Walt Disney , Stanley Kubrick and Stan Lee are the 2019 inductees into the Visual Effects Society Hall of Fame for their towering contributions to screen spectacle and the pursuit of wondrous, effects-enhanced storytelling. The VES Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of “a select group of professionals and pioneers who have played a significant role in advancing the field of visual effects by invention, science, contribution or avocation of the art, science, technology and/or communications.” Few individuals qualify for induction as much as this year’s three inductees, who are led by Disney (1901-1966), the visionary entrepreneur and pioneering force in American entertainment and popular culture. The 26-time Oscar winner also gave the world Disneyland and launched one of television’s first great franchises, The Wonderful World of Disney , which aired weekly for more than four decades. Kubrick (1928-1999) remains a revered figure of fascination two … [Read more...] about VES Awards: Walt Disney, Stanley Kubrick & Stan Lee Tapped For Visual Effects Society Hall Of Fame
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Nickelodeon Animation Studios Recognizes Animation Guild As Bargaining Rep For Its Production Workers
Nickelodeon Animation Studios has agreed to voluntarily recognize The Animation Guild , IATSE Local 839, as the bargaining representative for its production workers. Last month, a majority of the 177 production workers there voted to unionize and to seek voluntary recognition. The guild and the studio now will meet at the bargaining table to negotiate a contract. Those covered by a new deal will include production managers, production coordinators, post-production assistants and asset production coordinators. The guild already has a collective bargaining agreement with Nickelodeon that covers more than 400 artists, including CG technicians, storyboard artists, character designers and writers. No dates have been set yet for negotiations, and the guild’s Negotiations Committee now will expand to include representatives from the production bargaining unit. “I am glad that we were able to reach an agreement where Nickelodeon Animation Studios recognized both the … [Read more...] about Nickelodeon Animation Studios Recognizes Animation Guild As Bargaining Rep For Its Production Workers
Web3 Brand Doodles Buys ‘Rick & Morty’, Disney Animation Collaborator Golden Wolf
EXCLUSIVE: Web3 media and entertainment firm Doodles is set to acquire transatlantic animation studio Golden Wolf . Doodles began as a series of digital collectibles based on characters created by artist Burnt Toast — real name Scott Martin — in October 2021 and has built into a franchise of animation, gaming, merchandize, music and live events. It is now pushing harder into original content with the Golden Wolf acquisition. The deal, financial terms of which were not revealed, is set to close in the next few weeks. Once complete, Golden Wolf’s team will join Doodles. Golden Wolf’s CEO and Founder Ingi Erlingsson will become Doodles’ Chief Content Officer but will continue to oversee and operate Golden Wolf’s offices in London and New York. Furthermore, Doodles will leverage Golden Wolf’s strategic partnership with creative studio Psyop to launch a joint venture, Active Ingredient. This will aim to “reinvent storytelling and the tools used to make them a reality” … [Read more...] about Web3 Brand Doodles Buys ‘Rick & Morty’, Disney Animation Collaborator Golden Wolf
Disney’s Carol Choi Talks BTS And Super Junior K-Pop Docs, Korean Crime Drama And Passion Projects In Japan
EXCLUSIVE: Disney ’s Carol Choi has seen it all in the East Asian entertainment business, working for the studio in various roles in China from 2006, then heading up The Walt Disney Company Korea, before being appointed Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Japan. She currently wears two hats, also serving as EVP Original Content Strategy, across the Asia Pacific region. Disney moved into Asian local-language content in a big way in 2021, unveiling a bumper slate of Korean, Japanese and Indonesian originals for its Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar streaming platforms, followed by another wave of content announcements late last year. Choi oversees the studio’s long-term collaborations and partnerships with content creators and artists across the region, including a deal struck last year with Korean entertainment giant HYBE , home of the world’s biggest boy band, BTS . Two shows under that deal are already streaming – concert film BTS: Permission To Dance On … [Read more...] about Disney’s Carol Choi Talks BTS And Super Junior K-Pop Docs, Korean Crime Drama And Passion Projects In Japan
Guests Wait In Record Lines For One Last Ride Before Disney World’s Splash Mountain Shuts Down For Revamp
It was the end of an era yesterday at Walt Disney World as the Florida theme park shut down its popular Splash Mountain attraction to star work on its replacement, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The Orlando-area revamp will open in late 2024, though an official date has not been set. At Walt Disney World yesterday, throngs of fans gathered before Splash Mountain was even open to get one last ride. When the velvet rope dropped , a wave of people moved toward the familiar clay-colored hillock. In fact, Splash Mountain saw a record wait time of 220 minutes yesterday, according to Thrill Data. That’s just above the previous record of 210 minutes in 2020, according to the site. They were still there 12 hours later. As the ride began to close, a crowd encircled the ride and began to sing its trademark tune, “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.” The final riders were reportedly cast members from the park, and as their logs rounded the corner, the crowd applauded. The switch was decided on in … [Read more...] about Guests Wait In Record Lines For One Last Ride Before Disney World’s Splash Mountain Shuts Down For Revamp
Anime Awards Nominations: ‘Spy x Family’ Leads The Pack With 19
Spy x Family leads the field with 19 nominations for Crunchyroll ’s seventh annual Anime Awards , which be handed out in March. Ranking of Kings is next with 16, spread across two seasons, followed by Cyberpunk: Edgerunners with 13 noms, which were revealed today. See the full list below. All three series will vie for the marquee Anime of the Year prize against Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc and Lycoris Recoil. All of those except Lycoris Recoil also are up for Best Animation, joined by Akebi’s Sailor Uniform . A pair of 2022 box office hits — the No. 1-debuting Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and No. 2-bowing One Piece Film Red — will battle for Best Film against Bubble, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, The Deer King and Inu-Oh, which is up for Best Indie Feature at the Annie Awards . The awards, which honor anime creators, musicians and performances across streaming and theatrical, will be … [Read more...] about Anime Awards Nominations: ‘Spy x Family’ Leads The Pack With 19
Atomic Monster & Westbrook Studios Team On Urban Nature Docuseries ‘Concrete Jungle’
EXCLUSIVE: James Wan ’s Atomic Monster has teamed with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios on Concrete Jungle , an urban nature docuseries. Based on an original idea from Wan and Atomic Monster’s Ingrid Bisu, Concrete Jungle is described as “not your typical natural history show”. It follows the secret lives of urban animals – food foraging and hunting, dating and mating habits, internal clashes and turf wars with other species — and these aren’t the traditional, majestic animals from exotic, picturesque places like the African savanna or South Asian jungles. Per the description, it “stars grungy, hardened, and clever critters abiding in the gritty Concrete Jungles of America, from bobcats to crows to coyotes to squirrels and more. Taking a darker, and also comedic perspective, the series will track the unexpected lives of these local animals as they live below us, above us, in our backyards and even in our walls, with humans portrayed as the … [Read more...] about Atomic Monster & Westbrook Studios Team On Urban Nature Docuseries ‘Concrete Jungle’
Disney Alum Lisa Logan Joins International Literary Properties In Triple Legal Hire
EXCLUSIVE: International Literary Properties (ILP), which holds rights to the estates of the likes of Evelyn Waugh , Maigret author Georges Simenon and Van Der Valk’s Nicolas Freeling, has bolstered its legal team with a triple hire including Disney alum Lisa Logan. Logan joins as General Counsel for EMEA alongside new North America VP, Legal and Business Affairs, Barbara Cohen and Rights Manager Sabina Pekin. Logan, who will be the primary legal resource in terms of managing IP, is an industry veteran who worked for more than a decade in-house with Disney, Nickelodeon and Discovery Channel before moving to private practice. She is a former Partner and Head of Media/TV at Gately and then Simkins. Cohen will lead business affairs for North American acquisition activity and Pekin, who will report to Logan, will manage contracts and rights. Hilary Strong, CEO of ILP in the UK and Europe, said “the establishment of a first-class legal team has been a key part of … [Read more...] about Disney Alum Lisa Logan Joins International Literary Properties In Triple Legal Hire
Disney & The National Film And Television School Launch $30,000 Short Film Initiative
Disney and the National Film And Television School have partnered on a new short film incubator program where six up-and-coming writer/director teams will create a short project with a £25,000 ($30,000) production budget. The initiative is titled Disney Imagine UK, and the partnering organizations today said the mission will be to build a “more inclusive film and television industry.” The NFTS received almost 400 applications for the program. The final six writer/director teams are: Adam Pearson and Tom Levinge, Alvin Yu and Charley Packham, Tom Dunn and Kevin Morosky, Milly Garnier and Charlotte Paradise, Laura Jayne Tunbridge and Danielle Goff, and Marcus Anthony Thomas and Jordi Morera. Each duo will be tasked with developing a short based on a uniquely personal story centered on the theme of “Evolve.” The final collection of six shorts will be considered for premieres across Disney platforms, submitted to international film festivals, and featured in a showcase … [Read more...] about Disney & The National Film And Television School Launch $30,000 Short Film Initiative
Amazon Studios Inks Overall TV & First-Look Film Deal With Critical Role, Sets ‘Mighty Nein’ Animated Series As First Project
Amazon Studios is getting into business with Critical Role , the company behind Prime Video’s The Legend of Vox Machina animated series, with a multiyear exclusive overall television and first-look film deal. The first official project under the new pact is animated series Mighty Nein , based on Critical Role’s successful second campaign. Mighty Nein follows a group of criminals and misfits who are the only ones that can prevent the kingdom from plunging into chaos when an arcane artifact capable of reshaping reality falls into the wrong hands. The new series will soon begin production and will premiere on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. You can watch a teaser above. Critical Role will continue to produce under its production banner, Metapigeon, which will develop its own original television shows, films, and content while continuing to partner with creatives on a new slate of projects, both in and outside of the Critical Role … [Read more...] about Amazon Studios Inks Overall TV & First-Look Film Deal With Critical Role, Sets ‘Mighty Nein’ Animated Series As First Project