SPIN takes its vision to Vancouver, creating a new studio, SPIN West VFX. The new studio (SPIN is headquartered in Toronto with another shop in Atlanta) has hit the ground running, landing vfx work on the much-anticipated television miniseries STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL. Close behind the Stephen King production is work for STARGATE SG1 (Sci Fi Channel) and SPYMATES (Keystone Pictures).
LACDA Digital Art CompetitionLos Angeles, California, USAJune 10-July 2, 2004Deadline: May 10, 2004
The longstanding Burger King slogan "Have It Your Way" saw a new twist at the hands of New York visual effects studio rhinofx and advertising agency UniWorld Group, New York. Designed to appeal to the urban market, the new spot titled CHICKEN WITH STYLE, builds and customizes a 3D chicken model by giving it car-like attributes and personifying it with sunglasses, a twisted baseball cap and a little bling, bling thrown in. Offbeat and humorous, the message of "your sandwich done your way" comes shining through.
Hot off its recent work on SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED, San Francisco-based Giant Killer Robots (GKR) is now concentrating on two upcoming New Line features for release in 2004: BLADE: TRINITY and SON OF THE MASK.
HAMILTON MATTRESS (MGM, $14.95), the charming 30-minute stop-motion work produced by Harvest Films/Egmont Imagination in 2001, is currently available on DVD. The aardvark with a heart that drums, indeed. Sludger (voiced by David Thewlis) dreams of making it big in Beak City with his caterpillar agent (voiced by Henry Goodman) in this light fable from Christopher Moll, the producer of WALLACE AND GROMIT, and director Barry Purves.
Flame artist Toni DiMauro has joined Click 3x. DiMauro is skilled in compositing, beauty work and design with diverse credits in commercial and broadcast media. She joins Click 3x from the freelance ranks and has recently worked with the studio in that capacity on projects for Road Runner High Speed Online and ESPN.
Bill Desowitz reports back from the VES Awards, where the best in visual effects for 2003 and the career of George Lucas were honored.
Mark Ramshaw reports back regarding the impressive work being done in commercials and music video in the U.K.
Henry Turner asked Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisors from Return of the King, Master and Commander and Pirates of the Caribbean to evaluate each others work.
CATNAP, Chicago Area Toon Novices and Professionals, moves to a new meeting location in February. We will be at the Loop Campus of the Illinois Institute of Art, 180 N. Wabash Ave., Room 234. Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the location by using public transportation.
This month's featured presentation will be by Ron Fleischer and John Griffin on the preproduction steps required to send the film "Lemmings" out for final animation work.
The meeting is scheduled from 1 to 4 pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring work for screening and discussion.
Mark Ramshaw discusses the transition Weta Digital is taking from The Lord of the Rings series to new projects like King Kong.
J. Paul Peszko interviews the artists at Canadian firm Global Mechanic about their works and expansion into the U.S.
Mark Ramshaw spoke with the visual effects wizards behind the newest live action Peter Pan feature about how they accomplished the startling and massive visual effects.
Reference links to help ASIFA voters make more informed decisions
Mark Ramshaw spoke with the visual effects wizards behind the newest live action Peter Pan feature about how they accomplished the startling and massive visual effects.
Weta senior animator Jason Schleifer talks about what it was like going Gollum for the landmark Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Fluids Michael Fu and Josh Piezas look at various economic issues surrounding remote animation production.
Wah Ming Chang, an Academy Award-winning animator and artist, died Dec. 22, 2003 in Carmel, California at the age of 86.
Some of his more notable works include a stop-motion animation production of THE THREE BEARS. Chang created posable wooden models of PINOCCHIO and BAMBI so that Disney animators could study body movements. He also contributed to BOZO THE CLOWN, TOM THUMB, THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM and THE SEVEN FACES OF DR. LAO, reported Associated Press.
The Durfee Foundation has announced the deadlines for the 2004 ARC grant program. ARC grants are awarded on a quarterly basis to approximately 10 Los Angeles artists. The artists can be working with any medium. Grant requests may be for up to $2,500. Applications must be postmarked on or before the following deadlines:
First Quarter: February 3, 2004For presentations between March 4 and August 4, 2004
Second Quarter: May 4, 2004For presentations between June 3 and November 3, 2004
Third Quarter: August 3, 2004
Starting at 7:00 pm, Sprocket Ensemble at the Red Vic on Haight Street will present
The Career Coach talks about the importance of the invisible rum
Vicky Jenson (SHREK) will discuss her years as an art director and/or production designer on projects including FERNGULLY, THE ROAD TO EL DORADO, and her upcoming DreamWorks film, SHARK TALE, as well as her work with Ralph Bakshi and John Kricfalusi on the visual style development for Mighty Mouse and Ren & Stimpy. Jenson will show clips of her work, as well as FAMILY TREE, a 36-minute live-action film she directed, starring Harlan Williams, Talia Shire and Ethan Phillips. The program will begin at 1:15 pm at The Little Theater, 240 East Avenue. Tickets for the show are $7.
More animation tech talk from Gene Deitch. The technology of animation has changed somewhat over the past 35,000 years, when cavemen first attempted it, but the basics remain. Here they are in specifics.
Whats your favorite animated short? Forum members are asking for your opinion. Know of any good Flash video tutorials then lend your advice to our bloggers. One of our senior members just had to get it off his chest he never seems to have enough time to work on artistic endeavors. If you know how that feels post your thought and experiences. A senior member has started a magical character contest in the Animation Café and wants others to share their work. Who would have thought an anti-depressant drug would spark so much discussion?
This Halloween month, the Career Coach, Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, shares some tricks and treats to help you stay employed.
