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Film Headline News

DreamWorks Gives Perfume to Domestic Audiences

DreamWorks Pictures has pacted with Germany's Constantin Film to acquire the domestic distribution rights to the new thriller, PERFUME, based on the bestselling novel by Patrick Suskind.

Set in 18th-century France, the story of murder and obsession centers around a man who, strangely lacking any scent of his own, has a unique talent for identifying smells, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. His gift leads to obsession when he turns to murdering young women on the verge of womanhood in order to capture their aroma.

Headline News

Ballistic Publishes Machineflesh

Ballistic Publishing has begun shipping the first book in its CG Challenge series, MACHINEFLESH, featuring artwork and techniques of digital artists working in both 3D and 2D.

Ninety-six pages are packed with surreal and opulent computer imagery. In addition, MACHINEFLESH delves in-depth into eight of the winning entries from the CG Challenge contest.

Detailed intros are written by the following award-winning CG Challenge artists as:

* Krishnamurti M. Costa* Daryl Mandryk* Greg Petchkovsky* Jeff Rey

Headline News

Digital-Tutors Releases Fundamentals of Maya: Mastering Render Nodes

Digital-Tutors announced the worldwide availability of FUNDAMENTALS OF MAYA: MASTERING RENDER NODES training kit, the newest release in a library of industry leading training resources for emerging digital artists. Digital-Tutors offers more than 2.5 hours of comprehensive and enjoyable training, giving users giving users in-depth knowledge of Maya's Render Nodes and ultimate control over the appearance of rendered objects.

Headline News

Luxology Hosts 3D Modeling Competitions at Designated Apple Stores

Luxology announced that it will conduct a series of modo events, competitions and presentations during the month of April at Apple Stores in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Francisco and New York City. These Luxology sponsored events, titled RAPID 3D MODELING WITH MODO ON OS X, will include demonstrations of modo, a powerful new subdivision surface and polygonal modeling platform, and 3D speed modeling competitions, which will provide attendees with the opportunity to choose the ultimate modo modeling master.

Film Headline News

Imagineer Releases monet 1.5

Imagineer Systems, the U.K.-based developer of mokey and monet visual effects tools, announced the immediate availability of monet 1.5. Aimed at the broadcast, film and video post-production markets, monet is a vital tool offering a start to finish solution for replacing elements in film and video and is being used frequently for product placement. It is available in two versions monet software and monet extreme, both of which will be on display at NAB 2005 (booth #SL253).

Animation Headline News

Oregon Museum Of Science And Industry & Cartoon Network Partner On Exhibit

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) announced it has partnered with Cartoon Network for OMSI's new animation international touring exhibit slated to debut on the science museum's floor in Portland, Oregon, in October 2005.

Animation, a 6,000-square-foot, highly interactive traveling exhibition, brings together art, math, science and technology by exploring the world of animation. Animation will showcase popular cartoon characters and original series from Cartoon Network throughout the exhibition.

Animation Headline News

University Press of Mississippi Offers Chuck Jones & Toon Golden Age Books

In April, University Press of Mississippi has published two new books on animation CHUCK JONES: CONVERSATIONS, edited by Maureen Furniss, and LIVING LIFE INSIDE THE LINES: TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF ANIMATION by Martha Sigall. The books will sell for $50 in cloth bound and $20 in paperback.

Headline News

LA ACM SIGGRAPH Hosts A Visualization of NASA’s Solar System Exploration Mi

A Visualization of NASAs Solar System Exploration MissionsPasadena, California, USAApril 12, 2005

The Los Angeles Professional Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH presents Lets Fly! A visualization of NASAs Solar System Exploration Missions. Speakers will include: Dr. Eric De Jong, principal investigator, Solar System Visualization Project; Zareh Gorjian, lead animator; and Rob Baldwin, vfx artist.

Headline News

Kartoon Kocktail Screens Indie Shorts

Kartoon Kocktail 2005San Francisco, California, USAApril 8, 2005

Kartoon Kocktail is an annual screening of independent animation and comics performance, set to coincide with the Alternative Press Expo. This shimmery, silly two hours of cartoon fun is organized by Stefan Gruber, Davey Oil, Fausto Caceres and Jesse Reklaw.

Featured works include work by Tatiana Gill, Tyler Gillies, Stefan Gruber, Davey Oil, Helen Parson, Kazimir Strzepek and Toddbott.

Series Headline News

New Line Acquires Monster Manga

New Line Cinema has secured the feature film rights to MONSTER, Naoki Urasawas best-selling Japanese manga series, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Trilogy Ent.s Neil Kaplan, Pen Densham and John Watson will produce. The psychological thriller tells the tale of a young doctor who saves the life of a little boy only to find out years later that the boy was a brilliant killer. MONSTER has already been adapted into an animated TV series and spawned an 18-volume manga series, which have sold more than 25 million copies in Japan, and has a strong following in Asia and Europe.

Headline News

Bauhaus Ships Animator’s Toolbar

Bauhaus Software Inc. announced the immediate availability of Animators Toolbar, a powerful new suite of 2D animation automation tools for Mirage Studio 1.5. Animators Toolbar was designed from the ground up for integration with Mirage Studio 1.5, Bauhaus flagship paperless 2D animation, paint and effects system. Animators Toolbar dramatically broadens the capabilities of traditional 2D animators and significantly accelerates their production workflow.

Media Headline News

Legend Of Frosty The Snowman Narrated by Burt Reynolds

This fall, Classic Media will release on DVD the all new animated feature, THE LEGEND OF FROSTY THE SNOWMAN. Burt Reynolds narrates the movie and sings the beloved title song. In addition, the film also stars Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Doug Schwalbe, head of worldwide distribution at Classic Media, the New York-based entertainment company that is also home to LASSIE, THE LONE RANGER and the recently completed animated feature, PETER COTTONTAIL, THE MOVIE, will be representing the movie at MIP-TV in Cannes.

Film Headline News

Bay Boards Transformers

Michael Bay is negotiating a deal to direct THE TRANSFORMERS for DreamWorks and Paramount, according to VARIETY. Steven Spielberg is exec producing the live-action/CG flick, which is set for a Thanksgiving 2006 release. Shooting is scheduled to begin this fall. The film has been long in development, but take on the film from Spielberg ignited the flames under the project. Writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci wrote a draft of the script and pitched it to Bay, who they are working with on THE ISLAND, which spurred the BAD BOYS director to take interest in the project.

Producers Headline News

Comicbook Writer Tapped for The Spirit Feature Script

Comicbook writer Jeph Loeb has been hired to adapt Will Eisners THE SPIRIT for the big screen, reports VARIETY. Odd Lot's Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete will produce, along with Batfilm's Michael Uslan. Exec producers are Benjamin Melniker and Steve Maier with co-producers being F.J. DeSanto and Linda McDonough.

The story follows a presumed dead masked detective who uses his questionable existence as an advantage in fighting crime in Central City.

Production Headline News

Redford Horse for Charlotte Voice Work

Adding more star power to the cast of live-action/CGI CHARLOTTES WEB, Robert Redford has signed on to voice Ike, the arachnophobic horse who faints at the first glimpse of Charlotte, reports VARIETY. The picture is currently filming in Melbourne.

Redford joins other star voices, which include Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Cedric the Entertainer, Reba McEntire, Kathy Bates, Thomas Haden Church and Andre Benjamin. Dakota Fanning is the films live-action heroine.

Headline News

Virtual Partners Gaming Class with Dr. Derek Elliott!

Virtual Partners is hosting a special Game Development and Modeling Class Monday April 25 to Wednesday April 27, 2005, featuring Professor Derek ELLIOTT!

This expanded 3-day class in Game Development Techniques & Edgeloop Modeling for Characters is based on Dr. Elliotts full day presentation at the recent 2005 Game Developers Conference.

Derek Elliot is a Discreet training specialist gaming and program coordinator for Animation Arts Centre degreed program, Seneca College.

Digital Headline News

Digital Musings From the Editor:

Robert Rodriguez SIN CITY opened last Friday and love it or hate it it represents quite a stunning and provocative achievement in photographic style and digital environments. Graphic indeed. You can read all about how Hybride, CaféFX and The Orphange divided the work on the three segments, The Hard Goodbye, The Big, Fat Kill and That Yellow Bastard, in Tara DiLullos comprehensive article for VFXWORLD.

Headline News

Corel Introduces Painter IX Art Pen Brush Pack

Corel announced the Corel Painter IX Art Pen Brush Pack, a collection of new Corel Painter IX brushes that take advantage of the new Wacom 6D Art Pen to provide a heightened level of realism in digital art. Corel is offering the Corel Painter IX Art Pen Brush Pack to customers as a free download from its website at www.corel.com/painter.

Headline News

NewTek Launches Qualified Beta for LightWave 64-Bit Port

NewTek announced the launch of a qualified beta program for the forthcoming LightWave 64-bit port. Registered owners of LightWave [8] are eligible to participate in the open beta program, if they have access to a 64-bit platform running Windows 64-bit beta OS. The requirements, application and confidentiality agreement are available to owners registered with the U.S. office who log in to the registration system at www.register.newtek.com and click on the LightWave 64-bit Beta Banner. Overseas registered owners should email lw64beta@newtek.com to request information.

Production Headline News

Harmony Gold Honors United Nations’ 60th Anniversary

In honor of its 60th anniversary this year, the United Nations (UN) will debut a special public service announcement (PSA) at MIP-TV 2005. The 60-second spot, produced by Harmony Gold, is part of a broader effort to increase awareness of the work of the UN during this special period culminating with the 60th opening session of the UN General Assembly in the fall.

Kids Headline News

PBS Kids Sprout on Demand Launches on Comcast

Comcast announced the start of something big for families of preschoolers with the launch of PBS KIDS Sprout On Demand, a new video-on-demand (VOD) service that makes some of the best-known and most-loved preschool television shows available at any time families want to watch them. In addition to the new VOD service, a 24x7 digital cable channel will launch this fall, making PBS KIDS Sprout. PBS KIDS Sprout was created as a partnership between Comcast, PBS, HIT Ent. and Sesame Workshop.

Rocket Headline News

Finalists For $50,000 Shaw Rocket Prize Announced

The Shaw Rocket Fund announced the 2005 finalists for the $50,000 Shaw Rocket Prize. The four finalists were selected by an international jury of leaders in childrens TV from the U.K., U.S., Australia, Germany and Canada. The finalists are:

* DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION Produced by Epitome Pictures Inc., Toronto A topical live-action youth drama airing on CTV, the characters deal with real life challenges of becoming an adult.

* FRANNYS FEET Produced by DECODE Ent. Inc., Toronto

Game Headline News

Connery Back as Bond — For Videogame

Sean Connery will reprise his role as James Bond for Electronic Arts' forthcoming videogame version of FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The first Bond actor will provide his voice and likeness as is was in the 1963 MGM classic. Original characters from the film included in the game will be Q (Desmond Llewelyn), Donald "Red" Grant (Robert Shaw), Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), Kerim Bay (Pedro Armendariz) and Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell).

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