AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for July 15, 2004
This week in AWN's Forums, a junior member is wondering if the animation industry has sunk to a new all-time low.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
AWN Headline News
Send Your Films to Iran For Roshd Fest
34th Roshd International Film FestivalRoshd, IranNovember 20-26, 2004Deadline: September 22, 2004
San Francisco Film Fest Wants Your Shorts
48th San Francisco International Film Festival San Francisco, California, USAApril 21- May 5, 2005Deadline: December 2004
Keyframe Digital Hits Finish Line for Crazy Canucks
Keyframe Digital Prods., a digital animation and visual effects studio based in Ontario, Canada, has completed all vfx work for the feature CRAZY CANUCKS, produced by Alberta Film Works. Keyframe was the exclusive effects house for the movie that will air on CTV this fall.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America
Panels Return to SIGGRAPH
The Panels program has returned for SIGGRAPH 2004, the 31st international conference on Computer Graphics & Interactive Techniques, to be held Aug. 8-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The Panels program is a blend of debate, argument and discussion on important topics in computer graphics and related fields. Experts and skeptics deliver opinions, insights, speculation and summaries of recent work. The audience follows up with questions, comments and criticism.
* 3D Animation: Difficult or Impossible to Teach and Learn?
New Life in Romero's Dead Franchise
After years of trying to get the project off the ground, George Romero has found financing for the fourth installment in this DEAD franchise, which includes NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, DAWN OF THE DAY and DAY OF THE DEAD, reports VARIETY. LAND OF THE DEAD will be co-funded by Atmosphere Ent. and Paris-based Wild Bunch. The film will go before cameras in October in Winnipeg or Pittsburgh. Atmosphere chairman/ceo Mark Canton and president Bernie Goldmann will produce, along with Romero's partner Peter Grunwald of Romero Grunwald Prods. Atmosphere's Steve Barnett is exec producer.
Marvel Sues Disney
Marvel Enterprises has sued the Walt Disney Co. and ABC Family (formerly Fox Family) for at least $16 million, which it claims it is owed on the cartoons it licensed to Fox Family, which Disney acquired in 2001, reports VARIETY. As part of the suit filed July 15, 2004 in L.A. Superior Court, Marvel argues that Disney improperly accounted for profits on animated series THE INCREDIBLE HULK, X-MEN AND SPIDER-MAN and failed to promote the shows. In the complaint, Disney claims the toons lose money, but will not provide proper accounting.
Beowulf Poetic For Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Pictures is developing a cinematic rendition of the Old English, 8th Century poem, BEOWULF, reports VARIETY. Matthew Sand will write the film, which will be produced by Ed McDonnell's Maple Shade Films. Maple Shade director of development exec Dan Stone brought the script to the company. Lynn Harris and David Ortiz will oversee the film for Warner.
Stone said, "Matthew has a unique take on the source material, incorporating elements of the art and mythology of the time period."
Disney Gets New Tech Head
Walt Disney has promoted Bob Lambert to svp for worldwide media technology and development, reports VARIETY. In his new expanded role, he will oversee several new digital media projects, Disney's relationships with technology companies, regulatory matters and piracy protection. He will continue overseeing the New Technology and New Media group and providing corporate guidance for the Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development unit.
Corporate Circus Comes to NATPE Producer's Boot Camp
Adela JPs (Adela Josue Polin) book, THE CORPORATE CIRCUS, will be pitched as an animated series at the NATPE TV Producers Boot Camp, July 29-30, 2004, as both an adult animation show and as an animated interstitial in an office live-action sitcom. In addition to the book, the properties product line includes 15 office humor plush toys and an illustrated comical corporate Org Chart poster, which premiered at the New York Licensing International Show, London Brand Show and PPAI/ASI Shows in Las Vegas.
New Line Game For RPG Vamps on Big Screen
New Line Cinema has obtained the feature film rights for the role-playing game VAMPIRE: THE REQUIEM from White Wolf Publishing, reports VARIETY. Adam Fields is set to produce the film, which the studio hopes will launch a franchise. Luke Ryan and Magnus Kim will shepherd the film for the studio.
The game's world follows the night-to-night life of modern vampires. The game will be published Aug. 30 and is a follow-up to 1991's VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE, which was turned into an Activision videogame and the 1996 FOX TV series KINDRED: THE EMBRACED.
New Pages Hit The Theatrical Release Database
This week the Theatrical Release Database sees a lot of new pages.
In Headline News | Geographic Region: All
2003-2004 Primetime Emmy Award Nominations
Nominations for the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced on July 15, 2004 and FOX won the most primetime Emmy nominations for animated shows with five, narrowly edging out Cartoon Network, UPN and Sci Fi Channel with three each. SOUTH PARK is back in the running along with THE SIMPSONS and FUTURAMA, which again nominated for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour) along with Cartoon Networks SAMURAI JACK and Nicks SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.
2003 – 2004 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominee Crew List
OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
FUTURAMA * The Sting * FOX * Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox TelevisionMatt Groening, Executive ProducerDavid X. Cohen, Executive ProducerKen Keeler, Executive ProducerDavid A. Goodman, Co-Executive ProducerPatric M. Verrone, Supervising Producer/Written ByEric Kaplan, Supervising ProducerBill Odenkirk, Supervising ProducerMichael Rowe, ProducerBrian J. Cowan, ProducerClaudia Katz, Produced By
Home Entertainment Award Winners Announced
The 2004 Home Entertainment Award winners were announced on July 15, 2004 by Bo Andersen, president of the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA). The archival special edition release of T2 - EXTREME DVD and the direct-to-video release BARBIE OF SWAN LAKE led the field with three Home Entertainment Awards with LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS following close behind with two pries. The association also honored television and music product for the first time.
DOOM 3 Goes Global August 2
id Software and Activision Inc. have announced that the highly anticipated DOOM 3 for the PC will begin shipping to retail stores worldwide the week of Aug. 2, 2004.
In Interactive, Games, Interactive | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America
Engie Benjy Tours U.K. Stage
Cosgrove Halls pre-school star Engie Benjy will begin a two-year musical tour of the U.K. stage. ENGIE BENJY is one of the fastest selling pre-school TV shows of all time. The stageshow is also voiced by U.K. TV stars Ant & Dec and new songs were specially composed and recorded by ex-INSPIRAL CARPET indie kid Clint Boon. The event is being produced by Premier Prods.
TOKYOPOP To Publish Linkin Park Cine-Manga
TOKYOPOP Inc. has teamed with the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band Linkin Park to develop a new LINKIN PARK CINE-MANGA. A collaborative effort that joins TOKYOPOP's Cine-Manga format with Linkin Park's new anime-style music video, BREAKING THE HABIT, this 48-page comicbook incorporates full-color images taken directly from the video, freeze-framed into spreads along with manga-style images and sound effects. The release will include song lyrics, a special foreword, band notes and commentary.
Day After Tomorrow Bound for DVD
Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. has announced that THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW will hit DVD shelves on Oct. 5, 2004 ($29.98). The disc will include deleted scenes as well as commentaries by director Roland Emmerich, producer Mark Gordon, screenwriter Jeffrey Nachmanoff, cinematographer Ueli Steiger, production designer Barry Chusid and editor David Brenner. Also included among the goodies will be an interactive audio demo and DVD-ROM Weblinks.
In Home Entertainment, Visual Effects, Home Entertainment, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All
Disney to Introduce Breakthrough DVD Technology with Animated Musketeers
Buena Vista Home Ent. will launch two exclusive ease-of-use features with the Aug. 17 animated release of Disney DVDs THE THREE MUSKETEERS, starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy.
Disney's FastPlay is a new patent pending technology that allows viewers to experience all of the DVD without ever touching their remote. For viewers who prefer to navigate, the new EasyFind menus easily guide them to their favorite set up options and bonus features.
Prism Ent. To Bring Nickelodeon Family To Life
Nickelodeon Europe has commissioned Prism Entertainment to produce local versions of its unique NICKELODEON FAMILY animation.
Jules Borkent, senior director, programming, acquisitions & development, Nickelodeon Europe, asked Prism to produce three localized versions of the NICKELODEON FAMILY for broadcast on its channels in Spain, Benelux and Scandinavia to air at the end of the year.
Mindy Brown Joins SPTI Global Advertising Sales
Mindy Brown has been joined Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) as exec director, global advertising sales, International Networks.
"Mindy has years of experience building revenue for fast growing media companies," said Jamie Weissenborn, vp, global advertising sales, International Networks, SPTI, to whom Brown reports. "She has a reputation for creating unique advertising solutions for her clients. Our global sales efforts will surely benefit from Mindy's valuable portfolio of business skills."
In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, North America, South America
GenArts Announces Sapphire Plug-Ins for Discreet on Linux
Coinciding with Discreet's release of flint and smoke for the Linux operating system, GenArts Inc. announced Sapphire Plug-ins for them.
Featuring the same familiar interface and wide range of effects and features that Discreet users have long depended on, Sapphire for flint and smoke on Linux is available immediately for $6,000. The software can be purchased directly from GenArts, or from Discreet's extensive worldwide network of resellers and sales representatives.
Pepper Films Expands Into New Santa Monica Space
Pepper Films has settled into its new space in Santa Monica, California. Founded by animation director Jean Perramon, technical director/compositor Nick Bates and producer Christina Cox in 2002, Pepper Films provides animation and CG production.
Witherspoon Lets Down Hair For Rapunzel Unbraided
Reese Witherspoon (SWEET HOME ALABAMA) and Kristin Chenoweth (SESAME STREET) are in negotiations to share the title role in Walt Disney Animation's RAPUNZEL UNBRAIDED, reports VARIETY. Witherspoon would provide the speaking voice for the character with Chenoweth handling the singing. The in-development CG project is being directed by Glen Keane and produced by Phil Lofaro. Sarah Parriott and Josie McGibbon wrote the screenplay, which gives a new twist on the classic fairy tale.
