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Digital
Media FX News Archives
Thursday
- June 7, 2001
- Shrek to Expand into More
Theaters on Friday!
- Animation Cheers
and Sneers for May 2001
- Mainframe Entertainment Gets
a New CEO
- News Link of the Day
- Pearl Harbor Survives Attack by British Critics
 Shrek
to Expand into More Theaters on Friday!
(by digitalmediafx.com) Shrek is expanding to a record
number of theaters tomorrow, the third straight weekend that the
theater count has expanded. When Shrek opened on May 18,
it was playing in 3,587 theaters. The following Friday, May 25,
it expanded to 3,623 theaters. Last Friday, Shrek expanded
again, this time to 3,661 theaters. Tomorrow Shrek will
be playing in 3,715 theaters. That breaks the record of the most
theaters ever showing the same movie. The old record was 3,669
set by Mission Impossible II last year.
> Click
here to access the dFX Shrek Movie Site
> Track the daily box office results for Shrek here.
> Watch Shrek climb the Top
10 Highest Grossing Animated Movies chart here.
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Animation
Cheers and Sneers for May 2001
(by digitalmediafx.com) Here is the list of Digital Media
FX's May 2001 Cheers and Sneers for the animation and visual effects
industries:
 Cheers:
DreamWorks announced that it was embarking on three new animated
series based on the Bromeliad trilogy. This includes "Truckers,"
"Diggers," and "Wings."
 Sneers:
Cartoon Network bans several Bugs Bunny cartoons making claims
of parts being socially unacceptable. Then it is discovered that
many other cartoons have been edited (or "butchered")
without the input of the original directors or creators.
Cheers:
PDI/DreamWorks Shrek is shown at Cannes, resulting in positive
buzz (particularly with all the "over the edge" movies
shown this year) and a long standing ovation. Many critics gave
it an outside chance of winning the best movie award (but it didn't).
Sneers:
DreamWorks releases the soundtrack for Shrek, but fails
to deliver the movie's background score and holds off announcing
whether one would ever be available (Digital Media FX eventually
found out one is in the works - slated for mid-July with the possibility
of delay).
Cheers:
Shrek tears up the box office, receiving strong positive
reaction from critics and exit polls showing people grading it
between an A and A+. By the end of May (after only two weeks at
the box office) Shrek had made over $120 million!
Sneers:
A Spy Kids: Special Edition (new special effects)
is put into works for release against Osmosis Jones in
August in what is already an overcrowded month at the box office.
Cheers:
It is announced that the original animated special, "Santa
Vs. The Snowman," is being reformatted for IMAX 3D. Look
for it in November 2002.
Sneers:
The International Cartoon Museum attempts to auction off several
pieces of its important historical collection to raise money for
paying off debts. Many pieces don't sell or sell for lower than
expected, causing the museum to announce it will look for other
ways for funding (something it should have done in the first place).
Eventually they announce another auction.
Cheers:
Disney Interactive announces that it is creating a new slate of
games known as "Imagineering games" where the user becomes
the creator. One of the first titles to be released is Ultimate
Ride where users create their own roller coasters then ride them.
Sneers:
When asked about the salary cuts, layoffs, and changes to
Disney Animation, the head of Walt Disney Studios (Peter Schneider)
responds, in part, "That's just life, isn't it?"
Cheers:
In honor of Maurice Noble. His contributions to the world of animation
and willingness to train others in his style (even long after
his retirement) will remain an inspiration to many for the rest
of their lives. He will be greatly missed.
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Mainframe
Entertainment Gets a New CEO
(by digitalmediafx.com) Mainframe Entertainment, known for
six CGI animated TV series, like ReBoot, has announced that Lou
Novak has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Novak, who has held senior management positions at Galoob, Mattel
and Coleco, assumes this position effective immediately.
"I am
very excited to be joining one of the entertainment industries
leading organizations in computer animation," says Novak.
I plan to work with Mainframe's experienced creative team to develop
and market new properties, as well as pioneer new techniques in
computer animation. These efforts, in conjunction with a new aggressive
effort to move into the licensing and merchandising arena with
a newly created consumer products division, will launch Mainframe
to a new level of prosperity."
Prior to joining
Mainframe, Novak served as President and C.E.O of Videosnap, a
streaming media application service provider based in New York.
Previously, he spent ten years at Galoob Toys, Inc., in various
executive management positions before advancing to Executive Vice
President and C.O.O.
Mainframe
has produced over 150 hours of computer animation since 1994.
>
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News Link
of the Day - Pearl Harbor Survives Attack by British Critics
According to Japan Today:
"British
critics laid into Hollywood for rewriting history in Pearl
Harbor — but it still made three million pounds ($4.25
million) in its first weekend at the UK box office.
The tale of
the 'Day of Infamy' that brought the United States into World
War II is the latest blockbuster to enrage the British for playing
fast and loose with history…"
Click
here for the full story.
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