Ludlow Music has withdrawn its demands that JibJab Media stop using Woody Guthrie's THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND tune in the Web short, THIS LAND, because it was discovered that Ludlow does not own the copyright, reports WIRED. JibJab's lawyers discovered that anyone can record their own version of the song, because the copyright has expired.
David Raksin, the Oscar-nominated composer wrote the memorable theme for 1944's LAURA, and scored several classic UPA cartoons in the 1950s, died Aug. 9. 2004, at the age of 92.
ASSOCIATED PRESS reported that Raksin, who had been ailing for several years and had early stage Alzheimer's disease, died at his home in Van Nuys, California, according to his son, Alex Raksin.
Designer/animator/drummer Steve Spatucci has animated a music video for his bands song, "Wars We Need to See," which features the Restraining Order band members performing as animated caricatures of themselves.
Spatucci created the two-minute long video, single-handedly, completely with Flash. Since its launch two weeks ago, it has generated a large amount of traffic to the Website, www.restrainingorderband.com/warsvideo, resulting in some online album sales.
HypeFest, the 2nd annual unique festival that links independent ideas with commercial creativity, concluded its weekend-long screenings and festivities with an awards show and partying to the sounds of DJ Starskee Suavé. The festival took place July 24-25, 2004 at the CineSpace in Hollywood and showcased approximately 75 original short-subject works from filmmakers around the world, with attendance double that of the inaugural festival organizers said.
HypeFest is a unique festival that links independent ideas with commercial creativity, boasting an attendance of more than 1,000 filmgoers, which showcases more than 80 original short-subject works from filmmakers around the world. The weekend-long screenings and festivities conclude with an awards show. HypeFest is accepting short films (40 minutes or less), commercials, music videos and promos for competition screening. Early Entry Fee is $35; Student (w/ID): $20 with a deadline of February 16, 2003. For more information, visit www.hypefest.com.
Nominations for the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced on July 15, 2004 and FOX won the most primetime Emmy nominations for animated shows with five, narrowly edging out Cartoon Network, UPN and Sci Fi Channel with three each. SOUTH PARK is back in the running along with THE SIMPSONS and FUTURAMA, which again nominated for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour) along with Cartoon Networks SAMURAI JACK and Nicks SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.
French director Sylvain Chomet's highly acclaimed THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE comes to DVD on May 4, 2004 (Columbia TriStar Home Ent., $24.96) with the best opportunity to broaden its appeal. The mostly hand-drawn tale (with a pinch of 3ds max thrown in, including the wheel) of bicycling, gangsters and the music hall is a unique experience to behold.
Extras include:
* Three behind-the-scenes featurettes with commentaries: Opening Sequence, Restaurant Performance, Tuning the Wheel
The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre will be presenting a special children's matinee screening of PAUL MCCARTNEY'S MUSIC AND ANIMATION COLLECTION on April 17 at 2:00 pm. This special program is the L.A. premiere of three award-winning animated short films written, produced, voiced and scored by Paul McCartney. All screenings are at the newly renovated Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd between Highland and Las Palmas.
RUGRATS composer and artist Mark Mothersbaugh will receive the 2004 Richard Kirk Award for Outstanding Career Achievement at the BMI Film & TV Awards to be held May 12, 2004 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The black-tie event will be hosted by BMI president/ceo Frances W. Preston and will honor the composers of the past year's top-grossing films and the top-rated primetime network television series and cable programs.
Sir Paul McCartney would someday like to make a traditional Disney-like animated feature and is currently developing a story that he first wants to publish as a children's book. In fact, he told journalists, including REUTERS, that it's been his ambition since he was a Beatle back in the '60s. As part of a baby step toward achieving that goal, McCartney has produced PAUL MCCARTNEY: THE MUSIC AND ANIMATION COLLECTION, a DVD to be released through Miramax Home Ent. on April 13. The DVD contains three animated musical shorts made in collaboration with director Geoff Dunbar.
The Sacramento Film and Music FestivalSacramento, California, USAAugust 14 25, 2004Deadline: June 21, 2004
Image Entertainment Inc., in conjunction with Treadstone Records, unveiled the April 6, 2004 release of the soundtrack GALERIANS: RION featuring a fusion of American rock and cutting-edge Japanese anime. Featuring 14 tracks from artists such as Slipknot, Fear Factory, The Ataris, Sevendust and Adema, the soundtrack is part of a unique DVD package.
Nickelodeon shows earned two Golden Reel Awards at the Motion Picture Sound Editors 51st annual awards banquet Feb. 28, 2004 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles while MASTER & COMMANDER earned the Golden Reel and the Oscar the following night at the Oscars. The Golden Reel Awards acknowledge the year's best work in the various areas of sound editing.
Sam Molineaux takes a look at three new eye-popping music videos: Hey Ya!, Pass That Dutch and Toxic.
The fourth annual DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books teaches musicians, authors, filmmakers and entrepreneurs how to create, promote, protect and distribute independent film, music and books. The event will be held at the Barnsdall Art Park and the Derby nightclub. The three-day event includes the finals of the DIY Film Festival and DIY Music Festival. The 2004 DIY Convention is sponsored by BMI; Primera's Bravo CD/DVD Disc Publisher; Sound Exchange; CDBaby.com; Luck Media & Marketing; Sonicbids; Bryan Farrish Radio Promotions; Imagic; Alcasid.com and HearItAgain!.net.
The Walt Disney Co. has garnered many of the top sound editing nominations in the 2003 GOLDEN REEL awards doled out by t he Motion Picture Sound Editors. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN is the only feature film to receive three noms while its animated features, BROTHER BEAR, FINDING NEMO and JUNGLE BOOK 2 each received two.
Global Entertainment Media Group, LLC (GEM Group), has acquired the film library of BMG, the worldwide music division of Bertelsmann AG. This includes all residual rights to the BMG film library that has been in existence since 1995, including free television, DVD, home video and other ancillary rights to the films.
Cartoombria 2003 is a non-competitive festival without entry fees. It has become a point of reference in Italy for what concerns the contemporary trends in animation by achieving its yearly presentation as regards the study in depth of the relationship between animated images, new media, music and visual arts. Cartoombria 2003 will in fact include multimedia and audiovisual experimental performances in realtime (acted by musicians and computer artists), environments and installations exhibition, screenings, seminars, meetings conducted by special guests.
HypeFest 2004Hollywood, California, USAJuly 23-25, 2004Deadline: April 1, 2004
2004 DIY ConventionHollywood, California, USAFebruary 5-7, 2004Deadline: January 25, 2004
Mark Simon continues his series of 12 excerpts from his new book, Producing Independent 2D Character Animation: Making and Selling a Short Film.
Sunwoo USA and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) are offering WILD ANIMAL BABIES, a 26 half-hour animated and live-action series with interactive elements to screen at MIPCOM Jr.
Film Roman Inc. won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 4th Latin Grammy Awards, held September 3, 2003 in Miami. The award was for FRIJOLERO, from Surco /Universal Music Latin artist Molotov.
It is the first Grammy for the 19 year-old studio, which has already won 18 Emmys and produces the hit series THE SIMPSONS, KING OF THE HILL, FREE FOR ALL and X-MEN: EVOLUTION. IDT Medias Digital Production Solutions recently acquired a majority share of Film Roman.
IOMEDIA Inc. teamed with MTV On-Air Promotions to create the motion graphics for a 15-second promotional spot for the mtv.com online game, FANTASY MUSIC TYCOON. Airing on MTV2, the spot was customized to fit MTV's needs within a three-day timeframe. Followed by a montage of video footage and images, a graphics sequence features $100 bills raining down until one bill sweeps past the camera, wiping into the final shot of the FANTASY MUSIC TYCOON logo.
Fred Patten interviews Cliff Galbraith, Fluorescent Hill, MK12, Moneyshots, Girdwood Partners and Zoic Studios to find out more about the role of animation in music videos.
