Tagged With: Film

DreamWorks debuts “Prince of Egypt” albums

On November 17, DreamWorks will release three albums based on its forthcoming animated feature film, Prince of Egypt. The album releases come a full month before the films December 18 theatrical opening. The Prince of Egypt: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features performances by Boyz II Men, Amy Grant and the duo of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, singing together for the first time, as well as songs performed by actors who voice characters in the film, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer and Steve Martin.

In Licensing, Licensing | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Headline News

"Antz" still showing multiple legs

DreamWorks Pictures and PDI's computer animated feature film, "Antz" grossed just over $8 million this past week, bringing its totals to date to just under $62 million. The third place finish represented a drop of 27% from last week, but was less than a million dollars behind first place finisher "Pleasantville". The film is currently running in 2929 theatres nationwide. If its current pace continues, by next week, the film will surpass Paramount's "Beavis and Butthead" to become the top U.S. grossing non-Disney animated film.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Festival Headline News

Sitges selects "Un Jour"

The Sitges Fantasy Film Festival wrapped up on October 16 in Barcelona, Spain. The international jury for the "Anima't" animation festival within a festival was comprised of Jerry Beck (U.S.A.), Mercedes Gaspar (Spain) and Giorgio Valentini (Italy). They selected "Un Jour" by Marie Paccou (France) as Best Film, and gave an Honorable Mention to "Glassy Ocean" by Shigeru Tamura (Japan). In the main festival, Bill Plympton's film, "More Sex & Violence" won the "Best Short Film" award.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Asia, Europe, North America

Chicago Headline News

Chicago International Children's Film Festival

* Thursday, October 15 - Sunday, October 25. Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

The 15th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival (CICFF), presents over 150 films and videos for children from 30 countries in a juried competition. For information call (773) 281-9075 or e-mail kidsfest@facets.org.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Film Headline News

Independent animation at MFA

* Saturday, October 17. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston presents the premiere screening of Mary Kocols independent animated film, My Fathers Story. The screening takes place at 2 p.m., and general admission is $7 ($6 for students and members). For information about the film and future screenings, visit www.ne-arts.net/mkocol.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Film Headline News

Nordic Children’s Film Fest

* Tuesday, October 20 - Sunday, October 25. Reykjavík, Iceland.

The 12th Nordic Childrens Film Festival will take place. A variety of Nordic productions, including animation, will be screened. For information, contact childrenfestival@iff.is.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Headline News

Hollywood Shorts

* Sunday, October 11. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Griffith Place Entertainment presents Hollywood Shorts, a monthly film festival dedicated to introducing emerging directors/writers and producers to Los Angeles film community. This months animated film is Exo-Skeleton and companion cartoons, a 10-minute computer animation by Pyros Pictures. The screening will take place at The Joint, 8771 West Pico Boulevard (at Robertson) in West L.A. from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests must RSVP by October 10. Call (310) 358-7634.

In Event, Event | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, North America

Film Roman hires new COO

North Hollywood, California-based FILM ROMAN has hired WILLIAM SHPALL as chief operating officer. For the past two and a half years, Shpall has been a principal in the financial consulting firm, Inter.comm, and was previously CFO of Carolco Pictures. Film Roman CEO David Pritchard commented on Shpalls appointment, Im delighted to have Bill join me in shaping the company as we continue to implement the new strategy at Film Roman. The critical ingredient of a successful entertainment company is financial planning and operating discipline and Bill brings us both.

In People, People | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Italian Independent Animators

Andrea Martignoni relates the current situation of independent animation in Italy and profiles three independents: Ursula Ferrara, Alberto D'Amico and Saul Saguatti.

In AWN Profiles | ANIMATIONWorld

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Eating and Animating: Balancing the Basics for U.K. Independents

Marie Beardmore details ways for U.K. animators, seeking to make their own works, can obtain funding in order to eat and animate!

In AWN Profiles | ANIMATIONWorld

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Antz: The First Biggie from DreamWorks

DreamWorks Pictures and PDI bring this much-awaited CG wonder to screens this month. Jerry Beck reviews what is hoped to be another animated blockbuster.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

On A Desert Island With....Commercial

A survey of people related to this issue's theme of independent animation and commercials, answering, 'What ten films would you want to have with you if stranded on a desert island?

In People | ANIMATIONWorld

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Computer Animation: A Whole New World

Frank Foster reviews Rita Street's new book, Computer Animation: A Whole New World, a photo-filled look at the many achievements and innovations of computer animation.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Frieden: The Tree of Peace

Moved by the plight of children in war torn countries, student film maker Alina Chau, Hiu Fan made this remarkable film as a gift for the United Nations.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Animatori Indipendenti Italiani

La situazione in cui si trova il cinema di animazione in Italia, come forse anche in altri paesi, difficile e complicata per gli autori indipendenti che relizzano cortometraggi

In AWN Profiles | ANIMATIONWorld

People ANIMATIONWorld

My Hiroshima

As India enters the nuclear arms age, the Hiroshima Festival invited a group of Indian animators to the famous Japanese city. One of the delegates, Prakash Moorthy, was moved to action.

In People | ANIMATIONWorld

Animation in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Start and an Abrupt Stop

In the shadow of Zagreb, animation in Bosnia and Herzegovina never truly developed until soon before the war...only to be abruptly halted. Rada Sesic explains.

In AWN Profiles | ANIMATIONWorld

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

SIIARA: An Archive for the Animated Medium

Located in the south of England, this new archive, SIIARA, strives to preserve and make available animation information, art work and final films. John Southall explains.

In AWN Profiles | ANIMATIONWorld

Commercials ANIMATIONWorld

Balancing Commercials and Personal Work: Three Directors Speak

Jonathan Hodgson, Aleksandra Korejwo and Bill Plympton, all commercial and independent directors, relate how they feel about the contrasts between directing commercials and their own independent works.

In People | ANIMATIONWorld

Animation ANIMATIONWorld

Computer Animation: A Whole New World

Want to make professional-looking banners for the Web that are complete with animations? Ged Bauer puts this new banner-creating software, MicroSites, to the test.

In Reviews | ANIMATIONWorld

Film ANIMATIONWorld

Lanterna Magica: The Story of a Seagull and a Studio Who Learnt To Fly

Helming the Italian animation Renaissance, Lanterna Magica and director Enzo D'Alare putting the finishing touches on their next feature film, Lucky and Zorba. Chiara Magri takes us there.

In AWN Profiles | ANIMATIONWorld

Dreamworks Headline News

"Antz" Arrivez

DreamWorks Pictures and Pacific Data Images' computer-animated feature film, "Antz" opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, October 2. The film's 78 minutes of animation (112,320 frames) took two and a half years and a staff of over 200 people to produce. Character voices featured in the film include Woody Allen, Dan Akroyd, Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone and Christopher Walken.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Kratky Film restructures

Czech production and distribution company Kratky Film Praha a.s., which owns the Bratri v triku and Jiri Trnka animation studios, has been substantially restructured. The company has been struggling financially since 1994, and has been facing possible bankruptcy since 1997, a measure prevented by a recent investment from insurance company Ceska Pojistovna, now the majority shareholder in Kratky Film. The restructuring has also caused a management shake-out.

In Business, Business | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Europe

Film Headline News

Indie Feature Project and the Film Channel select student animation prize

The Independent Feature Project (IFP) and the Independent Film Channel (IFC) have announced the winners of their first student film competition, IFC2000. The U.S. $2,500 "Outstanding Achievement in Animation" prize has been awarded to "Hisao" by Masahiro Sugano, a student from the University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Art & Design.

In Awards, Awards | Headline News | Geographic Region: All

Film Headline News

Stop-motion short headed for big, big screen

Animator Mark Osborne is wrapping up production on a new short film. Titled More, the film is believed to be the first stop-motion animated large-format film. It is being shot on 65mm film that will be printed on 70mm for projection in large-format cinemas such as the IMAX chains. The film, a co-production of Swell Productions and Bad Clams Productions, is being funded by a private investor, was shown in trailer form at last weeks International Space Theater Consortium conference in Australia.

In Films, Films | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, Australia