Vinton Studios has obtained the rights to Neil Gaiman's Hugo Award-winning children's book CORALINE and has named Henry Selick as the director, reports VARIETY. Co-producing the film with Vinton will be Bill Mechanic's Pandemonium Films. Selick will also adapt the book, which tells the tale of a young girl who views an alternate version of her life after walking through a secret door. HarperCollins published the novel in 2002.
Diamond Comic Distributors has announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Bandai Co. Ltd. for the importation of Bandai's Japanese toys and models for sales to specialty stores in the U.S. As it has done with other, smaller Japanese toy companies, Diamond will offer Bandai's products, in their Japanese packaging, to comic shops at prices comparable to prices consumers pay for American collector toys.
Raven Animation provided animation on the 2004 Gold Aurora Award winning PSA, MR. BICYCLE MAN. The PSA was produced to benefit the Children's Rights Foundation, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization (see www.crfi.org). It is the first animated project to be completed by former Disney animators who now make up the Raven Animation team under the direction of director Mike Gibilisco.
The Chicago International Film Festival, the oldest competitive film festival in North America, will bring 111 feature films and 54 short films from 44 countries to Chicago, Oct. 7-21. The 2004 Festival received more than 1,500 submissions and includes two world premieres, 13 North American premieres and 22 U.S. premieres. Presented by Bank One, this year's program will feature more films, new venues, bigger panel discussions and a showcase of directors the festival has championed in celebration of its 40th Anniversary.
On their initial release date Sept. 21, the STAR WARS Trilogy DVD set and LucasArts STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT videogame netted $115 million worldwide, reports VARIETY. 20th Century Fox Home Ent. did not break out the two releases, but said that 90% of the revenues came from the DVDs and a good percentage of that came from the U.S. alone. Fox and LucasFilms split home entertainment money on the original STAR WARS, but the studio only gets a distribution fee for EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI.
While Kerry Conran tells VFXWORLD about the challenges and pleasures of pulling off his immensely ambitious debut, SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, visual effects supervisor Gianluca Dentici takes us on a journey to Italy to discover some of the challenges and pleasures of working in his burgeoning vfx industry.
Luxology Llc. announced the immediate availability of modo, its powerful new subdivision surface and polygonal modeling platform. Combining a realtime subdivision surface modeling engine with a user-centric, highly customizable interface that includes hundreds of production-oriented tools, modo is one of the fastest and most advanced 3D modeling systems currently available. To purchase modo and obtain immediate access via download visit Luxology's online store at www.luxology.com/store/.
King Camera has just completed work on a 90-second take of the famous show-stopping production number, "American Dream, created and designed by highly acclaimed Pink Floyd's THE WALL illustrator and satirist, Gerald Scarfe for Sir Cameron Mackintosh's new touring show of the legendary musical MISS SAIGON. It was directed by High Eagle's Geoff Dunbar and produced by Jacqui Davies.
Amy Kuessner has joined the Starz Encore Group Llc. (Starz) marketing team in the newly created position as senior director, program marketing at its Englewood, Colorado headquarters.
"This is a very exciting time for Starz and we want the best and brightest on our team," said Bill Brovsky, vp of tactical marketing, to whom Kuessner reports. "We are thrilled to add Amy with her incredible creative energy and enthusiasm, and look forward to her contributions."
The Disney-ABC Television Group has instituted a new communications structure by promoting two key execs Sue Binford, who will now oversee all corporate communications and Kevin Brockman, who will now oversee all entertainment communications.
Former Paramount TV exec Robert Friedman has joined Spike TV as svp, programming, and will be responsible for all program planning, strategic acquisitions, media initiatives and original series launch projects for Spike TV.
Nickelodeon has taken the plunge, ordering 20 new episodes of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, one of the most popular kids' shows in television history, adventures to premiere on in 2005.
Series creator Stephen Hillenburg will continue to exec produce the all-new nautical and nonsensical episodes featuring the original voice cast including Tom Kenny as SpongeBob, Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick, Rodger Bumpass as Squidward, Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs and Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks.
Square Enix Inc. announced that CHAINS OF PROMATHIA, the expansion to the award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game FINAL FANTASY XI, has shipped to retailers. With a combined community in Japan and North America of more than 500,000 players, and the recent Sept. 17 launch for regions in Europe, FINAL FANTASY XI brings gamers together from around the world in this ever-expanding adventure.
Venice, California-based Exodus Film Group has tapped three-time Oscar-winning visual effects wizard Jim Rygiel to direct the feature film, BUNYAN AND BABE, reports HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Based on the Paul Bunyan legend, the family film follows Paul Bunyan and a group of kids as they attempt to save Bunyans pet ox Babe from an evil circus owner. Eddie Griffin will provide the voice of Babe the Blue Ox. The script was written by Michael A. Nickles (THIS IS NOT A FILM) and Julia A. Wall. Exodus' animation team, ElectroAge, will be handling the CG work.
NVIDIA Corp. unveiled the GoForce 3D 4500, the world's first 3D wireless media processor. The NVIDIA GoForce 3D 4500 WMP enables a whole new level of interactive content not previously possible on cell phones, PDAs or other handheld devices. For the first time, mobile content developers can harness a powerful 3D medium to create rich, dynamic, lifelike worlds and characters.
According to TrendWatch, studio owners allocate nearly one-fourth of their new capabilities budget for software apps and add-ons.
2nd Annual "Shorts in the ParkMiami, Florida, USANovember 18, 2004Deadline: October 11, 2004
Gen Art, the national arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging talent in fashion, film, music and the visual arts, is seeking submissions of new or existing short films by Florida-based or "born and bred" filmmakers for its 2nd annual "Shorts in the Park."
Finally, the wait is over for the original STAR WARS trilogy on DVD, as the impressive four-disc set arrives in stores Sept. 21 (Fox Home Ent., $69.98). Purists, of course, have been up in arms for two years after George Lucas revealed that he had no intention of making the theatrical versions of A NEW HOPE, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI available on DVD.
2005 Santa Barbara International Film FestivalSanta Barbara, California, USAJanuary 28 February 6, 2005Deadline: November 19, 2004
Andy Lewis has been promoted from svp/gm to evp/gm,Warner Bros. Animation. Lewis, who joined Warner Bros. Animation in 1997 in his previous position, will continue to oversee general management of the animation studio, including the day-to-day studio operations, business affairs, finance and administrative matters, as well as his involvement in business planning.
Animac, the International Animated Cinema Exhibition 2005Lleida, Spain February 14 27, 2004Deadline: November 30, 2004
The Walt Disney Co. board of directors met Sept. 19-21, 2004, on the 20th anniversary of Michael Eisner's service as ceo, and voted to reaffirm support for its management team, redesigned the management incentive bonus program and started its search for its next ceo to be chosen by June 2005.
TYRO screenwriter Ali Russell has launched feature production banner Elysium Ent. with a pair of comicbook-based projects -- THE 10TH MUSE and an untitled Rob Liefeld film, reports VARIETY. Brooklyn Weaver of Energy Ent. will sheperd the new company. Weaver discovered 21-year-old Russell at the UCLA screenwriting program.
Weaver optioned MUSE for low-six figures and Russell is set to write and produce the film. Based on the comic by Darren Davis, the story follows the adventures of modern-day daughter of the Greek God Zeus.
Rhino Films has joined forces with MOTHER JONES magazine and Alligator Planet to form Rhino Animated Features, which is designed to produce a series of activism docs for theatrical release, reports VARIETY. The first film will be MOTHER SEES RED, which will take a look at America's current culture wars. An animated version of labor leader Mary Harris "Mother" Jones will host the films.
MOTHER JONES will give editorial direction for the projects. Rhino Films head Stephen Nemeth brought the idea to Alligator Planet, where Tim Boxell will head the company.
Bob Scarabelli, Rainmaker Income Fund president/ceo, has passed away from natural causes. Scarabelli worked for Rainmaker for the past 25 years, growing it into one of North America's leading post-production facilities.
