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Rick DeMott's Recent Posts

Special Headline News

Cartoon Network to air Dexter's Lab Special

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12:00am

On December 10, 1999, Cartoon Network will debut the one-hour milleniumspecial DEXTER'S LABORATORY'S EGO TRIP. The special will center around Dexter's over-zealous reaction to receiving a message from the future which informs him that he will one day save the planet. The show will air at 7pm on December 10 and repeat at 12am on Janurary 1, 2000.

Animation Headline News

FAMOUSfaces 1.5 now Shipping

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12:00am

Famous Technologies has announced that version 1.5 of its stand-alone facialanimation system FAMOUSfaces is now shipping. The program, which is aimed atfilm, broadcast, games and location-based entertainment developers now boastssome amazing new features. The software allows character animators to createrealistic facial animation using one of, or a combination of any of thefollowing input devices: motion-capture, video, puppetry devices, voicerecognition or cluster targetting. New in version 1.5, animators can use the

Headline News

Knoll Light Factory now available for Avid

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12:00am

The popular Knoll Light Factory plug-in from Puffin Designs was recentlyreleased for Avid Xpress, Media Composer, and Symphony -- the trimmedversion ofKnoll Lens Flare Pro is titled Knoll Lens Flare AVX. The software allows usersto create lens flares with an unprecedented level of precision and control.Based on the Lens Primitives in Knoll Lens Flare Pro, the plug-in consistsof anumber of filters which include elements modeled on professional camera lenses

Film Headline News

Zagreb would love to Grab your Film

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12:00am

In preparation for the 14th World Festival of Animated Films, Zagreb 2000 has started taking entries. Entry forms must be received by February 1, 2000 and films on VHS (for selection only), BETACAM SP PAL, or film prints must be received by March 1, 2000. Please, send VHS tapes to Zagreb Film (Animafest) Vlaska 70 10,000 Zagreb, Croatia. The festival will be held June 21-25, 2000.

For more information contact Zagreb Film (Animafest) at Vlaska 70, 10,000Zagreb, Croatia, Europe. Tel.: ++385-1-4666 439 4613 689, Fax: ++ 385-1-4557

Interactive Headline News

Infogrames acquires GT Interactive

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12:00am

Infogrames Entertainment, a leading developer, publisher and distributor ofinteractive entertainment, announced it has acquired GT Interactive Software(GTIS), a US-based company. The total investment is being reported as $135million. Infogrames' product catalog includes such franchises as MissionImpossible,Test Drive and Looney Tunes. GTIS brings such titles as Driver,Deer Hunter, Blues Clues and Abe's Odyssey. This transaction is part ofInfogrames' global expansion strategy and will help further establish the

Disney Headline News

Disney gears up for the Holidays

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12:00am

The Disney Channel and Toon Disney gear up for the holiday season with a newmillennium celebration. The Disney Channel will feature holiday episodesfrom Playhouse Disney series BEAR IN THE BIG HOUSE, ROLIE POLIE OLIE, andPB&J OTTER. To highlight FANTASIA/2000's January 1st opening in IMAXtheatres around the country, MOVIE SURFER'S will go inside the new film.Toon Disney, the 24-hour all-animation network, will present variousholiday-themed features as well as the television premiere of the Annie

Million Headline News

Eidos announces 2nd Quarter Results

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12:00am

U.K.-based Eidos plc, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announced their results for the three and six months ended September 30, 1999. Revenues for the quarter were BR£27.3 million (US$45.0 million), up from 21.8 million pounds for the corresponding period last year. On a U.S. GAAP basis the company's loss before tax for the quarter was £16.8 million ($27.8 million), giving a net loss of £12.8 million ($21.2 million) and a loss per share of 66.3 pence (109.4¢), compared to a net loss of £8.8

Festival Headline News

Moondance announces Winner

The Moondance International Film Festival has selected, thetraditionally-animated BEELINES, by Rachel Bevan Baker, from Edinburgh,Scotland, as this year's winner in the animation division. Moondance 2000takes place in Boulder, Colorado, January 14-16, 2000. Entries from femalescreenwriters and filmmakers from any country were welcomed to the competition.For more information e-mail: mermaid7cs@aol.com; or write: MoondanceInternational Film Festival, 970 Ninth Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA.

Music Headline News

LAIFF! We want You... and your Films

The Los Angeles Independent Film Festival has put out a call forsubmissions for its April 13-18, 2000 event. The deadline for submissions is January 7th, 2000.The six year-old festival showcases the best in independent music videos fromNorth America. Music videos that were completed after January 1, 1998 can besubmitted on 1/2" VHS. If selected for exhibition, you must have a 16mm or35mm print. For further information or submission application, please call (323)951-7090 or check out the LAIFF website at www.laiff.com.

Digital Headline News

Lovebytes Beacons

Lovebytes Digital Arts Festival 2000 invites entries of film, video,multimedia and net art to feature in a substantial exhibition of digital work forexhibition in April, 2000. In its fifth year, the festival features amixture of digital art and media including exhibitions, seminars, screenings, speciallycommissioned artworks, alongside workshops and live performances from some ofthe world's most innovative digital sound and multimedia artists. All eventswill be staged in Sheffield's Media and Exhibition Centre. If you produce

Disney Headline News

Disney Lation America hires 11 New Execs

WALT DISNEY INTERNATIONAL-LATIN AMERICA gets 11 new executives to helpDiego Lerner, president and managing director of Walt DisneyInternational-Latin America, increase the business opportunities for Disneyin Latin America. The new structure for Disney Latin America will consistsof four territory offices. Walt Disney International-Argentina, based inBuenos Aires, will handle Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay and be headed byLerner. Walt Disney International-Andean Region, based in Santiago de

Spot Headline News

DMA zaps a New Spot for Zowie

New York animation studio, DMA with director Tony Caio finished up two'60s-style spots for Zowie Intertainment, Inc. new fantasy game ELLIE'SENCHANTED GARDEN. The commercial, featuring psychedelic-spinning wallpaperflowers and highly stylized gardens appearing around live-action actors, isaimed at attracting young girls to computer games. The spot started airingon Nickelodeon and other kid-friendly networks in early November.

Headline News

Varga Revamps

Varga Holdings, one of Europe's leading animation and special effectsproduction houses, has completed its extensive restructuring. Group CEO Andrs Erkel andGroup Managing Director Jan Sawkins announced Varga Studios has been renamedVarga Budapest Ltd. and Varga tvc Ltd. has been newly named Varga London Ltd,while Varga Commercials' name remains the same. The new structure is Varga'sstrategy to unify the company and create a standard corporate identityunder one Varga logo. In addition, the Budapest and London branches of the company

Games Headline News

EA & AOL play games On-line

Electronic Arts, a world leader in interactive entertainment software, hascreated a new division to publish games for the Web and to operate a seriesof new on-line gaming sites. The new division has been formed to createcontent for America Online, the world's leading Internet service company.Electronic Arts' new on-line gaming division comes on the heels of theiracquisition of Charlottesville, Virginia-based Kesmai Corporation, adeveloper of multiplayer on-line entertainment previously owned by News

Headline News

Robert Daly on deck with Dodgers

ROBERT DALY is on deck with the DODGERS. The former Warner Bros. CEO andchairman has purchased 10% of the Los Angeles Dodgers from Fox EntertainmentGroup. According to the October 29, 1999 issue of DAILY VARIETY, Daly willtake over complete control of the team, however he has said that he willconsult Fox before making any major moves. We'll all be looking forward to thatfirst Ted Turner-owner Braves and Dodgers match-up for sure.

Headline News

NFR allows Ducks to Run Amuck Forever

Librarian of Congress James Billington has announced that DUCK AMUCK alongwith 24 live-action films will be added to the National Film Registry. As partof the Library of Congress, the Registry was established in 1989 to preserve Americanfilm heritage. Billington's list is formed by input from the National FilmPreservation Board and the public. With only 25 selections made each year,DUCK AMUCK, the 1953 Chuck Jones short starring Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny,with voices by Mel Blanc, joins an even smaller list of archived animated

Kids Headline News

Pokemon conquers TV too

We have more information to add to the Pokemon insanity. Last weekend whenPOKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE debuted in theatres, the TV series POKEMON stoleenough kids away for the local movie house to finish #1 and #2 for both weekdays andSaturday morning. The weekday 7am POKEMON averaged a Kids WB! record 4.8rating, 32 share, in kids 2-11, and surprisingly beat all other weekday kids series,morning and afternoon,except for its chief competitor the WB's 4pm. POKEMON.

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