AWN Headline News

MORTAL KOMBAT director Paul Anderson will direct, produce and scribe the live-action feature adaptation of the popular RESIDENT EVIL video game franchise. Constantin Films AG will produce the film and handle international distribution. Anderson and his production partner Jeremy Bolts Impact Pictures will handle the North American distribution. Along with Anderson, Bolt and Constantin Films AGs CEO Bernd Eichinger will produce the picture. Filming has a start date of January in London.

Elyse Emmer has joined Film Roman as their East coast commercial sales representative. Emmer will solicit new commercial accounts for the companys animation department. Previously, Emmer has represented various directors and companies including Klasky Csupo. "Elyse Emmer brings knowledge, enthusiasm and imagination, plus a wide range of important contracts, to her position," said Film Roman COO Jon Vein.

* Thursday, October 12 Sunday, October 22, 2000. Montreal, Canada.

* Monday, November 13, 2000. London, U.K.

At MIPCOM, Cosgrove Hall Films has launched their new pre-school series FETCH THE VET. Based on an original concept by childrens author Stephen Thraves, FETCH THE VET tells the story of the day-to-day life of veterinarian Tom Fetch. The series was commissioned by CITV and is co-produced by Flextech Rights Ltd. and ITEL. Currently, 26 11-minute installments have been completed. In promotion of the series, Cosgrove Hall Digital has created a FETCH Website at www.fetchthevet.com.

At MIPCOM, Cosgrove Hall Films has christened its new media division, Cosgrove Hall Digital (CHD) with the launch of its new Website: www.chd.uk.com. CHD will be run by managing director Iain Pelling and day-to-day operations will be overseen by Jon Rashid. The new division will create digital content for Websites, broadcast transmissions and CD-Roms. Currently, CHD is working on a pre-school series entitled WILD AND WONDERFUL, and a childrens series for ITEL entitled ALBIE.

Buena Vista Video is releasing special editions of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH on DVD and video. Hitting stores October 3, 2000, the NIGHTMARE DVDs special features will be Tim Burtons directorial debut, VINCENT, and an uncut version of his live-action premiere, FRANKENWEENIE, commentary by director Henry Selick and director of photography Pete Zozachik, plus a still image gallery comprised of over 450 pictures.

Paramount Home Video and Nickelodeon are releasing the first feature length adventure based on the hit series BLUES CLUES entitled, BLUES BIG MUSICAL MOVIE. The direct-to-video release will be available on VHS and DVD October 3, 2000. The film is geared toward teaching young children the fundamentals of music including notes, rhythm and tempo. The DVD will include special features such as "Backstage at BLUES CLUES A Sneak Peak for Parents," two musical videos by Ray Charles and a "Who am I?" menu guessing game.

To promote the NFL retail shop on NFL.com, Spontaneous Combustion, a digital production studio, designed and composited a campaign for NFL Properties. The campaign consisted of five 30-second spots, eleven 15-seconds spots and four 10-second spots. The various spots highlighted the inspirations that several great NFL players have made on current merchandise. Spontaneous Combustion executive creative director/director Tony Robins collaborated with NFL Properties art director Paul Iannacchino to create the concept, which integrates archival footage with NFL shop merchandise and typography.

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Honkworm and cartoonist Gary Leibs 2D and 3D animation studio, Twinkle, will co-produce a Webseries based on Doug Allens underground comic book story, JICKETTS SPEED SHOP. As part of the deal, Honkworm will distribute the series and also retains rights for offline media such as books, television and merchandise. SPEED SHOP was first published in the comic book ZERO ZERO and chronicles 40-something hipster Jicketts shady body shop.

MIPCOM, the International Film and Programme Market for TV, Video, Cable and Satellite, hits Cannes, France on October 2 6, 2000. MIPCOM facilitates programme sales, deals, new contacts and joint ventures on a global basis. MIPCOM includes a five-day TV industry tradeshow, including a conference progamme on Television in the New Economy called MIPCOM: The International Trading Floor. MIPCOM brings together producers, distributors, broadcasters, Webcasters, worldwide cable and satellite operators, buyers, co-producers and investors from around the globe.