What's Happening: July 2003 - December 2003

December 31, 2003: Cameron Going Underwater for Another 3D Docu
James Cameron's latest Big Movie project, EXTREME LIFE, explores the deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems -- similar to the subject of Stephen Low's recently-released VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP SEA. The film, currently in production, is slated for a late 2004 release. For more info, click here to read an article about the film in MacLean's magazine.

December 22, 2003: Low to Receive Kodak Vision Award
Stephen Low has been selected by the LFCA Awards Committee to receive the 6th Annual Kodak Vision Award in Universal City, California, during the LFCA 2004 Conference and Film Festival: "The Business of Large Format." The LFCA's Kodak Vision Award is one of the highlights of the annual conference. This year's presentation will showcase Low's dynamic visual contributions to Large Format Cinema. Click here to read the press release.

December 20, 2003: Ghosts of the Abyss Nominated for BFCA Award
Earlier this week, the The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) announced the nominees for the 9th annual Critics’ Choice Awards -- which included Ghosts of the Abyss in the 'Best Documentary Feature' category. The 182 members of the BFCA, the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing television, radio and online critics, selected nominees in each of 16 categories. The winners will be announced at the Critics’ Choice Awards gala on Saturday, January 10, 2004 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Click here to view all nominees.

December 19, 2003: Polar Express, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in IMAX?
Within the press release announcing the release of Harry Potter III in IMAX DMR, a Warner Brothers executive also stated the company's plan to bring at least two other film projects to IMAX Theaters: THE POLAR EXPRESS as a holiday film in late 2004, and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY for the summer of 2005. Click here to read the press release.

December 18, 2003: Third Harry Potter Film to Be Released in IMAX
IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third installment of the Harry Potter film series, will be released to IMAX(R) theatres in addition to conventional theatres in June 2004. This deal represents the second IMAX DMR film commitment from Warner Bros. Pictures in the last year, and comes on the heels of the successful performances of the second and third chapters of The Matrix trilogy in IMAX theatres. Click here to read the press release.

December 17, 2003: Peter Parks Receives Gordon E. Sawyer Award from AMPAS
The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) today announced that it had selected Peter Parks as the recipient of the Gordon E. Sawyer Award . Parks will receive the award -- an Oscar statuette -- at the Scientific and Technical Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 14th, 2004 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, CA. Click here for the press release.

December 10, 2003: Reyna Leaves IMAGICA USA
IMAGICA today announced that Christopher Reyna, President and Co-Founder of IMAGICA USA Inc., will step down from all duties with the company, effective December 31st. Of his departure, Reyna stated that he needed to "pursue more directly digital technologies for all aspects of Filmmaking and Exhibition." Current CEO and Co-Founder Koji Ichihashi will take on the additional role of President upon Reyna's departure. Click here to read the press release.

December 1, 2003: AOL for Broadband to Sponsor IMAX's NASCAR 3D
IMAX Corporation today announced that AOL for Broadband would be the lead sponsor for its upcoming film NASCAR 3D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE, which will be released on March 12, 2004. Click here to read the press release.

November 21, 2003: Troy, Shrek, Potter in IMAX?
In a financial conference call earlier this month, IMAX Corporation through its co-CEO Rich Gelfond proclaimed its intention to release at least three new Hollywood films to IMAX Theaters through its proprietary DMR (digital re-mastering) process. The potential titles discussed included the new HARRY POTTER, the second installment of SPIDERMAN, the SHREK sequel, POLAR EXPRESS and AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. Though the company has not yet announced a new DMR title since the release of MATRIX III, it claims it's been in talks with nearly all the major studios for months, and most recently that the success of the IMAX version of MATRIX should convince the studios to act.

November 17, 2003: La Geode and Elizara Working on SILK ROAD Partnership
Elizara Productions today announced that it's in discussions with La Geode to enlist the latter as a co-producer of its film in development, SILK ROAD. Click here to read the press release.

November 10, 2003: IMAX Matrix III Grosses $3m in First 5 Days
IMAX Corporation today released its third-quarter results, at the same time noting that MATRIX REVOLUTIONS: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE recorded $3 million in box office receipts during its first 5 days on 60 screens worldwide. Click here for the press release.

October 24, 2003: Haas Leaving Henry Ford, Joining Carnegie Science Center
BMZ has recently learned that Joanna Haas, VP of IMAX Operations at the Dearborn, Michigan-based Henry Ford Museum, will be leaving that position (effective November 1st) to become the new Executive Director of the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

October 24, 2003: Spiderman, Harry Potter in IMAX DMR?
According to an article recently published in BUSINESS WEEK (click here to view the article), "sequels to Spiderman and Harry Potter are planned" for release in IMAX Theaters using its DMR digital-remastering techonology. This story appears to be the first mention of the possiblity of these films coming to Big Movie theaters, and IMAX Corporation has not publicly confirmed or denied the news.

October 24, 2003: Giant Screen Consortium Holds 2nd Conference
Montreal-based Giant Screen Consortium, an industry group which aims to advance the Canadian Giant Screen production and post-production industries, held its second conference of the year October 21-22. While its first symposium last June gathered 26 theaters from around the world, the latest meeting invited Big Movie producers to Montreal to tour the film service and post-production facilities offered in Canada.

October 14, 2003: Sony Exec. Phil Groves Joins IMAX
Former Sony executive Phil Groves has joined IMAX Corporation to aid in their efforts to bring Hollywood film product to the Giant Screen, announced the company in a press release yesterday. Groves will occupy the newly-created position of Vice President, Distribution & Development, in which he will also "play a role in the development of original IMAX film product." Click here to read the press release.

October 6, 2003: Lobo Announces Plan for 12 Films in 12 Years
Lobo Media Productions announced last month its plan to produce and distribute 12 Big Movies in as many years, in a series titled "Expeditions for Knowledge." A group of European investors have reportedly contributed $100 million towards the films' production, and the first film in the series -- MYSTERIES OF NEW GUINEA -- is said to be in production for an anticipated December 2004 launch. Lobo CEO Mal Wolfe (Search for the Great Sharks, The Greatest Places) will produce and direct most films, while Kathleen Wolfe will distribute them through sister company Lobo Images. Click here for the press release.

October 4, 2003: LFCA Delays Film Festival; Announces 2004 Conference Chairs
The Large Format Cinema Association, an industry association for the Big Movie industry, recently announced that it had selected dates -- April 28-30 -- for its 2004 Conference. It also revealed that the 2004 conference chair would be Paul Holliman of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and the co-chair would be Deborah Hartnett of SimEx/IWERKS. The first-ever "Public Film Festival" put together by LFCA, originally scheduled to take place this month, has been delayed, with no new dates yet scheduled.

October 3, 2003: Reijnhoudt is New Euromax President
Following the departure of Alison Roden last summer, Omniversum (The Hague, Netherlands) theater director Berend Reijnhoudt has been elected as the new president of Euromax, the industry association for the European Big Movie industry. The next Euromax symposium will take place Februay 7-10, 2004 in Berlin, Germany.

October 3, 2003: Cameron's GHOSTS to be Shown in 2D
At the 2003 GSTA Conference held last month in Glasgow, Scotland, Buena Vista Pictures, distributors of James Cameron's underwater documentary Ghosts of the Abyss, announced that the film, previously available only in 3D, would be available to 2D theaters in a new 2D version. This could substatially increase the number of screens it shows on, as less than half of the 300-odd Big Movie screens worldwide are 3D-capable.

October 2, 2003: Big Movies Come Up Empty at Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
At this year's biannual Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, the two Giant Screen films nominated -- BUGS 3D and JANE GOODALL'S WILD CHIMPANZEES -- did not win the award for the category they were entered in: 'Best Theatrical Program.' For a complete list of winners, click here to visit the festival's web site.

September 25, 2003: 2003 GSTA Film and MAC Awards Announced
The Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA), the oldest and largest association for the large format (giant screen) film industry, held its annual gala event at the Hilton Glasgow hotel in Glasgow, Scotland on September 23rd -- presenting awards for Best Film (Coral Reef Adventure), Best Cinematography (Bugs), Best Sound (Stomp), Best Film for Lifelong Learning (Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees), a Special Achievement award (Peter Parks for his work on BUGS), and two awards for film and theater marketing (the "MAC Awards"). The evening capped off the weeklong annual conference, which also featured workshops and symposiums, new film and films-in-production screenings, and a trade show. Stay tuned for a complete list of winners and nominees, as well as more coverage of the conference. Click here for MacGillivray Freeman's press release regarding its award for Coral Reef Adventure. Click here to view the complete list of nominees and winners.

September 22, 2003: Kiefer Sutherland to Narrate NASCAR 3D
IMAX Corporation and Warner Brothers, partners in the upcoming IMAX film Nascar 3D: The IMAX Experience, today announced that Kiefer Sutherland would be the film's narrator. Click here to read the press release.

September 12, 2003: Breier -- Stallion to Open on 100 Screens
In an interview which appeared yesterday in FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, (Disney distribution arm) Buena Vista Pictures' Senior VP of Special Events Lyle Breier asserted that their upcoming release, Young Black Stallion, will open on some 100 screens on Christmas Day. Click here to read the complete article.

September 5, 2003: Roden Leaves Post at Science Museum, London
Following her recent departure as head of Euromax, the European association for the Large Format industry, Alison Roden late last month stepped down as Director of IMAX Development at the Science Museum, London.

September 2, 2003: International Documentary Association Holds Special Screening of Coral Reefs
MacGillivray Freeman Films has informed Big Movie Zone that its recent release, Coral Reef Adventure, was recently screened at the Universal CityWalk IMAX Theater as part of the International Documentary Association (IDA)'s 7th Annual InFact Theatrical Documentary Showcase. For more information, please visit the IDA website here.

August 25, 2003: Giant Screen Films Picks Up OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Illinois-based Giant Screen Films has acquired the distribution rights to Old Man and the Sea from Pascal Blais Distribution. The film is the only Big Movie to win an Oscar (several others have been nominated), but has not met with commensurate success at the box office since its 1999 release.

August 23, 2003: Mainframe/IMAX Still working on Gulliver's Travels
According to a press release issued yesterday by Mainframe Entertainment, the company is still in development with IMAX Corporation on the animated 3D film, Gulliver's Travels. The project has been 'in development' for several years as the two companies seek final financing, but of late the film had been widely reported as dead.

August 15, 2003: Bugs, Goodall Nominated in Jackson Hole Film Festival
The biannual Jackson Hole Film Festival, which recognizes excellence in wildlife-themed filmmaking, has announced this year's slate of nominees. As has often been the case for prior festivals, two large format films this year were nominated in the Best Theatrical Program category: Bugs 3D, and Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees. The third nominee in this category was WINGED MIGRATIONS, a Sony Pictures Classics 35mm documentary. The festival takes place Sept. 22-27. The complete list of nominees can be found here.

August 6, 2003: GSTA Best Film 2003 Final Nominees Announced
The Giant Screen Theater Association (GSTA) has recently announced the following films as the final nominees for its Best Film Award for 2003. These films were nominated in one or more of the 4 categories -- Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and/or Lifelong Learning. Coral Reef Adventure; Lewis & Clark; Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey; Bugs 3D; Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees; Straight Up; The Human Body; Space Station. The sole winner will be announced during this year's conference in Glasgow, Scotland in September.

July 30, 2003: 'Survivor' Producer Developing Extreme Expedition Big Movie
CSM Communications today announced a partnership with Emmy award-winning TV producer John Feist (Surviror, Eco Challenge - Borneo) to create TV and film programming, including "an extreme expedition-based -- and emotionally charged -- IMAX film." For more, click here to read the press release.

July 24, 2003: Roden Steps Down as Euromax President
Euromax, the European association for the large format industry, today announced that Alison Roden will step down as President of the association. Click here for the press release.

July 23, 2003: IMAX Announces Multiple Commercial Theater Deal in China
IMAX Corporation today announced that it had signed a deal for 3 IMAX MPX theaters in China, all in commercial locations. Click here for the press release.

July 22, 2003: Giant Screen Consortium Appoints Turp as new Exec. Director
The Canadian Large Format industry association Giant Screen Consortium (GSC) has appointed Philippe Turp to succeed Bernard Houle as its new Executive Director. This follows the recent election of Sky High Entertainment's Carl Samson (Ultimate G's, Adrenaline Rush) as the association's new president.

July 12, 2003: MFF to Make 'Greece' and 'Ocean Planet' in 2D as well as 3D
MacGillivray Freeman Films plans to release two of its upcoming films -- 'Greece: Secrets of the Past and Ocean Planet -- in 3D as well as 2D, the company recently revealed. These will be the company's first-ever 3D releases.

July 10, 2003: Pacific Science Center Director Moynihan Retires
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer yesterday reported that longtime Pacific Science Center Executive Director Patrick Moynihan had retired. Click here to read the article.

July 9, 2003: Samson Chosen as new President of Giant Screen Consortium
Following the departure of Neils de Jong Franken, Sky High Films' Carl Samson (Adrenaline Rush, Ultimate G's) has been named the new President of the Canadian Large Format industry association 'Giant Screen Consortium.'

July 8, 2003: nWave to Distribute Upcoming Film 'Brain Power'; Filming Taking Place at Tour de France
nWave Pictures announced yesterday that it had secured worldwide distribution rights for the upcoming film, Brain Power, produced by Partners Healthcare of Boston's JoAnna Baldwin Mallory, directed by Bayley Silleck (Cosmic Voyage, Lost Worlds) and line-produced by Daniel Ferguson. Production on the film has begun at this year's Tour de France competition. For more, click here for the press release.

July 1, 2003: Giant Screen Consortium Holds First-Ever Conference
Canadian Big Movie industry association Giant Screen Consortium (GSC) held its first-ever conference June 26-28 in its base city, Montreal. Twenty-six theaters, as well as personnel from most other industry sectors, attended the event.

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