Industrial Light & Magic is using Vue 5 Infinite, e-on softwares natural 3D environment solution, on some of its upcoming projects, filling a void in its existing tool set.
"e-on products are a great addition to our production tool set and we are planning to expand their use throughout our entire facility, said Cliff Plumer, Lucasfilm cto. You will probably be seeing a lot of Vue in future productions.
RE:Flex from RE:Vision Effects brings intuitive morphing and warping directly to eyeon Software's Fusion 5. RE:Flex is especially easy to learn because it uses the Fusion's own drawing and masking tools to direct the warping and morphing; as such, there is no need to learn a whole new user interface.
Guava Studios has purchased a Sledgehammer HD!O system from Maximum Throughput of Montreal as the core shared storage component for its new 3D animation department.
The Jim Henson Co.s underrated fantasy, MIRRORMASK, featuring the directorial debut of illustrator Dave McKean, makes its way to DVD (Sony Pictures Home Ent., $26.96). Full of evocative imagery set against the backdrop of the kingdom of the Dark Lands, MIRRORMASK utilized a crew of 15 CG artists hired straight out of Bournemouth University and supervised by CG producer Max McMullin, who has worked on all of McKeans shorts. MoCap was done at Artem Digital.
Bonus features include:
The Walt Disney Co. has tapped THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW writer Jeffrey Nachmanoff to pen three projects, including the feature adaptation of Ubisofts videogame PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, reports VARIETY. In addition to the Jerry Bruckheimer Films-produced PERSIA, he will also tackle Bruckheimer's UNNATURAL HISTORY and the LivePlanet-produced LIBERTY.
SCI FI Channel has added Lucy Lawless to the cast of its original series, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, as she reprises her role as D'Anna Biers in a 10-episode arc in the show's eagerly anticipated third season, which begins production in Vancouver, in April 2006.
Lawless' second guest appearance airs Feb. 24, in the episode, "Downloaded," which gives viewers their first real glimpse into the Cylon world. The second half of season 2 of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA premiered Jan. 6.
wondertouch announced the release of the Professional Emitter Libraries, a collection of six new particle emitter libraries for the company's award-winning particleIllusion 3.0 software, widely regarded for creating high-quality, complex particle animations.
The Weinstein Co. has scooped up the rights to the script EVILSEEK from writer Wayne Kramer (THE COOLER, RUNNING SCARED) who will also direct and produce the supernatural thriller. Kramers partner Michael Pierce (RUNNING SCARED) will also produce via their True Grit Prods. banner. The Weinstein Co. will fully fund the project, which will star Thomas Jane (THE PUNISHER).
The Gnomon Workshop has released Aaron Sims' newest title from his TETHERED ISLANDS DVD training series: BUILDING CREATURES USING ZBRUSH.
Sims uses an assortment of software packages to create his characters, and in this newest installment he gives us a look into the process he uses to build a creature in ZBrush, and then render it in an XSI scene.
The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood announced new enhancements for spring 2006, including new attractions showcasing THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT and KING KONG, as well as the opportunity to see more working TV and movie sets than ever before, including sets from CROSSING JORDAN and the top-rated CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. The enhancements represent the most sweeping changes made to the Studio Tour in more than a decade and the greatest number of new additions to the park since the first trams rolled along the landmark Universal backlot in 1964.
Universal Studios Home Ent. has announced that Peter Jackson's KING KONG will be released on DVD March 28, 2006, just 100 days after its theatrical release. There will be two editions: a movie-only single disc ($30) and a two-disc special edition ($31) that includes the final entries in the online production diaries (three hours of post work from Weta Digital), a mockumentary on Skull Island and a tribute to '30s era New York City and the influence of the original KONG. Weta also designed the DVD cover art.
PNY Technologies Inc. is now shipping the latest in its line of high-def graphics-to-video solutions, the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 SDI. Adopted by major television networks and film companies, NVIDIA Quadro SDI solutions have been integrated with numerous broadcast and video applications from industry leaders to enable high-def live-to-air 3D graphics, broadcast news, traffic and weather graphics, 2K digital film playback and digital intermediate uses.
Senior colorist Simone Grattarola joins Rushes expanding telecine department following on from the recent announcement of a multi-million pound investment at Rushes for 2006.
Jonathan Liebesman is in talks to helm the remake/prequel to FRIDAY THE 13TH for Platinum Dunes and New Line Cinema, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Mark Wheatons script takes place at the original films Crystal Lake location, but unlike the original will feature a hockey mask wearing Jason as the central killer.
Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller will produce with Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter and Jeff Katz overseeing for New Line.
Rogue Pictures has nailed down the film rights to HACK/SLASH, a cult horror comicbook series, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter will produce with music video director Todd Lincoln set to direct as well as adapted the script with Martin Schenk (THE FLY remake).
Created by Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli, the comic follows Cassie Hack and her hulking protector Vlad as they travel to small towns across the U.S. hunting down notorious slashers.
TITANIC director James Cameron has confirmed that his top-secret film, PROJECT 880, will be his next film, reports ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Previously, Cameron was set to make a live-action version of BATTLE ANGEL, based on Yukito Kishiro's Japanese graphic novels, but script issues have delayed that project.
"We've moved PROJECT 880 into first position," Cameron said. "It's as classified as the Manhattan Project." However, rumors abound that the film will be a version of AVATAR, the director's long gestating love story set against interplanetary war.
Digital-Tutors announced the availability of the first interactive training solution for RenderMan for Maya and two introductory guides to Rigging and Enveloping in XSI.
INTRODUCTION TO RENDERMAN FOR MAYA provides more than three hours of project-driven training to increase the artist's understanding of RenderMan for Maya. Perfect for artists new to the powerful capabilities of RenderMan for Maya and experienced artists seeking time-saving tips and techniques.
New Line Cinema has cast Rainn Wilson (NBCs THE OFFICE) and Joely Richardson (FXs NIP/TUCK) in its sci-fi family film, MIMZY, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. New Line Cinema co-ceo Bob Shaye is set to direct.
The story follows two siblings, who discover a box of toys sent from the future, which gives them strange abilities. Wilson will play a science teacher and Richardson is the siblings' mom.
The studio is hoping to begin production in Vancouver in March.
Tobey Emmerich will shepherd for the studio.
As part of Hollywoods Master Storytellers series, three of the visual effects artist behind the Oscar-nominated work on WAR OF THE WORLDS shared some the films secrets. On Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, at Manns Chinese Theatres Complex at Hollywood & Highland, f/x legend Dennis Muren, visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman and animation supervisor Randal M. Dutra answered questions about their work on Steven Spielbergs blockbuster alien invasion adventure.
Anthem Visual Effects has completed more than 200 visual effects for MASTERS OF HORROR, a series of 13 original one-hour movies in HD co-produced by IDT Ent., Industry Ent. and Nice Guy Prods.
Anthem employed greenscreen shots, 3D motion tracking and compositing (using Mac in OS X) to create CG elements and construct 3D environments from bloody knives and disturbing eyes to a creepy cliffs edge shack in the moonlight, a woman with the legs of a deer and a rat with a human face.
Production has begun in Los Angeles on the family mystery adventure, NANCY DREW, starring Emma Roberts (Nickelodeon's UNFABULOUS), Josh Flitter (THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED), Max Thieriot (THE PACIFIER) and Tate Donovan (GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.).
Animations sweetheart John Lasseter found himself wedged between the vfx giant pics WAR OF THE WORLDS and KING KONG as they all commanded the awards and praise at the 4th Annual VES Awards tonight, (Feb. 15, 2006) at the Hollywood Paladium in Hollywood to a sold-out crowd attending the Visual Effects Society black-tie fete recognizing outstanding visual effects in 20 categories of film, television, commercials, music videos and games. WAR OF THE WORLDS and KING KONG each won in three categories.
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror films announced the nominations for the 32nd annual Saturn Awards. George Lucas' STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH led all nominees with 10 nominations.
BATMAN BEGINS placed second, with nine nominations, followed by THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE and HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, which both received eight nominations.
20th Century Fox is ready to blast off on STARSHIP DAVE with Eddie Murphy starring and Peter Segal (THE LONGEST YARD) directing, VARIETY is reporting. The film was originally set up at Paramount. Deep River Prods. will produce along side Guy Walks Into a Bar.
The film follows a crew of miniature human-looking aliens who search for a way to save their doomed world.
David Friendly and Marc Turtletaub are producing for Deep River with Jon Berg and Tom Komarnicki for Guy Walks Into a Bar. Segal's producing partner Michael Ewing will also produce.
Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes is set to produce the 11th film in the FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise for New Line, reports VARIETY. Bay will produce with Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form.
Mark Wheaton (SON OF THE MORNING STAR) has been hired to pen the prequel that will deal with the origins of the Jason Voorhees. New Line hopes to release the film on Friday, Oct. 13, 2006.
Studio president Toby Emmerich shepherding with execs Cale Boyter and Jeff Katz.
