– New Axyz arm

A new animation and effects company has been born in Toronto under the framework of Axyz Edit. John Stollar and animator John Coldrick are the principals behind Axyz Animation, which will operate as a division of Axyz Edit, formed early this year.

Stollar, a 12-year industry veteran, previously ran Dome Animation and Coldrick was senior animator at Toronto’s Spin Productions. Matte painter John Fraser, currently at Axyz Edit, will also be associated with the new facility in the Axyz space at 425 Adelaide West.

The shop at the outset will utilize three Silicon Graphics workstations running Side Effects’ Prisms and Pixar Renderman software. New animators are being interviewed.

Stollar says the new shop will handle animation and special effects for commercial and long-form projects and is currently working on its first jobs.

-Optix beefs up

In the wake of the grand opening fest hosted by Toronto-based Optix Post Production and Crunch Recording Group, Optix has announced the fortification of human and technological resources in the young facility.

While the late November party provided a number of distractions, the keenly observant noticed the layout and acoustic/technical design by Pilchner Schoustal and Avid and Jaleo online suite consoles designed by Optix partner Attila Levai.

Optix has announced the addition of Manny Pereira as senior editor, also overseeing post-production project supervision.

Optix will also be adding the latest upgrades to its Jaleo editing and compositing system. Xtreme Solutions is providing the new R10000 processor to boost performance of the SGI Indigo 2, and Jaleo software version 2.6 will maximize the high Impact graphics card and will also include third-party special effects plug-ins.

-ACTRA acts

Representatives of actra are airing their concerns about the rights of the performer in the digital age on the international stage at the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty conference in Geneva Dec. 2-20. On the table are issues of statutory protection of performers’ images, which the organization says must be protected as a staple of Canadian culture.

National actra president Sandy Crawley says the right of modification, which addresses the nature of different digital productions and reproductions, will figure prominently in the treaty process. He says traditionally the u.s. has tended to maintain strictly contractual obligations to performers as opposed to statutory obligations in the audiovisual industries, but he adds that an air of flexibility has marked the talks so far.

He says the hope is for Canada to play a role in finding common ground between the historically polarized positions of the u.s. and the eu, and says agreements at the international level will also facilitate refinements to domestic copyright law, i. e. Bill C-32.

‘We believe that historically it’s an inevitability with the growth of new technologies that the only way to create appropriate economic incentives for professional performers of quality is to guarantee them at least control of their own physical images and voices through statutory recognition,’ say Crawley.

-Soho Post addition

Toronto-based Soho Post and Graphics has added Titus Hora to its animation and effects team. Hora, a graduate of the Sheridan College computer animation program as well as the Gregorescu Fine Arts Institute in Bucharest, had previously practiced his craft at Toronto’s C.O.R. E. Digital Pictures and was one of six animators responsible for the cbc Atlanta Olympic package.

Also at Soho, Stephanie Liberi has moved from client services to assume the position of producer/ project coordinator, with Tracy Ternan moving to client services.

-NAB update

An expanded lineup for the nab extravaganza in Las Vegas April 5-10 will include enhanced sessions for the 1997 NAB Multimedia World and the 51st NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference as well as some new attractions.

NAB 97 will introduce the NAB Communications and Connectivity event featuring an exhibit area and two conferences: the Electronic Distribution Conference, which will cover emerging telecommunications technologies including satellite, wireless, fiber and copper; and Unlink 97, a conference for professionals in satellite and related industries.

The nab/Broadcast Designer’s Association conference is also new, with sessions including animation and interactive design and international design. Information can be found on the Web at www.nab.org.

-CTV Web store

CTV’s program and archive sales department has launched a Web site (www.ctvtelevision.com) to sell several of the network’s products and services. The site, developed by Crave Media, is divided into six areas: videotape orders, broadcast sales (programs offered for international broadcast), stock footage, a retail store, feedback and What’s New?

The site brings ctv services like the sale of stock footage, news and educational videos, transcripts and ctv merchandise, previously accessible by phone or mail, online.

-TM is MN GM

Tony Meerakker has been appointed gm of Toronto’s Magnetic North. Meerakker, a 23-year industry veteran, most recently served as vp, engineering and operations at Magnetic North. In his new role he will supervise the daily operation of the post facility as well as liaise with gms at sister companies Magnetic South, Magnetic Music and Master’s Workshop.

-Bulloch appointment

Toronto-based production software company Bulloch Entertainment Services has appointed Marr Morgan to the newly created position of director, client services.