Walt Disney Pictures has recently announced that Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is to team up with popular acoustic duo, Rodrigo y Gabriela. The at first unusual, but ultimately exciting collaboration will span the soundtrack to the fourth installment of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. The film will be released in typical summer blockbuster fashion, in late May, with the soundtrack available to purchase the same week. From the official press release….

One of summer’s most highly anticipated blockbuster movies, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” features original music by Academy Award®-winning composer Hans Zimmer and a first-time collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. Walt Disney Records will release the soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides May 17, 2011.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides original motion picture soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on May 17, 2011. For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, please visit Disney.com/music, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic. For more information on Rodrigo y Gabriela, please visit www.rodgab.com

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The 2011 Oscar nominees were announced the other night, and may have omitted a few big hitters. All eyes are on The King’s Speech, which received a total of 12 nods, closely followed by True Grit with 10, and The Social Network, and Inception, both with eight. This follows last month’s Golden Globes winners, and also our own Media Match Best Movies of 2010. (*of the 10 ‘Best Picture’ nominees, 6 of those were in our ‘Best of 2010′. It’s almost as if we know what we’re talking about!)

Who do you feel deserves to be recognized this year? Please add your votes to the selected categories in our Media Match Oscars 2011 Poll, and feel free to comment about those who are overlooked or overrated.

The 83rd Academy Awards ceremony will take place on February 27th, 2011, presented by actor Hugh Jackman.

Best editing, mixing and more after the jump… (more…)

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Last night in Beverly Hills saw the 68th year of the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. Big wins went to The Social Network, Colin Firth and Natalie Portman. I was also happy to see Steve Buscemi recognized in his lead role for the TV drama Boardwalk Empire. After a long career of playing quirky sidekicks, he truly shows that he is strong enough to stand front and center in a gripping piece of storytelling. (The full list of winners is after the jump.)

The Social Network picked up four trophies, including best dramatic picture, best Director for David Fincher, and also prizes for Aaron Sorkin‘s screenplay and its score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (which we pointed out in September as being pretty epic.)

Best dramatic actor went to Colin Firth for his performance as King George VI in The King’s Speech, where he portrays the troubles of the royal figure, struggling to cope with his speech impediment.

For her role in Black Swan as a ballerina who becomes unstable and lost to madness, Natalie Portman won best dramatic actress. She expressed special thanks to director Darren Aronofsky “for continuing to work on this movie (for the ten years it was in development) and then to give me such a beautiful gift with this role.” Below we see her post-show press room interview.

The real star of the show, may have been the most polarizing. Host Ricky Gervais lived up to his promises, to come out “guns blazing”, and opened up his direct comedy in the direction of a number of Hollywood celebrities and well-known stars of film and music. I personally thought that he made the show; my favourite quips… introducing Bruce Willis as “Ashton Kutcher’s dad.” (Kutcher is married to Willis’ ex-wife, Demi Moore, and stepfather to their three children.) He also laid into Charlie Sheen for his recent dramas… “It’s going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking — or, as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast.” Continuing, “Wow, so let’s get this straight, so what he did was, he picked up a porn star, paid her to have dinner with him, introduced her to his ex-wife — as you do — went to a hotel, got drunk, got naked, trashed the place while she was locked in a cupboard, and that was a Monday. What does he do New Year’s Eve?”

When Gervais disappeared for the telecast for an hour, and then returned looking “sheepish” and more “muted” many on Twitter suggested that he had been been rebuked by those in charge of the Awards show, and that a return for next year would seem unlikely. Watch the uncomfortable (yet hilarious) opening speech here.

Earlier in the week, Gervais had defended his topics of humor in an official video for the Globes. (more…)

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One of the biggest industry stories going on right now is the merger of NBC and Comcast. With rumors flying around and new management right around the corner, it’s impossible to know what is actually going to happen as it becomes official.

Although not with NBC, it happened to me at a much smaller company. While I was working for Current TV we went through almost two years of rolling restructuring, and three separate occasions where major changes lead to large layoffs. With a short stint of individuals being let go on an almost weekly basis, it became a running joke that we were starring in the industry’s version of Survivor.

Here are some tips on how to survive when a company has some big plans for the future that might not include your job.

First things first, there are no “Guaranteed Jobs”
Layoffs, especially when out of the blue, can be devastating. It is important to remember that it is NOT the responsibility of any company to provide you with a paycheck. I know no one wants to be thought of as a number, but at the end of the day they are paying you to provide a service. If they no longer feel they need that service they do not have to continue to pay, just because you need a job.

(more…)

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Online video website Vimeo has just announced that they are to hold their first ever video festival and awards event. In contrast to other online video sites, Vimeo focuses on original content, quality production and editing, and allowing users to share their work with groups of their peers.

Having just celebrated their fifth anniversary, Vimeo will launch the Festival + Awards in New York City on October 8-9, 2010 at IAC Headquarters and the SVA Theater. The Festival promises to “bring the world of online video to life like never before”, with two days of screenings, education, panels, installations, parties, and more. Line up, activities, speakers and of course, parties, will be announced shortly. Submissions for the awards are now open, and categories include….

The Vimeo Award: The Best Video Award will be selected by a group of judges from multiple categories and the Vimeo Awards staff. Winner will receive a $25,000 grant to produce new work.
Narrative: Live-action narrative fiction told through the medium of film/video.
Remix: A film/video that is comprised of elements such as sound and picture of other works which then combines them to become a metamorphic work.
Original Series: A periodically released collection of episodic content.
Documentary: Short films/videos that seek to document compelling actuality or reality.
Music Video: Short films/videos that accompany a complete piece of music or song.
Animation: A simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures or frames.
Motion Graphics: The use of the principles of graphic design to create a film/video using animation or filmic techniques.
Experimental: Short films/videos that experiment with new ideas, forms, techniques, and expressions that are often characterized by the absence of a linear narrative.
Captured: Videos that capture an artistic expression or performance.

Honorary Awards:

Digital Maverick: Honorary award for pioneering spirt in the world of online video.
The Feature Presentation: Honoring the vanguard and innovative release of unique feature film online.

The Vimeo Awards will accept submissions from June 3, 2010 – July 31, 2010 for a $20 (U.S.) fee per-video ($5 for Vimeo Plus members) at www.vimeoawards.com. Entrants can submit any original work as long as it has premiered online between June 3, 2008 and July 30, 2010 or has never been premiered anywhere.

For more information on the Vimeo Festival & Awards, head to http://vimeo.com/awards.

Lee Jarvis.

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Epix, a joint venture between Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM studios, launched in October 2009, the aim being to provide “a multiplatform premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand, and an online service”, providing access to a database of 15,000 motion pictures. The EpixHD.com website currently streams over 150 movies, and the sister cable TV channel is also being used to share original programming. We mentioned how Verizon FiOS customers would get Epix first, and now it is available from Charter, Cox Communications, DISH, Mediacom, and several Insight and NCTC television providers.

The twist on the streaming online service is that it is only available to full subscribers – you have to sign up to the Epix package at around $9.99 per month via your cable provider. This steps away from the ad-funded model, and tries to go directly for premium users. The problem with this, is that they are not really the “Hulu of Movies” as they have been touted for the last year; one of the biggest reasons for Hulu’s huge fan-base and viewing figures is the fact that it provides online TV streaming for free. Only allowing access via the cable subscription may well backfire for them, with much of the media world making the shift to ‘the cloud’ and streaming; offering the cable channel and VOD separate would seem a more up-to-date model.

Does anyone subscribe to Epix? Do you think the service provides value? Feel free to share…

Lee Jarvis.

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Vevo launched last December with a Bono-lead star-studded party, and to much criticism from a reluctant online audience. Just half a year has passed, and the video website is now churning out some impressive numbers; the most recent comScore Video Metrix (April 2010) report shows that VEVO video viewership grew 11% to a whopping 43.58M unique viewers, edging ahead of such established online giants as Hulu, Facebook and CBS.

The original concept came from Universal Music Group, was developed and hosted by YouTube, with Google and Vevo sharing the advertising revenue. Vevo now hosts official music videos from three of the four major record labels; UMG, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI. These labels have established dedicated artist channels, and systematically removed much of the ‘home recorded’, similar, or bootleg content from Youtube. Warner Music Group have pulled much of their content from Youtube as of March 2009, but are yet to get into the Vevo deal.

Traditional music video may not be the main reason for their rapid growth. Although, adding hype to these by hosting world-premiers of highly-anticipated videos from the likes of Lady Gaga and Beyoncé (‘Telephone’ has 84m views and counting), Christina Aguilera’s and Rihanna have certainly helped. Providing exclusive access to live events such as MGMT’s performance at a “Live on Letterman” concert (below) has also accelerate viewings.

Vevo has also recently secured the exclusive rights to stream live the June 10 FIFA Word Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert- a live, high definition global webcast. Immediately following the concert, you’ll be able to watch it on-demand anytime at the website as well as more exclusive and original programming from the artists performing. Vevo videos are currently only available in the US and Canada, but they do aim to launch outside North America this year.

This kind of official event and endorsement has helped edge Vevo ahead as a ‘proper’ video source, as opposed to Youtube’s swamp of grainy home recordings with poor audio, and that also helps them pitch to high-end advertisers and who are uncertain of such user-generated content and would instead be drawn to the likes of Hulu.

So, despite many people’s wariness of the bodies behind the venture, they seem to be pulling in huge numbers. Providing fresh content with value for consumers is the key to it all, and maybe the majors are starting to understand that. They still need to reach out and build relationships with respectable independent labels, to avoid it being something of a ‘big boys club’, and to also allow access to (and promotion for) the huge underground artists and bands that are always just about to blow up. But, maybe, Vevo is blossoming into a credible place for music video online.

Lee Jarvis.

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LATV FEST ’10 brings together creative TV & digital content producers
with development execs, agents, advertising executives, technology
solution providers.

July 12-15, 2010

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel

Expanded 4-day conference: *Networking events *Enlightened panel
discussions *Never before seen screenings *Guaranteed Pitch Meetings
(Register ASAP for priority access)

A La Carte Offerings: *Pitch Critiques *Mentor Round Robins *Premium
Pitch Packages

Featured Speakers: *Howie Mandel, Actor/Comedian/TV Host, David Hudson,
TBS/TNT *Mark Horowitz, NCIS *JD Roth, 3Ball Productions *Kevin Pollak,
Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show *Michelle King & Robert King, THE GOOD WIFE

Register Now with Promo Code 10MATCH for a $100 savings!

www.latvfest.net

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The Chicago Convergence + TechThursdays@OfficePortCHI Present…

HP Envy Music Video Edit Challenge
A free social, challenge and networking event – open to the Public

The Challenge
* Three editors will compete using a HP Envy laptop with AVID editing software.
* Each HP Envy desktop will contain labeled folders with the building blocks for the video.
* The folder will contain select music, video and sponsor files (to be revealed to contestants prior to event).
* You must create your music video from the files provided.
* You may use any features or software found on the HP Envy to contribute to the finished product.
* You must give your music video a title.
* You must agree to have your finished product published.
* You surrender any rights to the finished product.
* A panel of judges (Thought Equity Motion, Resolution Digital Studios, TRAX Records) will select the winner.

Chris Ross, Corinne Gilliard and Paul Walerow have been selected to be the three editors who will compete to produce a finished music video in front of a live audience in 30 minutes. The winner will receive an HP Envy Laptop.

The event is FREE, open to the public, and attendees will be entered in a drawing for 2 free tickets to NATPE Market & Conference (National Association of Television Program Executives), Jan. 25-27, at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas $1700 value.

Click here to register!

Where? OfficePort CHI, 9 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 (map)
When? Thursday, Dec 3rd – 6:30-9:30pm. Event is Free and Open to the Public. Free food and cocktails (doors open at 5:30pm)

The Chicago Convergence partners with NATPE for a live streaming event; day prior to the Music Video Challenge

Indie Production for the Multi-Platform World
Los Angeles cocktail reception & session will be live streamed by Stickam.
Streamed event shown at Music Video Edit Challenge on Thursday, Dec 3rd in Chicago.

Where? Held at Writer’s Boot Camp offices (Bergamot Station in Santa Monica California)
When? HPEnvyWednesday, December 2, 2009 from 6 – 8 pm

Panel Discussion
Sure, studios and media giants are producing programming for multiple distribution outlets, but so are the independents and they’re stronger and mightier than ever with the advent of new and inexpensive production tools. How has the game changed for indie producers and creators thanks to changes in consumers’ video consumption? How do you produce on a budget and incubate projects on the Web? And what is the endgame? Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear from experts on the challenges and opportunities in online video production.

Lee Jarvis.

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In a Town Where Bigger is Usually Considered Better, Relaunching a Downsized ShowBiz Expo Just May Have Worked Out for the Best!

The Film, Stage and ShowBiz Expo is billed as “a five-star event that brings everyone in show business together under one roof.” Having been involved in the entertainment industry here in Southern California for almost thirty-five years (twenty-four of them as President of my own company, The Research Department), I had been a fairly regular attendee of this event when it was held annually in Los Angeles up to 2002. Since 2003, Producer Zachary Lezberg had been producing the twice-annual Film, Stage and ShowBiz Expo events only in New York City so I was excited to learn about his plans to “relaunch” the Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 17, 2009.

Personally, I find the benefit of these events to be highly relational to an individual’s needs. In a nutshell, the day pretty much becomes what you make it. I always pack plenty of business cards, brochures and a notepad. Don’t worry if you forget your pen, you could have at least a half-dozen by the time you clear the first row of exhibitors. More importantly, I bring along a broadly optimistic attitude that goes something like this: if I make a new friend or business connection or reconnect with one old friend plus maybe learn a few new things then I figure it was worth my time.

For the full article, please head over to http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2330344/review_showbiz_expo_returns_to_los.html?singlepage=true&cat=2

Article by Christopher Darryn

The next Los Angeles ShowBiz Expo is scheduled for April 24th and 25th in 2010.

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