MBN The Monte Bubbles Network

House of Taylor Jewelry, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOTJ) , an international jewelry company whose principal shareholders include entities owned by Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Kathy Ireland, today announced the company will showcase jewelry designed by Dame Elizabeth Taylor at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in anticipation of the 79th Annual Academy Awards.

The Elizabeth Red Carpet Collection features seven distinct jewelry suites including Masquerade, a diamond, ruby and blue sapphire encrusted necklace with matching chandelier earrings; Daisy, a necklace and earrings set with yellow sapphires, emeralds and diamonds; and the Moon and Stars Suite, a necklace with matching bracelet awash in diamonds and pearls.

"The jewelry Dame Elizabeth designs is fit for royalty, and what better way to complement an Oscar and an elegant gown than to have the essence of a Hollywood legend draped around your neck," said Yossi Fixman, vice president of marketing for House of Taylor Jewelry. "Our Red Carpet Collection is a legacy line for House of Taylor Jewelry and we are thrilled to showcase its extraordinary beauty at such a spectacular event."

"On behalf of House of Taylor Jewelry, I want to extend my congratulations to this year's nominees," said Jack Abramov, president and chief executive officer. "We are honored to share the magic each of these pieces possess and thank Dame Elizabeth for the extraordinary jewelry she has designed for us."

About House of Taylor Jewelry, Inc.

House of Taylor Jewelry is a Los Angeles-based international jewelry company whose principal shareholders include entities owned by Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Kathy Ireland, along with members of the Abramov family. It serves fine jewelry retailers worldwide with diverse jewelry collections marketed under the brands Elizabeth(TM), House of Taylor Jewelry(TM), and Kathy Ireland Jewelry(TM) Exclusively for House of Taylor Jewelry. More information on the company can be found at www.hotj.com.

LAPD and T3 Set to Patrol the 79th Academy Awards

Los Angeles Police Department Set to Secure Hollywood's Biggest Night With the Latest Law Enforcement Technology - the New T3 Series

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Police Department will be using the all-new T3 Series -- the latest in personal mobility technology and design, purpose-built for law enforcement. Ideal for the Oscar's expansive venue and massive crowds, the three-wheeled, high-performance units enhance officers' visibility from a stable, standing position on an 8-inch raised platform as well as improved response times with speeds of up to 25mph.

California-based mobility company, T3 Motion, has provided four T3 Series vehicles to the tech-savvy Police Department under the direction of pioneering Chief William Bratton to provide security services at the award show this Sunday. The vehicles have also been used throughout Los Angeles County to patrol the Golden Globe Awards, the Martin Luther King Day parade, the Beverly Hill's Centennial of Service Celebration, as well as the Los Angeles International Airport during the busy holiday travel season.

"We are glad to offer new technology that will aid in venue security at such a prestigious event as the Oscars," says T3 Motion President, Neil Brooker. "The T3 Series is the future of personal mobility and offers high-performance together with user-friendly technology that is sure to shorten police response time and lessen officer fatigue -- a must when patrolling such a high profile, large scale event."

About the T3 Series

Reaching high speeds of 25mph and designed with the input of law enforcement officials, the T3 Series features a zero-degree turning radius and compact design, perfect for maneuvering through crowds and tight spaces. Also unique to the vehicles is the most user-friendly intuitive operating mechanism of its kind giving the rider a sense of superior stability.

The quiet environmentally-friendly zero-emission vehicles include an integrated LED lighting system and an incomparable low cost of operation -- running for less than 10 cents per day and never requiring any down time due to the vehicle's two re-chargeable, lightweight batteries that can be easily swapped out while in use for continual employment and an unlimited range.

  T3 Series Features:   *  High-performance vehicle with a zero-degree turning radius for improved      maneuverability in crowds and tight spaces   *  Two rechargeable and interchangeable lightweight batteries for constant      use without down time   *  Capable of reaching speeds up to 25 mph for the quickest response      possible without officer fatigue   *  An instinctive vehicle with easy-to-operate controls and responsive      steering that allow officers to focus on response to the situation at      hand   *  An 8-inch raised platform providing a superior vantage point but still      allowing interaction with the community    Additional T3 Series Features Specific to Law Enforcement and Security:   *  An integrated LED lighting system   *  An open air design for improved access to the community   *  Illuminating headlights, brake lights and running lights   *  Audible sirens   *  Lockable glove box for storage   *  Optional GPS enabled tracking system    About T3 Motion 

T3 Motion revolutionized the world of personal mobility with the introduction of their flagship T3 Series vehicles at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference held in October 2006. Headquartered in Orange County, California, T3 Motion is dedicated to raising the bar on environmental standards and law enforcement capabilities in personal mobility technology.

For more information on T3 Motion and the company's signature T3 line of personal mobility vehicles visit www.t3motion.com or call 949.600.7849.

Source: T3 Motion

Web site: http://www.t3motion.com/

Presenters Announced for 79th Academy Awards® Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep

Beverly Hills, CA — Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, who each hold the record for most Academy Award® nominations by actors, in their respective categories will join Oscar® winner Philip Seymour Hoffman as presenters on the 79th Academy Awards, telecast producer Laura Ziskin announced today. They will be joined by Oscar nominees Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey, Jr., Greg Kinnear, Helen Mirren, Clive Owen, Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts.

Ziskin also announced that Gael Garcia Bernal, Emily Blunt, Catherine Deneuve, former Vice President Al Gore, James McAvoy and Jerry Seinfeld will be presenting.

These presenters will join Ben Affleck, Jessica Biel, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Jodie Foster, Eva Green, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, John Travolta, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon on the telecast.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

# # #

©A.M.P.A.S.®

Stuart Weitzman announced today that award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose, who co-starred in 2006's hit film Dreamgirls, will wear the Stuart Weitzman Diamond Dream Shoe to the 79th Annual Academy Awards(R). At the Awards, Noni Rose will perform "Patience" -- one of three Best Original Song nominations from the film.

The Diamond Dream Shoe, created exclusively for the actress, is a silver evening shoe with a stiletto heel, adorned with 1,420 individual brilliant cut Kwiat diamonds, weighing over 30 carats. The diamonds are set in platinum circles, inspired by Kwiat's timeless Circles Collection. The spectacular shoe is worth half a million dollars.

"As Anika pursues and accomplishes her dream, I wanted to recognize this young actress by creating a luxuriously glamorous shoe for her to wear down the red carpet on Hollywood's most celebrated evening," said designer Stuart Weitzman.

The Tony Award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose is best known for her work on stage, starring in such widely acclaimed Broadway productions as "Caroline, or Change." Most recently, she starred opposite Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson in the year's most anticipated film, Dreamgirls. The actress will soon be seen co-starring with Danny DeVito in the upcoming comedy feature "One Part Sugar" and has been filming "The Starter Wife" with Debra Messing, Joe Mantegna, and Miranda Otto to air on USA Networks in May of 2007.

"Kwiat shares in Stuart Weitzman's passion for the excitement and glamour of the red carpet," said Greg Kwiat of Kwiat Diamonds. "Anika is an incredible talent with a brilliant future and we are honored that we can enhance her presence on Hollywood's big night."

About Stuart Weitzman Holdings LLC.

Stuart Weitzman Holdings LLC. is one of the leading global luxury fashion footwear and accessories brands. Key customers include stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Harrods. Currently Stuart Weitzman operates retail stores across the country including New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Costa Mesa, King of Prussia, McClean, San Antonio, San Francisco, Atlantic City and White Plains. Stuart Weitzman also has more than 15 Stuart Weitzman branded stores outside of the United States. The brand is sold in more than 50 countries.

The company, which is run by Stuart Weitzman (founder and chief designer), has built a reputation for its creative use of unique materials in footwear and for its attention to quality. Stuart Weitzman's dedication to fusing fashion, fit and comfort has earned him accolades from both the design world and legions of diverse fans, including some of the top celebrities across the globe. His shoes are a familiar sight at events like the Oscars and the Emmys and his bridal collections have won awards of their own.

About Kwiat

Founded in 1907, Kwiat, the New York based diamond jewelry company has a century of experience in the diamond industry and a reputation as one of the world's leading diamond and diamond jewelry companies. Kwiat is dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship and sets the standard for brilliance. Kwiat. Simply Brilliant.

FOR ALL PRESS PURPOSES PLEASE CREDIT THE SHOE AS:

STUART WEITZMAN DIAMOND DREAM SHOE

WWW.STUARTWEITZMAN.COM

Stuart Weitzman Holdings LLC

Web site: http://www.stuartweitzman.com/

With diamonds playing a visible role on Oscar night, Amnesty International USA and Global Witness have asked artists and filmmakers to wear a red teardrop pin to raise awareness about conflict diamonds and their impact on child soldiers.

Artists who will wear the pin at the Academy Awards(R) ceremony and at Oscar celebrations include nominees Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling and Djimon Hounsou.

As the public's attention is focused on the Academy Awards(R) and Oscar celebrations, Bonnie Abaunza, director of Amnesty International USA's Artists for Amnesty program, said the director and cast of "Blood Diamond," as well as other artist supporters of human rights, will signify their commitment to action by wearing a gem-free, tear-shaped pin, designed by Alessandra Gallo Jewellery (http://www.alessandragallo.com/) and hand-made by Ricardo Basta of Beverly Hills, who generously donated labor and materials (http://www.ricardobasta.com/).

"Ours is a very modest gesture, but one that affirms the message that all human life is precious," said Abaunza. "Diamonds are not priceless-human life is."

The pins will send the message to millions of viewers that evening that the story depicted in "Blood Diamond," while fictional, is based on a devastating reality in terms of the deaths and human rights abuses tied to conflict diamonds.

After the Academy Awards(R), the pins will be auctioned. Proceeds will be devoted to the rehabilitation of child soldiers through the work of Amnesty International and partner organizations, as well as Global Witness's work on conflict diamonds.

"Americans buy half of the diamond jewelry sold worldwide -- $33 billion a year in U.S. sales," said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA. "We feel that this industry has an obligation -- and consumers should demand -- that the diamonds that are bought and sold are conflict free, given the devastating human toll blood diamonds extract."

Amnesty International USA and Global Witness partnered in supporting Warner Bros.' film "Blood Diamond" to raise awareness about these important human rights issues. Hundreds of thousands of children are fighting as child soldiers in conflicts around the world today, some of which are funded by conflict diamonds.

"Once they are disarmed and demobilized, their rehabilitation and reintegration into society becomes their only opportunity at a second chance at life," says Abaunza.

Last year, Nicolas Cage donated $2.5 million to Amnesty International to administer to on the ground programs in Africa -- medical, psychological and rehabilitation services for children who have fought as soldiers in conflicts in Africa.

Website: http://www.alessandragallo.com
http://www.ricardobasta.com

Source: Amnesty International

CONTACT: Bonnie Abaunza, +1-310-815-0450 or Helaine Ross,
+1-310-246-1872, both of Amnesty International

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of Eddie Murphy's recent Golden Globe win and Academy Award(R) nomination for "Best Supporting Actor" for his role in Dreamgirls, Starz InBlack presents "The Making of Delirious" an exclusive 22-minute special from his critically acclaimed, raw and raunchy concert film Eddie Murphy Delirious filmed live at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. in 1983. Byron Allen hosts the special, which airs on Starz InBlack Monday, Feb. 26 at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

The special features an in-depth discussion between Allen and Murphy and clips from the live stand-up act, as well as exclusive interviews with comedians Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Sinbad, Arsenio Hall and others, talking about the influence Murphy has had on their careers.

"[Eddie Murphy Delirious] was another period in comedy history where somebody rattled the cage and shook it up," said Arsenio Hall. "Eddie built this road and created this blueprint that a lot of people began to follow. It created just this rejuvenation of comedy."

"Eddie Murphy has never been hotter making this an especially fun and significant time to take a look back at his earlier work," said Jonathan Shair, vice president of scheduling and original programming for Starz Entertainment. "He's helped shape the careers of some of today's top comics and this exclusive special gives viewers a look at the considerable impact he's made over the years."

"The Making of Delirious" will also air on Starz Edge March 6 at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and on Starz Comedy March 8 at 9:40 p.m. (ET/PT).

Eddie Murphy Delirious was released on DVD for the first time earlier this month. Eddie Murphy Delirious is issued by Entertainment Studios Home Entertainment and Starz Home Entertainment.

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 14.9 million and 26.6 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Starz On Demand and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group.

Web site: http://www.starz.com/

Celebrity Event Planner Mindy Weiss Offers Tips for Your Own Oscar-viewing Festivities

 What would the Oscars be without your very own, at-home Oscar-viewing gathering? Televised in more than 100 countries, the Oscars is a much-anticipated television night. And more and more viewers are celebrating by hosting their own Oscar-night event for friends and family, while watching the red-carpet glamour.

Just ask any celebrity about their favorite event, and you're sure to hear the name Mindy Weiss roll off their tongues. A lifestyle expert known for throwing some of the hottest events in Hollywood, Mindy is no stranger to the glitz and glam of Tinseltown. In fact, Mindy has planned such star-studded events as birthday parties for many celebrities as well as the famous Carousel Ball and Race to Erase MS.

Mindy offers these tips to make your own Oscar watch night as fabulous as the real event:

   1.  Set the Stage - Pick your favorite Oscar-nominated film and use it as        

the theme for your gathering.  For example, if you like "The Queen,"        

you could provide guests with tiaras or crowns; spray gold paint on        

the inside of glass vases and fill them with white flowers; and, if        

your budget allows, have a royal guard greet guests at the door!    

2.  Dress the Part - Invite guests to dress the part to help set the        

mood.  While black tie may be too much, encouraging friends and        

family members to come "dressed to impress" will help put your Oscar        

soiree over the top!    3.  Wine and Dine - No festivity is complete 

without a great selection of wine and food pairings.  An easy way to please 

most palates is to choose a wine that is not overly oaked, such as Mirassou, 

from the Central Coast of California.  Its wine style is fruit-forward, food-        

friendly and affordable at about $10 a bottle -- and its Pinot is        

currently America's favorite California Pinot Noir(1).  From cheese        

plates with a crisp Chardonnay, to rich chocolate desserts with a        

luscious Pinot Noir, wine is a classic and classy way to throw a        

soiree with style!    4.  Create Some Fun - Tie Oscar trivia questions 

onto wine bottles, using thick white cardstock and gold ribbon to 

get your guests talking.  Or print ballot sheets for your guests and 

award the guests with the most winners an "Oscar" -- the chocolate version, 

of course. (1) (C) Information Resources Incorporated; 

October 14, 2006 YTD, US Food & Drug; Domestic Pinot Noir; Volume sales  

About Mirassou Winery: The Mirassou family has been growing grapes and crafting superior wines since 1854, earning them the distinction of being America's oldest winemaking family. Today, the Mirassou wine style is, refreshing and fruit-forward. Mirassou's premium wines -- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon -- retail for approximately $10 per bottle and are widely available in all 50 states. They can be located through Mirassou.com's "Where to Buy" section or by calling (888) MIRASSOU.

California Table Wine, (C) 2007 Mirassou Vineyards, Healdsburg, CA and Modesto, CA. All rights reserved.

Source: Mirassou Winery

Feb 22

79^th Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball

Overall Description

PRELIMINARY OVERVIEW

Layout  Guests will enter the ballroom beneath a massive wrought iron archway that spans the length of the ballroom from the north to south balconies. This archway features a living canopy of woven vines, flowers and draped ivy overhang.

The ballroom is divided into five distinct pavilions that flank either side of this massive archway, each with its own quintessential Mediterranean dining experience. Pergolas of various shapes distinguish each Pavilion (i.e., square, half moon, oval) while unique accent lighting and color palettes complete the mood.

Conventional seating, high top wood tables, ultra suede banquettes and rattan lounge seating throughout the ballroom and balconies make for a more relaxed and eclectic dining experience.

The perimeter walls of the ballroom are a series of columns faux finished and draped in a web of clinging vine and floral beauty.

The bar stands like a monument in the center of the ballroom. A twenty-four foot edifice houses a raised platform displaying a double-sided Oscar statue. This statue rotates throughout the evening and reflects majestically the glow of ambient lights below.

At the far end of the ballroom a half moon stage rises above the dance floor and is framed by large tress adorned with candlelit hurricanes.

Ceiling  The ballroom’s ceiling disappears beneath a black canvas allowing each pavilion’s pergola to offer its own unique starry night vista. Towering wood and wrought iron columns, complete with dripping wisteria, are amber lit by chandeliers and sconces to complete the al fresco experience.

Exterior The interior will transition onto the exterior balconies with equal magic. The north and south balconies offer a different Mediterranean flavor with bougainvillea-draped rattan canopies looming over ultra suede banquettes. Textured lamps and boxed hedges create niches ideal for relaxed conversation and dining.

Lighting Mood is everything when it comes to al fresco dining. Creative lighting in each ceiling treatment allows the sun’s rays to cascade down through pergolas creating a romantic setting while custom made sconces imbedded directly within the columns add to the mystique of this Mediterranean dining experience. Each pavilion will display its own distinct color theme from the rustic gold ambers of one to the azure blue aqua of another, to the emeralds and magentas of still another. An array of colors and textures seduce the senses as well as the palette.

Table Open seating throughout the venue encourages guests to mingle. Wooden bar tables and stools allow for a more idyllic view of all the pavilions. For those who want a more traditional setting, there are dining tables for sit down service.

Food & Beverage  Upon arrival, guests will be greeted tableside by the amazing Wolfgang Puck team tray passing an array of tasty hors d’oeuvres and tapas platters. Seafood buffets offering only the finest in delectable ocean fare will open on both the north and south balconies. Buffets and bars are stationed throughout the room for easy service. The key here is service. Everything is at the guest’s fingertips to enjoy. As the evening progresses, buffets will be transformed to decadent dessert extravaganzas. Sherry Yard’s desserts will also be served tableside with the traditional chocolate Oscar. A night to remember.

Entertainment A stage in the shape of a large half moon rises on one end of the ballroom and will feature musicians while satellite stages located on the north and south sides of the ballroom will host various eclectic performers

SEQUOIA PRODUCTIONS

&

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Fun Facts

79^th Annual Academy Awards

Governors Ball

February 25, 2007

• 1,500 Guests
• 900 Staff On-Site
• 350 Culinary Staff
• 150 Technicians
• 40 Musicians
• 6,000 Pieces of Flatware are Hand Polished
• 500 Bottles of Laurent Perrier Champagne
• 2,000 Bottles of Sterling Wine
• 120 Lighting Color Faders
• ½ Mile of Truss
• 2500 Feet of Truss Cover
• 200 Leko Lights
• 20 Automated Lights
• 1 Mile of Rope Lights
• 30,000 Square Feet of Fabric on Ceiling
• 1,000 Yards Wall Treatment
• 750 Different Arrangements in Custom Designed Wood Boxes and Antiqued Stone Containers
• 10,000 Roses Woven through Pergolas and on Table Scapes
• Gold Orchids and Rust Calla Lilies Flown in from Holland
• Smilax Being Cut in the Louisiana Bayou for the Pergolas
• Fruits Integrated Throughout including Kumquats and Tangerines
• 28,000 Square Feet of Carpet
• 8 Tons of Steel for Scaffolding
• 24,000 Square Feet of Wood Decking
• 3,600 Feet of Timber
• 16,000 Feet of 1” x 3” Recycled Lumber to Create Columns, Tables and Railings
• 4,050 Feet of 1” x 2” Steel Tubing Precision Curved to Create the Pergolas
• 300 lbs. Smoked Wild Salmon
• 100 lbs. Natural CAB Beef
• 600 ea. Spiny Lobster
• 10 lbs. French Farm Raised Osetra Caviar
• 250 Whole SMART Organic Chickens
• 16 lbs. French Black Truffles
• 10 lbs. Italian White Truffles
• 15 Whole Yellowtails
• 150 lbs. Big Eye Tuna
• 25 ea. Thai Snapper
• 100 Dozen: Kumamoto Oysters
• 100 lbs. Black Farm Raised Mussels
• 150 lbs. Little Neck Clams, Farm Raised
• 300 lbs. Jumbo Shrimp
• 550 lbs. Wagyu Beef (American Kobe)
• 25 Whole Wild Striped Bass

*All Seafood is Sustainable by Monterey Bay Aquarium

*All Meat is natural, Growth Hormone Free

*All Chicken is Certified Organic

The Norman Roper Orchestra

Norm Roper – Drums

Brad Sharp – Singer

Jan Roper – Keys/Singer

Wendy Smith – Singer

Ellis Hall – Keys/Singer

Tim Emmons – Bass2

Lee Thornberg – Trumpet

Frank Fonataine – Sax 2

Eric Marienthal – Sax 1

Ron Powell – Perc

Don Duckhorn – Bass 1

Cody – DJ

Don Bonebreak – Vibes

Mick Tara – Guitar

Tara – Vocals

Strings

The Okapiec Triplets

Anna Stafford

Katie Miller

Amy Noonan

Eliza James (Chorley)

Elizabeth Hochhalter

Dave Koz and Ensemble

Dave Koz – Sax

Dave Carpenter – Bass

Gregg Field - Drums

Brian Simpson – MD & keys/laptop

John Beasley – C7

Ramon Stagnor – Guitar

Luis Conte – Percussion

Matt Lees

Erin Boehme – Singer

Bebe Winans – Singer

Backline

Warren Huf

Anthony Zigago

The Oscar Outfits: Anjelica Huston Wears Bruce Oldfield 79th Academy Awards: 25th February 2007

 For the Oscar celebrations on 25th February, Anjelica Huston has chosen to wear an exclusive Bruce Oldfield couture evening dress in crimson silk faille, with billowing skirts twisted to form a rose on the left hip, which Oldfield has designed specially for her.

Bruce Oldfield said: "I met Anjelica 25 years ago in LA when doing a trunk show and made several outfits for her, so it was fantastic to work on this stunning Oscar celebration outfit. She is a lady with enormous presence and style who knows how to make an entrance and we felt that this dress matched the occasion perfectly as it has sex appeal and gravitas in equal proportions."

Bruce Oldfield OBE is a British fashion designer, best known for his couture occasionwear. He dresses Hollywood actresses, British and international royalty and European aristocracy; famous clients have included Sienna Miller, Jemima Khan, Faye Dunaway, Melanie Griffith, Charlotte Rampling, Jerry Hall, Queen Noor and Queen Rania of Jordan and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Hollywood Goes Green for the Oscars!

Christie Communications Inc. is bringing the hottest eco friendly companies to Hollywood! Gillian Christie and the Christie Communications Green Team are proud to introduce celebrities and VIPs to a host of ethical companies promoting natural living, environmental sustainability and eco awareness at the Ultimate Green Room Oscars location, 300 S. La Brea Av, Los Angeles from February 22nd-24th.

Guests to the Ultimate Green Room can experience the latest in healthy, all natural food and beverages with samples of Frutzzo®, the world's best tasting organic pomegranate juice. With unique flavour fusions of Pomegranate Blueberry, Pomegranate Raspberry and Pomegranate Acai, Frutzzo® couples the amazing health benefits of pomegranate juice and organic ingredients for a heart healthy drink unlike any other pomegranate product. Eco conscious VIPs and celebrities will dine on authentic, delicious, all natural Indian cuisine from Kohinoor Foods, featuring an extensive line of 100% gourmet, vegetarian meals including curries and premium Indian rice. Also being served are Mr. Krispers® Baked Rice Krisps, deliciously crunchy organic rice chips, great for those with wheat allergies as well as everyday snackers, Steaz® Energy™, the world's first and only USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified energy drink and iZO jUiCE™, the gourmet quality whole food drink -- an optimal source of a daily allowance of fruits and vegetables.

The Ultimate Green Room will be showcasing lighting from Full Spectrum Solutions, the innovator and manufacturer of the patented BlueMax™ high definition, full spectrum lighting. Full Spectrum Solutions light therapy lamps are proven safe and effective in treating the symptoms of sunlight deprivation, including winter blues and SAD, affecting million of Americans (and A-list celebrities!). For the latest in health and wellness products, guests will meet author Cherie Calbom signing her newest book, "Sleep Away the Pounds," and get samples from Pharm East Inc.'s new supplement line, Sleep Away the Pounds, an effective all natural, two part herbal system that promotes restful sleep and metabolism boosting benefits for enhanced weight loss, just in time for awards show season!

Join Christie Communications by trading the Cristal and over-priced Oscar swag for the hottest new trends in eco friendly living at the Ultimate Green Room!

IRS Goes Hollywood: Oscar(R) Swag Is Taxable

The IRS may be the most important (if uninvited) guest at this year's Oscars. Swanky award show swag - the luxurious gifts stars sometimes receive valuing more than $100,000 - is taxable. That means Hollywood's elite have more issues to ponder this year than what to wear on the red carpet - the high-profile, high-dollar giveaways could invite attention from the IRS.

-- Celebrities in the highest tax bracket can expect to owe up to 35 percent of the total gift value this year. That could mean a tax bill of $35,000 on a $100,000 swag bag!

-- The stars could have a way out. H&R Block says the swag bags can become tax deductible if the goodies are donated to a recognized charitable organization. Even if they plan to donate the swag, the stars still must claim the gifts on their taxes - first as income, then as a charitable donation. Once celebrities receive the gifts, they are liable for any taxes owed, but they can immediately donate the gifts to charity and deduct the fair market value of the gifts.

-- Being charitable has a catch - you'll have to file IRS Form 8283 if the donation exceeds $500, according to H&R Block. The form asks what was given, to whom, and what the overall value of the items donated was. The IRS also requires those who donate $250 or more to a charity to get written documentation from the organization by the time they file their return or the due date of the return (including extensions), whichever date comes first. Although documentation for smaller donations generally isn't required, everyone must be able to produce documentation should the IRS question a deduction.

-- Most of the gifts in swag bags are taxable, but gift certificates for travel aren't...until the person takes the trip, according to H&R Block. The certificate has no value until it's turned into something in the real world...like a plane trip, train ride or stay at a luxurious Italian villa.

-- Celebs beware: While the IRS hasn't announced plans to make swag bags a special point of emphasis, the organization has made it clear on their Web site that these items may be subject to scrutiny when tax returns are filed.

Blog Readers Reveal Top Picks for 2007 Academy Awards

Vizu Answers' Polls Predict Oscar Winners

Vizu Answers, (http://answers.vizu.com), the Internet's first do-it-yourself market research service, polled readers of more than 20 blogs to reveal predictions for top honors in the 79th Annual Academy Awards.

Respondents have strong opinions on who will bring home a statue in the key categories. More than half of those polled think "Babel" deserves the Best Picture Oscar, while more than a one-third think Forest Whitaker should get a Best Actor nod for his role in "The Last King of Scotland." Almost half of respondents think former "American Idol" contestant Jennifer Hudson will win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her breakthrough role in "Dreamgirls."

Highlights from Vizu Answers' Oscar poll:

-- Best Motion Picture: The drama "Babel" is the strong favorite with 54% of the votes.

-- Best Actor: It's a close call between two heavyweights, but pollsters predict a Best Actor win for Forest Whitaker's portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland" (37%), while Will Smith comes in a close second for "The Pursuit of Happyness" (31%).

-- Best Actress: A royal Queen and a fashion queen are the top choices. Helen Mirren in "The Queen" received 42% of votes, while Meryl Streep's role as a fashion editor in "The Devil Wears Prada" garnered 21%.

-- Best Supporting Actor: Competition is fierce here - favored to win is Eddie Murphy for his role in "Dreamgirls" (34%); runners up include Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed" (24%), and Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond" (20%).

-- Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson is the "Idol" to beat in this category, receiving almost half of votes (49.6%). "Little Miss Sunshine" Abigail Bresline comes in a distant second (20%).

To view full results of Vizu Answers' Academy Awards predictions, log on to: http://answers.vizu.com/pdf/OscarsResearch022107.pdf

About Vizu

Vizu is democratizing the market research industry with a service that makes online polling easy, accessible, and affordable to everyone. The company's premiere service, Vizu Answers, combines a revolutionary market research technology with a vast network of web sites, offering highly targeted audiences to answer a wide variety of questions. Vizu Answers is also an innovative way for online publishers to monetize their site traffic in a reader friendly way.

Feb 21

Jodie Foster to Make Oscar® Show Appearance

Beverly Hills, CA — Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster is slated to be an Oscar presenter at the 79th Academy Awards®, Producer Laura Ziskin announced today.

Foster has twice won the Best Actress Oscar, for her performances in 1988’s “The Accused” and in 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs.” She also has received nominations for her supporting role in “Taxi Driver” and her leading role in “Nell.”

Foster’s other film credits include “Inside Man,” “Flightplan,” “A Very Long Engagement,” “Panic Room,” “Anna and the King,” “Contact” and “Sommersby.”

Foster joins fellow actors Ben Affleck, Jessica Biel, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Eva Green, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, John Travolta, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon as a presenter on the show.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

# # #

Queen Latifah
to Make
Oscar® Show Appearance

Beverly Hills, CA — Academy Award®-nominated actress Queen Latifah will be a presenter at the 79th Academy Awards®, telecast producer Laura Ziskin announced today.

In 2002, for the 75th Academy Awards, Queen Latifah received her first Oscar nomination for her supporting performance in “Chicago.” She was seen recently in “Stranger Than Fiction” and will be seen next in “Hairspray.” Queen Latifah's other film credits include “Last Holiday,” “Beauty Shop,” “Taxi,” “Bringing Down the House,” “Brown Sugar,” “Living Out Loud” and “Set It Off.”

Latifah joins fellow actors Ben Affleck, Jessica Biel, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Jodie Foster, Eva Green, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, John Travolta, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon as a presenter on the show.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

# # #

John Travolta
to Make
Oscar® Show Appearance

Beverly Hills, CA — Academy Award®-nominated actor John Travolta will be a presenter for the 79th Academy Awards® presentation, telecast producer Laura Ziskin announced today.

Travolta has twice been nominated in the Leading Actor category, for “Saturday Night Fever” in 1977 and “Pulp Fiction” in 1994. He will be seen next in “Wild Hogs” and “Hairspray.” Travolta’s other film credits include “Be Cool,” “Ladder 49,” “A Love Song for Bobby Long,” “Basic,” “A Civil Action,” “Face/Off” and “Phenomenon.”

Travolta joins fellow actors Ben Affleck, Jessica Biel, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Jodie Foster, Eva Green, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon as a presenter on the show.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

# # #

©A.M.P.A.S.®

Ziskin Announces
Musical Performers
for the 79th Academy Awards®

Beverly Hills, CA — Beyoncé, Melissa Etheridge, Jennifer Hudson, Randy Newman, Keith Robinson, Anika Noni Rose and James Taylor are all set to perform this year’s Oscar®- nominated songs on the 79th Academy Awards show, telecast producer Laura Ziskin has announced.

Beyoncé will perform “Listen” (music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler, lyric by Anne Preven), one of three Original Song nominees from the musical “Dreamgirls.” Also from “Dreamgirls” will be Hudson singing “Love You I Do” (music by Henry Krieger and lyric by Siedah Garrett), and Rose, Robinson and other cast mates performing “Patience” (music by Henry Krieger and lyric by Willie Reale).

Etheridge will perform “I Need to Wake Up” from the documentary feature “An Inconvenient Truth.” Etheridge wrote the music and lyric for the nominated song.

Newman will perform his nominated song “Our Town” from the animated feature “Cars” with singer-guitarist James Taylor. Newman wrote both the music and lyric for “Our Town” and also composed the film’s score.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

# # #

©A.M.P.A.S.®

Academy Awards(R) Ceremony Credentials Printed on Epson for Eighth Year in a Row

Application Demonstrates How Epson DURABrite(R) Ultra Printers Address the Increasing Need for Photo ID Badges by Conveniently Delivering High Quality Water, Smudge and Fade Resistant Prints

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 21  For the eighth year in a row, officials with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) are relying on Epson quality to meet their printing needs. This year, the Epson Stylus(R) C88+ printer is the model of choice to help the Academy print thousands of high quality, durable photo identification badges that will be worn by everyone involved in the 79th Academy Awards production.

While the versatile C88+ can be used for a variety of letter size and smaller printing needs, the printer was selected for this critical application mainly because of its unique Epson DURABrite Ultra inks that deliver unsurpassed water, smudge and fade resistance. Other factors in the selection included the ability to get the best image quality possible in this type of application with fast printing speeds for maximum efficiency. Epson's quick-drying inks were another important factor so badges could be handled immediately as they came off the printer without smudges. And lastly, the Academy needed a printer with a paper path that wouldn't bend the badge and could handle thick media to accommodate the cutting-edge technology incorporated into the identification badges.

"Photo identification badges are being increasingly used in a variety of settings, and Epson's DURABrite Ultra pigment ink printers are well-suited for creating these quickly on the spot," said Colin Donahoe, director, Retail Printers, Epson. "We are glad to work with the biggest event in the entertainment industry to give organizers the control and convenience they need for this aspect of their operations."

"The Academy has high standards for every detail of our production and cannot have any compromises," said Deborah Cahn, credentials operations, AMPAS. "We found Epson's DURABrite Ultra printers to be the most compatible with the materials we are using for our badges. Plus, these versatile printers produce great quality and are so easy to use."

About the Epson Stylus C88+

The Epson Stylus C88+ is a sleek, high-performance letter-size ink jet printer that is perfect for the small office or the home. With DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, this printer provides smudge, fade and water resistance on any type of media, including ordinary plain paper and Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy. The Epson Stylus C88+ features individual ink cartridges, giving users the convenience and control of only having to replace the color of ink that runs out. All the models can produce borderless prints in frame-ready sizes such as 4"x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and letter. This printer offers fast print speeds -- up to 23 ppm for black text and up to 14 ppm(1) for color text. The Epson Stylus C88+ is available for an estimated street price of $79.

About Epson

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transaction terminals for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. Epson America Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif.

Note: Specifications subject to change. Epson, Epson Stylus, and DURABrite are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other products and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.

Source: Epson America, Inc.

Feb 20

The Nielsen Company's Guide to the Academy Awards

NEW YORK, Feb. 20 Several Nielsen businesses -- including Nielsen EDI, Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen BookScan, Nielsen Media Research, Nielsen Monitor-Plus, Nielsen//NetRatings, Nielsen BuzzMetrics, and Scarborough Research -- today released a wide range of consumer and media information illustrating the enormous impact that the Academy Awards has on the U.S.

As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prepares to announce the Oscar winners in Hollywood, California on February 25, Nielsen has combined data on box-office receipts, album sales, television ratings, advertising trends, Internet measurement, and lifestyle information of Academy Award nominees from this year and past years. Among the findings:

-- Box Office figures for Best Picture nominees show an impressive

increase after their nominations are announced.

-- The Academy Awards on ABC Network continues to be one of the highest

rated TV events of the year, with last year's award show attracting

more than 39 million U.S. viewers.

-- The cost for a 30-second advertisement reached an all-time high in

2006, while traditional advertiser categories continued to dominate the

broadcast.

-- Academy Award nominees saw a sharp increase in visits to their Web

sites in the weeks prior to the award ceremony. Oscar related buzz on

the Internet showed Best Actor/Actress nominees Helen Mirren and Forest

Whitaker most dominant in online conversations in blogs.

-- In many cases, performances during the Oscar telecast will

significantly impact album sales. With the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack

already standing out as one of this year's best selling albums, this

could be one of those years.

-- Fans who tune into the televised broadcast are more likely to be

married and female and more 'news savvy', according to Scarborough

Research.

Box Office Sales (Nielsen EDI)

How much of an impact do Academy Award nominations have on the distribution and ticket sales for the nominated movies? Comparing the number of theatres showing each movie and ticket sales before and after the nominations were announced on January 23rd shows significant increases in most cases.

NUMBER OF THEATRES

Movie Weekend Prior to Weekend After % Change

Nominations Nominations

Babel 889 1090 23

The Departed 127 1453 1044

Letters From Iwo Jima 360 415 15

The Queen 1586 1830 15

Little Miss Sunshine 17 27 59

Source: Nielsen EDI

BOX OFFICE RECEIPTS

Movie Total 3 Weekends Total 3 Weekends % Change

Prior Nominations After Nominations

Babel $2,985,295 $5,293,133 77

The Departed $908,541 $6,995,282 670

Letters From Iwo Jima $1,884,725 $5,293,133 181

The Queen $5,803,918 $9,036,307 56

Little Miss Sunshine $55,165 $88,147 60

Source: Nielsen EDI

Having very impressive gross sales are not a requirement for a nominee in the top categories. For example, Letters from Iwo Jima, in movie theaters for 8 weeks, earned only $8 million at the U.S. box office through Feb 11, while fellow nominee The Departed pulled in close to $129 million since its release.

Open Date Nominated Movie Gross Box Office Sales

Best Picture

10/27/2006 Babel $32,019,555

10/6/2006 The Departed $130,744,874

12/20/2006 Letters From Iwo Jima $9,935,921

7/26/2006 Little Miss Sunshine $59,719,677

9/30/2006 The Queen $48,897,648

Best Actor

12/8/2006 Blood Diamond $55,104,016

8/11/2006 Half Nelson $2,697,938

12/21/2006 Venus $1,837,193

12/15/2006 The Pursuit of Happyness $160,490,618

9/27/2006 The Last King of Scotland $11,449,370

Best Actress

11/3/2006 Volver $10,946,263

12/27/2006 Notes On A Scandal $13,926,668

9/30/2006 The Queen $48,897,648

6/30/2006 The Devil Wears Prada $124,740,460

10/6/2006 Little Children $4,701,836

Best Director

10/27/2006 Babel $30,342,188

10/6/2006 The Departed $129,402,536

12/20/2006 Letters From Iwo Jima $8,206,470

9/30/2006 The Queen $48,897,648

4/28/2006 United 93 $31,567,134

Source: Nielsen EDI. Note: Data through 2/11/2007

DVD Sales (Nielsen VideoScan)

The Best Picture award winner of 2006 Crash saw a 27.3% lift in DVD unit sales in the 7-weeks after it was nominated. Crash also saw a 143% increase in DVD unit sales in the 7-weeks after it won Best Picture (compared to the 7- weeks before its Oscar win). This year, most nominated movies were not available on DVD by the time the Academy announced its nominations.

Music Sales (Nielsen SoundScan and Analysis by Billboard's Geoff Mayfield)

If sales of the single-disc Dreamgirls soundtrack were combined with those of the two-disc deluxe version, it would be the second best selling album of 2007 with 432,000 copies sold since the beginning of the year through Feb. 11, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The single-disc version spent two weeks at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 734,000 copies since its Dec. 5 release, 348,000 of those since the start of this year. The deluxe version has scanned another 162,000 since it reached stores Dec. 5. Three of this year's Original Song nominees appear on the Dreamgirls albums.

This year nominees, ranked by digital sales to date:

-- "Listen" (Dreamgirls): 173,000

-- "Love You Like I Do" (Dreamgirls): 30,000

-- "I Need to Wake Up" (An Inconvenient Truth): 23,000

-- "Our Town" (Cars): 21,000

-- "Patience", three versions (Dreamgirls): 6,000 (most of them Eddie

Murphy's version)

The biggest selling film soundtrack of 2006: Curious George by Jack Johnson, selling 1.1 million copies from its Feb. 7, 2006 release through the end of the year. It was the fourth best selling soundtrack of the year, trailing three Disney Channel-related albums.

The best selling soundtrack in Nielsen SoundScan history: The Bodyguard, selling 11.8 million since its release, Nov. 10, 1992.

In some years, the Oscars have a negligible impact on sales. However, if it's a year when Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young each perform songs from Philadelphia, the impact on that album can be stunning. In 1994, that soundtrack more than doubled after the Oscars (from 32,000 to 77,000 copies), which translated into a 34-12 jump on The Billboard 200.

Last year, after Gustavo Santaolalla won for Original Score, the soundtrack from Brokeback Mountain saw a 61% gain, good for a 148-83 jump on The Billboard 200, while Hustle & Flow, with the winning song by Three 6 Mafia, posted the chart's largest percentage gain, as a 77% increase took that soundtrack 143-73.

Book Sales (Nielsen BookScan)

Many of the movies nominated for the top categories, were based, or at least in part, on a book or a book was developed in conjunction with the movie. Nielsen BookScan, which covers 75% of sales in the book industry, took a look at sales of books that are related to the nominated movies. The chart below compares 2007 sales versus sales since each title's release date. All data below includes sales for hard and paperback formats.

SALES OF BOOKS RELATED TO NOMINATED MOVIES

Release to

Title Publication Author 2007 Date

Date Sales* Sales*+

The Pursuit of 6/1/2006 Chris Gardener 67,000 225,000

Happyness

The Last King 10/1/1998 Giles Foden 600 8,000^

of Scotland

Notes On A 11/1/2006 Zoe Heller 2,000 12,000

Scandal

The Devil 4/1/2003 Lauren 3,000 1,757,000

Wears Prada Weisberger

Little Children 3/1/2004 Tom Perrotta 3,000 223,000

An Inconvenient 5/1/2006 Albert Gore 3,000 300,000

Truth

The Black 9/1/1987 James Ellroy 11,000 217,000

Dhalia

The Good 10/1/2001 Joseph Kannon 19,000 151,000

German

Children of 2/1/1993 P.D. James 30,000 54,000

Men

Source: Nielsen BookScan. NOTES: Nielsen BookScan does not track sales

of books through Wal-Mart, Sam's, BJ's, airports or libraries. *Includes

both hardcover and paperback editions. +Includes 2007 sales data through

2/4/2007. ^Nielsen BookScan began collecting data in January 2001; as the

earliest release of this title was before this date, the total sales

figure represents sales from 2001-present. #Earliest publication date of

title.

TV Viewership (Nielsen Media Research)

In 2006, an average of 39 million Americans tuned in to the ABC Network to watch the Academy Awards. The event averaged a 23.1% household rating, down slightly from the previous years.

Over the past ten years, the most-watched Academy Award broadcast was in 1998 when Titanic was voted Best Picture, which drew 55 million viewers for an average household rating of 34.9%. The lowest rated in recent years was the 2003 Academy Awards when Chicago was voted Best Picture, with only 20 percent of U.S. homes tuned into the telecast.

In local U.S. markets, the highest overall local rating in 2006 -- at nearly 37% -- was in New York. The second largest local TV audience, with an average of 34%, was in Chicago. (See TV Ratings chart at right -- note that local TV ratings are based on Live+7).

Television Ratings

Average Viewers on ABC Network

2006 -- 39 million

2005 -- 42 million

2004 -- 43 million

2003 -- 33 million

2002 -- 41 million

2001 -- 42 million

Top-10 Local Market Average Household Ratings -- 2006

1. New York 36.7%

2. Chicago 33.6%

3. San Francisco/Oakland 32.7%

4. Philadelphia 32.2%

5. Atlanta 30.8%

5. Austin 30.8%

6. Seattle-Tacoma 30.7%

7. Kansas City 30.6%

8. San Diego 30.2%

9. West Palm Beach 30.0%

10. Minneapolis 29.9

Source: Nielsen Media Research

Advertising Trends (Nielsen Monitor-Plus)

Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the global advertising intelligence service of Nielsen Media Research analyzed ad spending for the movies that have been nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor.

Best Motion Picture and Best Director

Over $83 million was spent on advertising in the U.S. for the Best Motion Picture nominees from January - November 2006. Almost half was spent on The Departed, which was also nominated for Best Director. Spending for Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen, and Babel ranged from $11.9 to $16.4 million, while Letters from Iwo Jima had no advertising activity at all in the U.S. Advertising spending for the movies in the Best Director category totaled $94.4 million. Once again, The Departed led the way with over $40 million in advertising dollars spent.

BEST PICTURE AND BEST DIRECTOR AD SPENDING

Motion Picture Jan 2006-Nov 2006 $ Nomination Received

The Departed $40,264,620 Best Picture, Best Director

Babel $16,418,707 Best Picture, Best Actress,

Best Director

The Queen $14,552,326 Best Picture

Little Miss $11,942,724 Best Picture, Best Director

Sunshine

Letters From $0 Best Director

Iwo Jima

United 93 $23,217,350 Best Director

Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus

Best Actress and Best Actor

The movies nominated in the Best Actress category collectively spent $40.5 million in advertising dollars in January - November of last year. The Devil Wears Prada had more than half of the spending at $22.3 million. Volver and Notes on a Scandal had smaller ad budgets, each spending under $1 million.

BEST ACTRESS AD SPENDING

Motion Picture Jan 2006- Nomination Nominee

Nov 2006 $ Received

The Devil $22,380,609 Best Actress Meryl Streep

Wears Prada

The Queen $14,552,326 Best Actress, Helen Mirren

Director, Picture

Little Children $2,510,686 Best Actress Kate Winslet

Volver $903,091 Best Actress Penelope Cruz

Notes on a $240,615 Best Actress Judi Dench

Scandal

Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus

The films in the Best Actor category spent even less on advertising than the Best Actress movies. In total, these films spent $33.5 million, with nearly 60% all ad dollars going to Blood Diamond ($19.9). As in the Best Actress category, two of the five nominated films spent under $1 million in advertising: Half Nelson ($331,327) and Venus ($241,728).

BEST ACTOR AD SPENDING

Motion Picture Jan 2006- Nomination Nominee

Nov 2006 $ Received

Blood Diamond $19,979,942 Best Actor Leonardo DiCaprio

The Pursuit $10,672,542 Best Actor Will Smith

of Happyness

The Last King $2,379,001 Best Actor Forest Whitaker

of Scotland

Half Nelson $331,327 Best Actor Ryan Gosling

Venus $241,728 Best Actor Peter O'Toole

Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus

Top Advertisers During the 2006 Telecast

The 2006 Academy Award ceremony had a total of 24 1/2 commercial minutes during the televised broadcast on ABC Network, with General Motors airing 4 minutes of commercials (spending a total of $13.17 million). Instead of focusing on Cadillac as it has in years past, in 2006 GM also promoted its Hummer, Saab, and Yukon vehicles. L'Oreal, which became a major advertiser in 2005, aired 3 1/2 minutes of ads in 2006, double the amount than the year before. L'Oreal spent $11.53 million in 2006. The third largest advertiser in 2006 was Coca-Cola, which replaced Pepsi as the exclusive soft drink company. Coca-Cola spent $9.8 million to advertise their Diet Coke and Tab brands for 3 minutes. Total advertising revenue for the event was $80.7 million.

Average Cost for a 30-second Commercial

The cost for a 30-second commercial has increased 27.5% over the five-year period since 2002 ($1.29 million in 2002 to $1.65 million in 2006). Although the cost per commercial varies, total advertising expenditures during the program shows a steady increase.

Academy Avg Cost Per Winner of Best Picture

Award Year 30 Second Commercial

2006 $1,646,800 Crash

2005 $1,503,000 Million Dollar Baby

2004 $1,503,100 Lord of the Rings: Return of

the King

2003 $1,345,800 Chicago

2002 $1,290,000 A Beautiful Mind

2001 $1,450,000 Gladiator

2000 $1,305,000 American Beauty

1999 $1,000,000 Shakespeare in Love

1998 $950,000 Titanic

1997 $850,000 The English Patient

1996 $795,000 Braveheart

1995 $700,000 Forrest Gump

1994 $643,500 Schindler's List

1993 $607,800 Unforgiven

Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus

Online Usage (Nielsen//NetRatings)

Traffic to the three major Oscar Web sites (oscar.movies.yahoo.com, oscar.com and oscars.org) reached 1.7 million unique visitors on the day of the awards ceremony last year according to Nielsen//NetRatings. The next day, the combined Web traffic to these sites increased 60 percent to 2.7 million. Weekly unique visitors to these three Web sites grew 171 percent in the week ending in Oscar night, up to 2.8 million from 1.0 million the week before.

In 2006 Oscar.com grew 39 percent year over year, from an Oscar week unique audience of 518,000 to 720,000.

This year movie buffs have already started the Oscar countdown, driving visitation to the Web sites of Oscar-nominated films. The combined traffic to the Web sites of the major Oscar contenders increased 91 percent in December vs. November, from 584,000 to 1.1 million unique visitors.

Internet Buzz (Nielsen BuzzMetrics)

Nielsen BuzzMetrics audits Internet brand buzz before, during and after the Academy Awards, coming from its database of approximately 40 million blogs. BuzzMetrics provides advertisers with comprehensive data and deep insight around stickiness, virality and even the popularity of the event and the nominees.

The following chart shows the blog buzz for this year's Best Actor and Actress nominees. Among all Oscar related buzz where the top actors were referenced, Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker were most dominant in online conversation on weblogs relative to their fellow actors. Peter O'Toole was least buzzworthy.

BLOG BUZZ ONLINE

Internet Buzz in

Last 60 Days % of Internet Buzz

Best Actor Related to Among All Best

Nominees Oscars Actor Candidates

Helen Mirren 2431 16.3 %

Forest Whitaker 1840 12.4 %

Meryl Streep 1733 11.7 %

Leonardo DiCaprio 1721 11.6 %

Kate Winslet 1504 10.1 %

Judi Dench 1401 9.4 %

Ryan Gosling 1280 8.6 %

Will Smith 1088 7.3 %

Penelope Cruz 1032 6.9 %

Peter O'Toole 845 5.7 %

14875 100.0 %

Source: Nielsen BuzzMetrics

Lifestyle Characteristics of Academy Award Watcher (Scarborough Research)

Scarborough Research, a media and marketing service which measures lifestyle behaviors of American consumers, found that Academy Award watchers are 16% more likely to be female than the national average, and men are 17% less likely to have watched the Academy Awards last year. More than half (57%) of those who have watched the Awards ceremony on TV last year are married, while nearly one-quarter (24%) are single or never married.

Thirty-five percent of all Academy Award watchers typically watch national/network news, and are 36% more likely to watch news magazines. The fact that they are 'news savvy' may further suggest their participation and involvement with voting and politics. 83% of all Academy Award watchers are registered to vote and 76% always vote in presidential elections. The political affiliations of Academy Award watchers is 35% Democrat, 28% Republican, 9% Independent, 9% Independent but feel closer to Democrat, 6% Independent but feel closer to Republican and 14% are not affiliated with any party.

About The Nielsen Company

The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions and recognized brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information (Nielsen Media Research), business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek), trade shows and the newspaper sector (Scarborough Research). The privately held company has more than 42,000 employees and is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York, USA. For more information, please visit, http://www.nielsen.com/.

Source: The Nielsen Company

Web site: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/
http://www.nielsen.com/

Jessica Biel to Present at 79th Academy Awards®

Beverly Hills, CA — Jessica Biel will be a presenter for the 79th Academy Awards, telecast producer Laura Ziskin announced today. This will be her first appearance as an Oscar® presenter.

Biel was recently seen in “Home of the Brave” and “The Illusionist” and has a supporting role in the upcoming film “Next.” She will also be seen in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” with Adam Sandler. Her film credits include “Elizabethtown,” “Blade: Trinity,” “Stealth,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Rules of Attraction.”

Biel will join fellow actors Ben Affleck, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Eva Green, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon as a presenter on the show.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

# # #

Diane Keaton
to Make
Oscar® Show Appearance

Beverly Hills, CA — Academy Award® winner Diane Keaton is slated to be an Oscar presenter at the 79th Academy Awards®, telecast producer Laura Ziskin announced today.

Keaton took home the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in “Annie Hall” in 1977. She has received three other nominations, for her lead performances in “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room” and “Something’s Gotta Give.”

Keaton is currently filming “Smother” and will begin shooting “Mad Money” soon after. She was recently seen in “Because I Said So” and will be seen next in “Mama’s Boy.” Her other film credits include “The Family Stone,” “Town & Country,” “The First Wives Club” and “Baby Boom.” She appeared in all three “Godfather” films.

Keaton will join fellow actors Ben Affleck, Jessica Biel, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Eva Green, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon as a presenter on the show.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

# # #

Jennifer Lopez
to Make
Oscar® Show Appearance

Beverly Hills, CA — Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez will be an Oscar show presenter at the 79th Academy Awards®, producer Laura Ziskin announced today.

Lopez was recently seen in “The Singer “ and will be seen next in “Bordertown.” Her other film credits include “An Unfinished Life,” “Monster-in-Law,” “Shall We Dance,” “Maid in Manhattan,” “The Wedding Planner” and “Selena.”

Lopez will join fellow actors Ben Affleck, Jessica Biel, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Eva Green, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Tobey Maguire, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon as a presenter on the show.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

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Gwyneth Paltrow
Set to Make
Oscar® Show Appearance

Beverly Hills, CA — Academy Award® winner Gwyneth Paltrow is slated to be an Oscar presenter at the 79th Academy Awards®, show producer Laura Ziskin announced today.

Paltrow, who recently completed shooting “The Good Night,” won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the 1998 film “Shakespeare in Love.” She begins shooting “Iron Man” with Robert Downey, Jr. and Terrence Howard in March.

Her other film credits include “Running with Scissors,” “Proof,” “Sylvia,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Shallow Hal,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Emma.”

Paltrow will join fellow actors Ben Affleck, Jessica Biel, Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Will Ferrell, Eva Green, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Tobey Maguire, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Rachel Weisz, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon as a presenter on the show.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

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©A.M.P.A.S.®

Oscars® to Parade Down the Red Carpet

Beverly Hills, CA — Holding onto dreams of future Oscar® glory, 50 students from Inner-City Filmmakers (ICF), a training and film industry job development program, will carry the 50 Oscar statuettes of the 79th Academy Awards® down the red carpet to the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® on Saturday, February 24, at 10 a.m. Leading the parade will be Anacleto Medina of R.S. Owens & Company in Chicago, the awards specialty company that has been pouring and handcrafting the statuettes since 1983. Medina has been helping to craft the Oscars® that entire time.

The Oscar statuettes will overnight backstage, under close watch, until they are presented to the winners at the Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 25.

From their current display cases at “Meet the Oscars: An Exhibition of 50 Golden Statuettes,” where the statuettes have been residing since February 9 for public viewing, they will be transported to the red carpet, where they will be placed in the excited hands of the ICF students – the industry’s future animators, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, editors, sound editors, screenwriters and visual effects specialists – each of whom will then carry one statuette down the red carpet.

Established by filmmakers Fred Heinrich and Stephania Lipner following the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles, ICF reaches out to socially and economically underprivileged youth by creating awareness about and providing access to the professional world of filmmaking. This year’s nominee for Best Animated Feature Film, Gil Kenan of “Monster House,” was a beneficiary of the program.

The organization provides free year-round professional and business training, mentors and paid work opportunities to young adults (age 17 to 22) who aspire to build careers in the entertainment industry. ICF has successfully matched graduates with more than 500 behind-the-scenes industry job opportunities. For more information on ICF, visit www.innercityfilmmakers.com.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.

The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour red carpet arrivals segment, “The Road to the Oscars.”

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