AWN Headline News

Talks between Artisan Entertainment and Icebox to transform the controversial Webtoon MR. WONG into a direct-to-video feature have melted. However, Icebox has said that it is now in talks with other studios to transform WONG into a theatrical feature or direct-to-video. An Artisan spokesman said that the toon didnt meet the studios criteria for acquisition.

Dotcomix online hit SISTER RANDY will make her TV debut on BBC America, Saturday, October 21, 2000. SISTER is the second Webtoon to be licensed for TV broadcast on BBC America. Earlier this year the cable network began airing Mondo Medias THUGS ON FILM. Like THUGS, SISTER will serve as interstitials between programming. As part of the deal, the Webtoons will also air on bbcamerica.com. "Sister Randy is sure to be habit-forming television.

The 8th volume of BUBBLEGUM CRISIS: TOKYO 2040 hits stores in October. The new release features the 12th and 13th episodes in the continuing series. This time around the remaining members of the ADPolice must fight a losing battle against an army of killer bombers. The tape will be available in an English dubbed version for US$19.98 and a subtitled version for $29.95 on October 10, 2000. The previous volumes are also available for the same retail price.

* Wednesday, October 18, 2000. Toronto, Canada.

Director Peter Nydrle of NYDRLE, West Hollywood, California, has transformed Cadillacs into Olympic swimmers for a new commercial. "One of the challenges of the project was to give the cars the personality of an Olympic swimmer," explained Nydrle. "It's an attempt to blur reality in a way you rarely see, particularly in a car spot." "Desert Storm" begins with a fleet of Cadillac cars all bearing the names of Olympic Gold Medal swimmers, such as Weissmuller and Spitz, on their license plates. In front of the cars are Olympic styled swimming lanes.

Sesame Workshop (the Workshop), one of the world's leading producers of children's television programming, announced the appointment of Jennifer Chrein as the company's new vice president of global media. In the newly created position, Chrein will oversee international television sales for the company. Prior to the Workshop, Chrein served as senior vice president of New York-based Telescene Film Group, where she was responsible for negotiating distribution and sales with sub distributors and bringing co-producers, partners and projects from the worldwide marketplace to Telescene.

Blur Studio, a leading animation and visual effects production studio, has completed a major expansion, which added a state-of-the-art motion capture production studio to their facilities. In addition, Blur has gained a digital edit bay and a clean room for networking and digital storage hardware. The expansion comes as Blur Studio is embarking on the production of a 3D ride film for Paramount Studios and Stan Lee Media, entitled STAN LEE'S 7TH PORTAL 3D SIMULATION EXPERIENCE. "Blur is evolving and evolving quickly," said Tim Miller, the company's president.

Phil Roman Entertainment, Inc. (PRE) has entered into a three-year, non-exclusive strategic alliance with the C-3D Television Network and the 3D.com Virtual Reality Portal Website, divisions of Chequemate International. The new agreement follows on the heels of PRE's president, Phil Roman's appointment to C-3D's advisory board. The partnership calls for both companies to jointly seek, develop, produce, promote, market and distribute animation and live-action programming for the C-3D Television Network and the 3D.com Virtual Reality Portal Website.

One-time L.A. Laker cheerleader/singer/choreographer Paula Abdul and her Planet Paula Productions have signed a deal with Fox Kids Network to develop a new live-action/animated children series. The untitled show will follow a garage band's climb to success. Abdul is set to produce, choreograph and perform an animated character's voice or play a live-action character. The series idea was inspired by Abdul's work on her "Opposites Attract" music video, in which she interacted with an animated character named M.C. Scat Kat.

The 15th Saint Gély International Short Film Festival awarded its top animation prize to Bernard Dubliques ADOLF. Objectif Image Saint Gely presents the festival, which features categories for documentary, fictional-dramatic, animation and experimental films. The event took place from Friday, October 6 Sunday, October 8, 2000. Dublique was awarded a 1,000 FF cash award.

Taking place from Thursday, September 21 Sunday, September 24, 2000 in Abruzzo, Italy, the Matita Film Festival (MFF) awarded its grand prize to Britains Ruth Lingfords PLEASURES OF WAR for its courage, stylistic coherence and the quality of animation, included within a strict narrative structure. Marie Paccous ME, THE OTHER won the student grand prize for its harmony, stylistic unity and technical quality of the animation. MFF's goal is to highlight the independent spirit, while not neglecting entertainment issues.

* Thursday, October 12 Sunday, October 15, 2000. Montreal, Canada. Wednesday, October 18 Saturday, October 21, 2000. New York, New York, U.S.A. Wednesday, November 1 Saturday, November 5, 2000. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Thursday, November 16 Sunday, November 19, 2000. Seoul, South Korea. Friday, November 24 Sunday, November 26, 2000. Tokyo, Japan. Saturday, December 2 Sunday, December 3, 2000. Osaka, Japan.