Digital Media FX Newsletter
Vol. 1, No. 3 - April 15, 2001

Table of Contents:

(1) Welcome Message
(2) Exclusive Sneak Peek: Jim Hill's New Column
(3) Lion Gate's CEO Gets Long Term Extension
(4) MSNBC: "Six Major Summer Event Films Are Animated
(5) Top News Stories of the Past Two Weeks
(6) Disney Shopping Animated Films to International TV Market

Welcome Message
Welcome to the third issue of the Digital Media FX (dFX) newsletter, covering the world of animation and visual effects. This newsletter is published on the 1st and 15th of each month with original animation/FX content, insider news, and sneak peeks at new dFX features.

In this issue you'll be given a sneak peek at Jim Hill's premiere column for Digital Media FX - "Back to the Drawing Board with Jim Hill," plus more animation and FX news. So sit back, relax, and see what the power of imagination is bringing to life. -- Joe Tracy

Exclusive Sneak Peek: Jim Hill's New Column
(by digitalmediafx.com) Award winning journalist Jim Hill has joined the Digital Media FX writing team, penning a brand new column titled "Back to the Drawing Board with Jim Hill." As a reader of the Digital Media FX newsletter, you will always be given access to Hill's articles before they are publicly announced. His first column won't be publicly accessible to Website visitors until April 16, however you can access it right now by clicking here.

Hill's first column is titled "Is the Inside Joke on its Way Out?" It examines the repercussions of animators inserting "jokes" into animated films, many times only on one frame. Will this form of inside entertainment cease or is this only the beginning?

Hill's column is part of a new "Columns" area that will be opening Monday on Digital Media FX. To access the Columns area early, click here.

Lion's Gate CEO Gets Long Term Extension
(by digitalmediafx.com) Jon Feltheimer, CEO of Lion's Gate, will have his job for awhile longer after signing a multi-year deal to continue in the CEO capacity. Lion's Gate produces several animated and live action series and recently beefed up its animation collection by acquiring Home Video and Internet video-on-demand rights to the complete library of popular Mr. Bill animated films.

"I am pleased with what we've accomplished and set in motion during the past year," said Mr. Feltheimer. "We took a good look at Lions Gate's strengths and competitive position in the industry, and we were able to develop and execute a profitable growth strategy that achieved results almost immediately."

MSNBC: "Six Major Summer Event Films Are Animated"
(by digitalmediafx.com) MSNBC states that one thing is missing from this summer's big summer films - well known stars. In an article titled "What's wrong with this picture?" MSNBC states that this summer's movies are bypassing big name stars in favor of "mid-level actors" or animated films.

One part of the article states, "At least six of the major event films this year are animated or rely on new visual technologies: Atlantis, Shrek, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Cats & Dogs, Osmosis Jones and Trumpet of the Swan all fit that profile."

Most people don't know about Trumpet of the Swan. On March 22, Digital Media FX broke the news online that Columbia TriStar had decided to bring its planned direct to video Trumpet of the Swan movie to the big screen beginning May 11. You can read the article by clicking here.

Top News Stories of the Past Two Weeks
(digitalmediafx.com) Digital Media FX is updated 365 days a year including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. If you don't visit daily you may have missed some important news. Here is a list of what we consider the top three news stories (in order of importance) of the past two weeks, including links to each story.

1. Disney to Slash Animator Salaries!

2. Behind the Scenes of Jurassic Park III

3. Animation/FX Cheers and Jeers for March 2001

Disney Shopping Animated Films to Internation TV Networks
(by digitalmediafx.com) Walt Disney is selling International TV broadcast rights for three of its animated films and all three Pixar animated films, an unusual move since most Disney distributed animated films have only aired on Disney operated International channels.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the six films Disney is shopping around include Pocahontas, Mulan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and A Bug's Life.

Thank you for being a part of the Digital Media FX team through your daily visits to www.digitalmediafx.com. I hope that you've enjoyed this third edition of the Digital Media FX newsletter and I look forward to providing you with continued coverage of the animation and visual effects industries.

Best Wishes,

Joe Tracy, Publisher
Digital Media FX - The Power of Imagination

If you are not currently a subscriber to the Digital Media FX newsletter, then click here for your free subscription which is delivered on the 1st and 15th of every month.

All stories in this newsletter are ©Copyright 2001 by Joe Tracy / Digital Media FX and may not be reprinted in any form without the expressed written consent of Joe Tracy. To request such consent, click here, and provide details of which article you wish to republish and the Website location where it will be published. You will receive a response within 48 hours with whether your request has been accepted and, if so, the proper credit wording that must appear with the article.

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