This Festival has six categories: features, shorts, TV fiction, cartoons, shorts and documentaries. One panel of judges will be composed of show business and communications professionals and the other by Internet users. The winning works will be presented on the Website for the rest of the year; the works that are not selected for the festival will be presented on-line for a limited period of time immediately after the event.
Universals submarine sensation, U-571, has left new films in its wake as it sails into the #1 spot at the U.S. box office for the second straight week. The World War II flick finished atop new comers THE FLINTSTONES VIVA ROCK VEGAS and FREQUENCY with a gross of US$12.2 million and floating its total box office take to $38.11 million. Rolling into second place was Universals prequel to their 1994 hit THE FLINTSTONES. With a new cast, the prehistoric pic, with primary visual effects by Metrolight Studios, "rocked" up $10.52 million.
Before signing up for training and signing that check there are several key facts that you need to know. Larry Lauria explains.
Jacquie Kubin reveals why edutainment is not elementary, when she investigates the new CD-Rom, Miss Spider's Tea Party, based on David Kirk's children's book.
Larry Lauria touches base with DreamWorks' Frank Gladstone to learn the latest on what studios expect to see in portfolios.
Stephen Lynch reports from Australia's foremost animation festival.
The British Animation Awards brought the U.K. animation population out for the night. Andrew Osmond was there and reports with this colorful scrapbook.
Raymond Palma chats with the mother-son team of Betty and Mickey Paraskevas, whose childrens books are turning into television shows like wildfire.
Ben Stein, the host of Comedy Central's hit gameshow WIN BEN STEIN'S MONEY, will have his own animated gameshow on Shockwave.com. Stein has signed a deal with Shockwave to create an on-line game, a series of e-greeting cards and a daily poll for Shockwave visitors. The single and multi-player game asks questions which Stein calls knowledge --rather than trivia -- based. Stein will have a toon likeness helm the show and sponsors of the series will offer the prizes.
Eric Schneider profiles the man who brought stop-motion animation to Russia, Ladislaw Starewicz. Utilizing puppet beetles and dragonflies, he created films which still speak to us today.
Hasbro has signed a multi-year deal with HIT Entertainment for the licensing rights to their successful toon, BOB THE BUILDER. The current BBC series is scheduled to debut on Nick Jr. sometime next year. BOB garners 52% of the pre-school audience in the U.K. for its time period. Last holiday season the toys based on the series sold out in the U.K. Hasbro hopes that the series will build the same kind of fan base in the States as other foreign imports have done recently. Currently, Mainframe is producing a series called ACTION MAN based off Hasbro's British toy line of the same name.
Jayanti Sen finishes up her profile of animation in India by profiling the current projects, companies and artists that are helping to build India into an animation nation of force.
Rhino is releasing the action stuffed soundtrack to the POWERPUFF GIRLS. On July 18, 2000, "Heroes and Villains" will hit shelves with music performed by top alternative artists. Songs from the series and inspired by the Powerpuff Girls will be featured on the album. Artists such as David Byrne, Devo, Frank Black, Shonen Knife, Apples In Stereo, Optiganally Yours, Kormeda, Cornelius, The Sugarplastic, Dressy Bessy and Bis will be featured. Series creator Craig McCracken set out to find bands that inspire him to participate on the compilation.
Rick DeMott looks into the reasons why the Screen Cartoonists Union of Los Angeles decided to picket in front of PBS affiliate, KCET.
Annick Teninge journeyed to televisions festival in Positano, Italy, only to find that they were talking about (what else?) but the Internet.
Stephen Featherstone discusses his week-end training course with stop-motion animation director, Barry Purves, where he reveals he learned more than just animation skills.
Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman draws some correlations between two independents named Johnguaranteed youll be surprised.
Leo F. Hobaica, Jr. relates his winning experience as faculty coordinator of CalArts Community Arts Partnership animation workshops, which teach animation fundamentals to children.
European feature animation producers and filmmakers gathered in Potsdam to discuss funding and distribution partnerships and deals. Heikki Jokinen reports on Cartoon's latest coup.
Equally perverse, disturbing and intellectual, the films of Simon Pummell always generate discussion and introspection as they walk the line between experimental non-linear impressions and narrative structure. Includes Quicktime movie clips!
Thank goodness for independents
With all the hubbub recently in Los Angeles about artists being out of work, runaway productions and the well attended PBS affiliate station picket, Heather Kenyon sat down with Tom Sito to talk.
Heather Kenyon reveals that whether used by established filmmakers or up-and-coming youngsters, the Internet is proving to be a very versatile tool helping everyone gain a little more freedom and independence.
A demo reel is a vital marketing tool for animators. The purpose of the demo reel is to get you an interview with someone who can hire you. Prepare your demo reel with care and have someone else look at it and get feedback on it before you send it out. As a recruiter, I have seen many demo reels. Here's how to make sure yours does the job--to get you that job.
Oddworld Inhabitants proves that gaming can be exciting - and intelligent with great characters, stories and animation. Jacquie Kubin pays a visit.
