Jonathan Wiseman has been promoted to the position of SVP at Amberwood Ent., based in Ottawa. In this position he will be responsible for creative content on all productions as well as continuing to manage all sales and marketing activities for the company.
Craig Young has been appointed VP of production. In this newly-created position, he will have responsibility for all production matters on all projects undertaken by the company.
On Friday the 13th, the Oscar tour made stops throughout the Lucas empire, including Skywalker Ranch, Big Rock, and ILM. Here some the great pics from the adventures.
Today's tour stops are PDI/Dreamworks, an ASIFA San Francisco dinner and then on to Skywalker Ranch.
Barbara Robertson chronicles the tour stop at the Skywalker Ranch - It's been a busy an exciting three days, but such a wonderful time. Some highlights and pictures. I’ll sketch in details tomorrow.
Every year Pixar host the Oscar nominees for Best Animated Short. It's always an exciting chance for the filmmakers to interact with the artists at the studio. Follow their day in pictures.
Laura Fryer has been appointed GM, Seattle Studios, Warner Bros. Interactive Ent., overseeing the company's internal development studios based in Seattle.
Scottish independent production company Red Kite Animations will further develop its business with the appointment of industry expert John Morris as director of business development. In this role, Morris will work closely with the senior management team to optimise Red Kite's existing catalogue and new program rights in addition to exploring other commercial opportunities.
Rising Sun Pictures has commenced the search for its next CEO as it enters a new growth phase. Current CEO Didier Elzinga will be stepping back after five years at the helm, and 13 years in total with the company, to spend more time on other projects.
Didier said, "After being entrusted with the direction of this innovative company for five years, I am excited and confident in the future, knowing our current leadership team is strong and ready to grow to take RSP forward."
Paul Taylor has exited and John Hardie has entered as Jetix Europe's new chief executive officer, according to multiple news sources.
VARIETY reports that Hardie will retain his job as exec VP and managing director of the Disney channels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and take over the new job immediately. Disney announced in December that it will up its stake in Jetix from 75 to 100 percent.
Drew Bourneuf, formerly the Head of Production at Digital Kitchen in Seattle, joins Salt, a Culver City based design and vfx creative boutique.
Universal Studios Hollywood has named marketing exec Xiomara Wiley to the position of Senior VP, Marketing and Sales, with responsibilities for the overall brand direction of the entertainment landmark including the theme park and the CityWalk shopping and entertainment complex.
Henry Selick chats up Coraline and the state of stop-motion and 3-D with AWN.
Ed Catmull, who will be honored at the Sci Tech Awards on Saturday, discusses WALL•E, Bolt and improving CG.
Chris Allen has re-joined MPC from Absolute Post. Allen, who left MPC three years ago, takes up the position of Senior Producer, and will be based in the London studio.
Allen has worked with many commercials directors during his time at both companies. His recent credits include; Lux for Dawn Shadforth at RSA (JWT New York/Tokyo), Transport for London for Emil Moller/Fredrik Bond at Sonny (M&C Saatchi) and Boots for David LaChapelle at HSI through Mother London.
Universal Pictures International Ent. (UPIE), the international home entertainment division of Universal Pictures, has appointed Paul Chesney as VP, International Operations, effective from March 2, 2009.
Based in London, Chesney will report to Eddie Cunningham, President, UPIE and will be responsible for the efficiency, systems and planning of all aspects of Universal's international home entertainment operations in regard to manufacturing, distribution and supply chain.
VFXWorld offers its sixth-annual Oscar chat with the supervisors nominated for Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight and Iron Man.
On the heels of opening a new 8,000-square-foot space in San Francisco last summer, VFX company Ntropic has opened a Los Angeles location to service its growing client base in the commercial, feature film and music video arenas. Designed to facilitate creative collaboration and equipped with the latest technology, the new space can handle visual effects projects of any size. Ntropic recently wrapped vfx work on THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, and worked with Len Wiseman on the third installment of UNDERWORLD, its first major film project out of the L.A. office.
Mark Kochinski has joined Radical 3D as Visual Effects Supervisor.
With more than 15 years of senior leadership and hands-on animator experience, Kochinski will use his extensive technical background to build and create methodologies for a groundbreaking new 3D series ANIMAL ARMAGEDDON.
"Mark has considerable talent and vast television experience," said Jason McKinley, owner of Radical 3D. "Producing over four hours of original content for this series, his experience is key to meeting our deadlines."
Philippe Cardon, Warner Home Video President, International, will be leaving the company, closing a 23-year career with the studio. Cardon has chosen to keep his family in Europe rather than relocate to Los Angeles as part of a restructuring that will bring closer alignment to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group's home video and digital distribution businesses.
Andrew Farago catches up with Frederator Studios' Fred Seibert and four of the creators of the studio's Random! Cartoons venture with Nickelodeon.
Joe Strike was there last week for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Blue Sky Studios' new home in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Marc Shmuger and David Linde will continue to serve as the leading executives of Universal Pictures in a new four-year contract extension that also sees Linde elevated to the position of chairman alongside Shmuger.
Fresh TV Inc. has tapped Kalagian Productions to help broaden its development and production slates.
Working as a consultant, Terry Kalagian will source co-production and financing opportunities for both Fresh TV and its animation service partner, Elliott Animation Inc. Kalagian will introduce new partners to the growing company and help diversify its production and business activities.
Tim Sarnoff has resigned as president of Sony Pictures Imageworks amid a "smooth transition" for the Oscar-winning vfx division under the new Sony Pictures Digital Prods. (SPDP) umbrella formed last year. Sarnoff, who has led Imageworks since 2001, joined the company in 1997 as EVP and GM.
Industry veteran Terry Clotiaux has joined Frantic Films VFX (a division of Prime Focus Group) as SVP/COO, Visual Effects Worldwide for Prime Focus Group, and Senior Exec Producer for North America. Clotiaux will be based out of Frantic's Hollywood facility, and has been tasked with building out the company's international vfx operation and establishing its Los Angeles, Winnipeg and Vancouver offices as the North American front-end for Prime Focus Group's network of global facilities, which spans across North America, India and the U.K.
