AWN Headline News

The Conseil Superieur de lAudiovisuel (CSA), a French broadcasting watchdog, has approved the three-way merger between Vivendi, Canal + and Seagram, the parent of Universal Pictures. The okay came on the heels of Vivendi chairman and CEO Jean-Marie Messiers decision not to fold Canal +s subscriber base into Vivendi Universal, thus avoiding French television ownership laws prohibiting a single shareholder from owning 49% or more of a TV network.

Lucasfilm and fledgling Japanese anime company, Anime World Osaka, have agreed to co-produce an animated feature film entitled, THE TINY FAIRY MIRUN. As reported in YOMIURI SHIMBUN, George Lucas will executive produce the project. Osaka is set to provide the US$18.5 million budget. Lucas is scheduled to go to Osaka in September after production calms down on STAR WARS EPISODE II to sign the official contract. In a flip-flop of the usual process, Anime World will create the master illustrations in Osaka and ship the drawings to Lucasfilm for in-betweens.

Spontaneous Combustion has spruced up the CGI product shots and on-line edit for two Aube Cosmetics ads. "Lipstick" and Eyeshadow" were produced for Aube, one of Japans foremost cosmetic companies. Creative director Sam DeWitt said, "We built models and textures for the new compacts containing the make-up.

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On Wednesday, July 26, 2000, Cinar Corporation began its discussions with Nasdaq officials to explain why they have not filed their annual reports and financial statements from as far back at November 30, 1999. In the midst of the talks, Cinar has announced they have been sued again! This time, the former owners of Cinar subsidiary, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, which Cinar purchased in 1997, have brought forth the lawsuit.

Intel Corporation and Macromedia, Inc. have partnered to bring Intels 3D graphics software technology to Macromedias Shockwave Player. Intels technology will provide a richer look to the Shockwave Player with multiple resolution settings depending on the users computing power. The Intel technology allows providers to create smooth, photo-realistic surfaces, cartoon rendering and effects that include smoke, fire, water and vapor. The compressed Macromedia Shockwaves format will allow narrow bandwidth users easier access to 3D content.

With more summer blockbusters arriving in international theatres, the old guard is weaning. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2, however, is still strong, finishing atop the charts in Italy, Sweden Japan and Spain. In its second week, M:I 2 grossed another US$700,928 in Italy, raising its cume to $6.82 million. GLADIATOR is losing its power, slipping a spot in Italy to finish at #4 with a gross of $103,693, bringing its Italian cume to $8.64 million. In Sweden, GLADITOR also finished in 4th place with a gross of $217,952, advancing its cume to $3.93 million.

Scaring the mutants out of #1, DreamWorks WHAT LIES BENEATH finished atop the U.S. box office charts. The haunted house horror flick, with primary visual effects by SPI, grossed US$29.7 million. Slipping to second, THE X-MEN, with primary visual effects by Cinesite, CORE Digital, Digital Domain, Hammerhead Productions, Kleiser-Walczak Co., Matte World and POP Film, dropped 56% from its opening weekend, but still racking up another $23.47 million.

Magna Entertainment Corp. has appointed Mark Feldman to the position of president and chief executive officer. Previously, Feldman was executive vice president of E! and was responsible for all of its core business operations, including all international ventures and sales, on-line operations, new business development and general administration.

Infogrames, Inc., announced that entertainment industry veterans Jason Bell and Alyssa Padia have joined Infogrames' North American management team. Bell will become senior vice president of publishing for Infogrames' North American operations, while Padia will become senior vice president of corporate evolution. Bell will head all publishing activities for Infogrames' labels in the U.S. For the past six years, Bell has worked at Electronic Arts and Kesmai. During that time, he held senior management roles focused on development of single player and multi-player games.