Jason Mesnick to Propose with Three-Carat Neil Lane Diamond Ring
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrity jeweler extraordinaire Neil Lane (www.neillanejewelry.com ) adds sparkle to ABC's "The Bachelor," from Warner Horizon Television, when Jason Mesnick proposes to one lucky bachelorette on Monday, March 2nd. The top-rated reality series will come to a close as Mesnick will get down on one knee and propose with a hand-crafted Neil Lane marquise-cut diamond and platinum ring which is encrusted and set with 170 smaller diamonds for a total weight of 3.18 carats. The center diamond is a 1.94-carat marquise-cut diamond, which is D in color, a top grade, and VS1 clarity with a GIA certificate. The ring, designed by Lane, bears the signature Neil Lane script in the shank.
Mesnick who had been courting women for seven weeks on the ABC series, selected this ring from three Neil Lane designs with different cuts of diamonds, including oval and pear. Neil Lane, with a fabulous eye for elegance and style, is the favorite for Hollywood brides to be. Neil Lane has supplied engagement rings for everyone from Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson to Sandra Bullock, Brooke Shields and Jennifer Hudson.
As an avid collector of fine jewelry with an eye for designing pieces exuding both style and elegance, Neil Lane has earned the respect and admiration of an all-star crowd. Whether worn for the Oscars, or other red-carpet events or engagements, his iconic jewelry designs have been adorned by some of the most beautiful and powerful women in Hollywood, including Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Taylor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, and many others.
Neil Lane jewelry has graced the covers of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, W and many other high-end fashion publications. As a leading Hollywood jewelry designer, hailed in the media as The King of Bling, the Ace of Diamonds, Neil Lane has influence and impact both domestically and internationally.
Neil Lane
708 N. La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90069
For more information on Neil Lane Jewelry, please contact info@neillanejewelry.com
Foundation targets services for at-risk and disadvantaged Colorado youth
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Liberty Media Corporation today announced its 2009 giving theme for the LibertyGives Foundation. Liberty employees have elected to direct LibertyGives funds to causes aiding underprivileged and at-risk youth in Colorado focused on proactive and preventative services.
LibertyGives is accepting grant proposals for funding from $1,000 to $150,000 from public charitable organizations focused on helping Colorado's at-risk youth overcome impediments that restrict their opportunities to grow, learn and thrive.
"During these economically challenging times, Liberty Media's responsibility to give back to our community becomes even more important," stated Greg Maffei, President and CEO of Liberty Media. "We look forward to another year of helping in 2009. This year our employees have chosen to continue their focus on causes targeting Colorado's underprivileged and at-risk youth."
Organizations seeking funding may obtain a grant request form at http://libertymedia.com/liberty-gives.aspx. Proposals should be forwarded to the Foundation via email at LibertyGives@libertymedia.com or by mail at:
LibertyGives Foundation
12300 Liberty Boulevard
Englewood, CO 80112
Grant proposals for 2009 will have an initial deadline of April 30, 2009 and one additional opportunity to submit requests by September 30, 2009.
About Liberty Media Corporation
Liberty Media Corporation owns interests in a broad range of electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment businesses. Those interests are attributed to three tracking stock groups: (1) the Liberty Interactive group (Nasdaq: LINTA), which includes Liberty's interests in QVC, Provide Commerce, Backcountry.com, BUYSEASONS, Bodybuilding.com, IAC/InterActiveCorp, and Expedia, (2) the Liberty Entertainment group (Nasdaq: LMDIA), which includes Liberty's interests in The DIRECTV Group, Inc., Starz Entertainment, FUN Technologies, Inc., GSN, LLC, WildBlue Communications, Inc., and Liberty Sports Holdings LLC, and (3) the Liberty Capital group (Nasdaq: LCAPA), which includes all businesses, assets and liabilities not attributed to the Interactive group or the Entertainment group including our subsidiaries Starz Media, LLC, Atlanta National League Baseball Club, Inc., and TruePosition, Inc., and minority equity investments in Time Warner Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corporation. For more information, please see http://www.libertymedia.com.
AURORA, ON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Magna Entertainment Corp. ("MEC" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: MECA; TSX: MEC.A) today announced that it has received written notice from its lenders that Pimlico Racing Association, Inc., Laurel Racing Association Limited Partnership, Laurel Racing Assoc., Inc. and The Maryland Jockey Club of Baltimore City, Inc. (collectively "MJC"), each a subsidiary of MEC, are in default under the PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC Bank") loan agreement for failure to comply with certain financial covenants relating to the financial position and results of operation of MJC and related entities. PNC Bank has informed MEC that it has chosen not to exercise its rights and remedies under such loan agreement at this time as a consequence of this event of default, but may choose to do so at any time in the future without any further written notice. In addition, MEC has previously notified Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and a Canadian chartered bank with which MEC has a US$40 million credit facility that MEC or certain of its subsidiaries have not met certain financial covenants of the loan agreements with such lenders. To date, such lenders have not exercised their default-related rights under their respective loan agreements.
ABOUT MEC
MEC, North America's largest owner and operator of horse racetracks, based on revenue, develops, owns and operates horse racetracks and related pari-mutuel wagering operations, including off-track betting facilities. MEC also develops, owns and operates casinos in conjunction with its racetracks where permitted by law. MEC owns and operates AmTote International, Inc., a provider of totalisator services to the pari-mutuel industry, XpressBet(R), a national Internet and telephone account wagering system, as well as MagnaBet(TM) internationally. Pursuant to joint ventures, MEC has a fifty percent interest in HorseRacing TV(R), a 24-hour horse racing television network, and TrackNet Media Group LLC, a content management company formed for distribution of the full breadth of MEC's horse racing content.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and forward-looking information as defined in the Securities Act (Ontario) (collectively referred to as forward-looking statements). These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Act (Ontario) and include, among others, the eligibility of MEC and its subsidiaries to comply with the terms and conditions and meet the obligations of its various loan arrangements and other matters that are not historical facts.
Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management's good faith assumptions and analyses made in light of the Company's perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's forward-looking statements include, but may not be limited to, the risk that the Company and MID fail to successfully agree upon any alternative transaction to the reorganization proposal previously announced on November 26, 2008 and material adverse changes in: general economic conditions; the popularity of racing and other gaming activities as recreational activities; the regulatory environment affecting the horse racing and gaming industries; the Company's ability to obtain or maintain government and other regulatory approvals necessary or desirable to proceed with proposed real estate developments; increased regulation affecting certain of the Company's non-racetrack operations, such as broadcasting ventures; and the Company's ability to develop, execute or finance the Company's strategies and plans within expected timelines or budgets. In drawing conclusions set out in our forward-looking statements above, we have assumed, among other things, that we will continue with our efforts to implement our September 2007 adopted plan to eliminate the Company's debt, although not on the originally contemplated time schedule, negotiate and close, on acceptable terms, one or more core asset sale transactions, comply with the terms of and/or obtain waivers or other concessions from our lenders and refinance or repay on maturity our existing financing arrangements (including a senior secured revolving credit facility with a Canadian chartered bank, the new loan that a subsidiary of MID ("MID Lender") made available to MEC on December 1, 2008 and the bridge loan from MID Lender, possibly obtain additional financing on acceptable terms to fund our ongoing operations and there will not be any material further deterioration in general economic conditions or any further significant decline in the popularity of horse racing and other gaming activities beyond that which has already occurred in the current economic downturn; nor any material adverse changes in weather and other environmental conditions at our facilities, the regulatory environment or our ability to develop, execute or finance our strategies and plans as anticipated.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.
VENTURA, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ventura Film Festival, which
was started in 2004 by Jordan Older and his father, has recently concluded its
first event of 2009 at the Majestic Ventura Theater in Ventura, California
with the Ventura Film Festival "Fun Day" on February 16, 2009 at 2pm.
The Ventura Film Festival "Fun Day" featured Ventura hometown hero and
independent film maker Dylan O'Neil and his controversial and sometimes
horrific film "Otis N'Dwayne" as well as Dylan O'Neil's Star Wars short titled
"Trip To The Darkside" and Ric Rew with his video documentary of the stage
play "Quadrophenia" about the rock band "The Who." Also present was Ventura
Film Festival board member, Ventura High School graduate, and Hollywood heavy-
hitter and Fox Film/DVD executive, Dustin Dean.
The Ventura Film Festival is a combination online and traditional film
festival requiring all submissions to be uploaded online and submitted via
traditional means. The Ventura Film Festival is in progress to becoming a non-
profit organization and is a "green" organization that has maintained that one
of its main goals is to give a large part of any proceeds to forest and ocean
preservation efforts. The Ventura Film Festival features independent films
from around the world and from local film makers focusing on environmental
issues such as forest and ocean preservation, humanitarian issues, surf,
skate, extreme sports, martial arts, and music films.
The long standing Ventura Film Festival has received threats of legal
action from attorney Sandy Lipkin and the Bell Arts Factory/Lorenzo DeStefano,
claiming "tortious interference" and outlining plans to take over the rights
to the Ventura Film Festival name and trademark despite having registered
their name 5 years after the start of the Ventura Film Festival and have not
yet put on a film festival event.
Ventura Film Festival founder met with Ventura County Assistant Clerk and
Recorder, James Becker and his staff on February 25th 2009 and was shown legal
code and told that the Bell Arts Factory and Hawaiian film maker Lorenzo
DeStefano have acted unlawfully by attempting to register a knowingly
similar and confusing fictitious business name from the Ventura Film Festival,
and that, unfortunately, the only way to proceed will be via a law suit. The
Ventura Film Festival sent a cease and desist letter to the conflicting group,
who uses the domain "venturafilmfest.com," in December 2008.
Dr. Oetker's Ristorante will partner with the Top Chef star to introduce the great tasting, gourmet Italian restaurant style frozen pizza to American homes this summer
STUDIO CITY, Calif., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans of Bravo TV's Top Chef can look forward to more flavor from the series' "Italian Stallion," Fabio Viviani. Dr. Oetker, the number one frozen pizza manufacturer in Italy, is launching its best-selling Ristorante brand in the United States and the season five star has signed on to be the spokesperson.
Fabio Viviani, who was born in Florence and recalls Dr. Oetker pizza from his childhood, will participate in a five-city media tour this summer to introduce the favorite brand of thin-crust pizza lovers throughout Europe and Canada to consumers in the northeastern United States.
"Growing up in Italy, my mom often had Dr. Oetker's products in the home so I'm excited to help introduce Ristorante brand frozen pizzas to American households," explained Viviani. "As a chef, I am very particular about the ingredients that I select. That's why I am a fan of Dr. Oetker's Ristorante pizza because it features fresh, high-quality ingredients, such as spinach, mozzarella, mushrooms and other vegetables on a thin crispy crust."
"We are eager to introduce the authentic taste of Dr. Oetker Ristorante to American pizza-lovers and feel Fabio is the perfect voice for the brand," said William Whalen, executive vice president for Dr. Oetker U.S.A., LLC. "He has an incredible personality and a real passion for cooking, eating and entertaining with great food."
Lots of Americans are eating out less often but they still want to enjoy the taste and fresh flavors like the ones featured on Top Chef or found in an Italian restaurant, such as Cafe Firenze," said Viviani.
"Dr. Oetker's Ristorante pizza is a delicious and convenient way to capture the essence of Italian restaurant dining in the home."
Northeast U.S. Products are priced from $4.99 to $5.99. To learn more about Dr. Oetker, please visit www.oetker.us.
About Fabio Viviani
Fabio is the Owner and Executive Chef of Cafe Firenze, one of the most recognized restaurants in Ventura County. Born and raised in Florence, Italy, he incorporates Italian, French and Spanish influences in his dishes and believes that cooking is a craft.
www.cafefirenze.net.
About Dr. Oetker
The Dr. Oetker company started in Germany in 1891 with the development of a special baking powder, Backin, that produced extraordinary baking results. More than 30 years ago, the first frozen pizza was launched in Germany and, today, Dr. Oetker is the market leader of frozen pizza in most European countries. In 2003, Ristorante Pizza was introduced in Canada and has continued to maintain an overwhelming amount of success in the market place. For more information about Dr. Oetker and Ristorante, please visit www.oetker.us.
Hurley announces 'Microphone for Youth' global t-shirt design competition at the dynamic fashion runway showdown
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Sports Illustrated 2009 Swimsuit Issue cover model Bar Refaeli joined Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, Robert Buckley of Lipstick Jungle and Frankie Delgado of MTV's Bromance and The Hills at House of Blues Anaheim last night to judge Walk the Walk, a fashion design competition developed by Hurley to inspire creativity and confidence among future generations.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/hurley/37251/
Refaeli and the star-studded panel of judges that also included Hurley founder Bob Hurley and Rosemary Brantley of OTIS College of Art and Design watched a parade of Hurley collections that had been redesigned by area high school students. The theatrical shows, which at times looked more like dance-offs, were modeled, produced and promoted entirely by student teams.
Of four competing schools, Fountain Valley High School took home top honors and a $5000 donation to its art & music program. Gahr High School won a special design challenge and could see their two original head-to-toe designs featured in a future Hurley collection.
The evening also served to launch the Hurley Microphone for Youth t-shirt design competition, a platform for young people to express themselves creatively and win exciting prizes. Now through March 30, aspiring designers and artists can upload their artwork to www.Hurley.com and the public can visit the site to vote for their favorite. The designer of the winning t-shirt will be announced on April 1, 2009 on Hurley.com and will receive $5,000 and see their design sold through Hurley's online store.
Refaeli, a face, voice and spirit of Hurley, will choose her favorite design and that winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles in June to meet Bar and Hurley team athletes, and attend Hurley Walk the Walk Grand Championship.
About Hurley: Founded in 1999, Hurley is a leading youth brand rooted in surf, skate, art, music and beach cultures. Driven by creativity and freedom of expression, Hurley develops world-class products for guys, girls and kids, including sportswear, footwear, eyewear, accessories, swimwear and wetsuits. A wholly owned, independently run subsidiary of Nike, Inc., Hurley's corporate headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, CA, with international offices in Tokyo, Sydney, Barcelona and Bali.
Tired of Putting Money in the Hands of Beauty Corporations for Botox, Pills, Creams, unused Gym Memberships, Plastic Surgery, and / or Counseling to Remain Youthful? Now one does not have to. New Book '6 Newly Discovered and Never Before Published Secrets to Eternal Youth and Immortality' gives FREE and Simple solutions that Truly Reverse the Aging Process so that folks can attain and maintain the Age they Intend to Look and Feel Forever - Guaranteed! Because the Secrets are Free to Test, people only have Health and Vitality to Gain, as the Beauty Industry stands to lose Billions.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Often times Simplicity is the Best Path. Eternal Youth Empire, a California Based not-for-profit Organization dedicated to health and vitality for the masses, may have Stumbled Upon the Key to Reverse Your Aging Process. Best of all, It is FREE to test the Key, to See that It works. http://www.EternalYouthEmpire.com Aside from the low cost of obtaining the Book from their Website, one never has to pay for anything for the Rest of one's Life, to stay Forever Young.
The following Key is the mind-blowing Secret that has never been publicly revealed before in Print, for Free: It is generally accepted that tiny particles called Atoms "make-up" Everything, and that electrons revolve around atoms in a rather Haphazard manner. Eternal Youth Empire discovered over 10 years ago that for some Reason, whenever anything organic decomposes or ages, the Electrons that once rotated Randomly quite suddenly organize Themselves in an orderly fashion and begin Rotating in a leftward, Counter-clockwise motion.
Therefore, aging and Decomposing is a matter of revolving to the left. If you believe that simplicity and elegance are common sense and that nature displays the macrocosm of the microcosm, therefore, if one never rotates to the left, one puts off aging Indefinitely. Basically, if one only moves in rightward clockwise motions, one will stay Youthful Forever.
Members of Eternal Youth Empire have only gone right for over 10 years and their Youthfulness is Credible. Whirling Dervishes and Yogis for centuries have advocated right twirls to stave off aging. A Physical Immortality Interest Group in Orange County, CA led by Lynn and Leo Youngblood have their own set of testimonials from only moving to the Right. Dr. Janni Lloyd of Australia concurs. Her blog on Oprah's website is titled, "Do You Choose Life" and the public is welcome to comment: http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/95436 .
Even UPS has now implemented only Right Turns for their Drivers. Time and gas spent by waiting to turn left is assuaged by going around the entire block by making 3 rights.
The Buck Institute of Aging in Marin County, CA, only one of three such Laboratories in the World and the Only One in the United States, is aware of Eternal Youth Empire's Guide, and have Invited the members of Eternal Youth Empire to visit with Them, which may be an Indication of Endorsement. Nobel can only be Close Behind.
Eternal Youth Empire says, "Try It for Yourself. It is 100% free!" If You ever have to turn left, instead, make a 270 degree turn to the right, like a twirl or pirouette. You will end up facing left as Intended and literally stave off aging forever. You may hear a short Interview for Free regarding this one Key by clicking on This Link: http://www.myspace.com/eyelipstongue where You can also get In Touch with this not-for-profit Organization.
Last Two Weeks on USA Nets Highest Ratings in Almost Seven Years
NEW YORK, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The last two weeks on WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW have broken ground to ratings highs not seen in almost seven years for the year-round ratings titan. The 2/16 and 2/23 episodes have delivered an average of 6.015 million total viewers, 3.028 million in P18-49, 2.9 million in P25-54, 4.055 million households and a household coverage rating of 4.1.
"Charismatic characters, high production value, intricate storylines, action-adventure, soap opera, rock concert, comedy, athleticism, and drama are all a recipe for success. When combined with the partnership of USA Network, Monday Night RAW is the undisputed champion of cable television" said Kevin Dunn, Executive Vice President, Television Production.
The two week delivery of 6 million total viewers for RAW was the first time that has happened in almost seven years -- since April 2002
RAW delivered over 3 million in P18-49 two weeks in a row, the first time that has happened in 6 /12 years -- since August 2002
This past week the 10pm hour USA was the #1 TV network among M18-34 (1.153 million) almost doubling the nearest competitor ABC. The 10pmRAW segment also drew in more M18-34 viewers for the night than Fox's 24 (9pm). USA was also #1 in the 10pm hour, above all TV channels, among M25-54 (2.262 million) and M18-49 (2.219 million) and beat CSI Miami among P18-49 (3.258 million). In the 9pm hour USA topped both ABC's The Bachelor and CBS among M18-34 (880,000) and beat The Bachelor among both M18-49 (1.1814 million) and M25-54 (1.951).
*Note: all weekly daypart and program data is Live+SD.
USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in 94 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.
DALLAS, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- IndoorDIRECT announced that it has secured a funding package that could reach $22.5 million to complete the rollout of its in-store entertainment network into 1,000 quick-service and fast-casual restaurants from its current base of 430 locations.
The funding was led by Syncom Venture Partners, a firm that specializes in media properties. Joining them were Northwood Ventures LLC and Poseidon Enterprises LLC, which also have considerable media expertise. Challenger Capital Group LTD and Haynes & Boone LLP assisted in the transaction.
The funding will allow indoorDIRECT to establish an initial national media platform of more than 10 million viewers per month in top DMAs.
"Our network is an effective way for advertisers to reach consumers for many reasons," said Bill Myers, Co-Founder and COO. "We entertain our viewers with engaging content that people enjoy watching and listening to while they are sitting, not just walking past the screens. This enables impressions to really register with viewers who are in most cases close to retail sites where they can immediately act on the messages presented to them."
"We feel that indoorDIRECT is reaching captive customers who want to be entertained," said Duane McKnight, head of Syncom Venture Partners. "In a time of TIVO and channel switching, this venue is especially effective for advertisers." Peter Schiff of Northwood Ventures LLC added, "As one of the first serious investors in this booming sector, we feel the advertising community will strongly embrace the consumer reach this network creates."
About theBITE Network
Each week indoorDIRECT creates and produces theBITE Network, the program which airs on its LCD screens in restaurant dining rooms, providing advertisers with national reach in a receptive environment. Four dynamic hosts, selected exclusively for theBITE, host the 60-minute program reporting on news, entertainment, music and sports. TheBITE features customized content for a range of interests such as music videos, NASCAR updates, college football features and content from providers including CBS, TBS, TNT, Speed and most recently NFL Network. TheBITE also features scrolling text with breaking news, sports updates and localized time and weather. Catch the latest from theBITE at www.thebitenetwork.com/STREAM.
Fred Margolin, the company's CEO, said that indoorDIRECT is pleased to be working with leading restaurant chains that have a total of more than 30,000 locations nationwide. "Our rollout to more restaurant locations will enable us to attract greater advertiser attention and we will have the opportunity to grow very quickly," he said.
"We are gratified by the positive response we've gotten from franchisors and franchisees of restaurant chains throughout the country that have installed the indoorDIRECT system," said Michael Winton, President and Co-Founder. "They immediately see the network helps store profitability and makes the dine-in experience much more enjoyable for their customers."
About indoorDIRECT
IndoorDIRECT is a powerful digital out-of-home media company providing entertainment content to high-volume quick-service and fast-casual restaurant chains across the nation. IndoorDIRECT created theBITE Network -- a combination of entertainment content and advertising tailored to reach the millions of Americans who visit quick-service and fast-casual restaurant chains every month. IndoorDIRECT LCD screens are located in restaurant dining rooms, as well as a promotional board at the point-of-purchase to highlight featured menu items. The promotional network has shown proven results that about 40 percent of the customers are influenced. The company is privately held and has its headquarters in Dallas. More information is available at www.indoordirect.com.
Fan club presale begins February 26; National on-sale begins March 7th
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Grammy-winning superstars No Doubt today announced the dates for their much-anticipated summer tour. The tour kicks off May 3 at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, NJ and runs through August 1 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA, stopping in 45 cities across the country. As previously announced, the band will be joined on the road by special guests Paramore, (and The Sounds, Janelle Monae and Bedouin Soundclash on select dates). No Doubt tickets go on-sale to the public beginning March 7th, visit www.nodoubt.com and www.livenation.com for ticket on-sale information.
To guarantee No Doubt fans get the best seats in the house, the No Doubt
Tour Club has been created. Fans will have special access to presale tickets beginning February 26 at 4pm (local time) through March 1st at 4pm (local time). Fans can now validate their email address to be eligible to join, visit nodoubttourclub.musictoday.com for full details. Tour club ticket quantities are limited.
A unique No Doubt widget launches on February 25th with new exclusive video content direct from the band featured every day from February 28th through March 6th as part of Seven Days of No Doubt. The widget is accessible at www.nodoubt.com and will be activated on February 25th with a special contest running through March 17th during which time fans can join the contest to share the widget with as many friends as possible. Fans who share the widget the most will win prizes including a coveted chance to meet the band, a luxurious limousine ride to the show or rare and collectible No Doubt items. The widget will remain active with new content throughout the tour with additional contest opportunities to be announced.
The tour will also feature $10 and $25 tickets for shows at select amphitheaters throughout the tour.
Tickets for the Bamboozle Festival on May 3rd are currently on sale.
No Doubt 2009 Summer Tour:
5/03/2009 East Rutherford, NJ Meadowlands Sports Complex*
(Bamboozle Festival)
5/16/2009 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center
(Tiger Jam XII)**
5/19/2009 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
5/20/2009 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
5/22/2009 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
5/23/2009 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
5/25/2009 Salt Lake City, UT The E Center
5/27/2009 Denver, CO Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
5/28/2009 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
5/30/2009 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center
5/31/2009 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
6/02/2009 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
6/03/2009 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
6/05/2009 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
6/06/2009 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/08/2009 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
6/10/2009 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/11/2009 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
6/13/2009 Pittsburgh, PA Post-Gazette Pavilion
6/14/2009 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
6/16/2009 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
6/17/2009 Montreal, QC Centre Bell
6/19/2009 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
6/20/2009 Boston, MA Comcast Center
6/24/2009 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
6/26/2009 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center***
6/27/2009 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
6/29/2009 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
7/02/2009 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater (Summerfest)
7/03/2009 Detroit, MI Palace Of Auburn Hills
7/05/2009 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
7/06/2009 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
7/08/2009 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7/10/2009 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
7/11/2009 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
7/13/2009 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
7/15/2009 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
7/16/2009 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
7/18/2009 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
7/19/2009 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheatre
7/21/2009 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion
7/24/2009 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
7/25/2009 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
7/31/2009 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
8/01/2009 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
CULVER CITY, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Michel Gondry is in negotiations to direct Columbia Pictures' The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures. The screenplay is by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, who will also executive produce. Neal H. Moritz will produce the film through his Original Film production company. The film will begin shooting this summer and is set for release June 25, 2010. The film will be executive produced by Michael Grillo.
Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, "From the very beginning, Seth, Evan, and Neal wanted this film to stand out from the pack with its originality. You couldn't ask for a better director than Michel Gondry to bring that to life."
Moritz added, "We're huge fans of Michel Gondry. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and all his films are as daring as they are extraordinary, fueled by creative ideas that spring from his unique worldview. Our first rule, always, is to make the movie that we want to see, and that couldn't be truer than with Michel bringing his stylish and original touch to the helm."
Said Gondry, "I'm very excited about The Green Hornet and all that I hope to bring to it. This story has always been close to me and now Seth & Evan have written a script that is both funny and real - the best of both worlds. I cannot wait to further collaborate with them on it."
Gondry, an award-winning film, commercial, and music video director, is set to release his most recent film, Tokyo!, a triptych film telling three stories about the iconic city, on March 6, 2009. Gondry recently released his film Be Kind Rewind, which inspired Gondry's debut book, You'll Like This Film Because You're In It: The Be Kind Rewind Protocol. Gondry's recent films include The Science of Sleep, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for which Gondry received a 2005 Academy Award for original screenplay, for his contribution to the storyline alongside Charlie Kaufman. Gondry co-produced both Be Kind Rewind and The Science of Sleep through his production company Partizan Films.
For More Information:
Steve Elzer
Senior Vice President, Media Relations
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
(310) 244-7142
steve_elzer@spe.sony.com
New Leadership and Public/Private Funding to Establish The American Revolution Center
WAYNE, Pa., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, Chairman of the American Revolution Center at Valley Forge (the "Center"), and The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will host a reception to welcome the Center's new president and CEO, Dr. Bruce Cole, on Tuesday, February 24, at the National Constitution Center. During the event, the Governor and Mr. Lenfest plan to announce a combined $13 million of public and private funding for the Center, $8 million of which is Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program (RCAP) funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania coupled with a $5 million personal gift from Mr. Lenfest. The funds will support the first phase of a comprehensive museum and education center devoted to the American Revolution and its enduring legacy, which will encourage heritage tourism and spur economic development to the region.
Located on the banks of the Schuylkill River, across from General George Washington's headquarters, The American Revolution Center will be the first center dedicated to exploring, interpreting and commemorating the timeless story of the American Revolution. The museum will display a distinguished collection of objects, manuscripts, and artifacts from the American Revolution, and the education center will provide interactive learning opportunities for teachers, students and the general public and will host programs, lectures, and symposia. The $13 million in funding will enable the development of a Trailhead Building, in addition to creating interactive educational resources on The American Revolution targeted to schools and libraries regionally, nationally and internationally.
"As the birthplace of America, the Commonwealth holds a critical and unique place in history and, consequently, we have an obligation to ensure that our history is never forgotten by using educational resources such as the American Revolution Center," Governor Rendell said. "Bruce Cole's experience makes him exceptionally well-qualified to lead the Center in its development from concept to reality, and the Commonwealth is pleased to help make this important project a reality."
Dr. Cole, a respected academic and art historian, previously served as the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Appointed by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2001 and again in 2005 for a second term, Dr. Cole is the longest serving Chairman of the NEH and launched key initiatives, including We the People, a program designed to encourage the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture, and the Picturing America project, which uses great American art to teach history and culture in schools and libraries nationwide.
"Today, too few Americans understand the importance of the American Revolution and our country's founding principles," said Lenfest. "Bruce Cole's background in history and humanities education, and his great success in finding new ways to engage people in history education during his tenure at NEH, make him the ideal person to shepherd the Center's development as a living monument to the Revolution. I am very passionate about this cause and I am pleased to join the Commonwealth in providing funding to help create a comprehensive resource on the American Revolution that will educate and inspire generations to come."
"The founding principles unite us as a nation," said Dr. Cole. "When we express ourselves freely, worship at an institution of our choice or vote, we are acting on the principles of those who struggled and endured at Valley Forge. By developing a living memorial to the American Revolution, we will re-engage Americans in our history and our own responsibilities in perpetuating the freedoms we have been given. The combined funding from the Commonwealth and Gerry Lenfest is a critical step in that process, and I look forward to working with Governor Rendell and the Center Board to make this vision a reality."
About the American Revolution Center
The American Revolution Center (ARC) will establish the world's first center to commemorate the entire story of the American Revolution. The museum will display the Center's distinguished collection of objects, artifacts and manuscripts from the American Revolution and will offer programming, lectures, symposia and interactive learning for teachers, students and the general public.
Square Enix Delivers Highly Anticipated Prequel to North American Fans
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix(R) interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that STAR OCEAN(R): THE LAST HOPE(TM) for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft has shipped to retailers in North America. The title is a prequel to the acclaimed futuristic space opera RPG series, STAR OCEAN, and is the franchise's first entry on Xbox 360.
Development studio tri-Ace Inc. delivers spectacular new visuals alongside exhilarating real-time battles with this highly anticipated prequel. STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is the first installment in the series in which players will be able to control their own spaceship, moving from planet to planet as they explore the vastness of space. This unique RPG experience also allows players to seamlessly switch between characters in-game and engage in team-oriented combat as they advance through the captivating storyline.
Launching today in North America shortly after the game's release in Japan last week, Square Enix continues to deliver global simultaneous launches for its fans around the world.
STORY
The year is A.D. 2087. In the aftermath of World War III, Earth has been ravaged and the population decimated by a deteriorating environment. The countries that survived have joined together to form the Greater Unified Nations and turned their eyes skyward... to space.
Edge Maverick and his childhood friend Reimi Saionji are chosen as pioneer members of the Space Reconnaissance Force, which was created to seek out new worlds beyond the stars. Their ship, the Calnus, takes its place on the lunar launch pad along with four other starships of the first reconnaissance fleet. These ships - humanity's last hope - blast off one-by-one and sail into the awaiting wormhole that leads to the vast star ocean.
And so, Edge and his crew begin their voyage in search of a new haven for humanity... and a second chance.
FEATURES
Combines sci-fi and fantasy elements, spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the STAR OCEAN universe
Item creation and Private Actions, two hallmarks of the STAR OCEAN franchise, also make their return, allowing for players to enjoy upgraded versions of both systems
Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise's dynamic real-time battle system, now featuring amazing graphics and visual effects only possible on Xbox 360
Up to four characters can take part in battles simultaneously and party members can be switched mid-battle
New Blindside battle system fuses evasion and offense, enabling players to confuse and ambush enemies by quickly moving out of their line of sight when targeted
Freely pilot the Calnus spaceship for the first time in the series and journey to various planets of the STAR OCEAN universe
Features breathtaking CG movies by Visual Works, the cutting-edge studio whose previous work includes cutscenes for the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY(R) series
STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is rated T (Teen). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $59.99 (USD). The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/starocean/.
About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST(R), which has sold over 47 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com.
DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. STAR OCEAN, the STAR OCEAN logo and THE LAST HOPE are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from owner. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
PARK CITY, Utah, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SpectrumDNA, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SPXA), the leading provider of embeddable social media applications, today issued the following letter:
Dear Shareholders:
2008 was some year! I appreciate the hard work, devotion and selflessness that our entire team has shown over the course of last year and continues to show every day. Our business, like so many others, was not without both high and low points, but we not only weathered the still raging economic storm but also were able to move our business significantly forward through the re-launch of our flagship product and by securing several key strategic partnerships.
Our partnership with Comedy Central on the Political Addictionary (http://politicaladdictionary.com) set two significant milestones for our business:
Comedy Central was the first licensee for our flagship software-as-a-service product, The Addictionary. Licensing to Comedy Central validated our marketing strategy in which we provide social media software applications to media and brand partners bolstering their brand and the engagement of their existing audience. Due to the significant increases Comedy Central experienced in its core audience metrics, they have effectively monetized our software via advertising.
The Political Addictionary turned into a "brand asset"--a recognized brand within the world of political and social commentary across the internet. It has become the de facto online destination where politicos and political bloggers communicate with each other around the lingo of politics. Thus far, 640,000 people have added over 7,500 words.
The Political Addictionary has become a mainstay in the social commentary about our political system and hit its stride leading up to the '08 election, which provided our company business development momentum going into Q4'2008, as planned.
As we all know, the last three months of 2008 proved a tenuous time for many, including us, given the severe economic downturn. Despite this, our Addictionary product attracted three additional marquee partnerships:
NBC Universal licensed and launched The Office Addictionary for their hit television show "The Office" (http://officeaddictionary.com);
Universal Press Syndicate's digital group UClick licensed the Addictionary for syndication to regional newspapers and websites;
E! Entertainment licensed and launched The Celebrity Addictionary (http://celebrityaddictionary.com), which has rapidly grown into the most popular Addictionary implementation.
Also in the fourth quarter of 2008, Harry Abrams released Addictionary: Brave New Words, the first of a series of books based on words and definitions contributed by Addictionary users from all over the world. The book was selected as one of the Top 25 Holiday Gifts by Entertainment Weekly magazine.
Finally, the Addictionary product made its debut as an iPhone application, garnering hundreds of downloads per day. We are continuing to improve the app, and this is an avenue of distribution and audience engagement that will be further exploited going forward, for the Addictionary and our other products.
The ever-growing Addictionary network now enjoys nearly 1 million user-visits per month, and it continues to grow. We are in active negotiations with a number of media and brand partners for new Addictionary instances. Even in this economic climate, we feel our sales plan for Addictionary upon which we're currently executing will take us to profitability by Q4'2009 or Q1'2010.
The opportunities to "scale" our enterprise lay along two strategies:
The more Addictionary partner-verticals we secure, the bigger the "network effect" opportunities become. Those opportunities include mining the user-generated content for ancillary exploitation (books, calendars, greeting cards, etc), market research derived from what's proving to be an affluent and educated Addictionary user-base, and possibly an advertising sales network across the Addictionary verticals.
Selling more social media applications to our clients through the trusted pipeline created by the Addictionary's creativity and measurable return on investment (ROI).
Per the latter, our second product, PlanetTagger (a licensable mobile-social networking application) went through a complete re-design in late 2008/early 2009, based on what we learned from our test-markets--Calle Soccer and The Canyons Ski Resort during 2008. We intend to make announcements of significance soon with respect to this "version2.0" of PlanetTagger.
Finally, I'd like to express how proud we were to add three stellar industry figures to our Board of Directors in 2008. Jim Moloshok, Executive Chairman of the Betawave ad network; Michael Dowling, CEO of market research mavens Interpret, LLC; and Anthony Stonefield, a mobile content and applications pioneer, and CEO of eMotive, Inc. Each are experienced, engaged, and proactive agents of our company's mission, and they bring extraordinary experience, gravitas and personal business network in the industries of media/advertising, market research/analytics, and mobile content/applications, respectively. We are fortunate indeed they decided to join us last year and their contributions can be seen in every product we make and sale we consummate.
The executive team and I are looking forward to 2009.
The word on our successes with the Addictionary product is spreading into the media and entertainment industries. And we are seeing media and advertising companies increasingly embrace our ideas about sustainable social-media strategies. We have case-studies now that convincingly and compellingly illustrate the ROI value-proposition for our products, and our approach to product development. We have a lean and devoted team of professionals forged in the heat of a troubled economy, activating a business plan and a vision that is proving veracious and compelling in down times and which promises to become supercharged as the economy turns upward.
Furthermore, our executive team, quality products, customer base, and experience in social media programming poise us to judiciously collect people, intellectual property and potentially companies during 2009 and 2010, should we find they could further fuel SpectrumDNA's positive momentum. I look forward to what we can and intend to accomplish in 2009. Thank you all for your support and dedication.
Sincerely,
Jim Banister
CEO
www.spectrumdna.com
About SpectrumDNA, Inc.:
SpectrumDNA, Inc. is a digital studio that creates social applications for media outlets and advertisers that are engines of engagement (or "Enginets"), empowering users to take an active, measurable role in their online communities. Enginets can be easily configured and branded by customers to capture specific behaviors and to develop advertiser-safe user-generated content, for both short-term promotions and for building long-term assets. Enginets employ both a centralized experience (web and/or mobile wireless destination) and distributed experience (widgetry, iPhone apps, feeds, etc). More at http://www.spectrumdna.com
Safe Harbor Statement:
This release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to SpectrumDNA, Inc. that are based on the beliefs and assumptions made by our management as well as information currently available to our management. When used in this letter, the words "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," "estimate," "intend," "plans," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Given the early stage of SpectrumDNA, Inc., most of the statements made herein are forward-looking. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those included within the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
NEW YORK, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT - a New York based boutique commercial advertising production company - is celebrating an Oscar(R) win for one of its directors, James Marsh. Marsh received the Academy Award on Sunday for best documentary for his film "Man on Wire."
*(Photo Caption: Director James Marsh, Maximum Entertainment.)
The film is a partly dramatized re-telling of an outrageous plot by a group of French artists to rig a high wire between the Twin Towers for aerialist Philippe Petit to perform on in 1974.
Marsh was not the only one of Maximum's directors to receive Oscar nominations. Fellow Academy Award nominee and Maximum Entertainment director Gus Van Sant received an Oscar nod for his directing of the movie "Milk" - which won a best actor award for Sean Penn.
Maximum Entertainment is a collective of filmmakers started by renowned cinematographer Harris Savides and 20-year veteran producers Jim Czarnecki and Maria Gallagher. With a combined experience not only in commercial production but also in the worlds of feature film, documentaries, TV, and marketing and branding, Maximum Entertainment is about bringing a fresh perspective to commercials, TV and new media projects.
Czarnecki and Gallagher were elated over the two Academy Award nominations and in particular over the Oscar win by James Marsh: "Because of his background in both documentary and feature films, we see James's strengths as a film-maker as being able to combine these two worlds; making spots that are both stylistic and authentic."
"He is able to get strong performances from real people and realistic performances from actors, and with the added plus of being a writer/director and expert researcher, he is a natural for developing long form projects that could be the basis for a series of 30 sec spots. Now that he is available again after finishing his current film, Nineteen-Eighty, we're looking forward to working with him on commercials in the upcoming months."
For more information, visit: http://www.maxentfilms.com/
All trademarks acknowledged.
This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com
Sir Elton John Performed With Special Guest Raphael Saadiq
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Sir Elton John and David Furnish hosted the 17th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) Academy Awards(R) viewing party. The event was held on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at the Pacific Design Center and was co-sponsored by Chopard, Jo and Raffy Manoukian and Vh1. EJAF's party to celebrate the Academy Awards(R) was one of the night's best attended parties and raised nearly $4 million.
The annual gala continues to be the leading fundraising event in Hollywood on Oscar night. This year's gala brought some exciting moments including a live performance by Sir Elton John and special guest Raphael Saadiq, as well as a emotional first-hand account by Kerrel McKay who spoke about her experiences as an HIV/AIDS activist in her home country of Jamaica. McKay also spoke about a public service campaign orchestrated by the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS, supported by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
This year's guests included the event's esteemed co-chairs Victoria Beckham and John Walters in addition to Hollywood luminaries such as Sir Ben Kingsley, Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy, Gerard Butler, Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor, Quincy Jones, Keifer Sutherland, Whoopi Goldberg, Sharon Stone, Eva Longoria Parker, Kate Beckinsale, Carrie Underwood, Natasha Bedingfield, Chace Crawford, Olivia Wilde, Rosanna Arquette, Josh Groban, Elle Macpherson, Gordon Ramsey, Eric McCormack, Tim Allen, Rashida Jones, Molly Sims, Russell Simmons, Dita Von Teese, Zac Posen, Natasha Henstridge, Terrell Owens, Chris O'Donnell, Paz Vega, Chris Noth, Taye Diggs and Ricki Lake.
Guests arrived for cocktails followed by dinner and viewing of the 81st Annual Academy Awards in the custom-built tent adorned in black and cream hued modern "supper club" decor created exclusively by Antony Todd. The five-course meal, as created by Chef Wayne of Crumble Catering, included carnaroli risotto with dry Marsala wine and crystallized natural flowers, choice of sauteed beef filet or roasted halibut and a dessert puffed chocolate tartlet with raspberry bitter orange sauce, among others.
As is tradition, immediately following dinner, auctioneer Jamie Niven of Sotheby's led the evening's live auction. Items auctioned included the opportunity to dance with Ellen DeGeneras on her Emmy Award winning talk show, which sold for $20,000; two jewel encrusted 10th Anniversary Elton John AIDS Foundation collection watches designed by Chopard went for $250,000 each; a one-hour tennis lesson by tennis champion Andy Roddick sold at auction for $31, 000; taken directly for the Academy Award stage was the "Milk" soap box used by Hugh Jackman in his opening homage to this years' Best Picture nominees; and a three-day, four-night stay at the Normandy, France home of the Forbes family, Chateau de Balleroy, sold for $80,000.
ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION: The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established in the United States in 1992 (EJAF-US) and in the United Kingdom in 1993 (EJAF-UK) by founder and chairman Sir Elton John. Together, both entities have raised over $150 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries around the globe since inception. Today, EJAF is one of the world's leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations supporting innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. EJAF-US's current grant-making priorities target HIV prevention programs in the Southern United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America; HIV prevention and care services for highly marginalized and vulnerable populations; and HIV/AIDS prevention education and the promotion of sexual health for adolescents.
CHOPARD: There are few jewelers in the world whose designs are immediately recognizable. At the forefront of that list is Chopard. For over 140 years, the "World of Chopard" has embraced elegance, originality and individuality. Renowned internationally for its award-winning "Happy Diamonds" creations, the Chopard collection also includes an array of designs that adorn celebrities around the world. Meticulously crafted in Geneva, Switzerland since 1860, Chopard has distinguished itself worldwide for luxurious jewels and impeccably crafted high-precision timepieces that embody imaginative design and sophistication. To mark Chopard's 10 years of support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele has designed a new watch collection in collaboration with Sir Elton John himself. A testament to their friendship, the watch collection reflects the artist's extravagant personality as well as his tremendous generosity. A percentage of sales from these watches benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. For further information, phone 1.800.CHOPARD or explore Chopard on line at www.chopard.com.
JO AND RAFFY MANOUKIAN: Jo & Raffy Manoukian are honored to be one of the sponsors of the annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards(R) Viewing Party. They have been personal friends of Sir Elton John since the early 1990s and are actively involved with the Foundation in the capacity of both Trustees and Board Members. The Elton John AIDS Foundation forms only one part of Jo & Raffy's philanthropy. Their charitable efforts span the globe with special emphasis on health, education, sports and media ventures.
Vh1: Vh1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. Vh1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. Vh1 also has an array of digital channels and services including Vh1Classic, Vh1 Soul, Vh1 Mobile, Vh1Games and extensive broadband video on Vh1.com. Connect with Vh1 at www.vh1.com.
AMERICAN AIRLINES: American Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 3,400 daily flights. American Airlines is the official airline of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Contact: Christina Lee / Ivy Mollenkamp
ROGERS & COWAN
310-854-8100
HONG KONG, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- NetDragon Websoft Inc.,
a leading game developer and operator in the PRC ("NetDragon", with its
subsidiaries collectively known as the "Group"; stock code: 777) launched
today a new Chinese language expansion pack - "Expanding Horizons" - for Zero
Online. Following the launch of the previous expansion pack "Core Storm" in
October 2008, "Expanding Horizons" provides a new "robot combine" function
which players can utilize to create their own perfect transformers and
experience unprecedented and amazing enjoyment.
Mr. Liu Dejian, Chairman and Executive Director of NetDragon said, "The
release of 'Expanding Horizons' once again demonstrates NetDragon's commitment
to its customers, as we continue to support the desires of our loyal player
base. And through an expanding and innovative product portfolio, in
combination with strengthened domestic and global marketing, we aim to attract
and satisfy more of the world's gaming enthusiasts and build upon our
pioneering achievements in the online gaming industry."
Zero Online is the first 2.5D MMORPG developed in China that is set in a
science-fiction universe with robot avatars. It was well received by players
both in China and overseas markets since its launch in April 2007. The game
was granted the "Most Anticipated Online Game in 2007" by the China Game Chart
in 2006 and named the "Top Ten Most Popular Online Games among Players" at
2007 Golden Plume Awards and "Top Ten Most Popular 2D Online Games Among
Mainland Chinese Players" by the Online Game Chart in 2007. NetDragon has
already launched the English and Spanish version of Zero Online in European
and American markets, as well as a traditional Chinese version in Hong Kong,
Macao, and Taiwan. On 9 February 2009, the Group announced that it will launch
Zero Online in Vietnam which is expected to gain popularity in that locale.
About NetDragon
NetDragon Websoft Inc. is one of the leading online game developers and
operators in the PRC. The Group's game portfolio comprises of a range of
MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) that cater to
various types of players and gaming preferences. The Group has successfully
developed and marketed many popular online titles of various styles. Its
current offerings include the games Eudemons Online, Conquer Online, Zero
Online, Tou Ming Zhuang Online, Heroes of Might and Magic Online, Era of Faith,
and Monster & Me. Some of the games are also available in foreign languages,
including English, French and Spanish. The Group also has four games currently
in development, including Way of the Five, Tian Yuan, Disney Fantasy Online
and Dungeon Keeper Online, which are expected to be launched from the first
quarter of 2009.
NetDragon is successfully transferred to the Main Board of the SEHK on 24
June 2008 (Stock code on Main Board: 777). For more details please visit
http://www.nd.com.cn or http://www.nd.com.cn/ir .
For further information, please contact:
NetDragon Websoft Inc.
Ms. Maggie Zhou
Investor Relations Department
Tel: +86-591-8754-3120
Email: ir@nd.com.hk
Fax: +86-591-8754-1761
IR website:http://www.nd.com.cn/ir
Porda International (Finance) P.R. Group
Helen Chung/ Sharis Siu/ Kate Lam/ Liz Yip
Tel: +852-3150-6730/ 3150-6771/ 3150-6738/ 3150-6739
Email: helen.chung@pordafinance.com.hk/ sharis.siu@pordafinance.com.hk/
kate.lam@pordafinance.com.hk/ liz.yip@pordafinance.com.hk
Fax: +852-3150-6728
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Cole Haan, the 80-year-old American legacy brand, is hitting the red carpet at the 81st Academy Awards with style and innovation. Known for its classic, upscale footwear, bags and accessories, Cole Haan will turn heads for its fashion-forward designs that are as worthy as the Oscar nominated actors, performers, presenters and celebrities who are wearing them at tonight's festivities. In particular, Cole Haan, is exceptionally pleased to unveil a premier collection of men's footwear that combine the technology and comfort of Nike Air in several sleek designs suitable for evening.
Cole Haan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc., is America's premier style and luxury brand offering high-quality handcrafted men's and women's footwear, accessories and outerwear. Each product blends craftsmanship, design and innovation giving it distinctive character. In addition to its many retail stores, consumers can experience all Cole Haan has to offer by visiting colehaan.com. Cole Haan is headquartered in New York City and Yarmouth, Maine.
ABC's Robin Roberts, to wear J.Crew As co-host of Official Oscars(R) Red Carpet Pre-Show
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Good Morning America's Robin Robertswill wear J.Crew to walk the Red Carpet and to co-host The Official Oscars Red Carpet Pre-Show tonight on ABC.
Suze Yalof Schwartz, Executive Fashion Editor-at-Large of Glamour magazine, introduced Roberts to J.Crew's Creative Director, Jenna Lyons. Yalof Schwartz and Roberts met with Jenna and the J.Crew design team at their New York Headquarters to view J.Crew's designs for the perfect Red Carpet look. The taped visit aired on Good Morning America on Wednesday, February 18th. Roberts encouraged America to weigh in to help her choose her Oscar gown. Ultimately, J.Crew was the favorite over two other high profile designers. As of today, over ten thousand GMA viewers had written in sharing their opinions.
Part of J.Crew's Weddings & Parties Collection, Roberts chose the "Gracie" gown in Fresh Tangerine. This special color is part of the fall 2009 Collection and made exclusively for Robin and this Red Carpet occasion. She looked beyond the Red Carpet regulars and chose J.Crew - an unexpected designer for the Oscars, re-confirming that high fashion does not have to cost a fortune. The "Gracie" gown is about sophistication and glamour, carried through in a sleek shoulder-baring gown. The J.Crew designers used dreamy triple-ply silk tricotine and designed a dramatic halter silhouette, offset by a deep-V down the back and a straight skirt that elegantly floats to the floor. Cut slightly longer in back, there are beautiful designer details throughout. Robin also wears J.Crew shoes and accessories including the Organdy Fleur Peep Toe Heels and the Satin Minaudiere Clutch.
TO view a sketch of the award winning look, go to:
Still a well kept secret, J.Crew's Weddings & Parties Collection features dressier designs for special occasions - whether a wedding, a festive party or a Red Carpet moment. J.Crew's designers search the world for the best and most luxurious fabrics (many of which come from couture fabric houses). They are obsessed with detail, ensuring that every J.Crew dress is cut to fit, impeccably finished and always elegantly designed.
J.Crew Group, Inc. is a nationally recognized multi-channel retailer of men's, women's and children's apparel, shoes and accessories. The Company operates 218 retail stores, 75 factory stores, the J.Crew catalog business, and jcrew.com. Additionally, certain product, press release and SEC filing information concerning the Company are available at the Company's website www.jcrew.com
For additional information, sketches, or to discuss possible interviews / TV opportunities, Contact Heather McAuliffe at J.Crew. (Ph) 212-209-2611 or email heather.mcauliffe@jcrew.com.
Certain statements about future store openings are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and may differ significantly from current expectations. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the availability of suitable store locations and other factors that are set forth in the Company's Form 10-K and in all filings made with the SEC made by the Company subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rentrak Theatrical, a
business unit of Rentrak Corporation (Nasdaq: RENT), today announced the
weekend theatrical box office estimates for the weekend period of February 20
through February 22, 2009 according to the company's Box Office Essentials(TM)
theatrical box office data collection and analytical service.
The twelve estimated top producing motion pictures for the weekend, per
data collected as of 9:30AM Pacific on Sunday, February 22, 2009 by Rentrak
Theatrical include:
Rank Title Weekend Gross Locations
1 Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail $41,120,000 2032
2 Taken $11,400,000 3102
3 Coraline $11,031,035 2155
4 He's Just Not That Into You $8,540,000 3050
5 Slumdog Millionaire $8,050,000 2244
6 Friday The 13th $7,825,000 3105
7 Confessions of a Shopaholic $7,019,000 2507
8 Paul Blart Mall Cop $7,000,000 2835
9 Fired Up $6,000,000 1810
10 The International $4,450,000 2364
11 Pink Panther 2 $3,700,000 2658
12 Gran Torino $3,640,000 2030
Weekend of 02/20/09 to 02/22/09
(C) 2008 by Rentrak Corporation
About Box Office Essentials
Box Office Essentials provides each studio with password-protected,
real-time, web browser-based and 24/7 access to data pertaining specifically
to their movie release titles. A sophisticated toolset allows studio
distribution executives to view and analyze the information at different
levels of detail and across a multitude of attributes (by theatre circuit,
DMA, time zone, etc.), enhancing their ability to make faster, and better
informed decisions. Additional features include online school calendars (K-12
and college), interactive release schedule and 24-hour subscriber support.
About Rentrak Corporation
Rentrak Corporation, based in Portland, Oregon, is an information
management company serving clients in the media, entertainment, retail and
advertising industries. The company's Entertainment Essentials(R) suite of
services is redefining media measurement in the digital broadband era.
Entertainment Essentials provides customers with near-real-time, actionable
insight into performance of content distributed over a wide variety of modern
media technologies. Available by license or subscription, each Entertainment
Essentials application allows executives to analyze detailed industry-wide and
title-specific data to make decisions that enhance the bottom line and provide
competitive advantage. For further information, please visit Rentrak's
corporate website at Rentrak.com.
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wrestler, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Milk shared top category honors at the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards, making the highly anticipated annual event into a celebration of the diverse films that captured the public's attention this year. The Visitor, Frozen River, In Search of a Midnight Kiss, Man on Wire, The Class and Synecdoche, New York also received awards at the event.
The 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards was held Saturday, February 21, in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and who dare to challenge the status quo. This annual event, which began as a small grassroots program, has grown into one of the most anticipated events of the film year.
This year's major category winners were Fox Searchlight Pictures' The Wrestler, which won Best Feature, Best Male Lead (Mickey Rourke), and Best Cinematography (Maryse Alberti); The Weinstein Company's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which won Best Screenplay (Woody Allen), and Best Supporting Female (Penelope Cruz); Overture Films' The Visitor, which won Best Director (Tom McCarthy); Sony Pictures Classics' Synecdoche, New York, which won Best First Feature and the Robert Altman Award, Frozen River, which won Best Female Lead (Melissa Leo); and The Class, which won Best Foreign Film; IFC Films' In Search of a Midnight Kiss, which won the John Cassavetes Award for the Best Feature made for under $500,000; and Magnolia Pictures Man on Wire, which won Best Documentary.
Heather Rae, producer of Frozen River and Ibid, received the thirteenth annual Piaget Producers Award, which honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The winner of the Producers Award receives an unrestricted grant of $25,000 funded by Piaget.
Lynn Shelton, director of My Effortless Brilliance, won the sixteenth annual Acura Someone To Watch Award, a $25,000 unrestricted grant created to honor a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award is funded by Acura.
Margaret Brown, director of The Order of Myths, won the fifteenth annual LACOSTE Truer Than Fiction Award, presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant attention. The award is accompanied by a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by LACOSTE.
Also given was the 2nd annual Robert Altman Award, given to one film's director, casting director, and ensemble cast. Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York received this award, along with casting director Jeanne McCarthy, and ensemble cast members Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, and Michelle Williams.
Film Independent's Spirit Awards ceremony is sponsored by IFC, Netflix, ELLE, AMC, Piaget, and LACOSTE. Principal Sponsors are Acura, Heineken, Garnier, and Australia.com. The official spirits of the Spirit Awards were provided by G.H. Mumm Champagne and Jameson Irish Whiskey. Hotel Shangri-La, Casa Del Mar, and Shutters on the Beach are the Official Host Hotels. Wire Image is the Official Photographer of Film Independent. American Airlines is the Official Airline Partner of Film Independent. ON 3 Productions is the Official Presenter Gift Lounge producer. FIJI Water is the official water of the Spirit Awards.
The ceremony aired live on IFC (Independent Film Channel), beginning at 2:00 pm PST. An edited re-broadcast will air later this evening on AMC at 10:00 pm EST/PST.
Actor Steve Coogan served as Master of Ceremonies. Alec Baldwin served as Honorary Chair. Diana Zahn-Storey executive produced the 2009 Film Independent's Spirit Awards for the fifteenth year.
The following is a complete list of the winners:
Best Feature Fox Searchlight Pictures
The Wrestler Producers: Darren Aronofsky,
Scott Franklin
Best Director Overture Films
Tom McCarthy The Visitor
Best Screenplay The Weinstein Company
Woody Allen Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best First Feature Sony Pictures Classics
Synecdoche, New York Director: Charlie Kaufman
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze
Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel
Best First Screenplay Focus Features
Dustin Lance Black Milk
John Cassavetes Award IFC Films
(For the Best Feature made
for under $500,000) Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge
In Search of a Midnight Kiss Producers: Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy
Best Supporting Female The Weinstein Company
Penelope Cruz Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Supporting Male Focus Features
James Franco Milk
Best Female Lead Sony Pictures Classics
Melissa Leo Frozen River
Best Male Lead Fox Searchlight Pictures
Mickey Rourke The Wrestler
Best Cinematography Fox Searchlight Pictures
Maryse Alberti The Wrestler
Best Foreign Film Sony Pictures Classics
The Class Director: Laurent Cantet
Best Documentary Magnolia Pictures
Man on Wire James Marsh
2008 FILM INDEPENDENT'S SPIRIT AWARD WINNERS BY DISTRIBUTOR
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES 3
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS 3
THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY 2
FOCUS FEATURES 2
IFC FILMS 1
MAGNOLIA PICTURES 1
OVERTURE FILMS 1
ATTENDEES
Joining host Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent, were Master of Ceremonies Steve Coogan, and Honorary Chair Alec Baldwin.
Presenters and musical performances included: Jessica Alba, Christina Applegate, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Bateman, Thomas Haden Church, Bradley Cooper, Bryan Cranston, Claire Danes, Laura Dern, Zooey Deschanel, Cameron Diaz, Aaron Eckhart, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Teri Hatcher, Anne Hathaway, Taraji P. Henson, Emile Hirsch, Robyn Hitchcock, Sir Ben Kingsley, Melissa Leo, Lucy Liu, Andie MacDowell, Michelle Monaghan, Sandra Oh, Mary-Kate Olsen, Ellen Page, Robin Wright Penn, Rosie Perez, John C. Reilly, Giovanni Ribisi, Tarra Riggs, Blair Underwood, Kerry Washington, John Waters, Rainn Wilson, Evan Rachel Wood, and ZO2.
Celebrity Guests and Nominees included: Maryse Alberti, Darren Aronofsky, Justine Bateman, Dustin Lance Black, Michael Bolton, Rose Byrne, Laurent Cantet, Keisha Castle Hughes, Wyatt Cenac, Penelope Cruz, Hope Davis, Dana Delaney, Jonathan Demme, Rosemarie DeWitt, Melonie Diaz, Illeana Douglas, Eliza Dushku, James Franco, Jon Hamm, Lance Hammer, Werner Herzog, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Charlie Kaufman, Catherine Keener, Ellen Kuras, Anthony Mackie, John Malkovich, James Marsh, Tom McCarthy, Charlie McDermott, Dominic Monaghan, Tom Noonan, Jim Myron Ross, Josh Peck, Lori Petty, Marc Platt, Heather Rae, Jeremy Renner, Eric Roberts, Howard A. Rodman, Mickey Rourke, Harris Savides, Haaz Sleiman, Mena Suvari, Jeffrey Tambor, Misty Upham, Rachel Weisz, Jennifer Westfeldt, Michelle Williams, Debra Winger, Adam Yauch, and many, many more...
ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT'S SPIRIT AWARDS
Film Independent's Spirit Awards is a celebration honoring films made by filmmakers who embody independence and who dare to challenge the status quo. Televised in millions of homes and covered internationally by the press, the Spirit Awards has become the vanguard event in independent film, recognizing the achievements of independent filmmakers and promoting independent film to a wider audience.
Selected from more than 250 submissions, awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Film, and Best Documentary.
The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees apply the following guidelines in making its selections:
1. Uniqueness of vision
2. Original, provocative subject matter
3. Economy of means (with particular attention paid to total production cost and individual compensation)
4. Percentage of financing from independent sources
Eligible films must be at least 70 minutes long, and the cost of the completed film, including post-production, must be under $20 million. Films must have been shown in a commercial theater for at least one week between January 1 and December 31, 2008 or shown at one of the following festivals in 2008: Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, New York, Sundance, Telluride, or Toronto.
After the committees select the nominees, the members of Film Independent, as well as the members of IFP, cast the final votes. Voters attend nominee screenings and view nominated films through Netflix before selecting the winners.
This year's nominees for Best Feature were Ballast, Frozen River, Rachel Getting Married, Wendy and Lucy, and The Wrestler. Best First Feature nominees were Afterschool, Medicine for Melancholy, Sangre de mi Sangre, Sleep Dealer, and Synecdoche, New York.
Last year's Spirit Award winners included Juno, which won Best Feature, Best Female Lead (Ellen Page), and Best First Screenplay (Diablo Cody), The Savages, which won Best Male Lead (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and Best Screenplay (Tamara Jenkins), and Once which won Best Foreign Film; and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which won Best Director (Julian Schnabel), and Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski), and The Lookout, which won Best First Feature. August Evening received the John Cassavetes Award for the Best Feature made for under $500,000.
ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a non-profit membership organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds the audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, film industry leader, or a film lover.
With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent also offers free Filmmaker Labs for selected writers, directors, and producers; provides cut-rate services for filmmakers; and presents year-round networking opportunities. Film Independent's mentorship and job placement program, Project:Involve, pairs emerging culturally-diverse filmmakers with film industry professionals.
Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international cinema, and the Spirit Awards, a celebration honoring films and filmmakers that embody independence and dare to challenge the status quo.
For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org
