SIGGRAPH 2003's online registration and housing systems is now open, so
it's time to begin planning your travel to and stay in sunny San Diego
from Sunday, 27 July - Thursday, 31 July. Please be sure to refer to the
conference schedule before finalizing your arrangements.

In early March, you should also finalize your submissions to:
 *  12 March: Computer Animation Festival
 *  12 March: Sketches& Applications
 *  12 March: Web Graphics
SIGGRAPH 2003 Courses have been selected, covering topics that will
enhance your knowledge, improve your skills, and generate new ideas and
opportunities. From Art and Perception to Gaming to Mathematics to Web
Graphics_and all points in between, preview Course sessions on the
SIGGRAPH 2003 Conference web site.

        Spotlight on Special Sessions


Imagining the future, re-engineering the present, SIGGRAPH 2003 Special
Sessions are high-profile, fast-moving, interactive presentations by some
of the world's most thoughtful, imaginative experts on large topics that
cross disciplinary divides. Here are the sessions under development for
this July to be delivered in thought-provoking panel format.

"Special Event" Fast Forward Papers Preview
The informative and entertaining preview of papers presentations will
return to SIGGRAPH 2003 by popular demand.
Sunday, 27 July 6 - 7 pm

Behind the Game: Deconstructing The Sims Online and Splinter Cell
The minds behind the games share how they were designed and produced.
Sunday, 27 July, 6 - 8 pm

Creatures, Critters, and Clones: Styles and Techniques Unique to
Industrial Light + Magic
Six ILM animation directors explain how they created some of our
most-loved characters and how technology has, and has not, affected the
evolution of the animation industry and the role of the animation
director.
Monday, 28 July, 6 - 8 pm

Truth Before Beauty: Guiding Principles for Scientific and Medical
Visualization
An exploration of the driving mission behind scientific and medical
visualization, emphasizing our special obligation to render the truth.
Wednesday, 30 July, 1 - 3 pm

Finding Nemo: Story, Art, Technology, and Triage
Artists, art directors, and animators offer a look inside the magic world
of Pixar's filmmaking process.
Thursday, 31 July, 1 - 3 pm

The complete list of speakers and topics will be available on the
SIGGRAPH 2003 Conference web site in April.

                        A New Paradigm for CG Features?


Talk about risk-taking. Larry Kasanoff, architect of the Mortal Kombat
franchise has bet the future of his company, Threshold Digital Research
Labs, on the conviction that high-end CG features can be made for a
fraction of their traditional costs. Working with a worldwide network of
artists united by a common, networked desktop platform, he is currently
in production on a CG feature called Foodfight!. The fully-CG
independent-financed feature represents new thinking from both a business
and technical standpoint. "It breaks every rule in the producers'
handbook, which says 'never risk your own money.' But we felt we had to
invest our own money to prove to the world we could make a digital
feature independently," Kasanoff told millimeter magazine.

To read more and to learn how chief technology officer George Johnsen
helped TDRL build its worldwide, Linux-based virtual studio pipeline see
the full article on Next Generation Digital Studio in this month's online
millimeter.

                      SIGGRAPH 2003 Registration& Housing


Online registration for SIGGRAPH 2003 and housing for San Diego are now
open. Please take note of the SIGGRAPH 2003 schedule, before finalizing
your travel plans. We look forward to seeing you there!

SIGGRAPH 2003 Conference dates:
Sunday, 27 July 2003 - Thursday, 31 July 2003

SIGGRAPH 2003 Exhibition dates:
Tuesday, 29 July 2003 - Thursday, 31 July 2003