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Tagged With: Production

Film Headline News

Puppet Aladdin Goes Into Production in Morocco

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 12:00am

Agadir, Morocco-based C Brothers has started production on ALADDIN, the first Berber-language puppet animated film, reports VARIETY. Newcomer Ebhheim Abdeni will direct.

The film follows a little boy who challenges forest genies to win a book of knowledge. An Arabic-dubbed version will also be made.

C Brothers is owned by a trio of brother Brahim, Hussein and Rachid Chkiri. The company has produced on average 10 direct-to-DVD films a year. These low-budget productions are often edutainment products for the local market.

Animation Headline News

Get the Latest Animation World Mag Acrobat While its Free!

The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now online. Download your copy today while its still available for free. This issue we cover many topical subjects surrounding television. John Cawley looks at how, in a matter of a few years, TV animation production has moved to rely on Flash more and more as a cost alternative. Cawley also charts the changing landscape of Saturday morning animation programming in the U.S., which used to be the primetime for toons on TV.

Company Headline News

noitulovE Wins BTAA

BTAA, a non-for-profit organization of leading advertising agencies and production companies, has announced its 2006 British Television Advertising Craft Awards. The animated/visual effects winners included:

BEST ANIMATIONTitle: Motorola Grand ClassicsProduct: Motorola Grand ClassicsClient: MotorolaNominee: Smith & FoulkesProduction Company: Nexus Prods.Production Company Producer: Luke YoungmanAgency: The Fish Can SingAgency Producer: Mo Neef

FINALISTSTitle: Four Steps

Universal Headline News

Kristin Lowe Upped to Universal Pictures Production VP

Kristin Lowe has been promoted to vp, production, Universal Pictures, overseeing the day-to-day production activities for many of the studio's most anticipated films, including CHILDREN OF MEN, THE KINGDOM and BREACH.

Lowe joined Universal Pictures in 2004 as director of development, following a stint as director of development at Warner Bros. Pictures, She joined WB in 2002 as a creative exec after posts both at MGM and Michael Bay Films.

Film Headline News

Halo Movie Officially Halted

Due to Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox pulling out of the project, Peter Jacksons WingNut Films and Microsoft have had to halt production on the feature adaptation of the videogame, HALO, despite reports earlier that said they were continuing without studio backing.

WingNut Films has released the following statement regarding the halt in production.

Production Headline News

BAFTA Announces Children’s Nods

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12:00am

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced the nominees for this year's British Academy Children's Film and Television Awards in association with Electronic Arts. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006 at the London Hilton.

The nominees are:

ANIMATION THE AMAZING ADRENALINI BROTHERS! David Hodgson, Dan Chambers, Claire Underwood (Pesky Ltd., Studio B Prods., CITV)

KING ARTHUR'S DISASTERS Edward Bignell, Julian Scott (Zenith Ent. Ltd./CiTV)

Production Headline News

Helena Bonham Carter Cooks Up Role in Sweeney Todd

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 12:00am

Helena Bonham Carter (THE WINGS OF THE DOVE) will join the cast of SWEENEY TODD, the DreamWorks Studios and Warner Bros. co-production that will star Johnny Depp as The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Tim Burton is set to direct the film based on the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical.

Carter will play the diabolical Mrs. Lovett who dispenses her victims' bodies in her meat pies and becomes Sweeney's amorous accomplice.

Animation Headline News

Chinese Primetime Foreign Toon Ban Spurs Local Production

Since a September ruling by the Chinese government that prohibited foreign-produced cartoons from airing every evening from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, local production has began to grow and more students are joining animation schools to take advantage of the wave of new jobs in the industry, reports ChannelNewsAsia.com.

As a result, Beijing Glorious Animation has started adapting one of China's favorite cartoon series, SANMAO, into an animated series. The comic chronicles the adventures of a young boy growing up in Shanghai during the 1930s.

Series Headline News

All-New Casper The Friendly Ghost Series Coming

MoonScoop and Classic Media announced that they will produce and distribute a brand new CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST animated series. Indias DQ Ent. has also come on board as co-production partner and the series will be developed with TF1 in France. Production on the new 52x11 series is set to commence in February 2007. Distribution of the new series will be shared between the co-production partners.

Mainframe Headline News

Ken Tsumura New Mainframe Ent. Production & Technology SVP

Animation production vet Ken Tsumura joins Mainframe Ent. as svp, production and technology.

Tsumura was a producer and production manager for multiple high-profile animated series and feature films, including CURIOUS GEORGE for Universal, ADAM SANDLERS EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS for Columbia Pictures, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, JOSEPH KING OF DREAMS and FATHER OF THE PRIDE for DreamWorks Animation, THE SIMPSONS for Gracie Films and numerous series for Disney Animation.

Production Headline News

The Guardian’s Fluid VFX Secrets Revealed

With the release of Buena Vistas THE GUARDIAN on Sept. 29, 2006, the potential of RealFlow 4 by Next Limit Technologies was revealed.

A strategic alliance among Next Limit Technologies, Hollywood vfx studio Flash Film Works and Fusion CI Studios (an R&D and fluid vfx studio) has leveled the playing field dominated by much larger studios.

Production Headline News

Dimension Acquires Rights to Dawson's O.C.T. - Occult Crimes Taskforce

Dimension Films has acquired the rights to produce O.C.T. - OCCULT CRIMES TASKFORCE, based on Rosario Dawsons (SIN CITY, CLERKS II, upcoming GRINDHOUSE, upcoming KILLSHOT) new comicbook series of the same name, which she co-created with David Atchison and Tony Shasteen. Dawson is also set to star in and produce the film.

Ford Lytle Gilmore will exec produce the film, with Atchison and Shasteen serving as co-producers and Gus Vasquez serving as assoc producer.

Production Headline News

New Line Cinema & Samuel L. Jackson Sign Production Deal

New Line Cinema has signed a two-year, first-look production deal with Samuel L. Jackson.

Jackson most recently starred in NEW LINES SNAKES ON A PLANE, which debuted at #1 in its Aug. 18 opening weekend. He has appeared in more than 100 films, which have collectively grossed approximately $6 billion at the box office more than any other actor in the history of filmmaking. Jackson has starred in such recent hits as COACH CARTER and George Lucas trio of STAR WARS prequels.

Universal Headline News

Peter Jackson to Produce Dambusters Remake

Production will soon begin on DAMBUSTERS, the World War II adventure based on one of the most daring missions in aeronautic military history, for Universal Pictures in association with StudioCanal. Peter Jackson will produce and vfx vet Christian Rivers will make his directorial debut.

Design Headline News

Geoffrey Kater Publishes “Design First For 3D Sketchbook”

In his first book, DESIGN FIRST FOR 3D ARTISTS, Geoffrey Kater taught emerging production designers and animators how to create and nurture their own personal design style. Now, in his second book in the series, DESIGN FIRST FOR 3D SKETCHBOOK, Kater provides hundreds of full-on designs and thumbnail sketches that serve to inspire designers, 3D artists and filmmakers alike. DESIGN FIRST FOR 3D SKETCHBOOK can be ordered through the Design First site, www.designfirstfor3D.com or at www.lulu.com.

Production Headline News

Nightwatch Director Wanted for English-Lingo Debut

Universal Pictures has tapped NIGHTWATCH director Timur Bekmambetov to make his English-language debut with the sci-fi actioner, WANTED, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. James McAvoy, who made a big impression as Mr. Tumnus, the Faun, in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, will star.

Production Headline News

Sweeney Todd Set For Release End of 2007

DreamWorks Studios announced that Johnny Depp and Tim Burtons SWEENEY TODD, based on the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical thriller, is set to begin production early next year for a late 2007 release.

In the co-production with Warner Bros., Depp will star as the titular Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald will partner with Richard Zanuck and John Logan to produce the screenplay adaptation by Logan (THE AVIATOR). Paramount will distribute for DreamWorks domestically and Warner Bros. internationally.

Production Headline News

Camille Eden Joins Framestore CFC

Framestore CFC has hired Camille Eden as 3D resource manager. With more than 12 years of experience in film, television and visual effects production, will oversee the care and management of the company's flourishing 3D team members, including 3D artists, lighting and technical directors.

Film Headline News

Golden Compass to Start Sept. 4

New Line Cinema has officially greenlit production on THE GOLDEN COMPASS, the highly anticipated adaptation of the first of author Philip Pullman's bestselling HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. Production on the $150 million film is scheduled to begin Sept. 4, 2006, in the U.K., with Oscar-nominated writer/director Chris Weitz (ABOUT A BOY, ANTZ) at the helm. Digital Domain reportedly will handle vfx with Oscar nominee Mike Fink (CONSTANTINE, X-MEN, X-2) serving as visual effects supervisor.

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