Prince Of Persia At Bay, Spiderman 3 Tests Hot, & Roy Disney Teaches Animation
Michael Bay Directing Bruckheimer's Prince of Persia
(IESB.net) In an exciting announcement today, IESB.net broke the
news that Transformers director Michael Bay will again team up with
Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer in the Disney film
adaptation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. This power duo has
teamed up before on such epic movies as Bad Boys I & II, The Rock,
Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor, and this time I see them pulling out one
hell of an awesome franchise.
The film adaptation of the video game series from Ubisoft has been
announced since late February, and a few early concept art images
appeared online as well. Disney has putting this film on the forefront
as its next big franchise after Pirates of the Caribbean (that is, if
it really ends this May 25th, I don't think it will). Having played
the game myself, I'm looking forward to this franchise almost even
more than I am the next Pirates of the Caribbean.
For those unfamiliar with it, the video game follows an adventurous
prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from
unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world. It's set in
medieval Persia, Earth's mightiest and most mysterious kingdom, which
I know will already provide lush backdrops just as it did in the game.
It received numerous Game of the Year awards and has become a
best-selling title. The original creator of the game, Jordan Mechner,
stated at an earlier date:
"Rather than do a straight beat-for-beat adaptation of the new
videogame, we're taking some cool elements from the game and using
them to craft a new story - much as 'Pirates' [of the Caribbean] did
with the theme park ride."
On that note… I'm going to go fire up The Sands of Time and play
through the beautiful game yet again. The film is eyeing a summer of
2009 release.
Spider-Man 3 is Tracking Through The Roof
(slashfilm.com) Surprise, Surprise - Spider-Man 3 is
tracking "Through the Roof". More people are interested in the third
installment of the series than either of the two previous films, which
are each on the list of top 10 highest grossing films of all time
(domestically).
Spider-Man made over $821 million worldwide ($403 domestically), but
was only released in 3,876 movie theaters. With huge tent-pole films
opening in over 4,200 theaters (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's
Chest, Shrek 2), one must assume that Spider-Man will be in line to
cross the $1 billion worldwide mark.
Spider-Man 3 is going to be huge, you can bet on it
Christina Ricci Gears Up For "Speed Racer"
(TVguide.com) In this file photo cctress Christina Ricci
arrives at Film Independent's Spirit Awards in Santa Monica,
California February 24, 2007. Ricci is joining Matrix creators Larry
and Andy Wachowski's live-action adaptation of the 1960s cartoon Speed
Racer. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
By Tatiana Siegel and Borys Kit
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Christina Ricci is joining "Matrix"
creators Larry and Andy Wachowski's live-action adaptation of the
1960s cartoon "Speed Racer."
Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman already have boarded the
high-octane Warner Bros. project, which is based on the anime series
created by Tatsuo Yoshida for Japanese audiences and later imported to
the U.S.
"Speed" centers on a young race car driver, Speed (Hirsch), and his
quest for glory in his thundering, gadget-laden vehicle Mach 5. Ricci
will star as Speed's girlfriend Trixie, his formidable ally on and off
the track.
"Potter" Movie Trimmed To Avoid "Grindhouse" Failure
(news.xinhuanet.com) Harry Potter moviemakers are
trimming the next installment of the fantasy franchise, fearful it's
too long and will turn moviegoers off.
Following the failure of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's
double-bill Grindhouse, which is more than three hours long, studio
bosses at Warner Bros. have ordered director David Yates to cut the
running time of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
Star Daniel Radcliffe insists the cuts are a positive thing, and
fans will still be happy with the finished film.
He says, "People should be able to let that go. You can still read
the book and the film is chock-full of stuff. The fans will be
pleased."
155,000-SF Lease Fills Out Digital Arts Center
(globest.com) SAN FRANCISCO-International investment and
advisory firm Babcock & Brown takes down the top four floors of a
five-story building, leaving the 843,000-sf development fully leased.
Sony Plans Major Hype For Spider-Man 3
(reuters) The Spider-Man movies already are among of
the biggest movies ever and, with Spider-Man 3 opening in May, Sony
Corp's Columbia Pictures is pulling out all the stops to make sure the
films stay on top.
With a production cost of slightly more than $250m and with tens of
millions more pumped into marketing, the movie about a comic book
superhero who uses spider-like powers to catch crooks, represents a
huge financial risk. But offsetting risk is the movies' wide
popularity.
Spider-Man in 2002 and Spider-Man 2 in 2004 averaged more than $800m
at global box offices and millions more in DVD and other sales. The
films boosted profits at Sony and aided Marvel Entertainment Inc,
owner of rights to the comic book character, and video game maker
Activision Inc.
"This really is our home-grown hero. The whole company gets behind it
and embraces it," said Jeff Blake, vice chairman of Sony Pictures
Entertainment, the division that runs Columbia.
For many months, fans have seen theater advertising, Web promotions,
billboards and other ads with the red-and-blue suited Spider-man
(Maguire), his nemesis The New Goblin (James Franco) and love
interest, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst).
But the web of Spider-Man hype gets wider on April 16 with the first
of a series of premieres starting in Tokyo. The movie's makers then
head to London on April 23 and Rome, Berlin, Madrid, Moscow, Stockholm
and New York on April 30 for "Spider-Man Week in NYC." The movie
debuts globally on May 4.
Blake did not comment on costs or expected ticket sales, but based on
the first two movies, box office watchers think Spider-Man 3 might
match or even exceed the previous two.
"The environment could not be better in terms of how we are leading up
to the summer box office," said Paul Dergarabedian, president box
office tracker Media By Numbers. "We're ahead of last year in
attendance (5 per cent) and revenues (6 per cent)."
Dergarabedian said "Spider-Man 3's" US and Canadian debut weekend box
office could topple the first Spider-Man's $115m given pent-up demand
for the film and because the first weekend of May is one of the top
weekends of the movie year. But whether Spider-Man 3 can beat the
$822m total global haul of the first film, or Spider-Man 2's $783m is
a big question because sequels often fail to top originals.
Moreover, two weeks after the US release of Spider-Man 3 comes another
major sequel, Shrek the Third, and one week later is another, Pirates
of The Caribbean: At World's End.
Industry experts are wondering if the three will draw from each
other's audience because all are derived from major hits.
If cannibalisation occurs, it could spell trouble for Sony, whose film
group saw profits slump in fiscal 2006. Financial analysts are
counting on Spider-Man 3 to turn it around.
"We should expect things to continue improving next year. Spider-Man
is one of the strongest titles they will release," said Carlos Dimas,
analyst for HSBC Securities in Tokyo.
Dimas sees the film division posting an operating profit of 41 billion
yen ($345 m) in fiscal 2007, up from 27 billion yen ($227m) in fiscal
2006. The group posted an operating profit of 64 billion yen ($538m)
in fiscal 2005, which included the release of Spider-Man 2.
Shia LaBeouf Out, Now Back In Next 'Indiana Jones' Movie
(hindu.com) After months of building Internet buzz, this can
finally be reported as fact: Shia LaBeouf has been cast in the
upcoming ``Indiana Jones'' movie.
Producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg announced Friday
that LaBeouf will appear alongside Harrison Ford in the fourth
installment of the adventure franchise, scheduled for release May 22,
2008. Production is set to begin in June.
``We are excited about bringing Shia into our Indy family,'' Spielberg
said in a statement on the ``Indiana Jones'' Web site. ``His talent
has impressed not only his audiences throughout his young career but
the directors, producers and fellow actors who have worked with him in
his television career and now his film career.''
Paramount, a division of Viacom Inc., declined Friday to say what role
LaBeouf would be playing.
The 20-year-old actor told The Associated Press in March that the
persistent Internet rumors about his casting in the film were just
that _ rumors.
``The way that thing started, it's just wild how it snowballed,''
LaBeouf told the AP then. ``I don't have a deal on the table, it's
just a rumor. Would I do it? In a second. It'd be working for a legend
and working with legends. Who wouldn't? But is it something I'm doing
right now? No. I'm an out-of-work actor.''
An Evening With Imageworks
(forums.cgsociety.org) Sony Pictures Imageworks presents a
special evening and behind the scenes.
Speakers will be talking about Imageworks and their four pipelines:
live action animation and visual effects (Spider-Man 1,2,3), all CG
animation (Surf's Up), performance capture (Beowulf and Monster
House), and 3D stereoscopic (Open Season and Monster House).
This event will be hosted by Electronic Arts Tiburon in Maitland. EA
will have a short presentation followed by the speakers from Sony:
Dan Lobl
Lead Technical Director
Sony Pictures Imageworks
Stan Szymanski
Senior Vice President Digital Production
Sony Pictures Imageworks
WHO: Sony Pictures Imageworks
WHAT: An Evening with Imageworks: The Life of an Animator
WHEN: Thursday, April 19th, 2007
WHERE:
Electronic Arts - Tiburon
1950 Summit Park Drive
Orlando, Florida 32810
Link to Orlando Siggraph and event: http://www.orlando.siggraph.org/
Trying To Revolutionize CG Animation
(thecrimson.com) As many traditional animators lament the
decline of hand-drawn animation with each computer-generated box
office hit, the gap between classic and cutting edge has never been
wider. But by picking up a new technology, Sert Practitioner in the
Arts at the Carpenter Center Munro Ferguson uses elements of each
medium to put the artist back in animation.
Using a device known as SANDDE (Stereoscopic Animation Drawing
Device), Ferguson is able to create three-dimensional "hand-drawn"
images in real time. Developed by cousin and partner Paul Kroiter, the
technology allows animators to do what they do best―draw―without
having to constantly return to the computer screen, usually a given
for CG artists.
With SANDDE, the creative process involves the animator drawing the
desired image in space with a wand fashioned from an old flight
simulator controller. The wand disrupts a projected magnetic field,
which can be read by a machine and translated into an image. The
drawing is then projected in such a way that, with the aid of the
glasses, a 3-D image is visible.
Using a supporting technology known as GEPPETTO, the artist can easily
animate the image using a process by which a computer program takes
the average of multiple existing stills to generate intermediate
frames, producing the illusion of smooth movement. By incorporating
multiple frames from the start, the process used in GEPPETTO results
in a less artificial-looking result than can be normally obtained
through CG animation.
In presentations to animation classes this past week, Ferguson and
Kroiter screened a number of shorts created using their technology. In
particular, the films "Moon Man Newfie" and Ferguson's "Falling in
Love Again" received warm reactions.
"It looked like you could actually reach out and grab the objects, and
it was unlike anything I've ever seen," Kimberly R. August '10 said of
"Moon Man Newfie."
More: http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=518218
Open-Source Cyberpunk CG Trailer Unlike Anything Ever Seen
(digg.com) CG movie project called 'God's Companion'. The
'studio' claims that it is the world's 'leading virtual on-line
studio' and that they are 'at the front of the Open Source movie'.
This is not a joke, this is the trailer of an actual serious CG movie
project done with Bryce and Poser. The 'studio' claims that it is the
world's 'leading virtual on-line studio' and that they are 'at the
front of the Open Source movie'.
Take a look: http://www.wtfsrsly.com/god.php
Brendan Fraser Signs On For "The Mummy 3″
(ecanadanow.com) Brendan Fraser is to star in 'The Mummy 3′.
The actor has signed up for the action sequel but his co-star from the
previous two instalments Rachel Weisz will not be reprising her role
as Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell.
Martial arts expert Jet Li is to star as a villain in the movie which
will be set in China, while Rob Cohen - whose previous films include
'Stealth' and 'The Fast and the Furious' - is taking the helm as
director.
Oscar-winner Weisz has pulled out the project due to other filming
commitments. She has agreed to star in 'The Brothers Bloom' and
Phillip Noyce's Australian drama 'Dirt Music' which is due to start
shooting in August.
Roy Disney To Give Animation Class At UH April 20
(the.honoluluadvertiser.com) Roy Disney will teach "2D or
Not 2D," a master class on animation at the University of Hawai'i's
Academy for Creative Media, at 5 p.m. on April 20. The former chairman
of Walt Disney Studio's Animation Department will talk about the
animation's enduring popularity.
"Roy Disney is the crown jewel in our Master Class series this
academic year. He is truly animation royalty," said ACM director Chris
Lee.
Disney is currently working on the project "Morning Light," training a
young sailing crew that will compete in the Transpac race. He is
filming the experience.
The public is invited to attend the session. Due to limited seating,
interested participants must RSVP by contacting Lily Ching at
956-7736, or e-mailing lilyching@hawaii.edu.
Ford, Costner and Spielberg Make 'Forbes' Top 10 Divorce List
(hollywood.com) Movie stars Harrison Ford and Kevin
Costner and director Steven Spielberg have been named in Forbes
magazine's top 10 most costly divorce settlements in Hollywood.
Spielberg, who divorced first wife Amy Irving in 1989 at a cost of
$100 million, was only beaten to the top of the poll by basketball
legend Michael Jordan and singer Neil Diamond, at numbers one and two
respectively.
Forbes speculates Jordan's pending divorce from his wife of 18 years,
Juanita Vanoy, will set the former NBA star back by more than $150
million--the cost of Diamond's failed 1969 marriage to Marcia Murphey.
Ford ranks at number four after having paid an estimated $85 million
to first wife Melissa Mathison, while Costner's 1994 settlement with
wife of 16 years Cindy Silva earned him fifth place.
(IESB.net) In an exciting announcement today, IESB.net broke the
news that Transformers director Michael Bay will again team up with
Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer in the Disney film
adaptation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. This power duo has
teamed up before on such epic movies as Bad Boys I & II, The Rock,
Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor, and this time I see them pulling out one
hell of an awesome franchise.
The film adaptation of the video game series from Ubisoft has been
announced since late February, and a few early concept art images
appeared online as well. Disney has putting this film on the forefront
as its next big franchise after Pirates of the Caribbean (that is, if
it really ends this May 25th, I don't think it will). Having played
the game myself, I'm looking forward to this franchise almost even
more than I am the next Pirates of the Caribbean.
For those unfamiliar with it, the video game follows an adventurous
prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from
unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world. It's set in
medieval Persia, Earth's mightiest and most mysterious kingdom, which
I know will already provide lush backdrops just as it did in the game.
It received numerous Game of the Year awards and has become a
best-selling title. The original creator of the game, Jordan Mechner,
stated at an earlier date:
"Rather than do a straight beat-for-beat adaptation of the new
videogame, we're taking some cool elements from the game and using
them to craft a new story - much as 'Pirates' [of the Caribbean] did
with the theme park ride."
On that note… I'm going to go fire up The Sands of Time and play
through the beautiful game yet again. The film is eyeing a summer of
2009 release.
Spider-Man 3 is Tracking Through The Roof
(slashfilm.com) Surprise, Surprise - Spider-Man 3 is
tracking "Through the Roof". More people are interested in the third
installment of the series than either of the two previous films, which
are each on the list of top 10 highest grossing films of all time
(domestically).
Spider-Man made over $821 million worldwide ($403 domestically), but
was only released in 3,876 movie theaters. With huge tent-pole films
opening in over 4,200 theaters (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's
Chest, Shrek 2), one must assume that Spider-Man will be in line to
cross the $1 billion worldwide mark.
Spider-Man 3 is going to be huge, you can bet on it
Christina Ricci Gears Up For "Speed Racer"
(TVguide.com) In this file photo cctress Christina Ricci
arrives at Film Independent's Spirit Awards in Santa Monica,
California February 24, 2007. Ricci is joining Matrix creators Larry
and Andy Wachowski's live-action adaptation of the 1960s cartoon Speed
Racer. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
By Tatiana Siegel and Borys Kit
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Christina Ricci is joining "Matrix"
creators Larry and Andy Wachowski's live-action adaptation of the
1960s cartoon "Speed Racer."
Emile Hirsch, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman already have boarded the
high-octane Warner Bros. project, which is based on the anime series
created by Tatsuo Yoshida for Japanese audiences and later imported to
the U.S.
"Speed" centers on a young race car driver, Speed (Hirsch), and his
quest for glory in his thundering, gadget-laden vehicle Mach 5. Ricci
will star as Speed's girlfriend Trixie, his formidable ally on and off
the track.
"Potter" Movie Trimmed To Avoid "Grindhouse" Failure
(news.xinhuanet.com) Harry Potter moviemakers are
trimming the next installment of the fantasy franchise, fearful it's
too long and will turn moviegoers off.
Following the failure of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's
double-bill Grindhouse, which is more than three hours long, studio
bosses at Warner Bros. have ordered director David Yates to cut the
running time of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."
Star Daniel Radcliffe insists the cuts are a positive thing, and
fans will still be happy with the finished film.
He says, "People should be able to let that go. You can still read
the book and the film is chock-full of stuff. The fans will be
pleased."
155,000-SF Lease Fills Out Digital Arts Center
(globest.com) SAN FRANCISCO-International investment and
advisory firm Babcock & Brown takes down the top four floors of a
five-story building, leaving the 843,000-sf development fully leased.
Sony Plans Major Hype For Spider-Man 3
(reuters) The Spider-Man movies already are among of
the biggest movies ever and, with Spider-Man 3 opening in May, Sony
Corp's Columbia Pictures is pulling out all the stops to make sure the
films stay on top.
With a production cost of slightly more than $250m and with tens of
millions more pumped into marketing, the movie about a comic book
superhero who uses spider-like powers to catch crooks, represents a
huge financial risk. But offsetting risk is the movies' wide
popularity.
Spider-Man in 2002 and Spider-Man 2 in 2004 averaged more than $800m
at global box offices and millions more in DVD and other sales. The
films boosted profits at Sony and aided Marvel Entertainment Inc,
owner of rights to the comic book character, and video game maker
Activision Inc.
"This really is our home-grown hero. The whole company gets behind it
and embraces it," said Jeff Blake, vice chairman of Sony Pictures
Entertainment, the division that runs Columbia.
For many months, fans have seen theater advertising, Web promotions,
billboards and other ads with the red-and-blue suited Spider-man
(Maguire), his nemesis The New Goblin (James Franco) and love
interest, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst).
But the web of Spider-Man hype gets wider on April 16 with the first
of a series of premieres starting in Tokyo. The movie's makers then
head to London on April 23 and Rome, Berlin, Madrid, Moscow, Stockholm
and New York on April 30 for "Spider-Man Week in NYC." The movie
debuts globally on May 4.
Blake did not comment on costs or expected ticket sales, but based on
the first two movies, box office watchers think Spider-Man 3 might
match or even exceed the previous two.
"The environment could not be better in terms of how we are leading up
to the summer box office," said Paul Dergarabedian, president box
office tracker Media By Numbers. "We're ahead of last year in
attendance (5 per cent) and revenues (6 per cent)."
Dergarabedian said "Spider-Man 3's" US and Canadian debut weekend box
office could topple the first Spider-Man's $115m given pent-up demand
for the film and because the first weekend of May is one of the top
weekends of the movie year. But whether Spider-Man 3 can beat the
$822m total global haul of the first film, or Spider-Man 2's $783m is
a big question because sequels often fail to top originals.
Moreover, two weeks after the US release of Spider-Man 3 comes another
major sequel, Shrek the Third, and one week later is another, Pirates
of The Caribbean: At World's End.
Industry experts are wondering if the three will draw from each
other's audience because all are derived from major hits.
If cannibalisation occurs, it could spell trouble for Sony, whose film
group saw profits slump in fiscal 2006. Financial analysts are
counting on Spider-Man 3 to turn it around.
"We should expect things to continue improving next year. Spider-Man
is one of the strongest titles they will release," said Carlos Dimas,
analyst for HSBC Securities in Tokyo.
Dimas sees the film division posting an operating profit of 41 billion
yen ($345 m) in fiscal 2007, up from 27 billion yen ($227m) in fiscal
2006. The group posted an operating profit of 64 billion yen ($538m)
in fiscal 2005, which included the release of Spider-Man 2.
Shia LaBeouf Out, Now Back In Next 'Indiana Jones' Movie
(hindu.com) After months of building Internet buzz, this can
finally be reported as fact: Shia LaBeouf has been cast in the
upcoming ``Indiana Jones'' movie.
Producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg announced Friday
that LaBeouf will appear alongside Harrison Ford in the fourth
installment of the adventure franchise, scheduled for release May 22,
2008. Production is set to begin in June.
``We are excited about bringing Shia into our Indy family,'' Spielberg
said in a statement on the ``Indiana Jones'' Web site. ``His talent
has impressed not only his audiences throughout his young career but
the directors, producers and fellow actors who have worked with him in
his television career and now his film career.''
Paramount, a division of Viacom Inc., declined Friday to say what role
LaBeouf would be playing.
The 20-year-old actor told The Associated Press in March that the
persistent Internet rumors about his casting in the film were just
that _ rumors.
``The way that thing started, it's just wild how it snowballed,''
LaBeouf told the AP then. ``I don't have a deal on the table, it's
just a rumor. Would I do it? In a second. It'd be working for a legend
and working with legends. Who wouldn't? But is it something I'm doing
right now? No. I'm an out-of-work actor.''
An Evening With Imageworks
(forums.cgsociety.org) Sony Pictures Imageworks presents a
special evening and behind the scenes.
Speakers will be talking about Imageworks and their four pipelines:
live action animation and visual effects (Spider-Man 1,2,3), all CG
animation (Surf's Up), performance capture (Beowulf and Monster
House), and 3D stereoscopic (Open Season and Monster House).
This event will be hosted by Electronic Arts Tiburon in Maitland. EA
will have a short presentation followed by the speakers from Sony:
Dan Lobl
Lead Technical Director
Sony Pictures Imageworks
Stan Szymanski
Senior Vice President Digital Production
Sony Pictures Imageworks
WHO: Sony Pictures Imageworks
WHAT: An Evening with Imageworks: The Life of an Animator
WHEN: Thursday, April 19th, 2007
WHERE:
Electronic Arts - Tiburon
1950 Summit Park Drive
Orlando, Florida 32810
Link to Orlando Siggraph and event: http://www.orlando.siggraph.org/
Trying To Revolutionize CG Animation
(thecrimson.com) As many traditional animators lament the
decline of hand-drawn animation with each computer-generated box
office hit, the gap between classic and cutting edge has never been
wider. But by picking up a new technology, Sert Practitioner in the
Arts at the Carpenter Center Munro Ferguson uses elements of each
medium to put the artist back in animation.
Using a device known as SANDDE (Stereoscopic Animation Drawing
Device), Ferguson is able to create three-dimensional "hand-drawn"
images in real time. Developed by cousin and partner Paul Kroiter, the
technology allows animators to do what they do best―draw―without
having to constantly return to the computer screen, usually a given
for CG artists.
With SANDDE, the creative process involves the animator drawing the
desired image in space with a wand fashioned from an old flight
simulator controller. The wand disrupts a projected magnetic field,
which can be read by a machine and translated into an image. The
drawing is then projected in such a way that, with the aid of the
glasses, a 3-D image is visible.
Using a supporting technology known as GEPPETTO, the artist can easily
animate the image using a process by which a computer program takes
the average of multiple existing stills to generate intermediate
frames, producing the illusion of smooth movement. By incorporating
multiple frames from the start, the process used in GEPPETTO results
in a less artificial-looking result than can be normally obtained
through CG animation.
In presentations to animation classes this past week, Ferguson and
Kroiter screened a number of shorts created using their technology. In
particular, the films "Moon Man Newfie" and Ferguson's "Falling in
Love Again" received warm reactions.
"It looked like you could actually reach out and grab the objects, and
it was unlike anything I've ever seen," Kimberly R. August '10 said of
"Moon Man Newfie."
More: http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=518218
Open-Source Cyberpunk CG Trailer Unlike Anything Ever Seen
(digg.com) CG movie project called 'God's Companion'. The
'studio' claims that it is the world's 'leading virtual on-line
studio' and that they are 'at the front of the Open Source movie'.
This is not a joke, this is the trailer of an actual serious CG movie
project done with Bryce and Poser. The 'studio' claims that it is the
world's 'leading virtual on-line studio' and that they are 'at the
front of the Open Source movie'.
Take a look: http://www.wtfsrsly.com/god.php
Brendan Fraser Signs On For "The Mummy 3″
(ecanadanow.com) Brendan Fraser is to star in 'The Mummy 3′.
The actor has signed up for the action sequel but his co-star from the
previous two instalments Rachel Weisz will not be reprising her role
as Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell.
Martial arts expert Jet Li is to star as a villain in the movie which
will be set in China, while Rob Cohen - whose previous films include
'Stealth' and 'The Fast and the Furious' - is taking the helm as
director.
Oscar-winner Weisz has pulled out the project due to other filming
commitments. She has agreed to star in 'The Brothers Bloom' and
Phillip Noyce's Australian drama 'Dirt Music' which is due to start
shooting in August.
Roy Disney To Give Animation Class At UH April 20
(the.honoluluadvertiser.com) Roy Disney will teach "2D or
Not 2D," a master class on animation at the University of Hawai'i's
Academy for Creative Media, at 5 p.m. on April 20. The former chairman
of Walt Disney Studio's Animation Department will talk about the
animation's enduring popularity.
"Roy Disney is the crown jewel in our Master Class series this
academic year. He is truly animation royalty," said ACM director Chris
Lee.
Disney is currently working on the project "Morning Light," training a
young sailing crew that will compete in the Transpac race. He is
filming the experience.
The public is invited to attend the session. Due to limited seating,
interested participants must RSVP by contacting Lily Ching at
956-7736, or e-mailing lilyching@hawaii.edu.
Ford, Costner and Spielberg Make 'Forbes' Top 10 Divorce List
(hollywood.com) Movie stars Harrison Ford and Kevin
Costner and director Steven Spielberg have been named in Forbes
magazine's top 10 most costly divorce settlements in Hollywood.
Spielberg, who divorced first wife Amy Irving in 1989 at a cost of
$100 million, was only beaten to the top of the poll by basketball
legend Michael Jordan and singer Neil Diamond, at numbers one and two
respectively.
Forbes speculates Jordan's pending divorce from his wife of 18 years,
Juanita Vanoy, will set the former NBA star back by more than $150
million--the cost of Diamond's failed 1969 marriage to Marcia Murphey.
Ford ranks at number four after having paid an estimated $85 million
to first wife Melissa Mathison, while Costner's 1994 settlement with
wife of 16 years Cindy Silva earned him fifth place.
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