British special effects artist Roger Dicken, best known for his work on Ridley Scott’s Alien and the 1970s sci-fi thriller When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth has died. He was 84.
Dicken died on February 18 at his home in North Wales. His career began in the mid-60s when he accepted a freelance effects role on a sprawling sci-fi feature helmed by an ambitious American filmmaker named Stanley Kubrick. The project would end up being the seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey. Dicken created miniature moon terrains for the pic. His work would ultimately go uncredited.
Following his sojourn in space with Kubrick, Dicken found work on the Michael Reeves feature Witchfinder General before lending his hand to When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth by Val Guest. Dicken and Jim Danforth shared a Best Special Visual Effects Oscar nomination for their work on the film.
Dicken went on to work on Ridley Scott’s Alien.
Dicken died on February 18 at his home in North Wales. His career began in the mid-60s when he accepted a freelance effects role on a sprawling sci-fi feature helmed by an ambitious American filmmaker named Stanley Kubrick. The project would end up being the seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey. Dicken created miniature moon terrains for the pic. His work would ultimately go uncredited.
Following his sojourn in space with Kubrick, Dicken found work on the Michael Reeves feature Witchfinder General before lending his hand to When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth by Val Guest. Dicken and Jim Danforth shared a Best Special Visual Effects Oscar nomination for their work on the film.
Dicken went on to work on Ridley Scott’s Alien.
- 4/18/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Aardman Animations’ founder Peter Lord will receive the honorary Chinelo del Año at Mexico’s 10th Pixelatl animation festival, hosted by the city of Cuernavaca. Taking place in an online format, the event runs Sept. 7-11.
Organization has confirmed the attendance of executives from Disney Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Illumination Entertainment, Lucas Films, Bento Box, Titmouse, HBO Max, BBC, Gaumont and Disney Plus, among others.
Conceived as both an exhibition platform and cluster of networking events, talent recruitment programs, masterclasses and workshops, Pixelatl main thrust is to extend the international reach of Mexico and Latin America’s animation industries.
Activities include a conversation with Byron Howard, the co-director of Disney Animation hit “Zootopia”; a workshop given by Sandra Equihua, the character designer – and a key creative influence – on the much-anticipated Netflix title “Maya and the Three”; and sneak previews of Pixar’s SparkShorts program with presentations by two of the selected...
Organization has confirmed the attendance of executives from Disney Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Illumination Entertainment, Lucas Films, Bento Box, Titmouse, HBO Max, BBC, Gaumont and Disney Plus, among others.
Conceived as both an exhibition platform and cluster of networking events, talent recruitment programs, masterclasses and workshops, Pixelatl main thrust is to extend the international reach of Mexico and Latin America’s animation industries.
Activities include a conversation with Byron Howard, the co-director of Disney Animation hit “Zootopia”; a workshop given by Sandra Equihua, the character designer – and a key creative influence – on the much-anticipated Netflix title “Maya and the Three”; and sneak previews of Pixar’s SparkShorts program with presentations by two of the selected...
- 9/7/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Chile’s Chilemonos International Animation Festival, the country’s largest event dedicated to celebrating its rapidly expanding animation scene, kicked off its second entirely online edition last week, and will run through July 25.
2021 is a milestone year for the festival, marking a decade since its inaugural edition. Since then, the festival has grown exponentially and become the only Academy Award qualifying event for animated shorts in Latin America. Once again this year, organizers are predicting record numbers of attendees on the event’s digital platform and are eagerly looking forward to an in-person event in 2022.
Uniquely, and excitingly for animation fans across Central and South America, Chilemonos’ entire competition and events lineup will be accessible across Latin America free of charge, supported by an alliance with the OndaMedia platform – which hosts the online version of the fest – and the Department of Culture at Chile’s Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.
2021 is a milestone year for the festival, marking a decade since its inaugural edition. Since then, the festival has grown exponentially and become the only Academy Award qualifying event for animated shorts in Latin America. Once again this year, organizers are predicting record numbers of attendees on the event’s digital platform and are eagerly looking forward to an in-person event in 2022.
Uniquely, and excitingly for animation fans across Central and South America, Chilemonos’ entire competition and events lineup will be accessible across Latin America free of charge, supported by an alliance with the OndaMedia platform – which hosts the online version of the fest – and the Department of Culture at Chile’s Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.
- 7/12/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Despite school holidays, last weekend proved relatively quiet at the movies, with cinemas still shut in Sydney and other parts of the country.
Theatres will remain closed in Australia’s largest city and its surrounds, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, until at least July 9.
Capacity restrictions remain in place and masks are compulsory in cinemas in the rest of Nsw, as well as several other states.
Cinemas in Western Australia’s Perth and Peel, as well as Darwin and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, were also closed for part of the weekend, reopening on Saturday. Lockdown restrictions in parts of regional Queensland ended on Friday, followed by Brisbane on Saturday evening.
As such, the top 20 titles tallied just $6.8 million, down 25 per cent on the previous, according to Numero.
However, exhibitors outside of Sydney have high hopes for this weekend, with the latest instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,...
Theatres will remain closed in Australia’s largest city and its surrounds, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, until at least July 9.
Capacity restrictions remain in place and masks are compulsory in cinemas in the rest of Nsw, as well as several other states.
Cinemas in Western Australia’s Perth and Peel, as well as Darwin and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, were also closed for part of the weekend, reopening on Saturday. Lockdown restrictions in parts of regional Queensland ended on Friday, followed by Brisbane on Saturday evening.
As such, the top 20 titles tallied just $6.8 million, down 25 per cent on the previous, according to Numero.
However, exhibitors outside of Sydney have high hopes for this weekend, with the latest instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,...
- 7/6/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
The director of the Quirino Awards-nominated “Cranston Academy: Monster Zone,” Mexico’s Leopoldo Aguilar, will direct “Bem & I.”
It will be produced by Mexico’s Espíritu Santo Cine and Pēek Paax animation studio, both of whom backed this year’s Quirino best feature winner, “A Costume for Nicholas.”
Mexico’s Espíritu Santo is a recently-founded company devoted to producing family-targeting cinema content. The company is run by Dariela Pérez. Aguilar and Heriberto Manzanares are also founding partners.
“Bem & I” also draws down financing from Mexico’s biggest public-sector fund for movies, Fidecine, and benefits from the country’s Eficine tax break system.
Aguilar’s fourth animated feature, “Bem & I” depicts the friendship between a lemur, illegally brought from the Madagascar forests to Mexico’s Sonora market, and Irene, a girl “allergic to everything,” who has been forced to live for years trapped between four walls.
“We need to make movies...
It will be produced by Mexico’s Espíritu Santo Cine and Pēek Paax animation studio, both of whom backed this year’s Quirino best feature winner, “A Costume for Nicholas.”
Mexico’s Espíritu Santo is a recently-founded company devoted to producing family-targeting cinema content. The company is run by Dariela Pérez. Aguilar and Heriberto Manzanares are also founding partners.
“Bem & I” also draws down financing from Mexico’s biggest public-sector fund for movies, Fidecine, and benefits from the country’s Eficine tax break system.
Aguilar’s fourth animated feature, “Bem & I” depicts the friendship between a lemur, illegally brought from the Madagascar forests to Mexico’s Sonora market, and Irene, a girl “allergic to everything,” who has been forced to live for years trapped between four walls.
“We need to make movies...
- 6/19/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, Netflix announces July 23 Season 2 release date for “Sky Rojo”; Mexican animated feature “Cranston Academy: Monster Zone” sells in key territories; Tern Television hires David Marshall as head of entertainment; Channel 7’s Australian Ivan Milat docu-series heads abroad; ITV preps for the 100th anniversary of Poirot’s first appearance; and Channel 5 commissions “Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball” from Wildflame Productions.
Streaming
Netflix Spain has announced that the already-confirmed second season of its most recent breakout hit “Sky Rojo” will premiere worldwide on the platform on July 23.
Season 2 will see Coral, Wendy and Gina continuing their chaotic flight for freedom from the vile trio of Romeo, Moisés and Christian, the pimps and club owner who have been trafficking the girls for years. The danger promises to ramp up as increasingly difficult obstacles pop up in the girls’ path, but the trio soldiers on in the...
Streaming
Netflix Spain has announced that the already-confirmed second season of its most recent breakout hit “Sky Rojo” will premiere worldwide on the platform on July 23.
Season 2 will see Coral, Wendy and Gina continuing their chaotic flight for freedom from the vile trio of Romeo, Moisés and Christian, the pimps and club owner who have been trafficking the girls for years. The danger promises to ramp up as increasingly difficult obstacles pop up in the girls’ path, but the trio soldiers on in the...
- 3/29/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
“Nahuel and the Magic Book” and “A Costume for Nicholas” and TV shows “Petit Season 2” and “I, Elvis Riboldi,” are nominated for the 4th Quirino Ibero-American Animation Awards.
The Awards will be held in the Spanish Canary Island city of La Laguna, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife over May 27-29.
Targeting family audiences, German Acuña’s fantasy movie “Nahuel and the Magic Book” is produced by Chile’s Carburadores, Brazil’s Levante Films and Chile’s Punkrobot, which won a best animated short Academy Award for “Bear Story.” Sold by Spain’s Latido Films, it mixes adventure, myths and legends from the Southern Chilean island of Chiloé while telling the story of a Nahuel, 12, who has a deep fear of the sea. When his father is captured by a malignant sorcerer, he sets out to rescue him, overcoming his fears along the way.
Eduardo Rivero’s “A Costume for Nicholas...
The Awards will be held in the Spanish Canary Island city of La Laguna, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife over May 27-29.
Targeting family audiences, German Acuña’s fantasy movie “Nahuel and the Magic Book” is produced by Chile’s Carburadores, Brazil’s Levante Films and Chile’s Punkrobot, which won a best animated short Academy Award for “Bear Story.” Sold by Spain’s Latido Films, it mixes adventure, myths and legends from the Southern Chilean island of Chiloé while telling the story of a Nahuel, 12, who has a deep fear of the sea. When his father is captured by a malignant sorcerer, he sets out to rescue him, overcoming his fears along the way.
Eduardo Rivero’s “A Costume for Nicholas...
- 3/17/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Two films dominated VOD rankings last week. “Monster Hunter,” Paul W.S. Anderson’s video-game adaptation with his muse and wife Milla Jovovich, debuted on Premium VOD and “Greenland” after breakout success as a PVOD exclusive (no theaters in the U.S.) over the last two months reduced its price to $5.99 and immediately rebounded to lead in some as well.
“Monster Hunter” spent nine weekends as a theatrical exclusive and grossed $13.4 million domestically, for about $25 million worldwide. The film took a hit when Chinese officials banned it for content offensive to local sensibilities. (It would have been Sony’s first post-covid release in China.) It leads FandangoNow’s chart (based on revenue earned) and spent five days as #1 on Apple TV. It’s now #2 at Apple TV and GooglePlay, which lists by rentals.
“Greenland” is now #1 at Apple TV and GooglePlay. Considering the word-of-mouth generated since its December 25 home-only release at...
“Monster Hunter” spent nine weekends as a theatrical exclusive and grossed $13.4 million domestically, for about $25 million worldwide. The film took a hit when Chinese officials banned it for content offensive to local sensibilities. (It would have been Sony’s first post-covid release in China.) It leads FandangoNow’s chart (based on revenue earned) and spent five days as #1 on Apple TV. It’s now #2 at Apple TV and GooglePlay, which lists by rentals.
“Greenland” is now #1 at Apple TV and GooglePlay. Considering the word-of-mouth generated since its December 25 home-only release at...
- 2/23/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
"How much bigger can they get?!" Lionsgate has unveiled an official US trailer for an animated movie titled Monster Zone, also known as Cranston Academy: Monster Zone, originally made in Mexico in the Spanish language (and released there in the summer). It's now getting a direct-to-vod English language release in the US coming up next February. An intelligent 15-year-old high school student is unexpectedly transferred to a boarding school where he opens a portal full of monsters from another dimension. This hilarious family adventure features the voices of Jamie Bell and Ruby Rose. These kind of low quality, "made for kids!" animated movies are a dime a dozen nowadays, and don't have much to offer in originality or creativity. At least some of the monsters in this look pretty cool, but the rest of it seems very uninspired. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Leopoldo Aguilar's Monster Zone, direct...
- 12/16/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Titles include Us box office hit ‘Becky’ and Sundance title ‘Spree’, starring Joe Keery of ‘Stranger Things’.
Australasia’s Rialto Distribution has acquired a raft of new features, including recent Us box office hit Becky and Sundance social media satire Spree.
Nine titles were co-acquired by Rialto and the UK’s Vertigo Releasing, as part of a partnership forged earlier this year, and were closed during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. The films will receive a mix of theatrical and digital debuts in Australia and New Zealand across the second half of 2020.
They include action thriller Becky, starring Lulu Wilson and Kevin James,...
Australasia’s Rialto Distribution has acquired a raft of new features, including recent Us box office hit Becky and Sundance social media satire Spree.
Nine titles were co-acquired by Rialto and the UK’s Vertigo Releasing, as part of a partnership forged earlier this year, and were closed during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. The films will receive a mix of theatrical and digital debuts in Australia and New Zealand across the second half of 2020.
They include action thriller Becky, starring Lulu Wilson and Kevin James,...
- 6/26/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
In today’s film news roundup, “Avatar” gets a streaming date, Trace Adkins and Thora Birch join disaster thriller “13 Minutes,” and Jamie Bell and Ruby Rose get voice cast roles.
Streaming
James Cameron’s “Avatar” will be available on Nov. 12 on Disney Plus when the streaming service launches in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands.
“Avatar” will also become available on the service in Australia and New Zealand on Nov. 19. Disney Plus will be the exclusive subscription streaming home of the film, which will be marking the 10th anniversary of its theatrical release on Dec. 18.
“Avatar” was nominated for nine Oscars and won three for visual effects, cinematography and production design. It’s the second-highest worldwide grosser of all time at $2.79 billion, trailing only “Avengers: Endgame.”
The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Cch Pounder, Wes Studi and Laz Alonso.
Streaming
James Cameron’s “Avatar” will be available on Nov. 12 on Disney Plus when the streaming service launches in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands.
“Avatar” will also become available on the service in Australia and New Zealand on Nov. 19. Disney Plus will be the exclusive subscription streaming home of the film, which will be marking the 10th anniversary of its theatrical release on Dec. 18.
“Avatar” was nominated for nine Oscars and won three for visual effects, cinematography and production design. It’s the second-highest worldwide grosser of all time at $2.79 billion, trailing only “Avengers: Endgame.”
The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Cch Pounder, Wes Studi and Laz Alonso.
- 11/2/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Trace Adkins, Thora Birch, Peter Facinelli, Anne Heche, Will Peltz and Paz Vega have been set to lead the cast of 13 Minutes, a tornado-driven drama that will mark the feature directing debut of Lindsay Gossling. Shooting starts next month in Oklahoma in the heart of Tornado Alley.
Set in a small American town, Gossling’s script begins with residents starting a day as ordinary as the next. Mother Nature, however, has other plans for them. Inhabitants have just 13 minutes to seek shelter before the largest tornado on record ravages the town, leaving them struggling to protect their loved ones and fighting for their lives.
Travis Farncombe and Gossling developed the project and will produce with Karen Harnisch via their Involving Pictures. Elevated Films’ Cassian Elwes and Jere Hausfater will executive produce in association with ImpactWX.
Highland Film Group is steering international sales at the American Film Market that kicks...
Set in a small American town, Gossling’s script begins with residents starting a day as ordinary as the next. Mother Nature, however, has other plans for them. Inhabitants have just 13 minutes to seek shelter before the largest tornado on record ravages the town, leaving them struggling to protect their loved ones and fighting for their lives.
Travis Farncombe and Gossling developed the project and will produce with Karen Harnisch via their Involving Pictures. Elevated Films’ Cassian Elwes and Jere Hausfater will executive produce in association with ImpactWX.
Highland Film Group is steering international sales at the American Film Market that kicks...
- 11/1/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Rocketman actor Jamie Bell and Ruby Rose, who plays Batwoman in the CW’s DC series, are set to voice animated feature Cranston Academy: Monster Zone. Now in post-production, pic is the story of Danny and Liz, two rival geniuses attending a secret school for child prodigies. When one of them accidentally opens a portal to another dimension and unleashes a slew of monsters, they must put their rivalry aside to save the school.
Double Dutch International is handling sales and will be repping the project at Afm.
Leopoldo Aguilar (Monster Island) is directing. Producers are Fernando De Fuentes, José C. García de Leton and Greg Gavanski. The project is set for delivery this fall.
Carl Bunker and Bob Barlen (Escape From Planet Earth) penned the screenplay. Feature is an Anima production (Ana & Bruno) with Prime Focus (Lego Nexo Knights) in association with Fifth Dimension Films.
“We are big fans of Jamie and Ruby.
Double Dutch International is handling sales and will be repping the project at Afm.
Leopoldo Aguilar (Monster Island) is directing. Producers are Fernando De Fuentes, José C. García de Leton and Greg Gavanski. The project is set for delivery this fall.
Carl Bunker and Bob Barlen (Escape From Planet Earth) penned the screenplay. Feature is an Anima production (Ana & Bruno) with Prime Focus (Lego Nexo Knights) in association with Fifth Dimension Films.
“We are big fans of Jamie and Ruby.
- 11/1/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Jamie Bell and Ruby Rose are lending their voices to the animated feature Cranston Academy: Monster Zone.
Double Dutch International will begin shopping the Mexican animation project from director Leopoldo Aguilar at the American Film Market. The project, currently in postproduction, portrays Danny as a genius 15-year-old high school student who, after being unexpectedly moved to a boarding school, opens a portal of monsters from the fifth dimension.
Fellow genius Liz must put their rivalry aside and help Danny, together with a half-moth, half-man professor aptly nicknamed Mothman, to overcome the creatures of the fifth dimension and save the school. Cranston ...
Double Dutch International will begin shopping the Mexican animation project from director Leopoldo Aguilar at the American Film Market. The project, currently in postproduction, portrays Danny as a genius 15-year-old high school student who, after being unexpectedly moved to a boarding school, opens a portal of monsters from the fifth dimension.
Fellow genius Liz must put their rivalry aside and help Danny, together with a half-moth, half-man professor aptly nicknamed Mothman, to overcome the creatures of the fifth dimension and save the school. Cranston ...
- 11/1/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Jamie Bell and Ruby Rose are lending their voices to the animated feature Cranston Academy: Monster Zone.
Double Dutch International will begin shopping the Mexican animation project from director Leopoldo Aguilar at the American Film Market. The project, currently in postproduction, portrays Danny as a genius 15-year-old high school student who, after being unexpectedly moved to a boarding school, opens a portal of monsters from the fifth dimension.
Fellow genius Liz must put their rivalry aside and help Danny, together with a half-moth, half-man professor aptly nicknamed Mothman, to overcome the creatures of the fifth dimension and save the school. Cranston ...
Double Dutch International will begin shopping the Mexican animation project from director Leopoldo Aguilar at the American Film Market. The project, currently in postproduction, portrays Danny as a genius 15-year-old high school student who, after being unexpectedly moved to a boarding school, opens a portal of monsters from the fifth dimension.
Fellow genius Liz must put their rivalry aside and help Danny, together with a half-moth, half-man professor aptly nicknamed Mothman, to overcome the creatures of the fifth dimension and save the school. Cranston ...
- 11/1/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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