Entertainment,Arts,Fashion & Technology
The Steve McQueen Collection Brings More Than $1-million Today
$2.9-Million Bonhams & Butterfields' Motorbikes Auction Sets World Auction Records in Los Angeles
Fans and Aficionados Vie for "King of Cool's" Collectibles
Admiration for the "King of Cool" fueled bidding on Saturday, November 11, 2006 as Bonhams & Butterfields offered and sold property from the widow of Steve McQueen at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles -- bringing more than $1-million for vintage motorcycles, biking memorabilia, home furnishings and antique toys acquired by the actor and his wife Barbara. Motorbikes from various owners and Steve McQueen memorabilia from other collections brought as much as $1.9-million for a grand total of $2.9-million for the day.
Applause broke out in the crowded salesroom after many lots were hammered as "sold" by Bonhams & Butterfields CEO and lead auctioneer Malcolm Barber. As well, several world record auction prices were achieved for rare machines and ephemera from noted collections. "Today, McQueen fans from across the globe acquired property from the legendary actor, with 100% of the lots offered by his widow sold to buyers," said Barber.
Vice President and Motoring Dept. Director Mark Osborne said, "The room was electrified with competitive bidding - and an international pool of bidders on telephones could sense the excitement in the room. This has been the most incredible auction I've had the pleasure of orchestrating."
McQueen collection at auction
Billy Gibbons from ZZ TOP
Top lots of the Nov. 11 sale include:
From the Collection of Barbara McQueen:
$177,500 paid for a circa 1934 Indian Sport Scout, one of the maker's most successful models in the 1930s and a favorite marque of Steve McQueen [lot # 176, est. $15/20,000]
$150,000 paid for Steve McQueen's circa 1920 Indian Powerplus Daytona racing bike [lot # 177, est. $60/90,000]
$128,000 paid for a 1958 GMC 101-series pickup truck, part of his ten-car collection housed at a famous Beverly Hills hotel during his extended stays in Southern California, described by Barbara McQueen as "Steve's baby" [Lot # 178, est. $40/60,000]
$70,200 paid for Steve McQueen's pair of Persol sunglasses with blue tinted lenses, believed to be worn in the opening scenes of the Thomas Crown Affair [Lot # 62, est. $2/3,000]
From the Silverman Museum Racing Collection and various owners:
$276,500 paid -- WORLD AUCTION RECORD -- for a 1937 Crocker "Hemi-head" V-Twin motorcycle [lot # 438, est. $165/200,000]
$70,200 paid for the 1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow two-door sedan from The Thomas Crown Affair [lot # 236A, est. $60/100,000]
$117,000 paid for a yellow Winton Flyer originally part of the Steve McQueen Collection and used in the film The Reivers (film also released as Yellow Winton Flyer), produced in 1969 by Steve McQueen and constructed by Von Dutch [lot # 261, est. $100/150,000]
$29,250 paid for the circa 2005 Triumph 865cc Bonneville Scrambler ridden by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III [lot #409, est. $14/18,000]
Saturday November 11 2006 at 11am
Auction Location:
The Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, California
Previews:
• Full Exhibition:
The Petersen Automotive Museum
Thursday November 9, 10am to 6pm
Friday November 10, 10am to 5pm
The Estate of Steve McQueen is neither a participant nor sponsor of this sale.
The Petersen Automotive Museum, www.petersen.org
Bonham & Butterfields, www.bonhams.com/us
H & M’s Grand Opening in Los Angeles
International fashion retailer’s H & M’s long awaited debut in Los Angeles finally arrived at the Beverly Center on November 9th. H & M’s runway style fashions at accessible everyday pricing has created a near cult-like following and a frenzied shopping atmosphere.
Eva Perez from Walnut was the first to arrive in line since 3:30 pm the previous days. Perez was encouraged by her aunt, who also waited in line, trading spaces for life’s necessities. Midst sleeping bags and chairs, the unseasonably warm temperatures for November, helped keep the crowd of over 1000 people a bit warmer than usual.
While Goodie bags might have been a motivation for some, most came to be the first to see and buy before they ran out of merchandise. About half of the people in the store were from the California Mart, Los Angeles’ fashion trade building, as recognized and estimated by a writer for a fashion forecaster. Goodie bags were given to the first 200 people in line with a keychain, shirt, H & M magazine, sewing kit and gift card ranging from $10 to $500.
H & M staff in anticipation of the opening, created a fun hip environment with what may just be the H & M Shuffle. H & M staff cheered and clapped past the people waiting to get in with tunes beating in the background.
The Beverly Center is the first location for H & M in Los Angeles. Collections for women, men, teens, children and lingerie are included in approximately 20,000 square feet. Pasadena is the one other Southern California location, however it only has womens’ clothing. H & M has more than 1200 location around the world in 24 countries.
H & M’s much anticipated Viktor & Rolf collection was due in H & M locations coinciding with the Los Angeles grand opening. The Viktor & Rolf collection, celebrates the third fashion partnership with Dutch designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren of the Viktor & Rolf label. Other successful high profile collaborations have been with high-profile designers Karl Lagerfeld and Stella Cartney.
George Martino of H&M Visual Merchandising
The Viktor & Rolf collection is built around a fashion love story with accessibly priced fashion for men and women. A memorable Viktor & Rolf ad has a bride in a $349 wedding gown between two grooms in $99 tuxedo jackets. Besides offering elegant evening looks, the collection includes casual everyday wear.
Eric Vincent Roberts and Pamela Hasselhoff
Pamela Hasselhoff (David Hasselhoff’s ex) and actor Eric Vincent Roberts (Julia Roberts’cousin) joined in the shopping experience. Hasselhoff is currently working on a cd.
Freddie Munoz Searches for Fashion Finds
Freddie Munoz (Malcolm in the Middle) was spotted shopping with a friend and some people from the Tyra Banks show stopped by for the grand opening.
In casual conversation at Microsoft’s Zune multimedia preview later that day, a H & M fan was excited to hear about the opening and remarked, “I went to the Pasadena store several days after it opened and waited in line for an hour and a half to get in.”
Eric Vincent Roberts, Pamela Hasselhoff, with H&M
H & M welcome to LA LA land. Shoppers are waiting.
www.hm.com
Grouper.com announced it would begin offering for the first time free download clips to more than 100 catalog movies and TV shows from Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).
The studio acquired the user-generated video-sharing site in August for $65 million.
The clips, which are available at ScreenBites — a new channel on Grouper — can be attached to personal blogs, emails and Web pages and posted on third-party sites such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.
The clips feature links that allow users the option to purchase the full-length film or TV show on DVD or digital download.
Movies range from A Few Good Men and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle to On the Waterfront and Taxi Driver. Television programs Television programs include “Diff’rent Strokes,” “Fantasy Island,” “The Jeffersons” and “The Three Stooges.”
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said the clips are designed to build traffic at Grouper and act as promotional tools for the studio’s library of more than 3,500 movies and 82,000 hours of TV programming.
He said the initial clips would focus on catalog fare with the prospect of including new releases under consideration.
“We may look at that going forward,” said Bishop. “This is new ground for all of us.”
He said the clips would help promote sales of DVD and TV DVD, in addition to electronic sell-through, because both customers frequent the site.
“Digital downloads are not for everyone and DVD has certainly proven out to be,” Bishop said. “It is a way for us to highlight key catalog titles that may not be top of mind.”
Bishop said it remains to be seen whether hype surrounding electronic sell-through impacts DVD sales considering the medium has yet to be embraced by the consumer.
“We suspect in the future it will be,” he said. “Historically, when you have an innovation like this, you end up growing the whole home entertainment pie. And the ease and use is not directly cannibalistic.
“It’s hard to project how the consumer will use it and when, but in our estimation it will be largely additive.”
Bishop said the picture quality from downloads does not compare to DVD or Blu-ray Disc and offering clips in high-definition on the Internet is difficult because of the required bit rate.
“Over time, I’m sure that will be possible,” he said.
Nana Visitor Beams into Big Screen's ''Babysitter Wanted''
Nov. 10, 2006 Big Screen Entertainment Group (OTC:BSEG) announces the addition of Nana Visitor to the cast of their new thriller, "Babysitter Wanted." Visitor joins previously announced cast members Matt Dallas ("Kyle KY"), Sarah Thompson ("Seventh Heaven"), Bruce Thomas ("Legally Blond"), Kristen Dalton ("The Departed") and Bill Moseley ("The Devil's Rejects").
Visitor is perhaps best known for her portrayal of "Major Kira Nerys" for seven seasons on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." She is currently in her third season playing "Dr. Jean Ritter" on the hit ABC Family series "Wildfire." Her long list of credits also includes "Dark Angel," "The Outer Limits" and "C.S.I." Additionally, she starred in the stage hit "Chicago."
"We're thrilled to have Nana join our already stellar cast," said BSEG President David Zappone. "As a life-long "Star Trek" fan, it's especially exciting to work with someone who has played such an integral part in that franchise."
Also joining the cast is director/actor/producer, Scott Spiegel of such films as "Hostel", "Hostel 2", "Spiderman 3", "From Dusk to Dawn 2," to mention a few. Spiegel plays a cameo role as a doctor.
"Babysitter Wanted" tells the story of Angie (Thompson), a small-town girl who leaves her devout mother (Visitor), to start college. She answers an ad for a babysitter, and her life suddenly veers into the unexpected.
Principal photography is currently underway.
About the Company:
Big Screen Entertainment Group (BSEG) is a full service entertainment company designed to develop, produce, purchase, exhibit and distribute products in all media formats, including motion pictures, television, music, publishing, video games and cell phone content.
BSEG has two completed films, two films in post-production, one film in production, five films and a MMORPG game in development. Visit our website at http://www.bigscreenent.com for more information on these movies.
Forward-Looking Statements:
A number of statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including timely development, and market acceptance of products and technologies, competitive market conditions, successful integration of acquisitions and the ability to secure additional sources of financing. When used in this press release, words such as "could," "plan," "estimate," "except," "intend," "may," "potential," "should," and similar expressions are forward looking statements.
decision to allow fans to share video snippets like Jerry Maguire's "Show me the money" or A Few Good Men's "You can't handle the truth" helps establish a standard for how much video you can post on your site without fear of retribution.
The company said yesterday it will allow fans to freely share segments of 100 movies and TV shows downloaded from Sony's recently acquired Grouper unit. It's calling those approved segments "ScreenBites".
If other studios follow suit, it would go a long way toward establishing a standard of more exact standard for "fair usage" for video -- something that exists for print, but not music or video. "The Daily Show," for example, will often parody snippets of material from networks like Fox or CNN -- without first getting permission.
But users and the networks that host them are a grey area. That's why Sony's ScreenBites news and yesterday's Microsoft announcement that it would pay a dollar for every Zune digital music player it sells (See yesterday's Can Zune Universal Save Music?) are so important.
The more you allow fans to use your material (within limits), the more you create a loyal fan base for your content. And what you lose on any fan's indiscretions you make up in increased exposure, good will and, ultimately, box office, subscription or ad dollars.
Consider that Real Networks is willing to allow fans to post some music for free on their sites, hoping they'll later sign up for its Rhapsody service. It even pays labels license fees each time someone clicks on a song.
The key is definining how MUCH content a fan can put on their site, just (as we previously observed) I can legally quote three sentences from any book or newspaper I like. Save your ire for the people who rip off your movies and sell or give them to hundreds of others.
Still, Sony's Grouper announcement shows that studios are wising up to the notion that fans' gratis posting of some copyrighted material can actually help their business. Look for more announcements like this soon.
Grouper is the RC Cola to YouTube's Coke, and 100 fragments of Sony films are available on the site. They're called ScreenBites.
Don Rickles Will Be First of Legendary Performers Honored in New Caesars Palace Celebrity Walk of Fame
Whoopi Goldberg to Introduce the Famed Comedian in Nov. 15 Sidewalk Ceremony
Nov. 10 / Caesars Palace in Las Vegas announced today that it will celebrate 40 years of great headliner performers with the installation of bronze plaques in the sidewalks that rim the resort's front fountains and gardens at the Las Vegas Strip. The first superstar performer to be immortalized in the resort's new Roman Plaza walk of fame will be one of comedy's premiere funnymen, Don Rickles. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 6:45 p.m., Rickles will be presented a commemorative plaque in a sidewalk ceremony; the first of many presentations celebrating unforgettable performances at the resort. The plaque will be unveiled by comedy, film and radio star Whoopi Goldberg.
Because the inaugural honor coincides with The Comedy Festival, Nov. 14 - 18, at Caesars Palace, the resort chose the comedy star as its first honoree. A featured Comedy Festival star, Rickles will perform his legendary stand-up show with a full orchestra on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets for Rickles' Comedy Festival performance are on sale at ticketmaster.com.
Named the Caesars Palace Laurel, the bronze plaque will display a large laurel wreath along with Rickles' name, autograph and the ceremony date. The public is invited to attend the presentation, free of charge. (In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in The Comedy Festival Village, in the Caesars Palace Roman Plaza.)
"From Jack Benny, Judy Garland and George Burns, to Celine Dion, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld, Caesars Palace has been the performing home of the world's greatest entertainers," said Gary Selesner, President of Caesars Palace. "In that stellar company, Don Rickles represents the very best in comedy and in entertainment. We are pleased to honor him and to thank him for giving us the gift of laughter for nearly five decades."
More information about The Comedy Festival stars, performances and activities is available online at www.thecomedyfestival.com.
More Republicans than Democrats Online, But Web Users Leaning "Moderate"More Republicans than Democrats Online, But Web Users Leaning "Moderate"
Nielsen//NetRatings finds that 36.6 percent of U.S. adults online are Republicans, 30.8 percent are Democrats and 17.3 percent are Independents in a recent release.
Nielsen//NetRatings analyst Ken Cassar, said "The fact that the online population is more heavily composed of Republicans than Democrats is principally a function of the Republican party's higher composition within the overall electorate. This is exacerbated by the fact that online penetration continues to be deeper among affluent households, which have historically skewed Republican."
The Web site with the highest concentration of Republicans was RushLimbaugh.com, then NewsMax.com and Bill O'Reilly.com. The Drudge Report and Salt Lake Tribune rounded out the top five Republican sites.
Among Democrats, the top three sites were BlackAmericaWeb.com, AOL BlackVoices and BET.com. Salon.com and Village Voice ranked fourth and fifth among Democrats.
Top 5 Sites among Republicans and Democrats (U.S., 18+ Online Population) | |||
Site | Republican Site Comp (%) | Site | Democratic Site Comp (%) |
RushLimbaugh.com | 84.8 | BlackAmericaWeb.com | 79.9 |
NewsMax.com | 65.4 | AOL BlackVoices | 64.8 |
Bill O'Reilly.com | 65.4 | BET.com | 58.6 |
Drudge Report | 59.0 | Salon.com | 55.3 |
Salt Lake Tribune | 57.9 | Village Voice | 55.2 |
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings, Fall 2006 Release | |||
More Online political party variance...
Political party members also have distinct tastes in online newspapers:
- WSJ.com has predominantly Republican readers, at 40.2 percent
- Democrats make up 25.8 percent of WSJ.com's readership
- Independents are at 24.3 percent
The New York Times online is a favorite among Democrats:
- Democrats make up 52.3 percent of its readership
- Independents compose 22.6 percent
- Republicans are at 18.3 percent
When respondents were asked about their political leaning:
- 36.1 percent, identified themselves as "Moderate"
- 32.5 percent, identified themselves as "Conservative/Very Conservative"
- 19.8 percent of respondents identified themselves as "Liberal/Very Liberal"
With regard to party allegiance demographics, neither party seemed to favor a particular gender or age group. Among racial groups:
- African Americans skewed Democratic; with a composition index of 231, they were over twice as likely to be Democratic as the average Web user
- Asians were 36 percent more likely than the average Web user to be Democratic
- Hispanics were 28 percent more likely to be Democratic
- White people were slightly more likely to be Republican
Neil Young's "Let's Impeach The President" Video Available Immediately
There have been very few songs in recent history with the flashpoint reaction of Neil Young's "Let's Impeach The President." Included on his recent album "Living With War," the song was immediately pinpointed by both sides of the political spectrum for its direct indictment of the presidency of George W. Bush. Young has made videos for every song on the "Living With War" album, and is releasing the video for "Let's Impeach The President" today.
"Let's impeach the President for lyin' And misleading our country into war Abusing all the power that we gave him And shipping all our money out the door"*
First released on May 6, 2006, "Living With War" was seen as a unique album, even by Neil Young's standards. Focused on current events of both the Iraq war and life in America during the 43rd president's rule, many fans and journalists immediately felt it was among the singer-songwriter's strongest work. Opposing views also made themselves known, and it was instantly clear that the music had a galvanizing effect on listeners. During this summer's Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tour, named Freedom of Speech 2006, audiences reacted wildly to the band's music, both new and previous classics, and sparked a healthy controversy in several cities during the concerts.
"Who's the man who hired all the criminals? The White House shadows who hide behind closed doors They bend the facts to fit with their new story Of why we had to send our men to war"*
The "Let's Impeach The President" video is available now at www.neilyoung.com.
*© Neil Young, Silver Fiddle Music
Award-Winning Northern Kentucky University
Selects Jampro Wide Band Antenna
Jampro Antennas of Sacramento, California has received an order for a Jampro model JDIY 2-bay broad band FM antenna from Jeff Johnson, Chief Engineer at WNUK-FM. WNUK, the public service radio station of Northern Kentucky University, is widely known for high quality programming that has earned the station scores of national, regional, state and local awards for news and journalism.
Bob Groome, Jampro's Domestic Sales Manager anounced, "Jampro is honored to be associated with one of the finest college radio programs in the country. The sheer simplicity of the JDIY design gives low-power stations like WNKU the flexibility and performance they need to put out a great signal." The sale was made through Jampro's dealer, Broadcasters General Store of Ocala, Florida.
New Rob Dickinson Music Video Shot Entirely on the Nokia N93
-- Last night, Nokia (NYSE:NOK) premiered musician Rob Dickinson's new video, "Oceans;" which is the first music video created solely on a Nokia Nseries multimedia computer -- the first music video ever done solely on a device of its class.
Directed by Mike Hodgkinson, "Oceans" is the second single off Rob Dickinson's debut solo album, entitled Fresh Wine for the Horses. The "Oceans" music video was shot by Hodgkinson on the Nokia N93, a 3.2 megapixel cameraphone with DVD quality video and Carl Zeiss optics.
"The great thing about the Nokia N93 cameraphone is that we were able to go anywhere with it. We didn't have to lug a camera crew around thanks to the luxury of such a compact and versatile device," said Mike Hodgkinson, director of 'Oceans'. "We were able to get some very creative shots with it, even underwater and we also created an aerial shot with a bunch of helium balloons -- we really pushed the Nokia N93 to its limits, and it responded fantastically."
"It's a testament to the skill and inventiveness of Mike Hodgkinson, and the sheer quality of the Nokia N93 that the video has come out so brilliantly. I think the fact that most people are amazed when they are told that it was all shot on a cellphone says it all," commented Rob Dickinson. "That something so small and portable can produce such stunning results gives hope to independent artists everywhere, and credit to Nokia for encouraging this project from the start."
"Nokia is about connecting people with their passions and it's truly impressive to see how artists like Mike and Rob can bring their creative visions to life, particularly knowing it was done with an N93," said Andrew Elliott, Director of Multimedia Experiences, Nokia America. "We encourage people, from professional to hobbyist, to explore the full capacity of the Nokia Nseries devices to express themselves."
The Nokia N93 features a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, DVD- like video capture and optical zoom. The Nokia N93 can connect directly to your TV for a widescreen movie experience or upload your images and video to online albums or blogs. Consumers can also create high-quality home movies and burn them to DVD with the Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 software that comes in box with the Nokia N93.
The Nokia N93 is currently available in the United States and worldwide. Photos and video of the N93 can be found at http://www.nokia.com/A4136017?category=n93 . To view the new 'Oceans' music video as well as the creative 'Making of Oceans' video by Mike Hodgkinson, please visit http://www.nokia.com/nseries/index.html#studio,initiatives,oceans .
For more information on Rob Dickinson, please visit http://www.robdickinson.com/ .
About Nokia Nseries
Nokia Nseries is a range of high performance multimedia devices that delivers unparalleled mobile multimedia experiences by combining the latest technologies with stylish design and ease of use. With Nokia Nseries products, consumers can use a single device to enjoy entertainment, access information and to capture and share pictures and videos, whenever and wherever they want.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. http://www.nokia.com/
Lionsgate Brings Home a Living Doll With Bratz(TM) Franchise, Acquiring U.S. Distribution Rights From Crystal Sky Pictures to First-Ever Bratz(TM) Live Action Theatrical Feature
Film to Begin Production in February 2007 Under Director Sean McNamara, Produced by Arad Productions, MGA Entertainment and Crystal Sky Pictures
Studio Also Reaches Distribution Deal With MGA Entertainment for Future Animated Bratz(TM) Direct-To-DVD Features
First Title Under Direct-To-DVD Deal, BRATZ FASHION PIXIEZ(TM), Slated to Be Released in Spring 2007
Nov. 10 -- Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) , the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, announced that it will become home to the expanding entertainment franchise for Bratz(TM), the highly popular brand of fashion dolls manufactured by leading consumer entertainment products company MGA Entertainment. The announcement today was made by Lionsgate President Steve Beeks.
The studio has acquired from Crystal Sky Pictures the U.S. distribution rights to the first feature film based on the popular Bratz(TM) characters, tentatively entitled BRATZ: THE MOVIE. Crystal Sky Pictures is financing the live action feature film, directed by Sean McNamara (RAISE YOUR VOICE, "That's So Raven") and written by Susan Estelle Jansen (THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE). MGA's Isaac Larian, Arad Productions' Avi Arad, and Crystal Sky's Steven Paul are producing the picture, and Crystal Sky Pictures president Benedict Carver will executive produce.
Lionsgate and MGA Entertainment have also reached a deal that provides the studio with the exclusive North American home entertainment distribution rights to future Bratz(TM) animated and direct-to-DVD features. The first title to be released under the deal will be BRATZ FASHION PIXIEZ(TM), an all-new direct-to-DVD feature that is scheduled for release in Spring 2007.
Bratz(TM) has quickly become one of the world's foremost toy lines and girls' lifestyle brands since its introduction in 2001, and its addition to Lionsgate's ever-growing library of popular children's brands enhances the Company's leadership as one of the primary distributors of children's and family entertainment. The Bratz(TM) array of spin-off products include a Bratz(TM) magazine, a top-rated animated series on 4 KidsTV, a number of DVD titles and videogames, as well as a number one-selling album on the Billboard Children's Chart and multiple lines of clothing, footwear and other accessories.
"There is no company that has a better pulse on what today's girl is looking for than MGA," said Lionsgate's Beeks. "Bratz(TM) has been a phenomenal success story; it's amazing to realize that the property is only five years old when considering its incredible popularity and penetration in the marketplace. At Lionsgate, we pride ourselves on delivering positive messages through unique and exciting experiences that empower young girls to follow their dreams. Bratz(TM) is a perfect complement to our ever-growing line of successful children's and family entertainment. We forged a terrific relationship with Avi Arad making THE PUNISHER and the direct-to-DVD Marvel Animated Feature series, and we are thrilled to be working with him at his new production company."
"I'm delighted that BRATZ will again give me the opportunity work with my friends at Lionsgate," said Avi Arad, Chairman, Arad Productions. "With its target audience of young girls, BRATZ represents a new chapter in the movie franchise business, and we couldn't ask for a better partner in this adventure than Lionsgate."
"We are very excited about working with Arad Productions and Crystal Sky Pictures to create the definitive BRATZ live action feature film," said Isaac Larian, CEO, MGA Entertainment. "We consider Lionsgate an ideal partner for our Bratz(TM) live action theatrical film and animated features and welcome the company's innovative marketing techniques."
"BRATZ underscores Crystal Sky's strategy of delivering strong film franchises to the worldwide distribution community," said Steven Paul, Chairman and CEO, Crystal Sky Pictures. "I am excited to be in business once again with Avi Arad, and for the first time with Isaac Larian of MGA; and there is no one better in marketing and distribution than our friends at Lionsgate."
MGA Entertainment will support BRATZ FASHION PIXIEZ(TM) and each subsequent Bratz(TM) direct-to-DVD feature with all-new lines of dolls and other toys based on each of the movies. The marketing and promotional campaign supporting the releases will include a massive advertising campaign, cross promotions and much more. Additional details on the marketing programs will be released at a later date.
BRATZ -- SYNOPSIS
BRATZ follows four teenage girls who are from socially and economically diverse backgrounds. What they have in common is their wish to be themselves and realize their dreams and aspirations. They start their journey separated by high school cliques, only to realize that by becoming Bratz, their lives will be more fulfilling. A story of empowerment and wish fulfillment, told through a unique mix of song, dance, and of course, fashion!
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning this year's Best Picture Academy Award(R) for CRASH, generating two consecutive years of $300 million-plus domestic theatrical box office, operating a $500 million-plus home entertainment business and producing a broad slate of prime time television series for fiscal 2007. It is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 10,000 titles is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
Lionsgate Family Entertainment will release its first theatrical feature, the animated comedy HAPPILY N'EVER AFTER, on January 5, 2007. Upcoming theatrical films include the animated comedy FOODFIGHT!, due November 16, 2007. Lionsgate is one of the top two studios in direct-to-DVD children's features, and recently released the first titles under its multi-title deal with Marvel Entertainment to develop, produce, and distribute original animated DVD features based on some the company's most popular Superheroes, such as Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. In addition, Lionsgate recently released ARTHUR'S MISSING PAL, the first-ever CGI animated feature starring Arthur the aardvark and is also the distributor of The Doodlebops, Care Bears, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Maya & Miguel and other franchises.
ABOUT MGA ENTERTAINMENT
MGA Entertainment, a consumer entertainment products company headquartered in Van Nuys, California manufactures innovative lines of proprietary and licensed products, including toys, games, dolls, consumer electronics, home décor, stationery and sporting goods. BRATZ, which MGA launched in June 2001, has become one of the world's leading toy lines and girls' lifestyle brands. The BRATZ brand is also noted for having won Family Fun magazine's Toy of the Year Award four years in a row. With over 400 licensees worldwide, the BRATZ brand is distributed in more than 65 countries. For more information please visit: www.mgae.com and http://www.bratz.com/.
ABOUT ARAD PRODUCTIONS
Arad Productions is the personal producing outfit of Avi Arad. Arad is the producer of SPIDER-MAN 2 and SPIDER-MAN 3; X-MEN: THE LAST STAND; GHOST RIDER; THE HULK; DAREDEVIL; THE PUNISHER; ELEKTRA; and FANTASTIC FOUR. He is the executive producer of SPIDER-MAN; X-MEN and X2: X-MEN UNITED; BLADE, BLADE II and BLADE: TRINITY. As a specialist in youth marketing, Arad invented many toys and has produced numerous animated shows.
ABOUT CRYSTAL SKY PICTURES
One of the oldest independent film production, sales and financing companies in Hollywood, Crystal Sky, LLC was founded in 1977 by its chairman and CEO Steven Paul. Paul's credits include conceiving and creating the BABY GENIUSES franchise. Currently in post-production for Crystal Sky Pictures and Marvel Studios is GHOST RIDER, directed by Mark Steven Johnson and starring Nicolas Cage. In post-production for Crystal Sky Pictures is BIG STAN, starring Rob Schneider. In pre-production is DOOMSDAY written and directed by Neil Marshall for Rogue Pictures and the video game Castlevania from Konami written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
Josh Groban to Sign Copies of His New CD at the Borders(R) in L.A.
Nov. 10 -- Who: Grammy(R) Award nominee, Josh Groban.
What: Josh Groban signs copies of his new CD, "Awake." This event will not include a performance by the artist.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. Where: Borders-Westwood 1360 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 (310) 475-3444
Why: Committed to enriching lives through entertainment and knowledge, Borders offers customers the opportunity to meet their favorite authors and musicians in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. With the Nov. 7 release of his new CD, "Awake," fans of Josh Groban will have the opportunity to meet the artist in an intimate bookstore setting and be among the first to have the chance to have the CD autographed.
Additional Information: To ensure that Josh Groban is able to meet all of the fans attending this event, no photographs are allowed at the signing table. No items other than the CD "Awake" will be autographed. He will be unable to personalize his message when autographing CDs. No memorabilia will be signed.
Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m., 500 wristbands will be given out to customers who have purchased a copy of Josh Groban's CD "Awake." There is a limit of two autographed items per wristband. Customers must be present to receive a wristband. Wristbands will be given out on a first come, first served basis and will offer customers the opportunity to get CDs signed. Copies of Josh Groban's CD "Awake" are available for purchase at Borders stores.
RHN to Debut "Overdrive" Video Saturday
RMDG Going for Big Push on Radio as a Result of Video Play PHILADELPHIA, PA -- (-- November 10, 2006 -- RMD Entertainment Group (PINKSHEETS: RMDG) proudly announced today that Roc Monee's debut video for the single "Overdrive" will be debuted this Saturday, November 11th on RHN (Real Hip Hop Network) and stay in heavy rotation which entails 4 to 6 plays a day on the network during broadcast hours. RHN currently reaches over 25 million throughout the country. This is a major boost to the promotion of Roc Monee's debut album entitled "Diamond in the Rough." RHN also made the commitment to putting the video on the ROO TV site www.rhn.tv as well. (At the time of this release there was no exact day scheduled for debut on the website.)
"I have been in the Hip Hop game for over 15 years and it has been a long time since an artist dropped a debut album like 'Diamond in the Rough.' The album has become one of my personal favorites to listen too. It is our pleasure for RHN to broadcast Roc's video," says Kenny Black, Executive Vice President of Music for RHN. "'Overdrive' is a high energy song that really showcases the lyrical skills of Roc as an artist. The video production is quality and I know we will see other videos from him because this album is so deep with hits. We look forward to continuing our support of Roc and RMDG with the upcoming production of Roc Monee's one hour special as well."
Giorgio Costonis, CEO of RMDG, said, "This is such a great day. I am happy for Roc. I am happy for RMDG. I am happy for our shareholders, and I am appreciative of RHN's efforts. In the short time span of a year we have really started to make an impact with our focus on urban media. I always knew this day would come when millions could view for themselves the product that our staff and artists could bring to the table through their hard work. I am very proud to be associated with this company as we continue to grow in our quest to become the number one corporation in Hip Hop. We once again thank our shareholders because it would not have been possible without you. God Bless you all."
|
Fred Rollins, President of RMDG, added, "Being on RHN is huge for us. With the first video out there in front of a large amount of viewers, I can now initiate the second wave of radio promotion for Roc. To this point we have focused on certain deejays and mix shows with his single. The goal now is to target the program directors of the stations themselves so we can achieve spins across all time slots across the board. In anticipation for the RHN world premier of the video we have done a huge mass mailing on 'Overdrive' to all the key radio stations in our demographic. My team and I will be following up with each one personally via meeting or conference call to ramp up the amount of spins for Roc. This puts the promotion into second and third gear if you will and should begin the process of making Roc Monee and RMDG household names. If these goals are met effectively we should make a huge impact on sales numbers of the album and the digital sales as well. I am confident we can get this done."
About RMD Entertainment Group
RMD Entertainment (RMD) is a cutting-edge entertainment company that is primarily focused on the development and international marketing of 'Hip Hop' music, including compact discs, digital downloads, and personal 'ring tones' for mobile phone customers, as well as other 'Hip Hop' lifestyle products. The Company has also created MOTV, the ability to stream video content to mobile devices, including cell phones and PDAs. The Company current possesses an impressive hip-hop catalogue, which it distributes exclusively through Bungalo Records and Universal Music Group (a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal) in North America and in Europe through the Pickwick Group Ltd. of London.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of RMD Entertainment Group, Inc., and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.
Spider-Man(R) 3 Trailer to Debut Exclusively Across Multiple Viacom Platforms and on CBS
Unprecedented Trailer Road Block to Premiere Thursday, Nov. 9, at Approximately 10 p.m. (ET/PT), on BET, CBS, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Spike TV and VH1
Following Television Premiere, High-Definition Version of Trailer to Be Posted Exclusively on MTV Networks' IFILM.com
, Nov. 8 "Spider-Man(R)" fans will get a long-awaited sneak peek at Columbia Pictures' highly anticipated motion picture Spider-Man(R) 3 when a new, full-length, two-and-a-half minute trailer debuts in a special unprecedented "road block" across Viacom Inc. 's (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIA.B) brands and on the CBS Television Network on Thursday, November 9, at approximately 10:00 pm. Spider-Man 3, starring Tobey Maguire and directed by Sam Raimi, kicks off next summer's moviegoing season on May 4, 2007.
The television networks airing the new trailer include BET, CBS, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Spike TV and VH1, with each supporting the event with custom promotions both on-air and online. A total of 14 online destinations from Viacom's networks are supporting the airing of the trailer, including AddictingGames.com, AddictingClips.com, BET.com, MTV.com, IFILM.com, Nick.com, ComedyCentral.com, GameTrailers.com, LOGOonline.com, Neopets.com, SpikeTV.com, The-N.com, VH1.com, and Xfire.com.
Immediately following the television premiere, a high-definition version of the trailer will be available exclusively on MTV Networks' IFILM.com.
"The Spider-Man franchise appeals to audiences of all ages and we wanted to find a special partner that would reach Spidey fans everywhere," said Valerie Van Galder, President of Domestic Marketing for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. "This is not only event television, but it's event online programming and Viacom and CBS have an umbrella of world renowned brands that were a perfect match for our movie online, on cable and on network television. We couldn't be more excited to launch this new Spider-Man(R) 3 trailer in this innovative way."
In Spider-Man(R) 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. As Spider-Man basks in the public's adulation for his accomplishments, Peter becomes overconfident and starts to neglect the people who care about him most. His newfound self-assuredness is jeopardized when he faces the battle of his life against two of the most feared villains ever, Sandman and Venom, whose unparalleled power and thirst for retribution threaten Peter and everyone he loves.
Spider-Man(R) 3 reunites the cast and filmmakers from the first two blockbuster adventures -- which have grossed more than $1.6 billion worldwide.
Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.
Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics. Offering programming and content for television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom's world-class brands include MTV Networks (MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 130 networks around the world), BET Networks, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, DreamWorks and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at www.viacom.com.
CBS Corporation (NYSE:CBS.A) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW -- a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution Group), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), digital media (CBS Digital Media Group and CSTV Networks) and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
You are receiving this email as part of your Sony Pictures Network membership and/or Sony Pictures Spotlight and/or SPIDER-MAN Network membership subscription. You are subscribed with the address: joycelchow@montebubbles.net. |
Shecky’s Girls Night Out
Shecky’s Girls Night Out is a new way to shop with your girlfriends in New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Shecky’s VIP mailing list has been advising me of various shopping events with their Fall 2006 Girls Night Out and this one was too enticing to pass up being promoted as Los Angeles’s hottest shopping party with discounts marked up to 75% off retail, hot up-and-coming designers, beauty treats, complimentary cocktails and endless free goodies.
Complimentary cocktails served or from booths of endless libations available from Amstel Light, Little Black Dress Wines and Midori kept the shoppers smiling with their goodie bags (which could actually be worth more than $100) in the open California Mart space. Designers and vendors ranged from clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, skin care, purses, to informational exhibits with American Laser Centers, the Beverly Hills Physicians and the Geffen Playhouse.
Pricing for the fashion finds other than the steal of a deal with TooFaced cosmetics (whose crowd often seemed to be near stampede or tales of Filene’s Basement), ranged from steals to a typical department sale of 25% off retail or bonus holiday pricing. The true find for shopping fashionistas though is discovering unique items at reasonable prices.
Fashion finds discovered:
- Charmed Life, www.charmedlifejewelry.com
Sterling silver affirmation discs and hearts available in necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and clothing for moms, fems and daughters. They have the broadest range of affirmations seen including such words as Abundance, Change, Dog Lover, Goddess, Miracles, and Vision. Charmed Life was created by sisters who were moms that wanted to stay home with their kids.
- Jodibwise, www.jodibwise.com
Artful fashion wraps to glam up a casual look or create an elegant entrance with tops, belts or aprons. Stunning sheers, handpaintings, and tapestries are favorites of this Aussie chick whose fashion philosophy is that each item of clothing we wear should be an art piece in and of itself.
- Kay Lim, www.kaylimdesign.com
Trendy, functional, sometimes reversible, and just plain fun are traits of this young designer’s creations. Whether a fanny pack or reversible skirt, color combinations promote versatility in casualness.
- Booty Parlor, www.bootyparlor.com
Where sexy meets fabulous and crowds second only to the steal of a deal TooFaced cosmetics, giggles abounded. Pink and treats for pleasure, (re)ignites a spark and a glisten of naughtiness. Toy categories and dress ups and you may just think of having a party.
- Hidden Hair, www.hiddenhair.com
Amazing do it yourself permanent hair extensions in 16 colors of classic beauties such as Audrey, Sophia, Zsa Zsa and Marilyn. Whether you’re interested in creating more fullness or lengthening your hair, it’s a very reasonable alternative to traditional hair extensions installed at a salon. Made form the highest quality human remi hair you’re able to treat it like your own through the wear and even darken the color. It lasts from 3 to 5 weeks.
- Lush, www.lush.com
Fresh homemade cosmetics to indulge your senses and make you feel, well, like a lush. Bath Bombs and soaps are specialties with favorites such as Romance In a Stone (happy thoughts), Youki-Hi (sensual aphrodisiac), Chelsea Garden (perfect peace), and best seller Sex Bomb. Body butters like Dream Cream, solid shampoo bars like the Jungle or Reincarnate.
- Solas Fashion, www.solasfashion.com
Enlighten yourself and light up your night with this celeb purse favorite. A splash of spirtituality and inspirational lighting in classic styles with casual to dressy flexibility. The most popular Healing Clutch and Eleanor have been celeb favorites seen in Star, Lucky and InTouch. A built in battery operated lighting with replaceable batteries, light the way so you can find your keys, as in the initial inspiration.
- Uptown Savvy, www.uptownsavvy.com
Head turner styling yet classic for years this boutique has a following created by the savvy buying of these sisters. Capitivating as retailer Caché, you’ll at least know everyone won’t know where you found it. Don’t be fooled by their website, their advice and candidness will make you think you’ve found your own stylist.
Shopping can be intoxicating so make sure you eat beforehand or bring your own designated driver. Minus food except for a few chocolates and cookies, with plentiful libations, could be good or bad depending on your shopping habits. Bring credit cards and cash, but remember to save extra cash for parking, as the California Mart increased pricing for the event higher than the posted amount upon entry.
While discounted pricing can be found elsewhere, there are enough unique finds in this shopping experience to warrant a Shecky’s Girls Night Out of fun.
Beautiful and sexy college senior Kayden Kross, who says she was a bookworm before she blossomed into a sexual dynamo, has signed a contract to become an adult star with Vivid Entertainment.
The 21-year-old, 5’5” blonde student at Sacramento State College in California will become a Vivid Girl, one of the elite group of actresses for the world’s leading producer of XXX films.
“I was finding it harder and harder to see how my studies could work into a career that would get me motivated,” says Kayden. “I still intend to get my degree, but I am more excited about launching my life with Vivid. I’m definitely ready for my next adventure which includes having multiple partners. I know I’m going with the top company and I’m really excited about it.”
Kayden, who is a published poet, claims her sexuality became more important to her once she turned 18 and started dancing at a local gentlemen’s club. It wasn’t long before she was contacted by an agent and soon she was modeling for Penthouse, Hustler, Club, Swank and Rockstar magazines.
“I think I’m basically a reserved person,” she said, “but I’m pretty turned on just under the surface and, if the situation is right, I can really be outgoing. I had to work as a waitress in a gentlemen’s club for weeks before I got up the nerve to go on stage, but then I got to love it and I looked forward to getting all dressed up and going to work to be with my friends.”
Kayden says that she likes well-dressed men, especially those who are a bit older than she is. “If I like someone and he really looks good in a suit, that does it for me,” she said. “I’m also still looking for a guy who likes to ride horses, because I’ve got two and it would be great if we could go riding together.”
She said “Times have changed about perceptions of the adult industry. All of my friends were supportive of my decision to make this move.” She will start filming her first movie for Vivid in November.
About Vivid:
The Vivid Entertainment Group is the world’s leading adult film company. Founded in 1984, Vivid pioneered the “Vivid Girl” concept, under which top adult film stars are signed to exclusive agreements that are styled on the old Hollywood contract star system. Vivid has always placed heavy emphasis on high quality erotic film entertainment for the couples market. It has created wide brand-name awareness through its films and through a licensing and marketing program that extends to advertising, apparel, book publishing, virility supplements, condoms, snowboards, calendars and comic books. The company is known for its innovative technological advances such as full function DVDs, a fast growing wireless program that is already active in 20 countries, its Burn-to-DVD technology and its popular website www.vivid.com. Vivid is a major supplier of content for pay-per-view networks in North America and internationally. The best selling hardcover book How to Have a XXX Sex Life: The Ultimate Vivid Guide, was co-authored by the Vivid Girls and published by HarperCollins. The company started the Vivid-Alt imprint in 2006. For more information contact rm@vivid.com.
SPIKE Taps RHI Entertainment to Produce First Ever Slate of Movies
12 Action-Adventure Themed Films to Debut on SPIKE Starting Winter 2007
Nov. 9 SPIKE has agreed to terms with RHI Entertainment, the industry leader of miniseries and movies made for television, to produce an action-packed slate of movies for the network. The agreement was negotiated by Robert Halmi, Jr., President and CEO of RHI Entertainment, and Robert Friedman, Senior Vice President of Programming at SPIKE.
According to the terms of this multi-picture deal, RHI Entertainment will produce 12 movies for SPIKE, to be delivered starting October 2007. The agreement includes all television rights for the RHI Entertainment package and also incorporates integrated marketing and product placement opportunities. The package includes action-adventure and crime-drama projects.
"Action-packed films speak directly to our target demographic and is exactly the type of programming SPIKE viewers want to see," said Friedman.
"The Halmis are pros at delivering great storytelling. We look forward to working together with them on these movies," says Pancho Mansfield, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, SPIKE.
"We're thrilled to be producing films for SPIKE and their discriminating action-craving audience," said Halmi. "By combining marquee talent, exotic shooting locations, high production values and powerful storylines, RHI Entertainment consistently delivers large-scale productions with theatrical- release quality."
RHI Entertainment is a global leader in the production and distribution of groundbreaking miniseries and movies for television. Since the company's inception, under the guidance of Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr., RHI has produced and distributed over 4,000 hours of quality television programming, received 104 Emmy Awards, and outperformed the competition annually in viewer ratings. Currently, RHI provides 40-60 new television movies and miniseries a year to networks worldwide.
SPIKE is available in 90 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks is a division of Viacom International Inc.
Source: SPIKE TV
Sugarland Is Really 'Enjoying The Ride' During Their Album Release Week
Nov. 9 Multi-platinum Sugarland is realizing that they indeed chose the perfect title for their sophomore album, ENJOY THE RIDE. The November 7th release has been accompanied with a week full of radio promotions, TV appearances and live performances all leading up to a homecoming concert in Atlanta.
"It's a good thing we named the record 'ENJOY THE RIDE' because this has been a wild one," exclaimed lead singer Jennifer Nettles. "In two weeks we've done five cities in five days for radio promotion, been on Good Morning America, performed on the CMA's, met and performed on The Martha Stewart Show (we HAVE to go back and make a craft), and are going to Atlanta for our first homecoming show in two years! Oh, but what a sweet ride it is!"
Sugarland will perform at the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta on November 10th and are thrilled to be going home.
"Last time we played Atlanta it was 500 people in the club down the street, said Kristian Bush. "Our friends aren't going to believe that now we're playing the amphitheatre down the street. I'm just thrilled to be able to drive my car to the show!"
Next week, Sugarland heads back to New York for more television appearances including a special performance on Sesame Street.
"Want To," the album's first single, is poised to repeat the group's previous success as it has garnered a Hot Shot Debut, Greatest Gainer and Most Airplay Adds a week prior to its August 7 release. "Want To" currently sits at #4 on both the R&R/Billboard and Media Base Charts.
For more information on Sugarland, contact
Abe Froman Showmen Penetrate Playboy Club Las Vegas and New National Television Show
Hottest DJ Collective in the United States Announce Their New Residencies
Nov. 9 The Abe Froman Showmen, an elite DJ collective comprised of DJ StoneRokk, Graham Funke and DJ Cobra, have announced today that they have signed new residency deals. DJ StoneRokk and Graham Funke with the Playboy Club Las Vegas and Moon Nightclub, located in the Playboy Tower at the Palms Hotel and Casino; while DJ Cobra has signed with "Comics Unleashed" a new nationally syndicated television show created, hosted and executive produced by Byron Allen, airing five new episodes per week.
The Abe Froman Showmen are hands down the most highly respected and sought after DJ crew in Los Angeles and beyond. As a collective they play to over 100,000 club goers every month; having residency contracts at venues from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, St. Louis, Oklahoma and Kansas City among several other cities. Their client list of magazines, premiere parties, fashion labels and corporate endorsements include heavy-hitters such as CHANEL, VANITY FAIR, MAXIM MAGAZINE, STUFF, MTV, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, ROCK & REPUBLIC, ROBERTO CAVALLI, BURBERRY, PLAYBOY, DREAMWORKS, and E! ENTERTAINMENT. Over the years, these deejays have retained a tremendous celebrity following and are oftentimes handpicked to play at private events for who's who of the entertainment world.
DJ StoneRokk, who currently holds weekly residencies at such Los Angeles hotspots as Area, Les Deux, Privilege, and Element on their marquee nights, will be the new resident at the Moon Nightclub, Las Vegas every Friday. Graham Funke, currently the national music director for Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (www.fortydeuce.com ), is the first and only deejay to be sent overseas by the Navy Entertainment/Armed Forces Entertainment Agency to perform for the troops as a headliner, and will be gearing up for another Navy Entertainment/Armed Forces Entertainment Tour later this year. Graham has just taken residency at the new Playboy Club on Sundays, which will be the Las Vegas hotspot's marquee night. Lastly, DJ Cobra is now the official deejay on Byron Allen's new nationally syndicated program, "Comics Unleashed", which premiered on September 25, 2006, to much acclaim and impressive ratings. The show airs in 85% of the country as well as Australia, Canada and Armed Forces Networks around the world.
"Every deejay wants to be a celebrity deejay. Abe Froman Showman aims to be the 'General Electric' of the game," states StoneRokk of the Abe Froman Showmen. "Abe Froman Showmen is an attempt to restore some of the luster back into the institution of deejaying. The media and nightlife community are inundated with new jacks and wannabes who haven't taken the time to cultivate their offering. Anybody can play a good song; but only a few of us can play it well," adds Graham Funke.
The Abe Froman Showmen have just launched Abe Froman Showmen Management, a company aimed at developing and managing emerging talent in the world of deejays, headed by their manager, Thao Dipolito. The group is also currently working on their original Reality Series, while their endeavors as deejays have been publicized in numerous national and international publications.
For further information on the Abe Froman Showmen, please visit www.abefromanshowmen.com .
Source: The Abe Froman Showmen
Next Generation Bubble Bursting Arrives as Majesco Entertainment Announces Details of 'Bust-A-Move Bash!' for the Wii(TM) Home Video Console
Nov. 9 Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ:COOL) , an innovative provider of digital entertainment products and content, today announced additional details of Bust-A-Move Bash!, its first game for the Wii(TM) home video console from Nintendo(R). Previously called Bust-A-Move Revolution, Bust-A-Move Bash! is scheduled to ship early next year and utilizes the unique interactivity of the Wii Remote to bring Bust-A-Move franchise fans a completely new way to experience its puzzle-based game play.
"The addictive bubble-bursting mayhem characteristic of the series reaches an entirely new level when designed especially for the innovative Wii Remote," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing. "Add the ability to have 8 people playing simultaneously and the mania is practically unlimited ... not to mention exhilarating."
Bust-A-Move Bash! features 10 different characters, including franchise favorites Bub and Bob as well as many new additions. Players will experience a variety of game modes including:
* Puzzle Mode -- offers 500 levels across five different puzzle areas; * Endless Mode -- a challenging test of bubble-bursting skill and endurance; * Vs. Mode -- allows up to 8 players to go head-to-head simultaneously; * Shooting Mode -- an all-new mode where bubbles come at players from all angles. To handle the non-stop assault, players can use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk Controller together.
In addition, a new Hyper option speeds up game play while the Slip feature allows players to connect fired bubbles to similar colors even though their aim may be off.
Developed by Happy Happenings and licensed from Taito, Bust-A-Move Bash! joins Cooking Mama: Cook Off as one of Majesco's premier titles for the Wii home video console from Nintendo. More information about Majesco's exciting line of products can be found online at http://www.majescoentertainment.com/.
About Majesco Entertainment Company
Headquartered in Edison, NJ, Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ:COOL) is an innovative provider of digital entertainment products and content, with a focus on publishing video games for leading portable systems such as the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, Nintendo DS(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance. Current product line highlights include Cooking Mama for the Nintendo DS(TM), Guilty Gear Judgment for the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system and JAWS(TM) Unleashed, as well as digital entertainment products like Frogger(R) TV Arcade. Majesco also offers Game Boy(R) Advance Video versions of the beloved DreamWorks Animation movies Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shark Tale. More information about Majesco can be found online at http://www.majescoentertainment.com/.
Safe Harbor
Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period(s) or by the use of forward- looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "intend," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or other comparable terminology. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. These factors include but are not limited to, the demand for our products; our ability to complete and release our products in a timely fashion; competitive factors in the businesses in which we compete; continued consumer acceptance of our products and the gaming platforms on which our products operate; fulfillment of orders preliminarily made by customers; adverse changes in the securities markets and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release publicly the results of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
Source: Majesco Entertainment Company
Emmitt Smith Favorite to Win Dancing With The Stars at PinnacleSports.com
Nov. 9 After two months of competition, ABC's hit show "Dancing With The Stars" has reached its grand finale with only two celebrity teams remaining in the competition. After Wednesday's elimination of Joey Lawrence, the celebrity dance contest is down to former teen heartthrob Mario Lopez versus the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith. With the "Saved By The Bell" star Lopez and Dallas Cowboy great Smith performing their final routines next week, PinnacleSports.com has announced updated odds on who'll win "Dancing With The Stars".
The Internet's largest sports betting site, PinnacleSports.com was the first bookmaker to post odds on "Dancing With The Stars". Throughout the series, Mario Lopez had been the favorite to win the competition, but now bettors have now put their support behind Emmitt Smith in the past week, vaulting him into favorite status and dropping his odds to win the competition to 4/5 (i.e., win $4 for every $5 bet). As the series heads into its final week, PinnacleSports.com now lists Lopez as the underdog to be crowned the next dance champion at 11/10 odds. As recently as two weeks ago when only four competitors remained, PinnacleSports.com listed Lopez a 5/6 favorite to win the celebrity dance-off, while Emmitt Smith had the second best odds at 7/4.
"We initially saw support for Emmitt Smith begin to swell in the last week when we received several $300 maximum limit bets on the former Super Bowl winner," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "Although customers weren't backing him nearly as much as when betting opened, Lopez remained our favorite to win Dancing With The Stars until recently mainly because of his superior dancing skills. While he may not have the better moves of the two finalists, Emmitt Smith certainly has the charisma to win over America's vote and add the dancing crown to his three Super Bowl rings."
Current Odds: All Odds Subject To Change Odds To Win Dancing With The Stars Contestant Current Odds Opening Odds Emmitt Smith 4/5 14/1 Mario Lopez 11/10 3/1
For more information and a complete list of odds, please visit http://www.pinnaclesports.com/.
About PinnacleSports.com
PinnacleSports.com (http://www.pinnaclesports.com/) is the Internet's largest sports betting site serving customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Founded in 1998, PinnacleSports.com was the first sports book to introduce reduced margin wagering, using a -105 pricing model that gives bettors up to 50% better value on wagers than traditional bookmakers. With low minimum bet requirements and the highest maximum limits on the Web, PinnacleSports.com has earned an industry leading reputation for providing consistent value to the player, professional customer service and the quickest
payouts online. Fully licensed and regulated in Curacao, the company offers a secure environment for sports betting, racing and casino gaming.
Source: PinnacleSports.com
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) New Media Committee (NMC) and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), today announced that they will present a rare, post-midterm election session with one of the country’s leading political commentators - the noted Air America host, best-selling author, and Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Al Franken - on Tuesday, November 14th, from 7:00-9:00 pm at The Core Club (66 E. 55th Street) in New York City.
Titled ‘Media and Politics with Al Franken,’ the invitation-only event will be an intimate one-on-one session with Franken and Shelly Palmer, managing partner, Advanced Media Ventures, LLC, first vice president of the Advanced Committee of NATAS, New York, and author of the book ‘Television Disrupted.’
‘MEDIA AND POLITICS WITH AL FRANKEN’ TO BE PRESENTED BY THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA NEW MEDIA COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES ON NOVEMBER 14TH
Rare, Intimate Post-Midterm Election Session with Noted Air America Host; Best-Selling Author and Emmy-Award-Winning Writer and Producer on Media’s Influence on Politics
NEW YORK – The Producers Guild of America (PGA) New Media Committee (NMC) and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), today announced that they will present a rare, post-midterm election session with one of the country’s leading political commentators - the noted Air America host, best-selling author, and Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Al Franken - on Tuesday, November 14th at The Core Club in New York City.
Titled ‘Media and Politics with Al Franken,’ the invitation-only event will be an intimate one-on-one session with Franken and Shelly Palmer, managing partner, Advanced Media Ventures, LLC, first vice president of the Advanced Committee of NATAS, New York, and author of the book ‘Television Disrupted.’
Hosted by the PGA NMC New York, with co-chairmen Marc Scarpa and Jeffrey Dachis, ‘Media and Politics with Al Franken’ will evaluate the media swirl around the recent mid-term election cycle and the looming 2008 presidential campaign, discussing the media’s embrace of a multi-platform world – from YouTube and interactive television to DVD and mobile alerts – and how politicians from Howard Dean to George Allen have discovered both the upside and downside of an ‘always-on’ new media audience that encompasses everything from campaign messages, fundraising pitches, and – yes – the occasionally damaging remark captured on camera (and uploaded to the Web for the world to view).
“Mastery of the media and – now – new media will shape the mechanics of political operations going forward, and Al Franken has spent a career addressing politics from all angles of the media spectrum,” said Dachis. “We look forward to a lively, engaging session.”
Franken will discuss and debate the idea of media empowering political candidates and voters as well as creating a potentially new paradigm for political media communications. He will also offer insights into how “old” media fits into this context.
“Al is an original voice in the media wilderness; he has always been a fresh and free spirit whose comic insights are infused with deep political convictions,” said Trilby Schreiber, member of the PGA NMC East and a former Harvard classmate of Franken. “We’re extremely fortunate to have Al share his take on the media’s influence on politics at this key juncture in our country’s political discourse.”
About the PGA NMC
The New Media Council of the Producers Guild of America represents the interests of professional producers using new technology to create and distribute entertainment. The PGA New Media Council is comprised of leaders in every aspect of emerging entertainment including visual & digital effects, DVD, internet, mobile, interactive television, console and PC gaming. The goal of the organization is to enable all storytellers with efficient technologies that empower them to create new and deeper relationships with entertainment consumers.
The event will be videotaped for later webcast by ScribeStudio Productions. Previous events from the PGA NMC East 2005-2006 event series can be accessed in both webcast and podcast format at: producersguild.scribestudio.com. For more information about ScribeStudio Productions, please visit: www.scribestudio.com
For producers of new media, the PGA New Media Council offers education, access and tools to build careers and create quality entertainment. For the producers of film and television, the PGA New Media Council is a resource to gain insight, find talent and drive revenue by leveraging their intellectual property. Visit the PGA Web site at www.producersguild.org for further information.
About The Core Club
The Core Club (www.thecoreclub.com) is an invitation-only community that draws from leaders in the fields of art, architecture, business, entertainment, fashion, media, politics, sports, and technology. TCC explores and presents a dazzling array of entertainment designed to filter out the noise of modern life, present members with the most compelling, transformative and interesting experiences, and deliver culture ahead of the curve.
Al Franken - Writer, Producer, Host, The Al Franken Show
Al Franken is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer, New York Times bestselling author, Grammy-winning comedian, and the host of The Al Franken Show, the flagship program of Air America Radio. In 1975, Franken was part of the original writing staff that created ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Franken remained with the original show until 1980 and then returned in 1985. He stayed for another 10 years, leaving after the 1994-95 season. Franken received four Emmys for writing and a fifth for producing. Franken's newest book, ‘The Truth (with Jokes)’ debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list when it was published in October of 2005. Franken grew up in Minnesota . He has been married to his wife, Franni, for twenty-nine years. They have recently moved back to Minneapolis from New York City and have two children.
CMT, MTV and VH1 Host Multi-Brand, Multi-Screen Premiere of Johnny Cash Video 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' on Thursday, November 9
Artists and Icons Including Iggy Pop, Kanye West, Bono, Kris Kristofferson, Jay Z, Johnny Depp, Justin Timberlake and Keith Richards Unite to Celebrate Cash
CMT to Re-telecast JOHNNY CASH IN SAN QUENTIN
-- In a multi-brand, multi-screen event, CMT, MTV and VH1 will host the video world premiere of Johnny Cash's "God's Gonna Cut You Down" on Thursday, November 9. The video will also bow Thursday on CMT.com, MTV.com, vh1.com, MTV2.com, MTVU.com and URGE, MTV Network's digital music service.
An all-star list of 36 artists and icons joined to pay tribute to the late Johnny Cash in the black and white video, including Iggy Pop, Bono, Kris Kristofferson, Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, Keith Richards, Johnny Depp, Dixie Chicks, Terrence Howard, Patti Smith, Dennis Hopper and Chris Rock. Dressed in black, the artists own unique emotions are showcased throughout the intense video.
The video will premiere first during CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN Thursday, November 9 at 4:00-7:00 p.m., ET/PT. VH1 and MTV will simultaneously premiere the video later at 11:00 p.m., ET/PT. In addition, CMT will re-telecast JOHNNY CASH IN SAN QUENTIN Thursday at 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Filmed in 1969, the show captured The Man In Black at one of his most famous and controversial performances of the time, performing hits like "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk The Line," and "San Quentin!"
"God's Gonna Cut You Down" is the first video from Cash's gold-certified album American V: A Hundred Highways, which was released July 4 on American Recordings/Lost Highway. Directed by Tony Kaye, the video concept was created by Kaye, Justin Timberlake, Rick Rubin and Mark Romanek, who directed Cash's award-winning video "Hurt."
Visit CMT's press-only web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.
CMT, America's No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 83 million households in the United States. Go to country music's biggest web site at www.cmt.com.
Source: CMT
MEAT LOAF's 'BAT OUT OF HELL III' in U.S. Top Ten Album Entry
No. 8 U.S. Debut Joins World-Wide Rush to Newest Episode of Rock Franchise
-- Culminating thirteen years of pent-up demand, MEAT LOAF's BAT OUT OF HELL III: The Monster is Loose, crashed into the Billboard Top 200 national album sales chart at No. 8. The album was released last week in the U.S. and Canada by Virgin Records America. The album was the highest charting debut in Canada this week at #3.
The album, the epic third installment of rock's greatest franchise, was also released throughout Europe last week, racking up a trail of chart-busting sales statistics: it entered national charts as the No. 2-selling album in Germany and holds it's position this week, No. 3 in the UK, No. 3 in Canada, No. 4 in Switzerland, No. 5 in Austria, No. 5 in Denmark, No. 6 in Norway, No. 8 in Holland, No. 9 in Australia, No. 10 in Sweden and No. 5 in New Zealand. The album is to be released in Southern Europe, Southeast Asia and Japan early next year.
Predicting the fan and critical mania that greeted the release of the album and his recent trans-Atlantic theatrical presentation of his Bat Out of Hell trilogy, MEAT LOAF said recently: "The Bat just has a life of its own, so you can't say you're gonna top it or you're gonna beat it, you just have to try to do something special." The album's release was preceded by a lavish, evocative video clip of "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," co-starring Marion Raven, who is featured with MEAT LOAF on the album track, written originally by Jim Steinman for him at the time of the first Bat Out of Hell album.
U.S. critics agreed universally that Meat delivered an album fully worthy of the three-album, three-decade 'Bat' franchise. Raves in the trade and consumer press included: " ... Meat Loaf delivers his most impassioned vocals since the original 'Bat' in 1977." (Entertainment Weekly, 11/3/06, Chris Willman); "Thirty years after the original "Bat" made Loaf a star, he returns with 'Bat III,' a disc that recalls the original's theatrical bombast, anthemic melodies and guitar shred." (New York Post, 10/29/06, Dan Aquillante); and "Loaf delivers an album that fans are going to love." (Billboard, 11/4/06)
Coinciding with the album's release, MEAT LOAF starred in a series of sold-out one-night shows staged at London's Royal Albert Hall, New York's Palace Theater and Toronto's Elgin Theatre. Two additional shows are now scheduled, at Estes Theater in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and at Mohegan Sun, in Uncasville, Connecticut. Each of the show's three acts is devoted to the songs of the albums, in sequence, with the third act debuting the new songs of BAT OUT OF HELL III: The Monster is Loose.
When Meat Loaf rocked London in October, two national British newspapers, The Independent and The Guardian, awarded the show 4 stars out of 4, observing that "Bat out of Hell is as close as rock music has got to a Hollywood Blockbuster" (The Independent), and that "...parents are now bringing their children along to gigs, the Bat franchise shows no sign of abating." Metro praised the show's "grandiose...imposing splendor," adding that MEAT LOAF's "lungs remain mighty enough to raise the roof."
BAT OUT OF HELL III: The Monster is Loose was produced by hit-maker Desmond Child, and was made with the close participation of two key Bat Out of Hell veterans: Todd Rundgren, contributing vocal arrangements; and Jim Steinman, writing seven songs. It was mixed by Grammy Award-winning studio engineer Greg Collins (U2, Gwen Stefani), with string arrangements by David Campbell. Guests on the album include Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx and Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 (ex-Marilyn Manson) who co-wrote the title track with Child. Also, the album includes the guitar work of co-writer Steve Vai, John 5 and production/session whiz John Shanks, as well as an unmistakable signature appearance by legendary Queen guitarist Brian May on "Bad For Good."
MEAT LOAF's Bat Out Of Hell (1977) and Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell (1993) combined have sold nearly 50 million copies worldwide. The international chart-topper "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)," from Bat Out Of Hell II, earned MEAT LOAF a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Solo Performance.
For more information go to www.meatloaf.net .
Source: Virgin Records
HDMI(TM) 1.3 Is Named Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Award Honoree
-- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(R)) today announced that HDMI Licensing, LLC, on behalf of the HDMI Founders, is an International CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for the HDMI 1.3 specification. Products considered for this prestigious award program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the trade press to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer electronics products. The HDMI Founders include Hitachi, Matsushita (Panasonic), Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson and Toshiba.
In June 2006, the HDMI Founders announced the HDMI 1.3 specification, the most significant upgrade yet in the interface that has become the de facto standard interface for high-definition devices. HDMI 1.3 more than doubles HDMI's bandwidth and adds support for Deep Color technology, a broader color space, new digital audio formats, automatic audio/video synching capability ("lip sync") and an optional smaller connector for use with portable devices such as digital still cameras and camcorders.
"We are very pleased that the HDMI 1.3 specification was named an International CES 2007 award honoree," said Leslie Chard, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. "This award validates HDMI's technical leadership and the great work done by the seven HDMI founding members, who have made HDMI an evolving specification that consistently enables next generation technologies to be brought to the mass market. We expect that many products with HDMI 1.3 will be announced and demonstrated at CES 2007."
As a widely-renowned consumer technology awards program that began in 1989, the Innovations Design and Engineering Awards recognize achievements in product design and engineering. It is sponsored by CEA, the producer of the International CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, and endorsed by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the voice of industrial design, committed to advancing the profession through education, information, community and advocacy.
HDMI Licensing, LLC will be demonstrating capabilities of the HDMI 1.3 specification at the 2007 International CES, which runs Jan. 8-11, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase will feature honorees by product category at Innovations Plus at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Booth #68747.
Innovations honoree products are featured on www.CESweb.org/Innovations, including a list of product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.
About HDMI
HDMI is the first and only consumer electronics industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. By delivering crystal-clear, all-digital audio and video via a single cable, HDMI dramatically simplifies cabling and helps provide consumers with the highest-quality home theater experience. HDMI provides an interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, or A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV), over a single cable.
About HDMI Licensing, LLC
HDMI Licensing, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Silicon Image, Inc., is the agent responsible for licensing the HDMI specification, promoting the HDMI standard and providing education on the benefits of HDMI to retailers and consumers. The HDMI specification was developed by Hitachi, Matsushita (Panasonic), Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson and Toshiba as the digital interface standard for the consumer electronics market. The HDMI specification combines uncompressed high-definition video and multi-channel audio in a single digital interface to provide crystal-clear digital quality over a single cable. For more information about HDMI, please visit www.hdmi.org.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking statements include statements related to the anticipated features, benefits, capabilities, implementation and performance of the HDMI standard and the HDMI 1.3 specification and the role of HDMI Licensing, LLC. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings of Silicon Image, Inc., the parent corporation of HDMI Licensing, LLC, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the anticipated features, benefits, capabilities, implementation and performance of the HDMI standard and the HDMI 1.3 specification, and the role of HDMI Licensing, LLC, may differ materially from what is currently anticipated. In addition, see the Risk Factors section of the most recent Form 10-K or Form 10-Q filed by Silicon Image with the SEC. Silicon Image assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release
NOTE: HDMI(TM) and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing, LLC in the United States and other countries, and are used under license from HDMI Licensing, LLC. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Source: HDMI Licensing, LLC
Sony Ericsson is Named Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Best of Innovations
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(R)) today announced Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications as an International CES Best of Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its MBW-100 Bluetooth(TM) watch at the International CES New York Press Preview. The Best of Innovations awards are given to the most highly honored products in each of the 31 product categories within the Innovations Design and Engineering Awards.
Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the trade press to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products.
The Sony Ericsson MBW-100 is the first mainstream analog Bluetooth(TM) watch to combine style and technology. The watch allows you to discreetly see who is calling and handle those calls, as well as notification of text messages. Additionally, if you have music on your phone, you can use the watch to let you start, stop and skip music tracks.
For the past several years, Sony Ericsson has annually introduced innovative mobile phone accessories using Bluetooth(TM) technology. The Bluetooth(TM) Watch MBW-100 joins the family of fun products including the toy remote control car CAR-100 to cool features such as voice dialing and Auto pairing(TM).
Crafted from high quality stainless steel with a silver facia, the Sony Ericsson MBW-100 Bluetooth watch allows a whole new way of responding to incoming calls in a discrete manner when it is not possible to pick up your phone. When a call comes in, the callers name or number is displayed on the stylish OLED display beneath the watch face. When taking the call is not possible, simply press a key on the watch to send the caller to voice mail.
As a widely renowned consumer technology awards program that began in 1989, the prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards recognize achievements in product design and engineering. It is sponsored by CEA, the producer of the International CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, and endorsed by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the voice of industrial design, committed to advancing the profession through education, information, community and advocacy.
Sony Ericsson's MBW-100 Bluetooth watch will be displayed at the 2007 International CES, which runs January 8-11, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase will feature honorees by product category at Innovations Plus at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Booth #68747. New for 2007: High-Performance Audio (HPA) Innovations Honorees will also be exhibited in The Venetian on the third floor, across from the San Polo Ballroom. Best of Innovations honoree products will also displayed at the Grand Lobby of Las Vegas Convention Center, next to Experience CEA, and at CES Unveiled: The Official Press Event of the International CES. Visit http://www.cesweb.org/innovations for details on Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Honorees.
Products entered into Innovations 2007 must be available to market to U.S. retail outlets or the company website between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. The Innovations entries are judged based on the following criteria:
* Engineering qualities of the product, including technical specifications and materials used * The product's intended use/function and user value * Aesthetic and design qualities (using visuals provided) * Unique and novel features * Contributions to consumers' quality of life * Impact on the manufacturer's business model
Products chosen as an Innovations honoree reflect innovative design and engineering of the entries. Examples may include the first time various technologies are combined in a single product or dramatic enhancements to previous product designs.
Innovations honoree products are featured on http://www.cesweb.org/Innovations , where you can see a list of product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications serves the global communications market with innovative and feature-rich mobile phones, accessories and PC- cards. Established as a joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in 2001, with global corporate functions located in London, the company employs approximately 6,000 people worldwide, including R&D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America. Sony Ericsson celebrates the 5th anniversary of the start of the joint venture on October, 1, 2006. For more information on Sony Ericsson, please visit http://www.sonyericsson.com/us .
Beyonce, John Legend, Jewel, Rob Thomas, John Mayer and Ciara Help the VH1 Save the Music Foundation Gear Up for 10th Anniversary
Celebrities to Be Featured in New VH1 Save The Music Public Service Announcements Touting Importance of Music Education Set to Debut on Thursday, November 9
Esquire House Benefit, VH1's Big in '06 Shopping Day, and 'Dreamgirls' Online Auction Cap-off The Foundation's 9th Year
The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is turning up the music and churning out the celebs with new public service announcements (PSAs) -- all in the name of music education -- in an effort to gear up for The Foundation's 10th Anniversary beginning in January 2007.
Beginning on Thursday, November 9 the VH1 Save The Music Foundation will premiere the first of its series of new public service announcements (PSAs) featuring Beyonce, John Legend, Jewel, Rob Thomas. Each PSA will feature one of these artists as they speak about the importance of music education. Additional PSAs featuring John Mayer and Ciara will roll-out in 2007.
In addition to new PSAs, The Foundation will close out its 9th year by hosting high-profile events and initiatives to raise awareness and funds for music education across the country including New York and Los Angeles.
VH1's Big Night for a Big Cause: A Benefit for The VH1 Save The Music Foundation
For the fourth consecutive year, Esquire magazine has created the world's most lavish bachelor pad -- Esquire House 360 degrees. This 17,000 square-foot Italian villa in Beverly Hills was built to mirror the editorial range of Esquire magazine and to reflect the lifestyle of today's modern man.
On Friday, December 1, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation will host an intimate cocktail party and concert fundraiser at Esquire House 360 degrees. The exclusive event will be hosted by Keifer Sutherland, Jaime Pressley, Wilmer Valderama, Tyrese Gibson, Omar Epps, Gary Dourdan, VH1 general manager Tom Calderone and Brain Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group and will feature an intimate performance by Columbia recording artist Mat Kearney and Ironworks Recording Artists Rocco DeLuca and the Burden.
To expand Esquire House 360 degrees beyond Los Angeles, an online charity auction hosted by Esquire and benefiting VH1 Save The Music will give visitors to the house and the general public the chance to bid on guitars signed by musical artists including Nick Lachey, Bon Jovi, Rob Thomas, Shakira, The Dixie Chicks and many more. Online users can bid on their favorite items through December 5th by visiting www.charityfolks.com.
VH1's Big in '06 Shopping Day
VH1 Save The Music, along with Robertson Blvd. boutiques Agnes B, Anya Hindmarch, Adriano Goldshmeid, Camper, Chan Luu, Curve, Diavolina, Erica Courtney, George Smith, Kalologie Skincare, Horn, Kiehls, Kitson, Kitson Kids, Kitson Men, LF Stores, Lisa Klein, Lisa Klein Kids, Lisa Klein Men, M.A.C., Madison, Nanette Lepore, Paige Premium Denim, Poleci, Scott Hill LA, Sky, Ted Baker, Tory Burch, Vionnet, WESC, and Yellowman, will host the second annual "VH1 Big in '06 Shopping Day" in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 2 from 11:00 AM through 4:00 PM. Hosted by Cynthia Garrett, Courtney Jane Semel, Perez Hilton, Rebecca Bloom, Samaire Armstrong and Tova Bonem the event will be open to the public and will feature guest DJs and entertainment as well as activities, food a refreshments.
A percentage of the day's sales from each store will benefit VH1 Save The Music's work to restore instrumental music programs throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District.
"Own a Piece of the DREAM" With A "Dreamgirls" Online Auction
Beginning November 20, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation is teaming up with Gibson/Baldwin Music Education, Paramount, and Dreamworks for the "Own a Piece of the DREAM" online auction in conjunction with the premiere of the film "Dreamgirls" which stars Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy. Fans can bid on items from an "Ultimate Fan Package" where a winner and guest will be flown to New York City to attend the premiere of "Dreamgirls" to customized Gibson guitars signed by the cast of "Dreamgirls." Online users can bid on their favorite items through December 20th by visiting www.premiereprops.com.
Since it was established in 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has donated $34 million worth of new musical instruments to 1,400 public schools in 80 cities, improving the lives of more than 800,000 children.
About to launch its tenth year, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music education programs in cities across the U.S. and raising awareness of the importance of music participation for our nation's youth. VH1 Save The Music's many honors include the Governors' Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence, and many Beacon Awards. VH1 Save The Music Foundation's Platinum sponsors include Anheuser-Busch, Curve Fragrances by Liz Claiborne, Grey Goose Vodka, JetBlue, and Nikon.
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
| For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, MPAA.ORG Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG | |||
Barry Manilow's THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES Debuts at #2
#1 Artist Album Release on the Top 200
Manilow's Biggest Sales Week of His Career!
The Follow-Up to THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE FIFTIES, His RIAA #1 Platinum Debut Released in January of This Year Which Re-Enters the Top 200
Highest QVC pre-release music sales event, plus online fan club and retail pre-orders, and mass media exposure combine with huge retail scans to earn 201,904 first week sales
Another chart-topping success caps an extraordinary year for Manilow
, Nov. 8 -- Lightning strikes twice in 2006 for Arista recording artist Barry Manilow, as massive online fan club and QVC shopping network advance orders, coupled with six figure sales at retail, plus an unprecedented television blitz and direct response advertising campaign, add up to the biggest sales week of Manilow's highly successful career, with a #2 Nielsen SoundScan debut with 201,904 copies sold, a 30% sales increase over his Fifties album released just 9 months ago. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES is his 13-song tribute that arrived in stores on October 31st and the follow-up to the RIAA platinum The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties, which skyrocketed back on the chart this week at #116 with a 205% increase and was the first album in Barry Manilow's career to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart upon its release this year on January 31st. Manilow is the only artist of 2006 to have two albums debut in the top 2 chart positions in the same calendar year.
The pre-release of THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES was kicked off on Saturday, October 21st when Manilow performed live from Chicago for the QVC audience. More than 43,000 units ordered marked the highest single-hour music sales event in QVC's twenty-year history. At the same time, a special pre- order campaign at the http://www.manilow.com/ website ensured fans of receiving the new album in its first week of release. Online, the album blanketed the web with album premieres on AOL, MSN, Windows Media, MP3 & Artist Direct, and Clearchannel.com. Also, Manilow was everywhere on television with appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "CNN," "A&E Biography," "Good Morning America," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "The Colbert Report," "The View, "The Martha Stewart Show", "Rachael Ray," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "The Megan Mullally Show" and multiple appearances on "Entertainment Tonight," and "The Insider." Stay tuned for his appearance later this month on the American Music Awards and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The two current Fifties and Sixties albums mark the winning reunion in the studio for co-producers Manilow and Clive Davis, Arista founder and BMG U.S. Chairman & CEO. THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES also caps one of the most remarkable years of Manilow's long and storied career, which includes the success of 2006's The Greatest Songs From The Fifties (his first #1 chart album in nearly three decades), the renewal extension of his exclusive performing contract with the Las Vegas Hilton Theater ("Manilow: Music & Passion") through 2008, and winning his second career Emmy Award (this past August), when "Manilow: Music & Passion" was awarded Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program.
Each song on THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES is a classic in its own right -- from his remake of the Righteous Brothers "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling'" (1965) to the Beatles' "And I Love Her"(1964), to Herb Alpert's "This Guy's In Love With You" (1968), the Lettermen's "When I Fall In Love" (1962) and Burt Bacharach's "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" (1969). Like the '60s itself, the album covers many genres, from its recollection of Herman's Hermits' "There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)"(1967), to Bobby Vinton's "Blue Velvet" (1963), to Jackie DeShannon's "What The World Needs Now Is Love" (1965). Manilow also pays tribute to some of America's greatest singers, including Dean Martin on "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" (1964) and Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (1967). Two artists whose legacies were recalled on The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties are again paid homage on the new album, namely Elvis Presley with "Can't Help Falling In Love" (1962) and Frank Sinatra with "Strangers In The Night" (1966). One of the highlights of the album is a great duet with The Association of their two #1 hits "Cherish" (1966) and "Windy" (1967).
With worldwide record sales exceeding 75 million, his work as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer over the course of more than 40 albums has earned Barry Manilow the highest honors. He sits on the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Jazz, and in June 2002, he was inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame, alongside Ashford & Simpson, Michael Jackson, Randy Newman, and Sting. In addition to his own foundation, the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope, other involvements include The Prince's Trust, United Way, the Starlight Foundation, numerous organizations fighting the battle against AIDS, and many others. He is the national spokesperson for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Honorary Chairman of the Palm Springs Art Museum and a Founder of the Music Center of Los Angeles.
Source: Arista Records
All New ifilm.com Site Launches and Adds Free Online Video From Users, Record Labels, Studios and Networks
Nov. 8 -- As the original pioneer of video on the web, IFILM (www.ifilm.com), is once again providing audiences with the best experience for finding, watching and sharing video online with the debut of a new IFILM.
The completely redesigned IFILM contains the largest library of both professionally produced and user-generated content available anywhere. Among the tens of thousands of new videos that have been added, are full episodes from some of the most recognized programs from MTV Networks. Included are complete seasons of MTV Networks classics such as "Beavis and Butthead," and "Punk'd," as well as other new series. IFILM also now boasts high quality music videos spanning 25 years of MTV which will be updated with new releases.
The new IFILM includes a channel lineup which organizes video across genres from users and TV, music and movie partners. The site also features an improved site-wide search function, personalization and recommendation services, user profiles and personal playlists which can be shared and embedded in any web page, and a new upload capability that is available in every channel throughout the site.
IFILM's CEO, Blair Harrison said, "We've joined our huge library of user-generated content with the best professionally produced content to create a single destination to search, view, upload and share the best videos from all over the web. Whether you want to find a favorite music video or greatest TV moment, upload something to share, or see what our team of editors have picked, you can now finally do it all in one place."
About IFILM
IFILM (www.ifilm.com) is a leading online destination for user-generated and professionally produced content, providing the Internet's most diverse and compelling selection of short and long-form videos. With one of the industry's largest online video collections, IFILM's media library includes movie trailers, music videos, short films, TV clips, video game trailers, action sports content, and its renowned user-generated 'viral videos' collection. Through its broad network of distribution partners, IFILM content can be found on portals, social networks, blogs, consumer electronics devices, television networks, and almost every mobile video service. IFILM also offers effective brand-building programs for major consumer advertising partners. The company recently launched its first television series, the popular "WebJunk 20," in collaboration with VH1. IFILM is owned and operated by MTV Networks. IFILM (www.ifilm.com) is a division of Viacom, Inc.'s (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) MTV Networks.
About MTV
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 130 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, with all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 134 interactive properties worldwide, including GameTrailers.com, IFILM, Neopets, Xfire, Y2M, and online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
Source: IFILM
Web site: http://www.ifilm.com/
VH1's Big List of Big Talent for 'Big in '06'
It's Really Big!!
Justin Timberlake, Eva Longoria, Kiefer Sutherland, Joey Lawrence, Lance Bass, Ice-T, Coco, Brooke Hogan, Tommy Lee, Danny Bonaduce, Mario Lopez, Katharine McPhee, Hal Sparks, Andrew Dice Clay, ANT, and Kennedy Have Been Tapped to Appear at 'VH1 Big in '06 Awards'
With Performances by Fergie, The Fray and The Killers and a Special Appearance by 'Weird Al' Yankovic
D.L. Hughley Hosts This Year's Show Premiering Sunday, December 3 at 9PM*
Viewers Get to Choose the 'VH1 Big in '06 Awards' Winners Through December 1 at http://big.vh1.com
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- No year has ever been bigger for super-star babies than 2006 ... and who doesn't love a big baby? From the moment they were born they were instant celebrities and on the top of every paparazzi's hit list because the first photo's of each new "celebribaby" could bring millions to some lucky photographer, magazine or charity.
2006 also saw its share of actors, politicians and even clergymen acting like babies or busting down closet doors to show their true selves. VH1 will again pay homage to the biggest stars, the biggest moments and the biggest crazes of this year with "VH1 Big in '06 Awards," premiering Sunday, December 3 at 9PM*.
VH1 is again turning the choice of who will win over to America. Viewers can vote for each category online at http://big.vh1.com/ through December 1. Viewers can also cast their vote using their mobile phones by texting keyword "BIG" to the number 22422.
Actor and comedian D.L. Hughley of "Studio 60" will host the annual year-end celebration for the third time which will feature appearances by Justin Timberlake, Eva Longoria, Kiefer Sutherland, Joey Lawrence, Lance Bass, Ice-T, Coco, Brooke Hogan, Tommy Lee, Danny Bonaduce, Mario Lopez, Katharine McPhee, Hal Sparks, Andrew Dice Clay, ANT, Kennedy and a special appearance by "Weird Al" Yankovic. This year's "Big" performances will include Fergie, The Fray and The Killers. Flavor Flav, VH1's biggest star of 2006 will also be on hand as a backstage on-air correspondent. Additional performers, presenters and special guests will be announced as they are confirmed.
Warner Bros new motion picture, "Unaccompanied Minors", L'Oreal Paris(R), Burger King(R), Alltel Wireless, Cotton Incorporated, and Bebe are the sponsors of "VH1 Big in '06 Awards."
"VH1 Big in '06 Awards" is executive produced by Lee Rolontz and Michael Dempsey.
VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 87 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array for digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH Uno, VH1 Mega Hits and VH1 Country. Connect with VH1 at http://www.vh1.com/.
VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.
NBC Universal Digital Studios to Produce New, Original Broadband Programming for MSN Video
'A Big Life With Sissy Biggers' webisodes to air exclusively on MSN.
Nov. 8 -- MSN and NBC Universal Digital Studios, a studio dedicated to creating original and unique programming for a wide range of digital platforms, have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement announced today by George Kliavkoff, chief digital officer of NBC Universal, and Rob Bennett, general manager of Entertainment and Video Services for MSN. Beginning this fall, the MSN(R) Video audience will have exclusive access to the new NBCU Digital Studios program "A Big Life With Sissy Biggers" hosted by lifestyle personality Sissy Biggers ( http://originals.msn.com/abiglife ). "A Big Life With Sissy Biggers" is a key component of the MSN Originals initiative because the show is highly interactive, unique to the Web and exclusive to MSN.
For years Biggers has been known for her humorous, upbeat approach to cooking, entertaining, gardening and living. On "A Big Life With Sissy Biggers" this former face of the Food Network's "Ready, Set, Cook!" and PBS' "Victory Garden" will create an interactive experience for users seeking unique and informative lifestyle information on a wide range of subjects -- from creating a delicious cheese plate to polishing up table manners. "A Big Life With Sissy Biggers" will also give users the opportunity to share what's going on in their lives; the webisodes' site will feature Your Big Life, a forum for users to share their experiences, suggestions and photos online, and A Bigger View, a section offering additional information on each topic covered on the show. For an upcoming webisode, Biggers will cover last- minute homemade hostess gifts, and will invite her audience to post their own hostess-gift ideas to share with the "Big Life" community.
"MSN is a vibrant online destination and we're proud that it's the first portal to distribute content produced by NBC Universal Digital Studios," Kliavkoff said. "With consumers' and advertisers' appetites for original broadband content increasing exponentially each day, 'A Big Life with Sissy Biggers' answers the need for innovative, fresh lifestyle programming on the Web. The show is a perfect example of the high-quality, current content that's being conceived and produced by NBC Universal Digital Studios."
"The Internet is rapidly emerging as the new forum for creating unique, engaging storytelling experiences, and MSN is dedicated to working with content creators and advertisers to explore the possibilities of original programming online," Bennett said. "We are thrilled to work with the NBCU team to bring 'A Big Life' to our audience."
Nintendo of America Inc. has signed on as an early advertiser of the webisodes, which will air over 13 weeks. During "A Big Life With Sissy Biggers" Nintendo of America will feature video ads for the launch of Wii, an innovative, new video game console.
About NBC Universal Digital Studios
NBC Universal Digital Studios, founded in Fall 2005, combine NBC Universal's legacy of storytelling with technical innovation to create a wide range of content for digital media platforms. The Studios create engaging, video-based experiences, webisodes, viral videos and other video content for broadband and wireless devices. Recent programs include "JYA" (Junior Year Abroad), which airs on the NBC Owned and Operated Station websites and chronicles ten students studying abroad in different countries, including India, Argentina and the Dominican Republic. "About Face," an online makeover program hosted by beauty expert Shalini Vadhera airs exclusively on iVillage.com's Makeover Central. The Studios also produced the viral video hit "The Easter Bunny Hates You," which, without marketing or promotion, has generated over 5 million streams and was recently nominated for a 2006 Viral Video of the Year award from TelevisionWeek magazine.
About MSN Originals: Storytelling for the Digital Age
MSN Originals combines video, interactive community features and rich editorial content to deliver unique entertainment experiences that will be deeply integrated throughout the MSN network, including MSN Lifestyle and MSN Video, as well as Windows Live(TM) Spaces. The first MSN Originals series, "Fan Club: Reality Baseball" ( http://fanclub.msn.com/ ), debuted July 11, 2006.
Utilizing Microsoft(R) technology, MSN Originals is focused on partnering with the best and brightest creative minds in the media industry to bring the new generation of storytelling online. Exclusive MSN Originals content is supported by advertising and made available free to MSN users. Advertising opportunities include display and streaming video, as well as sponsorship packages incorporating MSN media and in-content integration.
Information about MSN Originals can be found at http://originals.msn.com/ . About MSN Video
MSN Video is one of the largest video-only streaming services on the Web, watched by more than 11 million unique users per month. In addition to streaming news, entertainment and sports video clips from more than 45 content partners including "The Today Show," FOX Sports, MSNBC, JibJab Media Inc. and Fox Entertainment Group, MSN Video presents a broad array of live events to online audiences worldwide. More than 50 top advertisers support MSN Video, which is available to consumers at no charge. MSN Video is available on the Web at http://msnvideo.com/ to consumers in the U.S. MSN Video is also live in Australia, Canada, Japan and the U.K., and in Spanish in the U.S.; the service also is in beta testing in France.
Overall, MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft, MSN and Windows Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Courtney Love at Virgin Mega Store to sign her book "Dirty Blond"
Courtney Love Book Signing at the Virgin Megastore
“Groundbreaking rock musician, award-winning actress, perceptive songwriter and author, mother, wife of a Rock God, fashionista and trend setter, provocateur” and so it reads inside the cover of “Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love.” Stacks of books awaiting signing midst music books and a special display at the Virgin Megastore on Sunset in Los Angeles.
Arriving from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno earlier today, Courtney Love flashed a smile, but was obviously tired. You could almost hear a sigh as Love sat down to relax. Love was dressed in black with a sheer patterned blouse with bright blonde hair, French manicured nails and smokey eyes.
Love again smiled with a photo opp so brief it could only be compared to Avril Levine’s at Fuse Tv’s Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Just yesterday she had multiple signings in the San Francisco area. She entertained a few sound bites for video cameras and then put on her black rimmed glasses before beginning to sign books.
A nude photograph of Love taken in the 90s by her husband Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain covers her diary. Turning the pages, you feel as if you’ve uncovered some secret part of her life, yes, similar to a diary.
Love’s book is remarkably similar to the style of “Kurt Cobain Journal” with the addition of pictures and personal notes and appearing more like a scrapbook of someone’s personal life since they were young. Love started writing in a diary since she was 7 years old. Cobain’s journal has a cover like a Mead spiral notebook with doodling.
Love greeted her fans with a smile, personalized and signed their books and shook their hand again with a smile. Her fans left with grins ear to ear.
“I’ve been following her since I’ve been in elementary school,” shared Carlos, now 23 years old who has grown up with Love. He was the first fan in line, waiting over 4 hours, and admitted he was a fan because “it’s just her. Her music career and her legend.”
Traveling from Sydney, Australia just to meet Love, Rhiannan Smith joined fellow California fans Tudc and Appalonia. They’ve followed Love to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno earlier today and another book signing at Vroman’s in Pasadena tomorrow.
“Aussie, (something like that), thanks so much” was the personal notes by Love in Smith’s book. She was able to speak with Jay Leno before the Tonight Show, who had Love sign a book for her during the ad break.
Bubbling with enthusiasm, they each wanted to share their perspective on Love.
“I know a lot of people think she’s a bad role model because of the drugs, but I think overall that she’s still a strong intelligent person…” pointed out Smith.
“She’s so smart. I love her songs and she’s just great” interjected Tudc.
“I started getting into her when I was 12 (years old), and that was just a few years ago.
For me she taught me strength, confidence, perseverance…she shows you, you can live through it” shares inspired Appalonia, the youngest of the three friends.
Love’s fans waited in que around the building and have been following her from destination to destination in Los Angeles. Like many, they hope to see much more from this talented entertainer and author.
Quotables from Courtney Love’s appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno
“I didn’t realize what a great butt I used to have.” (talking about the cover for her book)
“The thing about sobriety, is everyone looks a lot hotter.”
She credits Mel Gibson for helping get her into rehab.
-- This event is a SIGNING ONLY.
-- Tickets will be handed out beginning at 9am on Wednesday, November 8. They will no longer get handed out once the event starts at 6pm, so please make sure you arrive to pick up your ticket in time.
-- There will be a priority line (for those who've purchased their books from Vroman's and have their receipt as proof) followed by a non-priority line (for everyone who've purchased their copies elsewhere).
-- Due to time constraints, there will be a 3-book limit per person. No exceptions will be made.
-- Ms. Love will only be able to sign copies of DIRTY BLONDE, absolutely no memorabilia.
-- There will be no personalizations.
-- No photos allowed.
CMA AWARDS"
By Amanda Eckard
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service/Country Music Association, Inc.
Music City threw its arms wide open to welcome back "Country Music's Biggest NightT" when "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" broadcast live Monday, Nov. 6 from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Downtown Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
After a successful move to New York City in 2005, the CMA Awards came back home for its 40th Anniversary. It was a homecoming fit for a king - actually, two kings. The evening's hosts Brooks & Dunn took home the crown for most wins, including Music Video and Single of the Year for "Believe," and their unprecedented fourteenth Vocal Duo of the Year Award. "These three Awards bring Brooks & Dunn's overall CMA Awards tally to 19, surpassing Vince Gill's record for most wins by one."
"It's really good to win," Kix Brooks said backstage. "We are prepared every year to clap for someone else. We are surprised that voters aren't tired of seeing us win every year."
Ronnie Dunn also picked up his first Song of the Year Award with 2004 Song of the Year winner Craig Wiseman for "Believe," a song about hope and redemption with a Gospel feel.
"It's an amazing song and I am blown away by it," Wiseman said backstage after praising his co-writer. "Every time I hear it it's like I hear it for the first time."
The duo, who took their third turn as hosts of the CMA Awards, opened the show with "Building Bridges" with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow, which was nominated for Musical Event of the Year.
Brad Paisley picked up two Awards, including Musical Event of the Year for "When I Get Where I'm Going" featuring Dolly Parton and Album of the Year for Time Well Wasted. Paisley performed "She's Everything," from Time Well Wasted.
"The album really encompasses a lot of people," Paisley said backstage. "The producers, the fans, co-writers and even family get involved in the album process. And I like that. It's an art form it should feel like a journey."
"American Idol" Carrie Underwood took home her first Female Vocalist of the Year Award and the coveted Horizon Award, which is given to the artist who demonstrates the most significant creative growth and development in Country Music. It was the first time that an artist has won the Female Vocalist and Horizon Awards in the same year since Alison Krauss in 1995.
"Just two years ago I was watching these Awards on TV watching other people win these Awards and I never thought I would be up here," a visibly moved Underwood said accepting her Female Vocalist Award. "Thank you anyone who has had anything to do with this past year."
Earlier in the broadcast, Underwood performed the revenge-themed "Before He Cheats" from her triple-Platinum album Some Hearts.
Relentless touring artist Kenny Chesney took home his second Entertainer of the Year Award. "The relationship that I have with all of the people back there in the back is unbelievable," Chesney said from the stage.
Backstage, Chesney could not say enough about his fans. "To see those people come hear the songs I sing - it's bigger than anything I have ever dreamed." Chesney performed current single "You Save Me" from his double-Platinum album The Road and the Radio.
Keith Urban won his third consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Award, a feat that had not been repeated since George Strait won in 1996 through 1998. Though he was not present to accept his Award, his friend Ronnie Dunn read a letter from Urban. "I'm pained not being here tonight," Urban wrote. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to coming home and seeing you soon."
Rascal Flatts grabbed their fourth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year Award. "We've had an amazing year," lead singer Gary LeVox said. "Thank you to God for giving us a stage to perform on every night." The trio performed "My Wish" from their CMA Award-nominated album Me and My Gang.
The Horizon Award nominees made their creative mark on the broadcast. Red hot group Sugarland performed "Settlin'" from their brand new album Enjoy the Ride. Little Big Town weaved their harmonies around the haunting "Bones" from their album The Road To Here. Fireball Miranda Lambert blazed through "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" from her forthcoming sophomore album, set to be released in February. Deep-voiced crooner Josh Turner performed his hit "Would You Go With Me" from his second consecutive Platinum album Your Man.
Alan Jackson performed the title single from his Alison Krauss-produced album, Like Red on a Rose, backed by Musician of the Year nominee Jerry Douglas on dobro. Four-time Female Vocalist of the Year winner Martina McBride wowed the crowd with the no-regrets song "Anyway." Fresh off of the top-grossing Country tour of the year with her husband Tim McGraw, Faith Hill performed her new single "Stealing Kisses," from Fireflies. New duo The Wreckers performed their No. 1 hit "Leave the Pieces" from the album Stand Still, Look Pretty. Dierks Bentley, the 2005 Horizon Award winner, performed "Every Mile a Memory" from his third album Long Trip Alone. "Redneck Woman" Gretchen Wilson teamed up with Big & Rich's John Rich for "Come to Bed" off of her forthcoming third album to be released Spring 2007. Newcomer Jason Aldean performed his hit "Hicktown" from his self-titled debut album.
Twelve-time CMA Awards host Gill performed "What You Give Away," a song from his new four-disc album These Days. Crow, along with Gill's wife Amy Grant and daughter Jenny Gill, provided background vocals on the song.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson introduced the newest inductees into the hallowed Hall, Harold Bradley, Sonny James and George Strait. Strait, who was the second artist inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category, performed "Give It Away" from his newest album It Just Comes Natural. In his career, Strait has sold more than 62 million albums, won 16 CMA Awards, and produced 53 No. 1 hits, more than any music artist in history.
"Who'd of thunk it," the humble Strait said as he accepted his induction plaque. "To my fans, don't think I don't realize why I am up here."
Bradley, a noted session musician and producer, was inducted in the "Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980" category.
"Thank you God for 60 years of working with the greatest singers, greatest songwriters, greatest musicians and greatest producers in the business," Bradley said.
James, who co-hosted the very first "CMA Awards Banquet and Show" in 1967, was inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" category.
Guitarist Randy Scruggs won his third Musician of the Year Award which he won in 1999 and 2004.
The CMA Awards' new network home, ABC-TV, brought out its presenter star power for "Country Music's Biggest NightT." "Desperate Housewives" stars Eva Longoria and James Denton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley of "According to Jim," Cameron Mathison of "All My Children," and the Disney Channel stars of "Hannah Montana" Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus all presented Awards during the broadcast.
Presenters included Gary Allan, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Billy Currington, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood.
The winners of "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" are:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Rascal Flatts
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
HORIZON AWARD
Carrie Underwood
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Time Well Wasted
Brad Paisley
Produced by Chris DuBois/Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown/Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn
Arista Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Believe"
Craig Wiseman/Ronnie Dunn
Sony/ATV Tree/Showbilly Music/Big Loud Shirt
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Brad Paisley (Featuring Dolly Parton)
"When I Get Where I'm Going"
Arista Nashville
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn
Directed by Robert Deaton/George J. Flanigen IV
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Randy Scruggs - Guitar
In 1958, CMA was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. Its membership includes nearly 6,000 companies and music industry professionals around the globe.
"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer; Robert Deaton is the Consulting Producer; Paul Miller is the Director; and David Wild will script the ceremonies. Premiere Radio Network is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, including a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2006 CMA Awards. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official ride of the 2006 CMA Awards. Additional promotional partners include aolmusic.com, Camping World®, Carl Black Chevrolet, Coca-Cola®, Country Music Television, Inc.®, Crisco®, Gibson Guitar®, Greased Lightning Cleaning Products®, Hallmark Cards®, Miller Brewing Company®, Prilosec OTC®, Purity Dairies®, T.G.I. Friday's®, The Biography Channel, and Yankee Candle®. Charles Fazzino is the official artist of the 2006 CMA Awards.
On the Web: www.CMAawards.com
Tom Waits' 'ORPHANS' Finds a Home on 'Late Show With David Letterman' and 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart' November 27 and 28
Early Buzz From UK Press: 5-Star 'Mojo Instant Classic' and 5-Stars From Uncut
November 07, 2006 -- Following the release of his new 3 CD set "ORPHANS: BRAWLERS, BAWLERS AND BASTARDS" (Nov. 21 on Anti-), great American performer and songwriter Tom Waits takes to the stage and the easy chair as a performer and guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" (Monday, November 27), and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (Tuesday, November 28).
|
The 56-track "ORPHANS" includes 30 new recordings, plus two dozen more songs taken from collaborations with artists in film, literature, and music -- equaling over three hours of rare and never-before heard music -- along with a 94-page booklet. Early word from the admiring British press is nothing short of fervent:
"Masterpiece isn't the right word for such a profusion of profound delights...exhibition is better...With his unfussy brushstrokes, umber hues, and humanely honest delight in warts and all, he is the Rembrandt of modern music," reads Mojo's 5-star review, crowning the set a "Mojo Instant Classic."
No less enthusiastic, Uncut also gives the collection 5 stars, reveling in "The world of Waits' 'Orphans.'"
Agile Journal Launches the Agile BlogZone Blogger Network
November 07, 2006 -- CMC Media Inc., publisher of the Configuration Management Journal and the Agile Journal, announced today that it launched the new blogger network, Agile BlogZone, at its popular AgileJournal.com website offering readers greater and more regular access to agile thought leaders and industry experts. The Agile BlogZone is available online at -- http://www.agileblogzone.com.
The Agile Journal is an online magazine published monthly and driven by Editor in Chief and former Forrester/Giga analyst Liz Barnett. Online for only nine months, readership has blossomed to over 25,000 subscribers, making it one of the hottest new technology publications. In recent polls, Agile Journal readers indicated the desire for access to more information and interaction on a daily basis. According to Patrick Egan, Publisher of the Agile Journal, "Blogs enable our writers and journalists to be more flexible and spontaneous, especially when they don't have a deadline or a topic to pursue. Blogs also give our readers the chance to interact with the authors in a more timely fashion than sending a 'letter to the editor.'"
|
The Agile BlogZone is being launched with four blog channels: Agile Junction written by Kirk Knoernschild, Waddling in the Mud written by David Baird, Plan and Deliver written by Peter Schuh, and Practical Teamwork for Agile Developers written by Steve Berczuk. The Agile BlogZone will also feature regular contributions from Editor in Chief Liz Barnett. According to Barnett, "The Agile BlogZone will allow me to pose questions or ideas to the agile community on a frequent and informal basis. This is a terrific supplement to our regular editor's notes and published articles, and one that provides a more personal interaction with our Agile Journal community."
The Agile BlogZone is online now at http://www.agileblogzone.com with RSS feeds syndicated by FeedBurner at http://feeds.feedburner.com/AgileBlogzone
About CMC Media Inc.
CMC Media is the publisher of the Agile Journal, the Configuration Management Journal, and host of the world's largest developer community and resource center for application lifecycle management. CmCrossroads.com and AgileJournal.com host a wide variety of services and collaboration resources for the development community, including discussion forums, newsletters, educational webcasts and an extensive library of user contributed resources
The Smithereens to Release "Meet The Smithereens!," an Affectionate Homage to The Fab Four's Groundbreaking Record "Meet The Beatles!" on Anniversary of Original 1964 Release Date
The Jersey Beat Meets the Mersey Beat in January 2007; Extensive Liner Notes by Legendary Beatles Promoter Sid Bernstein, Musician Lenny Kaye and Beatles Historians Bruce Spizer, Dennis Mitchell and Andy Babiuk
November 07, 2006 -- KOCH Records announces the release of "Meet The Smithereens!," the new album by New Jersey's The Smithereens in January 2007. Paying homage to The Beatles' groundbreaking album, "Meet The Beatles!," the Smithereens have rerecorded the album in its entirety, and the result is a fun and nostalgic trip through 12 classic songs done Smithereens style. The CD also features liner notes by legendary promoter Sid Bernstein, musician (and some would say musicologist) Lenny Kaye, Beatles historians Bruce Spizer, Dennis Mitchell and Andy Babiuk, author of the fantastic book, "Beatles Gear."
Having released 7 albums -- and reaching Gold and Platinum status along the way -- during their career, the Smithereens spawned several Top 40 radio hits, including, "A Girl Like You," "Too Much Passion," "Blood and Roses" and more.
The Smithereens return with an affectionate tribute to one of their favorite bands, The Beatles. "Meet The Beatles!" influenced not only their musical style, but arguably influenced the style of every rock band since the album's initial release in January of 1964.
"Meet The Beatles!" was the Fab Four's second album, but their first official U.S. release. But unlike its British counterpart "With The Beatles!," which was comprised mostly of cover songs, "Meet the Beatles!" featured songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and proved to be mind-shattering to music fans in an age in which artists rarely wrote their own material.
Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken says, "'Meet the Beatles!' was a call to arms to an army of musically-inclined kids across the nation. There was no turning back after hearing this LP and seeing the Beatles on the 'Ed Sullivan Show.' We were instantly hipped to the fact that there can never be anything cooler than playing in a rock n roll band."
The tracklisting:
1. I Want to Hold Your Hand 7. Don't Bother Me 2. I Saw Her Standing There 8. Little Child 3. This Boy 9. 'Till There Was You 4. It Won't Be Long 10. Hold Me Tight 5. All I've Got To Do 11. I Wanna Be Your Man 6. All My Lovin' 12. Not A Second Time
About KOCH Records
KOCH Records is a division of KOCH Entertainment, the fastest-growing music company and the market leader among independents in North America. The KOCH Entertainment corporate umbrella encompasses the KOCH Records label, KOCH Vision home video, KOCH Music Publishing and KOCH Entertainment Distribution with operations in both the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Records proudly claims the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for each of the last five years (2001-2005). For additional info on the KOCH Records label and its roster of artists, please visit www.kochrecords.com
Dance Hall Legend Sizzla to Tour U.S.
New Album, "The Overstanding," Hits Stores on November 21st, 2006
November 07, 2006 -- On the eve of his new release, dance hall legend Sizzla announces national tour dates. His new album, "The Overstanding," is scheduled to be released on November 21st, 2006. "The Overstanding" will be marketed and distributed by DDMG / Kalonji Records.
Sizzla emerged during the latter half of the '90s, and quickly became one of the leaders of the modern dancehall movement. Along with Buju Banton and Capleton, he helped lead dancehall back to the musical and spiritual influence of roots reggae, favoring organic productions and heavily Rastafarian subject matter.
Sizzla's first success came with the release of "Praise Ye Jah" in 1997. Widely considered one of the top modern dancehall albums of its time, "Praise Ye Jah" was quickly trumped by the release of "Black Woman & Child" that same year. The title track was a smash hit and became something of a cultural reggae anthem. Sizzla continued to release a string of successful albums including "Be I Strong" in 1999, the spiritually driven, hip-hop influenced "Bobo Ashanti" in 2001, and "Da Real Thing" in 2002, where he concentrated on softer, mellower, more romantic material. With a catalogue of over 40 albums to his credit, Sizzla remains one of the most if not the most widely respected figures in all of dancehall reggae. "The Overstanding" hits stores on November 21st, 2006.
Tour dates:
11/24 Newark, NJ Terrace Ballroom 11/25 Bladensburg, MD Crossroads 11/28 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig 12/2 Columbus, OH AIRosa Villa 12/5 Wilmington, NC The Rox 12/6 Winston-Salem, NC Ziggy's 12/7 Raleigh, NC Lincoln, Theater 12/8 Norfolk, VA The Norva 12/9 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero 12/12 Providence, RI Lupo's at The Strand 12/14 Stowe, VT Rusty Nail 12/15 Revere, MA Club Lido
 |
PassAlong(TM) Networks' Jozef Nuyens Wins BMI, ASCAP Awards for Little Big Town's "Boondocks"
Co-founder Dedicated to Helping Other Up-and-Coming Bands Through New Speakerheart(TM) Platform
November 07, 2006 -- PassAlong Networks' Jozef Nuyens, co-founder and senior vice president of worldwide relations, recently received awards from two major music organizations, BMI and ASCAP. Nuyens' publishing company, Tower One Music, is the publisher of Little Big Town's hit song "Boondocks."
BMI and ASCAP are the leading U.S. performing rights organizations. Together they represent more than half a million songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music.
Little Big Town has been together for seven years, but members Kimberly Roads, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet each contributed a significant amount of time to other musical endeavors before meeting and forming the group. A series of personal and professional setbacks threatened to break-up the band, but hard work and determination led to "Boondocks" and the subsequent BMI and ASCAP awards.
"Working with Little Big Town on 'Boondocks' was an incredibly rewarding experience," said Nuyens. "Here's a band that persevered through years of rejection and hardship, only to emerge as a top-selling group with a huge following. I want to make the path to success easier for the next Little Big Town, and here at PassAlong we are constantly working on ways to empower and mentor emerging artists."
A case in point is Speakerheart, a soon-to-be-available service from PassAlong Networks that will help emerging artists, bands and songwriters promote and sell their own music. According to Nuyens, the service offers artists empowerment through convenience, e-commerce, and marketing in an industry that often places the artist at the will of multiple bureaucracies.
"There are so few opportunities for artists and bands to break into the industry," said Nuyens. "Speakerheart will provide an excellent means through which individuals and groups can take control of their musical destiny and make it happen."
Interested artists, bands, managers and labels can visit Speakerheart.com to take advantage of a limited time offer to reserve a free year of service and receive notification when the site launches in early 2007.
Nuyens has extensive experience working with established and emerging bands alike. Prior to founding PassAlong Networks, Nuyens spent 20 years as founder and owner of one of the most successful recording complexes in the Southeast, The Castle, recording projects by more than 300 Gold and Platinum artists from around the world. A three-time Grammy-nominated producer, Nuyens founded Castle Productions, Castle Publishing, Castle Recording Studios and Tower Publishing, a joint venture with Warner-Chappell Publishing. Nuyens' expertise ranges from independent artist strategies to artist development and production to international music business and licensing.
About PassAlong Networks
PassAlong Networks is an innovative developer of digital media services designed to enhance the connected consumer ecosystem. PassAlong's B2B2C technology engine provides four key services for the digital media marketplace: StoreBlocks™ offers a variety of store-building tools to enable clients to provide their end-consumers with a library of more than 2 million licensed songs and the powerful music referral system, Passing-and-Points; FreedomMP3™ provides interoperability for digital media files across multiple platforms and devices while promoting a balance of artist rights and media empowerment for both content creators and consumers; OnTour® connects fans to detailed, accurate and relevant concert notifications; and Speakerheart™ enables artists to seamlessly upload, promote and sell their digital music. Founded in 2002, PassAlong Networks is privately held and based in Franklin, Tenn. For more information, visit http://www.passalongnetworks.com.
OnTour, StoreBlocks, FreedomMP3, PassAlong, Passing-and-Points and Speakerheart are trademarks of PassAlong Networks. ADULTENTERTAINMENTEXPO.COM IS LIVE!
NEW WEB PORTALS HAVE EXPANDED FEATURES FOR TRADE, FAN ATTENDEES
… Web sites for the 2007 AVN Adult
Entertainment Expo and GayVN Expo have been launched, organizers of the show announced today. The 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, sponsored by Adult Video News and produced by Home Entertainment Events, is scheduled to take place January 10-13, 2006 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“We are launching three separate Web sites that have been specially designed to address the three key components of our 2007 event,” said show manager Janet Gibson. “The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo site will have two separate sections for fan and trade attendees while the revamped GayVN Expo site will capture the features of the trade show that is dedicated the ever-growing niche market of gay adult entertainment.”
The trade-dedicated AVN Adult Entertainment Expo Web site has new features that facilitate the exchange of information between exhibitors and attendees. In addition, the expanded Media Center is a conduit between exhibitors and the media as the best resource for show-and exhibitor-related press releases.
The fan-dedicated section of the Expo Web site lets adult entertainment consumers connect with the industry’s hottest performers through a show blog, streaming video, and video on demand content.
New to the 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo is the Product Showcase, which provides exhibitors the opportunity to display new products for industry and fans. Also new in 2007 is the International Pavilion and International Buyers Lounge, launched in response to the growing international presence in the annual trade show.
The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo is a unique tradeshow experience. The largest event of its kind, the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo showcases the most comprehensive collection of adult talent, exhibitors, and product, which attracts buyers and fans from around the world. For a complete list of exhibitors and events during the Expo, please refer to http://AdultEntertainmentExpo.com.
Also to be held in conjunction with the event is the GayVN Expo, a designated portion of the show floor devoted to this thriving segment of the adult industry. Additional information and a complete list of exhibitors can be found at http://www.GayVNExpo.com.
Fan tickets are now on sale at http://www.ticketweb.com. One-day fan passes cost $45, a $5 saving compared to on-site ticket purchases.
The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo sets the stage for the 24th annual AVN Awards
Show, which will be held at the Venetian Hotel, adjacent to the Sands Expo Center, on Saturday, January 13, 2007. The annual AVN Awards Show is the premier gala of adult video and recognizes titles, individuals and companies for contributions to and excellence in the industry. Please note that a separate ticket is required for admission to the AVN Awards Show. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.avnawards.com.
Companies interested in exhibiting may contact Home Entertainment Event’s Janet
Gibson at jgibson@heeteam.com or by calling 714-513-8682.
AVN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT EXPO HAS “THE VIBE”
“VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS EXECUTIVE” PROGRAM TO PROVIDE
KEY BUYERS WITH VIP TREATMENT, REPLACES PLANNED INDUSTRY SUMMIT
… Key adult product buyers will receive
VIP treatment at the 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo through the “Very Important Business Executive” (VIBE) program announced today by the show organizers. VIBE participants will have access to a private VIBE Lounge, featuring business services, meeting rooms, and complimentary meals. They also will be provided concierge services, travel planning assistance, VIP ground transportation, priority registration and hotel check-in, tickets to the AVN Awards Show, and VIP access to the AVN Industry Party.
Participation in the VIBE program will be by invitation only.
“The major adult product buyers have very busy schedules at the Expo, and we want them to have the most productive experience possible,” noted Show Manager Janet Gibson. “So we’re taking care of them so they can take care of business.”
Show organizers also announced that the VIBE program will replace the AVN Industry Summit that had been announced for next month.
“As we looked at how best to meet the needs of the industry, we talked to key stakeholders on both the supply side and buyer side and determined that, while many were willing to participate in the AVN Summit, it would be preferable at this time to enhance the Expo experience for them,” noted Paul Fishbein, President of AVN. “The new VIBE program gives the big buyers that enhanced experience while not cluttering their calendars further.”
The 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo will take place Wednesday, January 10 to Saturday, January 13, 2007 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
To exhibit, please contact Janet Gibson, 714-338-6726 or jgibson@heeteam.com.
Additional information, including how to register will soon be available at:
www.AdultEntertainmentExpo.com
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2007 AVN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT EXPO OPENING NIGHT INDUSTRY PARTY KICKS THE SHOW OFF AT VEGAS MEGA-CLUB TAO ENCINO, CALIFORNIA (September 18, 2006) … Attendee registration for the 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo is now open, organizers of the show announced today.
The 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE), sponsored by Adult Video News and produced by Home Entertainment Events, is scheduled to take place January 10-13, 2007 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unlike in previous years, AEE will overlap with the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on only two days, Wednesday, January 10 and Thursday, January 11. AEE is not affiliated with CES.
“The 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo will be the best ever for industry insiders fans,” said Janet Gibson, show manager for Home Entertainment Events. “The new Wednesday to Saturday dates speak volumes about the show’s strength as a stand-alone event.”
Adult industry trade attendees can register for the show by going to http://www.AdultEntertainmentExpo.com. Prior to the December 9, 2006 deadline, trade registration will cost $125 per person. For attendees that want to attend the Opening Night Party, a limited number of tickets are available for an additional $60.
“The sold-out 2006 Opening Night Industry Party was such a huge success that wewanted to find the most exclusive and lavish nightspot in Las Vegas to host the 2007 party,” said Gibson. “Tao in the Venetian is the most spectacular venue on the Strip and is incredibly convenient for attendees as it is just steps from the Sands Expo Center.”
The opening day of the show, Wednesday January 10, 2007 will be open to trade members only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Thursday January 11, 2007, the show will be open to trade members only from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and fan hours will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Trade hours on Friday January 12, 2007 will be from 9 a.m. to noon and fan hours will be from noon to 6 p.m. The show will be open to fan and trade attendees all day on Saturday January 13, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo is a unique tradeshow experience. The largest event of its kind, the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo showcases the most comprehensive collection of adult talent, exhibitors, and product, which attracts buyers and fans from around the world. Exhibitors this year included Adam & Eve Productions, Club Jenna,Digital Playground, Inc., Evil Angel Video Productions, Hotmovies.com, Hustler Video, JM Productions, Metro Interactive LLC, New Sensations, Pleasure Productions, Pink Visual, Pure Play, Private Media, Red Light District, Sin City, Smash Pictures, Vivid Entertainment Group, Wicked Pictures, and Zero Tolerance. For a complete list of exhibitors and events during the Expo, please refer to Http://www.AdultEntertainmentExpo.com.
Also to be held in conjunction with the event is the GayVN Expo, a designated portion of the show floor devoted to this thriving segment of the adult industry. Additional information can be found at http://www.GayVNExpo.com.
Fan tickets are now on sale at http://AdultEntertainmentExpo.com.One-day fan passes cost $60, a $15 saving compared to on-site ticket purchases. New this year are 3-day fan passes, available for $160. Onsite VIP tickets cost $100.
The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo sets the stage for the 24th annual AVN Awards Show, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, on Saturday, January 13, 2007. The annual AVN Awards Show is the premier gala of adult video and recognizes titles, individuals and companies for contributions to and excellence in the industry.
Please note that a separate ticket is required for admission to the AVN Awards Show.
Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.AVNAwards.com.
2007 AVN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT EXPO
What: The largest adult entertainment trade show in the world, the AVN Adult
Entertainment Expo showcases the most comprehensive collection of adult
talent, exhibitors, and product, which attracts buyers and fans from around
the world.
GayVN Expo, held in conjunction with the event, is a designated portion
of the show floor devoted to this thriving segment of the adult industry.
When: January 10 through January 13, 2007
Wednesday, January 10: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, January 11: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Trade Only)
2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Trade and Fans)
Friday, January 12: 9 a.m. to Noon (Trade Only)
Noon to 6 p.m. (Trade and Fans)
Saturday, January 13: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Trade and Fans)
Where: Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Who: The most-popular adult entertainment stars in the world.
The leading adult entertainment producers. In 2006, 320 companies
exhibited at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, including Adam & Eve
Productions, Club Jenna, Digital Playground, Inc., Evil Angel Video
Productions, Hotmovies.com, Hustler Video, JM Productions, Metro
Interactive LLC, New Sensations, Pleasure Productions, Pink Visual, Pure
Play, Private Media, Red Light District, Sin City, Smash Pictures, Vivid
Entertainment Group, Wicked Pictures, and Zero Tolerance.
The top adult entertainment retailers.
Thousands of fans of adult entertainment, who get to meet their favorite
stars – up-close and personal.
More than 29,000 people attended the 2006 AVN Adult Entertainment
Expo.
Seminars: The 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo will feature nine information-
packed seminars on topics such as marketing to women, piracy in the adult
industry, new technologies, online retailing, and the legal environment.
Party: An Opening Night Party for trade registrants will be held on January 10 at
Tao in the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino. (Space is limited, and a separate
fee is required.)
Cost: Trade registration will cost $125 per person for those who register prior to
the December 9, 2006. For attendees that want to attend the Opening
Night Party, a limited number of tickets are available for an additional
$60.
One-day fan passes cost $75 ($60 if purchased online). New this year are
3-day fan passes, available for $160. Onsite VIP tickets cost $100. Fan
tickets are available at http://AdultEntertainmentExpo.com.
Complementary registration is available for qualified working members of
the press. Completion of the press registration form is required of all
individuals who wish to obtain press passes.
AVN Awards: The AVN Awards Show is presented in conjunction with the AVN Adult
Entertainment Expo, but a separate ticket is required for admission to the
AVN Awards Show.
The 24th annual AVN Awards Show will be held at the Mandalay Bay
Events Center, on Saturday, January 13, 2007. The AVN Awards Show is
the premier gala of adult video and recognizes titles, individuals and
companies for contributions to and excellence in the industry. Tickets may
be purchased online at http://www.AVNAwards.com.
CES: The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo is not affiliated with the International
Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Separate registrations are required for
each event. Unlike in previous years, the 2007 AVN Adult Entertainment
Expo will overlap with CES on only two days, Wednesday, January 10
and Thursday, January 11.
More Info: www.AdultEntertainmentExpo.com
www.GayVNExpo.com
The Christopher Reeve Foundation Raises $2.5 Million at 'A Magical Evening' Gala
Christopher and Dana Reeve's Strength and Courage Honored
Nov. 7 Last night, the Christopher Reeve Foundation honored the lives and strength of Christopher and Dana Reeve at their annual "A Magical Evening" Gala at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, by raising over $2.5 million. The event which was co-hosted by Harvey Fierstein & Bebe Neuwirth, featured a video tribute to the legendary couple, which was introduced by Barbara Walters, as well as a Broadway tribute by some of today's brightest Broadway stars including Donny Osmond; Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichert, Michael Longoria and Steve Gouveia from The Jersey Boys; The Times They Are A-Changin's Lisa Brescia and Josh Strickland and Jenn Gambatese from Tarzan. Additional special guests and supporters of the Christopher Reeve Foundation in attendance included Joan Collins, Nathan Lane, Meryl Streep, Callie Thorne, Olivia Wilde, Governor Tom Kean, Denise Rich and Miss USA Tara Connor.
This year, the Christopher Reeve Foundation presented the first-ever Dana Reeve HOPE Award to a person who has shown amazing grace, strength and fortitude and who has been a source of support and guidance to the Christopher Reeve Foundation. Will, Alexandra and Matthew Reeve presented the Dana Reeve HOPE Award to Cristina Carlino, the Founder and CEO of philosophy, inc.
"Dana Reeve, a woman whose grace and courage under the most difficult of life's circumstances, was a source of inspiration to all of us. Dana was committed to preserving the important work that Christopher pioneered," Alexandra Reeve said last night. "Her life has become a legacy of hope, enabling each of us to look within and gain the strength and courage to be better."
philosophy unveiled their latest product, inner grace, a perfumed shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath that she developed in honor of her good friend Dana Reeve. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the inner grace product will be donated to the Christopher Reeve Foundation.
Each year, the Christopher Reeve Foundation presents The Visionary Leadership Award to those individuals who demonstrate outstanding professional and philanthropic leadership. This year's Award was presented to Bruce C. Ratner, President & CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies, and to The Honorable Thomas H. Kean, Chairman of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for their extraordinary generosity of time, talent and resources.
"This has been a pivotal year for us at the Foundation. A year full of loss, and hope and challenges and achievements. Two years ago Dana Reeve stood at this podium, five weeks after her beloved husband had passed away and she spoke about how the work of the Foundation must continue even though Chris was no longer here. Our work was too important not only to Chris and Dana, but to the millions of people living with paralysis. She then smiled that beautiful smile of hers and she challenged us to do even more," said Christopher Reeve Foundation President and CEO Kathy Lewis last night. "In the days and weeks after Dana's death it was hard to imagine that anyone could possibly stand here. But we all know that it is not a disability or diagnosis that defines a man or woman, but how you choose to live your life. With Chris and Dana it was never 'why me', but I'm 'still me'. And although their lives were way too short, these two magnificent human beings left us with a legacy of hope."
The hope and the work of the Christopher Reeve Foundation was demonstrated last night when 3-year-old Chase Ford took the stage. As Chase's mother Renee Ford explained, Chase was paralyzed from the neck down in an accident just 18-months ago. Through the Foundation's funding of their NeuroRecovery Network Chase walked across the stage and waved to the audience.
The Christopher Reeve Foundation is committed to finding treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders, and improving the quality of life for people living with disabilities.
For more information or to make a donation to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, please call (800) 225-0292 or visit http://www.christopherreeve.org/.
The National Museum of Natural History and Jean-Michel Cousteau Join Forces to Protect Sharks With a Breathtaking New Film, SHARKS 3D, Now Playing at the Smithsonian's Samuel C. Johnson IMAX (R) Theatre
SHARKS 3D Creates Major Waves in Washington D.C. and Invites Audiences to Discover Nature's Ultimate yet Endangered Predator in a Whole New Way
Nov. 7 The Smithsonian Institution, Jean-Michel Cousteau and 3D Entertainment, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), invite audiences to a stunning, immersive diving experience with SHARKS 3D, the first-ever shark-themed 3D IMAX theatre film, which premiered last Wednesday, November 1st at the National Museum of Natural History's Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theatre in Washington D.C.
"I am very pleased that DC-area residents now have the chance to share in this truly memorable encounter with the world's great shark species, such as the Great White, Whale Shark and Hammerhead," said Jean-Michel Cousteau, President of Ocean Futures Society. "Watching SHARKS 3D is like pulling on a diving suit and swimming weightlessly with sharks all around. If you've ever wanted to know what it's really like to dive with sharks, this film is certainly a must-see."
"Despite the existence of various international treaties, certain shark species have been reduced by nearly 80% in the past decade alone. Today, the priority is not only to end the steady decline of the shark population, but to rehabilitate its image among the general public," said UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP's Executive Director, Achim Steiner.
"We are thrilled to launch SHARKS 3D at the National Museum of Natural History's Johnson IMAX theatre and to offer our visitors a unique, informative and exhilarating experience with these endangered predators," said Toby Mensforth, director of theaters for Smithsonian Business Ventures. "SHARKS 3D has been carefully selected to delight our IMAX audiences and to enhance the Smithsonian educational mission."
"I sincerely believe that SHARKS 3D, while entertaining audiences, delivers a strong and compelling argument for shark conservation by shedding new light on the urgent need to protect these animals," said director Jean-Jacques Mantello. "Ultimately, the film's purpose is to lead people to think differently and positively about sharks. As many fellow conservationists have stated before, we protect only what we love. Therefore, we first need to understand what sharks are really like before there can be a change in public perception. Then perhaps we will begin to protect them."
Principal photography on SHARKS 3D required an extensive nine-month shoot totaling 500 dive hours. The film was shot on location in Guadalupe Island, Socorro Island, Revillagigedos and the Sea of Cortez (Mexico), Malpelo Island (Colombia), the Red Sea (Egypt), Sodwana Bay (South Africa), Inhambane (Mozambique), San Diego (USA) and Rangiroa Atoll (French Polynesia).
Production notes are available at http://www.3depublicity.com/
The Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theatre brings SHARKS 3D to life in grand fashion, offering a unique 3D experience from each of its 427 stadium-style seats with high-definition images projected onto the huge, six story-tall screen and 15,000 watts of pure digital surround sound. The Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theatre is located in the National Museum of Natural History at 10th Street and Constitution Ave N.W. in Washington D.C. For information on tickets and showtimes, please visit www.si.edu/imax or call 202-633-IMAX (4629) or 1-877-WDC-IMAX.
SHARKS 3D is produced by 3D Entertainment and McKinney Underwater Productions Inc., directed by Jean-Jacques Mantello, filmed by Gavin McKinney and executive produced by Francois Mantello. SHARKS 3D features an original score composed by Christophe Jacquelin.
SHARKS 3D is distributed worldwide by 3D Entertainment in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (http://www.unep.org/) and is endorsed and supported by Ocean Futures Society (http://www.oceanfutures.org/), Reef Check (http://www.reefcheck.org/) and PADI's Project Aware (http://www.projectaware.org/).
SHARKS 3D is recommended for general audiences and has been rated "Universal" by the British Board of Film Classification (equivalent to a MPAA "G" rating).
Official film website: http://www.sharks3d.com/ IMAX is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation About 3D Entertainment:
Based in London (UK), 3D Entertainment specializes in the production and distribution of marine conservation and environmental-themed films specifically for the worldwide network of IMAX theatres. The company's mission is to immerse audiences in unique underwater experiences that inspire and educate. Their first documentary, OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D, released in February 2003 at IMAX 3D theatres around the globe, sheds light on the crucial function of the endangered coral reefs. Currently in production is DOLPHINS & WHALES 3D (wt), the last chapter in the company's unique ocean-themed film trilogy. The company enjoys strategic alliances with McKinney Underwater Productions and Studio Helios XVI.
About the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History:
The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's preeminent museum and research complex. The Museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs. Opened in 1910, the green-domed museum on the National Mall was among the first Smithsonian building constructed exclusively to house the national collections and research facilities. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, located at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., in Washington, D.C., welcomed more than 5.5 million visitors in 2005. For further information, call (202) 633-1000, TTY (202) 357-1729 or visit the museum's website at www.mnh.si.edu
Source: 3D Entertainment and Smithsonian Institution
LMN Launches Innovative On-Air/Online Programming Initiative With Danica McKellar ('The Wonder Years') Starring In Original Movie 'Inspector Mom' On-Air, Followed By Eight New Webisodes on LMN.tv
- 'Inspector Mom' Premieres on LMN Saturday, November 18 at 8 P.M. (ET/PT) --
Nov. 7 Welcome to the 21st Century version of a younger, hipper 'Jessica Fletcher.' In the new LMN Original Movie "Inspector Mom," Danica McKellar ("The Wonder Years") stars as a shopping crazy, cookie baking mother with two children and an incorrigible penchant for hunting down criminals in a 'secret' career.
Premiering Saturday, November 18 at 8-10 P.M. (ET/PT) on LMN, the second most popular women's cable network behind only sibling Lifetime Television, this innovative on-air/online programming initiative also features eight original "Inspector Mom" webisodes. The broadband content debuts on LMN.tv immediately following the on-air premiere of the movie.
In "Inspector Mom," McKellar portrays Maddie Monroe, a "stay-at-home" mom who is always on the go. Maddie has a knack for getting into the thick of people's lives, learning what makes them tick, helping them when they're down and exposing them when they do wrong.
Whether it's the murder of a villainous soccer coach, the poisoning of a cook-off judge, puzzling harassment of a sweet, lonely neighbor, or a dark secret told from the mouth of a babe, Maddie is there through it all: magnifying glass in one hand, diaper bag in the other.
Once the movie premieres on LMN, the online "Inspector Mom" mystery starts on LMN.tv. These webisodes unfold in eight, seven-and-a-half minute segments running from November through April 2007. The LMN.tv web site also includes special features such as an interactive mystery enabling viewers to find clues to solve the crime.
A new "Inspector Mom" two hour movie is then scheduled to premiere on LMN in April, followed by more original webisodes on LMN.tv.
Major blue chip advertisers Kellogg's and Walgreens are sponsors of "Inspector Mom," which will feature product integrations in both the on-air and online programming. These marketers will also be the sole sponsors of all "Inspector Mom" online initiatives including custom interactive games. The brand involvement was orchestrated with support from the marketers' media agency of record Starcom USA.
"Inspector Mom" is a production of Inspector Mom LLC. Brad Keller is executive producer/director.
LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment, and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.
Source: Lifetime Movie Network
Wrestling Superstar Bill Goldberg to Host Spike TV's 'Bullrun'
Renowned Car Enthusiast to Host New Spike TV Series
Premiering in Spring, 2007
Nov. 7 Wrestling icon -- and devoted car enthusiast -- Bill Goldberg, takes his passion to the streets as host of the new Spike TV series, Bullrun, premiering in Spring, '07. Bullrun, based on the same-named international automotive rally, features 12 teams of two drivers who use their own cars in a rally that takes them across America.
"These Bullrun contestants better bring the same intensity, passion, and love for cars that I have or they are going to be left in the dust," said Goldberg.
Bullrun puts real people behind their favorite wheels in an all-out rally across North America, competing for big prize money, the 2007 Bullrun Trophy, and even bigger bragging rights waiting at the finish line. Making this a true test of strength and endurance, drivers will only be given route information after each leg of the competition, and will be forced to "switch gears" several times in planning their strategies. Facing unforgiving terrain, auto challenges and the knowledge that one team will be eliminated at the end of each episode, drivers are fueled by a love of their own cars and driven by the ultimate desire to win.
From classic muscle cars to exotic automobiles, Bullrun will feature some of the hottest, coolest, and fastest tricked-out cars ever assembled on television. In addition to racing to their next destination, each team will also be put to the test with competitive, extreme auto challenges with their own cars. If any of the cars break down, contestants will need to handle the repairs themselves or face elimination.
Bill Goldberg was an All-American football player at the University of Georgia and played four years for the Atlanta Falcons from 1991-1994. He joined WCW Wrestling in 1997 and subsequently became one of the most popular wrestlers of his time. The former WWE and WCW World Heavyweight wrestling champion left the ring to pursue acting in 2004, starring in movies such as The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler, Santas Slay and also had guest starring roles in HBO's Arliss and CBS' Yes Dear. Goldberg spends his free time indulging his passion for cars. Currently numbering 23, his collection includes everything from racecars to dragsters to restored American (muscle) cars. He loves all forms of auto racing including NASCAR, Formula 1 and NHRA drag racing.
Bullrun is produced by Rocket Science Laboratories, Bullrun LLC and Maloof Television. Chris Cowan, Jean-Michel Michenaud, Charles Duncombe and Joel Rodgers (Rocket Science Laboratories), Andrew Duncan and David Green (Bullrun franchise owners), and Phil Maloof and Andrew Jameson (Maloof Entertainment Group) will serve as executive producers. Sharon Levy, Senior Vice President of Alternative Programming and Tim Duffy, Vice President of Original Programming are executives in charge of production for Spike TV.
Rocket Science Laboratories, formed in 1998 by its two principals, Chris Cowan and Jean-Michel Michenaud, is a leading innovator in the creation and production of original primetime reality formats, including such hit series as "Temptation Island," "Joe Millioniare," "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance," and "Trading Spouses."
Maloof Television, a division of Maloof Productions which encompasses film, television, music and other areas, is an entertainment production company founded in April 2004 by the Maloof family, whose diversified business portfolio includes ownership of the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Visit the website at http://www.maloofproductions.com/
Spike TV is available in 90 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) .
Source: Spike TV
Lionsgate and Marvel Studios Join Forces for Next Installment in Enormously Popular Marvel Animated Features DVD Series
THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN
DVD Cover Art Drawn By Marvel Comics' Own Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada!
Nov. 7 -- This January, Marvel Studios (NYSE:MVL) and Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) will release to DVD the latest title in the very successful Marvel Animated Features video series -- THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, inspired by one of Marvel's most popular Super Hero franchises. The third release of a multi-picture direct-to-DVD deal signed by the two companies, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN follows on the heels of the enormously successful ULTIMATE AVENGERS: THE MOVIE and ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2: RISE OF THE PANTHER, which have sold more than 1.5 million units combined since debuting in February 2006, and currently rank among the top 10 children's releases year-to-date according to Nielsen Videoscan (10/8/06). THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN is an origin story that follows billionaire inventor Tony Stark as he raises a long-buried city in China and awakens an unspeakable evil that only the armor-clad Iron Man(TM) can destroy in a battle of modern technology versus eastern mythology.
"Marvel fans are among the most loyal and fervent in existence and they are anxious for Iron Man to take the spotlight," said Lionsgate President Steve Beeks. "The Marvel Animated Features have been so successful because they lived up to the expectations of these fans in both production quality and the experience they have come to expect with Marvel projects. We anticipate THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN to achieve similar critical and sales success as the feature will bring the superhero to life with a story that honors its comic book roots."
"Iron Man is one of Marvel's premier characters. Our animation team has done a terrific job bringing Tony Stark to life in this action-packed animated DVD feature," added Marvel Studios President/COO, Michael Helfant.
Named after the comic books that made Tony Stark's alter ego one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN will be available on DVD on January 23, 2007 for the suggested retail price of $19.98. The DVD features a "marvel-ous" host of bonus features including an alternate opening sequence, "The Origin of Iron Man" featurette, "The Hall of Iron Man Armor" featurette, a look at the upcoming Marvel Animated Feature, DR. STRANGE and more.
SYNOPSIS
Past and present collide in this epic adventure that reveals the origin of Iron Man. While raising the ruins of a long buried Chinese kingdom, billionaire inventor Tony Stark digs up far more than he bargained for. He unleashes an age-old prophecy that foretells the resurrection of the Mandarin, the emperor of China's darkest and most violent dynasty. In order to confront the destructive force, Tony creates an armored suit infused with high-tech weaponry. To stop the evil that he himself has raised from the earth, Tony must become his greatest invention ever -- Iron Man! The newly born champion must travel to the four corners of the earth to battle the Mandarin's henchmen, the Elementals -- four magical warriors who harness the power of the elements -- earth, water, wind, and fire -- with deadly chemistry. But is the Iron Knight, as he his known in the prophecy, strong enough to defy fate and turn back the malevolent forces hell-bent on earth's destruction?
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*: - Alternate Opening Sequence - "The Origin of Iron Man" featurette - "The Hall of Iron Man Armor" featurette - A Look at upcoming Marvel Animated Feature Dr. Strange - Trailer Gallery *DVD Special Features subject to change ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning this year's Best Picture Academy Award(R) for CRASH, generating two consecutive years of $300 million-plus domestic theatrical box office, operating a $500 million-plus home entertainment business and producing a broad slate of prime time television series for fiscal 2007. It is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 10,000 titles is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
ABOUT MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT INC.
With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. More information about Marvel can be found www.marvel.com
