Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom, Inc., announced that veteran animator Lino DiSalvo has joined Paramount Animation as its new creative director. The announcement came from Adam Goodman, president of the Paramount Film Group, who oversees Animation for the studio.
A 16 year veteran of Walt Disney Animation Studios, DiSalvo most recently served as head of animation on the Academy Award-winning and highest-grossing animated feature of all time, “Frozen.” DiSalvo began his career at the Walt Disney Company as a character animator. Prior to “Frozen,” he served as Supervising Animator on “Tangled” and “Bolt.” His other film credits include animating on “Meet The Robinsons” and “Chicken Little.” With his new role, DiSalvo will be assisting Goodman and the Paramount Animation team to build a world-class feature animation studio.
“From its inception, we have aspired to work with the industry’s greatest artists and storytellers, and Lino’s addition to our little animation family is thrilling given his incredible talent. CG animation is still in its earliest days and his extraordinary artistry, coupled with the endless potential of the medium, makes for an incredibly exciting time to be building our own animation business, and gives us a lot of continued inspiration for the future creatively,” said Goodman.
“I couldn't pass up this amazing opportunity to work with the absolute all-star team of artists at Paramount Animation. The possibilities for reinventing and reimagining CG feature animation are virtually endless, and I am excited to be at Paramount helping to forge that incredible, new future," said DiSalvo.
Paramount Animation is currently in production on the original film “Monster Trucks,” a hybrid of live action and CGI animation directed by Chris Wedge ("Ice Age,” “Epic”). The film is set for release in May 2015.
Next up for the division is “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water," from directors Paul Tibbitt (animation) and Mike Mitchell (live action), releasing in February of 2015.
DiSalvo, who begins immediately in his new role, is represented by UTA.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More