June 8, 2012
Project: Worldwide acquires social marketing firm Affinitive
NEW YORK–Project: Worldwide has added to its network of specialized agencies, acquiring Affinitive, a New York-based word-of-mouth and social media agency and Facebook Preferred Marketing Developer that handles consumer assignments for brands such as Random House, E.&J. Gallo Winery, Major League Soccer and Ubisoft. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Affinitive joins a Project: Worldwide roster of shops which includes experience marketing agency George P. Johnson, G7 Entertainment Marketing, interactive marketing firm JUXT Interactive, multimedia production content companay Spinifex, creative ideas agency Partners+Napier, and 3D marketing production shop Raumtechnik.
Google buys Meebo to help social networking pushSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google is buying Silicon Valley startup Meebo to help expand its social networking service.
The acquisition announced Monday will bring more tools to Google Plus, an alternative to Facebook Inc.’s popular online hangout. Meebo started as a system for connecting people by instant message but has since built other communication features used by an audience of about 100 million Web people in the U.S.
Both companies are based in Mountain View, Calif. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
“We are always looking for better ways to help users share content and connect with others across the Web, just as they do in real life,” Google said in a statement. “With the Meebo team’s expertise in social publisher tools, we believe they will be a great fit with the Google Plus team.”
Since its debut nearly a year ago, Google Plus has attracted more than 170 million users. Despite that impressive growth, Google so far has had trouble persuading people to visit its social networking website as regularly as Facebook’s more than 900 million users frequent its website.
Meebo works with publishers and advertisers to help them connect with Web surfers for longer periods.
“Together with Google, we’re super jazzed to roll up our sleeves and get cracking on even bigger and better ways to help users and website owners alike,” Meebo wrote in a Monday blog post.
Meebo has raised $70 million in venture capital since it was founded in 2005 by Seth Sternberg, Elaine Wherry and Sandy Jen. Sternberg, who formerly helped IBM Corp. identify acquisition targets, served as Meebo’s CEO.
Google Inc. has spent more than $16 billion buying 140 companies since the end of 2009. That includes the biggest deal in Google’s 14-year history, a just-completed $12.5 billion acquisition of cellphone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings.
Janet Jackson to produce transgender documentaryLOS ANGELES (AP) — Janet Jackson has signed on as an executive producer of a documentary on the lives of transgender people living around the world.
New York-based Brainchild Films announced Monday that Jackson was working on “Truth” and would do some of the on-camera interviews. The documentary begins production this summer and will focus on the lives and struggles of transgender persons.
Jackson writes in a statement that she is working on the project to try to stop discrimination of the transgender community.
The 46-year-old sister of Michael Jackson has starred in several films and won five Grammy Awards.
“Truth” will be directed by Robert Jason, who previously directed a documentary for The Style Network on four transgender New Yorkers. He says “Truth” will feature stories from throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America.
Woody Allen announces cast of next film, will shoot in S.F., N.Y.
NEW YORK–Woody Allen announced today (6/4) the cast of his latest untitled film. Starring, in alphabetical order, are Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Michael Emerson, Sally Hawkins and Peter Sarsgaard. Co-stars include Max Casella and Alden Ehrenreich. It is a Gravier Productions film produced by Allen’s long time producers, Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum.
The new film will be shot in New York and San Francisco this summer. This marks Allen’s second time directing in San Francisco — his directorial debut, 1969’s “Take The Money And Run,” was also set there.
Allen recently won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay for “Midnight In Paris”. His upcoming film, “To Rome With Love,” will be released on June 22 by Sony Pictures Classics.
‘Spartacus’ to end revolutionary run next seasonNEW YORK (AP) — Starz network says it is ending its highly successful “Spartacus” saga next season.
In an unusual move announced Monday, Starz will conclude this action-adventure series while it’s still a big hit, and after logging only three seasons (or four, counting a “prequel” season). This season the series drew six million viewers, an enormous number for a paid subscription channel.
Creator-executive producer Steven S. DeKnight promises a “stunningly epic” final season.
That 10-episode cycle, which will kick off next January, is currently filming in New Zealand.
The series stars Liam McIntyre as the Thracian-slave-turned-revolutionary who’s out to topple the Roman Empire. McIntyre took over the role from Andy Whitfield, who starred the first season, then withdrew due to illness. He died of cancer in September 2011.
Facebook, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ win GLAAD awards
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — GLAAD likes Facebook.
The social networking site won the Special Recognition Award at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s 23rd annual Media Awards.
Other honorees at Saturday’s ceremony in San Francisco included “Grey’s Anatomy” for drama series, “Days of Our Lives” for daily drama series, Max J. Rosenthal of The Huffington Post for digital journalism article, Wells Fargo for the Corporate Leader Award and “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes for the Golden Gate Award.
The awards salute fair, accurate and inclusive representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives in the media. Other winners from among this year’s 35 categories were honored at ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles earlier this year.
