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Digital
Media FX News Archives
Saturday
- October 6, 2001
- Gloria Foster, Another Matrix
Star, Dies
- Friday Box Office
Results
- Mark Fleischer Named President
of Mainframe U.S.A.
- News Link of the Day
- Ousted Cinar Founders Strike Back
 Gloria
Foster, Another Matrix Star, Dies
(by digitalmediafx.com) The Matrix set was stunned by the
death of a second cast member, following the untimely death of
Aaliyah just two months ago.. Gloria Foster, who played The Oracle
in The Matrix died from diabetes complications last Saturday.
She was an intricate part of both The Matrix Reloaded and
the follow-up sequel.
Like with
Aaliyah, most of Foster's scenes for the second sequel were complete,
but not for the third sequel. Both Aaliyah and Foster played roles
in the third sequel with Foster's role being a "pivotal role".
Warner Bros.
has refused to comment on the filming of either cast member. Warner
Bros. was criticized earlier this year for keeping quiet at the
passing of William Hanna and for refusing to release an obituary
press release honoring Hanna even while releasing Pokemon 3
press releases.
The Matrix
sequels have been plagued with problems since production started.
One of the initial problems, that has been investigated by Digital
Media FX for several months without enough evidence to support
a full-fledged article, revolves around a massive dispute with
Marcus Chong who played the character of Tank in The Matrix.
The dispute was so heated that the producers apparently refused
to recast Chong in the sequels and have instead replaced him for
Tank's character.
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Friday
Box Office Results
(by digitalmediafx.com) There were no major animated or visual
effects films in the top 10 on Friday.
Here are Friday's
Top 5 Movies
1. Training
Day - $7.5 Million
2. Serendipity - $4.4 Million
3. Zoolander - $2.8 Million
3. Don't Say a Word - $2.7 Million
5. Hearts in Atlantis - $1.4 Million
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Mark Fleischer
Named President of Mainframe U.S.A.
(by digitalmediafx.com) Brett Gannon, newly appointed president
and COO of Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. has announced the appointment
of Mark Fleischer as President of its Los Angeles-based subsidiary,
Mainframe, U.S.A. In this newly created position, Fleischer will
spearhead the expansion of the company's presence in Los Angeles,
with the goal of positioning Mainframe to more effectively pursue
opportunities within the Hollywood creative, production, and business
community.
"We needed
a stronger presence in Hollywood and Mark Fleischer is the person
to help us accomplish this goal," Gannon said. "We think
it is especially fitting that the grandson of the great animation
pioneer, Max Fleischer, take the reins of our Los Angeles based
animation studio. As a rare third generation member of the entertainment
community, Mark is very well connected and highly regarded. Through
his highly developed skills and relationships, we will continue
to expand both our production and distribution opportunities."
Fleischer
first began working with Mainframe in his capacity of President
of Fleischer Studios, Inc. in Los Angeles. The two companies recently
joined forces to develop and produce a new animated television
series based on the Fleischer Studios-owned classic cartoon icon
Betty Boop, a creation of Max Fleischer's.
"Mainframe's
superb creative, production, and management team, together with
the extraordinary creative and production flexibility made possible
by computer generated animation, has uniquely positioned Mainframe
for major growth," says Fleischer. "The company's history
of great success will serve as a solid platform for a dramatic
expansion of its position in the marketplace. I feel very privileged
to have been invited to be a part of this."
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News Link
of the Day - Ousted Cinar Founders Strike Back
According to the National Post:
"Ousted
Cinar Corp. co-founders Micheline Charest and Ronald Weinberg
formally launched their counterattack against the troubled animation
company yesterday, alleging the company owes them $8-million.
They further claimed any financial losses or damages suffered
by the company "are the sole result of the action" of
former chief financial officer Hasanain Panju..."
Click
here for the full story.
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