Cuppa Coffee helped Gospel Music Channel viewers get into the holiday spirit with a new set of Christmas-themed branding elements for the recently launched network, marking the most recent installment in the studio's most expansive broadcast design package to date.
Principal casts for both SCI FI Channel hit original series, STARGATE SG-1 and STARGATE ATLANTIS, will reprise their roles for the recently announced new seasons of the shows.
Returning for another tour of duty on STARGATE SG-1 will be Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks and Beau Bridges. Now onboard as a regular cast member in season 10 will be Claudia Black, from the current season for her portrayal of "Vala," the sexually-charged, ethically-challenged thief-of-all-trades who spends all her free time tormenting Daniel Jackson (Shanks).
VFXWorld presents a new excerpt from Building Interactive Worlds in 3D by Jean-Marc Gauthier. This months excerpt is the last on the Donut Tutorial and focuses on creating interactive textures.
The HAPPY TREE FRIENDS series of shorts hit the number one slot on iTunes Top 10 Podcasts over the 2005 holiday season. It has consistently proven a popular iTunes download, remaining in the Top 5 Podcasts since Dec. 19, 2005.
Peter Plantec explores recent advances in facial animation and crowd simulation software to see how different forms of virtual acting are converging in vfx-driven works.
HIT Ent. has reorganized the HIT European consumer product business, designed to simplify future communications with its partners and support future growth across a new category-based infrastructure.
The multiple brand group structure is now disbanded. The three new business units, according to Peter Byrne, evp HIT Int'l are:
UK Consumer Products: Focusing on the core U.K. licensing business teams aligned by category, supported by an international marketing group, managing the entire HIT portfolio of brands.
Viacom Inc. has completed the transaction to separate into two publicly traded entities: CBS Corp. and "New" Viacom Inc. Shares of the two new companies commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Jan. 3, 2006, under the symbols: "CBS.A" (CBS Corp. Class A Common Stock) and "CBS" (CBS Corp. Class B Common Stock) and "VIA" (Viacom Inc. Class A Common Stock) and "VIA.B" (Viacom Inc. Class B Common Stock).
The move to separate Viacom's businesses was announced in June 2005.
Buena Vistas THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA squeaked past Universals KING KONG at the New Years holiday box office ended Jan. 2, 2006. With impressive vfx from Rhythm & Hues, Sony Pictures Imageworks and ILM, NARNIA garnered $33.7M. Meanwhile, KONG (with impressive vfx of its own from Weta Digital) captured $31.8M. Thus, NARNIA has a four-week cume of $225.7M vs. KONGs three-week cume of $174.5M.
Eovia Corp. announced the immediate availability of the international English and French language editions of its complete 3D solution, Carrara 5. Responding to the need for mainstream accessibility while addressing the sophisticated requirements of professionals, Eovia Carrara 5 is made available in two versions. Both Carrara 5 and the more extensive Carrara 5 Pro present a potent and compelling suite of 3D modeling, animation and rendering tools wrapped within a more enjoyable user interface.
Mexico's media conglom Televisa is preparing an animated version of its 1970s children's comedy EL CHAVO DEL OCHO, reports VARIETY. Televisa plans to open pre-sales for the series later this month in Las Vegas at the National Association of Television Program Executives meeting.
Anima will produce the 26x30 series, which will update the Spanish-language afternoon classic with a modern spin. The series will be ready to air in late 2006.
Starz Ent. Group Llc. (SEG) announced the premiere of Vongo a new video download application and service for broadband that delivers movies and other video content over the Internet for playback on Windows-based PCs, laptops and select portable media devices, as well as on a TV.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center in association with The Center for Visual Music presents Oskar Fischinger: Optical Etudes, featuring many preserved prints of Fischinger's classic Visual Music films.
The Animex International Student Animation Festival is a unique event that recognizes and rewards student animators from around the world. On average more than 350 entries representing 25 countries are received. Categories include: 3D computer animation, 2D computer animation, 3D computer animation for games, Webtoon, visual effects, experimental animation, editing and sound for animation, 3D character animation, animation stills and newcomer. Other awards are given by the audience at the festival. For more information, visit www.animex.net.
3rd Annual Portfolios.com Awards Show will highlight the best advertising, graphic design, Web design, photography and illustration of 2005. An international panel of judges will judge online, and the Winners' Showcase will be announced and shown online. For more information, visit www.portfolios.com/award, e-mail customerservice@portfolios.com or call (800) 303-9277 ext. 261.
CREATIVE SCREENWRITING MAGAZINE presents the AAA Screenplay Contest, a chance for a few talented writers to take the next step in their writing career. The winning script and synopses for the top 10 screenplays have been requested by the following companies: BenderSpink, David Foster Prods., The Donner Co., Endeavor, Escape Artists, The Gersh Agency, Hofflund/Polone Management, International Creative Management, New Line Cinema, Paradigm, Radar Pictures, The Radmin Co., Spring Creek Pictures, VH1, Weintraub/Kuhn Prods., Winkler Films and Zide/Perry.
EuroMedCafe is hosting its second short film contest for the Web on the theme of intercultural dialogue. Three prizes of 4,000 euros will be awarded. Jean-Claude Carri
Boston is home to America's longest running First Night celebration, and for the past two years, the city's New England Anime Society has been a part of this tradition. This year, the New England Anime Society is back and hopes to have its largest and most successful First Night anime event yet. On Dec. 31, 2005, the New England Anime Society will be welcoming in 2006
On Jan 1., 2006, Colorado PBS stations will be airing ANIMATION OF INDIA by U.S.-based artist Manick Sorcar, reports WebIndia123.com. The hour and 45-minute program will start airing at 6:00 am.
"ANIMATION OF INDIA was selected for the early morning telecast as Saturday and holiday mornings are considered to be prime time for children's programs. This is when the kids get up and stay glued in front of their favorite cartoons, starting from dawn to mid-morning," Sorcar told IANS over phone from Denver.
Disney Channel's January is highlighted the debut of the new animated comedy series THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL, based on the feature, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Saturday mornings on ABC Kids. For the youngest viewers, a new season of HIGGLYTOWN HEROES debuts with guest stars Emmy Award-winning choreographer and actress Debbie Allen as the dance instructor who helps saves the day.
SERENITY, the feature adaptation of Joss Whedons short-lived cult series, FIREFLY, is now available on DVD (Universal Studios Home Ent., $29.98). The renegade crew of the Serenity battle military tyrants and bloodthirsty creatures in this expanded adventure (with more elaborate vfx from Zoic Studios) thats supposed to be STAGECOACH set in space (as opposed to STAR TREK, which was BONANZA set in space).
Bonus features include:* Commentary by writer/director Whedon * Deleted scenes and outtakes
STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON recently bowed on DVD (Paramount Home Ent, $129.98), capping off the phenomenal sci-fi franchise. The final and undeniably best season (with terrific vfx from Eden FX and others) ties this prequel premise closer to the original series including the formation of The Federation and offers several nostalgic nods along the way, leading to the controversial segue to THE NEXT GENERATION in the final episode, These Are the Voyages
The maiden 3D-animated feature from the U.K. made by Vanguard Animation was pretty and amiable enough, but failed to make a box office dent after being deemed too cliché ridden and kid-friendly. Now the World War II pigeon adventure produced by John H. Williams (the SHREK movies) and directed by Gary Chapman gets another chance on DVD (Disney DVD, $29.99).
Bonus features include:* Bloopers* VALIANT Training Challenge: Three different game levels
One of the seasons top DVD sellers, FANTASTIC FOUR (Fox Home Ent. $29.99) no longer suffers from comparisons to THE INCREDIBLES. Apparently viewers are appreciating the virtues of big screen adaptation of the Marvel Comics first superhero family (with noteworthy vfx from Café FX, Giant Killer Robots, Hydraulx, Kleiser-Walczak Digital Effects, Meteor Studios, Pacific Title & Art Studio, Pixel Magic, SW Digital and Soho VFX).
Bonus features include:* Commentary by: Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and Ioan Gruffud # 3 * Three deleted scenes
VFX boutique Ring of Fire recently completed effects on the dynamic Forces of Nature spot for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games on NBC. In this spot, directed by Kendall Bowlin of The NBC Agency, the sheer power of the Olympic athletes seem to change their environment by conjuring up extreme phenomena around them. The dramatic effects in the spot give it a supernatural feel.
Filmmakers are always raising the bar on what vfx artists need to create, especially in the area of photorealism. Janet Hetherington chats with professionals about the newest mandatory effect: global illumination.
