– Giants do graphic deal
Silicon Graphics and Microsoft have formed a strategic alliance to develop and deliver a common computer architecture to bring new graphics technologies to the entire computer market.
Code-named Fahrenheit, the project will create a suite of application programming interfaces for the Microsoft DirectX multimedia architecture on Windows and for the SGI UNIX-based platform.
Fahrenheit will incorporate Microsoft Direct3D and DirectDraw APIs with complementary SGI technologies like OpenGLm (SGI’s open-standard 2D and 3D graphics visualization technology).
The architecture will be the basis for new third-party graphics and visualization applications, including those for the Internet, games and digital content creation as well as medical and scientific applications.
The two companies also announced plans to deliver a new 3D graphics Device Driver Kit for Windows. The DDK will increase graphics chip makers’ ability to create 3D graphics products based on SGI OpenGL for Windows 95, NT 4.0 and upcoming Windows 98 and NT 5.0 operating systems.
– Casablanca adds mixing theater, acquires Axon
The blossoming of Casablanca Sound and Picture continues, with the facility gearing up to add a 100-seat mixing theater with capability for an array of feature formats including imax. Designers and acoustical engineers are being consulted now and the theater is expected to be online as of June.
Casablanca also recently signed a deal to acquire Axon Studios, located in the Casablanca building. George Axon, who had been creating music and jingles for commercials, will continue at the soundstage facility, which Casablanca’s Steve Mayhew says will be used for tv work – particularly specialty channel jobs – for sweetening, additional adr and voice-overs.
Casablanca was also recently nominated in l.a. for a Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for its work on Crash.
– Snow experiences Side Effects
Over the next several months, post and effects work will be underway on the film Corpus Callosum, the latest effort from artist/filmmaker Michael Snow.
To facilitate the film’s heavy cg effects aspect, Side Effects Software has come on board as a production partner, providing animation software and talent on the project.
The hour-long film about the contrasts of modern life has also garnered support from the Canada Council and the Mississauga Living Arts Centre, which will also contribute effects facilities and will premier Corpus Callosum in the fall of 1998.
– Ryerson, Panasonic deal
Panasonic Canada has announced a partnership with Toronto’s Ryerson Polytechnic University whereby the institution will acquire AJ-D200 DVCPro cameras and AJ-D640 videocassette players as replacements for existing equipment. The equipment is set to be used in the Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson and the Image Arts, Radio and Television Arts, and Journalism programs.
– April in Vegas
The National Association of Broadcasters Conference is looming once again, set for April 4-9 in Las Vegas. This year nab is featuring 11 conferences and 150 educational sessions.
Nominations for the 1998 NAB International Broadcasting Excellence Award for leadership in service to communities and the broadcast industry are being accepted until Feb. 20.
– Gajdecki Visual’s 2Xtreme
Toronto’s John Gajdecki Visual Effects has acquired a 2Xtreme video disc array from Accom for use in transferring images from graphics workstations. A need for 10-bit quality and longer storage time prompted the acquisition.
The 2Xtreme is a long-play digital video storage device available in five-, 10-, 15- and 20-minute versions for broadcast computer animation and post applications.
– Moves
Michael McEwen, a key player in Canadian digital TV initiatives and formerly senior advisor to the president and CEO of the CBC, has left the network to establish his own consulting firm.
McEwen, who had spent 25 years with the CBC, is aiming his initially eponymous media and policy consulting company at the broadcasting world at large, including the likes of government and regulatory entities, over-the-air broadcasters and specialties, as well as domestic and international broadcasting associations.
McEwen is president of the World Digital Audio Broadcast Forum and chairs the Task Force on the Implementation of Digital Television.
– Derek Grimes, one of the original team behind C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, has joined Command Post/Toy Box as director of animation. Grimes exited C.O.R.E. in the fall of last year.
– Toronto-based Cuppa Coffee Animation has added Marlene Schmidt in the capacity of producer. Schmidt, most recently at Fox Television in Chicago, earlier worked at YTV and TMN-The Movie Network.