Production

Hilton Co-Owned Co. Funds Chinese CG Projects

Partly owned by the Hilton family, EnterAktion Studios has teamed with Asia Legend on four CG features, reports VARIETY. Each film will have a budget of $12 million and will be produced between Hong Kong's Asia Legend, Legendtoonland and Los Angeles-based EnterAktion.

The first two projects are set to start production in the summer. LIFE WITH DWEGONS' plot is being kept quiet, but it is scheduled for completion in early 2009. LOS OPOLIS follows the creature that live in an underground building.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Marvel Headline News

Marvel Shuffles Exec Deck

Mort Handel, chairman, Marvel Ent., announced that David Maisel has been named chairman, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige has been named president of production.

Maisel joined Marvel in Dec. 2003. He was responsible for the conception and execution of the company's new film production initiative, including the establishment of the $525 million non-recourse loan facility to finance that strategy.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Production Headline News

Imagi Appoints Brett Feeney As VP of Production

Imagi Int'l Holdings Ltd. announced that computer graphics industry veteran, Brett Feeney, has joined Imagi as vp of production, based in Hong Kong. Feeney will be responsible for managing the company's animation production line and its 400+ artists, animators and technical staff.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Production Headline News

Digital Outlook Launches New Production Arm

London-based online marketing and creative agency Digital Outlook is launching its own production division to develop, produce and distribute character-based intellectual properties online, as well as across all media, including TV, licensing, retail and publishing.

The new studio seeks production partners and creative talent to work with on content and brand creation. The studio already has an active development slate and plans to develop and exploit up to 10 franchises over the next two years.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia, Europe

Film Headline News

Cartoon Movie To Show 10 New Completed Animated Films

This year the animation co-production forum Cartoon Movie (Potsdam, March 7-9, 2007) will present 10 new completed films and 32 projects in various stages of production. Some 500 professionals, including more than 140 buyers, investors and distributors will participate in the 9th edition of this event, where they will get to experience the next generation of European animation films.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Film Headline News

New German Rebate System for Film Production

In an upcoming talk in Los Angeles, the mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, and the regional film funding body, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, will explain to an L.A. audience how American producers can profit from the new German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) which offers a 20% rebate on every Euro spent. They will also present the advantages of Berlin-Babelsberg as one of Europe's most attractive centers for filmmaking. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel.

In Business, Visual Effects, Business, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Producers Headline News

Canadian Actors & Producers Reach New Agreement

Following several days of negotiations the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), Association des producteurs de films et de television du Quebec (APFTQ) and ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) announced that they have reached a renewed Independent Production Agreement (IPA).

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America, South America

Studio Headline News

Studio B Staffs Up in Marketing & Production

Studio B Prods. Inc. has brought aboard Anthony Jiwa as the Vancouver animation house's new director of marketing and Kirsten Newlands has been named as head of production.

Jiwa was director of marketing at VIZ Media where he led marketing efforts for the company's publishing and home entertainment divisions, including such properties as POKÉMON, NARUTO and INUYASHA.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Stardust Headline News

Stardust Studios Promotes Two in Production

Stardust Studios has brought onboard Corey Cirillo as exec producer, and promoted senior producer Amy Kaufman Levy to the newly created position of head of production. Both execs will be based in the company's Santa Monica, California, studio.

In Anime, People, Anime, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Production Events

The Accolade TV

Begins: February 20, 2007

The Accolade recognizes exceptional achievement in craft and creativity in film, television, documentary and video. Widely respected, the Accolade is an award that matters to clients, distributors and festival organizers. Entries are screened by award-winning, senior-level judges against a high standard of excellence.

In Event Types: Contests, Animation, Live Action

Nat Geo Kids Ent. Names Production VP & Franchise Marketing Director

To meet the demands of National Geographic Kids Ent.'s (NGKE) rapidly expanding production slate, Melanie Grisanti joins as of production while Darren Metzger takes on the newly created position franchise marketing director.

Grisanti will oversee the flow of all production for the kids' programming production unit and supervise series set up, budgeting, scheduling and studio management domestically and abroad to ensure creative integrity and production quality. She reports to NGKE president Donna Friedman Meir.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Production VFXWorld

The Digital Eye: VFX Supervision in Commercial Production

In this months Digital Eye, Geoff McAuliffe and Dave Waller of Brickyard VFX get down to the nitty gritty of vfx supervision in commercials.

In Production | VFXWorld

Production Headline News

The Accolade TV Contest Deadline Nears

The Accolade TVWorld Wide WebFeb. 20, 2007Deadline: Feb. 20, 2007

In Call for Entries, Call for Entries | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animated Headline News

Cars Takes Feature Cup While Fosters & DreamWorks Take Home Most Annie Gold

Disney/Pixar's CARS took Best Animated Feature prize while the rest of The Annie Awards were more spread out amongst the contenders as the Cartoon Network series, FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY won the top TV category, Best Animated Television Production at 34th Annual Annie Awards held Feb. 11, 2007, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. FOSTER'S won three awards and DreamWorks projects took home the lions share of awards, winning in nine categories at ASIFA-Hollywoods black-tie ceremony attended by more than 1,300 industry insiders and the public.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia

Production ANIMATIONWorld

Funny Money: The Games of Animated Budgets

John Cawley lays out the rules of the funny game of animation budgeting.

In ANIMATIONWorld

Production Headline News

YTV's Monster Warriors Wraps Production On Second Season

MONSTER WARRIORS, the hit YTV series produced by Coneybeare Stories, wrapped production of its second season of 26 half-hour episodes this week, and marked the occasion with special gifts for the city's Children's Aid Society.

The new season of MONSTER WARRIORS premieres on YTV on Saturday, April 7, at 12:00 pm ET/PT.

In Television, Television | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Production Headline News

Animation Production Day 2007 Planned for Stuttgart

In order to enhance financing and marketing of animated feature films on a long-term- basis, the Animation Production Day (APD) will, for the first time, bring producers of feature film projects into contact with world distribution companies, marketing experts, banks and equity investors, focusing on gap financing and the potential for international distribution.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Production Headline News

Parker & Morrison to Steer Fox Animation as Part of Studio Restructuring

Fox Filmed Ent. launched a series of promotions in the wake of the studio's record $2 billion-plus global box office last year and the sudden departure two weeks ago of Fox Animation president Chris Meledandri to Universal.

Hutch Parker has been elevated to vice chairman of Twentieth Century Fox Film Group, which includes oversight of both Twentieth Century Fox and Fox Animation. Parker has been president of TCF since 2005. He joined Fox in 1995 as svp, production. He was named president of production in 1999.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Music Headline News

Production I.G Animates New Music Video for French Diva Mylene Farmer

Production I.G and Geneon Ent. (USA) Inc. announces the signing of a creative partnership between the two companies in the creation, development and production of an animated music video for French music diva Mylene Farmer.

In Commercials, Commercials | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe, North America

Production Headline News

Production I.G Shops Ghost in the Shell As Live-Action Feature

Kodansha Ltd. has tapped animation production company Production I.G to shop GHOST IN THE SHELL to Hollywood studios as a live-action feature, reports AnimeNewsNetwork.com. Kodansha produced Shirow Masamune's original GHOST IN THE SHELL manga and still holds the rights to the property. Production I.G. created the animated films GHOST IN THE SHELL and INNOCENCE: GHOST IN THE SHELL, in addition to the STAND ALONE COMPLEX TV Series. Production I.G. is not new to negotiating in North America. It secured the distribution deal with DreamWorks for INNOCENCE and produces IGPX for Cartoon Network.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Production Events

The Accolade Competition

Begins: January 15, 2007

In Event Types: Contests, Animation, Features, Live Action, Short Films, Other

Autodesk VFXWorld

The Future of Digital Production, According to Autodesk

Adrian Pennington reports back from the Autodesk Summit in Montreal, which included a roadmap for future development.

In VFXWorld | Columns: Festivals

Production Headline News

Adobe Production Studio To Be Available for Both Mac and Windows

Adobe Systems Inc. announced that the next version of Adobe Production Studio, the integrated video and audio post-production tool set that is part of the Creative Suite family, will be available for both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Film, video and web professionals using Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator on the Mac will soon be able to use Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Encore DVD and Adobe Soundbooth -- all key components of an upcoming revision to Adobe Production Studio.

In Anime, Technology, Anime, Technology | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Animation Headline News

Future Film Festival Coming Jan. 17-21, 2007

The 9th edition of the Future Film Festival, the first and most important Italian event dedicated to the latest digital technologies applied to cinema, television and the Net, will take place in Bologna from Jan. 17-21, 2007. The program includes homages, premieres and meetings with special effects production companies from all over the world. Amongst the Italian premieres: ARTHUR & THE MINIMOYS by Luc Besson, ORIGIN -- SPIRITS OF THE PAST by Keiichi Sugiyama; FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST by Seiji Mizushima, PRINCESS by Anders Morgenthaler and SILK by Chao-Bin Su.

In Event, Visual Effects, Event, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Software Headline News

Skymatter Releases Mudbox 1.0

Skymatter Ltd. announced the first public release of its highly anticipated sculpting software, Mudbox. After two years of production testing with several of the largest film and game companies, Mudbox is now available for purchase.

In Technology, Visual Effects, Technology, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All