Australia's Film Finance Corp. has approved an investment in the animated series FAIREEZ as part of an overall injection of cash into two features, three miniseries and three children shows, reports VARIETY. FFC ceo Brian Rosen said the agency will invest A$18.5 million (US$13.5 million) in the television projects.
Well its not like talking on visaphones as they did in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon THE JETSONS, Cartoon Network, the broadcaster of many HB favorites has gone futuristic, launching the CN channel on three-inch UTMS videophones in Italy.
Turner Broadcasting System Inc. signed its first mobile TV agreement with mobile operator "3" Italy to distribute Cartoon Network to the operator's videophone subscribers, enabling users to watch a daily block of CN programming on their videophones.
Framestore CFC has appointed Andy Boyd as the company's new head of 3D, commercials. Boyd came to the company from Glassworks last September, and has already amassed an impressive list of credits at Framestore, including work on Goodyear HALFPIPE, Lynx TOUCH, Daewoo SHEET and the Post Office ANT spots. His most recent project has been the forthcoming Johnnie Walker TREE, which features noteworthy 3D arboreal action.
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.
Discreet has announced that its lustre digital grading and color correction system is now installed in 17 film studios and post-production facilities around the world.
Pauline Bohm joins NBC Universal Television Distribution in the newly created post of vp, international marketing. Bohm will work closely with Dan Weiss, evp, marketing, to whom she report, developing marketing strategies for international markets serviced by NBC Universal International TV Dist., which includes a client-base in more than 200 countries.
A while back, Bruce Shutan profiled Atomic Visual Effects of South Africa for VFXWORLD. Spurred by a letter to delve further into South Africa's thriving 3D community, Shutan recently interviewed several other vfx and animation studios and various artists to discover why Cape Town is on the verge of becoming the next Sydney, Australia.
Activision's North American Publishing unit has shipped more than two million units of its SPIDER-MAN 2 videogame timed to the theatrical release of the feature film. The game lets players experience what it's like to be Spider-Man as they web sling from buildings, dive from rooftops to the streets and scale the heights of Manhattan. Players will be able to engage in various missions inspired by the action of the film. The game is available for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC.
On the eve of the premiere of the SPIDER-MAN 2 movie, National Geographic Channel will air SPIDER POWER at 8:00 pm on June 25, 2004, an extraordinary look at the evolution of one of the most successful hunters on the planet. This one-hour special uses spectacular macrophotography and stylized CGI bring to bring viewers within attack range of some of the worlds most ingenious predators and their super powers.
Acclaim Ent. has unleashed the ultimate wrestling game SHOWDOWN: LEGENDS OF WRESTLING for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Developed by Acclaim Studios Austin, the game was designed in conjunction with professional wrestling experts and features 73 of the greatest wrestlers in history, including Hulk Hogan, Sting, Andre the Giant, Ultimate Warrior, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Bret "Hitman" Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Eddie Guerrero and "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
Atari Inc. has announced that it has shipped 2.5 million units of its highly anticipated DRIV3R to retails outlets worldwide. Since DRIV3R hit store shelves on June 21, 2004 in the U.S. and June 22 in Europe and Australia, consumer demand has been extremely strong.
"Our worldwide shipment is right in line with our plan for DRIV3R," said Bruno Bonnell, chairman/ceo of Atari. "The global DRIVER fan base is as robust and passionate as ever, as indicated by retail reaction in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France and other key territories."
DECODE Entertainment digs in down under, securing second season commitments across it catalogue of hit shows from ABC TV in Australia. The broadcaster has committed to five series across all ages.
Fox Filmed Ent. upped Peter Levinsohn to president, Digital Media and Worldwide Pay Television. In this new role, Levinsohn will be responsible for managing digital media strategy for Fox, including leading the effort to establish robust content protection measures in the digital media marketplace; identifying content distribution opportunities; pursuing long-term strategic initiatives with major technology players; and developing opportunities to maximize the value of film and television product in emerging digital platforms. In this capacity he will work closely with the Fox Ent.
Ryan Church, concept design supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic (STAR WARS EPISODES I, II and III) is the Grand Master award winner for EXPOSÉ 2, the latest in the series of digital art books from Ballistic Publishing that will begin shipping in July. The Grand Master is awarded to an artist exhibiting outstanding skill and contribution to the advancement of digital art. A graduate of Art Center, Church began his career at Walt Disney Imagineering (blue-sky concepts for future theme parks) before freelancing at Universal and hiring on at ILM in digital feature production.
A few months ago Rick Mischel, ceo of Mainframe Ent., alluded to AWN that a sales/distribution entity would be in place soon for IDT Ent. and now that has become a reality. IDT Ent. has formed IDT Ent. Sales (IDTeS) a new company responsible for the worldwide distribution of content from its companies, as well as third-party producers. IDT Ent. companies include Anchor Bay Ent., Manga Ent., DPS, DPS/Film Roman, Mainframe Ent. and DKP Effects.
Prague, Czech Republic-based Cenega Publishing has signed a deal with Altar Interactive to publish the forthcoming PC-CD ROM title, UFO: AFTERSHOCK, due to release in Q3 2005.
The coveted short film grand prize at the 28th International Festival of Animated Film at Annecy went to Mike Gabriel for LORENZO while Chris Landreth received the Special Jury Award for RYAN. The judges selected the 2D film over the 3D film for the top prize, wishing to recognize "true magic does not rely on technology and can start with the artist's hand-drawn art." The awards were presented at the closing ceremony held on Saturday, June 12, 2004 in Annecy, France. Congratulations to all the winners!
The Short and Feature Fiction Films Category winners are:
In an effort to appeal to local audiences, DreamWorks will have the voice of underwater TV journalist Katie Current, voiced differently Down Under, reports VARIETY. In the States, the character's inspiration TODAY host Katie Couric will provide her voice; with Australian TODAY host Tracy Grimshaw, voicing the character for Aussie audiences. DreamWorks hasn't announced whether other regions of the world will feature their own journalist celebs in the role. The film opens in Australia Sept. 30, 2004 and in the U.S. on Oct. 1.
Entara has announced that it has signed a home video deal for JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS with Paramount Home Ent. as well as a book deal with Simon Spotlight, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing.
4Kids Entertainment, Inc. will continue the new TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES animated series, produced by Mike Young Prods., for a third season of new episodes (26) with TF1 (France), Media Set (Italy), and Fox Kids Europe and Latin America.
In addition, NINJA TURTLES already have renewals with GMTV (U.K.), VTM (Belgium), SIC TV (Portugal), Alter TV (Greece), Childrens Channel (Israel) and DTV (Turkey).
Wieden & Kennedys Honda COG, a unique 120-second TV commercial, has walked off with this years Grand Clio for TV at this years International Clio Festival, held from May 15 - 18, 2004. In addition, DDB Chicago has, again, been named Clios Agency of the Year, and DDB Worldwide, Agency Network of the Year for the fourth year in a row.
Activision Inc. has announced that, through a licensing agreement with Spider-Man Merchandising (a 50/50 limited partnership comprised of Marvel Enterprises Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc.), the company will develop and publish videogames based on the 2007 feature film SPIDER-MAN 3. Activision is currently developing console and PC games based on SPIDER-MAN 2 that are scheduled for release in North America timed to the film's launch on June 30, 2004.
Doug Miller has been appointed evp/md of Walt Disney International (Asia-Pacific), as well as svp/md of Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific), overseeing all Disney television activities in the region. Miller will continue to lead television development for the company in Asia and is based in Hong Kong.
Ballistic Publishing has announced the publication of EXPOSÉ 2, the second edition of the industry's acclaimed art book celebrating the creative talents of digital artists worldwide. EXPOSÉ 1 was sold in 68 countries worldwide and won numerous awards. Pre-order information, page galleries, award winning images and more are available at www.ballisticpublishing.com/expose2.
AEAF Melbourne Short Film FestivalMelbourne, Australia June 1, 2004Deadline: May 21, 2003
As part of the Digital Media Festival, Melbourne, the Australian Effects & Animation Festival Short Film Festival will screen submissions alongside renowned international work from artists at Passion Pictures (U.K.), La Maison (France), Sony Pictures Imageworks (U.S.) and Vinton Studios (U.S.). The event will take place at the Melbourne Convention Centre, corner of Spencer & Flinders Streets.
