wondertouch has launched particleIllusion 2.0 SE for Mac OS X, marking the companys first product to support the advanced operating system from Apple.
Electronic Arts has announced the development an interactive TV show, allowing viewers to control the characters like in THE SIMS, and a change in the deal to acquire 50% of Digital Illusions (DICE), reports REUTERS. The company is in early talks with production companies and might use a voting system to allow viewers to determine the actions of the characters.
Mandate Pictures (formerly known as Senator Intl) has announced that Takashi Shimizu will return to helm THE GRUDGE 2, reports VARIETY. Ghost House Pictures, Mandate's joint genre production label with Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, will produce the film. The original American remake of the Japanese cult sensation JU-ON THE GRUDGE grossed out audiences to the tune of $110 million in the States and a global box office take of $143 million.
Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) announced the renewal of their agreement with Angry Alien Prods to create ten more 30-second BUNNY THEATER shorts from animator Jennifer Shiman, the creator of Angryalien.com. The shorts will be aired on STARZ!, Starz on Demand and STARZ! Tickets on Real Movies. The first three movie spoof shorts aired during STARZ! Hare Raising Halloween Marathon last October.
Gnomon School of Visual Effects has been approved by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) to enroll non-immigrant M-1 students and to issue I-20s. Eligible foreign students may now receive visas to attend Gnomons High-End Computer Graphics Certificate Program or Maya Fast Track Program.
This is such an important step for us, said Kristin Bierschbach, Gnomons director of administration. Because of the quality of our programs and instructors, students from all over the world want to come to Gnomon. Now they can.
Eyetronics, an international provider of high resolution scanning services and animation-ready 3D models, is coming off its most successful year yet and looks to 2005 with a prestigious slate of projects, including RACING STRIPES, ELEKTRA, the much anticipated CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, BATMAN BEGINS, THE BROTHERS GRIMM, LEGEND OF ZORRO, THE ICE PRINCESS and TRANSPORTER II. Among the recent feature films employing Eyetronics scanning services are ALEXANDER, BLADE: TRINITY, MASTER AND COMMANDER, KING ARTHUR, THE LAST SAMURAI and XXX.
The car commercial opens on a deserted car park roof, and takes us on a journey through a district of a modern day city.
The :60 spot shows the Audi A6 deconstructing into thousands of abstract component parts, which then travel from one end of the city to the other. These elements become recognizable as letters that go on to spell out the famous Audi strapline: Vorsprung, Durch, Technik.
Emmy Award-winning Zoic Studios provided vfx to Sci Fi Channels new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, which debuts Jan. 14 at 9:00 pm/8:00 pm Central.
Seth Rosenthal has joined Tweak as a partner and director of business development. Rosenthal wrapped up six years at Industrial Light & Magic in order to make the jump. He will contribute to Tweak's efforts to expand its visual effects business for feature films and commercials and will help launch a new division to distribute Tweak's proprietary software applications for visual effects and media production.
Cookie Jar Entertainment, the programming and licensing arm The Cookie Jar Group, has promoted Kelly Elwood from vp of marketing & licensing to svp of marketing. Based in Cookie Jars Toronto offices, Elwood will oversee the companys expanding industry and consumer brand marketing, as well as provide strategic planning on behalf of its growing entertainment lineup.
The Telly Awards 2005World Wide WebApril 30, 2005Deadline: March 4, 2005
IMAGINARIA 05Conversano, ItalyAugust 1-7, 2005Deadline: May 30, 2005
Disney has hired scribes Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal to draft a remake screenplay for the 1982 cult classic, TRON, reports VARIETY. Brigham Taylor will supervise the new film.
For the remake the computer world will be expanded with the computer programmer will get trapped in the cyberworld of the Internet. Steven Lisberger wrote and directed to original film, which utilized cutting-edge graphics.
Sony has purchased Trevor Sands sci-fi script RESURRECTION, reports VARIETY. Mosaic Media's Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are producing. Shannon Gaulding will shepherd the project for Columbia, with Gloria Fan watching over for Mosaic. The studios are quiet about the flick, which is described as an imaginative sci-fi action-adventure set in the distant future.
Sands wrote the adaptation of Martin Caidins novel, THE SIX BILLION DOLLAR MAN, for Dimension. He will also write and direct THE FOUR JACKS for producer Holly Wiersma (WONDERLAND).
THE THREE AMIGOS, a series of 20 animated Public Service Announcements (PSAs) designed to entrench the use of condoms to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the world, have been awarded a CINE Golden Eagle. THE THREE AMIGOS, along with 800 other PSA, are part of the worlds largest integrated behavior modification program that launched at the United Nations on Jan. 11, 2005. This public awareness program has a potential reach of approximately 80% of the worlds population.
Atari Inc. announced that TIMESHIFT, a first-person shooter that allows players to control time to solve puzzles and defeat foes, is in development by Saber Interactive for the personal computer and the Xbox. The new title will leverage first-of-its-kind gameplay abilities and functionality, the latest graphics technology and high production values. The game is expected to be available in fall 2005.
The Spanish-language cast of THE SIMPSONS have been on strike since October and are threatening protest marches over a contract between their union and privately-owned dubbing studio, Grabaciones y Doblajes Internacionales, reports HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Represented by Mexico's National Actors Assn., the voice actors claim that their former employer broke an exclusivity agreement when it hired non-members of the association. Grabaciones does not deny using nonunion actors, but argues that it never signed an exclusivity contract.
For the design and creation of the SCENT OF A ROBOT music video, the first single off Pete Misers latest CD, CAMOUFLAGE IS RELATIVE, the creative collective UVPHACTORY (UVPH) enjoyed total creative control. The New York-based design and production company created the concept, designed and executed the 3D animation, lensed the live-action footage and completed the offline and online editorial for the 3:30 video that ships in early January to MTV networks, VH1, MuchMusic, Fuse and local access cable shows.
Splinex Technology Inc., a provider of visual communication software and technology, has named Michael Stojda as president/ceo. Stojda has also been appointed to the board of directors.
Scott Caple has joined longtime friend and animation director Tina Seemann on the faculty of Max the Mutt Animation School. As a teacher in the animation field, Caple acquired experience in other schools in the U.S. He combines his academic qualifications readily with firsthand knowledge of the animation industry. He will be teaching Advanced Storyboarding.
From 2000 to 2003, Caple was involved in the concept and production design of THE INCREDIBLES. During his time at Pixar, he was responsible for both environment/background design and art direction.
Cartoon Network is creating an integrated PSA program to inspire young people to learn how they can join in supporting global efforts to provide relief to the millions of tsunami victims in southeast Asia. Favorite characters from its vast animation studios will be featured in a musical salute set against Give a Little Bit, by Roger Hodgson, formerly of Supertramp.
Cartoon Network announced it was adding two new series, THE BOONDOCKS and ROBOT CHICKEN, to its 2005 lineup during the annual Television Critics Assoc. meeting in Los Angeles. ROBOT CHICKEN is the previously untitled stop-motion comedy from Seth Green due to start airing in the Adult Swim block Feb. 20 while THE BOONDOCKS is a 2D show based on the syndicated comicstrip by the same name from Aaron McGruder, which make its splash in Adult Swim during the fall.
Talk about good timing. Just as British Telecoms NETWORKING spot gets nominated by the VES for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial, VFXWORLD just happens to have an informative previs piece by Karen Raugust, including a QuickTime plug-in so you can view the completed spot as well as earlier versions. Theres dazzling vfx work by The Syndicate, too.
After first introducing their product at last Augusts Magic, several key licensees of BETTY & VERONICA have set the spring and fall roll-outs for their licensed apparel and accessory lines. The product lines stem from agreements with the BETTY & VERONICA licensees and the propertys licensing representatives Archie Comics Ent. Inc. and Miramax Films. Representing Archie Comics Ent. and Miramax Films in negotiating the agreements was Los Angeles-based licensing agency Brand Central Llc.
Swedens Traktor has optioned Paul Sloans sci-fi thriller screenplay, SIPHON, reports VARIETY. Traktor will produced the flick with Bryan Brucks. Set in a futuristic world, a female detective tracks a serial killer that may not be human with a most advanced technology available.
