Talking to Even Pigeons Go to Heaven producer Simon Vanesse, we learned that he began his career in IT. He mentioned that being one of the few producers who speaks English at BUF has helped him get on big American production. Most of the time he works as a visual effects producer, having worked on The Prestige.
While the films were screening for the studio artists, we were treated to a backstage look at the making of Sony’s Oscar-nominated animated feature Surf’s Up. VFX supervisor Rob Bredow gave us a nice overview of creating the beautiful waves and mockumentary style of the film.
Entertainment Rights announced today it has appointed 3DBA as its key sales partner to turn its brands into themed attractions.
George of the Jungle and Casper are currently being showcased at major trade shows throughout the world and a number of deals are expected to be announced soon.
ER is the U.K.'s leading global media group, specializing in the ownership and management of children's and family programming, characters and brands.
Here is the last photo gallery from the San Francisco leg of the Oscar Showcase tour. We closed out the event at PDI/DreamWorks, where the Q&A audience asked some new questions and the nominees had a chance to chat with the studio’s artists.
Skywalker Ranch is an awesome experience and in this photo gallery you’ll understand why.
During our visit at Pixar we shot a great deal of wonderful pics with Pixar characters and employees, including Brad Bird and Ed Catmull.
Here’s the first photo gallery from the 2008 Oscar Showcase tour. Witness the nominees posing for pics with the many wonders on display inside the doors of the premiere visual effects studio.
Conversation was brief on the ride over to PDI/DreamWorks. With the tour winding down, I think we were all winding down as well. When we arrived at the studio, the screening was already in full swing.
With the screenings so tightly packed, once My Love ended at Skywalker Ranch and the final film Peter and the Wolf began, a sedan raced off with our bags and the prints for the first four films to deliver them in time for the PDI/DreamWorks screening later in the day.
With the screenings so tightly packed, once My Love ended at Skywalker Ranch and the final film Peter and the Wolf began, a sedan raced off with our bags and the prints for the first four films to deliver them in time for the PDI/DreamWorks screening later in the day.
Once arriving at Skywalker Ranch’s breakfast area, after much more sleep than I had on my last visit, many of the tour members were already having a bite to eat before starting the hectic three-screening day. During the screening, the tour group split into two to tour the main house. Despite having seen the sights last year, it doesn’t diminish the wonder at all, especially when accompanied by a group who have never experienced it before. Adjectives like “awesome” and “insane” wafted through the air.
As we drove up to Skywalker Ranch, the excitement was clearly growing in the packed van. After watching the Skywalker Sound reel and some animation clips in the impressive Stag Theatre, we met with Randy Thom, who is nominated for his sound work on Ratatouille.
A first for the tour, but most likely not a first for the Madame Tutli-Putli team was about their enigmatic ending. Maciek explained that the intention of the film was less about plot and more like a poem where one scene doesn’t dictate the next, but informs the preceding scene.
The Animation Pit, where the artists work, is filled with intricately decorated offices, a haven for toy lovers. When more office space was needed, traditional cubicles were brought in, but the artists hated them. So after a little research, for the same amount of money, they were able to bring in little huts called tough shed, which have been transformed into mini-offices in the middle of the wide halls.
After the ILM Q&A, the studio hosted a dinner for the nominees, where we sat with animation supervisor Hal Hickel, who is nominated for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
All were impressed with the gorgeous view from the cafeteria, where one can see the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of Fine Arts and the CalTrains Building all from the same room, which is a rare feat in San Francisco.
The tired filmmakers who have flown in from all corners of the globe took the opportunity to rest before Ron whisked them away in the whirlwind that is the Oscar Showcase tour.
SHREK THE MUSICAL will make its Broadway debut this December, following preview performances in Seattle in late summer.
Tony Award winner Sutton Foster will portray Princess Fiona, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber will play Lord Farquaad and Kecia Lewis-Evans will portray The Dragon.
Casting for the title character and Donkey will be announced soon.
An assassination attempt has been thwarted with the arrest of two Tunisians and a Dane in Denmark on Tuesday.
One of 12 cartoonists who created caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in 2005, Kurt Westergaard, 73, was the target, according to THE NEW YORK TIMES.
He depicted Muhammad wearing a turban in the shape of a bomb with a burning fuse.
The arrests were made in raids in the city of Aarhus, where Westergaard's paper, JYLLANDS-POSTEN, is located.
Someone called me when I had friends over for dinner. It was someone who speaks English. I needed time to switch my brain in the English mode, but I understood: “…academy… motion picture…. Congratulations!!!” So I answered, “Yes ?! Thank you!” But I didn’t really understand what it was all about.
I was approached by a conductor, Mark Stephenson (who went on to be our Music Director on the film, and conducted the world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall) who had heard about the awards that I had picked up at film school, and he asked me if I had ever thought about doing films with live music.
Development company Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding, announced it has formed a strategic alliance with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. to develop a diverse portfolio of tourism and leisure projects in Dubailand, the world's most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment destination. A highlight of the alliance will be the creation of a 5 million-square-foot DreamWorks Animation branded theme park in Dubai.
The studio was crammed with interesting bits of artistry that clearly pulled in influences from a broad base of culture — art, theatre and film. Amidst the puppets, props, collage assemblages, posters and paraphernalia, I remember one sign that they had up on the wall, that said something like, “an impossible task, a tight budget and a crazy deadline are the mothers of invention”. No doubt, a little spirit catcher for stray producers.
After a year of experience behind me, I feel this year’s travelogue will be even more comprehensive and complete than last year’s edition. I hope you enjoy the glimpse behind-the-scenes of what the Oscar nominees’ lead up to the big night is really like.
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) and Future Kid & Real Estate Company have announced an agreement to create a fully branded Cartoon Network indoor theme park in Kuwait City that will open in 2008. The deal represents the first CNE venture into branded theme parks within the EMEA region.
The 3500-square-meter park will include CN-branded games and rides, character costume events, merchandise areas and fun promotions with onsite food and beverage outlets.
