Visual Effects Veteran To Get Recognition for His Work

The Visual Effects Society will present its 2010 Founders Award to Jim Morris on Sept. 23 at the Encino-based organization’s annual membership meeting. Morris has served as a production executive on multiple animated films from Pixar, including “Up,” “Ratatouille,” and “Wall-E,” which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2009. Morris was chosen for the Founders Award for his time and commitment to starting the VES and giving his unique expertise since to the craft of visual effects. His tireless efforts have guided the society to become the final word on all things related to visual effects, said VES Chairman Jeffrey Okun. Morris served as the founding chairman of the VES, a position he said of which he is proud. “I have charted the progress of the VES over these last 10-plus years, and am amazed at the professional and vibrant organization it has become, and the leadership role it is playing in the industry,” Morris said. Prior to Pixar, Morris worked at Lucasfilm, where he served as president of Lucas Digital Inc. and general manager at Industrial Light & Magic. Firms Win Awards The Hollywood Post Alliance presented its Engineering Excellence Award to two companies with a presence in the Valley. The award honors manufacturers, inventors and vendors for outstanding product or technology application offerings. ARRI, with offices in Burbank, won for its ALEXA digital camera, and Digital Vision, whose U.S. offices are in North Hollywood, won for its Open EXR workflow product. Also winning was Cine-tal for its Davio Signal Processor. The recipients were chosen following presentations to a panel of judges at LaserPacific’s Digital Theater. The Engineering Award casts a spotlight on the companies and individuals working behind the scenes to make it possible for the rest of the entertainment industry to shine, said Hollywood Post Alliance President Leon Silverman. “While our HPA Awards certainly celebrate the artistic, the recipients of the HPA Engineering Award remind us of the art in the science,” Silverman said. The HPA Awards will be presented Nov. 11 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Photo Exhibit A new exhibit featuring photographs from the Warner Bros. Photo Lab opens to the public this month in the Grand Lobby Gallery at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The exhibit will include glamour portraits, set reference stills, publicity photos and behind-the-scenes shots of the biggest stars to appear in Warner Bros. films over the past 85 years, including Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Humphrey Bogart, and the young stars of the “Harry Potter” films. Rare photographs of Marilyn Monroe and shots taken on various sets by film legend and aspiring photographer James Dean are also included. New prints were made from all photographic formats for the exhibit organized by the Academy and Greg Dyro of the Warner Bros. Photo Lab and Leith Adams, studio archivist. The photo lab started in 1930 to process unit photographers’ still images into proofs and prints for advertising and publicity. It is the longest continuously operating studio photography department. Classic Depictions Artist Thomas Kinkade was brought in by Warner Bros. Consumer Products to create a limited collection of paintings based on classic films and properties. The first painting of Dorothy and the Emerald City from “The Wizard of Oz” was released in August. The next paining depicts characters from “Gone With the Wind.” “We’ve found the perfect partner to bring these classic films to life through original artwork that is both unique and beautiful,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President, Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The paintings are meant to share the fun and inspiration that Kinkade said he feels from the classic films and to bring them to life on canvas. “These images are a panoramic adventure featuring my interpretation of classic moments in the films and a true labor of love for me,” Kinkade said. Holiday Specials DreamWorks Animation Inc. will air two new animated specials on NBC at Halloween and Christmas. “Scared Shrekless” features the portly green ogre challenging Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots and the other fairy tale characters to spend the night in Lord Farquaad’s haunted castle telling scary stories. The show airs Oct. 28. “Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special” finds Po torn between his duties as the Dragon Warrior at the formal Winter Feast at the Jade Palace and spending the holiday with family. The special airs on Dec. 4. Both shows will be available in the home entertainment market in 2011. “NBC brings quality holiday programming to viewers year after year and we are thrilled to add original DreamWorks Animation programming to their mix yet again in 2010,” said Ann Daly, Chief Operating Officer of DreamWorks Animation. The network will rebroadcast two other DreamWorks Animations specials during the holiday season. “Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutants Pumpkins from Outer Space” airs on Oct. 30 and “Merry Madagascar” airs Nov. 24 and Dec. 4. Puff ABC Family has picked up the domestic rights to the animated show “Puff the Magic Dragon” owned by Camelot Entertainment Group based in Universal City. “Puff” will air as part of the network’s 25 Days of Christmas. Camelot had a strong summer by adding new titles and the Liberation film library to its holdings. Through August, the company had generated $1.2 million gross sales. Staff Reporter Mark Madler can be reached at (818) 316-3126 or by e-mail at [email protected].