24: THE GAME

Fans of hit Sky One series 24 will now be able to put Jack Bauer through his paces in a new version of 24, this time as a computer game being developedfor Sony's PlayStation 2.

Jack is currently in the midst of preventing nuclear meltdown in Day Four on Sky One. The new PlayStation game will let players take control and live aday in the hectic life of Jack Bauer and the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit. The game will also answer some burning questions left open in the realtime thriller series.

Featuring many of the stars from the first threeseasons, Sony said it would offer the most extensive cast of Hollywood actors ever seen in a game, which is set for release this autumn. 24 scriptwriter Duppy Demetrius is also on board.

24: The Game is the latest spin-off of the Sky One series, which has already this year made the transition to mobile phones via a deal with Vodafone inthe UK. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in collaborationwith Fox and the TV show's producers, directors, scriptwriters and stars, 24: The Game is set between seasons two and three and promises to give theshow's fans answers to some burning questions not addressed in the series.

24, Sky One, Sundays, 9pm

ProHD from JVC

London, March 2005 - As the worldwide consumer electronics industry begins to gear up for the anticipated growth in HDTV capable home entertainment products, JVC introduces ProHD, which offers corporate and
broadcast programme makers alike the low cost option to shoot in either standard or high definition.

At NAB 2005, JVC introduces a range of cost-effective production tools that open the doors of HD to broadcasters, production companies, educational and religious organizations as well as independent film and video producers.

The centerpiece of JVC's affordable HD approach is called ProHD, an HDV-compatible video system with full professional specifications which can fulfill the high quality standards of both standard and high definition
capture. By including professional capabilities such as time code, true 24p HD, and dual media direct recording to hard disk, ProHD becomes a tool that can be easily used to produce film-like quality HD programming in a
variety of applications.

To achieve its affordable HD solution, JVC utilises widely available, non-proprietary technologies such as MPEG-2 compression, DV recording media and conventional hard disk drives.

Realising that many users will want to phase in HD production, JVC has designed ProHD to provide spectacular standard definition performance as well as true high definition. Recording in either Professional DV or HD is
currently available on all ProHD cameras, recorders and disk drives. JVC's ProHD products use their superior resolution and processing power to deliver top performance in either native 16:9 or 4:3 modes, producing standard definition recordings superior to competing SD-only products. And, ProHD decks are even capable of playing back DVCAM™ tapes.

JVC's first ProHD models, being shown at NAB 2005, include GY-HD100 the revolutionary compact-sized 3-CCD camcorder and the BR-HD50E ProHD recorder player.

A PUBLIC SCREENING FOR YOUR VERY OWN FILM

To celebrate the release of Tarnation, LOVEFiLM.com is launching a novel competition to give all those passionate about filmmaking the chance to let their talent shine in front of a public audience.

Made for only £218 on an Apple iMac, Jonathan Caouette’s Tarnation was the talk of the town at the Cannes Film Festival 2004. It is a spellbinding and heartbreaking documentary self-portrait that re-imagines the whole idea of what a documentary can be.

The film chronicles Caouette’s chaotic upbringing in a dysfunctional Texas family and the unexpected relationship that developed with his mentally ill mother Renee. Tarnation was awarded the 2004 Sutherland Trophy at The Times BFI London Film Festival for “the most original and imaginative first feature”.

LOVEFiLM.com is offering all budding filmmakers, regardless of experience, a chance to have their film screened alongside Tarnation at an exclusive preview event on 19 April 2005 at The Clapham Picturehouse, London. The entries will be judged by Jonathan Caouette himself and the winner will also be awarded a place on a three-day advanced filmmaking course at London’s Metropolitan Film School.

To enter your film or to find out further information, simply log onto www.LOVEFiLM.com

TV HIT PARADE

Sunday, April 17, 2005, 3pm

Queensborough Performing Arts Center

With Loretta Swit (MASH), Barry Williams (Brady Bunch)

Adrian Zmed (T. J. Hooker and Dance Fever) and Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time).

In this new and exciting concert production your favorite TV celebrities sing the themes, medleys and the greatest hits from the tube that have become a part of our daily lives.

For tickets call (718) 631-6311. Tickets: $42, $39, $35

222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside, NY, USA, 11364

TV HIT PARADE

Sunday, April 17, 2005, 3pm

Queensborough Performing Arts Center

With Loretta Swit (MASH), Barry Williams (Brady Bunch)

Adrian Zmed (T. J. Hooker and Dance Fever) and Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time).

In this new and exciting concert production your favorite TV celebrities sing the themes, medleys and the greatest hits from the tube that have become a part of our daily lives.

For tickets call (718) 631-6311. Tickets: $42, $39, $35

222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside, NY, USA, 11364

Men from Mars" explore the boundaries of visual effects using the JVC DLA-HD2K

The HD2K has been purchased for use in digital intermediate and colour grading work

(London - UK) - Due to the increasing demand for colour grading and digital intermediate work, the team at Men from Mars have purchased a JVC DLA-HD2K projector and image processor. The projector is being used directly with a Baselight film colour grading system and a Truelight colour management system from Filmlight. The unit was installed in March 2005.

The HD2K was sold through Kaurus Limited who specialise in projection, viewing and grading suites. Paul Sutton, a Director of Kaurus comments, "The HD2K fully meets and satisfies the requirements of post production companies such as the Men from Mars."

Men from Mars are a small but dynamic bespoke visual effects company based in Ealing, West London which employs about 20 people. Rhodri James, Chief Engineer at Men from Mars explains why he invested in the HD2K, "We needed a projector which would give a near to true representation of what our film projects would look like on film and on the cinema screen. We had already
seen the HD2K at the London premises of Filmlight and knew that the projector was good enough for use in grading. The HD2K is certainly the best tool for the job. "

The HD2K produces natural but deeply rich colours with a high definition resolution of 1920 x 1080i at 60Hz. It has an impressive contrast ratio of 2000:1 which allows for real cinema-quality blacks with smooth gradations and low noise.

Current productions that are using the HD2K include American Haunting, Derailed and The Wild and Wycked World of Brian Jones.

At the Men from Mars' Studio, DOPs and Directors will view the rushes and digital dailies footage, ensuring that the look and colour are correct, confident in the knowledge that what they see is what they get - a true representation of what the final project will look like on film.

James says of the projector, "it was very easy to install. For HD signals, a Doremi HD/SDI convertor is used". He goes on to enthuse, "the HD2K is a dream to operate."

Revenues from Mobile Games Set to Mushroom by 78% in 2005

Hampshire UK, 9th March 2005: The onset of mass multiplayer gaming, a widening gaming demographic, greater playability, and increased adoption of mobile services in emerging markets point to a fast expanding market for mobile games, according to a new report from Juniper Research.

“With console games, customers are obliged to make the commitment to purchase a fairly expensive piece of hardware. The beauty of mobile is that it provides a potential global audience of several hundred million 2.5G users who already have that hardware in the form of their handset,” said report author, Dr Windsor Holden.

Dr Holden added that developers and publishers were now recognising the need to expand the demographic beyond the core gamer.

“Many of the mobile games released thus far have been first person shooter (FPS) and sports simulations. These staple genres of console and PC have attracted a similar calibre of gamer to the mobile, namely young adult males. Consequently, the rest of the mobile audience was largely ignored. Increasingly, we’ll see a wider range of lifestyle games aimed at audiences beyond the core gamer.”

“Furthermore, in a number of emerging markets – most notably India – games console, PC and indeed fixed broadband penetration is negligible. Any games market which develops in these countries will see a substantial proportion – possibility even the majority – of their revenues derived from mobile services.”
Other findings from the report include:

Total value of global mobile games market to rise by 78% during 2005 to nearly US$5.6 billion.
The value of the North American market expected to increase tenfold over the next five years to US$4.1 billion.
For mass mobile multiplayer gaming to become a reality, data download costs must fall, while the average purchase price of games will rise to reflect this.
More than one-third of games revenues to be derived from rentals and subscriptions by 2009 rather than download.

Tiscali announces backing for Raindance 2005

First major sponsor for 2005 festival and online partner to show ‘best of’ Raindance short films

Tiscali UK and Raindance today announce a partnership which will see the leading internet company become a major sponsor of the 2005 Raindance Film Festival.

Every month, viewers will get exclusive access to five Raindance short films that can’t be viewed anywhere else on the web. From today, film fans will be able to see the best independent short films from around the world by logging onto www.tiscali.co.uk/raindance.
With their five million plus online audience, Tiscali will be the medium to watch the best from up and coming directors.

The first five films available to view this month are:

No Deposit, No Return

House

Old Tricks

Something Real

Stretched Too Thin

This is not the only involvement that Tiscali has had with up and coming, and established film makers. In 2004, Tiscali was announced as a major sponsor of the International Rotterdam Film Festival (26 January - 6 February 2005), where they launched an experiment to distribute arthouse films over the Internet.

And, Tiscali aren’t strangers to controversy with the backing of Theo van Gogh’s much talked about, thought-provoking film 06/05 - about the assassination of Dutch right-wing, anti-immigration politician, Pim Fortuyn. Following the making of the film Van Gogh – who was related to the famous Dutch painter – was stabbed and shot dead himself in Amsterdam.

The film was the first European feature film to be legally broadcast on the Internet before its theatrical release. Tiscali, who financed the €2m feature, allowed the film to be downloaded over a period of four days for a fee of €5. In the first couple of hours, hundreds of Dutch web surfers had bought the film.

Richard Ayers, portal director and editor of www.tiscali.co.uk says: “Tiscali provides some of the finest quality entertainment content online and we aim to showcase the best in emerging talent, both in film and in music. Partnering with Raindance means we will continue to offer excellence in entertainment by showing compelling short films throughout the year AND by backing an established but still cult film festival.”

The Raindance Film Festival was established in 1992 to celebrate and support British film making and innovation and has gone on to become the largest independent film festival in Europe. Patrons include directors such as Mike Figgis, Ken Loach and Michael Winterbottom, and artists including Ewan McGregor, Samantha Morton and Bill Nighy.

Elliot Grove, founder and managing director of Raindance says: “Raindance was founded in order to innovate and inspire. Working with Tiscali, we can expose exceptional film work in a new and innovative way to an even wider audience.”

To gain access to the site, viewers can log onto:

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/raindance

The first five films are outlined below:

No Deposit, No Return
(UK, 11mins, Dallas Campbell)
A desperate woman breaks into a sperm bank only to find love with a kindly security guard.
Courtesy of Rocliffe Productions and Dazzle Short Film Label.

House
(UK, 3mins, David Theobald)
A camera roves around the suburban home. In each room we find the same man caught frozen in mid-air. Is he meditating, or are we the witnesses to something more sinister?

Old Tricks
(USA, 8mins, Christopher Glass)
The disenfranchised cruise the city streets at night.

Something Real
(UK, 8mins, Jon Rennie)
Reydon realises he is tired of his utopian life.

Stretched Too Thin
(USA, 1min, Varda Hardy)
In a monumental effort to get into shape, a man gets out of shape.

Star Wars PEZ is out of this world!

Blasting onto a cinema screen near you on the 19th May is the final Star Wars epic - Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. And to mark this momentous occasion, in a galaxy not so far away PEZ* is launching its latest intergalactic range of Star Wars inspired sweet dispensers.

This newest collection of sweet-and-toy-in-one PEZ* heads includes seven of the most popular characters from the deadly dark lord duo The Emperor and Darth Vader, to Chewbacca the temperamental Wookiee and revered Jedi Master, Yoda.

Other characters include the fussy and worry-prone protocol droid, C-3P0; proficient marksman and unarmed combatant, Jango Fett and the resourceful, spunky and adventurous astromech droid, R2-D2.

Retailing at 99p for the limited edition dispenser and 59p for a six-pack refill, Star Wars PEZ, 'the Coolest Collectibles on the Planet' take their place in selected Asda, Tesco, Woolworths and Poundstretcher stores this spring.

Desperately seeking a disc? - Never again with Imation Disc Stakka

Bracknell UK (3 March 2005) - Imation (UK) is today launching its new product Disc Stakka, an automated carousel that stores, protects and retrieves optical media such as CDs, DVDs, music and computer games discs.

The first of its kind, the Imation Disc Stakka holds up to one hundred 12cm discs and is linked to a PC or Mac computer via a single USB connection supplying both power and data. The carousel can be stacked up to five high to create a tower holding up to 500 discs in any format, without needing additional cabling or desk space.

Films, music or computer games' discs are often found lying in drawers or on shelves but the various discs needed for different home entertainment means it is difficult to manage, protect, and retrieve the content that is stored on all of these discs.

The Disc Stakka comes complete with OpdiTracker(tm) disc management software, which includes a database and powerful search engine that can find and eject any disc within seconds so there is no need to remember where the disc was stored. The user can browse the discs and files stored in the OpdiTracker database, or use OpdiTracker's search engine to locate any disc or file within seconds. Once located, the disc containing the required content will be ejected and then used in the CD or DVD player, games console or computer, for instance.

The Imation Disc Stakka enables users to solve this problem by:
* Saving time by keeping retrieval operations to a minimum
* Reducing the risk of damage to your discs
* OpdiTracker(tm) software to help you manage the contents of each disc
* Removes the hassle of storing disc covers, plastic or cardboard cases that are often lying around

OpdiTracker's database searches stored discs by title, keyword, and directory or file name to find and eject any disc within seconds. The intuitive OpdiTracker software is simple to use and allows users to quickly store, manage and protect discs.

The Imation Disc Stakka is available from February 2005 at selected retailers across the UK including PC World Stores, Amazon.co.uk, dabs.co.uk, microanvika.com, Maplin and ebuyer.com.

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/04/2005 -- Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced a deal with multi-million album selling hip-hop superstar and entertainment icon 50 Cent to collaborate in the creation of a new video game that will hit retail shelves in late 2005. 50 Cent®: Bulletproof™, in which 50 Cent will star and provide his likeness and voice, will be unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles on May 18th, 2005.

"In everything I do, I play to win," said 50 Cent. "I'm out to destroy the competition and my video game is no different. It's a fantasy version of my life. I plan to shake up the video game world like I did the rap world -- I'm pulling no punches with my game."

"50 Cent is one of the most talented artists in the recording industry with legions of fans around the world. Everything he touches turns to gold -- music, movies, clothes, cars, watches," said Bruce Hack, CEO of Vivendi Universal Games. "We are thrilled to collaborate with 50 Cent and Interscope Records in a video game debut that will deliver extraordinary music, exciting game play, and best of all, 50 Cent."

About 50 Cent: Bulletproof

In 50 Cent's video game, which will be revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles on May 18th, 2005, 50 gets caught in a web of corruption, double-crosses and shady deals that lead him on a bloody path through New York's drug underworld. Working with the unlikeliest of allies, the streets heat up as 50 Cent takes on the most dangerous crime families in the city, uncovering an international conspiracy with devastating implications. The streets are watching as 50 Cent blasts his way to the truth.

Further blending the lines between Hollywood, music and games, Sopranos executive producer and Emmy-Award winner Terry Winter inked both the game's script as well as the screenplay for 50's forthcoming film, Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

More information about the game can be found at http://www.the50centgame.com/

2nd ANNUAL BAFTA GAMES AWARDS

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Half-Life 2 roared home with six prestigious Awards at this year’s BAFTA Games Awards, winning in the categories Best Game, Action Adventure, Online & Multiplayer, PC, Art Direction and Animation. Hosted by Jonathan Ross, the 2nd Annual Games Awards ceremony was held last night at London’s Café Royal and was attended by some of the biggest names in the Video Games Industry.

Burnout 3: Takedown scooped three Awards in the categories for Racing, Technical Direction and PlayStation 2. In the other individual console categories, Halo 2 won the Xbox category, and the GameCube category was won by Prince of Persia: Warrior Within.

A BAFTA Special Award, one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by the British Academy, was awarded to Sam Houser and Leslie Benzies of Rockstar Games for their outstanding contribution to the Games Industry.

The Originality Award was won by Singstar/Singstar Party, the Children’s category was won by Donkey Konga and Pro Evolution Soccer 4 snagged the Sports Award.

In other categories, the Handheld Award went to Colin McRae Rally 2005, the Mobile category was won by Blue Tooth Biplanes, the Audio Award was won by Call of Duty: Finest Hour and Hitman: Contracts won the Original Music Award.

Grant Dean, Chairman of the BAFTA Games Committee said, “Last year was a great year for the Video Games industry. These awards reflect the enormous achievements, progress and diversity that we have seen in that time. ”