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Gavin Hood is in negotiations to direct an untitled Alaskan adventure project for Walden Media. Mark Johnson is producing.

Based on Gay and Laney Salisbury’s book “The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic,” the true story centers on a 674-mile journey undertaken by 20 men and 200 dogs who rushed a diphtheria antidote to Nome, Alaska, in 1952. The group braved temperatures of minus-60 degrees, a phenomenon known as ice fog and other dangers, capturing the attention of the lower 48 states. One lead dog even got a statue in New York’s Central Park.

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It’s a bear market for one group of moviemakers.  Shawn Levy, director of the Night at the Museum movies, has signed on to produce a feature film based on The Berenstain Bears books, a comedy he says will be a mix of live-action and computer animation.

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Last spring Micheal Flaherty, President of Walden Media, visited Asbury College as part of its Engaging Culture weekend. As those who have met him know, he is a truly great man–full of wisdom, enthusiasm, real joy, and deep compassion.

While he was on campus, Devin Brown had the opportunity to ask him about Walden’s mission, where its name came from, and even what his favorite scene is. His response to these and other questions can be viewed in “An Interview with Micheal Flaherty” which has been posted at: Asbury.edu

There’s also a question and answer session about The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Walden Media has picked up Randi Mayem Singer’s script for Gene.

The Hollywood Reporter describes Gene as a modern-day take on the genie story. According to Walden CEO Michael Bostick, it’s a family comedy combining “originality, humor, heart and broad appeal that all ages can enjoy.”
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Digital Vision, manufacturers of image enhancement and mastering systems for film and television post-production, has announced that Hollywood mini-studio Anschutz Film Group/Walden Media has taken delivery of Digital Vision’s Nucoda HD system. Digital Vision has worked closely with Walden to create a streamlined color pipeline from dailies to final delivery for their international productions. The two grading and one conform systems for Walden form the cornerstone of a complete production and post production workflow on “The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” one of the industry’s first 100% digitally acquired, file-based feature projects. The Nucoda HD systems capture and utilize the American Society of Cinematographer’s CDL (color decision list) metadata, and maintain it as a basis for grading throughout the project with Digital Vision’s comprehensive toolset.

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MENC, the National Music Education Association, has been a vocal advocate for the new film BANDSLAM.

In its own words, MENC “believes that music allows us to celebrate and preserve our cultural heritages and also to explore the realms of expression, imagination, and creation resulting in new knowledge.” In BANDSLAM, the young characters express themselves through music: the music of their idols like David Bowie, and the music they create themselves. It plays a central role in their high school experience and the way they perceive the world around them. Main character Will played by Gaelan Connell says in the film “I tend to make snap decisions about people based upon what type of music they like.”

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Superstar Ellen DeGeneres, Emmy award winning talk show host and comedienne, has signed on to play MOTHER NATURE in an upcoming comedy produced by Walden Media and based on an internally generated original concept.

Ellen DeGeneres stars as MOTHER NATURE, who makes her grand return to earth for the first time since the planet’s creation. Project is being written by Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winner Jenny Bicks.

Says DeGeneres: “I’m so excited to be playing Mother Nature. I’ve always wanted to control the weather. Nothing will stop me from doing this.

Walden Media, the production studio behind The Chronicles of Narnia, isn’t letting the dismal economy slow down its growing presence in both the movie and publishing industries. Next month Walden starts filming Beezus and Ramona, with Joey King playing Ramona and Disney star Selena Gomez as Beezus, the pest’s older sister. It’s also developing the third installment of The Chronicles of Narnia and the movie version of Ingrid Law’s 2009 Newbery Honor book Savvy.

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As Walden Media prepares to find a new partner for its “Chronicles of Narnia” franchise, the family-friendly mini-studio finds itself at a crossroads.

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The film company behind the adaption of The Chronicles of Narnia is being honored by the AAP. For its educational efforts, and for raising the awareness of various children’s titles by turning them into movies, Walden Media is receiving the 2009 AAP Honors award.

The company was founded in 1999 and has made films based on a number of iconic children’s titles – including Holes, Because of Winn-Dixie and Bridge to Terabithia – while establishing a significant educational outreach program in the process. Walden’s president, Michael Flaherty, will be presented with the honor at the AAP’s Annual Meeting in New York on March 11.

Congratulations, Walden Media!