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Category: Visual Effects

Headline News

Gnomon Offers An Evening With Jeff Okun

Gnomon School of Visual Effects will present An Evening with Jeff Okun, the prominent vfx supervisor and VES Awards chair, Nov. 3, 7:00 pm, at 1015 N. Cahuenga, Hollywood, California. A meet-and-greet precedes at 6:00 pm. You can RSVP at: RSVP@GNOMON3D.COM.

Since starting his career as a gopher for legendary designer Saul Bass, Okun has worked as an editor, a still photographer of legendary musicians (Sting, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix) and sound editor.

Headline News

Luxology Releases modo 103 Service Update

Luxology Llc., the creators of modo, a leading subdivision surface and polygonal 3D modeling platform, announced the release of its free modo 103 service update. The modo 103 update features a host of advances, including the debut of a new UV mapping technology that greatly simplifies and accelerates the UV unwrapping process, and improved stability for specific hardware configurations.

Animation Headline News

NaturalMotion Ships endorphin 2.5

NaturalMotion Ltd., the developers of breakthrough 3D animation technology based on Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS), announced that it is now shipping endorphin 2.5, the latest version of the companys award-winning 3D character animation software, at a new price of USD $9,495. endorphin 2.5s powerful new behavioral animation features, enhanced asset repurposing and improved FBX support, allow animators to quickly create realistic, fully interactive 3D character animation for games, films and broadcast production.

Studios Headline News

Top Cow’s Magdalena Spirits Feature Deal

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 12:00am

Producers Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman of Platinum Studios, and Gale Anne Hurd, founder of Valhalla Motion Pictures and producer of THE TERMINATOR and this years upcoming AEON FLUX, announced that they are developing Top Cows spiritually themed comicbook MAGDALENA as a feature film. Kevin Taft, who recently signed a writing deal for New Line Cinemas ALONE, has been tapped to pen the script.

Headline News

27-Year-Old Robotics Ph.D. Options Robot Book

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 12:00am

Daniel H. Wilson, a 27-year-old Ph.D. candidate in robotics at Carnegie Mellon, has optioned the film rights to his first book HOW TO SURVIVE A ROBOT UPRISING to Michael DeLuca Prods., reports SCI-FI WIRE. A film treatment based on the book, which hits stores Nov. 7, 2005, has already been written by Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant (Comedy Central's RENO 911).

Stardust Headline News

Layer Cake Director to Helm Gaiman’s Stardust

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 12:00am

Paramount is in final talks with LAYER CAKE director Matthew Vaughn to direct and produce an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's adult fairy tale STARDUST, according to VARIETY. Vaughn wrote the script with writing partner Jane Goldman.

Story Headline News

Dimension Taps Ed Wood Writers for King’s 1408

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 12:00am

Dimension has tapped director Mikael Hafstrom (upcoming Weinstein Co. release DERAILED) and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura to tackle the adaptation of the Stephen King short story 1408, which has rewrittem by ED WOOD screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, reports VARIETY. The original script was penned by Matt Greenberg.

Headline News

IBM Delivers Power-based Chip for Microsoft Xbox 360 Launch

At Fall Processor Forum in San Jose, California, IBM announced that the custom designed microprocessor built for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console is in production at the company's East Fishkill, New York, fab and at Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing in Singapore. Together, IBM and Chartered's common platform offers Microsoft a unique dual-source capability that provides the highest level of manufacturing redundancy and flexibility.

Special Headline News

Fully Loaded Titanic DVDs Now Available

The ultimate TITANIC DVDs were released today (Oct. 25, 2005) in a special edition, a special collectors edition and a deluxe collectors edition, courtesy of Paramount Home Ent. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. International. The three-disc special collectors edition ($29.99) is available in the U.S., Japan and Korea, while the two-disc special edition is available in Europe, Australia and Latin America. The four-disc deluxe collectors edition is also available in Europe, Australia and Latin America.

Games Headline News

Alias Supports Upcoming Game Industry Events

Alias announced its involvement in three of the gaming industrys leading events this fall: the Austin Games Conference taking place Oct. 27-28; the Serious Games Summit happening in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 31-Nov. 1; and the Montréal International Games Summit (MIGS) running Nov. 2-3. Alias open and component-based pipeline solution for game development includes: Alias SketchBook Pro, Maya, Alias Motionbuilder, Alias HumanIK Middleware and FBX and FBX SDK (Software Development Kit).

Film Headline News

Harry E. Sloan New Chairman/CEO of MGM

Harry E. Sloan, a member of the MGM board of directors, has been named chairman/ceo of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Sloan will also invest in MGM and become part of the ownership group, which ownership is currently as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%), and Quadrangle Group (3%).

India Headline News

Amelie Helmer Has The Life of Pi

AMELIE director Jean-Pierre Jeunet is the latest helmer to sign on to direct Fox 2000's adaptation of the Man Booker Prize-winning Yann Martel novel LIFE OF PI, reports VARIETY. Jeunet will also team with his writing partner Guillaume Laurant to pen the script.

Novel follows the journey of a 16-year-old boy from India to Canada. After a ship wreck, the boy becomes the sole human survivor on a lifeboat with a hyena, an injured zebra and a hungry tiger.

Game Headline News

Swordfish Writer to Turn Hitman Game Into Diesel Feature

Fox has hired SWORDFISH writer Skip Woods to turn the videogame HITMAN into a feature film vehicle for Vin Diesel, according to VARIETY. The studio purchased the film rights to the Eidos game in June from producers Chuck Gordon and Adrian Askarieh. Diesel is set to exec produce with Daniel Alter producing and Fox president of production Hutch Parker and evp Alex Young overseeing. The story follows international assassin, Agent 47, who works for a mysterious agency dubbed the Agency.

Effects Headline News

LightWave 3D VFX Invade Fall 2005 TV Season

NewTek Inc. announced that artists from Eden FX and Zoic Studios are relying on LightWave 3D for the production of content and shots for a large number of new and returning primetime shows for the fall 2005 season. NewTeks Emmy-winning 3D application is being used extensively for visual effects for such series as LOST, ALIAS, COMMANDER IN CHIEF, SURFACE, INVASION, THRESHOLD, E-RING, PRISON BREAK, CSI, CSI: MIAMI and OVER THERE.

Headline News

CaféFX Provides VFX for Shopgirl

CaféFX blends reality and fantasy in a series of 3D effects for the main titles and several key sequences in SHOPGIRL, the romantic comedy starring Claire Danes and Steve Martin, based on Martin's bestselling novella. The movie, directed by Anand Tucker and distributed by Touchstone Pictures, opens today (Oct. 21).

Effects Headline News

particleIllusion Upgrade Promotion Offered to Combustion Users

wondertouch announced a special limited-time upgrade promotion that allows registered owners of the Autodesk Combustion 3 or Combustion 4 desktop software programs to receive more than 50% off of particleIllusion 3.0, the latest version of the company's cornerstone, sprite-based particle effects software application. The promotion, which ends Nov. 15, enables Combustion 3 or Combustion 4 software owners to purchase the standalone version of particleIllusion 3.0 for Windows or Mac OS X platforms, at a reduced price of $179, a savings of $220.

Headline News

Creepshow Remake in the Works

As a way to restart the franchise, Warner Bros. Pictures is developing a remake of the original 1982 horror film, CREEPSHOW, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Ent. will produce along side Taka Ichise of OZ LA, Tony Ludwig and James Dudelson, the original rights holder. WB is looking for writers.

Autodesk Headline News

Autodesk Hosts 3ds Max Developers Summit in Orlando

Autodesks 3ds Max core software development team will provide two days of intensive training for game developers as part of Autodesk Universitys annual 2005 confab, with a special session presented by strategic partner Intel Corp. Held at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida, from Nov. 29-30, 2005. The 3ds Max Developers Conference will teach users techniques and practices to customize production pipelines, build MAXScripts, efficiently transfer scene data and take full advantage of the open 3ds Max framework.

Headline News

Kingdom Does Heavenly on DVD

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (Fox Home Ent., $29.98) topped both the DVD sales and rental charts in its first week, reports THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. In terms of rentals, the historical epic gathered an estimated $10.1M, or 21.2% of its $47.M domestic box office take. Ridley Scotts film fared considerably better overseas, earning $163.5M.

Spot Headline News

Fluid’s VFX Provide Answer for Reebok Campaign

Fluid provided the visual effects for a :30 Reebok spot, launching the Answer IX shoe and featuring NBA superstar point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson. Developed through mcgarrybowen (New York, NY), the spot, titled 10 YEARS OF HEART, promotes Reeboks Answer IX shoe with the pump technology that offers the perfect fit by surrounding the foot with an automatic, form fitting air chamber that you can turn on or off as needed. The spot debuted on ESPN nationally on Oct 18.

Film Headline News

Déjà Vu! Tony Scott To Direct Deja Vu

It was only two week ago that Walt Disney Studios announced that DOMINO director Tony Scott had stepped down from the helmers chair on the thriller DÉJÀ VU. Now the trades reports that Scott has returned to the film, which seems will be able to film in New Orleans as originally planned. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing will Denzel Washington starring.

Creature Headline News

Eisner to Direct Creature From the Black Lagoon Remake

SAHARA-helmer Breck Eisner has been hired by Universal Pictures to remake CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, reports THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Gary Ross, whose father Arthur Ross was a writer on the 1954 original, is producing out of his Larger Than Life production shingle. Gary Ross wrote the current version of the screenplay and Tedi Safarian wrote a previous draft.

Films Headline News

Spike TV Spends Serious Coin For Six Star Wars Films

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 12:00am

Spike TV has made the biggest film licensing deal in its 22-year history with its purchase of the exclusive rights for all six of STAR WARS films for six-years, reports VARIETY. The serious coin Spike will pay is between $65-70 million, which is about $15 million more than most insiders expected the films to sell for. A bidding war between Spike, NBC Universal's USA Network and Sci Fi Channel and Turner's TBS and TNT drove up the price. Key to the deal is that Spike will have the first network window for REVENGE OF THE SITH in April 2008.

Headline News

Mr. & Mrs. Smith/Firefly Scribes Set Up Sci-Fi Flick at Universal

By Rick DeMott | Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 12:00am

Universal has purchased a sci-fi pitch from Simon Kinberg (MR. AND MRS. SMITH) and Brett Matthews (THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: DARK FURY, BIONICLE: THE FEATURE), according to VARIETY. Matthews, who also wrote episodes of FIREFLY, will pen the script. Kinberg will produce with Circle of Confusions David Engel and Lawrence Mattis. Circle of Confusions Jason Lust and David Alpert will exec produce. The plot of the film is under wraps, but its described as what BOURNE IDENTITY did for action movies, this will attempt to do for sci-fi movies."

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