For the first time in Canada, kids will help determine the next hit show in a new animated shorts showcase, FUNPAK, premiering on YTV Feb. 3, 2005, at 7:30 pm. FUNPAK is a 13x30 assortment of animated shorts created entirely in-house at YTVs sister company, Nelvana Ltd..
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a special Award of Commendation to Arthur Widmer at the Scientific and Technical Awards dinner on Feb. 12, 2005, at its new location, the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.
The AMPAS moved the event from the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel one of nine hotels targeted for a hotel workers union boycott because many of the people attending would not want to cross a picket line.
Northern Lights Post has added noted comedy/lifestyle editor John Laskas to its roster of talented editors and named Rich Schafler of Schafler Artist Management, New York, as its east coast commercial sales rep.
Advanced Brain Technologies (ABT) announced today the release of SHELLY'S MY FIRST COMPUTER GAME, a first-of-its-kind, award-winning software program developed specifically to teach children, 3-6, the basics in using a personal computer as well as promoting memory and reading skills. The game was made by ABT, a leading developer of neurosensory training products to maximize the human brain's potential through its division, ABT Interactive, and in partnership with Vector Magic, a premier educational software animation producer.
Brad Grey, chairman of Brillstein-Grey Ent., has been named chairman/ceo of Viacom's Paramount Motion Picture Group. Grey assumes the titles of chairman and ceo in a newly broadened role. In this position, he will have ultimate authority on film development and production as well as business operations, worldwide.
ADV Films announced the American theatrical premiere of A TREE OF PALME, which will take place at Houstons Rice Cinema starting Jan. 14, 2005. A TREE OF PALME is a modern retelling of the classic PINOCCHIO story with a sci-fi/fantasy twist. The cinematic Japanese animated feature was written and directed by animator Takashi Nakamura, who served as a chief animator on AKIRA.
Thailand's fledgling animation industry is flying high in the hope that foreign animation companies will invest between one and two billion baht in the industry after taking part in the second Thailand Animation and Multimedia 2005 fair.
The investment may come in the form of outsourcing and joint production and ventures with local companies, according to Manoo Ordeedolchest, the president of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa). Sipa will act as a matchmaker and the investment would be spent over the next few years.
Adobe Systems Inc. announced the immediate availability of Adobe Acrobat 7.0 software, a family of desktop applications that enables workgroups to manage a range of essential business activities. Acrobat 7.0, the latest update to the Adobe Intelligent Document Platform, provides users the ability to assemble documents from multiple sources, create intelligent forms and collaborate on projects inside and outside the firewall, among other capabilities.
Visual communications and effects studio PURE and design studio Flying Machine have been tapped once again by Italys premiere satellite broadcaster, SKY Italia, this time to create its year-end holiday promotion. The promotion began airing across all of SKYs networks on Dec. 17, 2004, and will air through January 2005.
Sniderware has announced the launch of ERIC SNIDERS BLACKJACK for Palm OS.
With the current Texas Hold Em craze, the demand for casino-style games has never been greater, and weve delivered a winner with ERIC SNIDERS BLACKJACK, said Eric Snider, president/ceo of Sniderware. Players will really enjoy the sharp graphics and realistic gameplay.
Canadian comics publisher Dreamwaye Prods. has stopped operations and is shutting its doors. Dreamwaves line of licensed comics included TRANSFORMERS, DUEL MASTERS, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and MEGAMAN. President Pat Lee cited market conditions as the reason for the closing, including "...the shrinking comicbook market combined with a weak U.S. dollar and unsustainable monetary commitments." The company was founded in 1996 by brothers Pat and Roger Lee.
Walt Disney's Touchstone Pictures has hired director Gregor Jordan (BUFFALO SOLDIERS) to rewrite and direct the adaptation of John Christopher's THE TRIPODS TRILOGY, reports VARIETY. Disney has had the properties rights since 1997 and both Darren Lemke and Terry Hayes have written scripts based on the series.
Well, we kick off a new year at VFXWORLD with the topic of previsualization. The first in the series this month is Alain Bieliks look at the previz work that went into brining Jean-Pierre Jeunets WWI set romance epic, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, to the screen.
Disney/Pixars THE INCREDIBLES and Sonys THE POLAR EXPRESS are among the seven films. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering for Achievement in Sound Editing for the 77th Academy Awards.
The films in consideration are listed below in alphabetical order:
THE AVIATORCOLLATERALTHE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
The Producers Guild of America included the animated feature, THE INCREDIBLES, amongst the nominees for its best picture award announced today. The other finalists this year for the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year kudos are THE AVIATOR, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, FINDING NEVERLAND and SIDEWAYS. The awards will be presented at the Guild's annual awards dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Jan. 22, 2005.
Continuing our special event specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for both NATPE and MIP-TV. The NATPE market is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff are gearing up for the NATPE-specific Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.
NATPE Flash NewslettersJanuary 12January 19
MIP-TV Flash NewslettersMarch 23March 30April 6
The summer blockbusters continue to roll out on DVD with Warner Home Videos release of TROY ($29.95) on Jan. 4, 2005.
Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz.
LevyMann Entertainment, the creator and producers behind the childrens animated series, ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS, have teamed up with new licensee partners Franco Manufacturing, Baby Boom Consumer Products, Wiesner Products and Waterbury Garments for several new lines of itty bitty products.
These new licensees add to their deals in place with StudioWorks Ent. (Ventura Video), Fruit of the Loom and Penguin Books, which is releasing three new ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS titles.
This week in AWN's Forums, members post examples of simple animation invoices for others to reference.
5th Annual Game Developers Choice AwardsSan Francisco, California, USAMarch 7-11, 2005Deadline: January 14, 2005
Forest Film Fest 2005Portland, Oregon, USAMay 15, 2005Deadline: May 14, 2005
Telluride IndieFest 2005Telluride, Colorado, USAAugust 31 - September 4, 2005Deadline: May 31, 2005
Telluride IndieFest showcases the best independent films and screenplays in the world and does not require films to 'premiere' at its event. The event limits films and screenplays to 1,000 entries. ALL selected artists will have the opportunity to have their entry presented to some of the most-respected Hollywood talent agencies, production companies and film distributors. For more information, visit tellurideindiefest.com.
DIC Entertainment (DIC) has inked additional deals for its all-new tween entertainment and lifestyle property, TROLLZ. There is now approximately 35 licensees in the U.S. and Canada secured for the 2005 launch.
Pamela Kaufman has been promoted from svp, Nickleodeon marketing to evp, marketing and worldwide promotions, expanding her responsibilities to include strategic planning of worldwide programming launches as well as global partnership deals.
"Pam Kaufman is one of the most successful marketers in the entertainment industry," said Nickelodeon TV president Cyma Zarghami, to whom Kaufman will continue to report. "Her consumer marketing and property management skills have raised the creative bar for the entire industry and have turned our TV properties into gold."
