Movies Games & laugh

Champions were crowned, the legendary Ric Flair was forced to retire, boxer Floyd Mayweather prevailed, and Undertaker extended his undefeated streak as World Wrestling Entertainment® set both attendance and ticket sale records at WrestleMania XXIV tonight at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

WWE grossed more than $5.85 million in ticket sales, making it the highest grossing live event in WWE history and in the history of the Citrus Bowl. WWE set an attendance record for the Citrus Bowl with 74,635 fans from all 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 21 countries invading Orlando, pumping up to $30 million into the local economy. The WWE’s annual pay-per-view, pop culture extravaganza is televised to more than 100 countries.

In the match billed as a showdown between the greatest fighter in the world and one of the largest athletes on Earth, undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather barely survived against 7-foot, 441-lb. Big Show, eventually knocking him out with brass knuckles. Flair, a 16-time World Champion and 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee, lost to another legendary star, Shawn Michaels, in an emotion-filled match, forcing him into retirement as one of the greatest pro wrestling stars of all-time. Undertaker defeated Edge® to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, extending his undefeated streak at WrestleMania to 16-0. Randy Orton® retained the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat match against Triple H® and John Cena®. Kane became the new ECW Champion, crushing Chavo Guerrero.

Always a star-studded event, WrestleMania XXIV featured several celebrity participants in addition to Mayweather. John Legend performed “America The Beautiful” to open the event, Snoop Dogg served as Master of Ceremonies for the BunnyMania Lumberjack Match, Kim Kardashian was a special guest hostess, and Raven-Symoné played host to 50 Make-A-Wish kids being honored by WWE in its largest wish granting event ever.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

IMAX Corporation, Paramount Classics, Shangri-La Entertainment and Concert Productions International today announced that the highly anticipated Rolling Stones concert film Shine A Light, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese, will be released in a record 93 IMAX(R) theatres domestically on April 4, simultaneously with the film's wide release. The picture will also be released in IMAX theatres internationally during the days and weeks following the domestic launch. Shine A Light has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-Mastering) technology.

"IMAX puts you right in the centre of every action and every move - it's as if you are right there on stage with the band," said Mr. Scorsese. "I've always loved looking at IMAX, but to see these images of the Rolling Stones on the biggest canvas is something else all together."

"The highly positive exhibitor response to advance screenings of Mr. Scorsese's first IMAX release, combined with the growing IMAX theatre network has resulted in a new domestic day and date record," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We are thrilled that more moviegoers will have the chance to be immersed in the premium sight and sound of The IMAX Experience - and with Shine A Light, that means audiences will feel as if they are literally in the front row at the concert."

Shine A Light: The IMAX Experience is scheduled to play at the following IMAX Theatres

UNITED STATES

Arizona

Mesa - Gateway 12 IMAX Theatre
Phoenix - IMAX Theatre at AMC Deer Valley 24
Tempe - IMAX Theatre at Arizona Mills

California

Cathedral City - Desert IMAX Theatre
Dublin - Regal Hacienda Crossings IMAX
Fresno - Fresno Stadium Cinema & IMAX
Irvine - Edwards Irvine Spectrum IMAX
Los Angeles - Universal CityWalk IMAX Theatre
Los Angeles - IMAX Theatre at The Bridge: cinema de lux
Ontario - Edwards Ontario Palace IMAX
Sacramento - Esquire IMAX Theatre
San Diego - San Diego IMAX at Mira Mesa 18
San Francisco - AMC Loews IMAX Theatre at Metreon

Colorado

Colorado Springs - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark Carefree Circle
Denver - UA Colorado Center IMAX

Connecticut

Manchester - IMAX Theatre at Showcase Cinemas Buckland Hills
Norwalk - IMAX Theatre at The Maritime Aquarium

Florida

Fort Lauderdale - AutoNation(R) IMAX(R) Theater at Museum of Discovery
and Science
Orlando - Pointe Orlando 20 & IMAX
St. Petersburg - Muvico BayWalk 20 & IMAX
Tampa - Channelside Cinemas IMAX
Tampa - IMAX Dome Theatre at MOSI
West Palm Beach - Parisian 20 & IMAX

Georgia

Buford - Regal Mall of Georgia IMAX

Idaho

Boise - Edwards Boise Stadium IMAX

Illinois

Batavia - Randall 15 IMAX
Chicago - Navy Pier IMAX Theatre
Lincolnshire - Regal Lincolnshire IMAX
Woodridge - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Seven Bridges

Indiana

Evansville - Showplace Cinemas IMAX Theatre
Indianapolis - IMAX Theatre at the Indiana State Museum
Indianapolis - ShowPlace 16 IMAX Theatre
Noblesville - Hamilton Towne Center 16 + IMAX
Portage - Portage 16 IMAX

Iowa

Davenport - Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre

Kansas

Olathe - IMAX Theatre at AMC Studio 30

Kentucky

Louisville - Cinema De Lux 20: Stonybrook IMAX Theatre

Massachusetts

Natick - Verizon IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture - Natick
Reading - Verizon IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture - Reading

Michigan

Dearborn - The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre
Grand Blanc - NGC Trillium IMAX Theatre
Grand Rapids - IMAX Theatre at Celebration! Cinema
Lansing - IMAX Theatre at Celebration! Cinema
Sterling Heights - IMAX Theatre at AMC Forum 30
Ypsilanti - Showcase Cinemas Ann Arbor

Minnesota

Apple Valley - Great Clips IMAX Theatre
St. Michael - CineMagic Metropolitan IMAX Theatre

Missouri

St. Louis - Ronnies 20 Cine IMAX

Nebraska

Omaha - Star Cinemas Council Bluffs

Nevada

Las Vegas - Brenden Theatres and IMAX at the Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas - Red Rock Stadium 16 & IMAX

New Hampshire

Hooksett - Cinemagic IMAX Theatre

New Jersey

Atlantic City - IMAX Theatre at Tropicana Casino

New York

Garden City - Leroy R. and Rose W. Grumman IMAX Dome Theater
New York City - AMC Loews IMAX Theatre, Lincoln Square
New Rochelle - Regal New Roc City IMAX
Rochester - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Tinseltown USA
West Nyack - IMAX Theatre at Palisades Center
White Plains - IMAX Theatre at City Center: Cinema de lux
Williamsville - Regal Transit Center IMAX

North Carolina

Raleigh - Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum

Ohio

Cincinnati - Cinema De Lux 18: Springdale IMAX Theatre
Columbus - IMAX Theatre at AMC Easton Town Center 30

Oklahoma

Tulsa - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at The Tulsa

Oregon

Tigard - Portland IMAX at Bridgeport Village Stadium 18

Pennsylvania

King of Prussia - UA King of Prussia IMAX
Tarentum - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at the Galleria Pittsburgh Mills

Rhode Island

Providence - Feinstein IMAX Theatre Providence Place

Tennessee

Knoxville - Pinnacle 18 Complex at Turkey Creek
Nashville - Regal Opry Mills IMAX

Texas

Austin - The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum IMAX Theatre
Dallas - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark 17
Houston - Edwards Marq(x)E IMAX
Houston - Silverado Station 18 IMAX (opening February 22)
San Antonio - Palladium IMAX Theatre

Utah

Sandy - Megaplex 17 IMAX at Jordan Commons

Virginia

Chantilly - Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center IMAX Theater
Hampton - Riverside 3D IMAX Theater at the Virginia Air & Space Center
Richmond - Science Museum of Virginia's Ethyl IMAX Dome and Planetarium

Washington

Seattle - Pacific Science Center Boeing IMAX Theater

Wisconsin

Fitchburg - Star Cinema IMAX

CANADA

Alberta

Calgary - Scotiabank Theatre Chinook
Edmonton - Scotiabank Theatre West Edmonton Mall

British Columbia

Langley - Cineplex IMAX Theatre, Colossus Langley
Richmond - Cineplex IMAX Theatre, SilverCity Riverport
Vancouver - CN Theatre at Canada Place

Manitoba

Winnipeg - IMAX Theatre at Portage Place

Nova Scotia

Halifax - The Empire IMAX in Bayers Lake

Ontario

Mississauga - Cineplex IMAX Theatre, Coliseum Mississauga
Ottawa - SilverCity Gloucester IMAX Theatre
Toronto - Cineplex IMAX Theatre, Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Woodbridge - Cineplex Entertainment IMAX Theatre, Colossus Woodbridge

Quebec

Montreal - Cineplex Entertainment IMAX Theatre, Scotiabank Theatre
Montreal

INTERNATIONAL

Australia

Melbourne - IMAX Theatre, Melbourne Museum
Sydney - LG IMAX Theatre Sydney

New Zealand

Auckland - SKYCITY IMAX Theatre Queen Street

UK

London - BFI London IMAX Cinema
Manchester - ODEON IMAX Cinema Manchester @ The Printworks

Additional theatres will be confirmed. Please check local listings or IMAX.com for final theatre listings, launch dates and showtimes.

On April 4, 2008, an Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker and the world's greatest rock n' roll band will unite to bring audiences the year's most extraordinary musical film event, "Shine a Light," to theaters everywhere.

Martin Scorsese's concert documentary "Shine a Light" will show the world the Rolling Stones as they've never been seen before. Filming at the famed Beacon Theatre in New York City in fall 2006, Scorsese assembled a legendary team of cinematographers to capture the raw energy of the legendary band.

Oscar(R)-winning cinematographer Robert Richardson ("The Aviator," "JFK") supervised the camera team comprised of several highly acclaimed directors of photography, including Oscar(R) winner John Toll ("The Last Samurai," "Braveheart") Oscar(R) winner Andrew Lesnie ("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "King Kong"), Oscar(R) nominee Stuart Dryburgh ("The Piano," "The Painted Veil"), Oscar(R) nominee Robert Elswit ("Magnolia," "Good Night and Good Luck"), Oscar(R) nominee Emmanuel Lubezki ("Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," "Sleepy Hollow") and Ellen Kuras ("Summer of Sam," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"). The film was edited by David Tedeschi, who most recently worked with Scorsese on the acclaimed Bob Dylan documentary "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan."

Financed by Steve Bing's Shangri-La Entertainment and longtime Rolling Stones tour promoter Michael Cohl's Concert Promotions International, the film was produced by Victoria Pearman, Michael Cohl, Zane Weiner and Steve Bing. The executive producers are Stones members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood, with Jane Rose serving as co-executive producer.

Paramount Classics is the specialty film division of Paramount Pictures (PPC), a unit of Viacom. PPC is a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies and DreamWorks Studios. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing, Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading digital entertainment and technology companies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX(R) 3D, and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR is the Company's groundbreaking digital remastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. IMAX's renowned projectors and new digital systems display crystal-clear images on the world's biggest screens. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of December 31, 2007, there were 299 IMAX theatres operating in 39 countries.

Climate Cartoons, a leading producer of animation that inspires action to prevent climate change, will educate moviegoers on ways they can reduce their personal contribution to global warming.

The short animated film, “Seven Big Ideas” will appear in theatrical pre-show presentations with G and PG rated films across the US, opening Friday, March 28, and running through April 24. This unique cartoon uses the power of animation to educate viewers on the dangers of climate change in a light-hearted entertaining manner.

“We think there's nothing more urgent than instilling an environmental ethic in the next generation,” explained Bill Shribman, Executive Producer at Boston’s WGBH Interactive and creator of the film. “This opportunity exposes young people to the message of “Seven Big Ideas” in a compelling way.”

“We welcome this opportunity to work with WGBH and theatrical exhibitors who allow us to reach millions of Americans through this presentation,” said Pam Kerwin, Executive Director, Climate Cartoons. “Our goal is to inspire more resource conscious earth-friendly behavior by showing entertaining Climate Cartoons to everyone everywhere.”

Funded by The MacArthur Foundation, “Seven Big Ideas” was commissioned by Climate Cartoons for presentation at last summer’s LiveEarth concerts. It features Izz and Dex, two lovable green-skinned kids and characters in WGBH’s larger webisode series “THE GREENS.” Dex challenges Izz to list seven ways to save the planet, giving her only 60 seconds to reply. This message inspires viewers to make changes in their own lives to help protect the environment.

Climate Cartoons, a principal initiative of Project 3650, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization run by animators, producers and distribution experts. Climate Cartoons uses the power of animation to educate people about climate crisis, inspiring them into specific actions to help reverse global warming. The group includes talented professionals from leading studios such as Colossal Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios. Please visit http://www.ClimateCartoons.org for more details.

WGBH's Interactive Kids Group has created an array of high-traffic, compelling, award-winning content for kids online. WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcasting producer, the source of fully one-third of PBS's prime-time lineup, along with some of public television's best-known lifestyle shows and children's programs and many public radio favorites. “THE GREENS” can be found at http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org.

William Berry (www.williamberry.com), serial entrepreneur and MD of leading marketing communications group, Net121 (www.net121.com) today announced the launch of his newest marketing enterprise, Film121 (www.film121.com).

The innovative film production agency specialises in providing complete audiovisual content solutions for consumer and business focused channels, including documentaries, interviews, corporate training and events videos, music videos, and adverts. Film121 also publishes and maintains TV channels that can be bolted onto customer websites to showcase AV content.

Film121 differentiates itself from other film consultancies by offering a unique client login system which allows clients to see the real-time status of their projects and view the latest edit. The agency’s innovative approach has already accrued an impressive client list, including Ascot, Madame Tussauds, and Lloyds TSB.

Film121 is a creative production agency founded in London as a joint venture between William Berry and independent feature film director, Darren Paul Fisher. With the growth in prevalence of internet broadband, businesses are increasingly looking to use video to communicate directly with customers. The combination of William’s marketing and business development expertise and Darren’s production and directing experience means that Film121 is ideally placed to help businesses achieve this.

William is one of Britain’s leading young entrepreneurs whose ventures include no.1 student accommodation finding site, accommodationforstudents.com and debt consultancy, Thomas Charles Ltd, which William sold for £12m in July 2006. William won the BT Essence of the Entrepreneur Award 2006 and was voted in the Top 500 Business Leaders of the Future by Courvoisier and the Observer in 2007.

Darren Paul Fisher is best known as an independent film director whose first full length feature, ‘Inbetweeners’, became the lowest budget feature to be picked up by a major Hollywood studio when Universal Pictures acquired worldwide rights in 2001. His latest feature, ‘Popcorn’, a teen romantic comedy, went on general release across the globe in 2007. Darren’s past commercial clients include such global brands as Motorola, KPMG and Volvo.

William Berry, Director and co-founder of Film121, commented:

“It has been a dream of mine to launch a film company since I had my first camera at the age of 12. My studies at Ealing Studios and subsequent production of a short documentary further fed my desire. It is a privilege to be working with Darren Paul Fisher and I look forward to building the company. We launched in February and we have already won numerous high profile clients and have just won the tender to film the advert for Playmillions.”

Darren Paul Fisher, Director and co-founder of Film121, added:

“Film is a great way to showcase your products and services and working with William means we can provide a comprehensive package that includes everything you need from concept to finished article. Being one of the first commercial film companies to really utilise the web for both production and client interaction is very exciting and places Film121 right at the cutting edge of the industry.”

Notes to editor:

About Net121 Ltd

Net121 (www.net121.com) is a leading internet communications group, founded in 1999 by William Berry. The Net121 group consists of: Community121, builders of online communities; PR121, a public relations agency specialising in the service industries; and Film121, an innovative film production agency.

About Film121

Film121 (www.film121.com) is an innovative online film production agency that specialises in providing complete audiovisual content solutions for consumer and business focused websites. Film121 services include documentary production, online TV channel creation and viral marketing. Film121 is part of Net121, the leading internet communications group that has been making waves on the web since 1999.

About William Berry

William Berry is one of Britain’s leading young entrepreneurs. Companies William has founded include: Net121 Ltd, Thomas Charles Ltd (subsequently sold for £12m in July 2006), Accommodation for Students Ltd and Conferences UK Ltd. William won the BT Essence of the Entrepreneur Award in July 2006, is an influential member of the Entrepreneurs Organization UK and was featured in the Independent as one of Britain’s Baby Millionaires and in Growing Business as one of the Young Guns 2006. William has been voted in the Top 500 Business Leaders of the Future 2007 by Courvoisier and the Observer. He also appeared on Dragons Den in 2005 and turned down an offer of investment from Duncan Bannatyne and Theo Paphitis.

About Darren Paul Fisher

Darren Fisher is an independent film director based in London. His first full length feature, ‘Inbetweeners’, became the lowest budget feature to be picked up by a major Hollywood studio when Universal Pictures acquired worldwide rights in 2001. His latest feature film, ‘Popcorn’, a teen romantic comedy, went on general release in 2007. In 2004, Darren was one of the few directors asked to write and direct a promotional film as part of London's successful Olympic bid, and has completed commercial work for such global brands as Motorola, KPMG and Volvo. Darren is also an occasional pundit on Sky News, appearing whenever issues regarding the film industry cross over into the mainstream, as well as being a returning mentor at the Metropolitan Film School.

The one-of-a kind national teen filmmaking program, Samsung Mobile Fresh Films, announces their official call for entries in search of aspiring teen filmmakers in the U.S. Teens can apply for the 2008 competition online at www.fresh-films.com from March 27th - May 5th. Now entering its fifth year, Samsung Mobile Fresh Films will give 99 creative and diverse teens from all over the country the unique opportunity to work on one of nine all-teen film crews challenged to create, shoot, and edit a short festival-quality film in seven action-packed days, this summer.

After receiving thousands of applications, program producers hand-select 99 creative teens, assigning them to work on one film crew in various cities from New York to Los Angeles. Samsung Mobile Fresh Films believes in breaking through the Hollywood glam to create a film set where the teens replace the pros. To accomplish that goal the filmmakers learn all aspects of the production from casting, location scouting, storyboarding, shooting and editing all within a week-long window.

“It’s not everyday that teenagers can actually experience something as amazing as Samsung Fresh Films. This competitive program gives teenagers a chance of a lifetime. When an opportunity, like Samsung Fresh Films, is standing right in front of you, you have to take it and give it your all,” expressed Antoinette Luzano, 2007 Seattle Samsung Fresh Filmmaker.

As part of Samsung Mobiles’ dedication to connecting teens with the tools, resources, and emerging technologies, the filmmakers receive Samsung mobile phones. Teens use these phones during production to communicate with their teams, snap and send photos, and record video messages, communicating the energy of a seven-day production experience. It’s not just a phone anymore; it’s a catalyst for self-expression.

John Lithgow, actor/author and Samsung Mobile Fresh Films juror noted, “It takes a tremendous amount of confidence and courage to do something that is all your own. Leaders emerge and the ones with talent, the ones with vision, the ones with organizational skills, bit by bit, figure it all out. Very few kids get that opportunity. You only become a filmmaker by making films. [Samsung] Fresh Films is giving them a chance to start early.”

After the nine Samsung Mobile Fresh Films productions wrap, the teens’ films debut online where they campaign for the votes of America and the accolades of the Hollywood Jury Panel. The jury component was created in 2007 in response to teen suggestions expressing that they wanted more constructive criticism from industry pros to create an even more realistic experience in filmmaking. Jury members included: John Lithgow (Actor/Author), Christian Gaines (director of Fests for the American Film Institute), Jeremy Coon (Producer Napoleon Dynamite), Chris Gore (Founder of FilmThreat.com) and Katherine Brooks (MTV and indie film director). The 2008 jury will be announced soon.

Eligibility Criteria

U.S. teens ages 14-19 can apply and no experience is necessary. Teens must submit a completed entry form, including 100 words or less on why they want to be a part of a film crew along with a sample film idea. Teens selected to be a part of the 2008 season will have the opportunity to travel to production headquarters in one of nine major cities and spend seven days on-set directing, shooting and editing a short film. For more information visit: www.fresh-films.com.

Samsung Mobile Fresh Films

Samsung Mobile Fresh Films was originally created by Dreaming Tree Films, a Chicago based film production firm, that has been working with budding filmmakers since 2000. The Fresh Films program began four years ago and has since produced over 60 films, has premiered at over 20 film festivals and has engaged 65 million teens. For more information about the Samsung Mobile Fresh Films program, view official rules, or to view the teen created films visit: www.fresh-films.com.

Hollywood NetAwards® today issued a call for entries in this year’s Internet awards show honoring excellence in the online entertainment field.

Hollywood NetAwards® is the latest event by Carlos de Abreu, president of Web pioneer Hollywood Network and founder of both Hollywood Film Festival® and Awards®.

“Our vision provides for the merger of existing media with future technologies by recognizing achievement and innovation in a variety of disciplines that will continue to propel the industry into the global online community, as well as the discovery of new creative talent,” de Abreu said.

The Internet awards show includes 22 categories: Best Actor Site, Best Actress Site, Best Broadband Site, Best Celebrity Site, Best Entertainer Site, Best Entertainment Site, Best Entertainment Blog Site, Best Entertainment Magazine Site, Best Entertainment News Site, Best Entertainment Social Network Site, Best Fashion Site, Best Games Site, Best Movie Site, Best Motion Picture Studio Site, Best Musician Site, Best Music Site, Best Newspaper Entertainment Site, Best Net Actor, Best Net Actress, Best Net Director, Best TV Site and Best Web Series.

In addition, the NetAwards® and Netawards.com will bestow the “Hollywood Special Achievement Netawards” on established entertainers, leaders and innovators who have been in the vanguard of the new media.

“New ideas and means of communicating are being invented constantly and the dynamics of this changing environment demand that Hollywood and the professionals who shape it be able to take full advantage of these changes,” de Abreu said. “We hope that the NetAwards® will continue bridging the gap between established and emerging artists.”

Nominees and winners will be selected by a Blue Ribbon Committee of both established professionals and leading Net experts. The awards’ criteria is based on the websites’ content, interactivity, structure and navigation, visual design functionality and overall experience.

The Internet awards ceremony will be held on October 22 and will open the 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival® and Awards®. To submit your website, please go to: http://www.netawards.com.

Independent filmmakers are finding more and more online tools to help them self-distribute their films directly to audiences, but traditional and more lucrative distribution channels continue to be closed off. Unless an indie filmmaker can afford a producer’s rep, or take their film to the major audiovisual content tradeshows, an indie is unlikely to ever see his or her film released theatrically, broadcast on TV, distributed widely on DVD, or even end up on the radar of VOD and mobile services.

IPEX VIEW is inviting indie filmmakers to put their films on the market through the IPEX VIEW online film & video content tradeshow. According to IPEX VIEW COO Daniel Lafleche, IPEX VIEW offers independent filmmakers unprecedented access to a professional community, high quality streaming video, and, perhaps most importantly of all, unrivalled e-mail marketing tools customized for the industry. On IPEX VIEW, indies join a community of established film distributors and film buyers already using the system.

“Finding distribution can be very intimidating, and it is very hard to know where to begin,” explains Lafleche. “The IPEX system offers a complete package of tools to help take the guesswork out of film and video marketing. The IPEX system can be used to easily generate e-mails that will be attractive to buyers, blast them to an extensive contact list, and make it easy for buyers to see all-important video trailers without the unprofessional distractions of YouTube or similar video sharing sites. If users do not have a list of contacts to market directly to, we can help in the creation of contact lists.”

As Lafleche puts it, “IPEX answers the questions of what to send, how to send, and who to send it to. The goal is to make it clear to buyers that your independent production company is a professional member of this industry.”

Independent filmmakers can use the IPEX service to promote up to three titles at no charge.

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that World of Warcraft®, its award-winning, subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), is being prepared for release in Latin America. The Latin American localization will be based on the existing European Spanish version but will feature entirely re-recorded in-game speech. This new version of the game will be rolled out in select markets throughout Latin America starting in the first half of 2008 and will also be available to Spanish-speaking players in the US and Canada at that time.

A dedicated Spanish-speaking team is being assembled at the Blizzard Entertainment offices in Irvine, California and Austin, Texas to ensure that Spanish-speaking World of Warcraft players based in North and South America will receive high-quality 24/7 support in Spanish. Positions are currently open on the company’s customer service, quality assurance, community relations, and web teams, and a new official website for the game’s North and South America-based Spanish-speaking players is in development.

“Making World of Warcraft more accessible to gamers around the world has been a longstanding goal for us,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “Spanish-speaking players on our North American realms have already shown a great deal of enthusiasm for the game, and we’re pleased to be able to offer them a fully localized version.”

Further details on pricing in local currencies for Latin American players, as well as country-specific availability, will be announced closer to release. Also closer to release, Blizzard will provide details on language-pack downloads and character-transfer options for existing Spanish-speaking players on the game’s North American realms.

Since World of Warcraft launched in November 2004, it has quickly become the world’s most popular MMORPG, with more than 10 million players worldwide. The game is currently available in English, French, German, Korean, European Spanish, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese. In addition to the forthcoming Latin American Spanish version, a Russian version is in development for Europe.

To keep pace with the continued growth of World of Warcraft and development of other games, Blizzard Entertainment is currently hiring for numerous open positions. More information on available career opportunities at the company, including positions on the US-based Spanish team, can be found at www.blizzard.com/jobopp.

And no, this isn't an April Fool's joke - IndianaJonesShop.com, the new online store for all things Indy, will be offering scores of new exclusives and products when it opens its virtual doors in one week --mark your calendars now!!!

Indiana Jones Shop Launches April 1st with 10% Discount!
Why, you ask, should you show up for IndianaJonesShop's grand opening? Because a bunch of limited exclusives will be posted on opening day, with 10% knocked off all products between 12:01 am EST and 8:59 pm EST! Not only that, there's a special gift with purchases over $100 while supplies last (more on that in a moment). But like all things Indy, you just gotta check out what's (literally) in-store for the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!

While StarWarsShop has offered a limited selection of Indiana Jones wares over the past year, you've now got a retail destination for all things Indy -- no need to search through riff-raff to locate those Indy treasures!

IndianaJonesShop.com will be launching with over 100 products, adding new items every week. There's no doubt about it -- IndianaJonesShop is the new home of Indy products -- exclusives, vintage, new, and imported!

In addition to a 10% discount on all Indy products opening day, orders totaling $100 and over will receive a vintage issue of Marvel's original Indiana Jones comic book series for free. A fresh stash of these were recently discovered within Lucasfilm's own Licensing Archives, and were set aside exclusively for this launch event.

Here's a little bit of what you can expect to find when IndianaJonesShop launches April 1st:

Shared Exclusive Gentle Giant Bronze Indy on Horse Statue
Authentic vintage Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984 theatrical posters (both the Style "A" and Style "B")
Exclusive Crystal Skull Theatrical Poster
Exclusive T-Shirts and Accessories
Shared Exclusive Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide Collectors Edition
LEGO Indiana Jones Sets
Full line of new Hasbro Indiana Jones action figures and toys
Kotobukiya Collectible ARTFX Statues
...and much, MUCH more!

Don't be counted a fool April 1st -- make sure your browser is locked to IndianaJonesShop.com anytime between 12:01 am EST and 8:59 pm EST to get the launch-day discount and free gift while supplies last!