Sony Pictures Imageworks Grows IPAX Educational Program

    CULVER CITY, Calif., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven new educational
 institutions have been accepted into Sony Pictures Imageworks' Professional
 Academic Excellence (IPAX) program, it was announced today by the company's
 president, Tim Sarnoff.
 
     After a rigorous review process, Imageworks is proud to admit the
 following schools into the program, including, for the first time, two
 international institutions:
 
 
    -- Brigham Young University
     -- California State University Northridge
     -- Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg
     -- Linkopings Universitet
     -- New York University
     -- School of Visual Arts
     -- Texas A&M University
 
     These new schools join Animation Mentor, Carnegie Mellon University,
 DePaul University, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Massachusetts Institute
 of Technology (MIT), Otis College of Art and Design, Pratt Institute,
 Ringling College of Art + Design, Stanford University, University of New
 Mexico and University of Southern California Arts in the growing IPAX
 program.
 
     "With the addition of these seven new schools, we are excited that the
 IPAX program continues to follow its original goal of helping educate the
 educators which in turn helps students excel," said Sarnoff. "We are very
 proud to have initiated the program just three years ago, and have already
 seen a lot of interest worldwide. These new schools have proven themselves
 through their educational programs to consistently produce some of the most
 respected artists in our field. We are looking forward to continuing to add
 schools to the IPAX program and to expand its offerings."
 
     Spearheading the IPAX initiatives is Imageworks' executive director of
 training and artist development and IPAX Chair, Sande Scoredos.
 
     "Interest in IPAX has been extraordinary from both the domestic and
 international academic communities and we were honored to receive a record
 number of submissions this year from the best institutions in the world,"
 said Scoredos. "With so many exceptional schools eager to participate in
 the IPAX program, you can imagine how difficult it was to select a limited
 number of schools for membership this year when they all have excellent
 programs, brilliant faculty and talented students."
 
     Scoredos continued, "Expanding the program to eighteen to include
 international institutions was something new for IPAX and all the schools
 that applied for membership were quite extraordinary. Our two new
 international institutions, in addition to our five additional domestic
 schools, expand our vision to create a unique global program to bring
 together the strongest programs in animation, visual effects, technology,
 computer science and production management."
 
     Barry Weiss, senior vice president of animation and artist development
 and Chair of the IPAX Collaboration Initiative, continues to explore how
 these diverse IPAX schools can work together to develop cooperative and
 collaborative programs. IPAX continues to evolve as a key component of
 Imageworks global production, artist development and artist retention
 strategy.
 
     "The idea of encouraging our IPAX schools to connect and network with
 each other is something that we feel very passionately about as a major
 strategic advantage for Imageworks," said Weiss. "IPAX benefits Imageworks
 and our educators as we all prepare the next generation of visual effects
 artists, software engineers and animators."
 
     Imageworks created the IPAX program in 2004 to connect teaching faculty
 with industry professionals and guide curricula at the country's leading
 academic institutions in an effort to further develop future talent who
 will contribute to the overall growth of the visual effects and animation
 industry. IPAX is a program designed to share, extend and expand the
 Imageworks knowledge base by providing fellowships to teaching faculty of
 IPAX member schools, attend in-house training programs, and participate in
 a working production environment on-site at Imageworks. IPAX fellows return
 to the classroom with real-world production experience and the ability to
 identify, inspire and recommend future talent for our industry.
 
     The IPAX program also offers a yearly review of curricula to help
 update teaching faculty and ensure that students are exposed to the latest
 developments in technology and techniques used not only at Imageworks, but
 throughout the visual effects and digital animation industries. In
 addition, Imageworks offers fellowships, scholarships and internships to
 IPAX members to provide the opportunity to integrate faculty into the
 Imageworks production environment, attend guest lectures and training
 sessions, and advise member schools on course content.
 
     ABOUT SONY PICTURES IMAGEWORKS
 
     Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. is an Academy Award(R) winning,
 state-of-the-art digital production studio dedicated to the art of visual
 effects production and character animation. The Imageworks production
 environment facilitates four diverse pipelines including live-action visual
 effects and character work, Imagemotion(TM) performance capture, all CG
 animation and Imageworks 3D stereoscopic.
 
     The company's achievements have been recognized by the Academy of
 Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with Oscars(R) for its work on
 SPIDER-MAN(TM) 2 and the CG animated short film THE CHUBBCHUBBS!. Most
 recently, SURF'S UP was nominated for this year's Academy Award for Best
 Animated Feature. In 2007, two of Imageworks' projects, the all-CG animated
 feature MONSTER HOUSE and SUPERMAN RETURNS, were nominated for Academy
 Awards in the Best Animated Feature and Outstanding Achievement in Visual
 Effects respectively. With those two nominations, Imageworks became the
 first studio to be recognized in the same year in these distinct areas, an
 indication of the diversity and quality of the company's capabilities.
 Other Oscar(R) nominated projects include THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE
 LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, SPIDER-MAN(TM), HOLLOW MAN, STUART LITTLE
 and STARSHIP TROOPERS, for a total of nine nominations.
 
     Imageworks most recently completed projects include SPEED RACER,
 BEOWULF, also made in 3D stereoscopic, and I AM LEGEND.
 
     For more information, please visit www.imageworks.com.
 
     "ACADEMY AWARD(R)" and "OSCAR(R)" are the registered trademarks and
 service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
 
     MARVEL, and all Marvel characters including the Spider-Man, Sandman and
 Venom characters (TM) & (C)2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights
 Reserved.
 
 
 

SOURCE Sony Pictures Imageworks