Disneyland's classic Submarine Voyage attraction resurfaced today in Tomorrowland (June 11, 2007) as the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. The 12-minute ride features 15 minutes of all-new animation from Pixar Animation Studios with FINDING NEMO favorites Nemo, Marlin, Dory, Crush and others.
Nelvana Enterprises' much-loved bunny siblings, MAX & RUBY, will star in an off-Broadway musical stage show in December that will also tour the U.S. this fall and next spring.
Produced by TheatreworksUSA, MAX & RUBY will play at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City from Dec. 12, 2007, to Jan. 13, 2008. Tickets go on sale in September. Two touring companies will bring the show to 210 cities, to be seen by an estimated half a million preschool and school-aged children.
Sony Pictures Studios announced that beginning June 14, 2007, visitors will be able to take Twilight Tours of the historic studio every Thursday through September 28.
"From THE WIZARD OF OZ to SPIDER-MAN 3, this is the lot where dreams are made," said Pam Byrne, director of Studio Services. "Now people can enjoy warm summer evenings by experiencing the glamour and history of Sony Pictures Studios. Our Twilight Tours offer the perfect opportunity to treat family, friends and out-of-town guests to a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable Hollywood experience."
Warner Bros. Ent. Inc. and Universal Orlando Resort are partnering to create the world's first fully immersive HARRY POTTER themed environment based on the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and feature films from Warner Bros. Envisioned as a "theme park within a theme park" and titled "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," the new environment will become part of the experience within Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort.
Marriott International Inc., Nickelodeon, (MTV Networks and Miller Global Properties, Llc., an international real estate investment and development company, today (May 31, 2007), announced an agreement to co-develop a breakthrough new lodging resort brand and concept for travelers seeking fun and adventure, "Nickelodeon Resorts by Marriott." They plan to have 20 potential hotels under construction by 2020, with first hotel expected to open in San Diego in 2010
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios will celebrate their animated RATATOUILLE (opening June 29, 2007) by bringing a mouthwatering experience to cities across the country with "The Big Cheese Tour." The tour will kick off today (May 11) at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, and continue to cross the country stopping at many events and major food festivals throughout the summer.
Nickelodeon and United Arab Emirate-based Al Ahli Group (AAG) announced a long term partnership that will add Nickelodeon and its hit properties to the giant Al Ahli Park development underway in Dubai. Several Nickelodeon entities will become part of the park, which will open in 2011, including: SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Starfish, Dora the Explorer, Diego and BLUE'S CLUES, among others.
Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson -- stars of TV's longest running series, THE SIMPSONS, will ride along with guests in a new mega-attraction opening at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in spring 2008.
Guests will experience a side of Springfield previously unexplored as they enjoy the new ride's interpretation of the thrill rides, dark rides and "live" shows that make up a new fantasy amusement park dreamed up by the show's cantankerous Krusty the Clown.
Marvel Ent. is making its move to Broadway with a musical based on SPIDER-MAN, reports various news sources. Marvel has tapped U2's Bono and the Edge to create the music and lyrics while Tony-winning, LION KING director Julie Taymor will helm the stage production.
Auditions are under way, but no opening date has been set.
Hello Ent.'s David Garfinkle, Martin McCallum, Marvel and Sony Pictures Ent. will all produce with Hello securing the funding.
A feasibility study is being conducted to evaluate a plan to put strip lights along the walls of the subway tunnels in Shanghai so that still images can be displayed, creating a virtual flipbook effect as the train speeds by, according to CHINA DAILY. Officials say a trial version will be set up along a section of tunnel on the Metro Line 2 by the end of the year.
Here they are — pics from the exciting Oscar day. Lots of winners, excitement and fun!
I just had to write a congrats post to Torill and all the nominees.
Seeing the pictures from the Oscar Showcase tour is a great way to convey all the events that took place. Here are some more shots from Ron from William Morris, the AWN/Acme Oscar party, Sony Animation and CAA.
I had an opportunity to chat with Bee Movie director Steve Hickner. He told me that working with Jerry Seinfeld has been a great pleasure and that it’s a project he is not looking forward to ending.
When it came time for the Q&A, many of the Sony artists had some of the same questions as the other studios like whether Geza Toth’s single camera move was intended from the start, which it was, and how Roger and Don Hahn convinced Disney to go with the sad ending on Little Matchgirl, which was by waiting until Michael Eisner had left the studio.
Animation (thank God) remains the last bastion of the individual artist. It is still possible to make a film with little money and a few dedicated friends and supporters and have that film stand toe-to-toe with the productions made by the major studios.
Here it is the long awaited gallery of select pics from Ron’s camera from the Oscar Showcase tour’s swing by DreamWorks, Fox, the Academy, Disney and ICM. There’s also a couple special pics at the end courtesy of No Time for Nuts director Mike Thurmeier.
I’ve been to two previous Oscar functions at the Canadian consulate general’s beautiful house in Hancock Park and couldn’t pass up the chance to go again. The luncheon took place in the lovely courtyard in back by the pool. They were prepared for the rain and had tents and heaters set up, making it comfortable on the rainy L.A. day.
Officially one week of the Oscar Tour is up and we’re nearing the home stretch. Today was less crazed than yesterday, but still wonderfully eventful nonetheless.
As we arrived back at The Little Theater for the screening, Ron introduced all the nominees to Vanessa Morrison, the new president of Fox Animation. It seems to me this screening will be hard to top. Tomorrow is yet another busy day with a screening at Disney and our first agency screening at ICM, which will be very interesting.
While you wait for more details from the San Fran leg of the tour. Here’s some more pics to check out from Skywalker Ranch and Pixar, courtesy of Ron.
Ron and I snapped quite a few pictures during the San Fran leg of the tour. Here’s a gallery of some of the pics that Ron took. Keep checking back for more exclusive photos from the Oscar Tour.
We also got to see the foley stage where they were working on Clone Wars, but that too is top secret and we were foiled yet again at seeing something that no one else has seen before. We went down on the stage and talked with the foley artists.
After the screening the nominees received a nice gift bag with games and various other shwag as well as a chance to tour The Sims floor where many of the animators were hard at work in their cubicles, decorated with unique individual personality.
In talking about the making of the film, Mike told us that the home entertainment department at Fox funded No Time for Nuts as supplemental material for the Ice Age 2 DVD. Mike’s use of the term “noise” succinctly summed up the home entertainment division’s thoughts on supplemental material.
