AWN Headline News

Headline News

Adobe Announces Acrobat 7.0 Software Availability

Adobe Systems Inc. announced the immediate availability of Adobe Acrobat 7.0 software, a family of desktop applications that enables workgroups to manage a range of essential business activities. Acrobat 7.0, the latest update to the Adobe Intelligent Document Platform, provides users the ability to assemble documents from multiple sources, create intelligent forms and collaborate on projects inside and outside the firewall, among other capabilities.

In Technology, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Sky Italia Taps Flying Machine & Pure For Holiday Spot

Visual communications and effects studio PURE and design studio Flying Machine have been tapped once again by Italys premiere satellite broadcaster, SKY Italia, this time to create its year-end holiday promotion. The promotion began airing across all of SKYs networks on Dec. 17, 2004, and will air through January 2005.

In Commercials, Commercials | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Game Headline News

Eric Snider’s Blackjack Launches for Palm OS

Sniderware has announced the launch of ERIC SNIDERS BLACKJACK for Palm OS.

With the current Texas Hold Em craze, the demand for casino-style games has never been greater, and weve delivered a winner with ERIC SNIDERS BLACKJACK, said Eric Snider, president/ceo of Sniderware. Players will really enjoy the sharp graphics and realistic gameplay.

In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Comics Headline News

Dreamwave Comics Ends

Canadian comics publisher Dreamwaye Prods. has stopped operations and is shutting its doors. Dreamwaves line of licensed comics included TRANSFORMERS, DUEL MASTERS, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and MEGAMAN. President Pat Lee cited market conditions as the reason for the closing, including "...the shrinking comicbook market combined with a weak U.S. dollar and unsustainable monetary commitments." The company was founded in 1996 by brothers Pat and Roger Lee.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Tripods Trilogy Coming to the Silver Screen

Walt Disney's Touchstone Pictures has hired director Gregor Jordan (BUFFALO SOLDIERS) to rewrite and direct the adaptation of John Christopher's THE TRIPODS TRILOGY, reports VARIETY. Disney has had the properties rights since 1997 and both Darren Lemke and Terry Hayes have written scripts based on the series.

In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Series Headline News

Digital Musings From the Editor:

Well, we kick off a new year at VFXWORLD with the topic of previsualization. The first in the series this month is Alain Bieliks look at the previz work that went into brining Jean-Pierre Jeunets WWI set romance epic, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, to the screen.

In Machinima, Visual Effects, Machinima, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Films Headline News

Two Animated Films in the Running for Sound Editing Oscar

Disney/Pixars THE INCREDIBLES and Sonys THE POLAR EXPRESS are among the seven films. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering for Achievement in Sound Editing for the 77th Academy Awards.

The films in consideration are listed below in alphabetical order:

THE AVIATORCOLLATERALTHE DAY AFTER TOMORROW

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

The Incredibles Makes PGA’s Picks for Best Picture

The Producers Guild of America included the animated feature, THE INCREDIBLES, amongst the nominees for its best picture award announced today. The other finalists this year for the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year kudos are THE AVIATOR, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, FINDING NEVERLAND and SIDEWAYS. The awards will be presented at the Guild's annual awards dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2005.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Get Listed In AWN’s Upcoming Pitch Guide!

We are compiling a Pitch Guide for publication in January.

In Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Digital Headline News

Troy Sails Onto DVD

The summer blockbusters continue to roll out on DVD with Warner Home Videos release of TROY ($29.95) on Jan. 4, 2005.

In Home Entertainment, Visual Effects, Home Entertainment, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

It’s Time To Get Involved With AWN’s NATPE Special Newsletters!

Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for both NATPE and MIP-TV. The NATPE market is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff are gearing up for the NATPE-specific Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.

NATPE Flash NewslettersJanuary 12January 19

MIP-TV Flash NewslettersMarch 23March 30April 6

In Headline News | Special Events: MIP-TV, NATPE | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

itty bitty HeartBeats Signs New Licensing Partners

LevyMann Entertainment, the creator and producers behind the childrens animated series, ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS, have teamed up with new licensee partners Franco Manufacturing, Baby Boom Consumer Products, Wiesner Products and Waterbury Garments for several new lines of itty bitty products.

These new licensees add to their deals in place with StudioWorks Ent. (Ventura Video), Fruit of the Loom and Penguin Books, which is releasing three new ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS titles.

In Licensing, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Animation Headline News

This Week’s Animation Trivia Quiz for Jan. 3, 2005

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.

In Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for Jan. 3, 2005

This week in AWN's Forums, members post examples of simple animation invoices for others to reference.

In Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Game Headline News

Nomination Period Ending Soon for Game Developers Choice Awards

5th Annual Game Developers Choice AwardsSan Francisco, California, USAMarch 7-11, 2005Deadline: January 14, 2005

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Film Headline News

Forest Film Fest Wants Your Shorts

Forest Film Fest 2005Portland, Oregon, USAMay 15, 2005Deadline: May 14, 2005

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Films Headline News

Telluride IndieFest Issues Call for Entries

Telluride IndieFest 2005Telluride, Colorado, USAAugust 31 - September 4, 2005Deadline: May 31, 2005

Telluride IndieFest showcases the best independent films and screenplays in the world and does not require films to 'premiere' at its event. The event limits films and screenplays to 1,000 entries. ALL selected artists will have the opportunity to have their entry presented to some of the most-respected Hollywood talent agencies, production companies and film distributors. For more information, visit tellurideindiefest.com.

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Headline News

DIC Signs More Licensees For Trollz 2005 Launch In North America

DIC Entertainment (DIC) has inked additional deals for its all-new tween entertainment and lifestyle property, TROLLZ. There is now approximately 35 licensees in the U.S. and Canada secured for the 2005 launch.

In Licensing, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Nickelodeon Headline News

Nick Ups Kaufman for Global Marketing

Pamela Kaufman has been promoted from svp, Nickleodeon marketing to evp, marketing and worldwide promotions, expanding her responsibilities to include strategic planning of worldwide programming launches as well as global partnership deals.

"Pam Kaufman is one of the most successful marketers in the entertainment industry," said Nickelodeon TV president Cyma Zarghami, to whom Kaufman will continue to report. "Her consumer marketing and property management skills have raised the creative bar for the entire industry and have turned our TV properties into gold."

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Media Headline News

West Midlands Animation Development Scheme

Light House, in partnership with Screen West Midlands, and animation companies Screenburn and The CharacterShop in the U.K., are launching a new initiative to provide work placement opportunities for talented new animators with these regional animation companies.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Headline News

Legendary Comics Artist Will Eisner Dies at 87

Legendary comics and graphic novel artist and writer Will Eisner died Jan. 3, 2005, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 87, following complications from quadruple heart bypass surgery, reports Bob Andelman, author of the upcoming authorized biography, WILL EISNER: A SPIRITED LIFE.

A comics artist since the 1930s, Eisner was the first to use "silent" balloonless panels to show characters' emotions by focusing attention on their accentuated facial expressions.

In In Passing, In Passing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Design Headline News

Intergraph Shipping SmartPlant 3D 5.0

Intergraph Corp. has shipped SmartPlant 3D 5.0. The new version delivers many enhancements for structural modeling and design, 3D model exportation, global worksharing and system support. Intergraph's current customers, including some of the world's largest owner/operators and engineering companies, drove the development of SmartPlant 3D 5.0. The software provides the capabilities needed to design and maintain process, power and marine facilities and keep them "as-built" throughout the life cycle.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Media Headline News

ADV Films Announces Release Of Three Titles In Hi-Def

ADV Films announced the release of NOIR, RAHXEPHON and FULL METAL PANIC! in high definition throughout 2005. Through the use of Windows Media High Definition Video (WMV HD), movies can now be viewed on computers with DVD drives, as well as on many new set-top DVD and digital media players, with amazing quality and resolution up to six times higher than that of today's standard DVDs.

In Anime, Home Entertainment, Anime, Home Entertainment | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe

Dreamworks Headline News

Sands Storms Into DreamWorks as Pres/COO

Rick Sands has been named as the new president/coo of DreamWorks SKG. In his new post, Sands will primarily be responsible for overseeing the management of day-to-day operations of the private company, reporting directly to principal partner David Geffen.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Directors Headline News

Amelie Director Joins Grand Large

Curious Pictures announced that it has joined forces with Grand Large, the Paris-based commercial production company, and will be working with Grand Larges new award-winning French director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director and writer of AMELIE and A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT.

Grand Large has a compelling group of feature directors, and I am really excited about them and their work, said David Starr, exec producer/marketing director for Curious Pictures. If there is one director that I have always wanted to work with, it is Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

In People, Visual Effects, People, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe