AWN Headline News

TripleTake Media has optioned the screenplay PEN DRAGON from first-time screenwriter Christopher Canole for film, television and comic book/graphic novel publishing. PEN DRAGON is the story of Leo, a teenager who obtains Leonardo Da Vinci's actual drawing set from an old illustrator by the name of Merle Lin that brings to real life anything that the pens draw.

Oscar winning star of the upcoming live-action AEON FLUX feature, Charlize Theron, was injured on the set of the Paramount production, which has put the film in limbo, reports THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The production shut down could last up to six weeks.

The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that she was injured during a wire-fu stunt. Unit publicist Jeanmarie Carrasco said, "She sustained an injury, and we are closing down for a few weeks so that she can be 100% when she returns. She wasn't hospitalized, but I can't comment on anything specific about her injuries."

On Aug. 29, 2004, MTV handed out its annual Video Music Awards, giving Filmtecknarna and Moneyshots big wins for visual effects. Moneyshots took home the top visual effects prize for its work on OutKasts HEY YA vid. Filmtecknarna celebrates for its work highlighted in the Breakthrough Video winner, Franz Ferdinands TAKE ME OUT.

Go Fish Pictures, a subsidiary of DreamWorks Pictures, has selected Anime Network as the platform for its fall television advertising campaign for the highly-anticipated animated film GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE. The studio's ad commitment encompasses Anime Network's 24-hour cable channel as well as the network's video-on-demand (VOD) service and will include the airing of the full 75-second trailer for the film.

The SwordStaff.com booth at the Canadian National Expo, a comic, sci-fi and horror, convention, was raided by police after the authorities were tipped off that the company was selling illegal weapons. The online company sells replica swords, daggers, maces and war hammers from movies and television series. Four Americans and two Canadians were arrested on multiple counts of possessing and selling prohibited weapons.

Warner Home Video (WHV) has pushed the release of the IRON GIANT special edition DVD ($19.97) one month. Originally set to hit stores on Sept. 7, 2004, the DVD will be released on Nov. 16, 2004, following the theatrical release of Brad Birds next film, THE INCREDIBLES. The special features include eight "never-before-seen" scenes including an alternate opening, all with director commentary, 13 mini-documentaries highlighting key sequences and a featurette, "The Voice Of The Giant," hosted Vin Diesel.

3rd Annual Urban Mediamakers Film Festival 2004Atlanta, Georgia, USAOctober 21 23, 3004Deadline: September 30, 2004

Miramaxs HERO, the dazzling Jet Li actioner, brought in a record-breaking $18M in its debut for the weekend ended Aug. 29, 2004, beating out BRING IT ON for the best end of August opening ever. And, at 2,031 theaters, it surpassed CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON to become the widest Asian release of all time.

Linda Jones and Craig Kausen, daughter and grandson of legendary animation director and artist, Chuck Jones, have donated the Chuck Jones lithograph, "The Scweam," to the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway in response to the recent theft of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" this past week.