THE SIXTH SENSE finishes sixth at US boxoffice
Buena Vista's supernatural thriller THE SIXTH SENSE, with visual effects by DreamQuest,finished sixth at the US weekend boxoffice, grossing $6,123,967 for a totalof $242,710,195. Other animation-related films in the top 40 include: TheWalt Disney Company's INSPECTOR GADGET, with digital effects by DreamQuest,finished 15th with $566,409 for a total of $94,888,759; Lucasfilm's STARWARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE finished 16th with $538,206 for a totalof $426,141,814; DreamWorks SKG's THE HAUNTING, with digital effects by
LORD OF THE RINGS begins principal photography
New Line Cinema's THE LORD OF THE RINGS film trilogy, based on the classic fantasy trilogy by J.R. R. Tolkien, began principal photography in Wellington, New Zealand, onOctober 11, 1999. Peter Jackson (DEAD ALIVE aka BRAIN DEAD, MEET THEFEEBLES, HEAVENLY CREATURES) is directing from his own script. The threefilms that will make up the trilogy - THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE TWOTOWERS and THE RETURN OF THE KING - are being filmed at the same time, atactic that worked for the first two SUPERMAN films with Christopher Reeve.
CARTOON NETWORK auctions off SPACE GHOST ending
Whoever wants to know how the cliffhanger ending of the October 15, 1999 episode of SPACE GHOST:COAST TO COAST is resolved will have to win the auction that the CartoonNetwork is holding Friday, October 15 to Monday, October 18. CartoonNetwork is auctioning off the last page of that episode's script, whichwill not be part of the broadcast episode, to benefit Clowns WithoutBorders. The auction will be held at www.ebay.com. At the end of Friday'sepisode, which guest stars comedian Steve Wright, Space Ghost and cast find
SOUTH PARK creators celebrate MONTY PYTHON
Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of Comedy Central's SOUTH PARK, have received permission tosample copyrighted Monty Python work for use in IT'S THE MONTY PYTHONSTORY. The animated special will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BBCcomedy series MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS, which was created by GrahamChapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and TerryGilliam (the lone American in the group, who did the animation). Thespecial will include a spoof of the famous "Dead Parrot Sketch" entitled
CAMP CHAOS signs distribution deal with HONKWORM
Seattle, Washington-based Honkworm International has secured a content development,production, and distribution agreement with web animator, Camp Chaos, thefirst such alliance Honkworm has completed. "We are excited to work evencloser with Camp Chaos and broaden our already existing relationship," saysHonkworm COO, Dan Pepper. "As we ramp up production, we're continuing tolook for more partners like this to add to our portfolio." Theco-production structure with Camp Chaos will likely be repeated in future
The ANIMATED CASTLES festival announces winners
The fourth edition of The Animated Castles film festival took place September 29 - October 3 in Rome,Italy. Here are this year's winners:
Grand Prize "I Castelli Animati":AU BOUT DU MONDE by Konstantin Bronzit, Russia.
Special Jury Prize:EUROPE & ITALY by Bruno Bozzetto, Italy.
Prize For The Best Debut Short Film:MIGRATIONS by Constantin Chamski, France.
Prize For The Best European Short Film:3 MISSES by Paul Driessen, Netherlands.
Special Audience Prize:
BAFTA announces Children's Awards nominees
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the nominees for the 4th AnnualBAFTA Children's Awards. The Awards "honour the variety, richness andexcellence of British television for the young audience." This year'sAnimation category nominees are: THE BEAR (Channel 4/TV Cartoons Ltd.),BYBS (S4C/Griffilms), THE FIRST SNOW OF WINTER (BBC1/Hibbert RalphEntertainment), and SPOT (BBC1/King Rollo Films). Additionally, two of thefour nominees for the Children's Feature Film are animated: A BUG'S LIFE
TRICKY PICTURES hires BLAH BLAH BLAH
Chicago, Illinois-based commercial production house TRICKYPICTURES has hired New York-based rep firm BLAH BLAH BLAH to represent thecompany with East coast clients. Blah, Blah, Blah's ANDY ARKIN and MIKEEASTWOOD will serve as Tricky Pictures' sales and marketing representatives.
SILICON GRAIL hires CRAIG ZEROUNI
Hollywood, California-based SILICON GRAIL, developer of the 2D compositingsoftware Chalice, has hired CRAIG ZEROUNI as product manager. Zerouni grewup in California, but began his career in London where he co-founded CFX &Associates, a visual effects house. In 1997, he returned to the US andjoined Hollywood-based Side Effects as product manager for its Prismsoftware.
MACROMEDIA announces several strategic moves including merger
Macromedia, the industry leader in web design and web graphics tooldevelopment, announced several moves and agreements which gear thecompany toward taking e-commerce to a new level, and making Macromedia acentral part of this growing sector's evolution. The company unveiled itseBusiness Infrastructure strategy, i.e. plans to provide 'solutions' forcontent creation, management, personalisation and management of Extranetand Internet sites.
The company also made several other significant announcements, most notably
Trinity goes live!
Play Inc. - the producers of Snappy Video Snapshot, Trinity and GlobeCaster- recently announced Trinity Live, a live production tool based on anadvanced digital component hardware switcher. The new tool, which istightly integrated with Trinity's real-time architecture for custom 2D and3D video effects, animated graphics, character generation, and virtualsets, is geared toward taking live television to a higher level. TrinityLive contains all the familiar features of a high-end switcher, however its
Harryhausen's SINBAD comes to DVD
Columbia TriStar Home Video is releasing Ray Harryhausen's first color andindependently produced feature, 1958's THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, on DVD inthe US on November 30, 1999. Extras include a documentary called THE RAYHARRYHAUSEN CHRONICLES; THIS IS DYNAMATION, a documentary about RayHarryhausen's animation techniques; A LOOK BEHIND THE VOYAGE and JASON ANDTHE ARGONAUTS, two interviews; and textual supplements on the cast andcrew, including Harryhausen, director Nathan Juran, Kerwin Matthews
Image announces IRON GIANT on laser disc
Image Entertainment is releasing Warner Bros.' THE IRON GIANT, thecritically acclaimed film directed by Brad Bird, on laser disc on December7, 1999. The laser disc will be letterboxed at 1.85:1 (the film was about2.35:1), and retail for US$29.98. There will not be any extras. Laser discssell out quickly these days, and are less likely than ever to bere-pressed, so you may want to pre-order this one. THE IRON GIANT, based ona children's book by Ted Hughes, is about a boy who befriends an alienrobot in 1950s America.
Disney announces MICKEY'S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
On December 7, 1999, Disney is releasing MICKEY'S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS onDVD. This all-new, full-length video features three tales starring Mickey,Donald and Goofy, each one about Christmas. In the first story, Mickey andMinnie recall the year they both gave up what was most important to themfor the sake of the other, making for one unforgettable Christmas. In thesecond story, Goofy and Max remember when they experienced a series ofhilarious, but faith-shaking events - and a visit from the real Santa made
THE ATTIK creates animation for Voyage of Discovery
New York City-based THE ATTIK created the visual style and animation for"Sailing the Globe" and "Getting Ready," two :30 spots designed to showcasethe John Player Goldleaf Voyage of Discovery, during which a sailboattraveled to 17 countries in 170 days. The Attik added animated nauticalimagery to live-action footage, shot by Los Angeles-based Robert Steadman,of the real John Player Goldleaf cigarettes sailboat.
TRICKY PICTURES completes "Hello Kitty"
Chicago, Illinois-based TRICKY PICTURES has completed "Hello Kitty," a :30spot for Target Stores and Minneapolis, Minnesota-based agency PetersonMilla Hooks. Tricky Pictures used After Effects to composite thelive-action footage and the animated characters. Bruce Alcock directed thespot.
Don't miss THE MAN BEHIND THE MOUSE: THE UB IWERKS STORY
THE MAN BEHIND THE MOUSE: THE UB IWERKS STORY plays for one week atDisney's El Capitan theater. Directed by Ub's granddaughter, Leslie Iwerks,this is a documentary about the man who helped Walt Disney create the firstMickey Mouse films, animating some of them nearly single-handedly, as wellas the Silly Symphony series, and helming his own animation studio. Itfeatures never-before-seen archival footage, photos, previously censoredcartoon clips, and interviews with Roy Disney, Chuck Jones, John Lasseter,
Don't miss this ASIFA-Hollywood Careers in Animation lecture!
As part of ASIFA-Hollywood and Glendale Community College's Fourth AnnualLecture Series on Careers in Animation, Sari Gennis will speak aboutSpecial Effects on Tuesday, October 12 at 7 pm. Sari designed and animatedeffects for the first STAR TREK movie and went on to form her own company,ANIMATRIX, where she has produced and directed commercials, televisiongraphics, and theme park special effects. Since 1987 Sari has specializedin effects animation for feature films, including ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN and
Meet Chuck Jones!
Meet Chuck Jones, guest of honor at the grand re-opening of AnimazingGallery at the art gallery's new location. The gallery is featuring aretrospective of Jones' work, THE ART OF CHUCK JONES, which includesoriginal, vintage animation cels and drawings of the characters he createdor helped define including: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian, andPepe Le Pew. The gallery is located at 474 Broome Street, between Greeneand Wooster. For more information contact Heidi Leigh at Tel. (212)
Storyopolis celebrates THE KIDS FROM ROOM 402
Children's bookstore Storyopolis celebrates the launch of Fox FamilyChannel's THE KIDS FROM ROOM 402. Meet Fox Family Channel characters andcreator Michael Paraskevas, and see an episode of the show. An exhibit ofart by Michael Paraskevas begins on October 5. Storyopolis is located at116 N. Robertson. For more information Tel. (310) 358-2500. The event takesplace Saturday, October 9, 11 am - 2:30 pm in Beverly Hills, California,USA.
TAIS presents "Recent Films by Toronto Animators
The Toronto Animated Image Society presents "Recent Films by TorontoAnimators," including Arnie Lipsey, Eugene Fedorenko, Rose Newlove, WillyAshworth, Gerry Lagendyk and Patrick Jenkins. This event will be held atCinecycle, 129 (Rear Laneway) Spadina Avenue. Admission is free for TAISmembers, and CN$4 for everyone else. Memberships will be available at thedoor. The event takes place Thursday, October 7, 7:30 pm in Toronto, Canada.
Matita Film Festival announces awards
The 2nd Matita International Animation Film Festival was held September 23- 26 in Guardiagrele, Italy. The jury consisted of Jury President GiulioCingoli (producer and director), Milan, Italy; Piotr Dumala (director,animator, and teacher at the Film School of Lodz), Warsaw, Poland; RuthLingford (director, animator, and teacher at the Royal College of Arts andNational Film & Television School of London), London, UK; Laura Ruggeri(student at the International Academy of Image, Lanterna Magica), L'Aquila,
Nothing Real shakes up Adobe After Effects
Nothing Real recently announced that it will provide a plug-in which willallow Adobe After Effects users to transfer AE projects into their popularcompositing tool, Shake. This plug-in means that After Effects users willbe able to benefit from Shake's powerful manipulation and output features,yet at the same keep the familiarity of the AE environment. Allen Edwards,president of Nothing Real said that, "With the development of a Shaketranslator plug-in for Adobe After Effects, we are confident that we will
NELVANA hires WEIBEL and CALCATERRA
Toronto-based NELVANA LIMITED has appointed IRENE WEIBEL and JILL NEWHOUSECALCATERRA as marketing vice presidents of the company's newly-formedcorporate sponsorship division. They will be responsible for the creationof national corporate advertising opportunities for Nelvana's animated TVprograms. Weible was previously vice president of national sponsorship forWGBH-TV, the Boston PBS affiliate. Calcaterra was previously vice presidentof marketing, licensing and public relations for Santa Monica,
Paramount announces Beavis & Butt-Head, South Park DVDs
Paramount Home Video will release BEAVIS & BUTT-HEAD DO AMERICA on DVD in the US onNovember 23, 1999. In this animated feature, directed by Mike Judge, andbased on his MTV show, Beavis and Butt-Head tour America. The DVD isletterboxed at 1.85:1 and includes two trailers. The retail price isUS$29.99. The animated feature SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER AND UNCUT,directed by Matt Stone and based on his and Trey Parker's Comedy Centralseries, shows what happens to the South Park gang after they sneak into an
