Category Press Release

Apr 14 2014

BOOKCON Announces Special All-Star Kickoff Event

Special Event to feature Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, director Shawn Levy, and writer Jonathan Tropper

Panel Discussion and Sneak Peek of Upcoming Feature Film Release “This Is Where I Leave You” on Friday, May 30 Sets the Stage for Highly Anticipated Consumer Book Event

Hot on the heels of its recent announcement of BookCon, a one-of-a-kind interactive consumer book event, ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events, announces a star-studded kickoff celebration to usher in the show.  Exemplifying the show’s mission of giving fans an experience where books and pop culture collide, ReedPOP will host a special panel and sneak peek of the upcoming film adaptation of Jonathan Tropper’s bestselling book This Is Where I Leave You. The panel discussion will feature two of the stars of the film, Jason Bateman and Tina Fey, along with director Shawn Levy, and Tropper, who also wrote the screenplay, based on his novel. It will be followed by an exclusive Happy Hour to celebrate the debut of BookCon which will feature access to a number of top authors, giving fans the ultimate interactive experience.  The limited access BookCon kickoff event will happen on the eve of BookCon on May 30 at the Special Events Hall in the Javits Center.

The all-star BookCon kickoff event was created as a window into the type of events that BookCon will offer attendees.  The day-long event is crafted for creative-minded, passionate book fans in the publishing capital of the world.  Every aspect of the show is thoughtfully designed to appeal to the modern-day book lover with an appreciation for broader pop-culture and where these worlds intersect. By bridging the world of film and literature, the panel is a prime example of the mission for this consumer event and will usher in more exciting events and panels soon to be announced.

The hour-long panel, moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Anthony Breznican, will start at 4:00 p.m. A limited number of tickets for the BookCon kickoff event will be available for all those who purchase BookCon and BEA tickets for an additional $10. ReedPOP will also offer tickets as part of a VIP package that will include special artwork, a signed copy of This Is Where I Leave You, First Access to seating, access to BookCon on Saturday, and more.

“This is exactly the type of event that embodies what BookCon is all about and sets the tone in a truly impactful way,” said ReedPOP’s Global Senior Vice President, Lance Fensterman.  “This is our way of celebrating the debut of BookCon and giving fans a unique experience that will carry into the following day.”

Announcement of the kickoff event follows ReedPOP’s recent news of BookCon and its lineup of feature headliners including Amy Poehler, Martin Short, John Grisham, R.L. Stine, Stan Lee, Cary Elwes, Cassandra Clare, and Maggie Stiefvater.

Jonathan Tropper says: “This Is Where I Leave You was launched at BEA five years ago, so returning now to introduce the movie for the first time is a fitting and deeply satisfying way to celebrate the adaptation.”

Additional exciting details about BookCon exhibitors, talent, and sponsors will be revealed in the coming weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.TheBookCon.com or BookCon’s social media pages (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram).

ABOUT THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU

The dramatic comedy This is Where I Leave You is directed by Shawn Levy, and based on the hilarious and poignant bestselling novel by Tropper.  It features a starring ensemble cast including Golden Globe winner Jason Bateman (Arrested Development); Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Tina Fey (30 Rock); and two-time Oscar winner, multiple Golden Globe honoree and 2013 Emmy Award nominee Jane Fonda (Klute, Coming Home, HBO’s The Newsroom).

When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens.  Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.

Shawn Levy, who helmed the blockbuster Night at the Museum films, as well as Date Night and Real Steel, directs from a screenplay by Jonathan Tropper.

The film also stars Adam Driver (HBO’s Girls), Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, X-Men: First Class), Corey Stoll (House of Cards, Midnight in Paris), Kathryn Hahn (NBC’s Parks and Recreation).

This is Where I Leave You is produced by Paula Weinstein (The Perfect Storm, HBO’s Recount) Shawn Levy, and Jeffrey Levine (The Family Man).  Mary McLaglen (Real Steel, The Proposal) and Jonathan Tropper serve as executive producers.  The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Terry Stacey (Safe Haven, 50/50), production designer Ford Wheeler (Rachel Getting Married), editor Dean Zimmerman (Real Steel) and costume designer Susan Lyall (RED).   The music is by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (“Up”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Spring Creek Production, a 21 Laps Production, a Shawn Levy Film: This is Where I Leave You, opening September 12.  It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company

Apr 6 2014

‘The Nut Job’ Arrives on DVD April 15

 

 
GO NUTS FOR THE FAMILY MOVIE EVENT OF THE SEASON!
THE NUT JOB
 
BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGITAL HD ON APRIL 8
 
AND BRING HOME THE BLU-RAY COMBO PACK
INCLUDING BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET APRIL 15
 
NOW MOVIE FANS CAN WATCH THE NUT JOB ANYWHERE ON THEIR FAVORITE DEVICESCyan Magenta Yellow Black
Be prepared for one squirrelly adventure in the action-packed comedy, The Nut Job, starring Will Arnett (Despicable Me, Ratatouille) as Surly, a mischievous squirrel on a mission to prove himself. The Nut Job comes to Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray Combo Pack including Blu-ray, DVD, & DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet as well as On Demand on April 15, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The film will also be available on DIGITAL HD one week early on April 8.
Surly (Arnett) is a mischievous squirrel with a mission: to find the tastiest nuts for winter. When he discovers a whole store filled with his favorite food, he plans a heist of nutrageous proportions. But the place turns out to be owned by ruthless bank robbers so it’s up to Surly and his furry friends to stop the nearby bank heist and save the town.
Showcasing an all-star cast including Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, Whole Lotta Love), Liam Neeson (Non-Stop, The Grey), Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up, The Ugly Truth), Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids, Turbo), Jeff Dunham (Arguing With Myself, Spark of Insanity) and Gabriel Iglesias (Magic Mike, Hot & Fluffy), The Nut Job will prove “Enormously Entertaining” for the whole family (Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru)!
The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack include a Blu-ray, DVD and DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet.
·         Blu-ray unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
·         DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
·         DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray players, game consoles, and more.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY 3D & BLU-RAY:
·         DELETED SCENES – Check out Surly, Grayson and the gang in scenes removed from the final version of the movie.
·         STORYBOARDS – Watch key scenes from the film brought to life from the original sketches.
·         THE GREAT NUT HEIST – Will Arnett, the voice of Surly the squirrel, discusses the great caper story at the heart of the film.
·         DANCE-OFF END CREDITS – Surly joins his furry friends and a very special guest for this show-stopping number.
BONUS FEATURES ON 3D BLU-RAY, BLU-RAY & DVD:
·         ANIMATED SHORTS –
o   SURELY SQUIRREL – Meet Surly for the very first time in the award-winning animated short that started it all.
o   NUTS & ROBBERS – Surly and Grayson stumble upon a bank heist gone wrong in NUTS & ROBBERS – created by ToonBox Entertainment as a teaser for THE NUT JOB.
 
CAST AND FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Stephen Lang, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Dunham with Gabriel Iglesias & Sarah Gadon
Directed by: Peter Lepeniotis
Produced by: Wookyung Jung & Graham Moloy
Executive Producers: Daniel Woo, Hong Kim, Jay Ahn, Mike Karz, William Bindley, Hoejin Ha, Tom Yoon, & Hyungkon Kim
Written by: Peter Lepeniotis & Lorne Cameron
Screenplay by: Peter Lepeniotis & Daniel Woo
Edited by: Paul Hunter
Original Score By: Paul Intson
Art Director: Ian Hastings
CG Supervisor: Brad Falk
Animation Director: Daryl Graham
Lighting Supervisor: Sumit Suri
Music Supervisor: Julianne Jordan
Music by: Paul Intson
Casting Directors: Robert McGee, Ruth Lambert & Joanne Boreham
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY 3D COMBO PACK
Street Date: April 15, 2014
Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Numbers: 61128666
Running Time: 1 Hour 26 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating: PG for some mild action and rude humor.
Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English)
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY:
Street Date: April 15, 2014
Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Numbers: 61127754
Running Time: 1 Hour 26 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating: PG for some mild action and rude humor.
Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English)
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French
 
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD:
Street Date: April 15, 2014
Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Numbers: 61127752
Running Time:  1 Hour 26 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating: PG for some mild action and rude humor.
Technical Info: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English)
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French
Mar 27 2014

McKay to take on Paramount Pictures and Plan B’s ‘The Big Short’ from Acclaimed Writer Michael Lewis

 

Paramount Pictures and Plan B announced that writer / director Adam McKay has come aboard to adapt and direct “The Big Short,” based on the acclaimed book by Michael Lewis.

Based on Lewis’ best-seller The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine about the housing and credit bubble of the 2000s, the film will be produced by Paramount and Brad Pitt’s Plan B. Pitt previously starred in and produced Lewis’ Moneyball, which earned an Academy Award-nomination for Best Picture.

“Michael Lewis has the amazing ability to take complex formulas and concepts and turn them into page turners. Plan B and I connected over that breathless quality the book has. Very excited to jump into this,” said McKay.

Said Adam Goodman, Paramount Film Group President, “I am so excited as this project marks my third collaboration with Adam McKay – a tremendously talented filmmaker and one of my favorite storytellers.”

Said Plan B, “There are those rare literary treasures – as with “The Big Short” – that park in the harbor and you just wait, with hope. Adam McKay is a singular voice and talent and a ferocious mind – the vector of Adam and this book is what a producer dreams of.”

McKay most recently co-wrote, produced and directed the sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, for Paramount Pictures. The hit film has grossed over $170m globally.

Mar 6 2014

Jamie Foxx Joins His Co-Stars of ‘The Amazing Spider-man 2’ and Earth Hour Super Heroes in Blue Revolution

 

Jamie Foxx, who plays the villain, Electro, in the highly anticipated motion picture The Amazing Spider-Man 2, will be joining his co-stars, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, in calling on a global community to take simple action online to protect the planet.

 

As part of Earth Hour Blue, the revolutionary program launched by WWF’s Earth Hour, Foxx will support ‘Light Up A Village,’ a clean energy project from WWF-Uganda. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 actor is urging participants to go online and contribute funds to the ‘Light Up a Village’ crowdfunding project, which will provide solar lights and energy efficient mud stoves to families living around an area in Uganda that has come to be known as the “Earth Hour Forest.” Through the simple steps of supporting these vulnerable communities, the project aims to empower the locals to become the future protectors of the soon to be rehabilitated forest area.

Foxx was inspired by a passionate video from a small community of Super Heroes in Uganda who came together to show how the project could protect the newly planted trees by meeting the basic energy needs of the locals. The video explains how just one energy efficient mud stove can save up to 33 trees from being cut down annually and also save money by reducing a family’s expenses on firewood and charcoal.

“Earth Hour isn’t just about lights off – it’s about people across the world coming together throughout the year to join forces to improve the planet. If you haven’t yet, you need to get involved. Never underestimate your power. Never underestimate what you can do,” said Foxx.

In conjunction with the Earth Hour 2014 celebrations in Uganda, one million trees will be planted across the country by youths over the next year, with the majority earmarked to help fill the 2700 hectares of land marked out for the Earth Hour Forest initiative.

Another global solution-driven crowdfunding project on Earth Hour Blue for people to back is a Colombian conservation project for The Amazon that aims to protect endangered species like the jaguar, Andean bear, and the pink river dolphin, and work with indigenous communities to use and restore natural resources in a responsible way.

The crowdfunding project from WWF-Colombia, called “Lights OFF AmazON,” allows you to invest in the largest ecosystem and air, water and life producer on the planet by raising funds to implement infrastructure for sustainable industries for indigenous communities. Known as the “world’s lungs,” the Amazon is quickly disappearing with mining and ranching causing loss of species and pollution in the area.

Earth Hour in Australia has today launched a report, ‘Lights Out for the Reef,’ that highlights the latest scientific findings about climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. The report confirms that urgent action to cut carbon pollution is needed for the sake of the reef’s survival.

“If we don’t act now, the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef will be irreversible in a little more than a decade,” said Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, one of the world’s leading experts on the Reef and author of the Oceans Chapter of the upcoming U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

The easiest thing you can do on the Earth Hour Blue platform is to give support via a quick social post to Instagram for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The Reef is under threat due to climate change and the recently approved government decision to develop a mega coal and gas port that would cause dredging and dumping of millions of tonnes of seabed and rock in its Marine Park.

Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder for Earth Hour, announced today, “What we’re seeing is a massive group of Super Heroes around the world who are calling on support for incredible campaigns to address the environmental issues we’re facing in our daily lives. That’s why we built Earth Hour and Earth Hour Blue, so now it’s up to you to help bring together this global momentum to show what can be achieved when we use our power together.”

Earth Hour event activities will be amplified on islands across the world, with music becoming a major focus to inspire environmental action in the places on the forefront of climate change and sea level rise. Reggae artists in Jamaica will perform an acoustic concert for the second year running; and in Tahiti, 5000 people will gain entry to a massive acoustic concert at Stade Paster by handing in a piece of recyclable waste they’ve collected to avoid landfill.

Following the recent announcement that Spider-Man is the first Super Hero ambassador for Earth Hour, the global movement organised by WWF, the cast of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be on hand to help to switch off the lights across Singapore’s signature Marina Bay skyline on Saturday March 29, at 8.30 p.m. as part of WWF-Singapore’s flagship Earth Hour event.

Expanding on many sustainability efforts over the years, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 became the most eco-friendly tentpole production in the history of Columbia Pictures. These environmental efforts, on set and off, were supported at every level – from producers, studio executives, and cast and crew and began as soon as the film went into pre-production.

“I’m very proud of the fact that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is entirely carbon-neutral. We made a commitment to be as eco-conscious as possible during production itself, when we took a special effort to think green and avoid waste; now, completing that process with Earth Hour Blue is a wonderful testament to what we can achieve when we all work together,” says Jeff Blake, Chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“Use your power at earthhour.org, so you too can become a Super Hero like Spider-Man, Earth Hour’s Super Hero ambassador,” said Foxx.

Mar 5 2014

Unreleased Rascal Flatts Song to be Featured in the Film ‘Heaven is for Real’

 

Rascal Flatts Rewind Cover“Compass” to Be Included On Country Supergroups’s Forthcoming Studio Album This May

 

A new Rascal Flatts song entitled “Compass” will be featured in the upcoming Sony Pictures film Heaven Is For Real, which opens nationwide on Wednesday, April 16. The song will also be included on Flatts’ forthcoming Big Machine Records album, REWIND, available May 13. The album is now available for pre-order at www.RascalFlatts.com.

Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling book of the same name, Heaven Is For Real brings to the screen the true story of a small-town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son’s extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world.

The film stars Academy Award nominee and Emmy award-winning actor Greg Kinnear as Todd Burpo and co-stars Kelly Reilly as Sonja Burpo, the real-life couple whose son Colton (newcomer Connor Corum) claims to have visited Heaven during a near death experience.  Colton recounts the details of his amazing journey with childlike innocence and speaks matter-of-factly about things that happened before his birth … things he couldn’t possibly know. Todd and his family are then challenged to examine the meaning from this remarkable event.

As the best-selling Country vocal group of the past decade, Rascal Flatts (Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney) have sold over 22.5 million albums and over 28 million digital downloads since their musical debut in 2000. The Superstar group has delivered 14 #1 singles to the top of the charts and have the distinction of being one of only four acts during the SoundScan era to have seven consecutive studio albums debut at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Rascal Flatts have earned over 40 trophies from the ACAs, ACMs, AMAs, CMAs, People’s Choice Awards and more. In 2012, they reached a new career milestone with over 7 million concert tickets sold and will hit the road again this Spring with the REWIND Tour 2014. In anticipation of their next Big Machine Records album this summer, fans will get a taste of the fresh sound and rewind back in time with some previously released tunes on March 4 with the release of a Walmart exclusive EP. Their new single “Rewind” is currently rising in the Top 15.

For tour information, new music, and more, visit www.rascalflatts.com.

Feb 25 2014

‘Divergent’ Soundtrack and Score to be released in March

 

INTERSCOPE RECORDS TO RELEASE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK AND SCORE TO

SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FEATURE FILM DIVERGENT ON MARCH 11

blogger-image-312641043

CHERRYTREE / INTERSCOPE RECORDING ARTIST ELLIE GOULDING IS THE “MUSICAL VOICE” OF DIVERGENT WITH HER MUSIC FEATURED THROUGHOUT THE FILM AND BRAND NEW SONG, “BEATING HEART,” ON THE SOUNDTRACK

ALBUM ALSO FEATURES BRAND NEW MUSIC FROM ZEDD, SNOW PATROL, TAME IMPALA AND KENDRICK LAMAR, M83, A$AP ROCKYFEATURING GESAFFELSTEIN, PRETTY LIGHTS, SKRILLEX AND PIA MIA 

ITUNES PRE-ORDER BEGINS TODAY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25th

Interscope Records will partner with Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE company, to release the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the action adventure film Divergent on March 11th, as well as the Original Score on March 18th. The soundtrack features a brand new song by multi-platinum British singer/songwriter Ellie Goulding entitled “Beating Heart” as well as songs from Goulding’s sophomore album, Halcyon. Goulding will also contribute vocals to the film’s score composed by Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum electronic artist Junkie XL and executive produced by Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight, Inception). Pre-order on iTunes today: iTunes.com/DivergentSoundtrack.

“We started working with songs from Ellie Goulding’s album Halcyon and soon found that the texture of her music and the tone of her voice perfectly matched our film,” says Divergent director Neil Burger. “In many ways Ellie has become the inner voice of our heroine Tris.”

In addition to “Beating Heart,” the soundtrack album features music byZedd (the track “Find You,” featuring Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant) and brand new songs from Snow Patrol, Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar, M83, A$AP Rocky featuring Gesaffelstein, Pretty Lights, Skrillex and Pia Mia featuring Chance The Rapper.  Songs from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack are prominently featured in the film.

North American fans can pre-order both Standard and Deluxe editions ofDivergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on iTunes today Tuesday, February 25th. Those who pre-order either the Standard or Deluxe Edition (which includes additional songs) will receive instant downloads of Goulding’s “Beating Heart” and Zedd’s “Find You.”(iTunes.com/DivergentSoundtrack)

Target is the exclusive retailer offering the deluxe version of the soundtrack on physical CD, with pre-orders now available on Target.com.Pre-order bundle options available at www.divergentsoundtrack.com  include the soundtrack on 12″ picture disc vinyl as well as a pre-order exclusive poster with the names of fans who order.

The film, which is based on the best-selling novel Divergent by Veronica Roth and hailed as the most highly anticipated movie of 2014 by social media research firm Fizziology, will be released in theaters and on IMAX® screens nationwide on March 21st. Divergent is the first installment in the Divergent Trilogy, which were the top three books onUSA Today’s best-seller list in 2013. The story is set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late.

Divergent is directed by Neil Burger from a screenplay by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor. The film stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Cortney, Ray Stevenson, Zoё Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, and Kate Winslet.

The track-listing for Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is as follows:

“Find You” — Zedd featuring Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant

“Beating Heart” — Ellie Goulding

“Fight For You” — Pia Mia featuring Chance The Rapper

“Hanging On” (I See MONSTAS Remix) — Ellie Goulding

“I Won’t Let You Go” — Snow Patrol

“Run Boy Run” — Woodkid

“Backwards” —Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar

“I Need You” — M83

“In Distress” — A$AP Rocky featuring Gesaffelstein

“Lost And Found” (ODESZA Remix) — Pretty Lights

“Stranger” — Skrillex with KillaGraham from Milo & Otis and Sam Dew

“Dream Machines” — Big Deal

“Dead in the Water” — Ellie Goulding

Also included on Deluxe Edition:

“I Love You” — Woodkid

“Waiting Game” — Banks

“My Blood” — Ellie Goulding

For more about Divergent, visit:

http://divergentthemovie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Divergent

http://www.pinterest.com/divergent/

http://instagram.com/divergent

https://twitter.com/divergent

Feb 14 2014

Earth Hour and Spider-man Join Forces to Save the Planet

ASM2_INTL_EH_A4Hz_SM_PrflIn a first of its kind partnership, Spider-Man will be the first Super Hero ambassador for Earth Hour, the global movement organized by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), with a message to inspire individuals to use their power to become Super Heroes for the planet.

Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, and Jeff Blake, Chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment, made the announcement in conjunction with the launch of Earth Hour Blue – a radical new digital crowdfunding and crowdsourcing platform for the planet, launched to engage people around the world and participants in the famous lights out event, which this year will be held on Saturday March 29, at 8:30 p.m.

This year, Earth Hour and the hero of the highly anticipated motion picture The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – along with the film’s stars, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx and director Marc Webb – are throwing their support behind Earth Hour Blue, which aims to harness the power of the crowd to raise funds for on-the-ground environmental projects from across the world.

“I’m proud Spider-Man is the first Super Hero ambassador for Earth Hour because he shows we can all be Super Heroes when we realize the power we all have,” says Andrew Garfield, who plays Spider-Man in the upcoming film. “Earth Hour is a movement that has created massive impact around the world, so imagine what we can do this year with Spider-Man by our side.”

The crowdfunding section of the new platform will allow participants to help deliver energy-efficient stoves to families in Madagascar, help communities in the Philippines build fiberglass boats to withstand climate impacts like Typhoon Haiyan and raise funds to expand and conserve the iconic Table Mountain National Park in South Africa, with many more projects to come.

“Earth Hour gives you the power to inspire anyone, even if you’re just one person, and Earth Hour is much more than an hour. There are great projects from the crowd, for the planet, happening all over the world,” said Emma Stone.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 director Marc Webb is the first celebrity ambassador to announce the Earth Hour Blue project he is backing, which aims to provide better equipment for WWF Rangers protecting Indonesia’s endangered wildlife such as the Sumatran Tiger, Elephant, Rhino and Orangutan and their forest habitat.

“Earth Hour is a movement full of Super Heroes – people harnessing the power of the crowd to inspire change for the good of the planet, imagine the possibilities when we come together and do more,” said Marc Webb.

Earth Hour has grown to involve hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life across 7000 cities and towns and 154 countries and territories. Jamie Foxx who plays the villain Electro in the film said, “Earth Hour isn’t just about lights off; it’s about people across the world coming together throughout the year to join forces to improve the planet. Never underestimate your power, never underestimate what you can do.”

Individuals can also use Earth Hour’s crowdsourcing platform for Earth Hour Blue, which will call for people to add their voice to some of the biggest environmental campaigns across the world; including an Instagram campaign for people to share their love of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, as part of WWF-Australia’s “Lights Out For The Reef” theme for Earth Hour 2014.

Global participants in the movement will also be able to sign the Shark Saver’s “I’m FINished With FINS” pledge, which engages celebrities and public figures throughout Asia to help end shark finning in marine waters for the consumption of shark-fin soup.

“The idea of Earth Hour has grown beyond anything we could have dreamed. This year with the help of Spider-Man by our side, we are taking the movement to the next stage. We hope that Spider-Man will empower individuals to be Super Heroes for the planet, and use their voice or their dollar to support projects or campaigns around the world. It’s about harnessing the power of the crowd. That’s what Earth Hour Blue is all about,” said Ridley.

Sony Pictures Entertainment will join by contributing to a WWF-China and Earth Hour Blue project that provides efficient cookstoves to prevent deforestation in the habitat of the Giant Panda. Through its efforts, the studio will receive Gold Standard carbon offsets that render the entire physical production of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as well as its publicity tour, carbon-neutral.

Expanding on many sustainability efforts over the years, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 became the most eco-friendly tentpole production in the history of Columbia Pictures. These environmental efforts, on set and off, were supported at every level – from producers, studio executives, and cast and crew and began as soon as the film went into pre-production.

“Spider-Man’s always been a very relatable Super Hero. Peter Parker is a hero to all people, and an inspiration, so it seems very fitting that he should join forces with Earth Hour to empower every single individual to help save the planet,” Blake added. “I’m also very proud of the fact that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is entirely carbon-neutral. We made a commitment to be as eco-conscious as possible during production itself, when we took a special effort to think green and avoid waste; now, completing that process with Earth Hour Blue is a wonderful testament to what we can achieve when we all work together.”

Jan 31 2014

Zack Snyder Fans to be Treated to 13 Minutes of ‘300’ Sequel

300Warner Bros. has chosen ten major cities, one of them being Boston, to treat fans to the first 13 minutes of 300: Rise of an Empire at special screenings of Zack Snyder’s 300 on Tuesday, Feb. 4. These events are in celebration of the release of the sequel to 300, which arrives in theaters on March 7. Both films are based on the work of renowned graphic novelist Frank Miller. The 13 minutes of the new movie will be complete and uncut in 3D IMAX.

The chosen theater in Boston is the AMC Boston Common Theater. The Feb. 4 event starts at 6:30 p.m. To obtain tickets to this special fan event, visit Facebook.com/43KIXBoston.

ABOUT 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE:

Told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster 300, this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a new battlefield—on the sea. 300: Rise of an Empire pits the Greek general Themistokles against the massive invading Persian army, ruled by their God-King Xerxes, and led by Artemisia, the vengeful commander of the Persian navy.  Knowing his only hope of defeating the overwhelming Persian forces will be to unite all of Greece, Themistokles leads the charge that will change the course of the war.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures present, a Cruel and Unusual Films/Mark Canton/Gianni Nunnari Production, 300: Rise of an Empire.  The action adventure stars Sullivan Stapleton (Gangster Squad) as Themistokles and Eva Green (Dark Shadows, Casino Royale) as Artemisia.  Reprising their roles from 300 are: Lena Headey as the Spartan Queen, Gorgo; David Wenham as Dilios; Andrew Tiernan as Ephialtes; Andrew Pleavin as Daxos; and Rodrigo Santoro in the role of the Persian God-King Xerxes.  The main cast also includes Hans Matheson as Themistokles’ closest friend and advisor, Aeskylos; Callan Mulvey and Jack O’Connell as father and son soldiers, Scyllias and Calisto; and Igal Naor as the Persian King Darius.

The film was directed by Noam Murro, from a screenplay by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad, based on the graphic novel Xerxes, by Frank Miller.  Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Bernie Goldmann produced the film, with Thomas Tull, Frank Miller, Stephen Jones and Jon Jashni serving as executive producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team was led by includes director of photography Simon Duggan, production designer Patrick Tatopoulos, editors Wyatt Smith and David Brenner, and costume designer Alexandra Byrne.  The music is by Junkie XL.

Opening on March 7, 2014, the film is being released in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.  300: Rise of an Empire is rated R by the MPAA forstrong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity and some language.

Nov 20 2013

Machete Slices His Way to DVD

DANNY TREJO, MEL GIBSON, MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, SOFIA VERGARA AND A STAR-STUDDED CAST
BREAK ALL THE RULES IN THIS EXPLOSIVE SEQUELMachete

MACHETE KILLS

BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGITAL HD JANUARY 7, 2014

AND BRING HOME THE BLU-RAY COMBO PACK

INCLUDING BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET JANUARY 21, 2014

Get ready for the knife-wielding hero to return in Machete Kills, the sequel to the hugely successful Machetefilm from acclaimed director Robert Rodriguez. Machete Kills arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack including Blu-ray™, DVD, & Digital HD with UltraViolet™ and On Demand on January 21, 2014, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The film will also be available on Digital HD on January 7, 2014.

Danny Trejo (Grindhouse,Machete) returns as legendary ex-Federale Machete Cortez in this action-packed thrill ride from innovative director Robert Rodriguez. In his latest mission, Machete is recruited by the U.S. President (Charlie Sheen/Carlos Estevez;Anger Management, Two and a Half Men) to stop a crazed global terrorist (Mel Gibson;Braveheart, Edge of Darkness) from starting a nuclear war. With a bounty on his head, Machete breaks all the rules as he faces death at every turn from an all-star cast of deadly assassins.

Featuring Michelle Rodriguez (Fast & Furious 6), Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”), Amber Heard (The Rum Diary), Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots), Cuba Gooding Jr. (The Butler), and Demian Bichir (A Better Life), Machete Kills is one of the wildest save-the-world adventures ever captured on film.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet.

Bonus Features on Blu-ray and DVD

· DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES
· Making of Machete Kills

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Danny Trejo, Mel Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Jessica Alba, Charlie Sheen/Carlos Estevez, Antonio Banderas, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Lady Gaga, Amber Heard, Vanessa Hudgens, Walt Goggins, William Sadler, Demian Bichir, Alexa Vega, Marko Zaror and Samuel Davis
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay by: Kyle Ward
Story by:Robert Rodriguez & Marcel Rodriguez
Producers: Robert Rodriguez, Marcel Rodriguez, Rick Schwartz, Sergei Bespalov, Alexander Rodnyansky, Aaron Kaufman, and Iliana Nikolic
Executive Producer: Boris Teterev, Jere Hausfater, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis, Terry Dougas, Anthony Gudas, Sam Englebardt, William D. Johnson, Alfonso Barragan, Jr., John Paul Dejoria
Associate Producer: Marina Bespalov
Director of Photography: Robert Rodriguez & Marcel Rodriguez
Production Designer: Steve Joyner
Editor: Robert Rodriguez & Rebecca Rodriguez
Original Music by: Robert Rodriguez & Carl Thiel
Costumes by: Nina Proctor

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY

Street Date: January 21, 2014
Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Numbers: 61126912
Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85.1
Rating:R for strong violence throughout, language and some sexual content
Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD

Street Date: January 21, 2014
Copyright: 2013 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Numbers: 61126913
Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating:R for strong violence throughout, language and some sexual content
Technical Info: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English)
Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish
Nov 12 2013

Date for ‘Riddick’ DVD Announced

VIN DIESEL RETURNS AS THE MOST WANTED MAN IN THE UNIVERSE IN A STUNNING NEW CHAPTER OF THE EXPLOSIVE SCI-FI ADVENTURE FRANCHISE 

RIDDICK

BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGTAL HD DECEMBER 17, 2013 

NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN UNRATED DIRECTOR’S CUT WITH ALTERNATE ENDING COMING TO BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK INCLUDING BLU-RAY, DVD

& DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET™ JANUARY 14, 2014 

ALSO AVAILABLE: RIDDICK: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION INCLUDING RIDDICK, PITCH BLACK AND THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK PLUS THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: DARK FURY 

Vin Diesel returns to the larger-than-life role that made him a global superstar as Riddick blasts its way onto Blu-ray Combo Pack including Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet on January 14, 2014, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The film will also be available on Digital HD December 17, 2013. The third feature film installment of the blockbuster series returns to its hardcore action roots with an all-new, no-holds-barred adventure from writer and director David Twohy, creator of the hit franchise.

Debuting an Unrated Director’s Cut with even more intense, heart-pounding sequences not shown in theaters and an alternate ending, the Blu-ray Combo Pack includes bonus features that reveal the behind-the-scenes secrets of the heart-stopping thriller’s incredible cast, uniquely talented crew and cutthroat characters. In addition, Riddick will be available in a new collection that includes all three movies in the groundbreaking franchise: Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick plus The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury  from Emmy Award-Winning animator, Peter Chung (“Æon Flux”).

In an electrifying return to his signature role, Diesel heads up an internationally acclaimed cast that includes Karl Urban (Star Trek franchise), Katee Sackhoff (“Battlestar Galactica”), Jordi Mollà (Columbiana), WWE superstar Dave Bautista (upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy), Noah Danby (“Defiance”), Danny Blanco Hall (Immortals), Bokeem Woodbine (Total Recall), Matt Nable (Killer Elite), Raoul Trujillo (Apocalypto), Conrad Pla (Immortals), Neil Napier (White House Down), Nolan Gerard Funk (“Aliens in America”) and two-time Grammy Award nominee Keri Lynn Hilson.

The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet.

  • Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
  • DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
  • DIGITAL HD with Ultraviolet  lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray players, game consoles, and more.

Bonus Features Exclusively on Blu-rayTM  

  • The Twohy Touch—In this short film, writer and director David Twohy explains the development of Riddick, the third feature film in his high-concept sci-fi series. Interviews and on-set footage detail Twohy’s vision and inspiration, as well as the creative collaboration between the filmmaker and star Vin Diesel that takes the cult franchise to a new level.
  • Riddickian Tech—The filmmakers, including Riddick’s amazing effects team, talk about the extraordinary technologies used to create Riddick’s eye-popping sci-fi elements, from the practical effects to the green screen wonders that made it possible to bring this high-intensity, futuristic thriller to the big screen.
  • The World Of Riddick—Key members of the filmmaking team, including director David Twohy, production designer Joseph C. Nemec III and director of photography David Eggby talk about the inspiration and influences behind the film’s vivid and unique visuals and savage predators. 

Bonus Features on Blu-rayTM and DVD

  • Vin’s Riddick—Vin Diesel, his co-stars and the entire filmmaking team provide an inside look at the superstar’s passion for everything from the film’s production and development to his intensive physical training, as well as just what makes Diesel ideal for the role of the indestructible Richard B. Riddick.
  • Meet The Mercs—From Karl Urban and Katee Sackhoff to Jordi Mollà, Dave Bautista, Bokeem Woodbine, and Nolan Gerard Funk, this featurette spotlights the dynamic supporting cast of Riddick and the characters they portray, exploring what the actors bring to their roles, as well as the weapons and clothing styles that define them to enhance this heart-stopping thriller.
  • Riddick: Blindsided—A motion comic prequel to Riddick that fills in the gap since 2004’s The Chronicles of Riddick.

SYNOPSIS

Global action-superstar Vin Diesel reprises his breakthrough role in Riddick, the much-anticipated new chapter in the epic adventures of the most wanted man in the universe. The all-new thriller finds the title character trapped on a sun-scorched planet and pursued by ruthless bounty hunters eager to collect the reward for Riddick’s capture—dead or alive. Savage alien creatures, expansive desert landscapes, monster storms, jet hogs and an arsenal of futuristic weaponry make this the most exhilarating episode to date in writer and director David Twohy’s breathtaking series of futuristic blockbusters.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Vin Diesel, Jordi Mollà, Matt Nable, Katee Sackoff, Karl Urban, Dave Bautista, N, Bokeem Woodbine, Matt Nable, Raoul Trujillo, Nolan Gerard Funk, and Karl Urban as Vaako

Directed by: David Twohy

Screenplay by: David Twohy

Based on Characters Created By: Jim Wheat & Ken Wheat

Producers: Vin Diesel, Ted Field

Executive Producers: Samantha Vincent, Mike Drake, George Zakk

Director of Photography: David Eggby, ACS

Production Designer: Joseph Nemec III

Editor: Tracy Adams

Costume Designer: Simonetta Mariano

Original Music By: Graeme Revell

TECHNICAL INFORMATION –BLU-RAY™

Street Date: January 14, 2014

Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers: 61125056 (US)

Running Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes/2 hours, 7 minutes (Unrated)

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1

Rating: R for strong violence, language and some sexual content and nudity/Unrated

Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS DD 2.0 (English); Digital Surround 5.1 (Spanish)

Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD

Street Date: January 14, 2014

Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers: 61124928 (US)

Running Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes

Layers: Dual Layer

Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1

Rating: R for strong violence, language and some sexual content and nudity/Unrated

Technical Info: Dolby Digital 5.1/DVS DD; Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish)

Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish

 

The movie’s official website is www.riddickmovie.com