Hasbro Inc. has hired Hollywood heavyweight Lorenzo di Bonaventura to shop its classic G.I. JOE franchise around to studios as a live-action feature film, reported DAILY VARIETY. Di Bonaventura track record as an exec at Warner Bros. includes such franchises as THE MATRIX, HARRY POTTER, SCOOBY-DOO and BATMAN. Screenwriter Michael Gordon (LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN OBRIEN) has already been attached to pen a script.
Universal and NBC have struck a deal to create a dramatic TV pilot based on the 2004 summer thriller VAN HELSING. Entitled TRANSYLVANIA, the show will not be a spinoff or sequel, but will take place in the same universe as the feature. This deal is the first between NBC and Universal since negotiations by GE to purchase Universal from Vivendi began. The films director Stephen Sommers (THE MUMMY) first came up with the idea for the TV series over a year ago when he was hired to direct the feature.
Following the demise of Egmont Imagination earlier this year, the company's former U.K. managing director, Tatiana Kober, has launched Bejuba! Entertainment, based in Toronto with an office in Los Angeles. The company will specialize in financing, exploitation and distribution of intellectual property rights across all key markets and platforms.
BIONICLE: MASK OF LIGHT, the first computer-animated feature based on the popular LEGO franchise, arrives on DVD Sept. 16, 2003 presented by the LEGO Co., co-producer Create TV and Film, Miramax Films and Buena Vista Home Entertainment ($29.99). The animation was performed by Los Angeles-based Creative Capers Entertainment and Taipei-based studio CGCG. Having already captured millions of 12-year-old boys in the U.S.
Los Angeles-based KromA (www.kroma.biz) created 100 dancing clones of Ricky Martin in providing computer animation and vfx services for JERAMENTO, the pop superstar's new music video. Directed by Joseph Kahn, the video is the latest from Martin's new album ALMAS DEL SILENCIO.
In a further sign of its aggressive commitment to computer animation, Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios are prepping a feature based on the laidback children's book THE IGUANA BROTHERS: A TALE OF TWO LIZARDS, the trades reported and the studio confirmed. Written by Tony Johnson and illustrated by Mark Teague, IGUANA concerns two brothers in Mexico (Dom and Tom) that will try almost anything, including going vegetarian and acting like dinosaurs.
Mark Miller has been promoted from exec in charge of production to vp/sr exec in charge of production at Industrial Light & Magic. The 19-year ILM vet will be responsible for overseeing and managing the production department and its staff, as well as take a leading role in ILMs strategic marketing and bidding efforts.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards Committee will review 14 scientific and technical achievements for 76th Academy Awards consideration, according to committee chair Richard Edlund, but its not too late to submit entries.
Participation in the Cartoon Forum continues to swell with 800 professionals attending the four-day event Sept. 17-21, 2003 in Varese, Italy from 14 European countries, including two new UE member countries, Poland and Slovakia. Some 315 producers will be looking for the best financing while 108 broadcasters and 154 investors are looking for the best programs, with 285 million euros to be negotiated. They will see presentations for 82 animated series or TV specials, comprising 503 hours of animation.
Nashville Film FestivalNashville, Tennessee, USAApril 26 - May 2, 2004 Deadline: October 31, 2003
SXSW 2004 Film Festival Austin, Texas, USAMarch 12 -20, 2004Deadline: December 1, 2003
ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, Robert Rodriguez's homage to Sergio Leone, topped the box office chart for the weekend ended Sept. 14, 2003. The Sony movie (with vfx by Hybride Technologies) scored with $23.4M. Ridley Scott's MATCHSTICK MEN, debuted in second (with vfx by Sony Pictures Imageworks), picking up a more modest $13M for Warner Bros. In third place, was another debut, the indie horror film CABIN FEVER (with vfx by K.N.B. EFX Group).
THE SIMPSONS and FIREFLY were the big Emmy winners for animation and visual effects, respectively, at The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 2002-2003 Creative Arts Primetime Emmys for programs and individual achievements at the 55th Annual Emmy Awards presentation September 13, 2003, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
MILLENNIUM ACTRESS, the first film to be released under Go Fish Pictures, DreamWorks new distribution arm, opened Sept. 12, 2003 in a limited run. The Japanese production by MAD HOUSE (PERFECT BLUE, VAMPIRE HUNTER D and METROPOLIS) reunites director Satoshi Kon and screenwriter Sadayuki Murai, who first collaborated together on Kons award-winning debut feature PERFECT BLUE. Taro Maki (TENCHI FOREVER) served as the exec producer. Susumu Hirasawa composed the score, and Takeshi Honda was the editor and director of animation.
Warner Bros. has announced that Christian Bale (EQUILIBRIUM, AMERICAN PSYCHO) has been cast as Bruce Wayne in Warner Bros. upcoming BATMAN movie. MEMENTO director Christopher Nolan will direct the next installment in the popular franchise, which will be produced by Emma Thomas. The movie is written by David Goyer, along with Nolan, and will follow the early career of the Caped Crusader.
Nolan said, What I see in Christian is the ultimate embodiment of Bruce Wayne. He has exactly the balance of darkness and light that we were looking for.
Michelle Rodriguez (GIRLFIGHT) and Alfred Molina (FRIDA) have joined the voice cast of SIAN KA'AN, the first Hispanic-themed animated feature produced within the U.S. The cast already includes opera legend Placido Domingo and comedian Cheech Marin (STILL SMOKIN). Rodriguez will lend her voice to the fiery secretary of the celestial prime minister of extinct species. Molina will voice the title character and lead villain Ka'an.
Ion Luca Caragiale ExhibitBucharest, RomaniaDecember 1 31, 2003Deadline: October 15, 2003
Cartoombria 2003 - New Animated Images International ExhibitionPerugia, ItalyDecember 4 6, 2003Deadline: October 31, 2003.
A52 recently completed the main titles for HBO's new series CARNIVÀLE (debuting Sept. 14, 2003), creatively juxtaposing famous works of art and iconic footage.
Five European short films have been selected to compete for the 13th Cartoon d'Or award to be handed out at the awards ceremony September 20 2003 at Cartoon Forum, which takes place Sept. 17-20 in Varese, Italy.
The films were chosen by a jury from a field of 25 projects that won prizes at Cartoon's partner European festivals (Annecy, Bristol, Brussels, Espinho, Fredrikstad, Genzano di Roma and Utrecht). Jury members were Mark Baker, Jannik Hatrup, Corinne Jenart and Antonio Zurera.
The WALT DISNEY TREASURES collectible DVD series continues with WAVE 3 on Dec. 2, 2003. The four new, separate, two-disc sets (Walt Disney Home Entertainment, $32.99 each) include: WALT DISNEY ON THE FRONT LINES (featuring exclusive declassified material from World War II-themed productions); MICKEY MOUSE IN LIVING COLOR (VOLUME TWO); THE CHRONOLOGICAL DONALD; and WALT DISNEYS TOMORROWLAND. Each volume is fully restored and introduced by historian Leonard Maltin.
"It doesn't look good," remarked a Disney insider when asked about the prospects of renewing its partnership with Pixar Animation Studios. "It's not a slam dunk, but that doesn't mean it won't work out either," remarked another studio insider. Now THE LOS ANGLES TIMES reports that Disney and Pixar are far apart in their contract negotiations, which Disney co-chairman Michael Eisner would like to conclude by the studio's next board meeting on Sept. 23, 2003.
4th Annual Filmmakers.com Screenwriting Awards World Wide WebApril 30, 2004Deadline: January 31, 2004
Universal Home Video has announced that the October 28, 2003 DVD release of THE HULK will feature the Xbox demo version of THE HULK game. The DVD will contain one playable level.
The film follows the origin of The Hulk when gammarays transform scientist Bruce Banner into the raging green beast. With visual effects by Industrial Light & Magic and directed by Ang Lee (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON), the film stars Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas and Nick Nolte.
Twothousandstrong, led by creative director Craig Tozzi, has recently wrapped two corporate shots for Electronic Arts. The promos, created for popular game maker Electronic Arts, in conjunction with Arnson Communications, were specifically designed to promote EA's new games at the annual E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo) conference in Los Angeles.
