA. Tara DiLullo talks with Tommy Tom about the vfx heavy Hong Kong import KUNG-FU HUSTLE.

On May 1, 2005, DreamWorks Animation and the Film Society of Lincoln Center will join together to host "Animation Now: Imagination, Innovation, Inspiration. The family event will look at how DreamWorks creates animated magic. The evening will be hosted by Al Roker with appearances from Chris Rock and others involved in the forthcoming MADAGASCAR. Attendees will be treated to footage from upcoming films like MADAGASCAR, OVER THE HEDGE, SHREK 3 and BEE MOVIE.

Moonscoop has signed a far-reaching deal with Cartoon Network at MIP-TV 2005. The broadcaster is to co-produce Moonscoops action comedy series FANTASTIC FOUR based on the classic Marvel characters and has acquired the worldwide broadcast rights outside the U.S. French commercial broadcaster M6 has also picked up the show which is currently in production.