NewTek Features MeniThings' “Terra” at SIGGRAPH

Award Winning Filmmaker Creates New CGI Film with Emmy®-Winning LightWave 3D®

San Diego, CA, SIGGRAPH– July 28, 2003 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, and MeniThings Productions today announced that Terra, a new CGI film by award-winning filmmaker Aristomenis “Meni” Tsirbas, will be presented at NewTek's booth, #2848, at SIGGRAPH 2003 in San Diego, from July 29th through July 31st. Tsirbas produced the new film using NewTek's Emmy®-winning LightWave 3D®, and will discuss the production of the film in his presentations from the main stage at NewTek's booth. The schedule of presentation times will be available at the booth.

“We're very excited to be presenting Terra at the NewTek booth, and having Meni speak about how he used LightWave in the production of the film,” said Donetta Colboch, Executive Vice President of Marketing for NewTek, Inc. “Meni's work is exciting and original, and a perfect example of why we at NewTek have always been insanely committed to providing powerful and affordable tools that let creative artists bring their visions to life.”

Terra is a six-minute all-CGI film wherein "A curious alien creature discovers the terrifying truth behind a mysterious object in the sky." The beautifully-imaged fantasy is scheduled for eight festival appearances this year, and has already taken awards for Best of the Fest at the One Reel Film Festival at Seattle's “Bumbershoot” Arts Festival, and Best Animated Film at Radio Television Hong Kong Film Festival.

Terra's success is contributing to a rapidly growing reputation for Meni as a filmmaker, as his previous films, The Freak and Ray Tracey in Full Tilt, have also been award winners. All three were produced with NewTek's LightWave 3D. “LightWave® is highly optimized, intelligently designed and very mature software,” said Meni. “The nice thing about LightWave is that a new user can get up to speed relatively quickly, since all the sophisticated features are carefully organized in an interface that's artist-friendly. I see it as a complete 3D solution, where I can model, animate and render high quality work within a single package.”

For further information on the work of Aristomenis Tsirbas, see: http://www.menithings.com

Pricing and Availability
LightWave 3D [8] is expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2003, for a suggested retail price of $1595US. LightWave 3D [7.5] is available now at authorized NewTek resellers worldwide for a suggested retail price of $1595US, and those who purchase from now until LightWave 3D [8] ships will receive a free electronic upgrade to LightWave [8]. Registered owners of LightWave 3D [7.5] or earlier are eligible to purchase an upgrade to LightWave [8] for $495US. To locate the nearest authorized reseller or distributor, see our reseller locater at http://www.newtek.com. Through September 15, purchases of full seats will include DFX+, a $995 value, Module 1 - Visual Effects, a $495 value, and Module 4 - 3D Tools, a $295 value, at no additional charge. Through July 31st, 2003, upgrades will include also includes DFX+ and Modules 1 and 4 at no additional cost. Purchasers who would prefer to receive upgrades in package form with printed manual and CD rather than in electronic form will be able to purchase a Convenience Upgrade option for $99, directly from NewTek. For more information on the items offered and to purchase direct from NewTek, visit: http://www.newtek.com or call NewTek Sales at 1-800-368-5441, overseas callers dial +1-210-370-8000.

NewTek is previewing LightWave 3D [8] at SIGGRAPH 2003, Booth # 2848, San Diego Convention Center, July 29-31, 2003.

About NewTek
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools including VT[3]™, LightWave 3D® and Aura Video Paint™. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary VT®. The company’s products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent television and film projects using NewTek software include Children of Dune, Firefly, Taken, Smallville, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek 10: Nemesis, Daredevil, Spy Kids II, We Were Soldiers, Panic Room, Hart’s War, Driven, A.I., Oscar®-nominated Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Final Fantasy, Blackhawk Down, The Time Machine and Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Director’s Edition DVD. Recent game titles include Doom III, Unreal Tournament, Serious Sam for XBox, Age of Mythology, Civilization III, Dead to Rights, Baldur’s Gate II, EverQuest and Escape From Monkey Island. Website: http://www.newtek.com

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