The Central Florida Festival calls for entries
Celebrating its 17th year, Florida's oldest film and video festivalcontinues its commitment to encourage, support, and foster independent filmmaking. The festival will tour throughout Central Florida and include such cities as Orlando, Melbourne, Gainesville, and Tampa. The festival accepts film and video shorts and features in all formats, genres, and categories (including animation, documentary, experimental, narrative, music videos, and features). More information, including the entry form, is available at www.cffvf.org. The late deadline is June 25, 1999 (late fees apply).
Dan Romanelli signs new contract with Warner Bros.
Dan Romanelli has signed a new long-term contract with Warner Bros., extending his tenure as president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products. Along with continuing responsibility for all the business units within the Warner Bros. Consumer Products division, such as Warner Bros. Licensing and Warner Bros. Studio Stores, Romanelli adds to his charter the ability to acquire properties intended primarily for the creation of licensing and merchandising franchises.
DMA designs Noggin host character
Data Motion Arts (DMA) has created the host character "Phred" for the new Noggin network. DMA's creative director Tony Caio was asked to create a character who is interactive, works on TV and on-line, and appeals to 6-to-12 year-olds. The result is a 2D character that appears tattooed on your forehead of different live-action faces. The PHRED ON YOUR HEAD show debuted on Nickelodeon on June 6th at 12:00 pm. You can view Phred on-line at www.noggin.com/build. Noggin is an educational TV channel and website, developed as a joint venture of Nickelodeon and Children's Television Workshop.
PBS adds Noddy to daily schedule
Beginning September 6, 1999, NODDY will air Monday through Friday on PBS stations in the US as part of PBS's "Ready to Learn" service. NODDY debuted in the US in the fall of 1998. The program's success has led to the production of 25 new episodes, bringing the total number of episodes to 65. The new episodes will begin airing in the fall of 1999. Based on the world-renowned children's books by Enid Blyton, NODDY, a show for children ages three to seven, is co-produced by BBC Worldwide, The Enid Blyton Company and Toronto-based Catalyst Entertainment, Inc.
CBLDF gets funding help
Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. continues its support of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund with the 1999 Spring Breaks. Over the last several years, Diamond has redoubled its efforts to turn these regional industry gatherings into fund-raisers for the CBLDF through live and silent auctions, special giveaways, and other events. This year, the Spring Breaks raised more than $2,400 to benefit the Fund. The Spring Breaks are the natural descendants of the annual Diamond Retailer Seminars and are sponsored by Diamond in conjunction with DC, Dark Horse, Image, Marvel, and other publishers.
Talent Needed for ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD'S ANIFEST '99
ASIFA-Hollywood is looking for volunteer, professional animation artists and other talent to participate in Anifest '99...
SAFO Registration Now Available On-Line!
The SAFO web site has been updated. Passes for the 2nd annual Ottawa Student Animation Festival (October 21-24, 1999) are now available for sale...
New Schedules for Both DH Institute of Media Arts and Associates in Art Westside
Both DHIMA and AIA have new classes starting in July. Highlights on the CG side (DHIMA) - Starts the week of July 12: Maya; 3D Max; After Effects; Photoshop; Avid NT Editing; Game Design and Programming - Level 1. Special offer to new DHIMA CG July students: DHIMA will give out SIGGRAPH '99 exhibit passes to the first 50 students who register for the July session. SIGGRAPH '99 will happen at the Los Angeles Convention Center, August 8-13, 1999.
AWN's New List Of Animation Books
AWN has compiled a list of 65 top animation books for purchase, in association with Amazon.com, the on-line bookstore...
Disney villains come to The Cartoon Art Museum
The Cartoon Art Museum presents a show of animation art from the collectionof Mike and Jean Glad featuring Disney villains. Marc Davis, animator ofThumper, Tinkerbell, Malificent, and many other Disney characters, as wellas other Disney artists, will appear, although they will not be doingautographs. The opening takes place on Saturday, June 19, 1999, 6-8 pm, butthe show begins on June 16 and continues through September 5, 1999. Themuseum is located at 814 Mission Street, 2nd floor in San Francisco,
New South Park video ties in with upcoming feature
The April Fool's Day episode of SOUTH PARK which starred the kids' favoriteTV show characters, Terrance & Phillip, will be available in US stores onJune 15. This is the only full-length, half-hour episode featuring the twoCanadian action stars from the "show-within-a-show" on SOUTH PARK. Theepisode was broadcast on April 1, 1998, the date viewers were expecting tosee a cliffhanger identifying Cartman's father. As a result of this AprilFool's Day trick, Comedy Central received thousands of e-mails and letters
Iron Giant gets licensed
THE IRON GIANT, which opens in the US on August 6, will be accompanied bythe following merchandising. On August 3 Rhino Records will release THEIRON GIANT soundtrack. In addition to an original score by Michael Kamen(LETHAL WEAPON, 101 DALMATIONS), this collection includes tracks such asEddie Platt's 1958 hit "Cha-Hua-Hua," The Magnificents' "Let's Do TheCha-Cha," and Jimmie Haskell's "Rockin' In Orbit." Compiled by Rhino'sJames Austin, THE IRON GIANT soundtrack will retail for $16.1998/CD,
THOMAS THE TANK is headed for the Big Screen!
THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD, a live-action/animated feature length film,is scheduled to begin shooting this month in England and Canada. Based onthe TV series THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE, the film is a co-production betweenDestination Film, Britt Allcroft Co. and Gullane Pictures. Icon FilmDistribution, the British releasing arm of Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey'sIcon Productions, will distribute the film in the UK. THOMAS THE TANKENGINE began as a series of children's books by the late Rev. Wilbert
Women in Animation to hold Annual Meeting and Elections
Women in Animation will hold their Annual Meeting and Elections onSaturday, June 26 at 10:30 am at Gnomon, Inc. Ballots were due by mail orfax on June 18, but can still be delivered in person at the June 26meeting. Gnomon is located at 1015 North Cahuenga Bl., First Floor,Hollywood, CA 90038. For more information call 818-759-9596.
Graduate portfolio show set at Art Institute of Los Angeles
* Friday, June 18, 5:30-7:30 pm. Santa Monica, California, USA.
The Art Institute of Los Angeles will present its first portfoliopresentation showcasing graduates' work at their campus located at 290031st Street, Santa Monica. The reception for industry professionals is agreat way to find fresh talent! For more information call Colleen Lynch,Director of Career Services, at 310-752 4700; or e-mail lynchc@aii.edu.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh plans graduate portfolio show
* Friday, June 18, 2:30-6:00 pm. Oakland, Pennsylvania, USA.
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh will present a portfolio presentationshowcasing graduates' work at their campus located at Banquet Hall, 4141Fifth Avenue. The show features computer animation, multimedia, graphicdesign, interior design, and video production. For more information call1-800-275-2470; or 263-6600, ext. 272.
Don't miss this Looney Tunes Reunion!
Several artists who worked on the classic Warner Bros. shorts will be onhand at ASIFA-Hollywood's "A Looney Tunes Reunion" on Saturday, June 19, 11am to 2 pm at the Johnny Carson Park in Burbank, California. Scheduled toappear are background designer/director Maurice Noble, animator/directorNorm McCabe, Bob Givens, Pete Alvarado, animator/director Bill Melendez,and Art Leonardi. Bring a pot-luck dish, and be prepared for manysurprises. To RSVP, or for more information, call (818) 842-8330.
Film Roman announces two more prime-time series
Adding to the recently announced DOOMSDAY, being co-produced with HowardStern, and TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS, being co-produced with Norman Lear, FilmRoman has announced two more prime-time TV shows that it will be taking tothe marketplace this season. THE CABBISONS takes a hard look at today'ssociety through the eyes of a 1970's sitcom family who are typicallyAmerican--except for living in a cab. The Cabbisons travel through theworld in their cab, picking up fictional characters and celebrity fares
Oxygen Media announces new personnel
Oxygen Media has named several senior executives to its sales and marketingteam. MARY MURANO, who joins Oxygen as the Senior Vice President forAffiliate Sales, was formerly Executive Vice President, Distribution andAffiliate Marketing at AMC Networks; LAURIE BENSON, who is the new SeniorVice President for Advertising Sales, was formerly Vice President,Advertising Sales of Home & Garden Television; TRICIA MELTON, who has beennamed Vice President for Consumer Marketing, joins Oxygen from the Food
Portfolio show set at Art Institute of Atlanta
* Thursday, June 17, 11 am - 1:30 pm. Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
A portfolio show and networking meeting will take place at The ArtInstitute of Atlanta at 3376 Peachtree Road NE. The show features computeranimation, multimedia, graphic design, interior design, and videoproduction. For more information contact Diana Graves at (404) 266-2662,ext. 370; or e-mail: gravesd@aii.edu.
Oxygen signs with Mediaone
Geraldine Laybourne, Oxygen Media's Chairman and CEO, has announced thatOxygen Media has signed a carriage agreement with MediaOne, a domesticcable operator, to distribute Oxygen's cable network. The new Oxygennetwork, which is scheduled to launch on 02/02/2000, will be integratedwith Oxygen's existing online properties to create a "home base" for womenon cable and the Internet. Oxygen's carriage agreement with MediaOne willdeliver Oxygen to over 1 million subscribers at launch. Under the terms of
Computer Cafe expands to Santa Monica
Computer Cafe has opened a full service animation studio in Santa Monica,California. The 1400 square foot site, in the heart of Santa Monica's mediadistrict, will be staffed by art director/digital artist Ron Honn, who isrelocating from the company's Santa Maria headquarters, and producerJonathan Stone, who joins the company from Saban Entertainment. Artistsfrom the Santa Maria facility will staff up the Santa Monica studio on aproject basis, and the company will also staff the new site with local
Rob Davies opens new studio
Rob Davies, a 1999 Emmy nominee for his work on STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTS:PINKY, ELMYRA AND THE BRAIN, has recently returned from Warner Bros. T.V.Animation in L.A. to his native British Columbia, Canada to start up a newanimation studio, Atomic Cartoons Inc. Joining Davies is former REN ANDSTIMPY animator and Universal Cartoons director Mauro Casalese, directorTrevor Bentley (Nickelodeon's CAT DOG, Nelvana's NED'S NEWT), and directorOlaf Miller (Sony's LITTLE WITCH). "Our main focus is to assist companies
THE BANANA SPLITS return!
THE BANANA SPLITS will return via Cartoon Network Online's Web PremiereToon series in 2000. Produced by Hanna-Barbera and Sid & Marty Krofft, THEBANANA SPLITS ADVENTURE HOUR was originally broadcast on NBC from 1968-70,and the show was repeated throughout the 1970s. Episodes currently airSaturday mornings on Cartoon Network. The live-action variety show featuredrock musician characters in fuzzy animal suits: Fleagle, a beagle; Drooper,a lion; Bingo, a gorilla; and Snorky, an elephant. The foursome would
Did DINOTOPIA inspire PHANTOM MENACE?
A bit of controversy has arisen due to the striking similarity between somescenes in James Gurney's DINOTOPIA books and George Lucas' STAR WARSEPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE. The questionable parallels include thatbetween PHANTOM MENACE's royal Naboo city of Theed and DINOTOPIA'sWaterfall City; the trip through PHANTOM MENACE's Naboo's core and asubmarine ride in THE WORLD BENEATH; the celebratory parade at the end ofthe film and several scenes from DINOTOPIA books; and between Jar Jar Binks
