e frontier, Inc., today announced the availability of Rose Agent, the first anime character built specifically with Anime Studio enthusiasts in mind.

Rose Agent is fully vector-drawn and “bone rigged” with video clips that will help even the newest users draw and create compelling animations for their own high-end vector characters. Rose Agent also comes fully rigged with props and outfits to demonstrate the power and flexibility of vector animation.
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The Scottish Fashion Awards organizers have announced that The City of Stirling, top British presenter Jenni Falconer and an international fashion panel will play host to the second annual Scottish Fashion Awards 2007 in association with Hamilton & Inches, on Sunday 9th September at Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s greatest landmarks.

Towering over some of the most important battlefields in Scotland’s history in the heart of Braveheart Country, the castle will host one of the most demanding, decadent and best dressed awards Scotland has ever hosted, featuring an array of celebrities and high profile fashion players for the second year.
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Unlike newer competitions, Creativity Annual Awards has the tradition, respect and international reach that makes winning our award meaningful. Created in conjunction with the pioneering and prestigious Art Direction magazine, the Creativity Awards Annual was one of the first books to showcase leading-edge design not just from New York, but from across America and all points of the globe.

Over the years, the book has grown in size, scope and style. The Annual’s most recent editor, David E. Carter, is the author of over 100 books on graphic design, including the best-selling “Big Book” design series. Currently, the Creativity Annual Awards is judged by a panel of advertising and design professionals who volunteer their time and knowledge without personal agenda or bias. To provide fresh perspectives, new judges are selected from year to year.

Categories range from print to film & video, packaging, and alternative media. In other words, everything for everyone. Deadline is 15 August to avoid late fees. If you register before 30 June and if you win you’ll receive a free Creativity Awards Annual (you pay for shipping). Visit the site for details about the competition.

Sydney started it, with massive success, and now London is getting into the act. The Lights Out London campaign is inviting Londoners to turn off their lights for one hour, between 9pm and 10pm on the 21st of June (the Summer Solstice). They are hoping to become the largest climate change event ever recorded whose only request is to switch off. As opposed to a blackout, of course.

I would like my city to try this - perhaps I could see Scorpio, finally.

Via: Inhabitat

The 4th Abuja International Film Festival 2007 will take place from 25 – 28 September in Nigeria. The festival is said to be the biggest and most visited in Anglophone west Africa with over 4000 visitors annually. The festival showcases the world’s best contemporary shorts, features, documentaries, animations and experimental daily. There are also additional screenings of retrospective films, such as the winning films of the Africa Movie Academy Award.

Festival entries in the categories features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental close on 15 July 2007. More information and a detailed schedule can be found at the festival’s website http://www.nffo.org. Deadline is 15 July 2007.

Via: Screen Africa

Believe it or not, you can make a promo for Kylie Minogue and if you win, you’ll have made an official promo for Kylie Minogue and you’ll have cash or a directing job for a record label. How great is that?

Or, make a promo for Maximo Park, The Good The Bad and the Queen, Richard Hawley, Maps, Public Symphony, The Rumblestrips, Machine, Ulrich Schnauss, Cinematic Orchestra, Recoil, Sondre Lerche or Soulsavers with Mark Lanegan: Siobhan Donaghy, Flying Lotus, The Heavy or Just Jack. It’s the same deal for each artist.

Over 20 prizes of £1k/$2k cash and label commissions. Three world class production companies will choose up to 10 directors to mentor with career advice, contacts, showreel critiques.

Radar’s already helped 4 directors get representation with production companies, 7 directors get label commissions, 2 directors get commercials commissions and loads of others to pitch. It’s a unique competition. Go to www.radarfestival.com to get started…Latest deadline (with fee) is 7 October. If you enter before 1 July, you don’t pay a fee.

The Market Photo Workshop, in association with AngloGold Ashanti, is proud to announce the third edition of the Edward Ruiz Mentorship. The Edward Ruiz Mentorship awards an emerging photographer the opportunity to mentored by a leading photography professional, and produce a body of work for exhibition. Work must be done within the borders of South Africa.

The grant of R30,000 will enable the successful photographer to produce and exhibit a body of work and will assist with the purchase of necessary supplies and materials for production and exhibition, some travel, and research. Deadline for applications is 18 July 2007. Visit BagFactory for details.

Soo-in Yang and David Benjamin created an urban art structure that doubles as a water pollution monitor as it detects the condition of water through a low-cost pH senor connected to a network of easily installable non-mechanical pods. What the water condition sucks, an “ethereal” red cloud floats just below the water’s surface. When the water is safe for swimming or other water activities, the light turns green for go.

It appears the structure caught attention when it became a runner up on Metropolis’ 2006 Next Generation Design Competition. Since then, the project has caught the eye of Inhabitat and Science.

I wonder how these pods would work in drinking water systems?

Each year, P.O.V. brings 12-16 new films to public television viewers (PBS). The summer series and year-round specials push the boundaries of nonfiction television with work from emerging and established filmmakers that reflects the range and diversity of American voices — viewpoints that enrich, enlarge, challenge and refine our experience of the world.

If your non-fiction film has a strong perspective, a dedication to quality, contemporary relevance and a passion for your topic, then the P.O.V. series is the best place for a national television broadcast. If you believe the entire country should see your film, P.O.V. is for you. Additionally, Works produced by independents in association with a station or an organization are acceptable if editorial control was entirely in the hands of the film or video maker.

Deadline for your entries is 29 June. Visit the site to learn more.

If you’re into painting, photography, sculpture, architecture or design and you like a good challenge, then apply for the Danfoss ArtAward and get an opportunity for international exposure.

The Art Award is open to all art & design students, who on 1 January 2007, study at a school of higher education or university within arts, sculpture, architecture, or design. Danfoss sets forth a variety of values that you must include as part of your work. Total awards equal 100,000 EUr. Deadline for submission in 7 September 2007. Visit the site for details.