LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION FOR THE WORLD’S FIRST MOVING FILM FESTIVAL

Central Trains and Channel 4’s IDEASFACTORY, in conjunction with Screen FX, will make movie history on Monday, April 3rd when the world’s first film festival on board a train launches on the company’s services across the West Midlands.

With an audience of well over 1 million passengers, The Rolling Stock Short Film Festival will see the entire fleet of 323 electric trains across the region being transformed into moving cinemas throughout April.

Around 70 shorts, produced by both first time and professional film makers from as far a field as Australia and Hong Kong to Wolverhampton, will be
screened during the four week event. The films will be shown through the network of on-board televisions introduced by Screen FX in December 2005.

Passengers will be able to text-vote for their favourite film throughout the festival, with the most popular shorts taking home a cash prize and
filmmaking equipment courtesy of Casio. Voters also have the chance to win a one month rail pass each week during the festival.

Dan Jones, Editor of IDEASFACTORY West Midlands said:
“The Rolling Stock Short Film Festival is a unique opportunity to showcase new and established talent to a huge travelling audience. We hope that the inspirational schedule will provide some welcome entertainment for our travelling audience on their daily commute.”

Stephen Ollier, Chief Executive of Train FX (the train operating division of Screen FX) said: “We are delighted to be working with Channel 4 IDEAS
FACTORY on this interesting initiative. I’m sure this film festival will reach more viewers than most.”

Steve Banaghan, Managing Director for Central Trains, said: “The TVs on trains have proved very popular with our passengers and we had already
received positive feedback on the films we screened at our premiere. We are pleased to support the world’s first film festival on a train.”

For more information, visit www.channel4.com/rollingstock
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Charlie Chaplin’s work celebrated with special St George’s Day screenings in Leicester Square

CHAPLIN AT LEICESTER SQUARE
Leicester Square, London WC2
Sunday 23 April 2006, 12pm – 6.00pm

FREE

The contribution of Charlie Chaplin to cinema and filmmaking will be celebrated, as a part of a special series of events backed by the Mayor of London to mark St George's Day.

Some of Chaplin’s best-known feature length films - The Kid, The Gold Rush and Modern Times - will be screened in Leicester Square, the home of British cinema and where a statue of Chapin now stands, alongside a selection of shorts that have been newly restored by the British Film Institute.

Organised by the Mayor of London with assistance from Association Chaplin, MK2 and the British Film Institute, this free event also includes children's activities and workshops, plus street entertainment, Chaplin style.

Born in 1889 in Walworth, South London, Charlie Chaplin left England to tour the US as a clown with Fred Karno's slapstick company in 1912. He made his first films in 1914 and in the years that followed went on to achieve enormous acclaim and popularity as an actor, director, composer, writer and producer, but most notably with his portrayal of 'the Tramp' in films that continue to have universal appeal to this day.


The screening times are as follows:

12.30pm
The Kid (1921)
*Charlie Chaplin’s first full-length film. Co-starring five-year-old Jackie Coogan, The Kid is the story of a child abandoned in a limousine by his unwed mother. When the Little Tramp finds him, he tries unsuccessfully to find a home for the boy. Obliged to keep him, the Little Tramp teaches the youngster about life on the streets.

2pm
THREE SHORTS: Kid Auto Races, A Film Johnnie and Mabel at the Wheel (1914)
BFI restored Keystone Film Company shorts with live piano accompaniment

3pm
The Gold Rush (1925, 1942)
*Chaplin's irrepressible Little Tramp seeks riches in the Yukon in this all time classic. Leave it to the Tramp as he turns hard times into hilarity as he savours a Thanksgiving feast of boiled shoe, slips outside a house teetering on a cliff and faces all manner of perils with pluck and fortitude. The 1942 re-release of the 1925 original with sound track and narration by Chaplin will be screened.

4.30pm
Modern Times (1936)
*One of the happiest and most light hearted of the Chaplin pictures. Man v Machine! Chaplin’s Little Tramp plays an assembly line worker fighting back against the mind numbing monotony and time clock rigidity of industrialism.

*Film notes from 'The Chaplin Collection' --------------------------------

Yorkshire Bids For Bollywood Oscars

The Indian city of Mumbai, the heart and soul of Bollywood, and home to the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) is the final destination for the Yorkshire Tourist Board's (YTB) official bid for Yorkshire to host the 'Bollywood Oscars' 2007. The bid to bring the multi million pound four day celebration of Indian cinema to Yorkshire is spearheaded by David Andrews, chief executive of YTB and fellow board member and bid director Zulfi Karim (picture attahced) and if successful will generate and estimated £10million.

Bid director Zulfi Karim, who first conceived the idea that Yorkshire should host the event said: "This is a huge opportunity for Yorkshire. The IIFA Weekend attracts between 15,000 and 20,000 thousand visitors. Typically a minimum 8,000 of them stay over an average three night period and thousands more come for the individual events or to simply be a part of IIFA Weekend. Media coverage will be extensive and global, it's exactly the kind of event we need to be grabbing for Yorkshire."

The four day long celebration traditionally takes place in June and kicks off with a star studded red carpet event where the biggest names in Indian cinema turn out for the world's media and the world premiere of the year's biggest Bollywood epic. Day two takes the form of a charity cricket match, stars versus professional sportsmen. Day three sees the tops stars, guests and VIPs gathering for the IIFA Awards (the 'Bollywod Oscars'), a day long ceremony with an audience of over 12,000 fans.

TV and film tourism has long benefited Yorkshire. With an audience of over 1 billion within India and over 20 million across 58 other countries worldwide, Indian cinema can open up a whole new market among committed fans ready to visit locations where their favourite films were shot. So the final day is devoted to location visits throughout the region for those involved in film production, a showcase for what Yorkshire can offer film crews.

IIFA's choice of location for the IIFA Weekend 2007 will be announced at a media conference to be held in June at the 2006 event. Yorkshire Tourist Board, key partners and the business communities of the five cities central to the bid (Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull) will await the announcement with baited breath.
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Reef Entertainment is releasing three excellent PC games in Late April and May this year.

The first of these --SHADOWGROUNDS is due out on April 28th and
offers a great sense of atmosphere and mystery in a thoroughly enjoyable shooter package.

The game has already received review scores in excess of 80% in its native Finland and we anticipate similar scores in the UK and other territories as the release rolls out

LIQUIDATOR which is due for release on May 5th is a strong action packed FPS set in large cinematic adventure landscapes while

UTOPIA CITY which encompasses great game play in a nightmare scenario of dream world compliance or freedom becoming everything! completes our trilogy of releases and is out on May 26th.

Attached are visuals of each game plus age rating and minimum game spec information for each game

Further information is available on our website
www.reef-entertainment.com
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UK Company Provides Soundtrack For New EyeToy Music Game
Dundee, Scotland, March 28th. Interactive music specialist Jack's Hoose Music today announced it has completed work on the soundtrack for Rhythmic Star, the soon to be released videogame for the Sony PlayStation 2.


The soundtrack features 25 specially re-recorded hit tracks and includes many well known songs from some of the world's biggest artists. Jack’s Hoose Music produced authentic, interactive versions of the songs allowing players to trigger music and rhythmic elements within the tracks in time to the beat.


Rhythmic Star is a brand new and unique music action game, which uses the PlayStation 2's Eye Toy camera peripheral. The game challenges up to four players to 'touch' falling stars on screen in time with the music.


Rhythmic Star combines 'live action' using the Eye Toy camera to put the player on TV, blended with bright, colourful Japanese styled cartoon action. This creates a whole new form of gaming, which is part music, part rhythm, part dance and all round fun.


The game was created and developed in Japan by Namco. It will be published in Europe by Ignition Entertainment.


Ged Grimes, the founder and Managing Director of Jack's Hoose Music, says, “The role of music in videogames is changing. Instead of being just background to the action, an increasing number of games are making music the whole focus. You can now play games where singing, dancing, interacting with or creating music is how you actually score points. These types of games are really pulling in a lot of new players who are not traditionally considered 'gamers'.”


“It was a great pleasure to work with the team at Namco Japan on this innovative game," says Ged. "It's unusual for Japanese developers and publishers to outsource audio production to Europe. Our experience working with other interactive music titles such as "Amplitude" and "Pop Idol" gave us the edge that Namco Japan were looking for. Working on such a wide range of styles and genres always presents a unique challenge but we are delighted with the end result. Rhythmic Star is a huge amount of fun to play and should appeal to everyone who loves music and gaming"

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SILVERSCREEN LTD IN ADMINISTRATION

Andrew Pepper and Peter Saville, Partners in Kroll’s Corporate Advisory & Restructuring Group, were appointed as Joint Administrators to Silverscreen Ltd, the UK’s only specialist DVD retailer, on 29 March 2006.

The company will continue to trade as normal and all stores will remain open, while the Joint Administrators review all of the options for the business.

The UK-based company has 65 stores and employs approximately 550 staff (both full and part time). Its headquarters are based in West London. Last available figures show a turnover of approximately £64m. There are no planned redundancies at this stage. All employees have been paid for the period to 31 March 2006 and wages going forward will be paid as an expense of the Administration.

The company has entered into Administration due to cash flow difficulties that have been experienced due to competitive trading conditions on the high street, as well as the increasing dominance of the internet and supermarket sales.

Andrew Pepper, commenting on the appointment said:

“Silverscreen is a unique business as the UK’s only DVD specialist retailer, which has unfortunately suffered due to the rapidly evolving market place, which is seeing technology offering alternative and cheaper options to the traditional DVD.

“We have already commenced negotiations with a number of interested parties and are confident that we will find a buyer for the business. The Company’s suppliers have expressed their support and the stores remain well-stocked and open for business.

“We appreciate these are worrying times for employees and customers and we will endeavour to keep them informed of any notable developments.”

CROSSOVER PRODUCTIONS AND MEDIA ONE GLOBAL LIMITED PRESENT PROVOKED
A UK/ Bollywood co-production funded by UK tax incentives

CrossOver Productions in conjunction with Media One Global Limited is proud to announce its forthcoming release of the eagerly anticipated movie, Provoked.

This UK/ Bollywood co-production is a product of a UK scheme that has received support from UK government ministers. The original scheme was launched on 9th February 2004 in the presence of The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt MP. It has been developed to open the gateway for British investment into Bollywood cinema and to change the perception of Bollywood in the UK.

Investors associated with CrossOver Productions comprise the largest foreign investor group in Bollywood cinema. These investors have successfully brought Bollywood to Britain by applying over £50 million, which has been invested in 19 UK/ Bollywood co-productions.

The preliminary success of the film’s fundraising programme underlies that the British Bollywood film sector is growing from strength to strength, carving a place for itself at the forefront of the UK’s movie industry.

Provoked trails the true life of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, the story of the Asian woman who shook up the British judicial system winning justice for women subjected to domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse. The cast includes Aishwarya Rai, Miranda Richardson, Naveen Andrews, Rebecca Pidgeon, Nandita Das, Deborah Moore and Robbie Coltrane.

One of the other films being produced, as part of the collaboration between Media One Global Limited and Cross Over Productions is Sonia, a life story ofSonia Gandhi who came to India as a young Italian for the love of her life, but stayed on for the love of the land.

Commenting at the initial launch, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt said:

"This scheme is good news……for the British film industry. The facilities and infrastructure, which the UK offers filmmakers, are second to none. This is reflected in the figures - last year our film industry attracted over £700 million in inward investment and created over 6,000 additional jobs, taking the total employed in the sector to more than 57,000.

“This scheme will build on this progress, by helping to consolidate links between two of the world's most vibrant film markets. In attracting investors, I hope the scheme will help to boost jobs and productivity."

Raj Saxena of CrossOver Productions comments:

“Bollywood like all things Indian is experiencing huge growth on both a national and international platform. It is great that the UK tax incentives are allowing British investors to participate in the Bollywood boom. I am very grateful for The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt’s continual support.”

Dr. J. Murali Manohar, a director of Media One Global Limited comments:

“Provoked and Sonia have initiated the trend of producing quality, mainstream films with an Indian subject matter, that can be presented and appreciated by a worldwide audience. Provoked is a story about fate and destiny and an individual’s futile struggle. One in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime and through this film we hope to create more awareness among women on the support available to them to get out and help themselves before its too late.”

SIN CITY FRAZER IRVING MAKES ANIMATED SHORT FILM WITH DIGITAL AGENCY GOOD TECHNOLOGY

Sin City creator Frazer Irving has teamed up with digital agency Goodtechnology to create an animated short film called Beneath for the launch of the Audi RS4.

Flash-based with beautifully crafted animation and sound, it will be available to view or download from www.sinisterbeauty.co.uk/beneath.

The animated short has also been produced in a format that allows it to be e-mailed amongst users and transferred to PSP and i-Pod.

After receiving the storyboard and original drawings from Frazer Irving, the film was animated and produced for internet distribution by leading London digital agency Goodtechnology.

Marc Giusti, Creative Director at Goodtechnology says: "This is a beautifully crafted short film. By actually becoming involved in the story in this way, a new Audi audience will be engaged. Consequently, those who participate will spend much more time within the campaign, increasing the reach and impact of the marque.”

Beneath has a sinister plot, menacing artwork and a twisted narrative, it was created to further demonstrate the darker, more extreme side of the Audi brand and compliments the RS4's predatory persona.

International award-winning artist, Irving can regularly be seen in DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics and 2000 AD.

CONTROVERSIAL FILM DIRECTOR GIVES FIRST-EVER UK INTERVIEW IN BRADFORD

A challenging director and film maker will give his first-ever interview in this country at the Bradford Film Festival next week.

Fifty-five-year-old Belgian Thierry Zéno has produced films and documentaries that have been banned in several countries around the world. Now thanks to an academic at the University of Bradford, there will be a rare opportunity to see some of his provocative work and hear from the man himself.

Mark Goodall, lecturer in the Electronic Imaging and Media Communications Department at the University of Bradford, will be hosting a special one-off interview and screening of three of his works in the Cubby Broccoli Cinema at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television on Thursday 16 March 2006, starting at 7pm.

The event, which costs £5 for entry or £3 for concessions including NUS, is entitled: 'Thierry Zéno - Humans, Animals, Sex and Death'.

Zéno will be discussing his life, career and controversial work through an interpreter with Mark Goodall who is, aside from his academic role, a film historian and author of the forthcoming book entitled 'Sweet and Savage: The World Through the Shockumentary Film Lens'. There will also be a chance for attendees to ask questions.

Mark Goodall said: "It's a real coup that we've got Thierry to come to the UK let alone Bradford. This is a rare opportunity to meet a truly unique filmmaker whose work has inspired controversy, shock and furious debate and I would encourage all serious film buffs to attend what promises to be a fascinating event."

The three films that will be shown during the event include:
'Vase de Noces' (The Wedding Trough)
'Des Mortes' (Of The Dead)
'Ya Basta - The Battle Cry of the Faceless'.

For more information about the Bradford Film Festival 2006, which runs from Friday 3 to Saturday 18 March 2006, visit www.nmpft.org.uk/bff/2006/home.asp

For more information about Thierry Zéno and the three films that will be shown on Thursday 16 March, visit: www.nmpft.org.uk/bff/2006/filmdetail.asp?ida=6044

****************************************************
AND THE OSCAR FOR WALLACE AND GROMIT…IS PARTLY DUE TO A KINGSTON UNIVERSITY GRADUATE

Aardman Animation directors Nick Park and Steve Box weren’t the only ones waiting with baited breath for the announcement of their Oscar win for best animated feature. Kingston illustration graduate Claire Billett was just as anxious to see whether the production powerhouse had won its third Academy award for Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Claire, who worked for two years as character animator on the film, is the hands and brains behind Were-Rabbit characters Victor and Lady Tottington. Now she is set to celebrate the film’s Oscar success along with 200 other staff at the company’s Bristol studio next week. “I didn’t know who had won until I switched on the television on Monday morning and it was such great news. I am so proud. A real high point of the job, especially on a high-profile project like Were-Rabbit is, of course, seeing the final product, going to the premiere and having the buzz of seeing your work on the big screen. Everyone on the team is a perfectionist striving to make each production as good as possible and I think the Oscar recognised that.”

Claire is no stranger to success. Her work on the film also saw her carry off a prestigious award of her own – the ANNIE, which is the animation industry’s equivalent of an Oscar – for character animation in January. “On Were-Rabbit I enjoyed trying to convey the characters’ thoughts and emotions, trying to make viewers forget they were looking at a puppet and really believe in them as people. Winning the ANNIE was a complete surprise. I was just honoured to be nominated – I didn't expect to actually win. But of course it feels great – it’s a real boost.”

Claire started at Aardman just after her graduation in 1998, setting to work on the company’s first feature film, Chicken Run. “My Kingston University course had a strong emphasis on drawing and I think that helped me a lot in terms of observation - which is crucial to the kind of animation I now do. My job is to bring the characters alive, like the ones I am working on for the new children’s series, Shaun the Sheep, where I have to do things like making model sheep run round trees. In stop-motion animation, I place the puppets in position, take one frame, move the puppets just a fraction then take another frame. It often takes a whole day to make two seconds or less of finished animation.”

Claire credits the focus of the Kingston University illustration course, and especially her tutors, with part of her success. “It was great that the tutors were practising professionals, always keen to push the students forward. The intensity of the course was invaluable. The strong work ethic created a real buzz of creativity on campus.”

Claire won her first animation accolade during those early days at Kingston, scooping the Royal Television Society’s National Student Award. Technical Officer from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture Brian Ackland said Claire had been an outstanding student with an absolute passion for the subject. “It’s no surprise she’s gone on to award-winning success so early in her career,” he added.

Kingston University has produced a string of other animation stars. Tim Watts and Andy Gent worked on the Oscar-nominated Corpse Bride while Lucy Izzard’s winning entry in the BBC’s 2005 New Animator Award, Tea Total, is due to screen on BBC Three this month.

Lottery gives young people in the North East the chance to walk the red carpet

Multiple Oscar-winning director Ridley Scott today praised a “great initiative” that is giving young people in the North East the chance of a lifetime to learn about the film industry and develop their creative potential. Futures in motion is an innovative new competition run by First Light, the UK Film Council’s youth initiative, in conjunction with The National Lottery.

The competition aims to showcase the creativity of young people across the region, by challenging students from 170 schools and 43 youth groups to develop an idea for a short film highlighting the impact Lottery funding has had on their community.

The winning group will then be offered a unique opportunity to work with professional directors, creative talent from advertising agencies and mentors from the world of film to develop their ideas and produce their short film, before attending a high profile national premiere. The film, along with one made by young people in Scotland, will be screened at a selection of cinemas across the UK, over the internet and on TV.

Ridley Scott, director of acclaimed films Gladiator, Alien, Bladerunner and Thelma and Louise, and who grew up in the North East, said in support of Futures in motion:

“Film is always a very powerful way for young people to realise their creative potential. I would certainly hope that the Futures in motion Competition can offer many opportunities to youngsters to express themselves in filmmaking and they will be inspired to contribute and will learn from their experiences. It is a great initiative on behalf of the National Lottery and the UK Film Council’s First Light project.”

Pip Eldridge, Chief Executive of First Light, said:

“We are delighted to be working with The National Lottery on this exciting project. The medium of film is a great means to engage with young people in a creative and enjoyable way; to research and get inside Lottery funded projects in their local area. The films will also offer an excellent opportunity for young people to understand how filmmaking works.”

“The North East has always enjoyed an abundance of creative talent, and film has been an integral part of this - from Ridley Scott to Jamie Bell, Get Carter to Billy Elliott.

“We’re hoping that young people from the region will be inspired by this home grown talent, as well as by the real difference that National Lottery funding has made to the North East. Futures in motion will be a fantastic opportunity for young local talent to express themselves and realise their creative potential through film - demonstrating how the National Lottery is opening up opportunities for careers in the industry through this competition, as well as through its wider investment in UK film.”

The National Lottery has invested £150 million in the UK film industry through the UK Film Council, funding landmark British films such as The Constant Gardener, Bend it Like Beckham, Ladies in Lavender and Gosford Park. It is also the main funder of Scottish Screen and wholly funds First Light, the UK Film Council’s initiative for young people to teach them about and inspire them to get involved in the world of film.

Since launching in 2001, First Light has helped almost 10,000 young people, aged between five and 18 years old, shoot, act, and produce over 650 films, with some excellent results.

Young people looking for inspiration for the project have a wealth of Lottery funded projects to choose from in the North East. The Lottery has invested a total of £800 million in everything from grass-roots initiatives, to landmark projects such as the BALTIC Centre, the Sage, Gateshead International Stadium and Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North sculpture.

Interested pupils and teachers should contact reel@firstlightmovies.com in advance of the 17 March 2006 deadline.

RITISH MEN WOULD RATHER BE MR BEAN THAN BRAD PITT

eBay.co.uk reveals all about the film we’d make of our lives

A survey commissioned by eBay.co.uk revealed that in a movie of their life, British men would rather be played by Mr Bean actor, Rowan Atkinson, than by Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt.

The survey asked people across the UK to name the film star they would want to play them in a movie of their life, with only chisel-jawed, Ocean’s Eleven star, George Clooney (15%) surpassing Rowan Atkinson as top choice for the men. Clooney was also the actor one in five women (21%) would want as their movie love interest.

When it comes to women, over one in four (26%) wanted British treasure Dame Judi Dench to play them in film. She was followed by Friends star Jennifer Aniston (13%) and Welsh leading light Catherine Zeta Jones (10%).

Followers of the “Brangelina” saga will be interested to know Angelina Jolie came in seventh with just 7% of the vote. Other surprise entries in the women’s choice included Jennifer Saunders at number 5 and Vicar of Dibley, Dawn French, at number 9.

A third of us (31%) would want Steven Spielberg directing our own personal blockbuster and Robbie Williams came in as top choice for the soundtrack.

eBay.co.uk spokesman, Charlie Coney, said: "Who hasn’t imagined themselves on the big screen? We all identify with film in different ways and it's great to see the British sense of humour shining through. There are nearly 400,000 DVDs for sale at any one time on ebay.co.uk so you can bring your favourite stars into your living room whenever you like."

Who British men would like to play them in a movie of their life
1 George Clooney

2 Rowan Atkinson

3 Ewan McGregor

4 Tom Cruise

5 Johnny Depp

6 Brad Pitt

7 Hugh Grant

8 Gary Oldman

9 Jim Carrey

10 Clint Eastwood

Who British women would like to
play them in a movie of their life

1 Judi Dench

2 Jennifer Aniston

3 Catherine Zeta Jones

4 Emma Thompson

5 Jennifer Saunders

6 Renee Zellweger

7 Angelina Jolie

8 Keira Knightly

9 Dawn French

10 Sandra Bullock


Who would direct the film of your life?

1 Steven Spielberg

2 Quentin Tarantino

3 Woody Allen

4 Alfred Hitchcock

5 Peter Jackson

6 Martin Scorsese

7 Ridley Scott

8 Stanley Kubrick

9 George Lucas

10 Clint Eastwood


Who would sing the soundtrack?

1 Robbie Williams

2 Madonna

3 Elvis

4 Coldplay

5 James Blunt

6 Frank Sinatra

7 Elton John

8 Celine Dion

9 Michael Jackson

10 Cliff Richard


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Animazoo launch new Gypsy5 range of portable motion capture systems.

Animazoo UK Ltd ( http://www.animazoo.com/) a Brighton based manufacturer of motion capture systems used in film, TV and Computer Games Development is launching the new Gypsy5 series, the latest models in their mechanical range of motion capture suits.

The system of suit based capture gives animators, games developers and live performers the opportunity to work with motion capture technology traditionally the reserve of big budget production houses, by freeing them from the constraints of a studio and allowing them to capture at home, on stage even out of doors. Gypsy mechanical systems were used in the making of the video game Stuart Little 3 - Big Photo Adventure, published by Sega, as well as with the BBC and Fuji television amongst others.

Sensors are incorporated into 2 separate exo-skeleton frames that fit snugly around the human body and accurately record the rotational motion of an actor's bones. By removing the spine units the new versions are more flexible, allowing a greater range of movements for the actor. New automatic actor-calibration software means faster and more efficient system set up times, with no need for bio-mechanical knowledge - users simply 'drag and drop' points over an actor's digital photograph.

Ali Kord, Technical Director of Animazoo, says: "Nowadays consumers know a lot about the technology behind blockbuster films such as King Kong - they know that motion capture was used and marvel at the results. By making
systems more accessible and affordable we can bridge the gap between understanding about this technology and actually using it! That will be a big step forwards."

The new Gypsy5 will have it's first showing at the Games Developers Conference (GDC) in San Jose, California from 20 - 24th March, by Animazoo's North American distributor Meta Motion at booth number 1545. It is priced at US$ 25,000. Upper body only Torso systems are available from US$10,000.


**********************************************************************************

ACADEMIC FILM BUFFS UNITE AT BRADFORD FILM FESTIVAL


A convention to celebrate the study of film will take place next week as part of the Bradford Film Festival 2006.

The Crash Cinema Symposium, which will feature presentations from academic film experts from across the UK, will run from 10am until 6pm on Wednesday 15 March 2006 in the Cubby Broccoli Cinema at Bradford's National Museum of Photography, Film & Television. Admission is free.

The Symposium, now in its fifth year, is a showcase of the co-operation between the Museum, the University of Bradford's Electronic Imaging & Media Communications (EIMC) Department and Bradford School of Art.

Mark Goodall, a lecturer in the University's EIMC Department, was the brainchild behind Crash Cinema and has co-ordinated the programme. He said: "Crash Cinema celebrates the study of film. We've gathered a highly respected group of experts to discuss how people interpret it, looking at some terrific and sometimes bizarre examples of films from early cinematic works to the modern day.

"The Crash Cinema Symposium is chiefly interested in unearthing political, social and cultural meanings as articulated through the art of film and this is a great event for anyone who is interested in delving deeper into the meanings, messages and styles of cinema.

"We'll be tackling allsorts during the day from the definition of 'cool' in films such as The Virgin Suicides and Wild at Heart, to representations of race and ethnicity in contemporary film drama."

For more information about the Bradford Film Festival 2006, which runs until Saturday 18 March 2006, visit www.nmpft.org.uk/bff/2006/home.asp


Crash Cinema
PROGRAMME

WILL GODFREY (University of Bradford)
THE MIRROR CRACKED:
REVERSE MANICHEAN ALLEGORY IN YASMIN
Starts: 10.00am
Representations of race and ethnicity in contemporary film drama.


ELAINE LENNON (Dublin Institute of Technology)
WHOLE LOTTA MOTHERLOVE:
FAMILY MELODRAMA IN THE BABY
Starts: 10.40am
A study of Ted Post's 1972 kitsch comedy - a 'psycho-sexually perverse grotesquery masquerading as melodrama'.


ZACHARY SNIDER (London Metropolitan University)
THE MILLENNIAL ADULTRESS:
THE CINEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF OLDER WIVES CHEATING WITH YOUNGER MEN
Starts: 11.30am
An exploration of the narratives of older woman/younger man romances in contemporary film.


ANDREW WEBBER (Chatham Grammar School for Girls)
TOWARDS A DEFINITION OF COOL
Starts: 12.10pm
Defining notions of 'cool' in films such as The Virgin Suicides, The Getaway and Wild at Heart.


ROBERT SIMPSON (Queen's University, Belfast)
WOMB WOUNDS:
THE FEMALE AS A THREAT IN THE FILMS OF NEIL MARSHALL
Starts: 1.50pm
The evolution of the role of women in 'life and death' films such as Dog Soldiers and The Descent.


JAMES EVANS (University of Brighton)
MAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW:
REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ARTIST IN CINEMA
Starts: 2.30pm
An examination of the myths and narratives of various cinematic attempts at capturing the 'obsessive' or 'deviant' image of the visual artist.


JAMES RILEY (Cambridge University)
RE/MEMBERING THE IMAGES:
PETER WHITEHEAD'S CINEMATIC FICTIONS
Starts: 3.10pm
Uncovering the processes by which Peter Whitehead merges screenwriting with memoir and fiction, the visual and the textual.


CATHERINE BRADLEY (University of Huddersfield)
'IMAGINARY HERO' - A CONSIDERATION OF PROT AND HIS MATRIARCHAL WONDERLAND K-PAX
Starts: 4pm


MARK ASTLEY (Freelance writer)
FROM REEL TO REAL:
THE SNUFF AESTHETIC IN URBAN MYTH AND REALITY
Starts: 4.40pm
A study of the re-emergence of the 'snuff' film in contemporary media culture and its representation in films such as Hardcore and 8mm.

Lost in Space?
Garmin’s GPS sends a signal to Serenity fans

London, 6 March, 2006. Serenity enthusiasts who buy the DVD movie will have a chance to win their own GPS device.

To celebrate the DVD movie release Garmin is giving away five GPS 60 devices. Those who buy Serenity on DVD are invited to take part in the competition: answer a movie-related question and send in the response using a leaflet enclosed in the DVD box set.

The GPS 60 is a compact and lightweight handheld guide to the outdoors for enthusiasts on a budget. It sports a high-resolution, sunlight-readable display with a bright LED backlight, and comes with 1MB of internal memory for storing points of interest.

The unit also offers a dedicated geocaching mode, indoor/outdoor games, an alarm clock, sunrise/sunset and moon phase tables, optimal hunting and fishing times.

Invented by Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, Serenity is a sci-fi feature film based on his earlier TV series – Firefly. It tells the story of a small space freighter trying to preserve a way of life outside the regimented Alliance.

Autodesk Congratulates Visual Effects Oscar Winner King Kong

Eleventh Consecutive Year that Autodesk Clients Win Best Visual Effects Academy Award

7 March 2006 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) congratulates visual effects facility Weta Digital, which crafted champion visual effects for the Oscar-winning film King Kong. Autodesk also congratulates Industrial Light & Magic and Sony Pictures Imageworks for shaping the Visual Effects category nominated films The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and War of the Worlds. For the eleventh consecutive year, Autodesk technology was used to realise winning visual effect ideas for films in this category. In addition, Autodesk’s Discreet Lustre system was used to digitally colour grade Oscar-winning films in the Visual Effects, Documentary Feature and Foreign Film categories.

Weta Digital used the Discreet Lustre system to help create the distinctive look and feel of King Kong. "Autodesk’s Discreet Lustre system was part of the entire visual effects colour grading process while making King Kong. We used it to grade at the front end before the computer-generated elements were added, and also at the very end of our pipeline to grade the final images,” explained Joe Letteri, senior visual effects supervisor at Weta Digital. “As the elements came in, the Discreet Lustre system helped us work out the look for complex environments like Skull Island and 1933 New York." Digital colour grading is the process of altering or enhancing the colours in a movie using scanned copies of the original film.

For War of the Worlds, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) used Autodesk Maya 3D animation software, Autodesk’s Discreet Inferno and Discreet Flame visual effects systems, and Autodesk Burn background processing solution as part of ILM’s proprietary SABRE visual effects system. ILM used the SABRE system to realise various concept-based effects in War of the Worlds, including the warring aliens and their Tripods - which were crafted using Autodesk Maya software, as well as the Tripods’ organic heat ray - created in the Discreet Inferno system’s 3D environment. The Discreet Inferno system was also used on the film’s “Fleeing the Neighbourhood” scene, in which Tom Cruise attempts to drive his family out of the city while destruction looms around them.

Sony Pictures Imageworks used Autodesk Maya software, as well as the Discreet Flame system and Autodesk Burn software, to reach new creative heights for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Autodesk Maya software was used to craft many of the film’s talking animals, such as 3D wolves, beavers and foxes, as well as some of the film’s mythical creatures such as Mr. Tumnus, a faun (half man, half goat). The Discreet Flame system was also used to create the right look for other magical elements in the film such as the White Witch’s stone victims.

Furthermore, Autodesk’s Discreet Inferno and Discreet Flame systems were used on the film as part of ILM’s proprietary SABRE visual effects system. For the coronation sequence, in which Aslan and the children walked down an ornate hall lined with crowds of creatures, the SABRE system was instrumental in creating a believable scene involving the compositing of several hundred character layers.

Autodesk technology was also used to shape Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films in the following categories:

* Animated Short Film: Autodesk products touched three of the five nominated films. Shane Acker used Autodesk Maya 3D animation software for modelling, lighting and rendering work on his film 9. Anthony Lucas of 3-D Films used Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya and Autodesk Combustion software to create the nominated film The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper and Morello. Two-dimensional film Badgered was conformed and onlined by John Rowe, head of digital post-production at the National Film and Television School in London, using Autodesk’s Discreet Flame system.
* Documentary Feature: Autodesk’s Discreet Lustre system was used by Éclair Laboratoires to digitally colour grade the Oscar-winning documentary feature March of the Penguins
* Foreign Film: Post-production facility The Video Lab used Autodesk’s Discreet Lustre system to digitally colour grade the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi.

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Video Games are as Important as Film and Television

Video Game Awards become BAFTA’s ‘third arm’

The growing importance of video games to entertainment culture has been recognised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), which has elevated the sector to become an equal to those for Film and Television. Champions of the moving image, BAFTA seeks to reward artistic and creative innovation within video games, as one of the principle contemporary art forms.

This newly defined status means The British Academy Video Games Awards are set to confirm their position as the most independent and valued awards in this arena. The British Academy Video Games Awards move to October to be positioned as the climax to London Games Week, a new set of major industry and consumer events set to be a highlight of the European gaming calendar.

The changes have been driven by a newly formed BAFTA Games committee of high-level representatives from the largest and most influential publishers, developers, middleware companies and trade associations, including ELSPA; TIGA and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.*

The committee is led by Paul Jackson, VP & Managing Director Northern Region, Electronic Arts, who comments that ‘BAFTA’s move to give video games equal status with film and television reflects games’ contribution to artistic innovation and new forms of story-telling. The organisation is perfectly positioned to cross- fertilise opportunities, set benchmarks for measurement and champion creative standards to encourage new and compelling interactive experiences.’

Ray Maguire, senior vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment, echoed his sentiments, "It is great to be associated with a body that has been rewarding creative excellence for decades. For the creativity and artistry that is so prevalent in our business to be recognised in parity with other more accepted visual arts, says to me that interactivity has finally come of age"'

BAFTA’s chairman, Duncan Kenworthy, says ‘Video games constitute a hugely significant new, moving image art form that sits alongside film and television in its power to entertain and educate, and the Academy is determined to encourage its development. The British Academy Video Games Awards are a key part of our strategy to define, articulate and reward excellence in the sector, to the benefit of those who create games and those who play them.’

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Roaming Mobile Phone Charges Could Spoil Your World Cup

Football fans travelling to the World Cup in Germany this summer could get unlimited free incoming calls and texts by using a local SIM card instead of their UK number.

If you take your UK mobile to Germany you would typically be charged £0.75 pence to receive a call, £0.50 pence to send a text and £1.20 a minute to make a call to a local landline by your current network operator. Compare this to the savings of using a local German prepaid card, where it costs nothing to receive calls or texts, and outgoing calls to local numbers are only £0.27 per minute. Texts to the UK cost just 20p.

David Agar, Managing Director, of http://www.gosim.com, a provider of local prepaid SIM cards to people travelling abroad, says: “Using a UK mobile phone abroad is very convenient but charges are incredibly expensive. The smart solution is to buy a prepaid card before you travel, which we estimate will reduce your costs by up to 72%. If you don't, you could be paying off a large bill long after your memory of the matches has faded.”

www.go-sim has a special World Cup package costing £24.99, which includes a German prepaid SIM card, 10 Euros of calls plus a free ringtone and ‘Three Lions’ screensaver.

The SIM cards can be topped up on the www.gosim.com site or at a local shop.

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UK FILM COUNCIL - HEADLINE SPONSOR OF RIMA 2006

The UK Film Council is sponsoring the film category for the CRE's Race in the Media Awards (RIMA). Now in its second year, the film category is hoping to attract entries from the widest possible talent spectrum. Applicants have until the 17 March to submit their work.

Winners of last year's film award were Paul Morrison's Wondrous Oblivion (Apt Films) for best film feature; Jonathan Jones's 'Who Killed PC Blakelock' (Films of Record Ltd) for best film documentary and Martin Friend's ' Other' (Screen East) for film shorts. All, in the opinion of independent judges*, made a significant contribution to raising our collective understanding of the many communities that now make up our nation.

Trevor Phillips, Chair of the CRE said:

"I'm delighted that the UK Film Council has joined forces with RIMA for this year's event. RIMA's goal is to make integration in our society a reality. The film industry has a leading role to play in helping us achieve this by challenging old stereotypes about race, ethnicity and culture and in some cases increasing understanding to huge audiences about extremely complex issues. The more voices from more diverse backgrounds we have contributing to these debates, the better. Last year, the judges of the film category said that the quality of all the submissions was extremely high - but without these awards, it's questionable whether those entering would ever receive recognition for their work."

Marcia Williams, Head of Diversity at the UK Film Council added:

"Film is an immensely popular activity for people and contributes to our enjoyment and understanding of the world and different communities. Supporting the development a more diverse cinema that reflects the UK's population and rich culture is one of the UK Film Council's key priorities and encouraging filmmaking talent with new and different stories to tell is key to achieving that aim. We look to RIMA for film as a celebration of diversity in both the stories that are being told and the portrayal of our culture on film."


The RIMA awards ceremony will be held on 14 June 2006 at the Royal Opera House, London.


Notes For Applicants:

*The closing date for entries is 17 March 2006 and applications can be made online at www.rima.org.uk. (Please note that materials cannot be returned)

*All entries must have been published in a recognized national, regional or local publication, or broadcast or intended for theatrical screening in the UK between 1 January and 31 December 2005 (with the exception of the international category).

**Last year's judges included Michael Deeley who produced film greats including 'The Deer Hunter' and 'Blade Runner'; Marcia Williams, head of diversity at the UK Film Council; and June Givanni, programme executive at OFCOM and previously at ITC and British Film Institute.

*The RIMA awards will be presented on 14 June at The Royal Opera House.

*For more information about RIMA visit the RIMA website at www.rima.org.uk or contact the RIMA team on 0845 363 1478 or email rima@rslive.co.uk ( All international calls + 44 121 510 1478)

The RIMA 2005 winners were:

Media Personality
Thierry Henry
Media Organisation
BBC
TV Soap
Coronation Street, Maya's Revenge - Granada Television, ITV
TV Drama
The Bill - Thames Television, ITV
TV News
Various reports - Tim Samuels, BBC News
TV Factual
What Ron Said, Aspect Television Ltd, BBC1
Film - Feature
Wondrous Oblivion - Apt Films
Film - Documentary
Who Killed PC Blakelock - Films of Record Ltd
Film - Shorts
Other - Screen East
National Newspapers
Young, Muslim and British - Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian
Local Newspapers
Various reports - Yorkshire Evening Post
Radio News
Ursula's Story - BBC Radio Wales
Radio Drama
Something Dark - BBC Radio Drama
Radio Factual
Golly in the Cupboard - BBC Radio Merseyside
Youth
Kerching! - CBBC Drama
Specialist Magazine
Various reports - Vic Motune, The Voice
Consumer magazine
Variety of work - Good Housekeeping
New Media
Where I Live, Romany Voices - BBC Radio Kent

PETA SEEING RED OVER NEW FILM MANOLETE
PETA Calls for Worldwide Action Against Producer’s Decision to Kill Live Bulls in New Film

London – Time has run out for the director and producer of the upcoming film Manolete, who now face worldwide protests from PETA activists over the film’s purported killing of live bulls. Set to begin shooting in a matter of weeks in Spain, the film – starring Adrian Brody and Penelope Cruz – is the story of Manolete, one of the most notorious bullfighters of all time. For months, PETA has been contacting director Menno Meyjes and producer Andres Vicente Gomez asking whether bulls would be used in the making of the film,as Spanish activist groups have reported, and urging – as an alternative – the use of CGI technology if they want the look of real bulls without causing animals abuse or death. Its pleas unanswered, PETA US sent a letter to both last Wednesday, warning, “We need a final answer from you no later than Friday, February 24th.We will take your silence on this issue to mean that you do, indeed, intend to kill or harm bulls in the making of Manolete.”

PETA has received no response from anyone associated with the film and has now e-mailed an action alert to tens of thousands of activists asking them to send urgent letters to Meyjes and Gomez and “urge them not to contribute to the horrific cruelty of bullfighting but to opt instead for CGI technology. … Please tell them that bullfights are cowardly affairs that have no place in a modern world.”

PETA gave kudos to Pierce Brosnan last year for his film The Matador, which used CGI and stock footage for its bullfighting sequences.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.