BRIEFCASE EDUCATION OFFERED IN 3-D ANIMATION.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

BURBANK - Video Symphony, a technical arts center, will offer education in 3-D animation and visual effects once again, officials announced Wednesday.

Using the Lightwave program, students will hone their craft in a one- year course. They also will study digital editing, graphic design, audio editing and mixing. Paul Runyan, a technical director with visual effects firm Foundation Imaging, will lead the course work.

Trainees finding health-care jobs

PACOIMA - Thirty graduates of the Health Entry Level Access Program were recognized Wednesday for their efforts to gain employment.

The HEAT program began in 2001 as a partnership of the Valley Economic Development Center, the Pacoima Workforce Development Initiative, Pacifica Hospital and the Pacoima Skills Center.

Fourteen of the recent graduates have already been placed in positions at hospitals and clinics throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Infiniti rates first in owner service

WESTLAKE VILLAGE - Infiniti dealers shine among their competitors in the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Customer Service Index, the market research firm announced Wednesday.

Dealers are doing less repair work and more routine maintenance work, according to J.D. Power researchers, who attributed the fact to improvements in car quality. Nissan's upscale nameplate dethroned last year's winner, Saturn, which dropped to a close second.

Acura, Lexus and Lincoln were in a three-way tie for third place, only a point behind Saturn.

Ellis completes Insignia purchase

Los Angeles-based CB Richard Ellis Services Inc. announced Wednesday it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Insignia Financial Group Inc.

In addition, Island Fund I LLC completed its previously announced acquisition of Insignia's real estate investment assets.

As a result of the transactions, shareholders of Insignia common stock will receive $11.156 per share. Insignia's shares will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange at the close of trading today.

With about 9,500 employees, CB Richard Ellis serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers throughout some 250 owned and affiliated offices in 47 countries.

Movielink to carry Disney films soon

Scores of Disney films like ``Chicago'' and ``Monsters Inc.'' will soon be available for downloading off the Internet through a licensing deal reached between the entertainment giant and online movie service Movielink, the companies said Wednesday.

The agreement between The Walt Disney Co. subsidiary Buena Vista Pay Television and Movielink was finalized last week. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal gives Movielink access to film titles from all the major studios except one - Twentieth Century Fox Studios - and boosts its library of digitized films to around 400 from the 175 the company had when it launched eight months ago.

The first batch of Disney titles won't be available until August because they have to be transferred to a format for downloading, Movielink CEO Jim Ramo said.

Disney will set the retail price for the movie downloads, which typically range between $2.95 and $4.99, Movielink said.

Tribune stations gaining film rights

Tribune Entertainment has won syndication rights for the DreamWorks film library, which includes such titles as ``American Beauty'' and ``Shrek,'' the companies said Wednesday.

Tribune will be able to air 34 titles on its 26 television stations beginning in the fall of 2006. Films generally are syndicated after they have appeared on broadcast television.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal marks the first time DreamWorks SKG has syndicated its film library. Tribune will have exclusive rights to air the films in the 22 major markets it serves, including on its superstation WGN.

Other films included in the package are ``Chicken Run'' and ``Gladiator.''