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Category: Visual Effects

Motion Headline News

RE:Vision Effects Releases 64-Bit Support for Discreet and ReelSmart

RE:Vision Effects Inc. announced 64-bit support of its Irix Discreet systems (Sparks) versions of Twixtor, its popular retiming solution, and ReelSmart Motion Blur, which adds and removes motion blur based on per-pixel calculated motion. The new releases also work within the Linux versions of Smoke and Flint and are available for Burn render farms.

Headline News

SCI Talks Tomb Raider 3 With Paramount

SCI, the computer games company that owns Lara Croft, along with the TOMB RAIDER franchise, has begun talks with Paramount Pictures to venture forth with a third installment in the movie franchise, reports The Business Online. Angelina Jolie is expected to return as Lara Croft, the English archaeologist/adventurer. The previous two movies have grossed more than $450 million at the box office.

World Headline News

Believe It or Not: Burton & Carrey Team on Ripley Bio-Pic

Director Tim Burton and star Jim Carrey are partnering for BELIEVE IT OR NOT!, an action/adventure loosely based on Robert Ripley, reports the trades. Alphaville's Jim Jacks and Sean Daniel will produce alongside Ken Atchity and exec producer Chi-Li Wong. Richard Zanuck, who worked with Burton on CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, BIG FISH and PLANET OF THE APES, is also in talks to produce.

Headline News

Romero Talks Land of the Dead 2

On the promotional trail in Europe for the LAND OF THE DEAD DVD, George A. Romero has been talking up the possibility for a sequel to his 2005 zombie epic. After a lackluster performance in the U.S. this summer, the prospects for a follow-up looked dim. However, U.S. DVD sales as well as big theatrical receipts in Europe and Japan have spurred Universal Pictures to start talks with Romero on a follow-up. The father of the modern zombie picture will pick up the story where the original left off with the survivors heading to Canada.

Headline News

ABC Pulls Sci-Fi Threshold

ABC has pulled sci-fi/drama THRESHOLD from its sweeps lineup, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The freshman series began its run on Fridays at 9:00 pm and was later moved to the 10:00 pm slot with mild improvements. The Paramount Network TV show, which stars Carla Gugino, will be replaced by a repeat of CBS' promising new crime drama CRIMINAL MINDS for the November sweeps week.

Imax Headline News

IMAX Experiences Record Box Office Weekend

IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE and THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3-D EXPERIENCE registered the highest grossing weekend ever at IMAX theaters, with combined grosses of $3.1 million, each on 66 screens over the three-day period from Nov. 25-27.

Headline News

Sky High Flies on DVD

THE INCREDIBLES meets X-MEN and more in SKY HIGH (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99), which debuts on DVD Nov. 29, 2005. Kurt Russell stars in a cute throwback to his old Disney movies in this superhero riff (look out for Lynda Carter as the principal). Contains lots of vfx from Asylum VFX, Furious FX, Lola Visual Effects and Realscan 3D.

Bonus features include:* Alternate opening that many will find too over-the-top* Welcome to Sky High featurette

Software Headline News

FrameForge 3D Previs Software Available in French

Innoventive Software, Llc. announced that its previsualization and storyboarding software, FrameForge 3D Studio, is now available for Windows fully localized in French with a French Installation and Getting Started Manual included.

Headline News

THQ to Bring Monster House to Major Videogame Systems

THQ Inc. announced it has been named interactive game licensee for Columbia Pictures' next performance-capture film, MONSTER HOUSE from award-winning exec producers Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. The film is directed by Gil Kenan, produced by Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey and is also exec produced by Jason Clark. THQ's worldwide agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products includes videogames for console and select handheld gaming systems. The MONSTER HOUSE videogames are slated for release in conjunction with the film release in summer 2006.

Star Headline News

Star Trek Net Spoof Finland's Most Viewed Movie

A spoof of science-fiction classic STAR TREK distributed free over Internet has become Finland's most viewed movie, REUTERS reports and has reached more than three million viewers in less than two months.

STAR WRECK: IN THE PIRKINNING is a full-length feature (with English subtitles) made by a group of students and other amateur filmmakers on a few home computers to create elaborate special effects on a minimalist budget.

Headline News

War of the Worlds Invades DVD

Steven Spielbergs WAR OF THE WORLDS remake comes to DVD Nov. 22, 2005 (DreamWorks Home Ent., $30). Meanwhile, the 1953 original containing special visual effects by Gordon Jennings was recently released in a remastered special collectors edition (Paramount Home Ent., $14.99). The colors are eye-popping, but the wires have not been digitally removed and are more clearly visible. Extras include the entire Orson Welles radio broadcast.

Headline News

Peter Jackson Petitioning DGA for ‘Animation Directed By’ Credit

Peter Jackson has petitioned the Directors Guild of America to give an Animation Directed By credit on KING KONG to the supervisors who helped bring Kong to life, reports David Poland of MOVIE CITY NEWS (www.moviecitynews.com). However, the animators are not identified by Poland. Joe Letteri and Ben Snow served as visual effects supervisors and Christian Rivers directed the MoCap sessions with Andy Serkis.

The DGA has never allowed such a credit before.

Channel Headline News

Original Movie Manticore Debuts on SCI FI Nov. 26

SCI FI's next Saturday Action Movie premiere is MANTICORE, an original movie produced to air on the SCI FI Channel Nov. 26, 2005, at 9:00 pm and encores Dec. 1 at 9:00 pm.

Some 2,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians created the ultimate weapon twin beasts insatiable in their thirst for blood, intended to drive the infidels from Babylon. With their mission accomplished, the beasts were imprisoned in stone by a mystical spell and have slept undisturbed.

Movie Headline News

Starz To Bring a First Look at Narnia

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 12:00am

Starz Ent. Group (SEG), Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media announced that they will partner to bring Starz and Encore viewers an exclusive sneak peek at Walt Disney Pictures' and Walden Media's THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE prior to its nationwide theatrical release on Dec. 9, 2005. Starz, Starz Kids & Family and Encore viewers will be taken behind the wardrobe door to experience a 30-minute Starz Original production and a nine-minute sneak peek of the film beginning on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 24.

Imax Headline News

Goblet of Fire Shatters IMAX Records

IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures announced that HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE shattered every record for an IMAX Hollywood simultaneous release. In its debut at 66 North American IMAX theaters, the film posted the biggest three-day opening ever, beating the previous record by more than 30%, with an estimated $2.93 million over the period ended Nov. 20, for a per-screen average of more than $44,000.

Design Headline News

BOXX joins Alias in ‘Design for the Senses’ Tour

BOXX Technologies Inc. will co-sponsor a series of events with Alias surrounding the new release of Alias StudioTools13, the standard for outstanding design in transportation and consumer products.

The Design for the Senses events will gather leading designers in eight major design centers through the months of November, December and January. The tour represents an opportunity to showcase how the close cooperation between BOXX and Alias benefits the design community.

Headline News

Autodesk Introduces New Discreet Inferno Visual Effects System in Japan

Autodesk Inc. has released a new configuration of its Academy Award-winning Discreet Inferno visual effects system for the Japanese market. The system is designed to meet the specific platform performance and branding requirements of many Japanese post-production facilities.

Animation Headline News

endorphin 2.5 Learning Edition Now Available

NaturalMotion Ltd. announced the immediate availability of the companys free endorphin 2.5 Learning Edition (eLE). Based on endorphin, NaturalMotions award-winning character animation software, the new eLE includes all relevant product documentation and a comprehensive support network via the companys active endorphin forum. The software has no time restrictions and is fully functional; however, it is motion file export disabled and is not to be used for commercial production.

Effects Headline News

MPC Licenses FlowLine Fluid System

London based vfx house, MPC (The Moving Picture Co.) has licensed FlowLine, a fluid simulation system developed by Munich-based vfx house Scanline, which simulates and renders photoreal fire and water. MPC and Scanline are working together on integrating FlowLine into MPCs large-scale production pipeline.

MPC has elected to work with Scanline to continue ongoing internal R&D focus on the development of its sophisticated in-house character/creature pipeline.

Million Headline News

New Line Rushes Hour 3 Ahead

After years of dealmaking, New Line has finally signed the key players in making RUSH HOUR 3 happen, according to VARIETY.

The longtime hold out Chris Tucker will receive $20 million against 20% of gross, as well as a second-picture commitment for $20 million on a film to be determined later. The actor will not hold script approval as long as the final draft is similar to what writer Jeff Nathanson pitched.

Co-star Jackie Chan will net $15 million against 15% of the gross as well as control the films distribution rights in China and Hong Kong.

Films Headline News

Dimension Wants Game Adaptation Dead or Alive

Dimension Films has signed an agreement to acquire the North American distribution rights to the feature adaptation of Tecmo videogame, DEAD OR ALIVE, VARIETY reports. THE TRANSPORTER helmer Corey Yuen is directing. Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter, Natassia Malthe, Matthew Marsden, Jaime Pressly, Eric Roberts and Holly Valance will star.

Headline News

Polhemus Launches PATRIOT Class B

Polhemus has released the PATRIOT, a 6 Degree-of-Freedom (6DOF) tracking product, which been verified to meet the requirements of Class B digital device standards.

The PATRIOT is now available in both Class A and Class B emissions standards. The new Class B version of the PATRIOT meets the more stringent emissions requirements specified by the FCC and CE standards. The Class B PATRIOT also has a new look and is easily identified by the white plastic chassis. PATRIOT B can now be used in more rigorous residential and industrial laboratory environments.

Headline News

3D Buzz Offers Video Training for Half-Life 2 Level Design

3D Buzz has released a new Video Training Module (VTM) series entitled HALF-LIFE 2 LEVEL DESIGN. This VTM will introduce students to Hammer, the powerful level editing tool within HALF-LIFE 2'S SDK. Lessons include full covering of Hammer's UI, creation and editing of geometry, creation and placement of entities, including props, weapons, lights, NPCs and more. Students will also see the entire process of creating a basic level, so that they can follow along and see how to start generating your own environments. The VTM is free and ready for download at www.3dbuzz.com.

Film Headline News

The Orphange Exclusive VFX Provider of Korea’s The Host

The Orphanage has been awarded THE HOST, South Koreas most expensive and ambitious film to date for Chungeorahm Films. The VFX creature film will be directed by internationally acclaimed director Joon-ho Bong and star two of Koreas top marquee names Song Kang-ho and Park Hae-il. As the exclusive vfx house on the over 100-shot project, The Orphanage team led by veteran vfx supervisor Kevin Rafferty, exec producer Marc Sadeghi, CG supervisor Shadi Almassizadeh and vfx producer Arin Finger will be working hand in hand with the production on location in Seoul.

Effects Headline News

Escape Studios to Launch First Houdini Class in November

Escape Studios and Side Effects Software will partner to provide training in the U.K. animation and visual effects market for the Houdini line of products. Houdini has long been recognized as a key contributor to feature film production pipelines and is a popular choice for technical directors working on high-end visual effects (CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, ANT BULLY, STEALTH, the SPIDER-MAN franchise, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy).

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