SIGGRAPH Animation Winners: Argentines, Histamines and Quarantines
Taylor Jessen delves into some of the inspirations and challenges behind the three shorts recently honored by the SIGGRAPH 2007 Computer Animation Festival.
Tagged With: Story
Shrek 5 to Be The Last
DreamWorks head Jeffrey Katzenberg said that a fifth installment of the SHREK franchise will be the last, reports THE AGE.
"It's a finite story, has been from the beginning, and I think that's part of its integrity, part of its strength, that we're not thinking this up as we go," Katzenberg said to the Australian newspaper. "Ultimately, we will come back to understand how Shrek arrived in that swamp. We will reveal his story."
Naruto Feature Playing One Night in Canada, Rarely Seen Story Now on DVD
Cineplex Ent. and VIZ Media announced that advance tickets are on sale now for the special one-day-only Canadian event of the first NARUTO feature film, NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW, opening nationwide on Saturday June 23, 2007.
Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.cineplex.com as well as at participating Cineplex Ent. theatre box offices; admission for children is $8.95 + tax and general admission is $9.95 + tax.
The SIMS To Build New World on Big Screen
Electronic Arts' THE SIMS, the bestselling PC game of all time, is making its way to the big screen via 20th Century Fox and John Davis Prods., according to VARIETY. Fox's Steve Asbell and SIMS Studio head Rod Humble are shepherding the live-action project. Brian Lynch (SCARY MOVIE 3) is the writer.
"THE SIMS has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it," said Humble. "Given that that's an old story, you can imagine how easily that would translate to traditional storytelling."
Story Editors/Head Writer Panel
Begins: May 23, 2007
WIA is hosting a panel discussion of story editors/head writers. The panel includes: * Jeff Borkin from LITTLE EINSTEINS* Kristin Martin from NATE THE GREAT* Adam Peltzman from BACKYARDIGANS* Melinda Richards from WONDER PETS
Each will tell the group their individual story of how they started, how they got where they are and what goes into being a story editor/head writer, followed by Q & A.
Mind Your Business: Pitch a Hit
Mark Simon steps onto the mound in this month's "Mind Your Business" to show how to pitch a hit TV series.
AWN Discussion Forums - What's New? for April 2, 2007
This week in AWN's Forums, animation fans discuss their thoughts on TMNT and MEET THE ROBINSONS. The thread on favorite villains is still hot. Some of the senior members give a junior some advice on his first walk cycle. Other animators need help with Flash, Maya and Toon Boom. There also interesting threads on RATATOUILLE, Aardman and TOY STORY 3. As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand new stuff to check out in show and tell!
Anime Reviews: Ichi no Go with Elemental Gelade
Christopher Harz returned to the GDC this month -- held for the first time at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco -- and reports back on the latest and greatest games, developments and trends.
9 Story Ent. Producing Proprietary Series Best Ed & Futz!
Canadian animation production and distribution studio, 9 Story Ent., has started production on two new children's animated properties, a comedy, BEST ED, and an action/comedy, FUTZ! In addition, the company will complete production on additional episodes of four critically-acclaimed animated series: PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD (Season 3), MAX AND RUBY (Season 3) POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER (Season 2) and SKYLAND (Season 1).
The Secret of Pixar Storytelling
Pixar directors, writers and artists shared their storytelling experience and expertise during a series of keynote talks and panel discussions as part of Screenwriting Expo 5, sponsored by Creative Screenwriting Magazine. In this brief overview of the all-day seminar, Greg Singer reports how Pixar manages to capture lightning in a bottle.
Anime Reviews: Le Chevalier D'Eon, Noein & BoBo
Taylor Jessen profiles the five animated shorts nominees for the 2007 Academy Awards.
2007's Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts: Three Fords, a Vespa and a Kit Bike
Taylor Jessen profiles the five animated shorts nominees for the 2007 Academy Awards.
Disney Confirms Partial 2D Rebirth & Toy Story 3 For 2009
Refuting months of speculation that Walt Disney Feature Animation would be retooled and rebranded exclusively for 2D, Ed Catmull, president of Pixar and WDFA, revealed plans for merely a partial return to 2D last week at the 2007 Investor Conference. Meanwhile, it was formally announced that TOY STORY 3 is being made at Pixar with Lee Unkrich at the helm (co-director of TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC. and FINDING NEMO) and a script by Michael Arndt, Oscar-nominated for LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. Plans are to release in 2010.
TELETOON's Lévesque New EVP at 9 Story Ent.
Former TELETOON exec Madeleine Lévesque has joined 9 Story Ent. as evp of content development.
Jim Henson Co. to Develop Trio of Book-Based Films
The Jim Henson Co. has announced the most recent additions to its feature film development slate and live-action projects based on beloved fantasy titles. The company has acquired the rights to THE BOGGART by novelist Susan Cooper (THE DARK IS RISING), THE DOUBTFUL GUEST, the whimsical classic story by Edward Gorey, and the popular fantasy adventure trilogy MONSTER BLOOD TATTOO by D.M. Cornish. Jim Henson's Creature Shop, the company's visual and special effects division, will bring the myriad fantasy characters and creatures of each film to life using a blend of CG and animatronics.
Masters Of Horror Season to Wrap Up on Showtime
The MASTERS OF HORROR 13-episode series will be wrapping up on Showtime with THE WASHINGTONIANS, directed by Peter Medak (THE CHANGELING) to debut Jan. 26, 2007, at 10:00 pm, with repeats through the following Tuesday and the 13th story, DREAM CRUISE, directed by Norio Tsuruta (RINGU 0: BÂSUDEI, PREMONITION), to bow Feb. 2 at 10:00 pm.
Anime Reviews: 1/2 Mega Parasites
Joe Strike chats with a few top execs to collect the stories of their "worst pitch ever."
Anime Reviews: Bleached Ninjas
For anime reviews this month, Chris Feldman takes a look at recent releases, Ninja Nonsense volumes 1-4 and Bleach volume 1.
So, Is This Where I’m Supposed to Laugh?: Notable Disasters in the Art of Pitching
Tom Sito highlights a bit of the history of pitching in addition to some classic pitching disasters from Walt's days to today.
Barker Resurrects Poe's Ghost for Teens
Clive Barker and Walden Media are partnering to create an original young-adult thriller featuring the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Barker will develop the story and produce. Anthony DiBlasi and Joseph Daley are set to exec produce via Barker's Seraphim Films.
The story will follow a group of teenagers who, when trying to discover what happened during the last two weeks of Edgar Allen Poe's life, accidentally unleash Poe's nightmares on Earth.
23 Things You Need to Know About Writing Great Comedies
Begins: November 10, 2006
Tom Schlesinger conducts a workshop for film and television writers, directors, producers, actors and novelists. Attendees will learn how the synergy between your creative experience while writing, the essential biology of story structure, and the commercial necessities of today's marketplace will empower you to write great screenplays.
Frank Darabont Sees Mist
Dimension Films is in final talks with SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION director Frank Darabont to helm his adaptation of Stephen Kings 1985 short story, THE MIST, reports VARIETY. Thomas Jane is in negotiations to star.
King originally granted the rights to the story to Darabont when the filmmaker had a deal at Paramount. Darabont is in talks to regain the script rights from Paramount.
Dimension co-chairman Bob Weinstein and production president Richard Saperstein hope to start filming in the spring.
Fresh from the Festivals: October 2006’s Reviews
Taylor Jessen reviews five short films cNote by Chris Hinton, First Flight by Kyle Jefferson and Cameron Hood, Tragic Story with Happy Ending (Histica Trica com Final Feliz) by Regina Pessoa, Puppet by Patrick Smith and Shipwrecked by Frodo Kuipers. Includes QuickTime movie clips!
'Open Season' Diary: 'Open Season' and its Directors
In the third Open Season production diary, Sony Pictures Animation chronicles how directors Jill Culton, Roger Allers and co-director Anthony Stacchi transformed Steve Moores comic strip into an animated feature.
9 Story Adds Natalie Osborne to Exec Team
9 Story Ent., the Emmy and Gemini award-winning animation company, has added Natalie Osborne to its growing executive team. In her new role as evp of business development, Osborne will lead the effort to grow international distribution and the companys portfolio of intellectual properties. A 10-year vet, she worked with some of the worlds top media companies, including NBC Universal in London, where she specialized in childrens and family programming.
