Company Reaches Licensing Agreements with 20th Century Fox, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures
MOVIECLIPS.com today announced the beta launch of its new online video destination offering audiences the largest and most diverse collection of movie scenes available on the web today. In all, MOVIECLIPS allows fans to find, watch and share more than 12,000 two-minute streaming clips from the libraries of 20th Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures. The clips are available on a free, ad-supported network that links to third-party sites where consumers can rent or purchase feature-length versions of a title.
MOVIECLIPS’ offering encompasses a vast selection of movie scenes from recent blockbusters to timeless classics, spanning a variety of genres, including action, comedy, drama, romance, sci-fi, horror, and more. The website features an easy-to-use, elegant interface, with unique search capabilities (dialogue, mood, actor, etc). There are hundreds of categories that users can browse—among them best kiss, tearjerkers, birthdays, holidays, awkward moments, action moments, scariest bad guys, best fight scene and many others. Every time a clip is viewed, MOVIECLIPS gives fans a chance to rent or purchase their newly discovered movie.
“MOVIECLIPS.com was created by movie fans for movie fans,” said Co-Founder and CEO Zach James. “Our goal was to build a place where we could easily find, watch, and share all the best movie scenes. Our content partners are incredible. They made it possible for us to build the greatest collection of licensed movie clips online today. It’s pretty cool to be able to send a clip from Sixteen Candles to my sister on her birthday or a Wayne’s World ‘Party on!’ clip to my friends on a Friday night.”
The MOVIECLIPS’ player can be embedded in social networks like Facebook and MySpace, and shared on blogs, Twitter and other personal websites. In true beta fashion, thousands of movie clips and dozens of new features will be added to MOVIECLIPS over the coming months.
MOVIECLIPS.com is a privately held company based in Santa Monica, CA. The MOVIECLIPS Advisory Board includes Clayton M. Christensen, best-selling author and Harvard Business School professor; Sid Ganis, President, Out of the Blue Entertainment, and former President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Michael A. Helfant, Co-CEO of Troika Pictures and former President/COO, Marvel Studios; Josh James, CEO and Co-Founder, Omniture; and Ryan Wright, SVP, Sony BMG Music.
About MOVIECLIPS.com
Launched in December 2009, MOVIECLIPS.com is a premium online video destination offering audiences the largest and most diverse collection of movie scenes. MOVIECLIPS allows fans to find, watch and share more than 12,000 movie clips from the libraries of major Hollywood studios. Visit www.movieclips.com for more information.
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Creator-owned comic series re-imagines the Bard and his most famous characters
Launching in April 2010
IDW Publishing is pleased to announce a deal with Canadian-based creators Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col to publish their original comic book series, Kill Shakespeare. The twelve-issue series is a dark take on William Shakespeare and his work, pitting his greatest heroes against his most menacing villains in an epic adventure. Called “easily one of the more exciting new projects” at San Diego Comic Con by Publisher’s Weekly, Kill Shakespeare is destined to change the way readers think about the Bard.
True to the Shakespeare’s canon and also accessible to a wide range of readers, Kill Shakespeare offers an edgy interpretation of his most famous characters, bringing them together for an epic adventure. Beginning in April 2010, readers encounter a banished Hamlet, who embarks on a quest to resurrect his dead father. But to do so, he must kill a reclusive wizard named William Shakespeare.
“This is a really ingenious property,” said IDW Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall. “Conor and Anthony have created a great concept and we are excited to help them bring it to life.”
Creators Del Col and McCreery bring their love of Shakespeare, independent film, and a combination of marketing and writing experience to their first comic book project. Artist Andy Belanger rises to the challenge of interpreting some of the most famous characters in the world, and Kagan McLeod provides attention-getting covers for issue #1.
“We see this as cross between Fables, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Northlanders,” said Del Col. McCreery continued: “We’re excited about the possibility of bringing these characters – perhaps the greatest ever created - to life in a way that audiences have never seen them. We’ve called the series Kill Shakespeare because we’re going to change the way you look at these legendary heroes and villains forever.”
Kill Shakespeare #1 will be available in stores in April 2010.
Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. For more information about Kill Shakespeare, visit killshakespeare.com
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Fresh off their debut at the Big Apple Comic Convention, the Concrete Immortalz team, led by graffiti artist/designer Phetus, will be appearing at the Multiversal Group Show at the American Legion on December 6th.
Phetus, Mr. DEN and Rodolfo Ledesma will have designer vinyl toys and original canvases on display and promotional copies of the Concrete Immortalz comic books available to attendees. On hand will be two mash-up canvases featuring the graffiti and fine art of Phetus mixed with comic penciling and inking by Eisner Nominated artist, Rodolfo Ledesma along with a designer vinyl of The Wall Lord by Phetus and Mr. DEN, painted by hand onto a custom body.
"We broke some ground crossing our design work into the realm of comic books and we'll be flipping it the other way around, mashing our comic work into our art displays featured in the Multiversal Show" says Phetus.
Concrete Immortalz is Elite Gudz' flagship comic title, featuring authentic and legendary graffiti artists from the '70s and '80s to the present day.
Alongside the sci-fi/super-hero storyline laced with conspiracy theories and parallels to real world current events, Concrete Immortalz features tags and throw-ups by Cope2, KET, Cap, SKUF and many other Immortalz.
For more information on the Concrete Immortalz and to view the entire first issue online, visit concreteimmortalz.com & elitegudz.com
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LAW & ORDER, SEX & THE CITY STAR CHRIS NOTH VOICES ‘GOOD’ LEX LUTHOR IN JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS
Chris Noth (Law & Order, Sex and the City) is the voice of Lex Luthor in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the next DC Universe animated original movie. The film will be distributed February 23, 2010 by Warner Home Video. (Photo courtesy of Gary Miereanu)
If Sex In the City fans were confused over their see-saw love affair with Chris Noth’s Mr. Big, comics fans will endure an equal amount of trepidation over Noth’s latest performance – as the voice of a “good” Lex Luthor – in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movie coming February 23, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation.
In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, a “good” Lex Luthor arrives from an alternate universe to recruit the Justice League to help save his Earth from the Crime Syndicate, a gang of villainous characters with virtually identical super powers to the Justice League. What ensues is the ultimate battle of good versus evil in a war that threatens both planets and, through a diabolical plan launched by Owlman, puts the balance of all existence in peril.
A “good” Lex Luthor recruits the Justice League to come to his alternate Earth and battle their evil opposites in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the next DC Universe animated original movie. The film will be distributed February 23, 2010 by Warner Home Video.
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League). Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer, and Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors. The full-length animated film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def, as well as single disc DVD, and On Demand and Download.
Lex Luthor prepares for battle against the Crime Syndicate – an evil version of the Justice League – in Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the next DC Universe animated original movie. The film will be distributed February 23, 2010 by Warner Home Video.
Noth has had a lengthy television presence as both Mr. Big in Sex and the City and as Mike Logan in Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He can currently be seen starring opposite Julianna Margulies in the CBS drama The Good Wife. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths represents Noth’s inaugural dip into the animated pool.
In Los Angeles to record his 100-plus lines as Lex Luthor, Noth took time during the marathon session to discuss his first animated role. Without further ado …
QUESTION:
You’ve had an extensive career in a number of acting mediums – is this really your first animation voiceover experience?
CHRIS NOTH:
I think I did about three lines of Mike Logan on Family Guy. That was a quick little gig. The character (Stewie) on the show carries a picture of Mike Logan in his wallet, so I was very flattered by that. But that was just a few lines – so Lex is pretty much my first real animated role.
QUESTION:
In that case, can you describe what your first “actual” animation voiceover experience was like?
CHRIS NOTH:
I felt I had an instinct for it, and it was a lot of fun. It's an interesting technique and, like any medium, whether you're doing radio or certain kinds of narrative voiceovers for stage or movies, it has its own sort of rules and performance values. I think the choices had to be bold and succinct and clear. To me, it appears that super heroes have to be powerful, but it also has to be real. You have to make bold choices and go all the way through with them. That’s true with a lot of acting anyway. But with animation, it seems to me there’s nothing coy about it. The acting has its own subtleties. So you have to find that balance. And as long as you go with that instinct, it's a blast.
QUESTION:
Did you take a different approach to this Lex Luthor – a good guy Lex – than you would’ve taken with a typically villainous Lex?
CHRIS NOTH:
I was extremely excited to be playing the ultimate villain from my youth. I remember how Gene Hackman portayed Lex Luthor with such great delight in the films, and I thought I’d be getting that Lex. So I was surprised to see that in this script, Lex is actually on the right side of the law. It required a whole new thinking on my part on how to approach him. I mean, he's a super hero who's in this very complex, parallel universe. He's actually trying to save all of reality from being destroyed. So I just took that adjustment and said, “Wow, I need to get up to date on my super heroes.” I'm guess I'm a little bit retro. (he laughs)
QUESTION:
Do you feel any special significance to be joining the canon of actors – Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey, Michael Rosenbaum, Clancy Brown – to have brought Lex Luthor to life?
CHRIS NOTH:
Initially when I heard about the role, I thought about that great tradition of actors associated with Lex. And I really feel honored to be a part of that group. But this is a complete departure from those performances. This time, Lex is on the right side of the law. He's worlds away from the old Lex.
QUESTION:
You’ve done your share of Shakespeare. Can you characterize Lex within the context of some of the great literary or stage heroes/villains?
CHRIS NOTH:
Not this Lex. I find super heroes to be more archetypes of values of courage and fortitude and things like that. It’s interesting to me that the new world of animation, compared to when I was growing up, is so much more diverse in its characters. There’s so many more of them, and it’s a much more complicated world. The old comic books that I grew up on had these characters that were in many ways Shakespearean. They were very big with their evilness in the same vein as Richard III in Shakespeare. Those characters relished being bad, and that's always fun to play.
QUESTION:
How did you find working alone in a sound booth versus playing off other actors?
CHRIS NOTH:
It presented a different challenge in the same way that a radio play is different from being on stage, and being on stage is different than being in the movies, and the movies are different than being on a TV series. They all have different values that are fun to explore and to take a crack at. So I found it challenging and interesting to jump into that world.
QUESTION:
Did it get easier when Bruce Davison joined you at the microphone?
CHRIS NOTH:
That was even more fun because I know Bruce and it's always more fun to work off another person. Sandy Meisner, the great acting teacher, used to say that what you do doesn't depend on you. It depends on the other fellow. In other words, they make you respond. So when Bruce came in, there was a new kind of energy that I sort of relished. I didn't have that many scenes with him, but he was a lot of fun and I think he made a great President.
QUESTION:
As you are new to animation voiceovers, you’re also new to the direction involved. How did you find Andrea Romano's direction?
CHRIS NOTH:
(Animation) is very quick, it's to the point, and very on message, and you have to just go with it. Andrea was extremely helpful to me to get some of the tone and in knowing what you have to keep in mind with what's happening to the character in the scene. Whether it's an intimate scene or there's a lot of action, she keeps you on point. So she's a very good field marshal.
For more information, images and updates, please visit the film’s official website at www.JUSTICELEAGUECRISIS.com.
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Marvel is proud to unveil both interconnecting Hulk Santa Variant covers from superstar artist Ed McGuinness, exclusively on Hulk #18 and Fall of The Hulks Gamma!
Retailers, please see this week’s Marvel Mailer for a special holiday offer regarding both Hulk Santa Variant covers.
HULK #18 (OCT090512)
HULK #18 MCGUINNESS VARIANT (OCT090513)
HULK #18 MCGUINNESS SANTA VARIANT (SEP098250)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Pencils & Cover by WHILCE PORTACIO
Variant Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Santa Variant Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Rated T+ …$3.99
On-Sale—12/16/09
FALL OF THE HULKS GAMMA (OCT090516)
FALL OF THE HULKS GAMMA ROMITA JR VARIANT (OCT090518)
FALL OF THE HULKS GAMMA MCGUINNESS SANTA VARIANT (SEP098263)
Written by JEPH LOEB
Pencils by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Cover by ED MCGUINNESS
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Santa Variant by ED MCGUINNESS
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—12/3/09, On-Sale—12/23/09
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Marvel is excited to present the Astonishing X-Men Behind The Scenes Video #3.
Get a behind the scenes look at the chart-topping Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic with this all new video! Based on the acclaimed story by superstars Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and John Cassaday (Captain America), the X-Men are faced with a mysterious new villain and a possible cure for the mutant gene! Now Cyclops, Wolverine and all your favorite mutants must face the greatest threats of their lives and, before it’s all done, experience one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Marvel history!
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Marvel Also Anticipates Completing the Disney Merger on December 31, 2009
Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company celebrating the 70th anniversary of its founding in 1939, announced today that it has set December 31, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. EST as the date for its special meeting of stockholders. At the special meeting, stockholders will consider and vote on the adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by Marvel and The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”), which provides for a merger in which Marvel will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Disney. Stockholders who owned Marvel common stock at the close of business on November 23, 2009 are entitled to vote at the special meeting.
Assuming shareholder adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger at the special meeting, Marvel anticipates that the merger will be completed on December 31, 2009.
The special meeting will be held at the offices of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, 75 East 55th Street, New York, New York.
Important Merger Information and Additional Information:
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Disney filed a definitive proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 on December 2, 2009 (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). Investors are urged to read the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed transaction, because it contains important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, including the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, free of charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to The Walt Disney Company, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521-9722, Attention: Shareholder Services or by directing a request to Marvel’s proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., 105 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 or by calling Mackenzie Partners, Inc. at (800) 322-2885 (toll free) or (212) 929-5500 (call collect).
Disney, Marvel, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Marvel is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Information about the directors and executive officers of Disney is set forth in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on January 16, 2009.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the anticipated time of completion of Marvel’s merger with Disney. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as Marvel’s inability to obtain the vote necessary to approve the merger, possible termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, potential regulatory impediments to completion of the merger and other risks disclosed in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
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