Category: Visual Effects

Paramount Home Ent., for the first time, will release all the original STAR TREK films from the '70s and '80s and the original 1960s-era TV show to Blu-ray.

The releases begin April 28 with the seven-disc, 29-episode Blu-ray set of "STAR TREK: The Original Series" from CBS Home Ent. and Paramount Home Ent.

SIN CITY and SPY KIDS director Robert Rodriguez will write and direct futuristic thriller NERVERACKERS for Dimension, according to VARIETY.

Set for release on April 16, 2010, the film is set in 2085 and follows a man who is part of an elite unit to quell a crime wave in a "perfect" future society.

Dimension and Rodriguez have released most of the director's work, dating back to FROM DUSK TILL DAWN in 1996 and including the PLANET TERROR half of GRINDHOUSE.

WATCHMEN photographer Clay Enos has enlisted his Organic Coffee Cartel (OCC) to produce a first-of-its-kind movie tie-in coffee for WATCHMEN, the upcoming film adaption of the celebrated graphic novel. OCC has introduced Veidt Enterprise's "Nite Owl Dark Roast," a limited-edition confection and collectible designed for fans and organic coffee gourmands alike. A portion of the proceeds from the special roast will be donated to charity.

Director Zack Snyder confirmed that there will be two longer versions of WATCHMEN on Blu-ray and DVD in July at today's press junket in Beverly Hills: an extended "Tales of the Black Freighter" edition, which will run around three-and-a-half hours, and a director's cut (sans the "Black Freighter" animated sequence), which will run about three hours and 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the theatrical cut, which bows in theaters March 6 from Warner Bros., has a running time of approximately 155 minutes.

Digital-Tutors has released STEREOSCOPIC 3D IN MAYA and STEREOSCOPIC 3D IN AFTER EFFECTS, the latest additions in a library of interactive training for new and experienced digital artists learning stereoscopic 3D in Autodesk's Maya.

Fresh off its VFX work for the feature UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS, Ntropic was commissioned by The Brooklyn Brothers to complete a comedic eight-spot campaign for kgb (Knowledge Generation Bureau), the world's largest provider of directory assistance and enhanced information services.

The costumes from Universal Pictures' FROST/NIXON and Focus Features' MILK are now on display along with props from Universal Pictures' HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY at Universal Studios Hollywood's "The Universal Experience: Behind the Scenes of Universal Pictures."

Fans of Guillermo del Toro's HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY, Oscar nominated for Best Makeup - Mike Elizalde, Thom Floutz, can preview an eclectic display of the original prosthetic masks and props and costumes featured in the film.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON won for Period Film, and THE DARK KNIGHT for Fantasy Film, at the 13th Annual Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design Awards. The awards were held Saturday in Beverly Hills, and also honored George Lucas and Paul Sylbert.

At this Sunday's Academy Awards, CHANGELING, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, THE DARK KNIGHT, THE DUCHESS and REVOLUTIONARY ROAD will be up for the Oscar for Art Direction.

Period Films

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTONProduction Designer: Donald Graham Burt

cmiVFX | cmiStudios launches another Houdini Software Training Video for its customer base. Particle animation training has always been limited by selection. cmiVFX is proud to offer the most robust particle training for a large majority of animation packages. The INTRODUCTION TO PARTICLE ANIMATION VIDEO is geared towards training entry level individuals or those migrating from other animation packages. Video is about four hours in length.

This video is available today at the cmiVFX store: http://cmivfx.com/store/Browse.aspx?Category=11.

Creating Particles

Veteran interactive marketing and integrated promotions executive Gordon Paddison has now launched his new global marketing firm Stradella Road, which will provide entertainment, and corporate clients a wide range of innovative marketing solutions targeting consumers and communities of influencers worldwide.

Ed Solomon is the latest writer to be attached to the 10-years-in-development THE HARDY MEN at Fox 2000, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The MEN IN BLACK writer will re-write the comedy project, with Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise attached to star and NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM director Shawn Levy to helm.

Post-production facility Post Logic Studios, a division of Prime Focus Group, have expanded their film and television restoration services. The company has been managing restoration work for titles such as HONDO and THE RULES OF THE GAME from their Hollywood facility, and has more than tripled its capacity for restoration work through its relationship with Prime Focus in Goa, India. Restoration projects are still managed and completed at Post Logic in Hollywood, however clients now have the cost-effective option of having film clean-up handled in India.