AWN Headline News

Clive Jenkins has joined Atlanta-based Crawford Communications, Inc. as a3D animator. Jenkins previously worked for Crawford from 1989 to 1994, butleft to join Varitel in San Francisco where he launched that company'sdesign and 3D department. Most recently, he worked for Video NavigationCompany in Atlanta as a 3D animator and compositor.

Portland, Oregon-based Will Vinton Studios has completed two spots. "Diner"is a stop-motion animated spot for the Maryland Lottery, and won a 1999Bronze Clio. Skeets McGrew directed for Agency Eisner & Associates."Bunnies" is a spot for Citibank and uses reference footage based on anorigami artist's work which was manipulated using Maya software. SkeetsMcGrew directed for Agency Y & R New York.

Los Angeles-based Class-Key Chew-Po Commercials and Absolutely ProductionsLimited have created "Lunch Order," a spot for Procter & Gamble's Head &Shoulders Menthol shampoo. The spot features an animated "Jittery Julian"who transforms into a confidant "Cool Jules" after using the shampoo.Class-Key Chew-Po's Stig Bergqvist directed for Agency Saatchi &Saatchi/London.

MSH Entertainment Corp. has announced that it has entered into adevelopment, co-production and cross licensing agreement with Film Roman,Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will own a portion ofthe adjusted gross profits from the television broadcast, toy andmerchandising licensing rights of each other's selected animated andlive-action properties produced under the agreement. In addition, MSH willengage Film Roman for co-development funding and deficit financing of some

Erik St. Anthony has been appointed Director of Multimedia at InteractiveTelevision Entertainment (ITE)-USA. St. Anthony will be responsible fordeveloping and implementing retail, on-line and ancillary distribution ofthe company's CD-ROM, PlayStation, and Game Boy formats in North America.St. Anthony founded Adventure Media Group and Trinidad Entertainment, whichtogether acquire DVD rights, create interactive formats on DVD and DVD-ROM,and distribute programming. ITE's library includes HUGO SAVES CHRISTMAS,

New York-based Spontaneous Combustion has created the CGI for "It All Starts with ABC," a :15 spot for Post Alpha Bits cereal created to accompany PBS' ARTHUR. In the spot the camera slowly pulls back from Alpha-Bits-like letters to reveal that they are part of words on a page, and that this page is in a book, and that this book is part of a stack which grows past a UFO in outer space. The spot used Adobe After Effects to create matte paintings which were nested inside one another to create the cosmic zoom effect. 3D Studio Max was used to create the books.

New York-based J.J. Sedelmaier Productions created "Dream Job," a :10 film for NBC's TODAY SHOW's Al Roker, which shows the morning talk show's weatherman together with sun and cloud characters. J.J. Sedelmaier directed.

Universal Studios has appointed Kenton Low senior vice president of corporate marketing and Universal Studios Online. In the newly created position, Low reports to Hellene Runtagh, Executive Vice President, and is responsible for developing and executing corporate strategic marketing programs globally. This includes brand management, leveraging Universal's global franchises, and expansion of the company's corporate partnerships program. Low will also oversee Universal Studios Online, the business unit responsible for web site development and e-commerce initiatives.

The Electronic Schoolhouse is a new program at SIGGRAPH providing educators and students with an environment in which they can explore and learn the many ways in which computer graphics are taught and used in the classroom. This program will launch at the 26th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, August 8-13, 1999.

The September edition of HOLLYWOOD SHORTS, a monthly short film series, will select ten animated shorts that will be screened at THE GIG on September 12, 1999 in Los Angeles, California. Shorts must be no longer than 30 minutes. A special edition of HOLLYWOOD SHORTS will be broadcast via the internet covering the Los Angeles fest. The deadline is July 31, 1999.