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Blu-ray Disc(TM) Gets in Front of Target Market with Launch of High-Definition TV Advertising

High-Def TV, Print and Web Work Focal Points of Extended Marketing Campaign

 Nov. 20, 2006 A core group of Blu-ray Disc supporters including Twentieth Century Fox, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Sony and Warner Bros., working with Austin-based advertising and marketing agency, SicolaMartin, is utilizing the power of high-definition television along with a series of advertising and marketing initiatives to reach target audiences during the holiday shopping season. In order to best demonstrate the benefits of the Blu-ray Disc next-generation optical disc format, the group has produced a 30-second commercial shot for high-definition television that debuted on November 17. This spot, along with broader placement in print and online media outlets, builds upon earlier advertising efforts directed at home-entertainment enthusiasts. (Ad may be viewed at http://www.sicolamartin.com/bluraybroadcast/)

Blu-ray Disc is supported by more than 170 of the world's leading Hollywood studios, consumer electronics manufacturers, gaming companies, personal computer manufacturers and music companies. Blu-ray Disc offers 1080p resolution, up to 7.1 channels of surround sound, 50 GB of storage capacity (the highest capacity of any consumer media format to date), real-time interactivity and is fully compatible with pre-existing DVD libraries.

The new high-definition commercial pulls viewers into a swirl of movie clips and animation accompanied by dramatic theater-quality music and an announcer who describes the various benefits of Blu-ray Disc technology. "We chose to go heavy on film clips from several studios to reinforce the widespread industry support that Blu-ray enjoys. These popular images will strike a chord with a wide range of the target market, plus it's just a great way to demonstrate the Blu-ray experience," stated Chris Wood, creative director at SicolaMartin. The ads can be seen exclusively on HD cable stations such as Discovery HD, INHD and HDNet.

The expanded print campaign now runs in lifestyle magazines, including GQ and Popular Mechanics, in addition to those targeted at the AV enthusiast such as Home Theater, Home Entertainment and Wired. Anchored by a four-page ad, the print execution is created to excite and educate readers about Blu-ray's extensive technological benefits. The online segment, which has previously run on CNET, PCWorld, Wired, Google and Yahoo!, has been expanded and will also run on IMDb.com, GameSpot.com and ESPN.com. These ads utilize rich media delivered through the Eye Blaster ad-server platform. Both print and online spots are filled with popular entertainment icons from movies, music and gaming such as Superman, Human Torch from "Fantastic Four," and singer John Legend in a backdrop saturated in various tones of the color blue. (The print ad may be viewed by going to http://www.sicolamartin.com/blurayprint. Example of an online ad: http://www.sicolamartin.com/blurayonline.)

"This campaign showcases all of the reasons why informed consumers are excited about Blu-ray," said Tim Baxter, senior vice president, strategic marketing for Sony Corporation of America. "Beyond being assured of an extensive selection of titles and players, consumers can learn what makes Blu-ray Disc a superior platform."

"This kind of promotional effort is unprecedented," said Peter Staddon, executive vice president, marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. "The fact that such a large group of industry heavyweights support Blu-ray Disc is good news for consumers who want to be assured that Blu-ray is the format of choice by industry leaders."

About Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray Disc is a next-generation optical disc format developed for high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 25 gigabytes of data and a double-layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 50 gigabytes of data.

About SicolaMartin

Austin, Texas-based SicolaMartin is an advertising and marketing agency specializing in targeted and integrated campaigns that leverage technology and the digital convergence of media and marketing. For more than 20 years, the agency's creative excellence and in-depth marketing experience have delivered effective campaigns for consumer and technology industry leaders like AMD, Blu-ray Disc, Hewlett Packard, Sybase, and the American Cancer Society. In 2006, the Society for Human Resource Management named SicolaMartin one of the 50 Best Companies to Work for in Texas (#8). The agency is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Young & Rubicam Brands with a satellite office in San Francisco. 

 

DANE COOK'S ''VICIOUS CIRCLE'' Gets DANEgerous on the Big Screen with 40 Minutes of Never-before-Seen Footage

One Night Premiere Event on November 27th in 200 Movie Theatres Nationwide to Celebrate the Launch of the DVD Presented by National CineMedia, HBO, SUperFInger Entertainment and New Wave Entertainment in association with McGhee-Proffer Media

 Nov. 20, 2006 Comedy star Dane Cook is back on the big screen and more DANEgerous than ever in "DANE COOK: VICIOUS CIRCLE," featuring in an extended concert version of his hit comedy special with 40 minutes of never-before-seen footage to celebrate the release of the new collector's edition 2-disc DVD set.

If fans think they saw the "VICIOUS CIRCLE" show on HBO, they haven't seen anything yet! Performing at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston "in the round" in front of 18,000 fervent fans, Cook delivers a hilarious, high-energy routine, touching on such universal issues as the therapeutic value of a good lie, the sincerity behind a post-sneeze "God bless you," cheating and its value in relationships and the shock and awe of seeing your father's genitals for the first time.

"DANE COOK: VICIOUS CIRCLE" will be presented by National CineMedia, HBO, SUperFInger Entertainment and New Wave Entertainment in association with McGhee-Proffer Media in High-Definition and cinema surround sound on Monday, November 27th at 8:00 p.m. local time in 200 select Regal, United Artists, Edwards, AMC and Georgia Theatre Company movie theatres located across the US. Tickets are available now at http://www.BigScreenBoxOffice.com or at presenting theatre box offices for $10.00 in advance and $12.50 on the day of the event. (For a complete list of theatres, please visit the website. Theatres are subject to change.)

"This one-night event is a chance for my fans that haven't seen me live, to experience my show alongside other fans," said Dane. "Even people who have seen the Vicious Circle special on HB0 are going to be psyched with how much new material they will see that hasn't been seen anywhere else."

The "DANE COOK: VICIOUS CIRCLE" collector's edition 2-disc DVD set, which includes the original 90-minute broadcast version of the concert, and 2-hour DANEgerous extended concert and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, will be released on the day after the event.

For more news and information on Dane Cook, visit http://www.danecook.com and http://www.myspace.com/danecook.

About National CineMedia

National CineMedia, LLC is a venture of AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark USA, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), three of the world's leading theatrical exhibition companies. The company develops pre feature entertainment; cinema and lobby advertising products; comprehensive meeting and event services; and alternative forms of entertainment content for distribution across the approximately 13,000 screens operated by its owner theatre circuits and other theatre affiliates. Over 11,000 of these screens are part of NCM's Digital Content Network (DCN), one of the world's largest in-theatre digital distribution networks. The network provides content and advertising to 150 U.S. markets, including 49 of the top 50, reaching an estimated 525 million movie patrons annually. For additional information, please go to http://www.ncm.com.

About McGhee-Proffer Media

Highly regarded music and media producers, architects and management, with a long history of connecting with audiences. MPM has Academy, Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards and nominations in their portfolio to back up their vision as well as a few hundred million records sold from their production and management clients. MPM has expanded its pedigree by architecting and executing original content for brands and distribution companies to get their message across, utilizing music as an organic component.

Dane Cook, HBO and National CineMedia were brought together for this event by strategic architect and media producer, Spencer Proffer. Proffer, along with partner Doc McGhee of McGhee-Proffer Media, have an overall relationship with National CineMedia to develop and produce original programming events. Recently, McGhee-Proffer worked closely with National CineMedia on the KISS ALIVE! ON THE BIG SCREEN event in partnership with VH1 Classic which had a successful national exhibition on October 26th.

 

Twentieth Century FOX and Delivery Agent Announce First Full-Service Online Store For THE SIMPSONS

First Online Store Exclusively Dedicated to THE SIMPSONS Launches in Time for the Holidays

 Nov. 20, 2006 Deck the halls with products from THE SIMPSONS! Just in time for the holidays, Delivery Agent, Inc., the leader in shopping enabled programming for television shows, motion pictures, sports, and music videos, along with Twentieth Century FOX Licensing & Merchandising have announced the upcoming launch of the first online store dedicated strictly to officially licensed products from THE SIMPSONS. By logging onto http://www.TheSimpsonsShop.com, fans of the show will be able to purchase the widest range of THE SIMPSONS products available anywhere.

Delivery Agent has constructed a unique and exceptionally comprehensive online store for THE SIMPSONS. The online site will utilize best-of-breed technology and graphics designed to be an enjoyable and easy to navigate experience for consumers who can fulfill family and friends wish lists within minutes.

"The full line of merchandise that will be available in the store is sure to elicit comments from, 'I gotta add that to my wish list' to 'I didn't know that they made that'," noted Delivery Agent CEO Mike Fitzsimmons. "The shelves will be well stocked with the products that fans of THE SIMPSONS can't help but love; talking clocks will share space with board games and fishing lures. Fine art collectables will be found near the pinball machines. If it's THE SIMPSONS, we'll have it."

THE SIMPSONS merchandising program is currently comprised of more than 600 licensing partners across the globe manufacturing a full range of character based products across all categories.

"One of the entertainment industry's strongest brands, THE SIMPSONS generates billions in merchandise sales around the world. Launching the store in conjunction with the series record-setting eighteenth season only makes sense, and will serve as a precursor to the countdown to THE SIMPSONS' debut motion picture. Our agreement with Delivery Agent is very much in line with our long-standing commitment to creating the highest level of professional relationships for THE SIMPSONS brand," said Elie Dekel, Executive Vice President of Fox Licensing and Merchandising.

About THE SIMPSONS Movie

THE SIMPSONS come to the big screen, July 27, 2007, in their first feature film. The theatrical movie adventure stars Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Hank Azaria (Moe), Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns) and will have a guest appearance from Albert Brooks.

About THE SIMPSONS:

Currently the longest-running sitcom on televison, THE SIMPSONS will air their historic 400th episode in May 2007. The critically acclaimed series features Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson who take traditional family life and turn them upside down. Exploding into a cultural phenomenon in 1990, THE SIMPSONS has remained one of the most visible and marketable properties both domestically and internationally. Having received a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 14, 2000, THE SIMPSONS is also noted for its famous celebrity guest voices such as Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Stephen Hawking, Kiefer Sutherland, Natalie Portman, Simon Cowell, Gore Vidal and U2, Mick Jagger, Aerosmith.

This multi-Emmy Award(R)-winning series is currently airing their 18th Season and in production on their 19th Season. THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.

About FOX Licensing & Merchandising

A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century FOX Licensing and Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century FOX Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and FOX Broadcasting Company, as well as third party lines. The division is aligned with Twentieth Century FOX Television, one of the top suppliers of primetime entertainment programming to the broadcast networks.

About Delivery Agent

Delivery Agent, Inc., (http://www.deliveryagent.com) is the leader in shopping enabled programming and measurement for television shows, movies, sports, and music videos. Delivery Agent created the market for shopping enabled programming by redefining how products SeenON!(TM), or related to entertainment content are cataloged, sold and measured. Since early 2002, through its patent-pending suite of technology applications, Delivery Agent has been facilitating profitable transactions between consumers and products. The company's roster of clients includes ABC Entertainment, Bravo, Lions Gate Entertainment, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, The Weinstein Company and Twentieth Century Fox.

 

EA's SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME Hits Stores

In the Ultimate Open-World Super Hero Adventure You Have to Master Your Powers to Save Metropolis

Nov. 20, 2006 Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) ships SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, today to retail stores nationwide. The game, which features storylines from both the Warner Bros. Pictures' film Superman Returns and more than 60 years of DC Comics' content, was developed by EA's award-winning Tiburon Studio in Orlando, Fla., which develops Madden NFL football, the most popular sports franchise in videogame history. SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME is the ultimate open-world super hero experience and is available on the Xbox 360(TM) videogame and entertainment system, as well as PlayStation(R) 2, Xbox(R), Nintendo DS(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance.

"We are really proud to ship SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME today, as this is a huge milestone for our studio. We are thrilled to deliver the largest open-world game to date and to have set a new standard in super hero videogames at EA Tiburon," said Steven Chiang, vice president and general manager of EA Tiburon. "Now players get the ability to fly, fight and make decisions as Superman, the most powerful super hero, and save Metropolis."

See firsthand what it is like to be Superman in the first multi-dimensional open-world game, where you can go anywhere in the 80 square miles of Metropolis, from the street up into the clouds. Revolutionary new flight mechanics gives the player full command of all aerial maneuvers. As Superman, the player must protect Metropolis from the most well-known villains in the DC Comics universe and conquer more than 100 missions that only Superman can overcome including saving Metropolis and its citizens from destruction, battling enemies and saving the planet from natural disasters. The game will feature all the classic superpowers, but learning to master all of them during flight and combat will take work -- even for Superman.

The game features the voice and likeness of Brandon Routh (Superman/Clark Kent) as well as the voices of Kevin Spacey (Lex Luthor), Kate Bosworth (Lois Lane), Parker Posey (Kitty Kowalski) and Sam Huntington (Jimmy Olsen), all reprising their roles from the Warner Bros. Pictures' film directed by Bryan Singer.

SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME is rated "T" (Teen) by the ESRB and has an MSRP of $59.99 on the Xbox 360, $39.99 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Xbox and $29.99 for Nintendo DS. The version shipping for the Game Boy Advance has an MSRP of $29.99 and is titled, SUPERMAN RETURNS: FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE(TM). The game is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME began shipping in Europe on November 17. The game's official website is http://www.besuperman.com.

ABOUT ELECTRONIC ARTS

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is http://www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

ABOUT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc., a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is a premier licensor, publisher and developer of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including consoles, PC-based gaming and wireless applications.

ABOUT DC COMICS

DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' website is located at http://www.dccomics.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. (TM), (R), Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo.

SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) DC Comics.

 

A study conducted by Harris Interactive suggests that the television industry's obsession with youth is backfiring.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they believe that most TV programming and advertising is targeted toward people under 40, the survey said. More than 80 percent of adults over 40 say they have a hard time finding TV shows that reflect their lives.

A significant number of baby boomers — 37 percent — say they aren't happy with what's on television, according to the study.

"The amount of people dissatisfied with television overall was a pretty big eye-opening thing for us," said Larry Jones, president of the TV Land cable network, which commissioned the study.

To a certain extent, the generation that decades ago warned against trusting people over 30 can blame itself for the predicament. The TV industry's slavish devotion to ratings within the 18-to-49-year-old demographic started when most baby boomers fit into that group.

The theory among advertisers is that it's important to reach young people as their preferences are forming — get them hooked on a certain toothpaste or soda early and they'll be hooked for life. Advertisers will pay a premium for young viewers: $335 for every thousand people in the 18-to-24 age range that a network delivers, for example. Viewers aged 55-to-64 are worth only $119 for every thousand, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That's why ABC and NBC conduct all of their business with advertisers in the 18-to-49 demo. From a financial standpoint, if you're 50 or over, you mean nothing to those networks' executives. For Fox, the CW, MTV, BET and countless other networks, even 40 is too old.

The peak year for births within the baby boom, Jones noted, was 1957 — meaning all those people are turning 49 this year.

Much of the television industry isn't aging with them.

To a surprising extent, advertising is also alienating. The Harris Interactive study found that half of baby boomers say they tune out commercials that are clearly aimed at young people. An additional one-third said they'd go out of their way NOT to buy such a product 

 

Academy to Explore Films of 1906

With such box office hits as “Dr. Dippy’s Sanitarium” and “The Village Cut-Up,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will honor the year 1906 and its contributions to film history in “A Century Ago: The Films of 1906” on Wednesday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

Revisiting the year that saw motion pictures dramatically expand their presence via storefront nickelodeons, the program will reflect a partial survey of turn-of-the-century international filmmaking with trick films, actualities, primitive dramas and gag films. It will be highlighted by one of the earliest known examples of frame-by-frame animation, “Humorous Phases of Funny Faces,” by J. Stuart Blackton of Vitagraph; the surrealistic film “Dream of a Rarebit Fiend,” based on a Winsor McCay comic strip, from the Edison Studios; a hand-tinted print of “Voyage autour d’une étoile,” from the Pathé Studios in France; actuality footage of the San Francisco Earthquake; and newly restored fragments of “The Story of the Kelly Gang” from Australia.

The program will also feature such popular hits as “In the Haunts of Rip Van Winkle,” “The Impossible Convicts” (both Biograph), “Motor Pirates” “The ‘?’ Motorist” and “A Visit to Peek Frean and Co.’s Biscuit Works” (all from British companies).

Most prints will be shown in 35mm and are drawn from the collections of the Academy Film Archive, the Library of Congress, George Eastman House, the British Film Institute, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Film and Sound Archive of the Australian Film Commission and the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Michael Mortilla will provide live musical accompaniment.

Tickets to “A Century Ago: The Films of 1906” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased in advance, either by mail or in person. The Academy’s ticket office is located at its headquarters at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

The Linwood Dunn Theater is located at the Academy’s Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood. All seating is unreserved. Free parking is available behind the building through the entrance on Homewood Avenue. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.

# # #

©A.M.P.A.S.®

 

Green Day Teams With Green Group in Campaign to 'Move America Beyond Oil''Cell Phone Activism' Enters Environmental Arsenal; New Videos Aid Online Empowerment Drive for Clean, Renewable Energy Technologies

 November 17, 2006 -- Rock luminaries Green Day and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today announced a major new campaign, Move America Beyond Oil, to mobilize and empower music fans to demand clean, renewable energy solutions that break our dangerous dependence on oil -- a fuel that threatens both our security and our environment. The pairing unites one of the world's most popular and socially conscious rock groups with one of the nation's most effective environmental action groups.

"This campaign is about channeling the power of millions into something positive and powerful. People are sick of our oil addiction and feel like nobody is doing anything about it," said Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day's lead singer and guitarist. "The solutions are there, the support is there, but the leadership is not. Our message is that it's okay, and very rebellious, to take on that responsibility."

The online hub for the Move America Beyond Oil campaign is www.greendaynrdc.com, where visitors can see exclusive video messages from the band and send personal messages directly to political leaders straight from the site with just a few simple keystrokes. NRDC has used similar online tools to send millions of messages to lawmakers and corporate leaders in a variety of successful campaigns. With Green Day, they are reaching a whole new generation of online activists.

Visitors will also have access to a brand new tool that allows them to send text messages directly from their cell phones to lawmakers and corporate leaders, no matter where they are, simply by sending "GD" to 30644.

The campaign kicks off with a message to President Bush calling for better fuel economy performance standards in our cars, more support for biofuels, and sensible global warming pollution limits like those recently adopted in California and other states. Once they've signed up, users will receive an electronic notice when a new issue needs to be acted upon.

"Oil and auto industry lobbyists have kept good options off the table for too long," said NRDC President Frances Beinecke. "Reliable, renewable solutions like wind and solar energy, or hybrid technology in our cars and trucks, are ready to go right now. They save energy, cut emissions and create jobs. So what is Washington waiting for?"

Backed by more than 1.2 million members and online activists, NRDC has long been known for the work of its lawyers and scientists. The organization has reached a large audience through collaboration with well known conservationists such as Robert Redford, James Taylor, Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurie David, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz and Ben Harper. Now NRDC is creatively reinventing environmental activism and advocacy, both online and off, using the power of internet campaigns and multimedia.

Recipients of the American Way Foundation's 2006 "Spirit of Liberty Award," Green Day, which includes singer / guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool, have given their time and music to benefit many charitable causes, such as appearing at the historic Live 8 concert series which pressured world leaders to abolish the debt, negotiate fair trade rules and increase aid to the world's most impoverished countries, participating in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and donating royalties from online sales of their Number One single "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" to the American Red Cross' relief efforts for earthquake and tsunami victims in Eastern African and Southern Asia.

While touring, Green Day brought representatives from Amnesty International, Greenpeace, USA Harvest, and grassroots political coalition Punkvoter.com out on tour to raise awareness amongst their fans. Green Day's 2004 multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning album, "American Idiot," has effectively raised social and political consciousness among audiences worldwide.

Going forward, www.Greendaynrdc.com will feature exclusive video clips of Green Day discussing a range of environmental issues and a series of proactive steps that we can take to defend human health, wildlife, and our last wild places. Green Day fans who sign up to receive email updates from Green Day and NRDC will have access to exclusive content, plus a chance to win Green Day gear.

 

 

 

FIND LOVE AND COMEDY IN INFINITY STUDIOS, LLC¹S NOVEMBER EDITOR¹S PICKS

Add to the Romance and Laughter this Thanksgiving Season!

RICHMOND, CA ­ November 16, 2006 ­ ³Gobble Gobble!²  Infinity Studios,
LLC adds to the season by getting readers into the mood of romance and
laughter with their Editor¹s Picks for November! Readers will get into the
spirit of the Thanksgiving season with titles filled with love and comedy.  More
information can be found on the company¹s website-www.infinitystudios.com.

POPO CAN Vol. 1- When Yasuharu bought a limited edition version of a
debating simulation game, the last thing he was expecting was a
beautiful video game girl named Popomi to burst out of his TV and invade his
life! Too make matters worse the only thing Popomi seems to do is sit around
Yasuharu¹s house all day, drink beer, read manga, and cause mass havoc!
Yasuharu¹s peaceful life of playing video games quickly turns into a
rampaging 500 pound gorilla as more video game characters come into his
life. Who in the world is fixing Yasuharu¹s house each time Popomi
destroys it with one of her rampages? You¹ll just have to read POP CAN to find
out!

ZIGGY ZIGGY Vol. 1- Reputation is everything in a world of icons and
popularity contests. So why not score some points here and there by
being the nice guy? This is the way Shinghi Ghang legitimizes the fake
personality he has everyone believing. Armed with his above average looks and a
(completely false) angel-like personality, he has every girl in school
head over heals, and all the guys looking to him for guidance. With the
exception of having a screwed up cross-dressing devil for a dad, Shinghi¹s life
is absolute perfection (*cough* of lies) until one day, Sung-Hae transfers
to his school.
While being a complete martial artist freak, she also likes to fib just
a little in front of those who know herŠ you know, like acting like she¹s
just a scared little girl who¹d play with kittens rather than break brick
walls with her head~! After all, how can anything go wrong when you¹re as
cute as Sung-Hae?
Fate has brought these two masters of lies together and the two must
battle it out to see who will be crowned the undefeated heavy-weight champion
of fakeness!

NININ GA SHINOBUDEN Vol. 1- What do you get when you combine ninjas,
cute girls, and a hilarious yet obnoxious yellow little creature? Well, I
don¹t think anyone can tell you the answer to that one but I can guarantee
you it¹ll make you laugh until your stomach starts to hurt!

NININ GA SHINOBUDEN is the funniest thing you¹ll ever get your hands on
and when we say anything goes, anything goes~! In this story, our heroine,
Shinobu, is a female ninja in training. The only trouble is, she seems
more interested in hanging out with her friend Kaede, and the fact that her
ninja Master is a round yellow thing(?) that pretends to be hawk isn¹t
helping.
Come join the world of Shinobuden where each chapter is an adventure
jammed packed with antics, parodies, and laughs. This is quit possibly one of
the greatest humor titles of all times. If you¹ve ever wondered why comics
were called comics, you need to read this book.

SWEETY Vol. 1- How do you distinguish between the love from a cute
neighborhood girl (who¹s like a little sister to you), and the love
from the hottest, yet quirky, girl in school? This is exactly the question
Myung-Ho has to ponder when both his neighbor¹s cute little daughter, Ji-Hae,
and his school¹s most popular diva, Yu-Ri, make him their valentines. Of course
he cares for Ji-Hae, because the poor girl¹s already been through so much
for someone her age, but still, she¹s only just a kid. Then there¹s Yu-Ri,
the girl of his dreamsŠ or rather, she would be if she wasn¹t a
fortune-telling voodoo witch doctor. Oh and yes, it would also help if her father, the
local gangster boss, wasn¹t out to kill him.

When you¹re as lucky as Myung-Ho choices are very hard to make. On one
hand, he could go out with Yu-Ri by turning down Ji-Hae, breaking the heart
of a child who¹s been depending on him ever since she moved in next door.
Or, he could choose Ji-Hae by turning down the only chance at romance with a
beautiful girl dead set on making him her destined love. Choices,
choicesŠ

NANANANA Vol. 1- The future is full of ŒLegions,¹ robots that serve the
needs of humans. Nanami, a fresh young graduate from the technician
academy, is assigned to the 7th Prescient to be the repair technician for the
Legions stationed there... Or so he thinks! When he gets there, he¹s greeted by
a Female Legion who snaps when she runs out of donuts to eat. To vent her
frustration she starts throwing pieces of concrete at Nanami. Soon
after, another female Legion tells Nanami that he¹s the new chief for the 7th
Prescient. Unfortunately, the pieces of concrete that were thrown at
him earlier were the remains of the 7th Prescient! Is Nanami the new chief
of a pile of rubble?!

POPO CAN Vol. 1 is available at the suggested retail price of $9.95 and
is rated 13+.  ZIGGY ZIGGY Vol. 1 is available at the suggested retail
price of $9.95 and is rated 13+.  NINA GA SHINOBUDEN Vol. 1 is available at the
suggested retail price of $9.95 and is rated 15+.  SWEETY Vol. 1 is
available at the suggested retail price of $9.95 and is rated 13+. 
NANANANA
Vol. 1 is available at the suggested retail price of $9.95 and is rated
13+Each volume will feature a stunning eye-catching dust jacket (slip
cover) and bonus items such as collectable postcards. And as always, each
volume will grace color pages along with Infinity Studios LLC¹s high quality,
white woodfree paper (environmentally friendly).  All titles currently
receive free USPS shipping on all online orders placed at
www.infinitystudios.com
<http://www.infinitystudios.com> .

Discussions on these and other fantastic Infinity Studios, LLC offers
and products can be found on the internet in the forum area of the Infinity
Studios, LLC website located at www.infinitystudios.com
<http://www.infinitystudios.com> .

About Infinity Studios, LLC

Headquartered in Richmond, California, Infinity Studios, LLC is a
leading
worldwide developer and publisher of Asian Graphic Novels.  Founded in
2004,
Infinity Studios, LLC maintains operations in the U.S., Japan and
Korea.
More information about Infinity Studios, LLC and its products can be
found
on the company¹s World Wide Web site, which is located at
www.infinitystudios.com <http://www.infinitystudios.com/> .

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts
are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are
based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that
a
number of important factors could cause Infinity Studio, LLC¹s actual
future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, retail acceptance of our products, industry
competition,
rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of
proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel,
vendors
and third-party developers, international economic and political
conditions,
integration of recently acquired subsidiaries and identification of
suitable
future acquisition opportunities. The Company may change its intention,
belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any
changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to
any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the
date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Warner Bros. Will Release Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima on December 20, 2006

 Nov. 16, 2006 Letters From Iwo Jima, Clint Eastwood's follow-up to his critically acclaimed World War II drama Flags of Our Fathers, will open domestically in limited release in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco on December 20, 2006. The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. President of Domestic Distribution Dan Fellman.

Like Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima chronicles the pivotal battle for the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. However, while the first film is centered around the six men who raised the flag on Mount Suribachi in the famous photo, Letters From Iwo Jima views the battle from the perspective of the island's Japanese defenders. Both films are co-productions of Warner Bros. Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures.

Clint Eastwood offered, "I have been extremely gratified by the response from the press and the public who have seen Flags of Our Fathers, and what all of us keep hearing is that they want to understand the other side of the story. While working on Flags, I was intrigued by the idea of revealing what happened during this important battle from different perspectives. I'm happy to know that others feel the same way about seeing both sides. The two films were meant to complement each other, so it just makes sense to release Letters From Iwo Jima this year, closer to the release of Flags of Our Fathers."

Dan Fellman added, "Flags of Our Fathers told an important story about one of the most famous battles of World War II, but history has shown us that it is impossible to truly understand any story unless you can see it from other sides. We feel Letters From Iwo Jima is a powerful movie that brings a different, but equally important, part of the story to the screen, and we are both proud and excited to be bringing the film to American audiences this year."

Letters From Iwo Jima has already screened in Japan, where it received an enthusiastic response.

Sixty-one years ago, U.S. and Japanese armies met on Iwo Jima. Decades later, several hundred letters are unearthed from that stark island's soil. The letters give faces and voices to the men who fought there, as well as the extraordinary general who led them, Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe). With little defense other than sheer will and the volcanic rock of the island itself, Gen. Kuribayashi's unprecedented tactics transform what was predicted to be a quick and bloody defeat into nearly 40 days of heroic and resourceful combat.

In an effort to explore an event that continues to resonate with both cultures, Clint Eastwood was haunted by the sense that making only one film, Flags of Our Fathers, would be telling only half the story. With this unprecedented dual film project, shot back-to-back to be released in sequence, Eastwood seeks to reveal the battle of Iwo Jima--and, by implication, the war in the Pacific--as a clash not only of arms but of cultures.

Warner Bros. Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures present a Malpaso/Amblin Production of Letters From Iwo Jima, starring Academy Award nominee Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Memoirs of a Geisha, Batman Begins) as Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the Imperial Japanese General who led the resistance.

Directed by Eastwood from a screenplay by Japanese-American screenwriter Iris Yamashita, story by Yamashita and Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Crash), the film is produced by Eastwood, Oscar winner Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List) and Oscar nominee Robert Lorenz (Mystic River).

Eastwood's longtime collaborators headed the creative behind-the-scenes team: director of photography Tom Stern; costume designer Deborah Hopper; editors Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach; and the late production designer Henry Bumstead, and production designer James J. Murakami. The music is by Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens.

Letters From Iwo Jima is being released worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

 

EA Announces Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars for the Xbox 360

EA Los Angeles Brings the Top Selling(1) Real-Time Strategy Series to the Next Generation

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 16, 2006 Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars(TM) (C&C 3) is in development for the Xbox 360(TM) videogame and entertainment system. C&C 3 boasts an intuitive console-specific control scheme, fast-action strategy gameplay, deep single player campaign, and an immersive multiplayer experience featuring massive battles where you take control of large armies on the battlefield of the future.

"The Command & Conquer series finally makes its return to the console after seven years," said Mike Verdu, Executive Producer at EALA. "C&C 3 will help expand the RTS genre on the Xbox 360, building off of the foundation laid by the development of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II. EA is evolving the console controls so that strategy gaming plays and feels native to the platform."

"C&C 3 is a perfect fit for the Xbox 360," said Mike Glosecki, Senior Producer at EALA. "Xbox 360 players will enjoy the action-packed online play and watching the epic Sci-Fi story of the game unfold as they play through the single player campaign."

The year is 2047 and the stakes could not be higher. Tiberium -- a self-replicating alien substance that has infected the Earth -- is spreading like a radioactive ice age. The Global Defense Initiative, a high-tech alliance of the world's most advanced nations, is fighting to contain Tiberium, but Kane, the megalomaniacal leader of The Brotherhood of Nod has other plans for Earth. Kane's secret society turned superpower is bent on using Tiberium to take control and transform humanity into his twisted vision of the future. All-out war rages over Tiberium and the fate of the planet rests in the balance.

The epic story of C&C 3, set in the Tiberium Universe, is seamlessly tied together with live action, high-definition video sequences featuring top Hollywood talent including Tricia Helfer, Josh Holloway, Michael Ironside, Billy Dee Williams, Grace Park, and more!

C&C 3 will be one of the most robust titles on Xbox LIVE(TM)(2), with a steady stream of downloadable content on Marketplace. The first dashboard theme featuring amazing concept art from the development team will be available soon.

From the team at EALA who brought you the critically-acclaimed The Lord of the Rings(TM), The Battle for Middle-earth(TM) II for the Xbox 360, C&C 3 will ship worldwide in 2007 for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC. This product is not yet rated by the ESRB, PEGI or USK. For more information, please visit http://www.CommandAndConquer.EA.com.

(1)According to the NPD Group.

(2)Online play requires Internet Connection. Xbox Live online play also requires subscription to the Xbox Live service.

About Command & Conquer

The Command & Conquer franchise celebrated its 11th anniversary in August 2006. The groundbreaking franchise was one of the first to introduce players to the modern RTS genre, has spawned over a dozen PC titles, and ranks in the top 5 best-selling PC franchises of all-time according to the NPD Group. Additionally, Command & Conquer Red Alert(TM) 2 and Command & Conquer Generals were the number one best-selling(1) PC RTS titles in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Collectively, the series has sold over 25 million units worldwide to date. The franchise boasts one of the largest and most active fan communities in the world. For more information on Command & Conquer series, please visit http://www.CommandAndConquer.EA.com.

(1) According to NPD Group

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is http://www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO, Command & Conquer, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, and Command & Conquer Red Alert are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox 360 is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners

 

Yusuf Offers "AN OTHER CUP"; First New Album in Nearly Three Decades From the Former Cat Stevens Out This Week

Ya/Atlantic has announced the release of "AN OTHER CUP," the long-anticipated new album from Yusuf. This marks the first collection of modern pop songs in 28 years from the legendary British singer/songwriter formerly known as Cat Stevens. The album features the first single, "Heaven/Where True Love Goes."

"AN OTHER CUP" arrives in stores this week amidst a flurry of critical acclaim. Writing in The New York Daily News, Jim Farber lauds the album's "gorgeous melodies, shimmering arrangements and thoughtful vocals," going on to conclude, "How great to hear this sound coming back so profoundly after such a long pause." The Los Angeles Times' Ann Powers calls "AN OTHER CUP" an "exquisitely orchestrated" album that brings back "that vigorous, ruddy-cheeked sound," while pondering, "Can (Yusuf) recapture the welcoming seeker's voice he plied so well in nonsectarian hymns such as 'Morning Has Broken'? The answer gently conveyed here is yes... Such vulnerability brings people together, whatever they believe."

"The music picks up where Cat Stevens (born Steven Georgiou) left off," says Jon Pareles in the New York Times. "(Yusuf's) voice is a mellowed but recognizable version of his temperate baritone. The instruments, in tracks featuring his 1970s sidemen, are largely acoustic, and unlike most 21st-century pop productions, the music has natural dynamics, growing genuinely softer and louder. Many of the songs have the rhythmic springiness -- in his vocal phrases or the lilt of the band -- that was the secret of hits like 'Wild World.'" Elsewhere, Billboard hailed the album as "uplifting enough to satisfy even a 30-year thirst," while in Yusuf's native England, the Guardian's Mat Snow praised the album as "forty-four minutes of welcome surprise."

"AN OTHER CUP" -- the release of which coincides with the 40th anniversary of Cat Stevens' first hit record, "I Love My Dog" -- sees Yusuf joined in the studio by his longtime collaborator, guitarist Alun Davies, as well as such renowned guests as bassist Danny Thompson and the legendary Senegalese singer, Youssou N'Dour. Recorded in London, Los Angeles, Istanbul, and Johannesburg, the album was produced by Yusuf and Rick Nowels (known for his work with a diversity of artists, including Madonna, Nelly Furtado, Dido, and Santana). All the songs were penned by Yusuf, with the exception of a cover of the Nina Simone/Animals classic, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

"I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again," Yusuf says of his return to the pop music world. "It is important for me to be able to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to cross."

Born and raised in London, Cat Stevens became a British pop star in the mid-1960s, while also writing hits for other artists, including "Here Comes My Baby" and "First Cut Is The Deepest." In 1968, his blossoming career was suddenly derailed when he contracted tuberculosis. He spent a year recovering from his illness, and when he returned to recording, it was with new introspection and sensitivity.

Stevens reemerged in 1970, and the following year he made his U.S. chart debut with the acclaimed "TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN." Over the next seven years, he had seven top ten albums, including such classics as "TEASER AND THE FIRECAT," "CATCH BULL AT FOUR," and "BUDDAH AND THE CHOCOLATE BOX." Having reinvented his music, he wrote and performed such personal and reflective songs as "Wild World," "Father And Son," "Peace Train," "Moonshadow," "Morning Has Broken," "Oh Very Young," and many others. His music was also featured in the 1971 cult film classic "Harold and Maude." Truly a global superstar, Stevens became one of the most important figures in the folk-rock movement of the decade.

In the midst of his multi-platinum career, Stevens nearly drowned in the Pacific Ocean off Malibu, and experienced a spiritual turning point. Having received a copy of the Koran from his brother, he was inspired to remake his life. Converting to Islam, in 1978 he left the music world entirely, changed his name, and devoted his life to charitable and educational work.

Yusuf founded three Muslim schools in London, and his pioneering work resulted in a landmark decision by the British government to certify and support Islamic education throughout the country. His U.N. registered charity, Small Kindness, provides humanitarian relief to orphans and families in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and other regions. He is also one of the few individuals to finance women to attend university in Baghdad. Yusuf has received a series of awards for his life's work, including the 2004 "Man for Peace," presented by a committee of all Nobel peace laureates.

The enduring music of Cat Stevens is actively sought out today, and his albums sell over 1.5 million copies a year. He was recently named ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year for the second consecutive year and was recognized for his enduring classic "First Cut Is The Deepest." The song -- which first appeared on 1967's "NEW MASTERS" -- has been covered by numerous artists, including Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow, who earned a 2005 Grammy Award nomination for her rendition.

Track Listing Below

For more information, please visit www.yusufislam.org.uk.

                YUSUF             "AN OTHER CUP"             (Ya/Atlantic)  1.   "Midday (Avoid City After Dark)" 2.   "Heaven/Where True Love Goes" 3.   "Maybe There's A World" 4.   "One Day At A Time" 5.   "When Butterflies Leave" 6.   "In The End" 7.   "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" 8.   "I Think I See The Light" 9.   "Whispers From A Spiritual Garden" 10.  "The Beloved" 11.  "Greenfields, Golden Sands"           Produced by Rick Nowels & Yusuf  

 

The ASCAP Foundation "Children Will Listen" Project to Bring 100 Harlem Students to Broadway Hit "Wicked" on 11/15

Initiative Aims to Expose Young Audience to Musical Theatre

 -- The ASCAP Foundation "Children Will Listen" program, which is designed to introduce the American Musical Theatre to youngsters who might otherwise not have the opportunity to experience it, will go into high gear today, Wednesday, November 15, as one hundred fifth grade students from P.S. 123, the Mahalia Jackson School located in Harlem, attend the Broadway matinee performance of "Wicked." Free tickets and transportation to the smash musical are being provided to the students and ten accompanying teacher chaperones. Following the performance, Stephen Schwartz, creator of "Wicked's" music and lyrics, and cast members will engage in an exclusive discussion session with the students in the Theatre. Schwartz's credits include the scores for "Godspell," "Pippin" and the animated feature films Disney's "Pocahontas" and "The Prince of Egypt," both of which earned him Academy Awards.

 

The ASCAP Foundation "Children Will Listen" program was established -- in honor of ASCAP member and Musical Theatre great Stephen Sondheim ("West Side Story," "Gypsy!," "Pacific Overtures," "A Little Night Music") -- in 2005 to bring the musical theatre experience to young students nationwide. The program was named for one of the songs from his musical, "Into the Woods." The students of P.S. 123 are the first beneficiaries of the program. Plans are set to bring the "Children Will Listen" initiative to Los Angeles in February 2007, which will enable hundreds of school children to attend a performance of Reprise! Broadway's Best production of "Sunday in the Park with George" (music and lyrics by ASCAP member Stephen Sondheim). Stephen Schwartz will take part in the Los Angeles program, as well.

Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States. www.ascapfoundation.org

 

Dear Abby to Appear on NBC's "Extra" Friday, Nov. 17

World's Most Famous Advice Columnist Answers Questions From Some of Hollywood's Hottest Stars

 November 16, 2006 -- Dear Abby, the most widely syndicated columnist in the world, will make her first appearance on NBC's "Extra" television show this Friday, Nov. 17 (check your local listings for air time). Abby, who is known to millions for her sound and compassionate advice, will answer questions from such recognized celebrities as Halle Berry, Will Ferrell, Dana Delany, Lisa Ling, and others. "I am thrilled to be on 'Extra,' and offer advice to such well-known personalities. Now people can see that celebrities' problems are the same as everyone else's. Just because they are famous and rich doesn't mean that they don't need guidance," said Abby.

 

Questions from the celebs range from personal to humorous. Halle Berry asks Abby how to stay married, Will Ferrell wants to know how to become more organized at home, and Dana Delany asks how to find the man who has everything. Abby, whose column appears in more than 1,400 newspapers worldwide, addresses these questions with the same candor and humor for which she is famous. "Celebrities will get the same straight-from-the-shoulder advice I give to my readers daily," explained Abby. "If they ask, I happily respond."

Dear Abby, a resident of Los Angeles, Calif., has a daily readership of more than 110 million people. She receives more than 10,000 letters and e-mails per week and more than 80 percent of the correspondence she receives comes from readers between 18 and 49. Dear Abby® is represented by the William Morris Agency.

Founded in 1898, the William Morris Agency is the leading talent and literary agency in the world, with principal offices in New York, Beverly Hills, Nashville, London, Miami Beach, and Shanghai, China. The Agency represents clients in all segments of the entertainment industry, including Motion Pictures, Television, Music and Personal Appearances, Broadway Theatre and Theatrical Touring, Book Publishing, Commercials, Sports Marketing and Corporate Consulting.

"Extra," which is in its 13th season, is led by co-hosts Dayna Devon and Mark McGrath. It originates in Glendale, Calif., and has a fully staffed bureau in New York and a new bureau in Las Vegas. The show offers a half-hour edition every weekday and an original hour-long weekend installment. Seen in more than 95 percent of the country, "Extra" airs on major market affiliates, including key NBC television owned and operated stations throughout the US. "Extra" is produced by Time Telepictures Productions and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. For more information on "Extra," go to www.extratv.warnerbros.com.

For more information about Dear Abby, visit www.dearabby.com.

 

Atlanta-Based Crime Mob Prepare to Release Sophomore Album, "Hated On Mostly," on Reprise/BME Recordings -- January 9

Video for New Single, "Rock Yo Hips," Filmed at Morris Brown College (Atlanta)

 November 16, 2006 -- The Atlanta-based cult phenomenon, Crime Mob, gear up to release their follow-up to the 2003 self-titled release on January 9th. Teaming up with platinum-selling rapper, Lil Scrappy, Crime Mob returns with a soundtrack to Atlanta's inner-city teen reality.

"If you listen to the album, they are doing what they did on the first album, but upgraded. They're not switching it up -- they could've came with snap music, but they followed their hearts. A group of talented cats that could have successful solo careers, but stick together, on the constant grind. I believe in them and they're coming up in a big way," says Lil Scrappy.

Produced by Lil Jay, Killa C, MIG, Dirty Doc Jam and the Oomp Camp, "Hated On Mostly" represents the inevitable maturity of this sextet (Cyco Black, Diamond, Lil Jay, Princess, MIG and Killa C). The never scared, in-your-face attitude is the driving force behind these gifted emcees, producers and songwriters who are as poetic and prolific as they are rowdy and rambunctious -- this is what makes them so unique to the current landscape of teenage groups. They are not pop, they are not contrived and they don't care what people think. They are their audience -- they are raw and candid, and have instantly struck a chord on the streets of Atlanta with the first single, "Rock Yo Hips."

The video for "Rock Yo Hips" was recently shot by director Dr. Teeth (Mike Jones, T.I., Pitbull, Notorious B.I.G.) at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, GA -- a Historically Black College & University (HBCU). Showcasing the vibrancy and variety of music, dance and fashion of HBCUs, the video is a 3-minute glimpse into the social network and culture of college life. HBCUs know how to celebrate their school with pride -- homecoming, pep rallies, after-parties and step shows.

Hundreds showed up to audition for coveted dancing roles in the video, which also marks the debut of the infectious "Rock Yo Hips" dance developed by Crime Mob's leading ladies, Diamond and Princess. Already becoming a staple in Atlanta clubs, "Rock Yo Hips" is the next in a long line of southern dance crazes that will permeate into mainstream culture.

While Crime Mob's debut album charted #5 on Billboard's R&B/Hip Hop Albums' chart, the single "Knuck If You Buck" produced one of Warner Music Group's (WMG) bestselling ringtones across all music genres and all WMG labels.

www.myspace.com/crimemob

Taking Back Sunday to Release Their First DVD With the Release of "Louder Now: Partone" on December 12

 November 16, 2006 -- Warner Bros. Records' Taking Back Sunday will release "Louder Now: Partone," on December 12th. This marks the first time the band will release a DVD component of their music.

"Louder Now: Partone" contains ninety minutes of up close and personal stories from all five band members -- singer Adam Lazzara, singer/guitarist Fred Mascherino, guitarist Eddie Reyes, drummer Mark O'Connell, and bassist Matt Rubano, exciting behind-the-scenes footage in the studio, on the tour bus, both backstage and on stage of the Long Beach Arena show, in band members' hotel rooms, and even home with some of the guys. The DVD also includes the music videos for "MakeDamnSure," which was nominated for this year's MTV2 Viewer's Choice award, and "Liar (It Takes One To Know One)," as well as live, no-holds barred, energetic clips of the band's performance from the Long Beach Arena show.

Dubbed "one of the most anticipated albums of 2006" by Alternative Press, "Louder Now" was released on April 23rd and skyrocketed to Number Two on Billboard's Top 200 chart a week later, scanning more than 157,000 units.

Track-listing for "Louder Now: Partone" DVD is as follows: Live Performances "Making Of The Album" Feature Tour Feature Behind-The-Scenes Footage "MakeDamnSure" video "Liar (It Takes One To Know One)" video 

www.takingbacksunday.com  

 

Mastodon U.S. Headline Tour 2007

"King's of the Metal Underground." - Blender Magazine (4 Out of 5 Live Review); "These Guys Are Seriously Great Musicians, I'm Very Impressed." - PasteMagazine.com; "Be Scared. Very Scared." - Maxim Magazine (4 Out of 5 Review)

 November 16, 2006 -- Mastodon will be hitting the road in support of their critically acclaimed Reprise Records release, "Blood Mountain." The tour will include special guests Converge and Priestess, and will embark on many cities and smaller areas such as Athens, Knoxville, St. Louis and Sayreville. There will be a special pre-sale for select shows beginning November 15. Go to http://mastodon.frontgatetickets.com to get your tickets before everyone else!

Prior to Mastodon's successful European tour opening for Tool earlier this month, the band stopped over in New York City to give a strong performance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," whose guest star was Kazakh movie star Borat (photo: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/Mastodon_Meet_Borat#39695).

Also check out a stream of the performance at http://streamos.wmg.com/wmedia/wea/a/b/c/vid/wbr/273714_11022006_01_300.wvx. The band returns from Europe in December and begins their headlining tour in January. Mastodon's single "Colony of Birchmen" is currently in regular rotation on Fuse Television's "Uranium." And be sure to tune into the "Colony of Birchmen" video premiering on MTV2's "Headbangers' Ball" this Saturday, November 18th.

Radio's response to "Colony of Birchmen" has been rapturous. Mastodon has been #1 at Metal Radio as they enter into Active Rock programming. The band is also firmly at #1 on CMJ's Loud Rock college chart.

Mastodon Headlining Tour Dates: 26-Jan          Culture Room                    Ft. Lauderdale, FL 27-Jan          House of Blues                  Orlando, FL 28-Jan          Jannus Landing                  St. Petersburg, FL 30-Jan          Beta Bar                        Tallahassee, FL 31-Jan          40 Watt Club                    Athens, GA 1-Feb           Blue Cat's                      Knoxville, TN 2-Feb           Rocketown                       Nashville, TN 3-Feb           Pop's                           St. Louis, MO 5-Feb           First Ave                       Minneapolis, MN 7-Feb           The Orbit Room                  Grand Rapids, MI 8-Feb           Newport Music Hall              Columbus, OH 9-Feb           Rex Theater                     Pittsburgh, PA 10-Feb          Starland Ballroom               Sayreville, NJ 11-Feb          Lupo's                          Providence, RI 13-Feb          Crocodile Rock                  Allentown, PA 14-Feb          Water Street Music Hall         Rochester, NY 15-Feb          Northern Lights                 Albany, NY 16-Feb          Toad's Place                    New Haven, CT 17-Feb          9:30 Club                       Washington, DC 18-Feb          Norva                           Norfolk, VA 

www.Mastodonrocks.com  

Freestyle Audio's Water & Shock Proof Digital Music Player Is Recipient of National Geographic Adventure Magazine "Best of Adventure" Gear Award

 November 17, 2006 -- Freestyle Audio's one-of-a-kind digital music player has been chosen as the recipient of the renowned "Best of Adventure" gear award by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. The Freestyle Audio DMP is the world's first and finest completely waterproof mp3 player designed specifically to accommodate the special needs of all active and water sport enthusiasts. The product will be featured in the esteemed National Geographic Adventure December/January 2007 issue, and was on display at the fourth annual year-end "Best of Adventure" gear gala event held earlier this week at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event was sponsored by the South African Tourism and Johnnie Walker® and featured food, wine, music and photographs from South Africa.

 

For the "Best of Adventure" gear awards, National Geographic Adventure magazine assembled an advisory board of 45 of the country's leading outdoor retailers, who, along with Adventure gear editors, nominated products they felt demonstrated outstanding innovation as well as products that consumers are particularly excited about in the marketplace. After being rigorously tested by the Adventure editors, the Freestyle Audio DMP was chosen as the top product in the mp3 category.

"Input from the sharpest retailers in the business will make our gear coverage more compelling than ever before. The members of this board are the real experts on the ground -- they have relationships with their customers and know what the customers want. Buying and owning great gear keeps our readers out there on the quest for adventure," said National Geographic Adventure Editor-in-Chief John Rasmus.

The Freestyle Audio DMP was displayed and featured in the evening's raffle where the winner won an all-expense-paid trip to South Africa. On hand at the event to accept the "Best of Adventure" gear award was Freestyle Audio Board Member Joe Katz.

"The readers of National Geographic Adventure are part of our direct consumer base, people who partake in a range of outdoor sports, so we are thrilled to be the recipient of the 'Best of Adventure' gear award. I think this award demonstrates the versatility of the DMP as it is the most durable, sleek and user friendly player on the market, making it the perfect accessory for active sports enthusiasts both in and out of the water," remarked Lance Fried, founder and inventor of the Freestyle Audio DMP.

The player offers up to 40 hours of skip-free music per battery charge, comes with waterproof earbuds that provide crystal clear sound even while under water and does not require loading software onto your computer (MAC or PC) to download or change-out music, making it the easiest mp3 player to use on the market.

Lastly, National Geographic Adventure is excited to display the Freestyle Audio DMP at the Adventures in Travel Expo events throughout January and March including stops in New York, Chicago, Long Beach, and Washington, D.C.

For more information about Freestyle Audio please visit www.freestyleaudio.com.

ABOUT FREESTYLE AUDIO

Freestyle Audio is the leading provider of active sports audio technology for use in water, snow and other extreme environments. Freestyle Audio waterproof mp3 players have been specifically designed to allow all athletes to significantly enhance their water sport experience. For more information about Freestyle Audio please visit www.freestyleaudio.com

 

Media 100 Version 11 Systems Gain Momentum
Customers embrace the new Media 100 product line

Marlborough MA – November 16, 2006 - A year after purchasing the Media 100 products, the Boris FX company has quickly churned out two feature filled releases, establishing an attractive upgrade path for existing Media 100 users. Known for their value and ease-of-use, the Media 100 engineering team has ensured that existing customers can continue to leverage the power of their Media 100 systems with the latest post and broadcast technologies. With an emphasis on application integration and format support, the new Media 100 version 11 product line delivers industrial strength HD and SD editing capabilities with comprehensive file format support. “Media 100 has an incredibly loyal customer base and they are thrilled to see us roll out releases that add value to their investment and productivity to their workflow,” comments Rob Newman, product manager, Media 100. “Features and functionality such as support for Panasonic P2 formats, Apple Final Cut Pro native files and Firewire have existing users quickly gravitating to the version 11 systems.”

The Media 100 version 11 product line was unveiled at NAB 2006. Since then, Media 100 version 11 and 11.5 have shipped delivering a slew of new features and functionality as well as a brand new fully functioning software only version – Media 100 Producer – for mobile DV editing.

::Velocite Masters High Profile Entertainment with new Media 100 version 11 system ::

A Media 100 post house with offices in Sydney and Shanghai, Velocite owner John Buck is an MTV award winner and a Media 100 user since 1994.

The new Media 100 version 11 systems were put to the test on an Australian contemporary (television) program called “Backstage Pass” for the Nine Network. This popular program airs interviews with iconic entertainers such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Chris Isaak. The post production requires editing a wide range of formats; material from location tapes to record company clips to DV. All in different formats, all in different aspect ratios but all needing to be scaled for 16:9 mastering and delivered every Friday morning for Saturday broadcast. "Not only do we cut and deliver the “Backstage Pass” program to Channel Nine, we simultaneously re-master it in 4:3 for the Qantas Airways in-flight entertainment system," says Lance Trimington, Media 100 editor, Velocite. “Because the Media 100 system is designed for fast editing, we are able to quickly output and re-master the show. The new version 11 systems streamline the entire editing and delivery process – making it fast, fast, fast!”

:: Documentary Producer Sammy Jackson Puts Media 100 Version 11 in the Mix ::

Twenty-year documentary producer/director Sammy Jackson is embarking on a 13-part series for the History Channel called “Hero Ships”. Known for critically acclaimed works such as “The Rape of Nanking”, “Vietnam: Homecoming” and “The Day The Towers Fell”, Jackson has specifically redesigned his post facility to deliver this high-profile program. The series will incorporate 5 editors working with both Media 100 version 11 and Apple Final Cut Pros over the course of 8 months of editorial that involves hundreds of hours of archival and original footage. “Several of our editors are simply more productive on the Media 100 system. Adding the fact that Media 100 system offers native file support for FCP files really optimizes the workflow and ergonomics of our post process,” comments Sammy Jackson, producer and director, “Simply put, this system provides us with a platform that incorporates all the visual/creative elements we loved in Media 100 with the ability to work in a mixed application environment on long format programs such as “Hero Ships”.

Sammy Jackson is a multiple award winning producer/director of documentaries. “Hero Ships” is currently in production and scheduled to air in October of 2007.

:: KVIE moves up to Media 100 Version 11::

“From the very beginning Media 100 has always had superior picture quality,” comments Jim Calahan, Media 100 editor and KVIE post production manager. “Combine this with the ability to mix formats in the timeline and ease-of-use and you have one powerful solution for quickly preparing broadcast quality programs. Six Media 100 systems enable the KVIE post production team to create public television documentaries and news oriented magazine programs for local and national audiences. The nature of their programs requires the Media 100 version 11 systems to handle mixed formats as well as 4:3 to 16:9 conversions and they do so with ease. Striving for a file-based workflow, Media 100 version 11.5 adds to its powerful editing infrastructure important tapeless features. “We are looking forward to continued releases and completing our transition to a completely file-based workflow,” comments Calahan.

Jim Calahan is a 30 year veteran of the broadcast industry. KVIE is based in Sacramento CA covering the Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto markets.

For more information about Media 100 products, please visit the web site at www.media100.com

About Media 100
Media 100, a division of Boris FX, is a leading provider of advanced editing systems for the corporate, broadcast, post production, and multi-media industries. Featuring the most intuitive and easy-to-learn NLE interface, the company’s product lines include Media 100 HD Suite, HDe, SDe and software only editing solutions; Media 100 Producer and Producer Suite. For more information, visit www.media100.com.

 

 

 

February/March 2007

LA Opera Presents Tony Award Winners

Audra McDonald and Patti LuPone in Kurt Weill’s

Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Music Director James Conlon Leads New Production

Directed by John Doyle

What:        From composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht, the creators of The Threepenny Opera, comes Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, a savage and lyrical satire told in a highly entertaining blend of opera and raucous music hall songs, conducted by LA Opera Music Director James Conlon.  It's every man for himself in the newly founded city of Mahagonny, devoted to life's illicit pleasures, where anything goes and the only crime is to run out of money.

Who:          Four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald stars in this new production which also reunites Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and John Doyle – star and director of last season’s hugely acclaimed Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd – in their LA Opera debuts.  Also featured are Anthony Dean Griffey as Jim Mahoney, Donnie Ray Albert as Trinity Moses, Robert Wörle as Fatty the Bookkeeper, John Easterlin as Jake Schmidt, Mel Ulrich as Pennybank Bill, Steven Humes as Alaska Wolf Joe and Derek Taylor as Toby Higgins.  Set design is by Mark Bailey with costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Thomas C. Hase and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier.

When:        Opening Night Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 7:30 PM

Evening Performances February 14, 17, 22; March 1 at 7:30 PM

Matinee Performances February 25 and March 4 at 2:00 PM

Where:      The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Tickets:      Tickets to Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny range from $30 to $220, and are on sale at the Los Angeles Opera Box Office, by phone at (213) 972-8001 or online at www.laopera.com.

Tickets:                                    For disability access, call (213) 972-0777 or e-mail wehelpyou@laopera.com.


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