Anne Gregory
Anne Gregory is the Web writer-editor for www.journalgazette.net and has been with The Journal Gazette since 2000, serving as Sunday editor, assistant news editor and Metro section editor. An award-winning editor and columnist, she has worked at newspapers in Ohio and Indiana. Gardeners know her work as author of "The Dirt" on the Sunday Garden page.
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March 2008
March 31, 2008
Fort Wayne filmmaker wins animation contest
Verbatim announcement issued Monday by Crackle:
Sausalito, Calif., March 31, 2008 – Crackle, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, has named Zachary Parrish the winner of its Wet Paint animation contest. Zack beat out animators from across the country who submitted their best work to Wet Paint, Crackle’s edgy animation channel, to secure a pitch meeting with a Sony Pictures Animation executive, technical training at Sony Pictures Imageworks, attendance at the 2008 Siggraph Computer Animation Conference, and a $15,000 cash prize.
Zack’s contest winning film Carried Away is an uplifting story about a boy who gets caught inside a bubble and floats above his neighborhood for the afternoon. At the young age of 22, Zack’s ability to create expressive and life-like animated characters impressed the discriminating panel of judges at Sony Pictures Imageworks.
“Carried Away shows Zack’s skills as a new emerging talent in animation – and his ability to add such life to the character really shows off his creativity and his familiarity with the software,” said judge Adriana Jaroszewicz, animation trainer at Imageworks. “Crackle’s contests are a fantastic way to discover storytellers, who already live online, and offer these artists the means to achieve their vision.”
Zack created Carried Away in about nine months for his senior thesis at Savannah College of Art and Design. He used Maya Autodesk for the 3-D elements, along with Adobe Photoshop for texture painting and Adobe Aftereffects for minor compositing. The major compositing was done on Shake and Zack edited Carried Away on Premiere software.
Crackle offers video creators a chance at fame with contests across its many entertainment channels. Contest prizes include development deals with Crackle Studios and pitch meetings with Hollywood executives. The Wet Paint channel offers regular competitions urging up-and-coming animators to submit their animated films for the shot of gaining access to one of Hollywood’s hottest commodities – a pitch meeting with Sony Pictures Animation.
“I was blown away when I found out from the folks at Crackle that I won,” said Zack. “I can’t wait for my meeting with Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation, I can’t believe they are giving the opportunity to potentially have a theatrical release. I love working in animation because you can make the audience sympathize and connect with the characters in a way that makes them forget they are just drawings on the page.”
Check out Zack’s winning video:
http://crackle.com/c/Wet_Paint/Carried_Away/2071376
About Crackle
Crackle, Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, is a multi-platform video entertainment network and studio that distributes work from the hottest emerging talent on the web and beyond. Crackle’s addictive channels and shows reach a global audience across the Internet, in the living room, and on devices including a broad range of Sony electronics. Crackle, in on-going collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment and other leading partners, discovers and promotes the stars of tomorrow. Visit Crackle’s site at www.crackle.com.
Aptera Software moving downtown, adding 15 jobs
Verbatim announcement issued Monday by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance:
Aptera Software, a Fort Wayne-based provider of software development, web design and web-based applications, has announced the purchase of an office building and is expanding its operations to downtown Fort Wayne.
The company will relocate from Airport North Office Park to the building at 201 West Main Street at the southwest corner of West Main and South Harrison streets. Aptera plans to add 15 employees to its 23-person workforce in its new facility through 2009. The company will invest approximately $900,000 in the building, improvements and new equipment.
“We are very pleased for the opportunity to join the thriving community of downtown Fort Wayne businesses and continue our growth there,” said T.K. Herman, president of Aptera Software. “My partner and I both grew up in Fort Wayne and are very happy to see the progress being made to revitalize the downtown area. We have been able to attract employees from as far away as Idaho and feel our new office will enable us to continue hiring top-notch software developers and web designers.”
Aptera’s building on West Main Street will be the company’s fourth facility in its five-year history, notes Herman.
Aptera began operations in 2003 as a two-person startup consisting of co-founders T.K. Herman and Conrad Ehinger. They originally located their company in the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) and purchased their current office in May, 2006. The company has stated plans to open an office in Indianapolis this summer and in Columbus, Ohio, in 2009. Aptera purchased the West Main Street building from Hanning & Bean Enterprises.
“We want to thank Bill Bean of Hanning & Bean Enterprises for repositioning a building that had been vacant for three years,” said Herman. “Aptera and downtown redevelopment are both benefiting from Bill’s work and investment here.”
“Aptera Software is yet another great example of a significant base employer beginning from an innovative idea and thriving in Fort Wayne,” stated Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. “T.K. and Conrad are to be congratulated for developing an outstanding business plan that has allowed them to become an important part of the exciting growth happening downtown. From the NIIC to downtown in five years is a testament to a good business plan coupled with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.”
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance is coordinating the community’s interaction with the company. Potential assistance to Aptera includes a performance-based grant of $8,000 and up to $15,000 in assistance for building façade improvements from the City of Fort Wayne. At a future meeting, Fort Wayne Common Council will consider tax abatement on eligible real property improvements and personal property investment.
About Aptera Software
Founded in 2003, Aptera Software specializes in helping companies use technology to become more efficient and competitive. At Aptera’s core is a team of IT professionals and award-winning graphic designers who create solutions specifically tailored to businesses’ needs and deliver intuitive user interfaces, compelling web sites and outstanding marketing materials. This unique combination of technical and design expertise has allowed Aptera to solve tough business problems for clients throughout the United States and has led to the development of several commercially available applications. More information about Aptera is available at www.apterainc.com.
Rivergreenway closes south of Foster Park
Verbatim statement from the city of Fort Wayne:
The City’s flood control project south of Foster Park has temporarily closed a portion of the Rivergreenway. While the Foster Park loop will remain open, the Rivergreenway between Hartman Road and the Airport Expressway remains closed to all trail users through the rest of 2008.
The flood control project is due to be completed by late October this year, but work on the Rivergreenway will likely keep the area closed until early spring 2009, depending on the weather. The Rivergreenway will have a new and improved look when the area opens again.
In the meantime, Rivergreenway users are encouraged to use the two mile loop that traverses Foster Park. This portion of the Rivergreenway is one of the most popular areas in the City.
For information, call 427-6002.
March 30, 2008
What’s going on Monday
*Arthur Brood – Author of “The Mud Hole”; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Warsaw Library, 310 E. Main St., Warsaw; 574-267-6011.
*Gracie and Kurt Roberts – 6 p.m.; Deer Park Irish Pub, 1530 Leesburg Road; no cover; 432-8966.
*Teenage Bottlerocket, Copyrights, Flamingo Nosebleed, Bricktops – 9 p.m.; The Brass Rail, 1121 Broadway; $5 cover; 422-0881.
