Moonbot flies across platforms

IPad application and Oscar-nommed short 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore' arrives out like a book. William Joyce, left, co-founding father of Moonbot, and Brandon Oldenberg co-directed the companys Oscar-nominated animated short. Moonbot Galleries is nominally an animation house, but that is a restricting description if this involves telling the storyline of these two-year-old shingle co-founded by award-winning children's author and animated-feature veteran William Joyce. "Our qualities our tales -- we do not discover their whereabouts as only one factor in a single medium," states Joyce, who began the studio in the home town of Shreveport, La., with Reel Forex Creative Services co-founder Brandon Oldenburg and producer Lampton Enochs. "We kind of wallow in it and go: 'Is mtss is a great movie? 'Is mtss is a great book?' And when the solutions are 'yes,' only then do we think about them in whatever different (form is relevant)." Moonbot's first project, "The Great Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," has borne out that approach. It first showed being an iPad application (selling a lot more than 120,000 downloads since last summer time). Which was then an animated video clip which has been nommed to have an Oscar -- along with a book version arrives from Simon & Shuster later this season. Follow-up project "The Numberlys," manufactured to fit the iPad's vertical orientation, has offered 20,000 downloads because it preemed recently. The approaching short-film version -- named by Moonbot as "the highest video clip on the planetInch -- will support the iPad's vertical aspect ratio as well as is going to be then a magazine version. Joyce states the application for "Lessmore" came into being almost accidentally, well into production around the video clip and book, once the iPad was introduced, and filled a formerly unarticulated void. "It had not been a magazine also it wasn't a film -- it had been something among. We'd wanted that, although not understanding what which was.Inch But not only porting content in one medium to another, Moonbot tailors the job to every platform. The storyline application blends facets of the film and also the book, offers minigames and explorable conditions, and sways on computer interaction. Rapid has met with apparent success, along with the book featuring original illustrations, each version of "Lessmore" stands by itself, Oldenburg states. "All of them justify their very own existence, and you want to make certain (of) that.". Digital distribution assisted "Lessmore" and Moonbot achieve a far wider audience than the usual book or short would typically achieve alone. "It's not necessary to create a distribution deal it's not necessary to court 5 or 6 different companies," Enochs states. "You press a few buttons, and also the world can easily see it." Nearly all purchasers are parents, although the application has been a success with teens, and emails came in from classes, Enochs states. (Cost to create all of the areas of "Lessmore" is tough to find out, Enochs states, thinking about the application wasn't area of the original plan -- which meant there is a learning curve for designers to cope with -- and also the final a part of project, it, is not going to be out until late this season.) Author in excess of 50 children's books, Joyce has created or led ideas, designs and animation to features from "Toy Story" to "Robots" and "Satisfy the Robinsons," and it is professional-creating the approaching DreamWorks Animation feature "Rise from the Parents" according to his "Parents of Childhood" book series. He sees in Moonbot's approach the liberty to produce new projects -- as well as the opportunity to simply have fun. "I seem like people expect, or are visiting expect, different encounters in storytelling," states Joyce, who dismisses as "overdramatic" the concept that books will die, but confesses focusing on applications is much more instinctive and timely. "We are capable of being almost live-action filmmakers in ways, that is a fascinating factor to create to animation." "The Numberlys" is really a prime example. The storyline application is made with off-the-shelf software and cameras, and carried out four several weeks, permitting Moonbot an opportunity to rapidly take advantage of its growing brand, Oldenburg states. Additionally to projects for clients, Moonbot plans another short/application/book project, tentatively entitled "Mr. Junk e-mail Will get a brand new Hat" along with a feature being coded in which another entertainment platform figures conspicuously -- by getting a brand new Orleans puppet troupe carry out the story live before audiences. "We discovered that to become a real very cost-efficient way to determine if your scene is working," Joyce states, "by carrying out it theatrically." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Jim Caviezel joins The Tomb

The Tomb might find Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone reunited around the giant screen, but oddly enough, the following bit of casting hasn't involved another musclebound beefcake, but character actor Jim Caviezel.The film is occur a maximum security jail, created by Stallone's wrongly-jailed architect. Using his understanding from the building's inner workings, Stallone sets about attempting to escape, assisted and abetted by fellow inmate Schwarzenegger.Caviezel will have the prison warden the 2 will need to evade, so odds are he'll be practicing his sneering and snarling in readiness for that role. Meanwhile, producer Mark Canton has spoken in the cast, and what don't be surprised in the movie."For me personally, The Tomb is really a large deal," he states, " because I always aspired to have Sly and Arnold together. The Expendables is fantastic but [here] they are really mano a mano, as with Warmth, or perhaps a movie of this quality."Set up finished product works out to become of comparable quality to Michael Mann's masterpiece remains to appear, however for fans of old-school action, this reunion should obtain the adrenaline moving once again. The Tomb will open in 2013, having a full release date to become confirmed.

New image of Jaden Smith in After Earth

A glut of on-set images have recently emerged from the Costa Rican shoot of M Night Shyamalan's After Earth, but up until now, they've mainly featured Will Smith and son Jaden lounging about in their civvies.However, a new image has now been released featuring Jaden Smith in his full costume, and it's starting to give us some idea of the kind of visual aesthetic we can expect from the film.Set some thousand years in the future, After Earth tells the story of a young boy and his estranged father attempting to navigate a desolate and dangerous Earth when their ship crashes and maroons them.That's about as much as we know plot-wise, but this new image reveals that our heroes will be sporting some sort of second-skin, presumably designed to help them survive this newly inhospitable Earth.Co-starring Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo, and Isabelle Fuhrman, After Earth is slated to open in the UK on 7 June 2013. Will this be the film that kick-starts Shyamalan's career? Put it this way, it can't be any worse than The Last Airbender...

Michael Bay to direct 'Transfomers 4'

Bay Paramount's signed director Michael Bay to some two-picture deal for "Discomfort and Gain" and "Tranformers 4."Studio, which introduced the pact Monday evening, stated Bay will commence shooting this spring on "Discomfort and Gain," then follow using the next installment within the "Transformers" franchise, to become launched within the summer time of 2014.With different true story, "Discomfort and Gain" follows several bodybuilders who involved in an offer of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. Mark Wahlberg, lengthy mounted on topline, is going to be became a member of by Dwayne "The Rock" Manley.Producers include Bay, Jesse P Line and Ian Bryce.Componen gave no particulars regarding the plot of "Transformers 4," in line with the Hasbro toyline. The 3rd installment, "Transformers: Dark from the Moon," required in $1.12 billion.Producers are Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce and executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Bay, John Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Vital Pictures will release the film on June 29th, 2014."Michael continues to be focusing on 'Paid and Gain' for several years but has with patience anxiously waited for that perfect casting to trigger a start," stated Adam Goodman, Leader of Paramount's Film Group. "Clearly his persistence has compensated off once we could not become more looking forward to this combo." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Naomi W Cast to see Princess Diana in Silver Screen Biopic

Naomi Wattshas signed to see British icon Princess Dianain Oliver Hirschbiegel's silver screen portrait "Caught Flying."The film continues to be suggested to customers in Berlin by producers Ecosse Films, the U.K. production and finance banner behind numerous movies including "Charlotte now now Gray," "Becoming Jane"and "Brideshead Revisited."Tim Haslam, the prior Hanway Films leader, is handling worldwide sales under his upstart company Embankment Films.Hirschbiegel directs W using the script byStephen Jeffreys, with production set to begin inside the U.K. later this year.Billed just like a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales through the final couple of years of her existence, the script charts her search for personal happiness as she converted to a significant worldwide campaigner and humanitarian.W, who'll next be seen starring in "The Impossible"opposite Ewan McGregor, known to her casting as "an recognition to be capable of play this legendary role - Princess Diana was loved around the world, which i anticipate rising for the challenge of playing her on-screen.InchHirschbiegel mentioned W has enough in their acting armoury to embody "the warmth, humanity and empathy of those an international icon as Princess Diana." The Hollywood Reporter

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Sylvester Stallone Are Siamese Warriors (Or Something)!

In a move three decades in the making, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone finally followed through on the promise of their intersecting action-movie careers and had their bodies surgically fused together for their upcoming 3-D sequel, "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot a Siamese Warrior." At least that's what we hoped was going on in the above photo. That, or confirmation that while Arnie and Sly's cyborg doppelgangers have been out making movies and governing California for years, the two men have in fact been holed up in side-by-side hospital beds, recounting the glory of a time when a "Batman" movie villain could actually utter the line, "Ice to see you!" But: no. None of this is true. Instead what we're seeing is two sexagenarians having the time of their lives while getting their creaky bodies fixed up. "After all the action, stunts & physical abuse shooting 'The Expendables 2' and 'The Last Stand,' it was time for a little tune up on my shoulder," Schwarzenegger wrote in a post on his WhoSay page. "Look who was coincidentally waiting in line behind me for his shoulder surgery. Now we're ready for another round of great times and action when we shoot 'The Tomb.'" The surgeons better bring their A games, because these two despite their arthritic limbs and the fact that they really are far too rich to still be doing their own stunts don't seem to be backing away from any sort of challenge. Just peep Arnie's forehead at the end of what we assume was a fairly typical day on the "Expendables 2" set. "Got a little banged up on set today," he wrote on Twitter as the proud owner of a fresh scar. "Thanks to the medical staff who got me back in action an hour later!" Yeah, so as excited as we are about their upcoming collaborations, we're also a little worried about these two gentlemen. When we look at the hospital photo, we're wondering why 64-year-old Schwarzenegger looks oddly like a newborn fetus. We're wondering how long Sly's pain meds have been dripping into his veins, 'cause that dude is looking happier than Newt Gingrich at an all-you-can-eat strip club. We're wondering if Arnold is saying to his buddy, "One, I'm so high right now. And two, we have the best f---king lives ever, bro!" Tell us what you think of the photo in the comments and on Twitter!

Ratings: Smash Opens Strong, The Voice Doesn't Falter

Smash Smash lived up to its title, winning the final hour of Monday's prime time, and fresh off The Voice's Season 2 debut after the Super Bowl, it posted formidable numbers, making for a huge night for NBC. Read our recap of The Voice Smash pulled in an audience three-and-a-half times bigger than its time slot predecessor, Rock Center with Brian Williams. (It's good news for NBC, which has been particularly snake-bitten in that slot, quickly cancelling The Playboy Club after its premiere.) Nielsen overnight data indicates that The Voice grew its rating in the coveted 18-to-49 demo during each half-hour that it aired. Decoding Mount McPhee: Is it a Smash spoiler? NBC's solid showing throughout Monday took a toll on almost all the competition. Fox's two shows, House and Alcatraz, were each down nearly 20 percent, while CBS' sitcoms sustained their viewership numbers, but suffered decreases in the demo. Against Smash, Castle and Hawaii Five-0 fell 13 percent and 9 percent, respectively. ABC's The Bachelor, however, remained remarkably constant. Check out the rest of the day's news on TVGuide.com 8 p.m.CBS: How I Met Your Mother 9.99 million viewers (4.0 demo rating); 2 Broke Girls 11.42 million (4.3)ABC: The Bachelor 8.24 million (2.6) {8-10 p.m.}Fox: House 7.16 million (2.4)NBC: The Voice {8-10 p.m.} 17.69 million (6.6)CW: Gossip Girl 1.28 million (0.6) 9 p.m.CBS: Two and a Half Men 12.90 million viewers (4.2 demo rating); Mike & Molly 11.02 million (2.3) {9:30 p.m.}Fox: Alcatraz 6.78 million (2.2)CW: Hart of Dixie 1.50 million (0.6) 10 p.m.CBS: Hawaii Five-0 9.80 million viewers (2.7 demo rating)ABC: Castle 8.72 million (2.0)NBC: Smash 11.50 million (3.8)