Thursday, May 31, 2012

THE BLANK THEATRE PRESENTS 20 YEARS OF WINNERS

SCENES, SONGS, AND SPEECHES FROM 20 YEARS OF THE YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL


ONE NIGHT ONLY: SUNDAY, JUNE 3 AT 6PM


Benefitting The Blank Theatre, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization, honorary host Jennifer Garner will welcome (in alphabetical order) Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Nicholas BrendonBrianna Brown, Gordon Clapp, Dale Dickey, Daisy Eagan, Thea Gill, Peri Gilpin, Gale Harold, Lenny Jacobson, Michael E. Knight, Tom Lenk, Scott Lowell, Allison Mack, Virginia Madsen, Angel Parker, Rex Smith, Jennifer Stone, DB Sweeney, Kirsten Vangsness, Gedde Watanabe, Virginia Williams, and Noah Wyle as they perform scenes, songs, and speeches from 20 years of The Blank’s Young Playwrights Festival. Artists subject to change. This one night only event will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 6pm, at Avalon Hollywood.

About The Blank Theatre
Started in 1990 by Founding Artistic Director Daniel Henning, The Blank Theatre is Hollywood’s regional theatre, consistently offering some of the most high quality and entertaining productions in the area. In its 21-year history, The Blank has won hundreds of awards including every major award in Los Angeles for Outstanding Production, such as the LA Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, LA Weekly, NAACP, and Back Stage Garland awards. The Blank has been at the forefront of providing high quality productions with a risk-taking sensibility and entertaining experiences. The Blank Theatre is committed to developing excellence in artistic talent, and providing the opportunity for artists to take bold risks. For more information, please visit www.TheBlank.com.

BENEFIT PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
DATE/TIME:   Sunday, June 3, at 6pm
ADMISSION:  $50 - $125. VIP packages available for $250-$350 (includes postperformance reception with the cast).
TICKETS:         Online at www.TheBlank.com or by calling (323) 661-9827.
LOCATION:     Avalon Hollywood, 1735 Vine Street, Hollywood, 90028.

SOURCE Ken Werther, PR 

Monday, May 14, 2012

STARZ CELEBRATES KIRK DOUGLAS AND THE PUBLICATION OF HIS NEW MEMOIR "I AM SPARTACUS! MAKING A FILM, BREAKING THE BLACKLIST”

DOUGLAS, STAR AND PRODUCER OF THE FILM, IS JOINED BY LIAM MCINTYRE AND STEVEN S. DEKNIGHT FROM THE STARZ ORIGINAL SERIES “SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE” AT TV ACADEMY’S LEONARD GOLDENSON THEATER ON MAY 31ST TO DISCUSS THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF "SPARTACUS" THEN AND NOW


Beverly Hills, Calif. – May, 14, 2012 - In a salute to Kirk Douglas, who first brought Spartacus to life in 1960, Liam McIntyre, of the STARZ Original Series “Spartacus: Vengeance” and its creator and producer Steven S. DeKnight will join the iconic star at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Goldenson Theater on Thursday, May 31st to discuss the cultural impact of “Spartacus” then and now.  The evening will celebrate the publication of his 10th book, "I Am Spartacus! Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist" which will be available as an eBook and in a paperback edition on June 12th from Open Road Media. (openroadmedia.com/kirkdouglas for full details).

"I am happy that Spartacus continues to live in the Starz series, but why didn't they ask me to play him?" Kirk Douglas says. "I made a film about freedom at a time when freedom was in jeopardy and a blacklist had been in effect in Hollywood for more than a decade. There are parallels in today's political climate, which is why a hero like Spartacus still resonates, I believe.  Also, it helps to look good in a loincloth!"


The overarching themes of “Spartacus” are certainly familiar to those who watch the Starz original series, but Steven S. DeKnight has created an entirely new vision, and McIntyre a new interpretation in bringing the legendary warrior to life. Based in both historical fact, as well as fiction, DeKnight and McIntyre will speak about the process and pressure of bringing an iconic character to the screen, the advantage of being able to tell that story on premium television, and the acclaimed production elements that give the show a distinctive look.

“Spartacus has a legacy like few other men,” notes McIntyre. “He has inspired millions of people, and entire social movements. It is my immeasurable honor to discuss such an iconic character with Mr. Douglas and Steven S. DeKnight, who have both breathed new life into this legend in exciting and ground breaking ways."


"I'm unbelievably humbled,” says DeKnight, “not only to have the opportunity to sit down with a Hollywood legend that has inspired me and countless others, but also to discuss how the story of Spartacus has resonated for thousands of years throughout the world."

“Spartacus” as damned by the Legion of Decency and members of the press, particularly influential columnist Hedda Hopper, called for a boycott because Douglas had given screen credit to blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo, who had written many award-winning films including Roman Holiday under pseudonyms. The public came anyway, including President John F. Kennedy who went to see it on February 21, 1961 at the Warner Theater in Washington and declared it a "fine film."

“Spartacus: Vengeance” recently completed a record-breaking year on STARZ and features McIntyre, Manu Bennett, Dustin Clare and Lucy Lawless.   Previous seasons, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”, and prequel, “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” have been airing in more than 150 countries.

About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® brands with approximately 20.1 million and 33.6 million subscribers respectively.  Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands.  Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).

SOURCE Starz Entertainment

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Film Independent Announces 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival Line-up & Closing Night Premiere

- World Premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' Magic Mike to Close the Festival -


- Dreamworks Pictures' People Like Us to World Premiere -


- 19 Films Chosen for Narrative & Documentary Competition -


LOS ANGELES, May 1, 2012 -- Today the Los Angeles Film Festival, in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced the Closing Night film and official US and international selections for the 2012 Festival. Guest Director, Artists in Residence and Conversations with special guests will be announced later this month. The 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of nearly 200 feature films, short films, and music videos, representing more than 30 countries, along with signature programs such as the Filmmaker Retreat, Poolside Chats, Coffee Talks, music events and more. As previously announced, Woody Allen's To Rome With Love will be Opening Night, sponsored by Virgin America, and Lorene Scafaria's Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Ava DuVernay's Middle of Nowhere and Benh Zeitlin's Beasts of the Southern Wild were selected for the Galas section.

Returning to downtown Los Angeles and headquartered at L.A. LIVE for a third year, the Festival will run from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 24. Now in its eighteenth year, the Festival is widely recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American and international cinema, and is produced by Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that also produces the Spirit Awards.

"There is nothing more satisfying than shining a spotlight on so many unique films from both seasoned and emerging filmmakers. Come experience the wonder of Beasts of the Southern Wild, let Call Me Kuchu break your heart and call you to action, or simply be entertained by Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey in Magic Mike," said Festival Director Stephanie Allain. "These are just a few of the diverse stories that bring us into new worlds or put a fresh twist on familiar ones. 'Exclusively for Everyone' isn't just a tag line. It's an invitation to experience both the specific and the universal, and hopefully come away entertained and enlightened. Enjoy!"

"We've got a marvelous mix this year that reflects the incredible diversity of world cinema and of Los Angeles itself. I'm excited to have such giants as Woody Allen, Steven Soderbergh and Andre Techine alongside some amazing first-time filmmakers whose names you'll be hearing a lot in the future. We want to offer festival-goers stories and visions they haven't seen before and a chance to meet the most creative minds working in movies. It's going to be a fun and mind-expanding ten days," said Festival Artistic Director David Ansen.

The Festival will end its festivities with the World Premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' Magic Mike , directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Reid Carolin and starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias. Set in the world of male strippers, the dramatic comedy follows Mike (Tatum) as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money. Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film nationwide on June 29, 2012.

Dreamworks Pictures' People Like Us will have its World Premiere amongst the Summer Showcase screenings. The film is directed by Alex Kurtzman, written by Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert, and stars Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D'Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer. In a story inspired by true events, Sam (Pine), a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, is tasked with fulfilling his estranged father's last wishes - delivering an inheritance to a sister he never knew he had. Dreamworks Pictures will release the film on June 29, 2012.

As part of the Los Angeles Film Festival's free outdoor programming, there will be a Dirty Dancing Dance-A-Long at California Plaza on June 22 at 7pm to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film. Produced in cooperation with Dance Camera West and Grand Performances, there will be free salsa lessons by Contra-Tiempo, a screening of the film with special guests and a shadow cast consisting of performers from local dance companies to dance on stage below the screening during key scenes.

This year, the Festival received 5,283 submissions from filmmakers around the world, compared to 5,025 last year. The final selections represent 30 World, North American and US premieres, which includes premiere status for films previously announced. 19 of the premieres are in the Narrative and Documentary Competition sections.

Passes are currently on sale to Film Independent members and the general public. In addition to screenings and events, Festival passes provide access to a series of networking receptions and entry to the Filmmaker Lounge, where Festival pass holders can interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. General admission tickets to individual films go on sale beginning May 29. Contact the Ticket Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit LAFilmFest.com.

For the seventh year, the Los Angeles Times will serve as the Festival's Presenting Media Sponsor and will once again produce the Official Film Guide, the comprehensive source for all movie info, screenings, locations and related special events. The Film Guide will top the paper on Sunday, June 10 in Los Angeles and Orange County, and will be made available throughout downtown Los Angeles during the ten-day event.

Narrative Competition (10) : The Narrative Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Filmmaker Award. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors, and films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature or Best International Feature.
  • All Is Well , Pocas Pascoal - Portugal - NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
  • Breakfast with Curtis , Laura Colella - WORLD PREMIERE
  • The Compass is Carried by the Dead Man , Arturo Pons - Mexico - NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
  • Crazy and Thief , Cory McAbee - NORTH PREMIERE
  • Dead Man's Burden , Jared Moshe - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Four , Joshua Sanchez - WORLD PREMIERE
  • A Night Too Young , Olmo Omerzu - Czech Republic - NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
  • Pincus , David Fenster - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Red Flag , Alex Karpovsky - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Thursday till Sunday , Dominga Sotomayor - Chile - NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Documentary Competition (9): The Documentary Competition is comprised of films made by talented emerging filmmakers that compete for the Documentary Award. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors, and films in this section are also eligible for the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature or Best International Feature.
  • 25 to Life , Mike Brown - WORLD PREMIERE
  • A Band Called Death , Jeff Howlett, Mark Covino - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwives , Sara Lamm, Mary Wigmore - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Call Me Kuchu , Katherine Fairfax Wright, Malika Zouhali-Worrall - US PREMIERE
  • Drought , Everado Gonzalez - Mexico - US PREMIERE
  • The Iran Job , Till Schauder - USA/Germany/Iran - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Sun Kissed , Maya Stark, Adi Lavy - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Vampira and Me , R. H. Greene - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Words of Witness, Mai Iskander - Egypt/USA - US PREMIERE

International Showcase (15) : The International Showcase highlights innovative independent narrative and documentary features from outside of the United States. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.
  • Bestiaire , Denis Cote - Canada
  • Bunohan: Return to Murder , Dain Said - Malaysia (Oscilloscope Pictures)
  • Canicula , Jose Alvarez - Mexico
  • The First Man , Gianni Amelio - France - US PREMIERE
  • The Last Elvis , Armando Bo - Argentina
  • Neighboring Sounds , Kleber Mendona Filho - Brazil (The Cinema Guild)
  • On the Edge , Leila Kilani - France/Morocco/Germany
  • P-047 , Kongdej Jaturanrasamee - Thailand
  • Return to Burma , Midi Z. - Taiwan/Myanmar
  • Sister , Ursula Meier - Switzerland (Adopt Films) - NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
  • The Strawberry Tree , Simone Rapisarda Casanova - Canada/Cuba/Italy
  • Summer Games , Rolando Colla - Switzerland
  • Teddy Bear , Mads Matthiesen - Denmark (Film Movement)
  • Unforgivable , Andre Techine - France (Strand Releasing)
  • Without Gorky , Cosima Spender - UK
Summer Showcase (16) : The Summer Showcase section offers an advance look at this summer's most talked about independent film releases from the festival circuit. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature, Best Narrative Feature, or Best Documentary Feature.
  • About Face , Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (HBO Films)
  • Beauty Is Embarrassing , Neil Berkeley
  • Big Easy Express , Emmett Malloy
  • Celeste and Jesse Forever , Lee Toland Krieger (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • Gayby , Jonathan Lisecki (Wolfe Releasing)
  • Gimme the Loot , Adam Leon (IFC Films)
  • House I Live In , Eugene Jarecki
  • It's a Disaster , Todd Berger - WORLD PREMIERE
  • La Camioneta: The Journey of One American School Bus , Mark Kendall - USA/Guatemala
  • Neil Young Journeys , Jonathan Demme (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • An Oversimplification of her Beauty , Terence Nance - USA/France
  • People Like Us , Alex Kurtzman (Dreamworks Pictures) - WORLD PREMIERE
  • The Queen of Versailles , Lauren Greenfield (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Reportero , Bernardo Ruiz
  • Robot and Frank , Jake Schreier (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
  • Searching for Sugar Man , Malik Bendjelloul (Sony Pictures Classics)
Community Screenings (6) : These films will be presented free to the public. New films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature or Best Documentary Feature.
  • Dirty Dancing (1987) , Emile Ardolino - Grand Performances Screening
  • E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) , Steven Spielberg - FIGat7th Screening
  • G-Dog , Freida Mock - WORLD PREMIERE
  • The Invisible War , Kirby Dick (Cinedigm)
  • LUV , Sheldon Candis - Project Involve Screening (Indomina)
  • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) , Nicholas Meyer - FIGat7th Screening

The Beyond (3) : The Beyond offers films that dare to be different. Films in this section are eligible for Audience Awards for Best International Feature or Best Narrative Feature.
  • The History of Future Folk , J. Anderson Mitchell, Jeremy Kipp Walker - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Juan of the Dead , Alejandro Brugues - Cuba
  • Saturday Morning Massacre , Spencer Parsons - WORLD PREMIERE

Retro (3):
  • Ballads, Blues and Bluegrass (1961) , Alan Lomax - WORLD PREMIERE
  • Banishment (2007) , Andrey Zvyagintsev - Russia - LAFCA's The Film That Got Away
  • The Breaking Point (1950) , Michael Curtiz - Film Foundation Screening
Short Films (48): Shorts are shown before features and as part of four short film programs. With their diverse and complex content, these films shine brilliantly. Most short films, domestic and international, will compete for prizes in Narrative, Documentary, and Animation/Experimental categories. The winner is determined by a panel of jurors. An Audience Award for Best Short Film is also presented.
  • Program 1-4
Future Filmmakers Showcase: High School Shorts (31) : These two programs of shorts are made by high school students from around the country, featuring work by the next generation of filmmakers.
  • Programs 1-2

Music Videos (40): The Music Video Showcase consists of two programs. Eclectic Mix is a visual mix tape of this year's best independent music videos with a few innovative major label artists thrown in for good measure. As a Special Focus, DANIELS and Walter Robot go head to head in an event peppered with music videos, shorts, production secrets, feats of strength, audience challenges and possible mime. Music videos will compete for an Audience Award.
  • Eclectic Mix 1
  • Thunderdome: DANIELS vs Walter Robot

PLEASE REFERENCE THE ADDENDUM FOR ALL FILM TITLES, SYNOPSES, CAST, AND CREDITS FOR ALL FEATURE FILMS.
ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
Now in its eighteenth year, the Los Angeles Film Festival, supported by L.A. LIVE and The Los Angeles Times, is widely recognized as a world-class event, showcasing the best in new American and international cinema and providing the movie-loving public with access to some of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers, film industry professionals, and emerging talent from around the world.

The Festival features unique signature programs including the Filmmaker Retreat, Poolside Chats, Coffee Talks, Music Events and more. Additionally, the Festival screens short films created by high school students and has a special section devoted to music videos.

Nearly 200 features, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 30 countries, make up the main body of the Festival.

The Festival hosts juried cash awards for best narrative and documentary features, best narrative, documentary and animated short film, and a jury award for best performance in the narrative competition. Audience awards are also presented to best documentary, narrative and international feature, short film and music video.

The Los Angeles Film Festival is presented in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, Principal and Opening Night Sponsor Virgin America and Platinum sponsors Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group and EFILM and Nokia. Special support is provided by FOCUS FORWARD - a partnership between GE and CINELAN, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Official Screening Venue is Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14. The Los Angeles Athletic Club is the Official Host Hotel and Virgin America is the Official Airline Partner. WireImage is the Official Photography Agency and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.

More information can be found at www.LAFilmFest.com .

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a non-profit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent's Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff, and constituents, is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional, or a film lover.

Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent's Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project:Involve is Film Independent's signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.

ABOUT L.A. LIVE
L.A. LIVE is a 4 million square foot / $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles sports & entertainment district adjacent to STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center featuring Club Nokia, a 2,300 capacity live music venue, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, a 7,100-seat live theatre, a 54-story, 1001-room convention "headquarters" destination (featuring The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE hotels and 224 luxury condominiums - The Ritz Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE - all in a single tower), the GRAMMY Museum, the 14-screen Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 theatre, "broadcast" facilities for ESPN along with entertainment, residential, restaurant and office space.

Visit L.A. LIVE today at www.lalive.com .

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 1.9 million and 2.9 million on Sunday, more than 17 million unique latimes.com visitors monthly and a combined print and online local weekly audience of 4.4 million. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for more than 130 years.

The Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG) businesses and affiliates also include The Envelope, Times Community News, LA, Los Angeles Times Magazine and Hoy Los Angeles which, combined with the flagship Los Angeles Times, reach approximately 5.1 million or 38% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. LATMG also owns and operates California Community News as well as Tribune Direct's west coast division and is part of Tribune Company, one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information is available at http://latimes.com/aboutus.

SOURCE Film Independent

Bestselling Author And Mom Brenda Novak Writes Her Own Happy Ending - A Cure For Her Son

Thousands support her Online Auction benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., May 1, 2012 -- Brenda Novak masterfully infuses suspense, mystery and romance into her bestselling novels, but it's her real-life passions and endeavors that make for the best page-turners. Throughout the month of May in honor of Mother's Day, thousands of concerned individuals will become part of her story by participating in her annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research, which takes place at BrendaNovak.com and benefits the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute. A heroine in her own right, Novak manages to raise five kids and have a successful career and marriage, all while battling her son's type 1 diabetes for the past 10 years and raising $1.3 million to help find a cure.

"I owe so much to my readers and other literary fans who support this effort every year, and to my colleagues who donate their time and more to help find a cure for my son, Thad, and millions of others," said Novak, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author who has penned more than 40 books. Her latest small town contemporary romance series will debut in September 2012.

But it's her role as a mother that drives her success with the auction. Thad, 15, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 5. "I have a reason to believe that the Diabetes Research Institute is on the right path to a cure," said Novak, who traveled to Miami with her husband, Ted, to tour the DRI's state-of-the-art facility. "I will do everything I can to make sure that it happens as soon as possible," she said.

Attracting more than 5,000 bidders throughout the country and beyond, the auction boasts an array of one-of-a-kind items due to Novak's close connections in the literary world, such as lunches and private meetings with prominent authors like Steve Berry, Barry Eisler , Eloisa James and Janet Evonovich . Famed romance novelist Nicholas Sparks has even donated his entire backlist, including 17 autographed books. As always, the auction has a variety of must-have gadgets like Nook tablets, Kindles and iPads, plus world-class getaways, jewelry, popular theme baskets and more. The bidding starts at $2 for all items; participants can literally end up with bargains beyond their dreams!

"It's truly remarkable what Brenda has been able to accomplish with her Online Auction in just eight years," said Robert A. Pearlman , president and CEO of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. "Her dedication is inspiring."

To participate in Brenda Novak's Online Auction for Diabetes Research, which benefits the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute, go to BrendaNovak.com to register, view items and bid. The auction closes on May 31, 2012.

About Brenda Novak
It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak's author career. "I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup to get them to sleep while I was away," Brenda says. "It was then I decided that I needed to do something from home." Now she is a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller, and many of her books have been designated an RT Book Review Magazine "Top Pick" and have gone on to place in contests such as the Romance Writers of America Rita Award, the National Readers' Choice, the Bookseller's Best, the Write Touch Readers' Award, and the Book Buyer's Best. Brenda has given writing workshops at various RWA events, RT Book Review Magazine conventions, California Fiction Writer meetings, women's groups and library events. For more about Brenda, visit www.brendanovak.com, where you can find excerpts of her work, prize drawings, book trailers, freebies and information about her annual on-line auction for diabetes research which she holds every May in honor of her son and the many others who face this terrible disease.

About the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation
The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute leads the world in cure-focused research. As the largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to curing diabetes, the DRI is aggressively working to shrink the timeline toward the discovery of a biological cure for this disease. Having already shown that diabetes can be reversed through islet transplantation, the DRI is building upon these promising outcomes by bridging cell-based therapies with emerging technologies. The Diabetes Research Institute was created for one reason – to cure diabetes – which is and will continue to be its singular focus until that goal is reached. For the millions of people affected by diabetes, the DRI is the best hope for a cure. For more information, call 1-800-321-3437 or visit DiabetesResearch.org.

SOURCE Diabetes Research Institute Foundation

50 States, 50 Voice-Over Roles Up For Grabs To Anyone In New Children's Fantasy Movie

Minnesota authors DC Johnson and Ron Rowan, along with Signal Pictures, bring latest novel to life as a new animated movie through The Golden Movie Ticket Dream.


MAPLE GROVE, Minn., May 1, 2012  -- The Golden Movie Ticket Dream contest will be awarding 50 men, women and children of all ages and from all 50 states across America a once-in-a-lifetime voice-over role in a new, family-friendly, animated movie based on the new children's fantasy novel, "The Secret Of MeadowBrook Orphanage," co-authored by DC Johnson and Ron Rowan.

The Golden Movie Ticket Dream requires no fee to audition, no acting agent and no voice-over experience at all. As the authors state, "If you can speak, you can win!" The 50 winners of this nationwide voice-over audition will be awarded their respective state's Golden Movie Ticket, which guarantees the winner the opportunity to fulfill a movie dream with a movie voice-over role.

"We believe everyone will be excited to audition throughout America, from California to New York, as everyone who desires to be a voice in a movie, deserves a chance at fulfilling that dream!" says DC Johnson.

Details about this contest and how to audition for a movie role can be found at www.TheGoldenMovieTicketDream.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
DC Johnson is a Minnesota author who has written playful children's stories to stories about vampires. Her vampire series, "Memoirs Of A Vampire Countess" currently contains three novels with a fourth one planned for release later 2012 or 2013. Her first novel in this series has been signed to a movie deal and is expected to be released in 2013. Ron Rowan is a Minnesota author and a web/marketing professional. He is also the co-founder of the creative entity Rowan Creations (www.RowanCreations.com), who are currently authoring a children's Christmas story releasing later in 2012.

ABOUT SIGNAL PICTURES
Signal Pictures is a motion picture production company committed to finding great stories and telling them well on film. Founded in 1999 by Chris Gegax, Signal Pictures.

SOURCE DC Johnson Books