– GFX creates a Buzz for MS

Toronto’s gfx has produced the country’s first 100% computer-generated psa for a charitable organization. The 30-second spot for The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada promotes the organization’s Super Cities Walk for ms beginning in April.

The spot features Buzz, a peripatetic character who is joined on a lively walk by all manner of normally inanimate objects and animated characters.

Animators Michael Churchill and Yves Therrien used Alias PowerAnimator, Inverse Kinematics to bring the characters to life and Alias Optifx to create the subtle sunshine effects appearing throughout the spot.

Post-production was handled by The Post Group in Toronto.

– Bipeds discovered in Flamborough

Flamborough, Ont.’s other industry, wescam, the leading manufacturer and distributor of motion-stabilized cameras, has purchased the remainder of Wescam-usa, of which it previously owned 51%.

Wescam-usa’s principal business is the rental of wescam systems to the u.s. film and video production industry. wescam camera systems have been used in the production of such Hollywood releases as Goldeneye and True Lies.

– Calls for entries

A call for entries has been issued for the 1996 International Monitor Awards, sponsored by the International Teleproduction Society. Entries can be made in 20 categories and eight craft areas including a new category this year, Multimedia, which includes subcategories for best cd-rom and best Web site.

The deadline for individuals and companies to submit entries is Feb. 23. The awards gala is scheduled for September in l.a. For entry forms or information contact Julia Hammer at its at 212-629-3266.

The Canadian Academy of Multimedia Arts and Sciences has also issued a call for entries, to the 1996 International Digital Media Awards competition, which recognizes excellence in the production of digital media. Entry deadline is March 2.

Awards will be presented at the idma gala, hosted by the MULTIMEDIA 96 Exposition and Forum, May 24 at the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto. For information and entry criteria contact the idma office at (416) 216-2134, or e-mail at thalie @idma.org

– Nortel first off the mark

Northern Telecom (Nortel) is the first company to successfully download and launch interactive television applications using the dsm-cc standard and Iowa-based Microware System Corporation’s david (digital audio video interactive decoder) software platform for set-top decoders.

This download capability will become a part of Nortel’s control software used in the interactive tv programs of the New Brunswick Telephone Company and the u.k. joint venture between Bell Cablemedia, NYNEX CableComms and Telewest.

Nortel is developing a standards-based infrastructure for large-scale deployment of interactive television services.

– CAPIC hits the Web

The Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications, together with Portfolios Online, will showcase the work of its members on the Web.

Portfolios Online will display capic members’ work samples, biographies and work profiles for a discounted rate and will provide the server space to house the capic Web site (//www. capic.org) which, as of the end of January, will provide educational material to members.

– Quantum leap

Quantum Films has released Turbo Budget for Windows Studio Edition, an upgrade of its feature film budget estimation software. The l.a.-based company also released a Professional Edition of the software, aimed at independent production managers and producers.

– International G’essinger

Jim G’essinger has joined tele-production company International Image as vp of operations, responsible for the technical operations of the Toronto facility. G’essinger was previously with Soho Post and Graphics as vp operations and engineering. International Image also has facilities in l.a.

– Eyes Post upgrades

Toronto’s Eyes Post Group has spruced up its King Street facility with the addition of a new telecine suite, which features a Rank Ursa Gold digital film transfer machine (one of two in the city) with a DaVinci Renaissance and a component digital editing suite with Abekas dveous.

Eyes has added a bunch of new staff, including colorists Judy Paul and Joanne Rourke from Magnetic North and editor Graham Saywell from now-defunct Motion Picture Video.

– Premier Choix online

Premier Choix:tvec has signed an agreement with French company Infonie, a subsidiary of European interactive program producer Infogrammes Participations, to provide online, French-track multimedia services.

The Montreal specialty tv operator says it plans to provide pc-equipped households with a telephone or cable modem and is aiming to launch the interactive service this fall.

The new service will provide entertainment and educational information, home-shopping, ticket reservation, e-mail service as well as an option to log on to the Internet.

Infonie will compete in the same online market as Bell Canada’s Sympatico system and Videotron’s delayed ubi project.

At the annual shareholders meeting in Montreal Jan. 17, overall revenues for 1995/96 were projected to increase 15% to $50 million, up from $43.5 million this year.

– Chyron, RT-SET partner

New York-based Chyron Corporation has formed a partnership with virtual reality systems developer rt-set to bring virtual reality studio systems to the broadcast and video market.

Chyron will assist in marketing, sales and distribution of rt-set’s Virtual Reality Studio Systems and will purchase an rt-set Otus software system this month to develop software application programs for the television broadcast and high-end post-production markets.

– Virtual shopping

Cogeco Cable and Quebecor Multimedia, through subsidiary St. Remy Press, have announced an agreement to develop and market an interactive, bidirectional multimedia platform for virtual shopping mall and other applications.

The shopping mall application, potential competition for Videotron’s ubi system, initially will be implemented as part of Cogeco’s limited Internet pilot project in Trois Rivieres, Que.

According to Mark Pezarro, Cogeco vp r&d and business development, the joint-venture platform will be based on software from St. Remy Press and will combine audio, voice, still images, video and text in a single application, as well as the ability to process large data bases.

The deal makes it possible to offer shopping mall, catalogues, electronic circulars and a la carte services via the Net, Cogeco’s broadband network and public-access terminals.

– New digs for Waveform

Toronto-based 3D animation and compositing house Waveform Digital Productions has opened new offices at 685 Queen St. W. The company’s in-suite compositing jobs will be done with David Giles’ recently created Henry facility, Axyz Edit.