Focus Features, the art house division of Universal Pictures, named company veteran James Schamus as its sole ceo.
The new title for Schamus, who co-produced the Oscar-winning BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, follows the recent promotion of David Linde from co-head of Focus to co-chairman of Universal Pictures, sharing that job with Marc Shmuger. Previously Schamus and Linde had run Focus together.
Shane Acker has landed an animation student's dream. Focus Features has agreed to turn his student short 9 into an animated feature with Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov (Russian director of NIGHT WATCH) and Jim Lemley (exec producer of RED EYE) producing, reports the trades. Acker will even get to direct. Focus president of production John Lyons will shepherd the film.
Visual effects house A52 is the next pick for VFXWorld's Focus On Gallery. Check out more than two-dozen images from the company's work and read up on the techniques and challenges that went into making them. From music videos to commercials, the Focus On Gallery highlights some of the best work coming out of studios both big and small.
If you'd like to be considered for inclusion in the Focus On Gallery, contact Dan Sarto at dan@awn.com.
Visit the Focus On Gallery.
Focus Features has opened a new action, thriller and urban dedicated label called Rogue Pictures, reported VARIETY. Supervision of the new unit will be headed by Focus' management team. Focus president of distribution Jack Foley will be the go-to man on Rogue releases. The first film to be released by the new arm with the forthcoming CHILD'S PLAY sequel, THE SEED OF CHUCKY, directed and written by series creator Don Mancini.
Viacom-owned Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI) has laid off 70 workers, roughly 10% of its staff, on May 5, 2003, primarily in the areas of affiliate relations, marketing and creative services. This follows on the heels of rival HBO eliminating 20 jobs the previous week.
Hollywood-based producer and distributor C Cubed Entertainment has acquired distribution rights for ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY, an animated series from Christian radio ministry Focus on the Family. C Cubed will distribute the made-for-video series, based on the radio program of the same name, to all non-religious television and home entertainment entities worldwide. Although this distribution agreement marks Focus' first entry into the mainstream entertainment arena, ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY is one of the Christian broadcaster's most successful franchises.
FilmCore's Charlie Chubak has wrapped four new spots for the Ford Dealers of Southern California and agency Dailey & Associates. "Head Turner" follows two guys swiveling their heads a full 180-degrees to see a red Ford Mustang. "Out of Focus" follows a blurred human form as it gets out of bed and leaves the house. Only when the character turns the ignition of its Ford Focus does the man come into focus. "Weekends" mixes shots of Ford SUVs with poppy graphics, while "Truck Size" featured no visual enhancement.
Cartoon Master, sponsored by Cartoon the European Animation Association, will delve into the expanding opportunities on the Internet. The focus of the event will be to take a look at the legal terrain of the Web and how it affects producers. In the first session on Friday, the program will define what new media is and how it will affect professionals in production, distribution and ownership. Later on Friday, the discussion will focus on how television programming will be affected by the new medium. The first session on Sunday will center on the field of rights on the Net.
