Pixar Canada Opens Home Base in Vancouver with Plans for Expansion

Pixar Canada, Pixar's new satellite studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, was officially opened yesterday. The studio's 7,000-square-foot space is located inside a historic building in Vancouver's Gastown district which may or may not be the studio's permanent home.

The studio's management team consists of general manager, a former vice-president of operations and finance for DisneyToon Studios; creative director, who's been with Pixar since 1995; and chief technical officer Darwyn Peachey, a 22-year Pixar employee. They have been working in Vancouver since last fall.

According to Nasrabadi Pixar hopes to expand its Canadian facilities to 20,000-25,000 sq. ft., perhaps moving to another location in the city at some point.

The Vancouver Sun reports the Canadian studio "will begin training new staff in late May, and start work on its first short film by early August". There are currently twenty people on the payroll; the plan is to hire several dozen employees within the next year and a half.

As previously announced, Pixar Canada will focus exclusively on the production of non-theatrical short films and other projects based on Pixar's "legacy characters", such as Cars Toons and the rumoured Toy Story Toons. Using a "pipeline system", work done in Vancouver will be seen immediately in Emeryville, where the final stages of production on the shorts will take place.

A video of the opening event (see below) has talking points from B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and Nasrabadi plus some cool, blink-and-you'll-miss-them clips of WALL-E, Lightning McQueen, and Carl's house from Up in Vancouver.



Pixar, founded by animator John Lasseter, began as a small independent studio making short animations. Its first noteworthy film was Luxo Jr., a 1986 short about a desk lamp, which remains the company's iconic symbol.

It has since become known for feature films Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, Wall-E and last year's Oscar® winner Up.

* * *

Source: Pixar Blog, Vancouver Sun

Free Tilly: 'People for Tilikum’s Law' NYC Protest Today April 20th at 5:00pm

Tilly and trainer Dawn Brancheau

New York Animal Activists Hold a Demonstration Today to Demand that the Blackstone Group/SeaWorld Release Tilikum to a Sanctuary, and Demand that the United States Department of Agriculture-APHIS Use Their Authority to Remove Tilikum from SeaWorld

'People for Tilikum’s Law':
“Ban possession of captive whales and dolphins for entertainment”

New York Animal Activists have announced a rally for today, Tuesday, April 20th at 5:00 pm at the Blackstone Group’s office building (345 Park Avenue, at 51st Street). The rally is being held to mark the two month anniversary of the death of the trainer at SeaWorld and the continued refusal of SeaWorld to release Tilikum. Tilikum has been held in captivity for over twenty six years and is suffering.

The Blackstone Group Owns SeaWorld. SeaWorld bought Tilikum back in 1992. They have held many captive whales and dolphins there in abnormal conditions. The trainer’s death in February 2010, has renewed the controversy that has always existed in keeping these whales and dolphins captive. Media coverage of this trainer’s death was widely reported and discussed. SeaWorld's profit making off of the whales and dolphins that they keep imprisoned, is compromising the investigation of the animal abuse that is occurring there.

People for Tilikum's Law will file a animal abuse complaint with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and demand that the USDA-APHIS, investigate and examine the psychological suffering as well as the physical conditions that Tilkum is experiencing. Animal activists demand that action be taken by the USDA, APHIS, to remove Tilikim from SeaWorld.

The only real way to stop the exploitation of these intelligent and complex marine mammals, is to pass a Tilikum’s Law which would ban all people, including aquarium parks like SeaWorld, from possessing and breeding whales and dolphins for entertainment purposes. The whales and dolphins are ripped from their natural habitat, the ocean, and forced to perform while they are kept in small concrete pools. They are kept in conditions that are physically and psychologically destructive. Activists want the public to become a force for change and support a Tilikum’s Law that would make it illegal to keep these animals and use them for entertainment and money making purposes.

If you would like more information about this topic please call Edda Ness, Esq., MSW at (212) 689-7918 or ECNess@legal-aid.org

Additional Information

Jean-Michel Cousteau comments on the tragedy on when trainer Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water and killed by Tilikum, an orca at Sea World’s Orlando park. This is the third death associated with Tilikum while in captivity.

"The tragic death of the trainer suggests that maybe we have outgrown the need to keep such wild, enormous, complex, intelligent and free-ranging animals in captivity, where their behavior is not only unnatural, it can become pathological." – Jean-Michel Cousteau



“...building a tank the size of Rhode Island wouldn’t be large enough for a six-ton male such as Tilikum, an animal capable of swimming 100 miles in a day.” - Whale Expert

* * *

Links:

'Free Willy 4' | Sammy Freed! | 'Free Tilly' Tilikunundrum

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

The Cove

PETA

IFAW: Senator John Kerry Introduces Legislation to Protect Whales

Meet The Shannons

Meet The Shannons

Editor Tom Elkins Turns Director for 'The Haunting in Georgia'

Film editor Tom Elkins is stepping into the director's chair for the first time with The Haunting in Georgia the Gold Circle's follow-up to last year's successful horror/thriller film The Haunting in Connecticut which he edited.

The Montana Artists-repped Elkins also edited The Da Vinci Code and Wanted while starting out as a production assistant on 1997’s Gattaca. He also worked as an assistant editor on Red Eye and Cursed and is editing Joel Silver-produced supernatural thriller The Apparition. It was after his work on Connecticut and seeing what he was doing with Apparition that made Gold Circle topper Paul Brooks confident that Elkins had the stuff to helm a thriller.

Lionsgate fostered a similar editor-to-director system with the Saw franchise, promoting Kevin Greutert after five movies to helm Saw VI (and now Saw VII).

David Coggeshall, writer on the TV shows Desire and Watch Over Me, is writing the screenplay.

The Haunting in Georgia is about “the true story of a young family imperiled by mysterious entities inhabiting their property in the rural South.” Connecticut was supposedly true as well, but at best it was based on a kernel of a story — most of the tale was fabricated.

Gold Circle's Paul Brooks will produce, with Scott Niemeyer and Norm Waitt executive producing. Brad Kessell will oversee for Gold Circle and co-produce. Winnipeg's Buffalo Gal Pictures will co-produce.

The Haunting in Georgia will be entirely lensed in Winnipeg as was Connecticut. THR reports casting is currently underway and production starts in August.

* * *

Source: THR ,/Film

Milla Jovovich & Julian McMahon Shoot 'Faces in the Crowd' in Winnipeg

Milla Jovovich and Julian McMahon

Ukrainian-born American actress and model Milla Jovovich will co-star alongside Nip/Tuck's Julian McMahon in the thriller Faces in the Crowd. McMahon will play a cop who helps leading lady Jovovich try to survive a serial killer. In the Julien Magnat produced and directed thriller, Jovovich plays a woman who survives a serial killer’s attack, but falls off a bridge and wakes up with “face blindness”, which prevents her from recognizing people’s faces, including the serial killer’s. That becomes a problem when the killer comes back for her. The five-week shoot begins next month (May) in Winnipeg, Canada.

Jovovich is an entertainment industry phenomenon. In addition to starring in films such as The Fifth Element and Resident Evil, Jovovich is a revered fashion icon and designer, and has also made a name for herself as a gifted vocalist and musician. She can next be seen starring in the fact-based thriller The Fourth Kind and the John Curran-directed crime drama, Stone.

Winnipeg production company Frantic Films will be co-producing with Minds Eye Entertainment, Radar Films and Forecast Pictures.

It will be McMahon’s second film shoot in Winnipeg. He shot the Shannen Doherty TV movie Another Day (2001) in Winnipeg.

Julian McMahon with his mother Lady Sonia McMahon

McMahon is currently back in Australia recovering from recent back surgery. He was operated on two weeks ago, six days before his mother Lady Sonia McMahon passed away from cancer in the same hospital. Lady McMahon was the wife of Sir William McMahon, Prime Minister of Australia, and a philanthropist and Sydney socialite.

One of the top neurosurgeons at Sydney's St Vincent's Private Hospital reportedly performed delicate surgery on McMahon to correct an unidentified degenerative back problem. We wish him a speedy recovery.

It is not known whether the actor, who was immobilised after his surgery, was with his mother when she died on April 2nd. Julian and his two sisters have been making preparations for both a private cremation and a public memorial service for the late socialite and charity worker.

Our deepest condolences go out to Julian and his family.

Links
Official MillaJovovich site
Twitter @MillaJovovich

* * *

Source
Variety.com, WinnipegFreePress.com

Former 'Housewives' Star Nicollette Sheridan Sues Series Creator Over Firing, Alleged Assault | There is Life After 40!

Nicollette Sheridan (Ron Tom/ABC)

Why was Desperate Housewives' sexy Realtor Edie Britt killed off the show? Most believe it was a wage dispute. Not in Nicolette Sheridan's case.

TMZ first reported the lawsuit in which Sheridan alleges the show's creator Marc Cherry hit her in the face on the set and that she was then fired in retaliation for complaining about him, "resulting in her losing millions in future earnings," says the suit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Marc Cherry, January 13, 2007
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Cherry began his career at Designing Women as Dixie Carter's personal assistant. In 1990 he became a writer and producer for the longrunning hit sitcom, The Golden Girls. Afterwards he created a short-lived sitcom also centering around four strong, diverse women, The Five Mrs. Buchanans (1994)) and other series such as The Crew (1995) and Some of My Best Friends.

Sheridan, whose character was killed off the show last year, is suing for $20 million, alleging assault and battery, gender violence and wrongful termination. She claims series creator , created a hostile work environment, "behaving in an extremely abusive and aggressive manner."

Sheridan, a Golden Globe nominee who played sexy Realtor Edie Britt, claims that Cherry directed his abuse at other cast and crew members, even at star Teri Hatcher after she went above his head to ABC executives.

"I hope , gets hit by a car and dies," Cherry told Sheridan, according to the lawsuit.

ABC Studios says in a statement: "While we have yet to see the actual complaint, we investigated similar claims made by Ms. Sheridan last year and found them to be without merit."

Sheridan, whose contract called for her to earn $175,000 an episode going up to $250,000 in later years, claimed that in the summer of 2008 she tried to meet privately with Cherry "in an effort to discuss his negative demeanor toward her and to discuss whether he had a problem with her work," the lawsuit says.

Cherry told her he didn't have a problem with her and apologized, only to lash out at her again, behaving in a "rude and degrading manner," leading up to a clash on the set during a Sept. 24, 2008, rehearsal, the lawsuit claims.

"When Sheridan questioned Cherry about something that was in the script, Cherry took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head," the lawsuit says.

A humiliated Sheridan yelled back, "You just hit me in the head. That is not okay. THAT IS NOT OKAY!" according to the lawsuit.

Cherry went to her trailer to "beg forgiveness," the lawsuit says, but after Sheridan reported him to ABC, his behavior allegedly worsened. She was informed in February 2009 that her character was being written off the show and she was being fired, according to the lawsuit.

"The decision to kill off Sheridan's character demonstrates that Cherry and ABC intended to and did retaliate against Sheridan for her complaints about Cherry," the lawsuit says. The lawsuit notes that although some of the male characters were killed off the show, "none of the female characters had ever before been killed off or written out of the show."

There is Life After 40 for Women in Hollywood

It is inspiring to see actresses like Nicollette Sheridan (46), Teri Hatcher (40), Marcia Cross (48), Felicity Huffman (47), and Dana Delany (54) actively employed on a hit tv series.

Dana Delany, 2-part Castle episode "Tick, Tick, Tick...Boom!"

Delany recently guest starred on ABC's Castle the Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic mystery-comedy which has just been renewed for a 22-episode third season. Dana Delany plays FBI Special Agent Jordan Shaw in a two-part event which attracted the show's largest audience to date (14.5 million viewers) and gave ABC its best scripted performance in the time-slot in 14 years. She talks about her guest appearance on Castle in the ET clip below.



Delany is also headlining the new ABC pilot Body of Evidence. Korbi TV asked Delany what would happen to her role on DH. Delany replied "the minute Marc Cherry heard that I was going to be doing this pilot, he said, that's fine, we'll just send you off to Paris, and if the show gets picked up, good for you, and if it doesn't, we can bring you back. So everything is sort of up in the air." Katherine (Dana Delany) finally comes out of the closet to the rest of the housewives about her romance with Robin (Julie Benz) and they take off on a trip to Paris.

There is life for Hollywood women over 40. Just don't question the script or you might get bitch-slapped and fired!

* * *

'Dancing with the Stars' | 'Slaughter of the Survivors'

Pamela Anderson hugs a seal at PETA's anti-sealing campaign
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)

Despite a record number of year-long global protests fueled by celebrities like Dancing With the Stars Canadian actress Pamela Anderson and The Barbi Twins, the annual Canadian Harp Seal Slaughter will commence this upcoming week.

PETA demonstrators protest against seal hunting outside the
Canadian embassy in Sydney. Photo: PETA

Sheryl Fink, senior researcher, IFAW
©Stewart Cook/IFAW

Sealers will be going through and picking off the few pups that have survived the catastrophic ice. Heartbreaking!





According to the HSI Canada website a buyer has commissioned 35,000 seal skins so the boats will be going out for that. Scientist Sheryl Fink, senior scientist of IFAW, Bridget Curran one of the founders of the Atlantic Canada Anti-Sealing Coalition, and other animal rights advocates will be observing the hunt closely to document the cruel "slaughter of the survivors".

Bridget Curran of the Atlantic Canada Anti-Sealing Coalition
and a baby harp seal off the coast of Cape Breton - March 2009

Bridget Curran's comment on the Atlantic Canada Anti-Sealing Coalition Facebook Group states that "With Canada launching WTO challenges againt the EU, the Canadian government is insane to allow this to continue. The footage collected by the licensed seal hunt "observers" will be especially damning in light of the "natural" disaster that has befallen seals this year in the northern and southern Gulf."

Sheryl Fink discusses the "top 5 myths about Canada's commercial seal hunt" in the video below.



Canadians have spoken out against wasting taxpayer's dollars on this cruel and inhumane practice which loses millions of dollars annually; dollars which could be spent elsewhere. Pamela Anderson has made several requests for seal hunt information in her ATIP requests (access to information resquest).

Elected politicians continue to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the very people who were responsible for electing them.

Is Compassion Terrorism?

Compassionate people who speak out about the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals who can't speak for themselves are being labeled as "terrorists". Yes, terrorists! Laws are being rolled out in the United States to instill fear and to prevent people from exercising their right to freedom of speech, all in the name of corporate greed and profits.

Animal rights defenders, environmental and peace activists are being labeled as "terrorists" and "ecoterrorists". What ever happened to the First Amendment? Freedom of speech and freedom of the press? Right wing terrorists are allowed to roam the land freely while individuals trying to stop animal cruelty and suffering are being arrested and imprisoned.

The "war on terror" is trying to instill fear in animal rights activists. Peter Young and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's Peter Bethune are two victims of this injustice (see story links after the jump). Should we become silent against the atrocities committed against the voiceless?

Peter Young, Political Prisoner and Voice of the Voiceless

The Associated Press: Japan indicts activist who boarded whaling ship

Easter Seals

It is an UnHappy Easter Day today for Canada's surviving baby seals. The Seal Holocaust starts this upcoming week on April 8, 2010.

HAPPY EASTER !!!

Additional Links:
2010 Seal Hunt Opens

Canada's War on Seals Has Begun

IFAW Canada: Dead seals found in Newfoundland -- 3/27/10

Senator's e-mail calls activist models 'losers'

How Much Does the Seal Slaughter Cost Canada?
CTV.ca | Baywatch actress seeks seal hunt info in ATIP requests

Stop the Seal Hunt

Not with my vote!

Atlantic Canada Anti-Sealing Coalition

Atlantic Canada Anti-Sealing Coalition Facebook Group

IFAW

PETA

* * *

Guillermo del Toro Reveals the Reasons Behind 'The Hobbit' Delays

TheOneRing.net reports that Oscar®-winning filmmaker and TheOneRing.net message board member Guillermo del Toro elaborated on the pre-pre-production state of a pair of The Hobbit films and the MGM situation.

Chatting up the regulars he said:

But know these facts:

-NO delays have been caused by “discussing” or “adapting” 3-D.
-Can’t close deals with actors without a green light.
-Can’t give a green light to the project when one of the studios is going through a “to be or not to be” auction moment.

For good or bad this project has demanded for so much to be solved before it gets going. So, the Phil Connors syndrome is met with great empathy.

Best
GDT

He referenced the Groundhog Day movie while confirming and elaborating on this report. In the movie, Phil Connors a TV weatherman (played by Bill Murray) finds himself repeating the same day over and over again while covering a Groundhog Day event.

The MGM situation and the two “Hobbit” films’ fate are bound together. See links below for more information.

Join the Guillermo del Toro Facebook Group for the latest Hobbit news.

Additional Links:
'The Hobbit' News: WETA's Richard Taylor on 3D Hobbit | Time-Warner Tops MGM Bids

Production on THE HOBBIT Pushed to Mid-Summer 2010

MGM on the Verge of Bankruptcy |'The Hobbit' & James Bond in Jeopardy

* * *

'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' at Cannes?

Rumor has it that Oliver Stone's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Michael Douglas is back in his role as one of the screen’s most notorious villains, Gordon Gekko. Emerging from a lengthy prison stint, Gekko finds himself on the outside of a world he once dominated. Looking to repair his damaged relationship with his daughter Winnie (Carey Mulligan), Gekko forms an alliance with her fiancé Jacob (Shia LaBeouf). But can Jacob and Winnie really trust the ex-financial titan, whose relentless efforts to redefine himself in a different era have unexpected consequences.

Shia LaBeouf, Oliver Stone & Michael Douglas
'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' Facebook

Additional cast includes Josh Brolin, Eli Wallach, Susan Sarandon and Frank Langella.

Michael Douglas as Gordon Gecko
'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' Facebook

Douglas won the Oscar® for his performance as trader Gordon Gekko in Wall Street, with his famous catchphrase, "Greed, for the lack of a better word, is good." But his real-life dalliance in the stock market has cost him a small fortune, New York Post reports.

"I lost 35 to 40 percent of my net worth on the 2008 crash," the actor said. He has since taken most of his money out of the stock game.

Douglas isn't hurting too bad, though; his estimated worth is more than $212 million.

Shia LaBeouf as Jacob Moore
'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' Facebook

Douglas said co-star Shia LaBeouf, 23, played the markets to get into his role.

He told Esquire magazine: "He took $20,000 and in six weeks he was up to $380,000. He did all right."

Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan
'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' Facebook

Carey Mulligan shares her experience of working with now boyfriend Shia telling, “The first time we read together we were so nervous. It was just me and Michael [Douglas] and Shia, and neither Shia or I looked up. You never know how these things are going to work.”

According to Deadline Hollywood and Showbiz411 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps had its release date bumped from April 23rd all the way to September 24th with little given in the way of reason. Showbiz 411 says the reason for this push was specifically the Cannes world premiere.



Trailer courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Links:
Official Site
Facebook

* * *