Check it! Nickelodeon and DreamWorks

I couldn't say anything about it before, but Variety decided to put it on the cover. Read below or at variety.com. I can't say anything more, but this is very cool!
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http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952488.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

Toon titans drawing up TV skeins
Nick, D'Works pair on animated projects
By DENISE MARTIN

Toon powerhouses Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation are joining forces on a pair of potential weekly series based on DreamWorks features.

One skein will be based on the upcoming film "Kung Fu Panda"; the other is a spinoff of 2005 hit "Madagascar," centered on its popular penguin characters.

"Panda," due in theaters in May 2008, revolves around a lowly waiter in a noodle restaurant whose shape doesn't lend itself to kung fu fighting. Movie features the vocal talents of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman and Ian McShane.

DreamWorks Animation will take a back seat on day-to-day development of the Nick projects. Cabler will take the reins on physical production out of Nick Studios.

"We've given them all the elements that exist in the movies and then, really ... we're pretty deferential on this," DreamWorks Animation chief exec Jeffrey Katzenberg said. "They spent a lot of time with the creators, directors, producers and talent involved in the two movies, but it was more to pick their brains and then take the properties and make them their own."

Both projects are in the early stages of development. Tom Martin ("The Simpsons") will pen the pilot script for "Panda." Paul Rugg ("Freakazoid!") is aboard to write the "Madagascar" offshoot, centered on penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private in a series of new adventures.

Teaming brings together two of the biggest brands in animation: Nick is still home to genre's top-rated "SpongeBob SquarePants" franchise, while DreamWorks Animation counts "Shrek," "Shark Tale" and "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" among its feature hits.

Partnership also marks the first stab at series projects for DreamWorks Animation since 2004, when the studio partnered with NBC on the short-lived CGI comedy "Father of the Pride," which was created, developed and produced internally at DreamWorks Animation.

Katzenberg said plans to collaborate on new TV programming for Viacom's stable of cable TV networks -- which include MTV and Comedy Central -- had been in the works since Paramount's acquisition of DreamWorks in December.

"From the outset, one of the highest priorities for us was to share with Nickelodeon our movie properties," Katzenberg said. He added Nick's entire senior executive team visited the DreamWorks Animation Burbank headquarters a year ago to see a presentation of the studio's upcoming movies. "One of the greatest opportunities in making the deal with Viacom was their interest and enthusiasm for repurposing or adapting our properties into their world and their TV networks," he said.

Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon and MTV Networks Kids & Family Group, said bringing existing franchises to the kids cabler is something Nick is "more willing to do these days."

"We know what's in our own pipeline, and so we look for things that would be additive," Zarghami said, noting Nick has produced more than 30 cartoons on its own. "We thought the characters in 'Kung Fu Panda' were very funny and could live beyond the movie universe. And everyone loves those penguins."

Timing with "Panda" is "sort of perfect," Zarghami added. "The movie is being released in 2008, the same year as the Olympics in Beijing, and if we like what we see, a series would follow shortly."

As for DreamWorks Animation's future endeavors in the TV landscape, Katzenberg wouldn't close the door to working with other nets but said as far as kids go, "We don't want to be anywhere else."

Date in print: Tue., Oct. 24, 2006, Los Angeles

FW: 'Heroes' Star Works For Lucas

"Heroes" is a show that's getting better and better each week. Forwarding this from a friend...

'Heroes' Star Works For Lucas (news.com.com)

On the NBC series "Heroes," Hiro Nakamura, played by Masi Oka, can control time and teleport. In real life, Oka has the ability to control anything he wants in the digital world.
Oka, it turns out, has a really cool day job.

He happens to be a computer programmer of physics animation software, and works for Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects house owned by George Lucas.

Oka started with the company shortly after graduating Brown University, where he earned a degree in computer science and mathematics, according to his NBC bio.

He worked on the "Star Wars" trilogy and "Pirates of the Caribbean." Oka now maintains a part-time position with Industrial Light and Magic as a research and development technical director working up to three days a week, according to the New York Post who first reported on Oka's super powers.

I got a million stories that I can't tell

Ugh. I have tons of stories and news I'd love to share, but I can't. Lots of good stuff that's really exciting is going on. I'll share as soon as I can. Also, I have to write a review of the Pixar talks yesterday. Really good stuff.

FW: Lecture: The Creative Process at Pixar Studios

Forwarding on a post from a friend:

(Vault.com) Opening the day with the Keynote Presentation was Dr. Michael B. Johnson, Pixar Animation Studios' Moving Picture Group Lead. His presentation explored creativity and collaboration, art vs. craft, design vs. engineering, and above all, a unique entertainment experience. As he carried us through the creative process mixed with clips from a variety of Pixar's projects, the message was clear - "Story drives everything."

From the pitch -- which is essentially telling a story at the same time as you are selling it -- to the big screen, the creation process is driven by the story. It starts with the team - the best team that you can find because, as he pointed out, "A good team can take a bad story and fix it or reject it; a poor team cannot." It takes a team to work through the process of iteration and criticism which is essential to fixing issues with the story, the characters, the design, and so on. At Pixar, art is a team sport. You cannot make a film by yourself.

He told of a artist stuck on an idea, his head between his hands until someone told him, "Just do something so we can fix it!" So, dare to fail in the development process, because only then can you move on. It's important to keep moving, trying new ideas. A good story artist, Johnson explains, always has another idea waiting.

In Pixar's The Incredibles, there was a scene that involved a plane crash. Originally, the pilot went down with the plane. While it was a compelling and emotional scene, it was obvious to some of the team that it was too much for the story because it would cast blame and guilt on one of the characters. Fortunately, the team process worked and the scene was changed to one that was much more effective though not as realistic. But, as he pointed out, "it's not about being real, it's about being believable."

He closed by pointing out that it's the story that drives everything. Don't look at the spin-offs. It's not about you. So, never forget that you're making a movie. Passion will get you through.