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WANTED: MATRIX GAME PROGRAMMER

Source: <Shiny Entertainment>
Thanks to: <Matrix Fans>

Shiny Entertainment is in the process of making games based upon the Matrix licence. The following job description is as quoted on Shiny's website:

Right now Shiny Entertainment is working on what we consider the coolest license in the industry: the video game for the Wachowski's upcoming sequel to the blockbuster hit The Matrix™. Following positions are open:

GameCube Programmer

We're especially interested in people with complex rendering and advanced animation experience.
The ideal candidate will have:
- 2+ years of applied game programming experience.
- A minimum of 1 published game, game conversion or graphical/interactive related project.
- Proficiency in C/C++
- Must be able to work with a bare minimum of supervision or management. This position may be filled on a remote location, contractor basis if conditions are correct.
- Must be able to work in a team atmosphere with schedules and reliable milestone delivery.
- Good communication skills.

Bonus Skills:
- Proven technical expertise on either Xbox, PS2 or Gamecube. Applied Gamecube experience is strongly preferred.
- Experience with cross-platform development, environments and tools.

- Low level assembly language experience, (80x86, MIPs, PowerPC or VU code).

- DirectX 8.0 experience.

Filmbox Animator

We are seeking a Filmbox animator to help us with our in-game engine story sequences within the Matrix game. Ideal candidates will not only have a solid traditional animation background but also have a strong technical streak. All applicants must have experience editing motion capture data and experience with Kaydara Filmbox. If you don’t have Filmbox experience, please do not apply

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TEASER TRAILER AND CASTING NEWS

Source: <The Matrix Online>

According to a source of The Matrix Online: The Teaser trailer for The Matrix Reloaded has been complete for many months now and is ready to go. But the source also says not to expect it to hit movie screens until late October.

Also, word comes of some secret casting maneuvers going down with the third Matrix film. It seems that a professional wrestler who must remain nameless may be in talks to join The Matrix Revolutions. The unnamed wrestler already has a couple of films under his belt and has had some free time lately due to a hiatus in his career. He will reportedly play a bad guy who cannot be stopped physically and whose brain extends beyond their head – into computer chips, etc. Very interesting stuff!

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PROMOTING A NEW CADILLAC

Source: <The Financial Times>
Thanks to: <Counting Down>

General Motors' Cadillac division and Warner Bros. Pictures are developing promotional plans for the two Cadillac vehicles that play a significant part in one of the film's breathtaking action sequences.
'The Matrix Reloaded' will help provide great visibility among a hip, young audience for two vehicles that embody Cadillac's bold new spirit," said Mark LaNeve, Cadillac general manager. "Just as 'The Matrix' brought breakthrough technology to film, the CTS and EXT reflects Cadillac's commitment to break through with standout styling and innovative technologies."

The CTS is fashioned from Cadillac's edgy, tailored new design vocabulary. It is built on an all-new rear-wheel drive architecture, features a new 3.2- liter V6 and was the first North American vehicle to be rigorously tested at the famed Nurburgring track in Germany. The Escalade EXT combines the features of a luxury SUV with those of a premium pickup truck.
"We've incorporated the CTS and EXT into the most elaborate vehicle chase scene ever filmed," said Joel Silver, producer of "The Matrix Reloaded." "It's beyond the wildest imagination and is truly spectacular."

"The Matrix Reloaded" marks the largest product placement and theatrical tie-in that General Motors has ever done. The General Motors promotional agreement relationship with Warner Bros. Pictures began in 1999.

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EXPLOSION CONFIRMED

Source: <The Australian>
Thanks to: <Counting Down>

A spokesman for The Matrix sequels (now in production at Sydney's Fox Studios) has confirmed that directors the Wachowski brothers have applied for permission to set off an explosion at midnight on February 14 at the disused White Bay power station near Sydney. When the $393,000 set is blown up, there will not be a fireball. According to the Spokesman, "that will all be done in post" (that is, post-production).

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INTERVIEW MONICA BELLUCCI

Source: <Entertainment Weekly>

Monica Bellucci talked to Entertainment Weekly about why she decided to do the Matrix sequels:

Why did you decide to do the ''Matrix'' movies?

I didn't want to do an American movie just because it's American, even though I love American movies, because they're so big. ''The Matrix'' was so different from European movies -- such beautiful, beautiful action. But ''The Matrix'' for me is much more than an action film. It's a film about the logic of life; it's a love story. There are so many deep things inside; if you want to see them, you can see them. And if you want to just enjoy the action, you can do that too. When I saw it I was entranced. I said, ''Wow, I want to be in a movie like that.''

When the ''Matrix'' movies come out, won't that change your profile here?

It depends on how you live, actually, because I don't think I'm going to live in America. I think I'm going to stay in Europe and keep doing my European things. I don't think I can come here and make competition with American actors. I'm ready to come here and make American movies if the part is right for me. My next movie will be with Bruce Willis. It's about the civil war in Africa -- ''Men of War'' is the working title. Bruce Willis will play an American soldier, and I'll play a member of Doctors Without Borders.

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COLLIN CHOU ADDED TO THE CAST

Source: <Aint it cool>, by Aquagreen

It was reported sometime back in UK Magazine that Collin Chou had joined the cast of the Matrix sequels. A Scooper for AICN has confirmed it:

It appears that the role originally offered to Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh was given to veteran Hong Kong action star Collin Chou (aka Ng Sing). The amazing fact is that the Matrix Production has been able to keep this casting secret under wraps for nearly a year!!!
For those that are not familiar with Collin Chou, he's most famous for playing the assassin opposite Jet Li in "Bodyguard From Beijing" (aka "The Protector" under US Video Title). To get a glimpse of this guy's martial art capability, just watch the video and you'll notice he's just as good if not much more dynamic than Jet Li! Personally I think he's got the Best Kicks of all action stars in the world!

It also helps that Collin Chou was working for Yuen Woo-Ping's stunt team during the Matrix Pre-Production. I'm sure there had been a strong lobbying of support from Master Yuen to get Collin the part that so many actors were pursuing. There is also an interesting twist relating to Collin getting this role. Back in 1996 Warner Brothers had approached Collin to play the villain in "Lethal Weapon 4" opposite Mel Gibson, because the producers liked what they saw in "Bodyguard From Beijing". However in the last minute they decided to give the role to Jet Li instead, hoping that would boost the Asian Boxoffice.

Flash forward five years the tide has shifted to Collin's favor under the most unexpected circumstance. This may be the biggest irony of all. Talk about fate, or karma may be??? I don't know too much about the character Collin's playing, the only tip I got is he's playing a protagonist (Collin the Villain playing a good guy? Can't wait!!!) alongside Keanu Reeves' "Neo". It was reported sometime back in UK Magazine that Collin Chou had joined the cast of the Matrix sequels.

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STEVE BASTONI AND THE HANDBAG

Source: <Movie Headlines>

"The Herald Sun Newspaper confirms that Steve Bastoni and the Matrix Reloaded team have been involved in a real-life action incident and saved the day.

The paper reports that "Bastoni, now shooting Matrix Reloaded with Keanu Reeves and co., was enjoying the fine food and even better company when he spotted a well-dressed bloke take off with the handbag of a woman sitting at nearby table. Drawing on the courage of his Police Rescue days (his previous TV show), Bastoni called out to the man to stop. The bag snatcher took off. Bastoni dropped his napkin and sprinted after him. Gaining on the assailant, Bastoni eventually crash-tackled and pinned him down. That's the position he maintained until police arrived and took away the offender. Returning to the table, Bastoni received a round of applause, as well as a drink bought by the woman whose handbag had been lifted. Bastoni declined to talk up the incident but a spokeswoman from Morrissey Management, which handles the actor's affairs, confirmed it took place."

The Article also confirmed Bastoni's role in the upcoming "Crocodile Hunter". He'll be starring alongside Aden Young (Sniper) for that. In addition to the Croc Hunter movie, The Herald Sun also confirms a TV show called The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - fly-on-the-wall-style program follows the day- to-day operation of Irwin's Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and will air on the Discovery Network's Animal Planet. "

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OFFICIAL RELOADED SITE

Thanks to: <Matrix Fans>, 'xhlratg'

http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/cmp/ - That's the address where Warner Brothers is developing it's Matrix Reloaded site. None of the links are working at the moment but hey, it's a start!

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