AtomFilms Gets Shocked

No happy holidays for Seattle's AtomFilm employees this year--the online company has been acquired by animation and games site Shockwave in a stock-for-stock deal. As part of the reorganization, AtomFilms CEO Mika Salmi becomes CEO of the new venture, and the Seattle office will be shut down, with new offices based in San Francisco.

The merger is one of the biggest deals in online entertainment, allowing both companies to combine major investment monies and pursue ambitious projects. The new company, whose name has not yet been chosen, is expected to make a profit next year. AtomFilms investors include Universal CEO Frank Biondi, Arts Alliances, and Chase Capital Partners. Shockwave counts among its backers Netscape and Silicon Graphics.

Rumor is that laid-off Seattle employees did, at least, receive generous benefit packages. TRACI VOGEL


Kevin Kent, Circus Star

Reliable sources report that fabulous Seattle improv actor Kevin Kent, veteran of the long-lived Teatro ZinZanni productions both here and in San Francisco, is being courted by Cirque du Soleil. Soleil wants Kent to create a clown role for a new production; Kent, recently in town directing Dina Martina at On the Boards, has yet to decide if he'll take up the offer. TRACI VOGEL


Little Sister's Being Watched

On Friday, December 15, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Canadian Customs was guilty of censorship when it refused to import certain materials for the Vancouver bookstore Little Sister's. The win is an important victory for anti-censorship groups throughout Canada.

The case began in 1986, when Canadian Customs disallowed imports of gay news magazine The Advocate, claiming the benign gay glossy was "obscene." Books by gay authors such as John Preston and Susie "Sexpert" Bright were also banned. Little Sister's Bookstore challenged these actions with the help of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. An initial ruling sided with Little Sister's, stating that Canadian Customs had improperly censored materials "in a manner contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms," but that decision was later reversed in the Court of Appeal in a 2-1 ruling. TRACI VOGEL


Art Freak

Some obsessive thief has stolen five paintings of sideshow freaks from the entryway to Circus Contraption's Beer, Bread, and Cheese Cabaret at Sand Point. The artworks were created by the Pow Kid, a.k.a. Matthew Porter, who loaned the paintings to enhance the ambiance of Circus Contraption's event. If you have seen any of these paintings (images of which can be viewed at the artist's website, www.powkidimplosion.com), contact the police (refer to case number 00574127), Circus Contraption at 442-2004, or the artist at amazingpowkid@gateway.net. Circus Contraption has also set up a fund to give at least a token compensation to Porter; checks made payable to Circus Contraption are tax-deductible and should be mailed to the Pow Kid Fund, c/o Circus Contraption, 7400 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA 98115. BRET FETZER

Women in Film

The Nell Shipman Awards are now accepting entries for their seventh annual contest for women-made film, video, television, and new media. The deadline is December 31. For more information and applications, go to womeninfilm-seattle.org, or call 447-1537.

Send us your guerrilla art ideas! artsnews@thestranger.com