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

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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.


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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.

Stop playing games, start making them...

The people who love to play computer games most are the ones making them. Can you think of a better career?

Games developers spend their days perfecting titles like Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo, Call of Duty, Pro Evolution Soccer… and loving it.

If you too can’t bring yourself to put down the controls and give your thumbs a rest, why don’t you consider doing it for a living?

The computer and video game industry is worth around £14.5 billion and the UK plays a major part in this, employing over 20,000 people alone. Entry-level salaries start at £18,000 – higher than the average graduate salary. And there’s always demand for testers, programmers, audio engineers, game designers and animators among other possibilities.

Lisa Corbett, a Recruitment Consultant for Graduate Programmers, said: “As games developers move on to the next generation of console systems like Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, team sizes are increasing and there is a greater demand for staff. Bright graduates with a passion for games can help fill these gaps and here at Aardvark Swift we are keen to help new talent break into the industry.”

To attract the right people into this area, the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) is launching the biggest science, engineering and technology careers and lifestyle portal in the UK this Spring.

scenta, at www.scenta.co.uk/games , is aimed at young people aged 16–30, at the initial stages of making choices that will influence their future careers. It is designed to raise awareness of the exciting, cutting-edge industries open to people with science, engineering and technology skills.

The site hosts content on more than 115 organisations and the games channel has links to 35 leading companies. It also features people working in real jobs right now and carries one of the most comprehensive technology and engineering jobs section in the UK.

Dermot Watson, Managing Editor said

“The nature of engineering in the UK has moved faster than people’s perceptions, and now includes cutting-edge jobs in computer games and software engineering. We wanted to promote a relevant and accurate image of it, and to show people how they can play a part.

“The scenta site works on two levels. It has a careers centre focusing on the variety of technology occupations and another built around specific interests. These ‘channels’, including games, are designed to encourage people to explore careers in these areas.

“The scenta games channel provides news, features, career information, competitions, games cheats and jobs.”

New Science Museum exhibition, Pixar: 20 Years of Animation, to reveal the art and technology behind the studio’s cutting edge animation films.

300 sketches, storyboards, sculptures and digital artworks on display in Europe for the first time.

The Science Museum is set to open a new exhibition examining the work of Pixar Animation Studios’ artists, bringing together 250 drawings and paintings, 50 sculptures plus computer generated multimedia artworks. All of these works demonstrate the rich creativity behind the development of the studio’s technologically advanced films.

Pixar: 20 Years of Animation, opens on 1 April and will provide artistic and technological insight into the studio’s hugely successful movies ranging from Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and the forthcoming Disney presentation of the Pixar film Cars, each of which are revolutionary films in animation.

The exhibition has an exclusive 10-week run at the Science Museum 1 April –10 June 2006.

Jon Tucker, Head of the Science Museum said: “This exhibition will give our visitors a unique glimpse into Pixar Animation Studios, one of the most creative film studios in the world.

“Pixar have been creating innovative shorts and feature films for 20 years, marrying tremendous artistic talents with witty scripts and groundbreaking technology. Science Museum visitors will be the first in Europe to see hundreds of concept drawings, sketches, paintings and models from Pixar’s studios, plus two amazing audiovisual experiences unique to this exhibition.”

Pixar: 20 Years of Animation will appeal to both children and adults, particularly those interested in art, technology and the techniques used in animated films in the 21st century. The collection of drawings, paintings and sculptures will show the phenomenal levels of detail needed to realise and develop characters, storylines and worlds – three key elements utilised by Pixar in film production.

Materials on display from Pixar include more than 250 concept drawings, rough sketches (including early pencil drawings of Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story), character developments and paintings. There also are over 50 3-D maquettes – resin figures created to ensure that the smallest details of the characters that inhabit Pixar’s films are accurate. These figures also help bridge the gap between the 2-D images and the fully realised computer-generated images (CGI) animation for which Pixar has become internationally recognised.

The exhibition will also look at the history of animation in film, using objects from the Science Museum’s collection, including original Victorian magic lanterns, zoetropes, cameras and early pieces of animated film.

At the heart of Pixar: 20 Years of Animation are two audio-visual marvels created especially for this exhibition. A spectacular 8 ft diameter zoetrope - a cinema device that creates the optical illusion of static images in motion - which features characters from both Toy Story films and uses a series of strobe lights to animate Buzz, Woody, Wheezy and others. Further on will be Artscape – an 11-minute audio-visual installation which utilises digital technology to immerse viewers into various works on view in the exhibition. Both of these unique creations illustrate the way that Pixar can tell a compelling story and, by using the very latest computer and design technology, can tell that story in the most exciting way imaginable.

Beginning with the studio’s debut short film, Luxo Jr., released in 1986, the year the California-based studio was established, Pixar has pioneered a revolution in animation by creating films that are increasingly sophisticated in their blend of proprietary software and traditional animation artistry.

Visitors also will see how Pixar has not just used the most advanced hardware and software available, but has also driven advances in technology to allow them to bring their imagined worlds to life.

The works in Pixar: 20 Years of Animation reveal the depth of artistic exploration that Pixar artists bring to character, world and story development, as well as to the colour palette and distinct visual treatment that defines each individual work. Pixar’s technological developments with CGI can be charted through refinements over the years to achieve ever-greater degrees of realism through subtle changes in skin (Geri’s Game), fur (Monsters, Inc.), and other surfaces (Finding Nemo).

John Lasseter, executive vice president, creative, Pixar Animation Studios, said: “Our artists work in traditional media - hand drawings, painting, sculpture as well as the computer - to create our films. In our world the computer is a tool, the same as a pencil or a brush. Our artists create so much beautiful art for each film that most people never get to see, so we are grateful that they will now have an opportunity to experience this unique collection of work.”

Gravesend For Cinema and Whale

We have not had a very good weekend in Gravesend. On Saturday evening (21 Jan.) the Thames whale died on the river here and then last night our little old empty cinema was gutted by a fire!

It looks like its R.I.P. for our cinema campaign.

***
Film With Frontiers

filmfrontiers.com distributes high quality short films from the Indie community, as recommended by some of the worlds leading film festivals. All the movies and content are distributed with the full permission of
copyright owners.

filmfrontiers is an easy to use, totally free website. Users can search for movies under a wide variety of topics, or simply browse and then download them, in DVD like quality, to their home PC over a broadband connection.

User feedback from the initial trials have shown that many viewers are keen to view high quality movies from the Indie community that are never shown on the TV, are generally not available on DVD and can only receive
limited showings with well known film festivals, which by their nature are localised and only run for a week or two.

Viewer feedback on the range of highly rated movies and festivals include:

· “Shrink” an engaging comedy with a star cast and a great twist

· The wonderful animation “The Zit” - a labour of love from over 70
professional Disney animators

· The highly rated short “Pol Pot's birthday”, which premiered at the
2004 Sundance Film Festival

· If you like classic British humour, then try the fantastically funny
“Arrow Man Sam”

And there are many, many more films, to choose, from comedies to drama to children’s documentaries, from the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia.

****
More Films In London

Film London announced today a record-breaking 18% increase in filming in the capital, marking an upturn in London’s filming fortunes for the second successive year.

The figures, which include shooting for films, TV and commercials, are collated by each of London’s 33 boroughs, and again consolidate London’s place as the third busiest production centre in the world.

In 2005, the total number of shooting days in London was 12,655 compared to 10,683 in 2004. This brings the average number of crews shooting every day in the capital to 35.

The London Borough of Richmond saw the greatest rise in filming with an increase of 148% on 2004. Other boroughs to report a major boost include Haringey (130% increase); Wandsworth (55% increase); and Southwark (53% increase).

The ten most filmed-in boroughs for 2005 are:

1. Westminster – 2231 days

2. Corporation of London – 1051 days

3. Lambeth – 932 days

4. Camden – 891days

5. Southwark – 822 days

6. Wandsworth – 765 days

7. Tower Hamlets –716 days

8. Hackney – 670 days

9. Kensington & Chelsea – 624 days

10. Hammersmith & Fulham – 526 days

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London said:

“I am delighted that London has seen an increase in filming for yet another year. These figures confirm the capital’s importance as a film-making centre and its position as a strong competitor in the international market.

“London’s strength lies in the variety of productions it supports from multi-million pound block-busters through to no-budget student films, while the capital’s unique mix of locations, studios, post-production facilities and world-class talent, provide an unrivalled asset to film-makers.

“These figures are a real endorsement for Film London which actively works to secure projects to film in the capital and make filming in London easier through initiatives such as the London Filming Partnership which launched last year. Together with the UK’s new film tax relief, the London film industry has a very positive outlook.”

Tim Owen, Assistant Director Event and Filming for Westminster City Council said: "We are delighted that Westminster is the destination of choice for film crews from around the world.

"Our special events and filming team works very hard to welcome crews and make it as easy as possible for films to be shot in the heart of London. There are many wonders that central London has to offer and we are keen to the show them to the world."

London welcomed a wide range of productions in 2005 from big-budget feature films such as the Da Vinci Code and V for Vendetta, to home-grown productions such as Anthony Minghella’s Breaking and Entering as well as many TV series such as Hustle, Miss Marple and Dr Who, and commercial shoots for companies including VW, Nike, Carlsberg and Marks & Spencer.

***

THE MEDIA AGENCY OPENS FOR BUSINESS

With media the buzzword in industry and colleges alike it seems unbelievable that, until now, there have been few single recruitment agencies catering for the whole industry. Well, that is about to change with the launch of The Media Agency, a brand new recruitment service that spans the breadth of the business from sales and administration, through to television producers, engineers and script writers.

The Media Agency is the brainchild of entrepreneur Alison Beswick who has a background in both media and recruitment. Alison opened her own agency's door for business on 3rd January 2006 and within days had secured permanent contracts for talented candidates with PR agencies, publishers and television production companies in the Sussex area.

The Media Agency is designed to appeal to media employers who want exceptional personnel with the appropriate experience or understanding of the industry quickly and efficiently. The agency is targeting publishers, production companies, event organisers, PR agencies and new media companies to name a few.

Jenny Burgess, Executive Producer of Circle Multimedia Ltd (originating producer ITV Drama Series Wire in the Blood) quickly signed up as one of The Media Agency's first clients said, "I am delighted to come aboard as a client of the exciting new Media Agency, which is clearly going to be a truly dynamic new force in placing the brightest media talent with the right opportunities in an increasingly competitive market."

Alison said of her new service, "We are offering a cost effective solution for media companies initially in the South, to find both permanent and freelance staff who work in the vast spectrum of media. We are not looking to replace traditional agents, but rather to be a quick, easy solution to both permanent and freelance vacancies in a demanding industry that wants results on budget and on time."

Success has come quickly for the agency, with satisfied clients queuing up to recommend the service. Karen Davis, Managing Director of specialist beauty PR agency, Alchemy PR said "We approached The Media Agency to find us a high quality, experienced account manager and within days we had four excellent candidates to choose from. The quality was so high and we liked them so much that we appointed two, rather than the one we originally planned to take."

Candidates and employers alike are welcome to contact The Media Agency to find out more. Telephone Alison on 01903 882836 or e-mail her at themediaagency@hotmail.co.uk

PIONEER TO SPONSOR THE BBC FOUR WORLD CINEMA AWARD

AND

BBC RADIO 3 AWARDS FOR WORLD MUSIC EVENTS

It was announced today that Pioneer GB Limited would be the new sponsor of both the BBC FOUR World Cinema Award and BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music in 2006. This means that Pioneer becomes the first sponsor of both Awards events.

Next year?s World Cinema Award ceremony will be held at the National Film Theatre on January 26th. It will be broadcast on BBC FOUR at 9.00pm and will be repeated several times over the following month. The ceremony will be presented by Jonathan Ross and will be attended by members of the film industry, celebrities, the media and the public.

Over 120 film critics, reviewers, festival directors and cinema bookersvote on their favourite international foreign language film of the year.. From this, a shortlist of 6 films is drawn up and a high-calibre jury decides the winner. Previous jury members have included actors Gillian Anderson and Robert Carlyle, Oscar-winning director Kevin MacDonald and singer Bjork. The list of nominees for 2006 will be announced January 6th.

Last year, the Award was won by ?The Return? - directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev and winner of several international awards including ?Golden Lion Best Film and Best First Film?(Venice 2003) and ?10 Directors To Watch? (Variety).

2006 is the fifth year that the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music take place. This annual global music awards event is a celebration of the best live music from all four corners of the world . The list of winners will be announced on February 25th in London and will be followed by a Poll Winners concert on April 7th at Brixton Academy.

The Awards consist of 10 categories including Club Global, Africa, Newcomer, Americas, Middle East and Album of the Year. To commemorate the event, Union Square Records will release an album of Awards for World Music CD in March.

David Goldesgeyme, BBC Head of Sponsorship, said:

?We are delighted that Pioneer has agreed to sponsor these two prestigious awards events. Pioneer's involvement reflects the truly international nature of these events and we look forward to making the 2006 awards even bigger with their support"

Hiroshi Seki, Managing Director of Pioneer GB Limited said:

?Pioneer is honoured to be working with the BBC on these prestigious Awards events. The relationship between the two brands reflects cutting edge innovation in all industries. We are delighted to become the first ever sponsors of these events.?

Secret Game in Xbox 360 Advert

The latest Xbox 360 advert has a hidden game within it that can be accessed by pressing the red interactive button on your digital remote.

With the aim of engaging viewers in the world of Xbox 360, on pressing red the viewer is presented with a high-energy and fast- paced video that reveals the games and features of the new Xbox 360.

Finding a way into the hidden game is harder but if you keep your eyes on the movie (especially the scene with the yellow car) you may notice the word 'EGG'.

To get past level one, you need to use the keypad on the Sky remote control spell out egg (3,4,4).

Level 2: Once there you will see a couple of lambs saying "ofni" and you will need to work out what button on the remote to press to get you through.

Level 3: The final level is the hardest, but Easter eggs had to start at some time. There are seven eggs and one egg has a bow with "Yyyy" written on it. You have to work out what four digits to press to crack the game.

Depending how far you get through the levels, you can get an award for Novice,
Skilled, Masterful, and Legend and you can have your game tag registered on the
advert.

Leading DiTV agency Weapon7, in collaboration with digital agency AKQA, has
created the interactive launch campaign for Microsoft's Xbox 360. The initiative
airs nationally on Sky on the 22nd of December and will run for a month. The
spot can be accessed through four different commercials and the Sky a-z.

Stephen McGill, Head of Marketing for Xbox UK, says: "In this instance the
medium of digital TV has given us a fantastic opportunity to show the world of
Xbox 360 and be able to excite and engage a traditionally exclusive audience.
Weapon7's idea is inspired from the core gaming audience and is a truly
innovative way to add an extra element of engagement and talkability."

"This commercial is the first in DiTV to allow viewers to play with the
advertising," says Steven Hess, managing partner of Weapon7. "For those who
choose to go deeper into the ad, they will discover that there is more to it
than meets the eye. However, we're not giving away any secrets."

IN-FUSIO MOBILE GAMES AVAILABLE ON i-mode?

IN-FUSIO joins O2s growing number of i-mode content providers

30th November 2005: O2 has today announced it has partnered with IN-FUSIO to provide award-winning mobile games to i-mode consumers in the UK. The partnership sees IN-FUSIO's site available immediately and features an exciting line up of mobile games helping IN-FUSIO to build a close relationship with increasingly mobile consumers. The site offers mobile consumers access to IN-FUSIO's play+ mobile games on its i-mode site. As an official partner, IN-FUSIO will be available through i-mode's intuitive interface under Games on the i-mode menu.

The partnership forms part of i-mode's unique content structure through which IN-FUSIO will be able to further develop and deploy sophisticated, secure commercial content to consumers. It allows IN-FUSIO to expand its revenue opportunities by selling its content through O2's generous revenue sharing model. As a service IN-FUSIO will collect its revenue from subscription based services billed directly through the users phone bill permitting it to concentrate on its core business. i-mode is a flexible business model that facilitates both subscription based and non-subscription based content.

IN-FUSIO, which already supplies Java games to O2, is among the first game sites to be launched on the i-mode service from O2. Having already launched on six

i-mode portals across Europe the announcement further confirms IN-FUSIO's leading position as a developer and service provider for mobile games.

IN-FUSIO's Play + on i-mode will launch with mobile games including: South Park, Zoo Tycoon 2 Mobile, Terminator I'm Back, Banjo-Kazooie Missions, Solitaire Gold and Age of Empires II Mobile.

Grahame Riddell, Head of i-mode Marketing for O2 UK said: "We are pleased to be working with IN-FUSIO to offer its mobile games to our customers. IN-FUSIO has managed to capture the benefits of i-mode and joined the i-mode ecosystem to offer its users a compelling mobile experience. O2 wants to make developing mobile content as attractive and as easy for businesses as possible. The building of a strong content community both on and off portal will be critical to the success of the services. Our research clearly shows that consumers are willing to look at and pay for mobile content, and expectations are tied closely to a user's experience of the Internet. Use will be driven by periods of downtime, communication applications, like e-mail, and situational driven use, when information is needed instantly. The overriding point for consumers is that convenience is key."

Udi Jacobi, Director of Sales, EMEA and South America for IN-FUSIO adds: "Following the successful launch of our Java games with O2 earlier this year we are delighted to be selected as one of the first mobile game offerings, at launch, on the i-mode service from O2. IN-FUSIO's strategy has always been to provide the consumer with an easy-to-use and fun mobile game experience. This partnership will enable us to reach even more mobile gamers with a service and playability that millions have already come to expect."

Animazoo UK Opens New Motion Capture Studio in Brighton

Animazoo UK ( http://www.animazoo.com ), manufacturer of the world famous Gypsy range of motion capture systems, has opened a new motion capture studio in Brighton.

Already attracting a stream of international visitors, the studio offers users the latest motion capture technology with expert operators to ensure projects run smoothly. Thanks to state of the art Gypsy systems, the studio can handle applications that are impossible using traditional studio based optical systems. The Gypsy approach to mocap results in faster, more productive capture sessions. With minimal data cleaning, more usable data is captured per session, which saves time and money for customers.

The systems record rotational motion data directly from the actor and are adept at capturing small and subtle movements that are a challenge for camera based setups. And production is not restricted to a confined space ? the Gypsy can even capture outdoors. Generating quick, clean data, the Gypsy makes for an efficient production schedule.

Sam Berey, sales and marketing director at Animazoo, comments: "Our studio further cements Brighton?s well deserved reputation for digital media production. Already branded 'Silicon Beach' for its high quality digital output, the city is an ideal home for our state of the art motion capture production house."

UK EXIBITORS DEFINE TOMORROW?S TECHNOLOGY
AT THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL CES

UK exhibitors shine out at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, USA January 5- 8 www.CESweb.org

7 December 2005 - The very latest technology from some of the UK?s top consumer electronics companies will be on show at the world?s largest consumer electronics tradeshow, the 2006 International CES ? run by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in Las Vegas, 5-8 January 2006.

CES showcases consumer technologies including wireless devices, electronic gaming, digital imaging, home entertainment, digital audio and video, mobile electronics, broadband, content media, home networking and information technologies. Some highlights of what?s on show from the UK include:

Atlas (Scotland) Ltd. one of the leaders in research, development and the production of audio visual and high fidelity interconnect leads and cables will be launching its new range of HDMI cables and Hyper speaker cables. Using the newly developed Teflon dielectric the Atlas hyper cables out perform rivals in improved fidelity and price. www.hifi.org.uk.

Another consumer technology leader from Scotland Wolfson Microelectronics is a global supplier of mixed-signal semiconductors for digital audio and imaging applications. At this year?s show Wolfson will focus on portable audio - look out for its innovative new amplifier technology which not only provides portable hi-fi audio but also extends critical battery life.
www.wolfsonmicro.com.

Revolver the producer of high quality loudspeakers will launch its new AudioVue Hi-Fi Home Entertainment Series to the US market. AudioVue?s slimline design is available in light or dark cherry real wood veneer and with fully shielded drive units this sturdy MDF cabinet construction gives improved sonic efficiency. www.revolveraudio.com .

Troy Innovations manufactures a full range of design led LCD and plasma support accessories. New at the show is the LCDST200 with a sturdy yet contemporary silver and chrome construction that suits LCD screens up to 36? and offers two toughened glass shelves, cable management and a universal LCD screen fixing plate. Also on display the LCD436 is suitable for screens up to 34? offering the versatility of a pivot arm and all the usual facilities of a LCD wall mount with the addition of a screen power pack holder.

Audio Acoustics will be launching its range of Radical Nexgen loudspeaker and cable systems. CES visitors will have the chance to see and hear the Fundamental-k2, a range of speakers set to redefine expectations, allowing the listener to hear music without the intrusion of the transducer's interpretation. With a frequency response of 20Hz - 43KHz
(+ / -3dB) the Fundamental-k2 boasts features such as special drivers with resonance control, a four-layer double membrane laminate enclosure and sapphire tweeter. Also on show is the Sapphire Ti-C, a next-generation loudspeaker which removes the transducer from the equation altogether and comes with a deep-lacquer metallic finish, created using an elaborate 16-gel CoatTM process that takes a total of 14 days to complete.
www.audioacoustics.co.uk

London based Oregan Network has developed IPTV and home networking software solutions that enable delivery of video, audio, images and data over IP (Internet Protocol) networks to a range of convergent media appliances. Visitors to the Oregan stand will see
demonstrations of a range of home entertainment devices powered by its media connectivity solution Oregan Media Browser. Network DVDs, Digital Media Adaptors and Set Top boxes and gaming consoles are transformed into web-enabled connected products capable of receiving information, entertainment and advertising and sharing downloaded media on the home network. www.oregan.net

On display for the first time is uConnect Plus from Manchester based VoIPvoice, a leading manufacturer of consumer VoIP hardware. uConnect Plus is a USB-powered PSTN to VoIP adaptor which embodies integration software from VoIP voice to use with Skype and has been selected by the CES as an Innovations Honoree in the online /Internet category.

Visitors will also be able to view demonstrations of the new Cyberphone?W. This USB handset with full traditional telephone functionality is affordable, simple and effective to use when making Skype connections and with wideband circuitry inside the phone making calls
is as clear as playing MP3 files. www.voipvoice.com

Loc8tor Ltd will be launching a revolutionary new product that ensures you?ll never mislay
or lose any of your important possessions again. loc8tor is the first product of its type on the market using miniaturized tags as a homing device. loc8tor has two modes: Locate lets you find any tagged item up to a range of 500 feet (150 metres) using directional, audio, visual and vibration technology, guiding you to within 1 inch (2.5cms) of your lost item. Alert prevents things from getting lost in the first place: when a tagged item moves out of your pre-set ?safety zone?, loc8tor lets you know immediately what?s missing and can direct you to where it?s gone. Completely portable, lightweight and easy to use, with tags similar in size to a postage stamp. loc8tor launches with two models in the range - the loc8tor pack and the loc8tor Plus pack. www.myloc8tor.com

British mains conditioning specialist IsoTek will again be displaying their range of US specific products, with an exclusive product launch of Sigmas, a hybrid of their award winning Titan and Nova models. Visitors to their room will be able to view a wide range of products starting at just 30 GBP. The company are also looking to expand their already growing US dealer base and build upon the success that they have achieved throughout
Europe and the Asia Pacific markets. www.isoteksystems.com

Imagination Technologies will be showing its IP including TV and mobile products and its latest technologies: A multi-standard HD video decoder that, rather than relying on multi-cores to handle multiple standards, supports all major standards (JPEG, H.264, WMV9, VC1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX) from a single IP core, at highest profile, on a single device.

The latest mobile phone application processors utilising PowerVR MBX 2D/3D graphics technology. A scalable universal shader PowerVR graphics architecture for superior 3D and video. A multi-standard mobile TV platform that supports DVD-H (USA and Europe), T-DMB (Asia and Europe) and ISDBT-ss (Japan) to enable roaming-mobile TV handsets. HD TV/DVD/Bluray image enhancement IP that offers superior image quality from a small silicon area. www.imgtec.com

JAPANESE CINEMATOGRAPHER SHOJI UEDA AND HIS ?ASIAN EYES?


Bangkok, THAILAND ? In addition to the annual Crystal Lens Award, the BKKIFF?s Cinematographer?s Day this year will also give recognition to master cinematographers in Asia through its new segment: ?Asian Eyes?, a celebration of excellence in cinematography in Asian films. A newly created Golden Kinnaree award ? the Asian Eyes Award ? will be bestowed to Japanese cinematographer Shoji Ueda at the festival?s Awards Gala ceremony in February 2006.

Mr. Ueda ? also known as Masaharu Ueda ? worked most closely with the Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa in films such as Kagemusha, Ran, Dreams, Rhapsody in August, Madadayo, and After the Rain. He was honoured with 3 Japan Academy Prizes for Best Cinematography, as well as
multiple nominations. In the west, his work in Ran (in collaboration with Takao Sait?) earned him nominations for Best Cinematography for the BAFTA and the Academy Award. Among his noteworthy body of works are also Takashi Koizumi?s Letter from the Mountain and Hideo Onchi?s Warabi no
kou. Mr. Ueda previously attended the BKKIFF in 2004 as one of the guest speakers in its first edition of Cinematographer?s Day, but the 2006 event will be the first time that his expertise in the field is celebrated in full.

?Asian Eyes?, a special half-day segment of the seminar programme, is conceived as a response to the recent cinematographic achievement in Asian films such as South Korea?s Sympathy for Lady Vengeance and Thailand?s Citizen Dog. These meticulously-crafted works have become signature
for the new current in Asian cinema which is gaining more and more influences in the global scale.

FORMER CARNABY STREET CLOTHES DESIGNER TO THE STARS MAKES SECOND STELLAR CAREER IN CLAY

The work of a remarkable woman, Sally Tuffin is on sale at Bonhams next Design Sale on December 7. Where her Carnaby Street creations once clothed Pop Royalty, she now designs pots that are acknowledged by experts to be stars in their own right.

Paul McCartney and the Beatles were once clients at `Foale and Tuffin', buying her cutting edge clothes, as were all those who could claim to be part of the scene in 1960's Britain. Now at the age of 70 Sally Tuffin has once more made a name for herself - with clay - and this time she rivals not Mary Quant but the illustrious names of 20th century British pottery, such as Clarice Cliff and William Moorcroft.

Each year Bonhams Design Department commissions unique one-off works by Sally Tuffin, and at this sale on December 7 at New Bond Street, no fewer than 16 of her bold clever items are on sale among the hundreds of other items on sale.

Perhaps one of her most striking works is titled `March of the Penguins' - a piece which features no fewer than 40 individually modelled black and white birds edging their way down an ice flow, circling closer to the sea and then casting themselves adrift. This arresting work is estimated to attract bids in the region of £1,500 to £2,000 but Design Department Director, Mark Oliver, says: "We were not surprised to get a winning bid of £11,000 for one of her pieces recently. She is up there with William Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff and Henry Doulton. But she is working now and her contemporary work is already attracting prices in the league of these giants of the ceramics world."

Lot 525 'March of the Penguins', a vase, is a slightly tapering vessel painted in pale blue/green to resemble an iceberg, applied with a spiralling slope with a procession of penguins queueing up to dive into the sea, decorated by Marcus Jubb, thrown by Rory McLeod, models by Alan Pepper 18cm high, stamped and painted marks, with 'ST des' and number B72.

Lot 532 'Octopus' is another vase with a sea theme. This tube-lined and painted with two of the large creatures, four of their tentacles gripping the rim, decorated is by Heidi Warr, and thrown by Rory McLeod. It is 35.5cm high, stamped and painted marks, with 'ST des' and number B66. Estimate £500-600.

Mark Oliver adds: "We identified Sally Tuffin about five years ago as someone exceptional. She has a remarkable eye, whether producing fashion designer clothes or eye-catching ceramics. Her work will doubtless continue to enthral an ever growing group of loyal enthusiasts."

SADDLE UP WITH UNIVERSAL’S GREAT NEW
JAMES STEWART WESTERNS COLLECTION

RIDE HIGH this autumn with some of the finest Westerns ever made! While not strictly a cowboy actor, legendary star Jimmy Stewart played in some of the finest westerns ever made. Now Universal Pictures is delighted to round up seven of the best in this fabulous new collection.

The James Stewart Westerns Collection will be available this autumn exclusively through HMV at a retail price of just 39.99.

SHENANDOAH (1965, 101 minutes)
James Stewart stars as a peace-loving Southern farmer who tries to stay neutral during the American Civil War. But when his youngest son is kidnapped by the Union soldiers, the landsman is finally pulled into the bloody conflict. With Doug McClure, Katharine Ross and George Kennedy.

NIGHT PASSAGE (1957, 89 minutes)
When the local railroad becomes the constant target of a band of desperadoes led by Whitey Harbin (Dan Duryea), officials recruit Grant McLaine (Stewart) to guard the payroll from further robberies. The trouble is, the gang's most skilled and lethal gunslinger, the Utica Kid (Audie Murphy), just happens to be Grant's kid brother.

THE FAR COUNTRY (1954, 93 minutes)
Set in 1896 at the start of the Klondike Gold Rush, James Stewart and Walter Brennan play a loner and his sidekick who figure to get rich by selling a herd of cattle at a fancy price. However, they are soon caught up in a conflict with the local lawman (John McIntire) and his henchmen.

BEND OF THE RIVER (1952, 89 minutes)
Man-with-a-past Stewart guides a band of pioneers from Missouri over the Oregon Trail to a new life in the Columbia River basin. When the settlers are cheated out of their supplies and cattle, Stewart crosses rivers, climbs mountains, and out-guns greedy hijackers to ensure their survival through the first winter. With Arthur Kennedy and Rock Hudson.

DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939, 94 minutes)
James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich star in this hilarious western send-up. As Thomas Jefferson 'Tom' Destry Jr, a mild-mannered deputy who doesn't like guns, Stewart is called to restore order in the hopelessly corrupt frontier town of Bottle Neck. He soon meets alluring saloon girl Frenchy (Dietrich), who belts out 'The Boys in the Back Room' while winning the hero’s heart.

WINCHESTER ’73 (1950, 89 minutes)
Frontiersman Lin McAdam (Stewart) is attempting to track down both his father’s murderer and his one-of-a-kind rifle, the Winchester ’73. This leads to a rousing series of adventures for McAdam, as the weapon passes through the hands of such desperate characters as a crazed highwayman (Dan Duryea), an immoral gunrunner (John McIntire), a savage young Indian chief (Rock Hudson) and McAdam’s own murderous brother (Stephen McNally).

THE RARE BREED (1965, 93 minutes)
In the 1880s, widowed Englishwoman Martha Price (Maureen O’Hara) and her daughter Hilary (Juliet Mills) come to introduce the Hereford cattle into the American West. The women hire Sam "Bulldog" Burnett (James Stewart) to help them transport their lone bull to a breeder in Texas. But the trail is fraught with danger…..

Film Night at the Amersham

29 Oct. 2005 : Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Rd (opposite. New Cross station), SE14 - 8pm-2am.

Essentially, a night of fresh filmmaking talent with an emphasis on the music featured - some are promos, others are about bands and some use the medium of sound as an integral device that brings the most out of the visual element.

The directors are music fans and individuals whose passion is cinematography and they are trying to forge a career with their exceptional talents - and it is only a matter of time before they are commercially recognised.

The established names of Radiohead and Patrick Jones are juxtaposed with the so-called 'unknowns' - the next generation of movers, shakers and big industry players to form an intimate night of honest expression, creativity and entertainment all glued together with exceptional VJ talents.

Doors open at 7pm

BLAZE TO RELEASE PSP XPLODER MOVIE PLAYER AND MEDIA CENTRE FOR SONY PSP
MANAGE YOUR MEDIA

Fire International today announce the release of their new PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre PC software and USB cable for the new Sony® PSP console.

PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is a movie conversion, media management and game enhancement kit available for anyone with a PSP console, connecting your PC to the PSP and giving you full control.

Skinned with a stylish intuitive interface, PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre gives you access to a full suite of functions that are easy to use and allow you to:

Manage media files and PSP Game saves.
Import CD collection to MP3 for playback on PSP
Automatic naming of Artist, Album and Tracks of your imported CD
Convert your PC movie files (MPEG 1 & 2, AVI, MOV etc) for playback on PSP
Copy, Delete, Download and Upload saves and media files between PC, Memory Stick and Online database.
Drag and drop MP3’s from iTunes straight into PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre
Catalogue your MP3’s by artist or genre on PC, and then simply copy to your PSP
Copy, delete and backup your PSP compatible movie files.
Backup important files to PC, and save storage space on your Memory Stick.
Included Cheat saves allow you to Unlock Levels, Access New Characters, Tracks and more.
Uses proprietary PSP save format- .gsp.
Arrange your JPG’s running order and copy to PSP
Rename .JPEG extension files to JPG for PSP compatibility
Displays Game name and save name- No need to decipher the PSP game save name system (Save folders for Ridge Racer for example are called “ULJS00001100”)
Drag and Drop files for ease of use.
Rename, add or edit game save descriptions.
Capacity bar to show available free space on Memory Stick.

PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre online capabilities help keep you updated with the latest XSaves and the freshest media content:

Download latest XSaves for new releases- get ahead in your new games instantly
Download new Media and gamesave content for playback on PSP.
RSS Feed keeps you constantly updated letting you know the latest XSaves and media files available for download
Unique Internet login system helps prevents piracy
Comprehensive search function across online database

Managing Director of Fire International, Jason Cooper said “PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is the most comprehensive media management and game enhancement tool available for PSP owners, and is a must for anyone with a PC and PSP.“

PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre will be available at the end of Q2 and will cost £19.99.

It is released it to coincide with the release of the new Sony PSP, we have recently launched our Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre for the PSP. This software allows you to manage all your movies, music, photo and GameSaves on your PC and just drag and drop to your PSP. Functionally, just imagine iTunes for PSP. Any movies you drag to your PSP are automatically converted to the required format, and the Media Centre will also manage all your MP3’s and iTunes music files – you can even import your own music CD’s and the online database query automatically completes the Artist, Album and track names.

You can manage your photos and images and also, download the latest game and cheat saves from www.xploder.net for the latest games.

A USB 2.0 Hi-speed data transfer cable is also included which also doubles as a USB charger, so the PSP is charging while it downloads the relevant content. It all comes packaged in limited edition metal packaging. Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is already receiving good reviews in the specialist gaming press as the ultimate media management solution for your PSP.

Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is very easy to use. All your movie and media files are stored in the PC Window and the simple drag and drop interface makes it a simple operation to get your movies, music and media onto your PSP Memory Stick.

They are also primary distributors for the range of Lexar Branded PSP Memory sticks; these are 1GB (512 MB and 256 MB They have an exclusive arrangement whereby Xploder Media Centre Lite software (RRP £9.99) is included with every Lexar Memory Stick. They offer a total solution for any one that wants to download any kind of media to a PSP.

Although the products are available from PSP stockists, hese products are available directly from their website (one of the most popular gaming websites in the UK by the way…!) at: www.xploder.net