THEY HAVE WATCHED OUR PLANET.
THEY HAVE STUDIED OUR CULTURE.
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED OUR WEAKNESSES.
AND THEY HAVE WAITED 70 YEARS FOR REVENGE….

ITS INGLORIOUS BASTERDS MEETS SPACEBALLS AS THE REICH STRIKES BACK IN AN EPIC SCI-FI COMEDY AND WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE PHENOMENON:

Iron Sky

Street Date: October 2, 2012   | BLU-RAY/DVD srp: $24.98/$19.98


In the last moments of World War II, a secret Nazi space program evaded destruction by fleeing to the Dark Side of the Moon.  During the following 70 years of utter secrecy, the Nazis constructed a gigantic space fortress with a massive armada of flying saucers.  Their plan: travel back to Earth and re-colonize the planet.  And in 2018, mankinds greatest enemy is no longer history as the Reich strikes back in this eagerly-anticipated worldwide box office phenomenon which has enjoyed a U.S. theatrical release in over 75 markets.

When American astronaut James Washington (Christopher Kirby) puts down his Lunar Lander a bit too close to the secret Nazi base, the Moon Führer (Udo Kier) decides the glorious moment of retaking the Earth has arrived sooner than expected. Washington claims the mission is just a publicity stunt for the President of the United States (Stephanie Paul), but what else could the man be but a scout for the imminent attack by Earth forces?

The Fourth Reich must act, so two Nazi officers, ruthless Klaus Adler (Götz Otto) and idealistic Renate Richter (Julia Dietze), travel to Earth to prepare the invasion.  In the end when the Moon Nazi UFO armada darkens the skies, ready to strike at the unprepared Earth, every man, woman and nation alike, must re-evaluate their priorities.

CAST
·         Julia Dietze (1 ½ Ritter)
·         Götz Otto (Tomorrow Never Dies, Schindlers List, Downfall)
·         Christopher Kirby (The Matrix Reloaded & Revolutions, Daybreakers)
·         Udo Kier (Dogville, Dancer in the Dark),
·         Peta Sergeant (Satisfaction)
·         Stephanie Paul (Separation City, Film School Confidential)
·         Tilo Prückner (The Neverending Story, Die Fälscher)

BONUS PROGRAMMING
·         Making Of Featurette
·         Behind-the-Scenes Footage
·         Teasers and Theatrical Trailer
·         Audio Commentary with Director and Producer

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Iron Sky
Catalog #:  (BD) EOE-BD-7253/(DVD) EOE-DV-7252
Running Time: 93 mins.
Genre:  Sci-fi/Comedy
Aspect Ratio: 16 x 9 (2.35:1)
Audio: (BD) DTS-HD Master Audio/(DVD) 5.1 Dolby Digital
Language:  English, German with English subtitles
Rating: R

AMC’s unscripted series “Comic Book Men,” returns for its second season on Sunday, October 14 at 11:30 PM ET/PT.

"Comic Book Men," which critics called “genial, good-natured, eccentric and dry-witted” (Newsday) and “a celebration of the deeply particular personalities involved when geeky merchandise changes hands,” (The New York Times), follows Smith and his crew of fan boys turned pop culture experts who live, work, and breath comic books.

Over the sixteen episode season, watch the guys behind Smith’s iconic comic shop, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, geek-out over rare memorabilia and discover treasures of the comic collecting world. Realize your inner superhero and satisfy your fan boy fantasies by witnessing Smith, Walt, Mike, Bryan and Ming tape their outrageous podcasts where they tackle the burning questions all fans grapple with: what is the ultimate superpower and how best to relive the nostalgia of your childhood.

For additional information visit: Comic Book Men on AMC.
On Facebook: ComicBookMenAMC .
On Twitter: ComicBookMenAMC .

 

SOURCE FerenComm on behalf of AMC

ACADEMY TO CELEBRATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHAPLIN'S "LIMELIGHT"

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a 60th anniversary screening of "Limelight," Charlie Chaplin's final masterpiece, on Wednesday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Presented as an installment of the Jack Oakie Celebration of Comedy in Film, the evening will welcome co-stars Claire Bloom and Norman Lloyd, who will discuss their work with Chaplin and the influence he had on their distinguished careers.

"Limelight" offers a poignant portrait of the music halls where Chaplin, one of the screen's first comedic geniuses, developed his craft. Produced just before Chaplin's re-entry permit to the United States was revoked during his travels abroad, the film is a bittersweet time capsule, reflecting the mindset of an artist whose world was changing around him.

Featuring Bloom in what was only her second film, "Limelight" is a tender and often humorous love story that revels in the details of life on the stage. A brief, but tantalizing, scene between Chaplin and his closest comedic rival, Buster Keaton, is yet another facet of the film's charm.

The Jack Oakie Celebration of Comedy in Film provides an opportunity for established filmmakers and historians to share their experiences and to discuss the specific challenges and delights of the comedy film genre.

The lecture series is named in memory of character actor Jack Oakie, whose career included vaudeville, Broadway musicals and 87 pictures, most of them comedies or musical comedies. His career included such notable films as "Once in a Lifetime," "Million Dollar Legs" and "It Happened Tomorrow," and was crowned by his portrayal of a Mussolini-like head of state in "The Great Dictator," for which he received an Academy Award® nomination.

Tickets for "Limelight" are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office, or by mail. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ticketed seating is unreserved.

For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.

GUILLERMO DEL TORO TO HOST "UNIVERSAL’S LEGACY OF HORROR" OPENING AT THE ACADEMY

The Academy is hosting an October-long celebration of classic horror films in honor of "Universal’s Legacy of Horror"- part of the studio’s year-long 100th anniversary celebration.

"The Bride of Frankenstein " (1935) and "Dracula " (1931)
Tuesday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

Hosted by writer-director Guillermo del Toro
Del Toro, a true aficionado of the horror-genre will host the kick-off screening celebrating the studio that defined "horror films. " The Academy will screen newly restored prints from Universal.

"The Man Who Laughs " (1928)
Monday, October 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

Special guests scheduled include producer Chris Weitz, grandson of producer, Paul Kohner. This rarely screened silent horror feature stars Conrad Veidt and Mary Philbin.

"The Wolf Man " (1941) and "An American Werewolf in London " (1981)
Tuesday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

Special guests scheduled include director John Landis, Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker, producer George Folsey, Jr. and actor David Naughton from "An American Werewolf in London."

"Creature from the Black Lagoon " (1954, in 3D) and "The Invisible Man " (1933)
Tuesday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

Special guests scheduled include actress Julie Adams, who played Kay Lawrence in "Creature from the Black Lagoon."

"The Birds " (1963)
Tuesday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

Special guests scheduled include actresses Tippi Hedren, who played Melanie Daniels, and Veronica Cartwright, who played Cathy Brenner, in the film.

"Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein " (1948) and "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken " (1966)
Saturday, October 27, at 2 p.m.
Linwood Dunn Theater
1313 Vine Street, Hollywood

Special guests scheduled include actress Joan Staley, who played Alma Parker, in "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken."

"The Incredible Shrinking Man " (1957) and "Tarantula " (1955)
Saturday, October 27, at 2 p.m.
Oscars Outdoors
1341 Vine Street, Hollywood

"The Phantom of the Opera " (1925)
Tuesday, October 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills

In conjunction with the screening series, the Academy will present "Universal’s Legacy of Horror: A Centennial Exhibition," which includes rare posters, stills and other artifacts celebrating Universal’s distinctive contributions to the classic horror genre and the studio’s founding 100 years ago. The exhibition will run in the Academy Grand Lobby throughout October. Admission is free.

Series passes for "Universal’s Legacy of Horror" (excluding the Saturday double features) are $20 for the general public and $15 for Academy members and students with valid ID. Tickets for individual screenings are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office, or by mail. Ticketed seating is unreserved. For more information call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org

ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards–in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners–Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
www.twitter.com/TheAcademy

SOURCE The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Neal Adams, Award Winning Artist and Creator, Attending Long Beach Comic & Horror Con

Son Joel, Emmy Award-winning animation designer (King of the Hill, Hulk, and Nascar) will accompany Adams at LBCC all weekend, November 3-4, 2012

LONG BEACH, CA (September 24, 2012) – Long Beach Comic & Horror Con (LBCC) is proud to welcome award-winning artist and creator Neal Adams to the fourth annual LBCC convention. Representing Continuity Graphic, Neal Adams will be accompanied Continuity's Producer/Director Marilyn Adams. The Adams family will appear at LBCC both days of the show, Saturday and Sunday, November 3-4, 2012.

Recognized the world over, Neal Adams was and is one of the pioneers in the comics business. He has worked on major titles such as X-Men, Batman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Deadman, Superman, and Adventure Comics. Neal will be at LBCC representing his own company, Continuity Comics.

Joel Adams is the eldest son of the famed comic book artist. He has worked on titles such as Ms. Mystic, Bucky O’Hare and Young Captain Adventure. His career also spans character designer on top animated shows and licenses, including the Emmy Award-winning “King of the Hill,” “The Hulk,” and “Harry Potter.” Today, Joel is overseeing his own licensed property, “Lilz,” which has been showing-up all over the internet and beyond.

Said Neal Adams: “Comic Book conventions have become the modern day circus, and in Long Beach November 3rd and 4th, the circus will be coming to town. My son Joel and I, will be honored to be guests of what bodes to be, the most incredible 'comic book' convention on the West Coast.

“I am told, as before, this is going to be a true comic book convention. As you probably know, comic books are taking over the world. The world of entertainment, and the stars of that world are coming to Long Beach.

“Me, I will do my best to entertain, draw for you, and talk to you about the future of comics in the world. You can pre-order sketches, or have them done at the convention, (time allowing).

“There will be costume contests, and any leftover Halloween madness you may have had from Halloween the week before, you can spend with joy at this convention. And when Monday rolls around, and people tell you what they did that weekend, you will be able to tell them that you went to the greatest Comic Book Convention on the West Coast. I’ll see you there.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Neal, Joel, and Josh make their first appearance at Long Beach.” says Phil Lawrence, Co-Founder and Sales Director. “This will be a rare treat for all of the attendees. Neal is a living legend, and the show cannot get here fast enough for us! He truly embodies what the show is about – creator-owned, creativity, and the fan experience.”

Offering a weekend packed with special guests and exhibitors and engaging panels, Long Beach Comic & Horror Con will be open on Saturday, November 3 from 10:00am to 7:00pm, and  from10:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday, November 4.
Join LBCC on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and information about this year’s show. Find Rick Marshall on Twitter and Facebook for more information about "The Marshall Report."

About Long Beach Comic & Horror Con
Long Beach Comic & Horror Con is a true comic con focused on creating a fantastic experience for both fans and exhibitors in the Long Beach, Anaheim and Los Angeles areas.  With something for everyone, the fourth annual Long Beach Comic & Horror Con will be held November 3 and 4, 2012 at the Long Beach Convention Center. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit longbeachcomiccon.com.

Academy to Celebrate The Music of James Bond

Beverly Hills, CA – As part of the global 50th anniversary celebration of James Bond, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present "The Music of Bond: The First 50 Years," on Friday, October 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Held 50 years to the day after the U.K. opening of the first Bond film, "Dr. No," the evening pays homage to the memorable title songs and indelible scores that have become as celebrated as the films themselves.

Hosted by music historian and writer Jon Burlingame, the program will feature many of the people who made the music, including composer Bill Conti ("For Your Eyes Only"), songwriter Carole Bayer Sager ("Nobody Does It Better" from "The Spy Who Loved Me"), lyricist Don Black (title songs for "Thunderball," "Diamonds Are Forever," "The Man with the Golden Gun" and "The World Is Not Enough") and guitarist Vic Flick, who laid down the famous guitar lick for the "James Bond Theme."

There also will be a special video message from actor Roger Moore.

Over the 22 films released to date as part of the official James Bond series, there have been several constants: suave but deadly leading men, gorgeous and sexy Bond girls, over-the-top villains and incredible music. Bond theme songs, sung by such leading performers as Nancy Sinatra ("You Only Live Twice"), Shirley Bassey ("Goldfinger"), Paul McCartney and Wings ("Live and Let Die"), Carly Simon ("Nobody Does It Better") and Sheena Easton ("For Your Eyes Only"), consistently landed on the pop music charts. Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" became the first Bond song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Those notable elements combined with the remarkable scores by composers including Conti, John Barry, Marvin Hamlisch and David Arnold has resulted in a body of work that continues to play a major role in popular film culture.

Tickets for "The Music of Bond" are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office, or by mail. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ticketed seating is unreserved.

For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.

Artsploitation Films Announces New Acquisitions: COMBAT GIRLS and VANISHING WAVES

Films Screened at Austin’s Fantastic Fest!

Both Set for 2013 Theatrical and DVD Releases

LOS ANGELES (September 21, 2012) – Artsploitation Films, founded earlier this year by TLA Entertainment Inc. president Raymond Murray, announces the acquisition of two new feature films, the German drama COMBAT GIRLS and the Lithuanian science fiction film VANISHING WAVES.

Both films screened at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX. COMBAT GIRLS on Friday, September 21 and VANISHING WAVES September 23, 2012. Both films will see limited theatrical releases and full DVD releases complete with special features in 2013 courtesy of Artsploitation Films.

A major success in its native Germany earlier this year, COMBAT GIRLS is an uncompromising and powerful drama about two young women caught up in the disturbing rise of neo-Nazism in contemporary Europe. This gritty, violent, and intense teen saga is exciting filmmaking with direction, cinematography and certainly the lead performances of the two young actresses, firing on all cylinders.

The story follows two young women in the world of right-wing neo-Nazi fascist youth in today’s German suburbs: 20-year-old Marisa is a hardcore believer, a semi-skinhead who’s been in the movement for years and whose body is adorned with Nazi tattoos, whereas 14-year-old Svenja is a naïve newcomer, a sheltered, spoiled, straight-A student who only becomes fascinated with the group because of her neo-Nazi boyfriend.

They begin as attention-seeking adversaries but become best friends, though their loyalty is shaken when Marisa decides she wants to leave the movement behind, a decision helped by her unlikely friendship with a scared young Afghan boy whose brother she injured in a hate crime.

A multiple award winner – for director David Wnendt and actresses Alina Levshin and Jella Hasse – at the German Film Awards, the Bavarian Film Awards, and the Munich Film Festival, COMBAT GIRLS inspired Fantastic Fest programmer Rodney Perkins to state, “COMBAT GIRLS pulls no punches. The film submerges the audience in the underground world of skinheads and racist ideologues. This attention to authenticity is not done for the purpose of sensationalism, but to support the film's compelling story and complex characters. COMBAT GIRLS is a powerful nuanced work by a dynamic new voice in German cinema.”


In his commentary on the film, Olivier van Blockstael – sales representative for the film’s German company East/West Distribution - said “We discovered COMBAT GIRLS just before Cannes 2011 and, although it was a first time director film, with a topic which at first sight could seem very specific to Germany, we saw a great international potential: at a time where nationalism is raising all over Europe we knew that the international audience would be interested, especially because it's the first film that approaches this topic through a female point of view. The incredible festival career of the film (with dozens of prestigious awards all over the world) and the number of territories where the film has been or will be released proved us right.”

The film will continue to screen at festivals throughout the rest of the year, and then Artsploitation, owner of all North American rights, will give it a general theatrical release in early 2013.

---

The self-described “erotic science fiction” film VANISHING WAVES is nothing short of a genre masterpiece. The film had its American premiere at Fantastic Fest, and then Artsploitation Films – owner of U.S. rights – will be theatrically releasing it in the first quarter of 2013.

A bold, visionary work of science fiction cinema that recalls the genre in its cerebral 1960s and 70s golden age, just as it simultaneously forges new territory with its unique fusion of emotional melodrama and hallucinatory widescreen spectacle, VANISHING WAVES is one of the most accomplished and distinctive European films in recent memory.

The second solo feature from Lithuanian director Kristina Buozyte, following her acclaimed 2008 debut The Collectress (which will be included on Artsploitation’s Blu-ray release of this new film), VANISHING WAVES confirms Buozyte as a major young talent whose frequently breathtaking visual and technical gifts are thankfully also matched by her interest in complex characterizations, adventurous narratives, and challenging themes.

Her new film is a science fiction romance that is equally occupied by the erotic as well as the fantastic. Lukas (Marius Jampolskis) is assisting a scientific research team by functioning as a patient in a series of heavily monitored (and medicated) sensory deprivation experiments wherein he is attempting to make some form of contact with the subject, Aurora (Jurga Jutaite), a young woman who has been locked in a comatose state for some time.

Doctors initially hope for just a vague reaffirmation of consciousness, but the experiment takes an unexpected twist when Lukas and Aurora actually develop a strong psychic link in their mutually altered forms of consciousness…and their link quickly evolves into a romantic, sexually charged relationship. As Lukas hides this data from his researchers, he and Aurora meet secretly and passionately in a series of surreal dreamscapes created by their collective minds, but their union is tragically doomed to collapse around them.

Exploring the tantalizing possibilities of forming a true, all-encompassing bond with one’s lover, VANISHING WAVES is hypnotic, erotic, wholly engrossing, and wildly thought-provoking cinema that transcends any perceived limitations of the science fiction genre, becoming one of the year’s most provocative films in the process. Director Kristina Buozyte remarks, “Artsploitation is a gateway for provocative, challenging and outstanding films to the U.S. VANISHING WAVES is delighted to be the part of this exclusive and fast growing family.”

Matteo Lovadina, the CEO of French sales agency Reel Suspects, said he “is thrilled about the theatrical release of his festival winner VANISHING WAVES by one of the most promising, edgy and high-profiled new distribution companies in the U.S. Artsploitation is the perfect American home for this powerful cinematic tale. Raymond Murray has shown a pure enthusiasm for this film since the first screening in Cannes.”

And Fantastic Fest programmer Luke Mullen wrote “VANISHING WAVES is a powerful sci-fi drama, with roots in films like The Cell and Inception while also calling to mind elements of Almodovar's Talk to Her. The film features beautiful cinematography along with a fantastic score that perfectly underscore a great story. Modern, slick and stylish, VANISHING WAVES is an incredible cinematic journey that will draw you in and keep you wanting more.”

You may view the VANISHING WAVES trailer here: http://www.artsploitationfilms.com/vanishing-waves/ .

ABOUT FANTASTIC FEST
Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from all around the world. In years past the festival has been home to world premieres of THERE WILL BE BLOOD, APOCALYPTO, ZOMBIELAND, THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 2 and RED while the guest roster has included such talent as Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Ryan Reynolds, Karl Urban, Josh Hartnett, The RZA, Dolph Lundgren, Jemaine Clement, Paul Rudd, Bill Pullman, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kevin Smith, Jon Favreau, George Romero, Darren Aronofsky and Mike Judge. Fantastic Fest also features world, national and regional premieres of new, up-and-coming genre films. The festival has launched and propelled the buzz for international genre hits like THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE, MONSTERS, TIMECRIMES and TROLLHUNTER. Fantastic Fest is held each year at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar in Austin, Texas. During his Keynote Address at the International Film Festival Summit, Variety president and publisher Charlie Koones listed Fantastic Fest in a list of “10 Film Festivals We Love,” alongside industry heavy-hitters such as Cannes, Toronto and Telluride. Fantastic Fest was also named as one of the “25 coolest film festivals” and the “25 film festivals worth the entry fee” by Moviemaker Magazine.

Jim Lentz, President & CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, to Open 2012 LA Auto Show with Motor Press Guild Keynote

LOS ANGELES, CA - September 19, 2012 - Jim Lentz, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, will kick off the Los Angeles Auto Show Press Days with the Motor Press Guild (MPG) keynote address on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 at 8 a.m.

The MPG presentation and Lentz's address are open to all credentialed media attending the Show's Press Days Nov. 28 and 29, and will conclude with a Q-and-A session.

As the global auto industry continues to face dramatic change and enormous challenges, Mr. Lentz will address how Toyota is facing a new automotive era and collaborating with other automakers and other industries to adapt to new conditions. Lentz also will discuss a global shift in Toyota's thinking as the company's North American operations gain expertise and the authority to develop new vehicles entirely in North America, starting with the new Avalon.

Lentz, who has been with Toyota for three decades, has the distinction of being the first American to serve in the position of CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, USA. He was named to the position earlier this year. The industry veteran also sits on the company's board of directors, is the senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America (TMA), the company's operations holding company, and serves as a managing officer for the parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan.

"The many capacities in which Jim Lentz has served with Toyota makes him an ideal source to provide keen insights into the current dynamics of our industry. We look forward to hearing his perspective on how Toyota is navigating this rapidly changing marketplace," said Laura Burstein, president of the Motor Press Guild.

Under Lentz's leadership, Toyota Motor Sales, USA is currently enjoying a more than 40 percent growth in sales over last year while simultaneously maintaining a leading role in new technologies including fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid designs and connected car platforms such as Toyota's Entune.

About the Los Angeles Auto Show
As the first major North American auto show of the season, the 2012 L.A. Auto Show will host some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts and set the tone for the rest of the year. Press Days are Nov. 28 and 29 and open Nov. 30-Dec. 9 for the public. To receive the latest show news and information, follow the L.A. Auto Show on Twitter, visit the Facebook page and sign up for alerts at LAAutoShow.com.

About the Motor Press Guild
The Los Angeles-based Motor Press Guild (MPG) is the largest automotive media association in North America with approximately 800 members. This non-profit trade guild is dedicated to promoting professionalism in automotive journalism through education and information exchange. Members include journalists from print, broadcast, and online outlets as well as public relations representatives, consumer groups and governmental bodies tied to the automotive industry. The organization hosts regular meetings featuring key figureheads in the auto industry and is widely recognized for its annual Dean Batchelor Award program and annual industry MPG Track Day.

The Marshall Report Launches at Long Beach Comic & Horror Con

Industry Expert Rick Marshall to Host Live Talk Show Featuring Both Comic and Media Guests All Weekend Long

 

LONG BEACH, CA (September 19, 2012) – Adding another star to an impressive roster of guests, Long Beach Comic & Horror Con today proudly announced it will host "The Marshall Report" during the convention, November 3 and 4, 2012.

Presented by industry expert and veteran journalist Rick Marshall, this all-new talk show will feature interviews with both comic book and media guests and interactive programming for convention attendees.

“The Marshall Report” will be staged on the action-packed Long Beach Comic & Horror Con show floor, encouraging attendees to enjoy the talk show live as it happens.  Running all weekend long, “The Marshall Report” will be available online following the convention.

“With an ever growing guest list, it made perfect sense to host a show that put the spotlight on LBCC talent for the world to see,” commented Martha Donato, Long Beach Comic & Horror Con co-owner. “With his incredible wealth of knowledge and fantastic journalistic skill, we couldn’t ask for a better partner than Rick, and are really looking forward to helping him debut ‘The Marshall Report.’”

“Just like Wolverine, the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con team are some of the best there are at what they do -- and what they do is put on a great show, “ says Rick Marshall.  “I'm honored and excited to be a part of this year's convention, and I can't wait to get on the floor and add a new dimension to the convention experience. “
Marshall adds “Everyone knows I love a good conversation that's heavy on the geekery, and there's going to be no shortage of that all weekend, thanks to the LBCC crew. This year's convention is going to be something special, folks - count on it. See you in Long Beach!”

Offering a weekend packed with special guests and exhibitors and engaging panels, Long Beach Comic & Horror Con will be open on Saturday, November 3 from 10:00am to 7:00pm, and  from10:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday, November 4.
Join LBCC on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and information about this year’s show. Find Rick Marshall on Twitter and Facebook for more information about "The Marshall Report."

About Long Beach Comic & Horror Con
Long Beach Comic & Horror Con is a true comic con focused on creating a fantastic experience for both fans and exhibitors in the Long Beach, Anaheim and Los Angeles areas.  With something for everyone, the fourth annual Long Beach Comic & Horror Con will be held November 3 and 4, 2012 at the Long Beach Convention Center. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit longbeachcomiccon.com.

Piece Fest Shows Painted Hollywood Roots at Oct 13, 2012 Event

Los Angeles, CA -- October’s Piece Fest in Los Angeles will be a reunion for many familiar faces. Over twenty years ago actors Corin Nemec, David Faustino and David Arquette met on Hollywood’s most popular sound stages, while also creating street art with famed crews and artists such as Kelly 'RISK' Gavel and Seth 'SHIFTY' Binzer.

Sitcom, feature film actor, and Co-Founder of Piece Fest, Corin Nemec reveals: “When we first met, David [Arquette] and I had three things in common: we were both teenage actors, both loved hip hop, and both were ardent graffiti artists.”

On October 13th, history will be made as several of these artists re-unite at the inaugural Piece Fest! Corin Nemec will appear along with David Faustino, Risk and many more from the street art community. [David Arquette may also be in attendance, but is not yet confirmed.]

Piece Fest is more than just a festival. It is Los Angeles' FIRST Music and Street Art Festival! By bringing together some of LA's hottest new bands and most talented street artists, Piece Fest is set to be THE celebration of the burgeoning artistic movement known as Street Art.

Piece Fest’s one-day Street Art and Music Festival will feature live graffiti battles, judges panels, hundreds of artists from around the world creating and displaying their art, conversations and discussions about the art form; and opportunities for anyone in
attendance to learn from artists and create their own street art.

This fun celebration of art and family-friendly event will take place at The Graff Lab, 1038 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90015 and will be streamed online LIVE from the IN show Lounge. For tickets to Piece Fest: http://piecefest.eventbrite.com/ . Get them while you still can!

Follow Piece Fest on Facebook and Twitter to keep on top of the news as it happens and we'll see you at there!

KEY DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 85TH ACADEMY AWARDS®

 

 

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced key dates for the 85th Academy Awards season.

The key dates are:

 

Friday, November 30, 2012:		Official Screen Credits due
Saturday, December 1, 2012:		Governors Awards presentation
Monday, December 17, 2012:		Nominations voting begins
Thursday, January 3, 2013:		Nominations voting ends 5 p.m. PT
Thursday, January 10, 2013:		Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Monday, February 4, 2013:		Nominees Luncheon
Friday, February 8, 2013:		Final voting begins
Saturday, February 9, 2013:		Scientific and Technical Awards presentation
Tuesday, February 19, 2013:		Final voting ends 5 p.m. PT
Sunday, February 24, 2013:		85th Academy Awards presentation

In an effort to provide members and the public a longer period of time to see the nominated films, the Academy will reveal the 85th Academy Awards nominations on January 10, five days earlier than previously announced.

In addition, this will be the first time the Academy will provide its membership the opportunity to vote electronically. Together with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Everyone Counts, the Academy has been developing an electronic voting process for more than a year. The Academy conducted extensive research and held numerous focus groups with its members to ensure a smooth transition and widespread adoption.

The Academy will make several voting resources available to members during the transition, including the installation of assisted voting stations in Los Angeles, New York and London, a 24-hour telephone help line during voting periods, and paper ballots.

In the pre-Nominations phase, members will continue to vote via paper ballot in eight categories due to specialized screening schedules and processes. Those categories are Animated Feature Film, Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling and Visual Effects.

The Academy Awards ceremony will be held at The Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. A 90-minute red carpet show will immediately precede the broadcast.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards–in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners–Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
http://www.oscars.org/
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
http://twitter.com/theacademy

Star Wars™ Actress Ashley Eckstein Releases Complete Video Diary of Her Experiences at Star Wars Celebration VI Event

NEW YORK, NY - September 18th, 2012 - Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars™: The Clone Wars and founder of the popular female sci-fi merchandise line, Her Universe™, is giving fans an expanded and unprecedented look behind-the-scenes of her experiences at the largest Star Wars event in the world, Celebration VI, which took place last month in Orlando, FL. With a video camera following her everywhere for the four-day event, Eckstein gives fans a unique perspective, through her eyes, of this epic convention. With over 40 minutes of footage, Ashley's Video Diary debuts via Starwars.com today at http://www.starwars.com/watch/celebration_vi_ashley_video_diary.html .

Snippets of Eckstein's video diary cam were posted online on the StarWars.com blog during Celebration VI last month. However, Eckstein decided to edit together one final video diary of the entire Star Wars event, utilizing over 20 minutes of material not seen earlier, to give fans who could not be at Celebration VI the experience of being there... and from a unique view.

"I've never been good at keeping a written diary and I wanted to capture the events and memories of Celebration VI for myself and the fans in a different way," said Eckstein. "With social media being the way it is today, a video diary seemed like the best way to cover CVI."

The video diary, directed by Jason Surrell, a screenwriter and Senior Show Writer for Walt Disney Imagineering and edited by Studio Say So, an Orlando-based video production company, is a collaborative effort with Eckstein. "I was absolutely thrilled when Ashley asked me to direct her video diary at Star Wars Celebration VI," said Surrell. "After directing Ashley and her fellow Clone Wars cast members in Behind the Force at Disney's Star Wars Weekends for so many years, I knew that there's a whole other world out there that people typically don't get to see. So I'm hoping that our series of video diaries will truly give Star Wars fans a peek behind the curtain at all the fascinating and truly funny things that happen when these people get together. I've never been happier to be a fly on the wall. We're going to take you onstage, backstage and everywhere in between."

The Celebration is Headed Back to Europe!http://www.starwarscelebration.com/Europe/

About Her Universe
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Jason Surrell
Jason Surrell is an author, filmmaker and Senior Show Writer for Walt Disney Imagineering. Jason is the author of The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies, The Art of The Haunted Mansion, Screenplay by Disney: Tips and Techniques to Bring Magic to Your Moviemaking, Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies,The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak and The Art of Marvel's The Avengers. He also wrote and directed a feature film, Characters, and wrote for Walt Disney Television's "Secrets of the Animal Kingdom." Jason is currently working on the screenplay for a supernatural thriller and developing a television series.

About Studio Say So
Studio Say So is an Orlando-based video production company working to tell stories for clients and partners. Founded in 2008 by Danny Miller and Marshall Head, Studio Say So has worked with clients ranging from Walt Disney Imagineering and Florida Hospital to Unicef. Studio Say So writes, shoots, edits and produces a variety of videos from documentaries to commercials. Visit http://www.studiosayso.com to see videos and learn more.

STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

Thr33 Days Dead-Finishing Funds:Thr33 Days Dead is an independent feature length zombie film being filmed/produced in Jasper/Walker County, AL

Currently 90% complete with filming as of August 31st and hope to wrap principle photography by early September 2012!

Plotline:

Patrick, Jeff, and Justin must escape the lake after their day of fishing is ruined when they discover there are zombies in their midst. They escape to the city only to find that it, too, is overrun with zombies. Along the way they meet the brother/sister combo of Pete and Valerie, and together they fight for their right to survive in a world that is seemingly no longer theirs.

Crowdsourcing Choice: IndieGoGo
Producing and filming an independent, low-budget feature length movie in Alabama is no small feat. However, the cast and crew working on this film are incredibly passionate about what we are doing and are not taking this movie halfheartedly. Each individual involved is making incredible sacrifices, including their own financial resources, to insure that the end result is an entertaining, quality feature length film that can be enjoyed by zombie lovers everywhere. Furthermore, we want to show the world that quality filmmaking can be achieved on a next-to-nothing budget through hard work, dedication, and passion.

Cameos already filmed for the movie include former WWE superstar Luke Gallows, former WCW wrestler Natureboy Paul Lee, George Hardy from Troll 2, and reigning Mrs. Alabama Lynn Maggio.

Funds raised will be used exclusively for post-production costs, including, but not limited to, special FX, editing, audio, submitting the film to various film festivals, travel costs associated with said film festivals, and overall promotion of the movie. Funds will not be used to pay cast and/or crew, except to help offset travel costs for necessary cast/crew to film festivals.

100% of your contribution will assist in making this movie a quality independent zombie movie that you all will enjoy!

Even if we don't reach our set goal, every single dollar is sincerely appreciated and will be an incredible help!

Each generous person who makes a donation will receive something in return.

We sincerely appreciate each and every single penny you can contribute to our project. In fact, words fall short of sentiment in expressing how grateful we truly are!

You can contribute to the campaign here: http://www.indiegogo.com/thr33days .

Even if you are not able to make a financial contribution, if you are passionate about filmmaking in general, you can still help us tremendously by promoting Thr33 Days Dead and this campaign! Any blog post, Facebook post, or Tweet about our fundraising efforts are incredibly appreciated! Be sure to use the Indiegogo share tools to get the word out about our campaign!

Lastly, be sure to check out our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thr33days) for any further details or to track the progress of our movie!

In advance, thanks so much for any help you give us! You guys rock!

Anime Expo (AX) Welcomes Record Number of Attendees to Los Angeles Convention Center

LOS ANGELES (September 19, 2012) – Anime Expo (AX), North America’s largest anime, manga and Japanese pop culture expo, celebrates its most successful event in its 21-year history with a record 49,400+  unique attendees and a turnstile attendance of over 130,000 during its four days at the Los Angeles Convention Center, June 29th – July 2nd, 2012.

Anime screenings, the enormously popular AMV contest, karaoke rooms, Maid Cafe, and AX's new central players' hall featuring table top, console and arcade gaming welcomed the near fifty thousand visitors to the convention while colorful cosplayers flitted across the convention center for photos, meet-ups, and to participate in Anime Expo's annual masquerade competition.

Anime Expo 2012 continued the convention's tradition of bringing noteworthy Guests of Honor to its attendees, creating a roster of amazing talent featuring Ryo Horikawa, Steve Blum, Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial, Tatsuo Sato, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Rikiya Koyama, Hikaru Kondo, Ei Aoki, Joel McDonald, Ian Sinclair, Madhouse, and Master of Ceremonies Danny Choo, along with memorable concerts from Yuki Kajiura / Fiction Junction, breakout star LiSA, and AniMetal USA.

New for 2012, popular Japanese Lolita model Misako Aoki and Danny Choo hosted Japan Fashion Mix, a global fashion show featuring designs by Galaxxxy, Kapi-Bara-San, and dolldelight, a progressive Lolita label wildly popular among anime and street fashion fans created by another of Anime Expo's Guests of Honor, Cyril Lumboy.

Anime Expo continues to be grateful for all the fans that made AX 2012 an outstanding success and is already working hard to create new and exciting programming for 2013!

About Anime Expo (AX)
Held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America’s largest celebration of Japanese culture, giving fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from cosplay, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade,  a costume contest in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters and put on their own show before an audience of thousands.

Anime Expo 2013 will be held July 4 – 7, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  To register, or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org.

About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA)
Since 1991, the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) has presented North America with premiere events highlighting the best in Japanese animation, manga, music, fashion and pop culture.  The SPJA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment properties, Anime Expo®, Anime Conji, and Project Anime. For more information, please visit www.spja.org.

SOURCE Anime Expo (AX)

Adventures in Plymptoons! A documentary about Oscar nominated animator, Bill Plympton by Alexia Anastasio.

Meet the Man that Blazed his Own Way in Life, Animation, & Hollywood

When it comes to independent animators, Bill Plympton is the undisputed king. His illustrations have been featured in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Penthouse, and National Lampoon.

Since 1981, when his political cartoon Plymptoons was syndicated nationally, he has become a major force and inspiration in the animation world. His work is recognized instantly: he's the guy behind the animated morphing heads, which became famous on MTV, as well as the opening credit sequence for The Simpsons.

Moving into motion pictures, Plympton earned two Academy Award® nominations, has directed and animated over sixty animation shorts, live action features, music videos, commercials and documentaries including: One of Those Days, How To Kiss, 25 Ways to Quit Smoking, Plymptoons, The Tune, and Mutant Aliens. He's the only artist who has animated six feature length films ...all by himself.

Alexia Anastasio's Adventures in Plymptoons! goes deep inside the method and madness of America s most independent animator, creatively incubated in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

Interviews with many of Plympton s collaborators, such as Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob SquarePants), David Silverman (Director The Simpsons Movie ), Terry Gilliam (Writer, Monty Python and the Holy Grail ), Martha Plimpton ( The Good Wife ), Matthew Modine ( Full Metal Jacket ), Ed Begley, Jr., Peter Jason, Moby and Weird Al Yankovic, offer candid and comic insights into the irreverent man.

Adventures in Plymptoons! while being entertaining and thought provoking, allows its audience to explore the mind of a true genius and perhaps gleen helpful life & career hints from a man who has become an international success by not selling out.

Gamers Nationwide to Collect Consoles, Video Games for U.S. Troops

Events Across the U.S. Will Raise Funds to Distribute on Veterans Day

 

LOS ANGELES – Sept. 11, 2012 – Parties organized by gamers across America this fall will raise funds to send video games and consoles to U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan. The events, part of Operation Supply Drop’s national Veteran’s Day "8-Bit Salute to Veterans," will be held in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York City on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012. Gamers everywhere are invited to participate.

Captain Stephen "Shanghai Six" Machuga, a former Army Airborne Ranger, founded Operation Supply Drop in Nov. 2010, after serving for eight years with the US Army, including 13 months in Iraq. An avid video game player himself, Machuga realized that many soldiers who are gamers don’t have access to their favorite form of entertainment, one of the few types of leisure activity permitted in high threat areas of deployment.

"When soldiers aren't outside the wire on patrol, they're playing video games," explains Machuga. "Our packages are an immeasurable morale booster for the soldiers; troops are accustomed to getting care packages from strangers full of baby wipes and socks. Our care packages are designed to blow their socks off."

Since the charity’s establishment, Operation Supply Drop has raised more than $60,000 in games and gear each with an average value of $2,000 to units deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
With the help of a variety of allied gaming organizations, Operation Supply Drop’s "8-Bit Salute to Veterans" will be one of the country’s largest efforts undertaken in support of Veteran’s Day. Join one of these groups on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.

Chicago
Game Pazzo
2011 63rd St.
Downers Grove, Ill. 60516 (West Suburb of Chicago)

Live music, many game stations throughout the area, game challenges with prizes, raffles as well as a full bar and kitchen. Raffle ticket purchases and donations via ChipIn will go towards Operation Supply Drop.

Organizer:  Konas Korner and Off Duty Gamers. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Contact Info:
Mark 'ODG6Actual' Christianson - odg6actual@offdutygamers.com
or
Shawn "Kona" Warbiany - Kona@konaakorner.com

Dallas
The Den & Rumor Lounge
2710 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75204

Red Carpet entrance with photo ops, 20 different game stations on 55" TVs, three DJs, geek-speed dating, nerf weapon battles, an online-only QuakeLive tournament and a full bar. Play games with special guests, the Charisma+2 models, Mike McFarland (director and voice-over actor for Dragonball Z, One piece and Full Metal Alchemist), Alexander Rossi (Formula 1 racer) and executives from id Software, Gearbox Software, Robot Entertainment, Terminal Reality, GameStop and a dozen soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lockbox will accept monetary contributions and a box for donated games and hardware on site.

Organizer: Charisma +2 . 1 to 9 p.m.

Contact Info:
Yvonna Lynn - yvonna@CharismaPlus2.com


Los Angeles
Los Angeles Film School
6363 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood, Calif. 90028

In association with the Los Angeles Film School, and Hollywood production company Shifted2U Productions, Operation Supply Drop will be holding a single elimination Medal of Honor: Warfighter tournament in the Game Lab of the Los Angeles Film School to celebrate student and alumni veterans. The event augments the school’s 3rd Annual Salute, a yearly Veterans Day event held at the campus in Hollywood.

Veteran students and alum from the school will shoot it out for a chance to win a variety of prizes and to play side by side with veteran Celebrity Battle Buddies Scott Levy and Michael Broderick (voice and motion-cap actors "Stump" and "Tick" from Medal of Honor: Warfighter), Tyler Grey (military technical advisor for EA Games) as well as Derrick Dockery of the Dallas Cowboys in celebration of Veteran’s Day. More celebrity battle buddies for this exciting event will be announced shortly.

Organizer: Shifted2U

Contact Info:
Tony "Money" Hulse - tonymoney@iamshifted.com

New York
Union Hall
702 Union St.
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215

Multiple game stations, live Music, party photos, raffles and with proceeds of the door going towards Operation Supple Drop. This event will be MCed by MC Death Bear, feature a Hip hop music performance by Modern Shark recording artists Junk Science which will be followed by a chip-tune dance party headlined by Dj Cutman.

Organizer: Sick Damage

Contact Info:
Rob Ritacco  - rob.ritacco@gmail.com
or
Christian Taranto - mcdeathbear@gmail.com

Microsoft Stores in Bridgewater, N.J.; The Fashion Centre, Pentagon City, Arlington, Va. and Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Va. are partnering with Operation Supply Drop to collect current generation games and consoles for troops from Labor Day through Veteran’s Day.

Contact Info:
LaSone Barber, Pentagon City - LASBAR@microsoft.com

Andrea Beck, Tysons Corner - andreabe@microsoft.com

Nicole Owens, Bridgewater - –nicow@microsoft.com

If you would like to make a contribution to Operation Supply Drop, but cannot attend one of the events, there are still several ways to get involved:

•Make a monetary contribution via Paypal to donations@operationsupplydrop.org.
•Contribute new games or consoles to:

Operation Supply Drop (OSD)
9301 Alvyn Lake Cir.
Bristow, VA 20136

•Anyone interested in creating an event of their own in a different city on Nov. 10, 2012, can contact Stephen Machuga at shanghaisix@fronttowardsgamer.com.

Media contact
Robert Brown
The Bohle Company
robert@bohle.com
(310)-785-0515 x 231

LA Music Awards And The Whisky A Go-Go Present Stevie Hawkins Live Onstage

John Carvalho and Mikey Jayy To be Panelists at Los Angeles Music Awards this Sept. 27, 2012!

 

Award-winning vocalist and drummer Stevie Hawkins will be performing for the Los Angeles Music Awards at the world famous Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood, California, on September 27, 2012. Stevie is scheduled to perform at 9:00 PM.

Hawkins is nominated for the 22nd Annual LA Music Awards to be held November 15 at the Avalon Theater in two categories: Male Singer/Songwriter of the Year, and Record of the Year, for his critically acclaimed CD titled "What The Funk?". The upcoming LAMA event at the Whisky A Go-Go will be the final voting process for all of its awards categories, and where nine sponsored nominees will perform live. For 130 nominees, the general public will cast their votes via paper ballots, and panelists will make their final judgment and decisions to determine the winners at this event. The event will also present press, publicity and media exposure opportunities for the artists performing at the event.

"2012 has been an exciting year, with lots of great things happening stemming from the What The Funk? album release", says Hawkins. "As always, gracious thanks goes out to my event sponsor ShhhMedia, co-writer Charlotte Hannon, the musicians who performed on the record, radio, and most of all, to God. Being nominated by the LA Music Awards' founders Al Bowman and Susanna Griffie, along with an illustrious advisory panel consisting of music industry icons Mike Curb, producers David Kershenbaum, Ron Nevison, Eddy Kramer and Jack Douglas, as well as the event panelists Mikey Jayy, Liz Rodriguez, Jonathan George, Dr. John Carvalho, and Brad Mercer, is truly an honor and a blessing".

The Whisky is like "the axis mundi" of the music universe with so many of the world's music legends having graced the stage there. As Ray Manzarek of The Doors once said, "gears just fit together and begin to rotate, vibrate together. Playing the Whisky A Go-Go on the first gig in Los Angeles, is a meshing of the gears. Vibrations going on will just come together with something else totally unconscious, bubbling out of the unconscious outside of our control".

This being Hawkins first solo gig in LA, there's no better way to experience the zen globe than at the Whisky A Go-Go. Since 1964, the Whisky A Go-Go has played a role in the establishment of artists' careers including Van Morrison, The Doors, Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Frank Zappa and Motley Crue. Almost fifty years later, the Whisky A Go-Go remains an important performance venue for new and upcoming artists. As long as there has been a Los Angeles rock scene, there has been the Whisky A Go-Go.

The Los Angeles Music Awards has an amazing history dating back to 1991. Al Bowman, executive producer of the awards says, "The premise of the LA Music Awards is to forward the music of a new generation and the celebration of entertainment industry icons. We are all about helping independent artists further their careers. Artists like Korn, Dream Theater, Sugar Ray, No Doubt, Machine Head, 311, Black Eyed Peas, Everclear, and Walter Trout are just some of the many artists who have launched their incredibly huge careers at one of our productions".

Other LAMA award recipients throughout the years include President Jimmy Carter, Senator Max Cleland, Jackson Brown, Jamie Hilfiger, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Jaco Pastorious, Stanley Kramer, Douglas Busby, Carol Conner, Eddy Money, Colin Hay, Trini Lopez and Paul Rodgers.

The Whisky A Go-Go is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90069. Doors open at 6:30 PM for the September 27th LAMA event. The show presentation begins at 7:30 PM.

For further information regarding Stevie Hawkins, please visit his website. For information regarding the Los Angeles Music Awards, please visit the LA Music Awards website.

DC Comics Exclusive Artist Dustin Nguyen Comes to Long Beach Comic & Horror Con 2012

Long-time Batman Artist & Southern California Native to Meet with Fans & Discuss Upcoming Projects

LONG BEACH, CA (September 14, 2012) – Long Beach Comic & Horror Con today announced that DC Comics exclusive artist and, Long Beach native Dustin Nguyen will be a guest of this year’s show.  Known for his dramatic painted covers and organic interiors, Nguyen joins the ever growing list of guests participating in the fourth annual LBCC, November 3 and 4, 2012.

Nguyen began his career in comics learning from the WildStorm Studios team, traveling often more than three hours from Long Beach to La Jolla. After working under one of the industries’ biggest icons, Jim Lee, now co-publisher of DC Comics, Nguyen began to carve out his own path. His past work includes “The Authority,” “Jet,” his creator-owned “Manifest Eternity” with Scott Lobdell and a critically-acclaimed, multiple-year run on “Wildcats v3.0” with Joe Casey.  Nguyen realized one of his career goals when he took on his dream project – Batman.

As an exclusive artist for DC Comics, some of Nguyen’s recent projects include “Batman: Streets of Gotham,” “Batman Beyond” and “American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares.”  Nguyen is also a conceptual designer in the toy industry.

Since his roots run deep in Southern California, Long Beach Comic & Horror Con is a “can’t miss“ event for Nguyen. “Coming from the Long Beach area it just makes it that much more fun for me. I love Long Beach Comic & Horror Con,” said Nguyen. “It’s consistently an amazing collection of my favorite creators in the comic book industry. I haven't missed one yet.”

“Dustin brings a unique, resident’s perspective to the show,” added Phil Lawrence, co-owner of Long Beach Comic & Horror Con. “Celebrating local talent like Dustin is truly one of the reasons we love to put on this show for the fans and creators alike.”

Offering a weekend packed with special guests and exhibitors and engaging panels, Long Beach Comic & Horror Con will be open on Saturday, November 3 from 10:00am to 7:00pm, and  from10:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday, November 4.
Join LBCC on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and information about this year’s show.

Long Beach Comic & Horror Con
Long Beach Comic & Horror Con is a true comic con focused on creating a fantastic experience for both fans and exhibitors in the Long Beach, Anaheim and Los Angeles areas.  With something for everyone, the fourth annual Long Beach Comic & Horror Con will be held November 3 and 4, 2012 at the Long Beach Convention Center. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit www.longbeachcomiccon.com.

SOURCE Long Beach Comic & Horror Con