This week Fred Galpern reviews Maya 8, the first release under the new ownership of Autodesk. In addition to offering a more streamlined toolset, Maya is more compatible with 3ds Max. For one thing, theres the addition of the integrated FBX format, allowing users to import and export data between Max and Maya. And now theres cross functionality in Maya with Autodesks Toxik too.
Massive Ent., a studio in Vivendi Games Sierra Ent. division, is using modo for WORLD IN CONFLICT, the upcoming Cold War strategy game for the PC due in spring 2007. modos flexible user interface and powerful UV tools dramatically increased the Swedish developers production of detailed realistic models and was used to produce more than 90% of the titles in-game models.
LucasArts will partner with Free Radical Design to develop a new videogame for next-generation console platforms. Product and release details will be unveiled at a later date.
Free Radical has always been about titles with great gameplay and innovative design, said Peter Hirschmann, vp of product development at LucasArts. In the battle for videogame quality, these guys are at the front of the line. This teams pedigree is one of the best in the business.
USA Network has ordered 13 one-hour episodes of the Emmy-nominated series THE 4400. The series will return to USA Network in summer 2007 with production scheduled to begin in Vancouver in early 2007. THE 4400 is produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in Association with Sky Television, Renegade 83 and American Zoetrope for USA Network.
Twin brothers Michael and Mark Polish (TWIN FALLS IDAHO, NORTHFORK) have sold two projects to Warner Bros. Pictures, according to the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The first film will be LOOT, a heist movie set in Middle America that follows a group of blue-collar workers who pull off jobs during tornado season. They will follow that film up with HOW TIME FLIES, a cause-and-effect look at a world where time travel becomes accessible to the common man.
Michael will direct the films, while both he and Mark will write and produce. Mark also plans to act in LOOT.
Rogue Pictures has bought the feature rights to Chris Kirby's comicbook series LOST SQUAD, VARIETY reports. Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter have been attached to produce.
Illustrated by Alan Robinson, the comic tells the tale of a ragtag unit of Allied soldiers who fight Hitler's occult agents and other supernatural threats during WWII.
Devil's Due Publishing has published five issues since its debut last fall. Devil's Due publisher Josh Blaylock will co-produce the film project.
Relaxing in the stylish and comfortable client lounge at Pacific Soundwaves new post sound facility, it is evident how this veteran company has been able to cultivate its cool in a furiously hot industry. Their innovative 12,000 sq. ft studio embodies the critical ingredients needed to avoid the pitfalls of large-scale expansion; talented and experienced mixers, bleeding edge technology and unrivaled carte blanch client service.
Digital 04 studios presents, ADAPT 2006, a conference promoting the advancement of digital art. Seminars and demonstrations will create an educational environment for participants wishing to learn and be inspired from those who have worked on the biggest films and videogames of our time. For two days, on Sept. 23-24, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal the digital world will come together under one roof.
After a disappointing summer theatrical run, Wolfgang Petersens POSEIDON remake comes to DVD on Aug. 22, 2006 (Warner Home Video, $34.98). Despite being trimmed, there is no extra footage or directors cut in this two-disc special edition. And, unfortunately, there is nothing about the innovative fluid simulation advances.
Arnold & Richter Cinetechnik GmbH (ARRI) has selected Iridas FrameCycler DI for the film scanning department at its Digital Film facility in Munich. ARRI will use the advanced application for review of uncompressed frames for quality testing of scanned material and applying initial tech-grade color correction.
GenArts Inc. announced the immediate availability of Sapphire Plug-ins version 1.08 for After Effects and compatible products. The new version features enhancements for both Mac and Windows platforms. Version 1.08 for Mac adds Universal Binary support for FCP 5.1 and all After Effects compatible host products. The new release will also run under Rosetta and on Power PC Macs for use with applications such as Adobe After Effects that have not yet been compiled specifically for Intel-based Macs.
Autodesk Media & Ent.s new community portal, Area (www.the-area.com), is now live. The site is intended to be a centralized repository of content created using Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max animation, modeling and rendering software; Autodesk MotionBuilder character animation software; or Autodesk VIZ 3D modeling, rendering and presentation software. To foster collaboration and networking within the industry, content on the Area is intended to be generated by the community, and supported by Autodesk.
Disneys PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST, the years biggest smash hit and number six all-time and climbing with $923.3M, will hit DVD shelves on Dec. 5 (Buena Vista Home Ent.) in single disc ($19.95) and double-disc collectors editions ($24.95), reports THE MAN ROOM.
Registration for Fall Term at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects (Sept. 25-Dec. 10) begins today, Aug. 21, 2006.
Meanwhile, Gnomon is offering four new classes for Fall Term: * Creature Development & Creation: Taught by Puddnhead, takes students through the entire process of designing creatures for film and videogames.* ZBrush Digital Sculpting and Anatomy: Taught by Scott Spencer, builds on the skills acquired in the 10-week ZBrush class, guiding students through using ZBrush to convey accurate anatomical form.
The Mill London team has produced a new commercial for Infiniti. Directed by French directing team Pleix for Chiat Day/ TBWA through BlinkInk, the spots contain a very clever use of paint for dramatic effect. In the first spot, we see the Infiniti creating and parting huge waves as it drives through a sea of warm colored paint, and in the second spot a stormy sky of deep blues, purples and yellows crash above the cars below.
Universal Pictures has tapped NIGHTWATCH director Timur Bekmambetov to make his English-language debut with the sci-fi actioner, WANTED, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. James McAvoy, who made a big impression as Mr. Tumnus, the Faun, in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, will star.
CASINO ROYALEs new James Bond, Daniel Craig, has joined the cast of THE GOLDEN COMPASS, the first film in a planned New Line trilogy based on the Philip Pullman series HIS DARK MATERIALS, reports VARIETY. Chris Weitz wrote the script and will direct.
Craig will play Lord Asriel, a ruthless and mysterious adventurer who is the uncle of Lyra Belacqua, the young girl who journeys to a parallel universe to save her best friend.
Key dates were announced for the 5th Annual Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards, to be held Feb. 11, 2007, for the first time at the Kodak Grand Ballroom, home to the Academy Awards Governor's Ball each year. Eric Roth serves as exec director of the VES and Jeff Okun chairs the VES Awards.
2006* Period of Eligibility for Entries: Jan. 1 - Dec. 31* Entry Forms Available: Sept. 1 * Awards Program Submission Period: Sept. 1 - Dec. 1
2007* Nomination Judging Panels Meet and Vote: Jan. 6* Nominations Announced: Jan. 8
DreamWorks Studios announced that Johnny Depp and Tim Burtons SWEENEY TODD, based on the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical thriller, is set to begin production early next year for a late 2007 release.
In the co-production with Warner Bros., Depp will star as the titular Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald will partner with Richard Zanuck and John Logan to produce the screenplay adaptation by Logan (THE AVIATOR). Paramount will distribute for DreamWorks domestically and Warner Bros. internationally.
It seems no classic horror can be left un-remade. Rogue Pictures is developing a redux of Wes Cravens twisted 1972 classic THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. Production is scheduled to being in early 2007.
Craven and longtime producing partner Marianne Maddalena will produce the new version with the original film's producer, Sean S. Cunningham.
BBC Worldwide Americas has licensed a second season of DOCTOR WHO to SCI FI kicking off with a two-hour premiere on Sept. 29, 2006, that will include the Christmas Invasion special in which David Tennant (HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE) was introduced as the 10th Time Lord.
The Doctor returns with his feisty young companion, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), and together they will travel through time and space battling new and returning aliens and monsters.
Fox Interactive Media (FIM) and 20th Century Fox announced a multi-year agreement to provide feature films and television shows on a download-to-own basis across the FIM network. Fox Interactive Media's network will have access to Fox Ent. Group's catalogue of content including hit feature films such as X-MEN THE LAST STAND and THE OMEN as well as episodes of television series like 24 and PRISON BREAK. IGN Ent.
The first edition of Advanced Digital Art Production Techniques (ADAPT) is just around the corner. The new conference is aimed at bringing world leading international and local digital art masters under one roof in Montreal. Presented by Digital 04 studios, the ADAPT 2006 Conference will take place Sept. 23-24 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Rainmaker Animation & Visual Effects has chosen Qube! from PipelineFX as its render farm management system for both the Vancouver and U.K. studios.
After careful consideration of queue managers on the market, our decision on Qube! was an easy one, said Ronald Knol, IT supervisor at Rainmaker. PipelineFX's support is outstanding and Qube! is a mature, stable and extremely scalable product. Qube! supports all our applications and platforms, and will allow us to manage our remote locations, simplifying IT and render wrangler tasks.
Autodesk Inc. has launched the Autodesk Lustre 2007 digital color grading solution. Lustre has shaped hundreds of films, including KING KONG, CLERKS II and the upcoming films MACBETH and THE BLACK DAHLIA. There is also growing demand for specialized digital grading tools such as Lustre in the TV industry and for films shot in high definition (HD). With Lustre, colorists can deliver stylized looks, maintain continuity across shots and change the time of day during which a story takes place.
