Relativity Becomes First Studio to Launch Partnership with Spotify in the US

(Beverly Hills, Calif.) October 3, 2011 – Continuing its commitment to creating marketing advantages by forging unique partnerships and alliances, Relativity Media has entered into a long-term commitment with Spotify, the award-winning digital music service, and has become an exclusive launch partner in the Film category, making Relativity the first studio to run media on the platform in the US.  Relativity kicks off this new partnership by promoting its highly-anticipated epic adventure Immortals, which releases November 11, 2011, to Spotify’s US-based customers. The deal was negotiated by Relativity Media’s digital advertising agency Palisades Media Group.

Since its launch in 2008, Spotify has acquired over 10 million registered users, and more than 2 million paying subscribers and is the fastest-growing and most successful service of its kind in the world. Spotify offers three tiers of service, including a free, ad-supported service, and two subscription tiers, which offer additional flexibility and mobility. Spotify recently launched a deep integration with Facebook, which offers its customers new ways to discover and share great music, and an even richer social experience.

Relativity’s President, Theatrical Marketing, Terry Curtin said, “With its worldwide presence, growing popularity in the U.S., and deep integration with Facebook, Spotify is the perfect digital platform to reach socially-engaged music lovers and early adopters in order to continue to build our fan base for Immortals and upcoming releases.”

Jon Mitchell, Head of US Sales, Spotify, said, “We are hugely excited to be partnering with Relativity Media. Spotify works very hard to entertain and delight our customers, so we are thrilled that we can work with a movie studio which has similar goals, and has such a great reputation in the film business.  We are very much looking forward to executing new and innovative campaigns and driving engagement with our users over the coming months.”

From the producers of 300, Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh, Immortals stars Henry Cavill (Superman: Man of Steel), Luke Evans (Robin Hood), Kellan Lutz (Twillight), Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies), John Hurt (Hellboy) and Mickey Rourke (Iron Man 2). Directed by Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) and written by Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides, Immortals tells the story of the ruthless King Hyperion (Rourke), who leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity. A mortal chosen by Zeus named Theseus (Cavill) must lead the fight against Hyperion and his evil army with the fate of mankind and the Gods at Stake.

Relativity Media just wrapped production on its Untitled Snow White (in theatres March 16, 2012), starring Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Nathan Lane, and Sean Bean. Relativity’s expansive 2012 slate also includes Haywire (in theatres January 20, 2012), Act of Valor (in theatres February 17, 2012), The Raven (in theatres March 9, 2012), Untitled Farrelly/Wessler Project (in theatres April 13, 2012), House at the End of the Street (in theatres April 20, 2012), Safe Haven (in theatres June 1, 2012) and Hunter Killer (in theatres December 21, 2012).

ABOUT RELATIVITY MEDIA, LLC

Relativity Media is a next-generation studio engaged in multiple aspects of entertainment, including full-scale film and television production and distribution, the co-financing of major studio film slates, music publishing, sports management and digital media.  Additionally, the company makes strategic partnerships with, and investments in, media and entertainment-related companies and assets.

To date, Relativity has produced, distributed, and/or structured financing for more than 200 motion pictures.  Released films have accumulated more than $16 billion in worldwide box office receipts.  Relativity’s recent films include: Machine Gun Preacher, Cowboys & Aliens, Bridesmaids, Hop, Limitless, Battle: Los Angeles, Season of the Witch, Little Fockers, The Fighter, The Social Network, Salt,Despicable Me, Grown Ups, Dear John, It’s Complicated, Couples Retreat and Zombieland. Upcoming films for Relativity include: Immortals, and Anonymous.  Thirty-seven of the company’s films have opened to No. 1 at the box office.  Relativity films have earned 60 Oscar® nominations, including nods for The Fighter, The Social Network, The Wolfman, A Serious Man, Frost/Nixon, Atonement, American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma. Fifty-nine of Relativity’s films have each generated more than $100 million in worldwide box-office receipts.

Relativity also owns and operates Rogue Pictures, a company that specializes in films targeted to the 13-25 year old audience, and RogueLife, Relativity’s digital studio which is developing original content for the Web and creating sustainable online platforms and communities. RelativityREAL, Relativity’s television arm, has 67 projects in production, including 17 original series that are currently airing or will air in the upcoming television season including Police Women for TLC, Coming Home for Lifetime and The Great Food Truck Race for Food Network.

ABOUT SPOTIFY

Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 15 million tracks. Our dream is to make all the world’s music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it. Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is available in eight countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands and Spain, with more than 10 million registered users, and over 2 million paying subscribers.

www.spotify.com

PRODUCTION COMMENCES ON ANNA KARENINA

LONDON, October 3^rd, 2011 – Working Title Films has commenced production on Joe Wright’s epic love story Anna Karenina, adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The film will shoot in the U.K. and Russia. Focus Features will distribute the movie domestically, and Universal Pictures International (UPI) will distribute the movie internationally.

Anna Karenina marks Mr. Wright’s fourth film with Working Title, following the award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, and The Soloist. The film is produced by Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner and reunites them with Paul Webster, all three of whom produced Mr. Wright’s first two films Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, released domestically by Focus and internationally by UPI. Also for Focus, Mr. Wright recently directed the hit adventure thriller Hanna.

Keira Knightley, Academy Award-nominated for Pride & Prejudice, will star as Anna Karenina in her third collaboration with Mr. Wright. Ms. Knightley stars opposite two-time Academy Award nominee Jude Law, as Anna’s husband Aleksei Karenin; and Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy), as Count Vronsky. Rounding out the cast are Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire), Matthew Macfadyen (Pride & Prejudice), Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Alicia Vikander (The Seventh Son), two-time Academy Award nominee Emily Watson, Olivia Williams (Hanna), and Ruth Wilson (Luther).

Also reteaming with Mr. Wright on Anna Karenina are Academy Award-winning composer Dario Marianelli, twice-Academy Award-nominated costume designer Jacqueline Durran, three-time Academy Award-nominated production designer Sarah Greenwood, and Academy Award-nominated director of photography Seamus McGarvey.  Melanie Ann Oliver (Focus’ Jane Eyre) is the editor. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui is the choreographer on the movie.

The story unfolds in its original late-19^th-century Russia high-society setting and powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart, from the passion between adulterers to the bond between a mother and her children. As Anna (Ms. Knightley) questions her happiness, change comes to her family, friends, and community.

Working Title Films, co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner since 1992, is one of the world’s leading film production companies. Founded in 1983, Working Title has made nearly 100 films that have grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide. Its films have won 6 Academy Awards, 26 BAFTA Awards, and prestigious prizes at the Cannes and Berlin International Film Festivals. In addition to Anna Karenina, the current release slat includes Tomas Alfredson’s thriller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy; Baltasar Kormákur’s Contraband, starring Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale; Rowan Atkinson in Johnny English Reborn, directed by Oliver Parker; and Ken Kwapis’ Big Miracle, starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski.

Universal Pictures markets and distributes films internationally through Universal Pictures International (UPI), which officially began doing business on January 1, 2007. In the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, Benelux, Russia, Australia, Mexico and France, UPI directly markets and distributes movies through our local offices, creating campaigns and release strategies that respond to the culture and market behavior of those territories. In other parts of the world, Universal distributes through Paramount’s local offices as it transitions out of the formerly shared UIP model. In some smaller territories we continue to work through UIP on theatrical distribution.

Focus Features and Focus Features International (www.focusfeatures.com) comprise a singular global company. This worldwide studio makes original and daring films that challenge the mainstream to embrace and enjoy voices and visions from around the world that deliver global commercial success. The company operates as Focus Features in North America, and as Focus Features International (FFI) in the rest of the world.

In addition to Anna Karenina, and Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, current and upcoming Focus releases include John Madden’s hit espionage thriller The Debt, starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, and Jessica Chastain; writer/director Dee Rees’ contemporary drama Pariah, which world-premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival; Being Flynn, written and directed by Paul Weitz and starring two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and Paul Dano; Lorene Scafaria’s pre-apocalyptic comedic romance Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley; Moonrise Kingdom, the new feature from Wes Anderson, starring Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Jason Schwartzman; Sam Fell and Chris Butler’s ParaNorman, the new 3D stop-motion comedy thriller from animation company LAIKA; and the historical tale Hyde Park on Hudson, directed by Roger Michell and starring Academy Award nominees Bill Murray and Laura Linney.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures International are part of NBCUniversal, 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. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

Ashlynn Yennie is known for her role in the film “The Human Centipede”.  She is currently reprising her role this month in the follow-up “The Human Centipede II”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ashlynn about working on the sequel and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us about your involvement in “The Human Centipede II”
Ashlynn Yennie: We shot the first film in 2008 and in January of 2010, I moved to Los Angeles. IFC had picked up the film and was going to release it in April. Everyone who has seen the first movie knows my character Jenny dies in the first film. I never thought I would be back for the second. I got an email from Tom Six and the film’s writer telling me that he would like to talk with me. When we talked Tom laid out the entire second film for me and I totally wanted to do the film. I wasn’t allowed to talk about my involvement in the film whatsoever. I couldn’t even tell my agent at the time as to why I was going to London. I flew over to London at the end of the summer and worked on my part for a few weeks. Everything has been super secret and I still can’t tell anyone what my part in the film is.

MG: How was it working with Tom Six for the second time now?
AY: Working with Tom wasn’t much different from the first time he and I worked together. When you are working with Tom he is always right there with you. Even when I was in the centipede he was right there giving me notes and encouragement. He is very hands on. I think Tom knows that as actors and actresses we are devoting ourselves to making his film come true and he is going to make sure we give our best performance. Working on part 2 though was completely different. The first film was very clean and had a lot medical type things going on. The second film is completely the opposite as the warehouse we were shooting in was very wet and dirty. It looked like a swamp in there. The film looks really amazing though.

MG: What are your feelings on the film already being banned in the UK due to its content?
AY: I can’t say I wasn’t shocked. Tom has a plan for everything he does and after the first film came out people were saying it wasn’t gory enough and that you didn’t see enough. I tell people they asked for what they will see in the second film. I don’t know if people realized what they asked for.

MG: After working on the first film did you have any doubts about the film?
AY: That film was a great European film to shoot. We had no idea what was going to happen with it. I remember when they told us what the name of the film was going to be we were all a little taken back. We sort of teased Tom about the title for quite sometime while we were shooting. I don’t generally watch a lot of horror films as I am a bit of a scaredy cat. When “The Human Centipede” came out and it was embraced by the horror fans and it became just so big mainly because of the internet. The trailer for the film just went everywhere. I think “Human Centipede” is the most not watched film as most people I meet tell me they have watched just the trailer. They seem to have these preconceived notions as to what the film is about. The first film really held back a lot. The second one is in your face.

MG: How has working on the second film compared to working on the first film?
AY: I became very close with Ashley and Akihiro during shooting and for Ashley and me that was my first film. We all became recognizable from this film and to move up the chain link with people you are friends is great. The second film I got a whole new batch of actresses to fall in love with. The girls in this movie are incredible women and very beautiful. Both sets were completely opposite but both had a real family feel.

MG: Do you any other upcoming projects?
AY: Right now I am pretty busy promoting “The Human Centipede II”. I do go on auditions like crazy though as I am still an actress trying to make it in Los Angeles.

Directed by: Adam Rifkin, Tim Sullivan, Adam Green, Joe Lynch
Starring: Sean Paul Lockhart, Anton Troy, Gabrielle West, Joel David Moore and Lin Shaye, Kristina Klebe.
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 115 Minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When you have four very talented and up-in-coming horror directors team up for a horror anthology you should expect a lot from it. This film delivers mostly but falls short of the being great. This film consists of four mini movies within ala “Creepshow”. What is great about these films is that the title alone tells the premise, which you will see below. Overall though, it is a fun film for horror fans looking for a flashback to the good ole horror drive-in days.

The first film is one of my favorites “Wadzilla”…that’s right it is about a giant killer sperm. Enough said right? I must note that the creature was created by The amazing Chiodo Brothers (“Killer Klowns from Outer Space”). I love when you see their creations in films because it shows that everything doesn’t need to be in CG to be cool. The film is funny and WAY over the top. Plus it says the great Ray Wise (“Reaper”)…enough said again?

Probably tying the first film for my favorite is Adam Green’s “The Diary of Anne Frankenstein”. This is beyond hysterical with Joel David Moore (Avatar) playing Hitler. He speaks gibberish German the whole film and it just a riot. This is shot in black and white and is just a riot which not a shock since it is from Adam Green (“Hatchet” series),who is just great. To make it any better if it that is possible Kane Hodder plays the creature Meshugannah, that’s right that is his name.

I wish this film would have ended with those because I would be raving about this but then we go to “I Was a Teenage Werebear”, directed by Tim Sullivan. I absolutely hated this film and it almost ruined it for the film as a whole. I have no problem with the gay content but it is just so unbearable (get it?) to watch. To top it off it is a musical…the songs are funny but the film feels like an hour long and drags major ass. I could have done without this one.

The last film is the general basis for the opening and closing scene called “Zom B Movie”. It is a spoof of ’70s & ’80s zombie films and was directed by Joe Lynch (“Wrong Turn 2: Dead End”). This film is fun, a little weird and a good closing to this film.

Overall, three out of four films are fun and will provide some great laughs. Just skip over “I Was a Teenage Werebear” and you might enjoy this film. I hope that they continue this tradition and make more of these films. This film is currently available on VOD from most cable providers, also currently touring the drive in market theaters and will be on Blu-ray/DVD November 29th. I watched it on VOD but is probably really fun at a midnight show, so try and check it out that way.

Media Mikes is working with Ocean Ave Entertainment and StoryCrawler to help spread the word of this exciting and inspiring new film “The Mighty Macs”. The film opens in theaters on October 21 and includes The all-star cast with Carla Gugino (“Spy Kids”, “Sucker Punch”), David Boreanaz (“Bones”), Marley Shelton (“Sin City”), and Academy Award and Tony Award winner Ellen Burstyn (“Requiem for a Dream”).

Stay tuned as we are going to be covering this film quite a bit and will be giving away some great prizes including exclusive movie posters autographed by the by the stars of the film and even a contest to win a trip to the movie’s premiere!!

She Dared to Dream. They Dared to Believe. It’s 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time … and she’s about to embark on an adventure for the ages. As the coach of tiny Immaculata College, Cathy’s challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams her Macs will face. While it appears they don’t have a prayer, all hope is not lost. Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? Get ready to cheer on a true Cinderella team when “The Mighty Macs” opens in theaters on October 21.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MightyMacsMovie
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themightymacs
Check out the film: http://www.themightymacs.com/

Directed By: Dick Maas
Starring: Huub Stapel, Edbert Jan Weeber, Caro Lenssen, Madelief Blanken
Distributed By: IFC Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 88 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Christmas is easily my favorite holiday but doesn’t mean I don’t like watching films about good ole St. Nick wrecking some havoc. When I heard of this Netherlands based film, I was hoping for some good gory horror…and I got what I hoped for. Besides terrible…terrible dubbing, (would have rather had option to watch it subbed) this film is brutal and really dark. There is quite a bit of slaying (get it?) in this film and you are going to leave you yourself wishing that you were on the nice list this year.

This horror film starts back in 1492 depicting St. Nicholas as murderous bishop kidnaps and murders children when there is a full moon on December 5. He is taken down by the villagers but his evil spirit return ever 32 years to wreak havoc again. Our story picks up in present day but this time our hero Frank (Egbert Jan Weeber) aims to end his reign for good.

The story is well….what do you expect it is a horror film about a killer Santa Clause. It works for what it is worth, it is a different take to create mystery behind St. Nicholas. The special effects are really top notch and topped with some great kills. Huub Stapel is one scary son-bitch as St. Nicholas and rides high on his horse and his demon minions are not to be messed with. There are also some decent scares in the film. I hope they make this into a series because I would love to see more of these films.

Daron Ker is the producer/director/cinematographer of the documentary “I Ride”.  Daron’s most recent documentary titled “Rice Field of Dreams” follows the trials and tribulations of Cambodia’s first baseball team as they prepare to compete nationally for the first time ever . Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Daron about his new film as well as his experiences from the filming of “I Ride”

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your newest film “Rice Field of Dreams”?
Daron Ker: That film came really as an accidental thing. One of my friends found an article in a San Francisco newspaper about baseball in Cambodia. I had wanted to find a way to help my country so I started to think of ways that I might be able to help.  The only way that I could really think of was to make a film about the baseball team there. For about five years I was connecting with the team’s manager Joe Cook and just getting to know him until the team was actually formed and ready to compete.

AL: From what I saw in the documentary Joe seemed like an interesting guy. What was it like working with him?
DK: It was hard because I have never seen a guy so dedicated but at the same time doing everything the wrong way. I don’t think Joe is arrogant as I believe he is more compassionate but he does flirt between those lines. Joe’s not really a player or coach…he is a cook. However he just loves the game so much and he is so into it that he cannot get away from it.

AL: What was the hardest part about making the film?
DK: Going back home to Cambodia for the first time was probably the hardest part for me. I had no idea the country was so devastated by the war as I came to the states when I was young. When you are living somewhere you don’t really think about where you came from. By making this film it gave me the opportunity to go back home and see your country. It was very heart breaking just to see these beautiful kids with nothing. I think this film helped me reconnect with my roots and when I came back to the states I was really saddened because I wished that I could help more. I am actually going to be going back to Cambodia soon to show the movie at a theater their which is going to be really great.

AL: Are we going to see sequel to the film?
DK: I don’t know about a sequel but what I want to do is to just share the film with as many people as possible. I want to take a projector over there and show it in as many providence’s as I can. I have been screening it here in the states to Cambodian communities as the response has been great especially from the Cambodian/American youth.

AL: How do you feel “Rice Field of Dreams” compares to your previous documentary “I Ride”?
DK: Both challenging films. To get into that motorcycle culture was the hardest thing I felt. They are just so raw and underground. I was location scouting one day for a feature film and while there I was invited to attend the Sturgis bike rally. There were almost a million bikers there and I was very intrigued.

AL: Once they allowed you into their sub-culture what were your initial thoughts when they allowed you to follow them around?
DK:  I thought that I better make a good film or am going to have to move to Cambodia! They are hardcore. I knew I had a solid story and the guys were great. It took them about two years to finally let me in. We would be trying to shoot them and then they would just ditch us and we couldn’t get any shots. One time I mounted a camera to one of the guy’s bikes while we were in Arizona and he just up and left us for like half a day. They thought it was fun and game. After two years I sat them down and told them I was tired of clowning around and if they wanted to make the movie we could but if they kept ditching us we were moving on.  At that point we were surrounded by bikers and my crew was pretty scared. Luckily they decided to do the film.

AL: What is it that drew you into making documentary films?
DK: I felt like for me to be a better filmmaker making a documentary was a good platform to start on. It teaches you to think out of the box and make something out of nothing. I had done a bunch of shorts and had also studied some great film makers but I wanted to start with something else before shooting a narrative structure.

AL: Do you have any other upcoming projects we can be watching for?
DK: I feel like am still incomplete after shooting these to pictures. I want my next project to be a narrative. I have a script titled “Holiday in Cambodia” which has been a ten year labor of love project. I really want to get this thing moving. It’s a different platform for me but I feel documentaries are way harder than narratives because when I was shooting the documentaries I never knew where or what I was going to be shooting. It will be interesting walking into a narrative and knowing everyday where I am going to be. My dream date to start that project is February 2012. I have a great group from Lucas Ranch that are going to be working with me so I am really excited. The story is about a kid from the states being deported back home to Cambodia and his struggles with that.

Starring:  Anna Faris, Chris Evans and Blythe Danner
Directed by:  Mark Mylod
Rated:  R
Running time:  1 hour 46 mins
20th Century Fox

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Ally Darling (Faris) is having a bad day.  Having just gotten fired from a job she really didn’t like her day gets worse when she picks up a magazine and reads that the average woman will have 10.5 lovers in her life before she finds Mr. Right.  Surprised to read this, Ally quickly totals up the men of her past, a list which includes a step-cousin and a boy next door that she only refers to as “that creepy puppet guy.”  When a drunken one night stand puts Ally at the magic number of 20 (according to the article, after 20 it’s all downhill), she resolves to revisit the men of her past, convinced that one of them HAS to be her soul mate.

Featuring two winning performances, “What’s Your Number?” is a comedy that is sometimes sweet, sometimes sour, depending on your tastes.  Faris, who has built a career as the cute, spunky girl in films like “The House Bunny” and “Yogi Bear,” as well as the “Scary Movie” films, shines her as a comedienne of the first order.  Surprisingly as funny is co-star Evans, who plays her horn-dog neighbor, Colin.  So serious as Captain America, Evans shows a talent for comedy I didn’t expect.  As a man who believes the perfect relationship ends at breakfast, Colin agrees to help Ally track down her previous lovers.  Of course, as the search progresses it becomes clearly obvious that the two are meant for each other.  However, fearing the stigma of #21, Ally won’t budge on the idea.

Based on the book “20 Times a Lady,” the screenplay, by veteran television writers Gabrielle Allan and Jennifer Crittendon, has some funny moments.  Flashbacks of Ally and her previous lovers are often hilarious, including her encounter with “creepy puppet guy!”  There are also moments that are cringe-worthy.  Note to Hollywood:  Just because films like “The Hangover” and “Bridesmaids” were successful doesn’t mean that having characters yell “Vagina” every few minutes is funny.  It usually isn’t.

On the plus side, the stars do their best to rise above the material.  And the supporting cast, including Danner, Ari Graynor and Ed Begley, Jr, are equally strong.  Director Mylod, who knows his way around an ensemble cast thanks to his work on “Entourage,” keeps the film moving smartly.  If only he had been given a script equally smart.

Created by: Abi Morgan
Starring, Dominic West, Romola Garai and Ben Whishaw
Original channel: BBC Two
No. of episodes: 6
Run Time: 360 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I have not heard of this show until it showed up on my door to review. The only program I watch on BBC is “Doctor Who” but boy, I am glad I had the chance to review this series. The only problem I had with this series is that it is only a six part series like most shows on BBC. I would have loved to see more of this show but don’t worry it is confirmed for a second series. The combination of music, acting and fast dialogue makes this show very interesting. Not only that but it is also funny, it is romantic and it is suspenseful..you can expect that and more within “The Hour” (pun intended).

The series is a period drama set in 1956, it generally follows three people Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw), Hector Madden (Dominic West) and Bel Rowley (Romola Garai) as they set out to start a news program called “The Hour”. Hector is the face of the show, Bel is the producer and Freddie is the heart and its driving force. Freddie is trying to investigate the mystery behind the death of his friend, which delves a lot deeper into government conspiracies that he expects.  The trio are also involved in this love triangle is starts subtle and then explodes as the series goes on.  They push the limits with their news as they are under constant watch from the government since they are in times of war.  How far will they go to report the news and who/what will get in their way?

The cast is so phenomonal lead by Ben Whishaw, which is just stunning to watch on the screen and captures you with every word spoken.  Dominic West is such an amazing actor and really shines in this role.  I had the pleasure of meeting him in over 10 years ago before he hit it big with “The Wire” and he is just such a lovely person. Romola Garai is also fantastic playing the strong woman, yet in dire need of love, producer.  She is just so emotionally charged in this series and especially with the events from the finale, I can’t wait to see where her character goes.

Also a must to note is the music, it is so fantastic. It has a noir feel and helps with pacing each episode so well. The picture is fantastic and the sound is superb on Blu-ray. I wish I could say the same for the extras though since they are in SD not HD and there are only two features. The first is a behind the scenes, which runs about 10 minutes and takes a look into the making the series for i.e. it’s production design and cinematography. I did really enjoy the extra “Creating The Hour”, which runs about 20 minutes, which is also a behind the scenes making-of feature. It focuses a lot of the concept of the show and its characters.

Official Site: http://bit.ly/noJs2Z

Synopsis:
Set behind the scenes of the BBC newsroom, just as an investigative news program is launched, the drama plots the personal lives, professional interplay and jealous ambition between aspiring but renegade journalist Freddie Lyon (Whishaw), the beautiful ambitious young producer Bel Rowley (Garai) with whom he is in love, and his handsome rival Hector Madden (West), the face and lead anchorman of this rising television news team. The Hour plays out as a riveting thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War.

Viewers witness the decade on the threshold of change – from the ruthless sexual politics behind the polite social façade of the ‘50s to the revelations that redefined the world for a new generation. Over the six episodes, the interplay and intense ambitions between the rising news team plays out against the backdrop of a mysterious murder and Freddie’s controversial and dangerous investigation.

Above is the official one sheet for DreamWorks Pictures’ WAR HORSE.

Website and Mobile site: warhorsemovie.com
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/WarHorseMovie

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/warhorsemovie

Genre:  Drama
Rating:   PG-13
U.S. Release date: December 28, 2011
Cast:  Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Kebbell
Director:  Steven Spielberg
Producers:  Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
Executive Producers:  Frank Marshall, Revel Guest
Screenplay by:  Lee Hall and Richard Curtis
Based on the book by: Michael Morpurgo
and the recent stage play by Nick Stafford, produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain and directed by Tom Morris and Marianne Elliot

DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse,” director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is currently on Broadway. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse,” director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War.

Related Content

• Awesome Drew Struzan Inspired Poster Released for “Ready Player One”, in theaters March 29.
• New Poster For “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”
• “I Don’t Know How She Does It” Official App & Final Poster Released
• Katherine Heigl’s “One For The Money” Poster Released
• New Poster for DreamWorks’ “Real Steel” Released

TWEET TO DECIDE WHO IN THE WORLD SEES “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3” FIRST!

Paramount Pictures Launches First Ever Global “Tweet To See It First” to Kick Off the Eagerly Awaited 3rd Installment of the Thriller Franchise

 Movie Will Premiere in 20 Cities Worldwide on October 18th

HOLLYWOOD, CA (September 28, 2011) – In an unprecedented move, Paramount Pictures will debut PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 exclusively in cities where the most fans “Tweet To See It First”. This first ever of its kind campaign launched today at 8:00 a.m. PDT and is open to fans worldwide. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 will premiere on October 18th in the top 20 cities with the most tweets, 3 days before the film’s global release.

“The support of this franchise from the online community is phenomenal. We again look to reward them for that support by offering them the chance to see it first, this time expanding our reach globally,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures.

To vote, fans can go to www.ParanormalMovie.com and select their city from a global map, which will also serve as the point of entry to create a tweet with a special set of hash tags that link directly to twitter. Once a tweet posts, it counts as a vote. A leader board will show the top 20 global markets in real-time.

The “Tweet To See It First” competition is available to audiences worldwide and ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Thursday, October 13th. The top 20 cities will be announced on Friday, October 14th.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 is produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Steven Schneider and directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman from a screenplay by Christopher Landon. Follow PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TweetYourScream for audience reactions and important announcements.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.  The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies.  PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Television & Digital Distribution.

“DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND” INVADES HOME ENTERTAINMENT WITH LAUNCH ON DVD AND VOD  ON OCTOBER 11, 2011

“…good old-fashioned zombie carnage.” – Dreadcentral.com

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 13, 2011) – Prepare for a bloodcurdling invasion as Indomina Releasing unleashes Devil’s Playground on DVD and Video on Demand on October 11, 2011.  When an experimental new drug treatment goes terribly wrong, the results are hair-raising as thousands of patients rapidly turn into insatiable killers.  Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, the DVD will be available at an SRP of $14.93.

SYNOPSIS

Flesh-eating zombies have taken over London, and humanity’s only hope for the future lies in one woman’s DNA.  Cole, a hardened mercenary who works for the pharmaceutical company responsible for the horrific disaster, is charged with bringing her in.  But, he’s already battling the demons of his violent past.  Can he take on an army of bloodthirsty creatures as well?  Find out-if you dare-in this terrifying sci-fi thriller filled with ravenous killers on a feeding frenzy.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

• Behind-the-scenes Featurette and Deleted Scenes
• Aspect ratio: 16×9 2.40 Widescreen Version
• Sound: Engligh 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Stereo

The critics are clamoring for Outcast, the gripping thriller about black magic and witchery that stars James Nesbitt (The Hobbit) and James Cosmo (Braveheart). Ain’t It Cool News calls it “an excellent film” to be seen “at all costs,” and Eight Rooks of TwitchFilm.com proclaims it “a genuinely menacing piece of horror.” Mary (Kate Dickie, TV’s “The Pillars of the Earth”) harbors a dark history, but must confront her past when a hunter with magical powers (Nesbitt) is assigned to capture her and kill her son. As the terrifying cat-and-mouse game continues, locals begin to die at the hands of an unknown life force and a deadly fear takes hold.  Currently available on Video on Demand.

The Pack follows Charlotte (Emilie Dequenne), a beautiful but rough around the edges kind of girl, who drives a beat-up station wagon in the countryside of northern France. Her journey takes a turn when she picks up a mysterious hitchhiker (Benjamine Biolay), with whom she strikes an unusual bond. Stopping at a roadside diner, her new companion strangely disappears, and Charlotte finds herself knocked unconscious and held captive. She soon encounters a peculiar and disturbed woman (Yolande Moreau), and discovers that her blood is being used to feed a “pack” of flesh-eating ghouls. Available on Demand on September 27.

ABOUT INDOMINA RELEASING

The Indomina Group is a vertically integrated independent studio launched in 2008 by Vice Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann.  Operating in Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic, Indomina takes a transmedia approach to collaborating with content creators around the world to bring innovative entertainment properties to the market. The company’s global operations include the production and distribution of motion pictures, television, music, interactive games, and the ownership of world-class studio facilities and production services.  For more information please visit www.indomina.com

ABOUT VIVENDI ENTERTAINMENT

Vivendi Entertainment is a full service independent film, television, DVD and digital distribution company operating in the United States and Canada. Representing a vast range of genres including action, comedy, urban, family, Latino, sports and stand-up comedies, Vivendi Entertainment has become a favorite distribution partner for independent content providers. The company has built an extensive catalog of over 3,000 titles, and its customer-centric business model was founded on the principles of collaboration and financial transparency. The company provides sales, marketing, and distribution services to many of the home entertainment industry’s most prestigious brands including: World Wrestling Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Shout! Factory, Classic Media, Big Idea, RHI, Code Black, National Geographic, Salient, Televisa, Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures and Nelvana. Vivendi Entertainment is a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, the award-winning sales, marketing and distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company.

For more information about Devil’s Playground, please visit indomina.com.

Street Date: October 11, 2011
Pricing: $14.93

Feature Running Time: 97 Minutes

MPAA Ratings: This film is not rated

UNLOCK THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON

THE SANTA INCIDENT

Ione Skye And Greg Germann Star In Hallmark Channel Original Film Dashing Onto DVD November 1 Just In Time For The Holidays  From RHI Entertainment And Vivendi Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – The fate of Christmas is in the hands of two secret service agents, two children and a trio of elves when the all-new Holiday film The Santa Incident arrives on DVD November 1 from RHI Entertainment and Vivendi Entertainment. Starring Ione Skye (Fever Pitch, Say Anything) and Greg Germann (“Ally McBeal,” Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby), the fun-filled family adventure is a Hallmark Channel original film and originally premiered as part of the channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” programming.

When Santa’s sleigh is mistaken for a UFO, he is marooned in a small town. Luckily rescued by two children, he tries to prepare for Christmas while stranded far from the North Pole. Desperate to make sure Christmas isn’t ruined this year, Santa must find a way to take flight by Christmas Eve. Just in time for the holidays, The Santa Incident provides fun wholesome entertainment the entire family can enjoy together. The DOVE approved DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.

Synopsis:

After his sleigh is shot down while flying through restricted military airspace, an earthbound Santa is sought for questioning by a pair of overzealous Homeland Security agents. The fate of Christmas is now in the hands of the disbelieving by-the-book duo, unless their faith in Santa can be restored by two children and a trio of elves who have arrived from up North to help out a friend in need.

PARAMOUNT TO HOST EXCLUSIVE FREE ADVANCE SCREENINGS OF “FOOTLOOSE” ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30^th

 “FOOTLOOSE FRIDAYS” To Be Held One Night Only in 25 Markets in Advance of the Movie’s Nationwide Release on October 14^th

WHAT:  Two-weeks ahead of its October 14^th release, Paramount Pictures will host exclusive advance screenings as part of “FOOTLOOSE FRIDAY” in celebration of the nationwide opening of Co-Writer/Director Craig Brewer’s new film.  Following the screenings on Friday, September 30^th, fans of the film; starring Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Andie MacDowell and Dennis Quaid can tweet their reactions using #Footloose to join the conversation.

WHEN:  Friday, September 30, 2011 at 6 p.m. PT, 7 p.m. CT and 8 p.m. ET.

WHERE:  26 select theatres across the U.S. and Canada: Atlanta (Regal Town Center); Boston (Regal Fenway); Chicago (Regal Webster Place); Cleveland (Regal Crocker Park); Dallas (Rave Ridgemar); Denver (Regal UA Pavilions); Detroit (MJR Partridge Creek); Houston (Regal Edwards Marq*E); Kansas City (AMC Barrywoods); Los Angeles (AMC Century City and AMC Burbank 16); Miami (AMC Sunset Place); Minneapolis (AMC Southdale); New York (Regal Union Square); Orlando (Regal Winter Park); Philadelphia (Regal King of Prussia); Phoenix (Harkins Tempe Marketplace); Sacramento (Century Roseville); Salt Lake City (Gateway Megaplex); San Diego (Regal Mira Mesa); San Francisco (AMC Metreon); Seattle (Regal Meridien); St. Louis (Wehrenberg Ronnies); Tampa (AMC Veterans); Toronto (Cineplex Odeon Varsity Theatre); Washington DC (Regal Majestic)

HOW: Admission is free. Visit www.FootlooseFriday.com to RSVP for your exclusive screening now.

First come, first serve. No purchase necessary. RSVP does not guarantee admission.

For more information about FOOTLOOSE, go to:

http://www.Twitter.com/FootlooseMovie

http://www.FootlooseMovie.com

http://www.Facebook.com/FootlooseMovie

LIONSGATE BRINGS DEAD ISLAND TO LIFE ON THE BIG SCREEN

Feature Film Adaptation Of Deep Silver’s Zombie Sensation In Development At The Studio

Santa Monica, CA, September 27, 2011– LIONSGATE^® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today announced that it has optioned film rights from Deep Silver to develop a feature inspired by Dead Island, which became a viral media sensation when its haunting, artful trailer launched in February 2011.  The announcement was made by Lionsgate’s co-COO and Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake.

Dead Island is a global brand first introduced through a teaser trailer that told the story of a family on vacation at a tropical resort who is besieged by zombies.  Told in a stark, non-linear fashion, the wrenching trailer captured worldwide fan attention and unanimous critical praise upon its debut, receiving over one million hits in its first 24 hours online, and nearly 10 million views by two days after its debut.  Wired Magazine, College Humor and G4TV all called it the best video game trailer of all time, with G4TV adding “The Dead Island trailer is the best trailer I have ever seen in my life.  The best video game trailer.  The best movie trailer. The best anything trailer.”  The trailer went on to win the Golden Lion in Cannes at the International Festival of Creativity, the advertising industry’s highest honor, and it was featured by Adweek on their annual list of the World’s Best Commercials.

The video game Dead Island was published by Deep Silver for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.  It was released in the United States on September 6^th, 2011 and was the number one selling game both in the U.S. and the U.K. upon its local releases.  The game has sold over two million units to date.

The game centers on vacationers whose island paradise becomes a living hell when a zombie outbreak quickly spreads.  Cut off from the rest of the world, the survivors have only the available materials and the island’s natural “weapons” to protect themselves from the vicious and growing legions of the undead.  In addition to the award-winning trailer and video game, the Dead Island intellectual property will be simultaneously developed by Deep Silver into forthcoming graphic novels, novels and other extensions.

Like the trailer that will serve as its primary creative inspiration, the film DEAD ISLAND will be an innovation of the zombie genre because of its focus on human emotion, family ties and non-linear storytelling.  Said Drake of the property’s acquisition, “Like the hundreds of journalists and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too were awestruck.”  He continued, “This is exactly the type of property we’re looking to adapt at Lionsgate – it’s sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love.  It also has built in brand recognition around the world, and franchise potential.”

The film DEAD ISLAND is currently in the early development stage with producers attached.  Sean Daniel (THE MUMMY, TOMBSTONE, DAZED AND CONFUSED) will spearhead production through his Sean Daniel Company.  A veteran producer with global franchises under his belt, Daniel is to be joined in producing by Stefan Sonnenfeld, who has been a pioneer in the post production field, using the process as a platform to create a unique visual brand with directors including J.J. Abrams, Michael Bay and Gore Verbinski.  Jason Brown of The Sean Daniel Company and Missy Papageorge for Sonnenfeld’s Sunny Field Productions are executive producing, with Sarah Perlman of Sunny Field Productions serving as co-producer.

Alli Shearmur, Lionsgate’s President of Motion Picture Production and Development is overseeing the project at the studio, with Jim Miller, SVP of Production and Development.  Rob McEntegart, Senior EVP of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, negotiated the deal with Deep Silver’s U.S. attorney Ed Labowitz.

About Lionsgate 

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms.  The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with  the comedy “Blue Mountain State, ” the upcoming drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spinoff “Meet The Browns”,  the upcoming “For Better or Worse,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueled by such successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

For more information visit www.lionsgate.com

About The Game “Dead Island”

Dead Island™, the gruesome zombie action game with RPG elements by renowned developer Techland, combines first-person action with a heavy focus on melee combat, character development and customization of a vast array of weapons.  All of these gameplay features are presented in a dark story inspired by classic zombie movies with a gritty and engrossing campaign that can be played with up to four players in co-op mode.

Set in an open world tropical island, hordes of different festering zombies await players around every corner while they embark on a variety of thrilling missions through the holiday resort.  With firearms and ammunition being scarce the player must rely on discovering and utilizing items as weapons for self-defense and fighting off zombie hordes in intense melee combat.  A diverse range of items can be collected and will later serve to transform the player’s ordinary makeshift weapons into serious instruments of destruction.

Dead Island was released worldwide for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

Official website: www.deadisland.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/deadislandgame

Twitter: http://twitter.com/deadislandgame

About Deep Silver

Deep Silver, a division of Koch Media GmbH, develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms.  The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds.  Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success while maintaining the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires.  Deep Silver products are designed to equally appeal to pros and beginners, children and adults.

Deep Silver has published more than 100 games since 2003, including own brands like the action role-playing game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, successful adventures such as the Secret Files series and Lost Horizon, the role-playing game Risen and well-known licenses like the Chernobyl shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and Prison Break: The Conspiracy, the action adventure based on the popular TV series. Deep Silver has announced more upcoming highlights such as Risen 2, the sequel to the hit RPG, and Sacred 3. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com

Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe and the USA. The Koch Media group has more than 15 years of experience in the digital media distribution business, and has risen to become the number one distributor in Europe.  It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Capcom, Codemasters, Kaspersky Labs, Paradox Entertainment, Square Enix, Tecmo-Koei, and System 3 etc. in various European countries. With Headquarters in Planegg near Munich/Germany, Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux and the USA. www.kochmedia.com

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

“”, “PlayStation” and “PS3” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

All product titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks and/or copyright material of the respective owners. All rights reserved.