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Digital
Media FX News Archives
Saturday
- May 5, 2001
- Cartoon Network Bans Select
Bugs Bunny Cartoons!
- New Trailers,
Column, and Feature
- Writers Strike Resolved
- News Link of the Day
- Shrek to Animate Cannes
Cartoon
Network Bans Select Bugs Bunny Cartoons!
(by digitalmediafx.com) The Cartoon Network, under the control
of the newly formed Turner Broadcasting System, is banning 12
Bugs Bunny cartoons from airing saying that the episodes are "too
racially charged." The Wall Street Journal first issued the
news, stating that most of the cartoons are from the 1930's and
1940's.
According
to ABC News, "In an episode called 'All This and Rabbit Stew,'
Bugs distracts a black rabbit hunter by rattling a pair of dice.
In another episode, Bugs imitates a blackfaced Al Jolson. In another,
he calls an oafish, bucktoothed Eskimo a 'big baboon.'"
The Cartoon
Network is planning a "cartoon retrospective" event
called "June Bugs," next month, featuring early Bugs
Bunny cartoons. The 12 controversial works were originally going
to be broadcast late at night with disclaimers, but the Cartoon
Network reversed that decision and banned the cartoons all together.
In March,
AOL Time Warner announced that it was merging the WB Broadcast
Network and Turner basic cable networks, including the Cartoon
Network, into one - the Turner Broadcasting System. Leadership
of the Cartoon Network changed with the realignment.
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 New
Trailers, Column, and Feature
(by digitalmediafx.com) Two new trailers have been released to
the Web. The first is for Final Fantasy and the second
is for Jurassic Park III. The trailer for Jurassic Park
III can also be seen on the widescreen attached to The
Mummy Returns, which is currently in theaters. Links to these
trailers have been added to the Digital
Media FX Movie Trailers page.
In addition,
Digital Media FX has released a new feature by Noell Evans titled
Saul
Bass: A Film Title Pioneer. You can also view Jim Hill's
new column titled How
to Get Your "Groove" On.
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Writers
Strike Resolved
(by digitalmediafx.com) The Writers Guild of America announced
yesterday evening that it had reached a tentative deal with studios
for a new contract that would avoid a strike. The resolution brings
hope that a contract between studios and the Screen Actors Guild
can also be worked out to avoid an actors' strike after June 30
when the current contract expires.
Under the
deal reached between writers and studios, writers will be given
a greater respect within the movie making process. In addition,
under the new agreement:
- FOX will
be upgraded (in a two year period) to an official "Network"
status meaning that writers get higher residuals (equal to CBS,
NBC, and ABC) for FOX productions. This represents a 50% increase
over current FOX residuals.
- Foreign
television residuals have been uncapped. Writers will receive
1.2% of foreign revenues after the revenues have reached specified
thresholds.
- Writers
recieve 1.2% of the exhibitors payment for the future distribution
of films and television programs over the Internet. This covers
programs made all the way back to 1971 and in the future.
- Numerous
cable residuals, made for TV series, etc. have also been increased
(most by 20% or higher).
- Mandatory
script publication fees of $5,000 per movie are to be paid to
writers for DVD sales.
The contract
is for three years and represents a $41 million gain for writers.
In the respect area, writers will be allowed to attend cast readings
and be on the set of the motion picture they wrote. Prior to this,
writers were considered low on the totem pole and were usually
never allowed on set or in cast readings. Directors must also
hold creative meetings with writers before deciding to hire them.
Writers will also be allowed to attend premieres, press junkets,
film festivals, and cast & crew events. This is a major step
to eliminating the "throw-away" profile writers have
been given in the past and puts them on equal ground with other
creatives.
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News Link
of the Day - Shrek to Animate Cannes
According to BBC News:
"Shrek
is not like any other cartoon. It is a big-budget fairy tale computer
animation that makers DreamWorks hope will become a vehicle to
box office glory.
The leading
character is an ugly, fat and flatulent ogre who suffers from
low self-esteem..."
Click
here for the full story.
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