September 21, 2012
Sundance to honor film critic Roger Ebert
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Critic Roger Ebert is receiving an award from Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute for his support of independent cinema.
Sundance leaders said Thursday that Ebert will receive their Vanguard Leadership Award at a benefit for the institute June 5 in Los Angeles.
Redford says Ebert was one of the institute’s first supporters when Sundance was founded in 1980 to support independent film.
Sundance Institute executive director Keri Putnam says Ebert has been a champion of challenging films, including many premiering at the Sundance Film Festival.
The 70-year-old Ebert has been reviewing films for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967 and was the nation’s foremost movie critic on television on shows such as “Sneak Previews” and “At the Movies.”
Time Warner CEO nixes selling HBO by itself
NEW YORK (AP) — Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes on Thursday shot down the idea of selling HBO online in the U.S. without the TV channel packages it is usually bundled with.
The company will start offering HBO online in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark next month. Bewkes said that is because HBO couldn’t reach many people there if it were only offered through TV providers, but can reach more through the Internet. That’s not the case in the U.S., he told investors at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference.
HBO is home to shows including “Game of Thrones” and “True Blood.” It also carries recently released movies from Warner Bros., Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox.
On its own, HBO might cost U.S. consumers in the range of $10 to $15 a month, but TV distributors usually bundle the offering together with other packages that include 100 channels or more, which can raise one’s monthly bill well above $100. Selling HBO by itself would likely increase the number of subscribers and benefit Time Warner, but it could upset its TV distribution partners, like Comcast and DirecTV, who use the premium channel to entice people to buy large channel packages.
In the U.S., Time Warner Inc. sells HBO through cable, satellite and telecoms operators that reach about 94 percent of the population, Bewkes said. About 30 million households now pay for HBO, while the other 70 million could get it if they wanted to pay extra for it. Right now, Time Warner is pushing its distributors to sell the channel more effectively, he said.
However, Bewkes didn’t completely rule out a so-called “a la carte” offering of HBO in the future.
“If in the long run, there’s a clear development of enough people that need an a la carte offering of HBO, we’ll look at it,” Bewkes said. “It’s not the main opportunity now.”
Brand USA campaign boosts tourismWASHINGTON (AP) — The United States’ first-ever marketing campaign to boost tourism appears to be paying off.
Brand USA, a partnership of government agencies and private companies, said Wednesday that international travelers spent 11 percent more in the U.S. during the first eight months of this year. This follows the launch of its effort to promote the U.S. as a tourist destination.
The consortium created the campaign to combat the country’s decline share of international tourists. Tourism had increased globally over the last decade, but the U.S. slice of those travelers had shrunk, due in large part to complicated visa procedures and heightened security that followed the Sept. 11 attacks.
The 10 years after the attacks are often referred to as the “lost decade” for U.S. tourism, because new procedures drove millions of international travelers to other countries.
Brand USA launched its print, web and video ads in May, targeting residents of Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The consortium said that between January and August, international visitors have spent an estimated $82.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services in 2012. That’s up 11 percent from the same period in 2010. By year end, they estimate that international visitors could end up injecting a record $169 billion into the U.S. economy.
Caroline Beteta, Brand USA’s interim CEO, said that the campaign is critical because travel and tourism is the country’s largest services export and a huge job creator.
Fox sells digital ‘Prometheus’ 3 weeks before DVD
LOS ANGELES (AP) – In an effort to kick-start still nascent sales of digital movies, 20th Century Fox has begun selling digital versions of the sci-fi thriller “Prometheus” three weeks ahead of the movie’s release on Blu-ray and DVD.
The move is a reflection of the industry’s effort to promote the concept of movie ownership on digital platforms.
Movie purchases from online retailers like Apple Inc.’s iTunes and Amazon.com are growing. But those sales still represented less than 4 percent of U.S. home video spending in the first half of the year, according to The Digital Entertainment Group, a movie-industry association.
“Prometheus” is now on sale through iTunes, Amazon.com and Google’s Play store for about $15.
Fox said it will push digital movie sales this way in a campaign it is calling “Digital HD.” For future releases, it plans to give high-definition digital sales a two-week head start before the disc release.
The digital versions of Fox titles don’t come with all the extras included with Blu-ray copies, such as deleted scenes, and they are not as high-quality. The iTunes version of “Prometheus” in HD offers viewing in 720p, a standard which is not as sharp as the 1080p offered on Blu-ray. An “SD,” or standard definition version, was available from iTunes for pre-order for $13.
‘Hoop Dreams’ director takes on concussion issueNancy Armour, National Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — The director of “Hoop Dreams” is taking on the concussion crisis in sports with his latest film.
Steve James calls concussions in sports a “huge public health issue,” and says he hopes “Head Games” will educate parents and athletes and give them a foundation for when they’re making decisions about contact sports. The 90-minute film features interviews with concussion guru Chris Nowinski and former NHL All-Star Keith Primeau, and blends the sometimes graphic science of concussions with personal stories of those struggling with their potentially devastating effects.
“Head Games” opens Friday in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The movie also will be available on demand at iTunes and Amazon, as well as from some cable and satellite providers.
Doritos Super Bowl contest teams with Michael Bay
By Mae Anderson
NEW YORK (AP) — Doritos is upping the prize for its annual “Crash the Super Bowl” contest, bringing in Michael Bay, a big name movie director who is no stranger to crashes himself.
The Frito Lay snack chip brand’s seventh annual contest allows viewers to submit their own Doritos commercials. Fans vote on their favorites to appear during the big game.
If the ads score well on the USA Today Ad Meter, which measures the popularity of Super Bowl commercials, contestants win cash prizes of up to $1 million. But this time, winners will also get the chance to work with Bay, known for such films as “Transformers, “Pearl Harbor” and “Armageddon,” on the next “Transformers movie.” (Bay also is partnered in commercial production/branded content company The Institute.)
“We realized entrants sometimes want a shot at breaking into the entertainment industry more than the $1 million prize giveaway,” said Ram Krishnan, vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay North America, which is owned by PepsiCo Inc. “So we’re giving them that chance by working on the next ‘Transformers’ move.”
The winner’s role in the making of the “Transformers” movie will depend on where his or her interest lies.
Another change: Doritos will debut a Facebook app that will let anyone volunteer to help others create an ad. Users of the ad can donate their time, props, or locations to help make the ad.
“Consumers told us ‘I would love to participate but I have no interest or the talent to make a video,'” said Krishnan. “The app lets anyone pitch in.”
There were 6,100 entrants last year, up from 4,500 the year before. Krishnan expects even more this year.
The Super Bowl will be played Feb. 3 in New Orleans and will be broadcast by CBS.
People can submit ads for the contest between Oct. 8 and Nov. 16 at www.facebook.com/DoritosUSA. Five finalist ads will be announced in January and consumers will then be able to vote for their favorite online.
The Super Bowl is advertising’s largest showcase. The National Football League’s championship game garnered an estimated 111.3 million viewers when it aired last February, according to Nielsen.
Tucson Film & Music Festival Announces Feature Lineup
TUCSON, Az–The Tucson Film & Music Festival (TFMF) has unveiled the anchor films for the eighth annual event running from October 11-14. TFMF will have 15 premiere screening events featuring over 35 films. Topping the lineup are two indie narrative films from distinguished filmmaking teams, and a documentary about a seminal rock band.
The Opening Night film is the Southwest Premiere of “Strutter” by the critically acclaimed filmmaking duo of Allison Anders (“Grace of My Heart,” “Mi Vida Loca”) and Kurt Voss (“Border Radio,” “Sugar Town”). This sweet and humanistic comedy about an aspiring musician is their third film collaboration. The movie features an original music score from J. Mascis of Dinosaur jr. and cameos from Victoria Williams and two time TFMF alumni Jessica von Rabbit of Gram Rabbit. The filmmakers will be in attendance for a Q&A after the premiere at The Loft Cinema.
“The History of Future Folk,” a quirky sci-fi indie comedy by co-directors–New York based Jeremy Kipp Walker (“It’s Kind of a Funny Story” starring Zach Galifianakis and “Half Nelson” starring Ryan Gosling) and J. Anderson Mitchell–is this year’s Centerpiece film for TFMF 12. The Southwest premiere tells a tale of two men from outer space (the planet Hondo! to be exact) and the acoustical antics which led to comic mayhem and the eventual salvation of the human race.
The Closing Night film is the Arizona premiere of “Bad Brains: A Band In DC.” The rock doc utilizes rare archival footage and original comic illustrations to re-construct the band’s rich and complicated history. The Bad Brains, who melded punk and reggae, are one of the most important and influential American bands still working today. Featuring interviews and appearance by many artists who were influenced by the band like the Beastie Boys, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye of Fugazi. Both Centerpiece and Closing Night are at the Century El Con 20 theater.
For more on the festival, log onto www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com.
Oscar nomination date jumps ahead to Jan. 10LOS ANGELES (AP) – The dynamics have shifted for Hollywood’s upcoming film honors now that the Academy Awards nominations are moving ahead of the Golden Globes.
Organizers said Tuesday that nominations for the 85th Oscars will be announced Jan. 10 – five days earlier than the academy previously planned.
The date change puts the Oscar nominations three days before Hollywood’s second-biggest film awards – the Golden Globes, whose ceremony takes place Jan. 13.
Oscar nominations typically come out after the Globes. The earlier date for Oscar nominations could steal a bit of the thunder from the Globes, which are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Oscar overseers say the switch will give the academy’s nearly 6,000 members more time to see nominated films before the Feb. 24 awards ceremony.
Last season, Oscar voters had less than a month between the nominations and the deadline to submit their ballots. This time, academy members will have nearly six weeks to watch competing films from the time nominations are announced and the Feb. 19 ballot deadline.
Editor Note: Get all the Academy Season Awards Shows, Deadlines and Contact information here.
Appeals court reverses ruling on campaign donorsBy Frederic J. Frommer
WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court on Tuesday reversed a lower court ruling that likely would have led to greater disclosure of who is paying for certain election ads.
In March, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that the Federal Election Commission overstepped its bounds in allowing groups that fund certain election ads to keep their financiers anonymous.
But Tuesday’s unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sent the case back to Jackson, with instructions to refer the matter to the FEC for further consideration.
At issue are electioneering communications — ads that don’t expressly advocate voting for or against a candidate running for federal office. In 2007, the FEC ruled that only contributors whose donations were “made for the purpose of furthering electioneering communications” had to be identified; those who gave unrestricted money did not have to be identified. The FEC regulation came in response to a Supreme Court ruling that gave more latitude to nonprofit groups — like the Karl Rove-backed Crossroads GPS and the President Barack Obama-leaning Priorities USA — on pre-election ads.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., sued the FEC over the regulation, which he called a “loophole” that made the disclosure requirements meaningless. He won a summary judgment from Jackson, who was appointed by Obama. The judge ruled that “Congress spoke plainly” in passing the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law — and did not delegate authority to the FEC to narrow the disclosure requirement.
But the appeals court ruled that Jackson erred in concluding that Congress spoke plainly. “The statute is anything but clear,” the court ruled.
“It was due to the complicated situation that confronted the agency in 2007 and the absence of plain meaning in the statute that the FEC acted pursuant to its delegated authority … to fill ‘a gap’ in the statute,” the panel added. Two of the judges — Janice Rogers Brown and A. Raymond Randolph — were nominated by Republican presidents. The other judge, Harry T. Edwards, was appointed by Democrat Jimmy Carter.
The FEC didn’t appeal its loss at the lower court, but two interveners did — the Center for Individual Freedom and the Hispanic Leadership Fund. While siding with those groups, the appeals court said that the FEC regulation “has raised as many questions as it purported to resolve,” and that the agency’s failure to participate in the appeal made it impossible to fully understand the FEC’s position on numerous issued raised by the parties.
“Therefore, the court is in no position to assess the parties’ arguments on whether (the regulation) is reasonable, and thus entitled to deference,” the court said.
When the FEC takes up the issue again, the court ruled, it will be up to the agency to explain the meaning and scope of the regulation or do additional rulemaking.
“The Court of Appeals’ decision today will keep the American people, for the time being, in the dark about who is attempting to influence their vote with secret money,” Van Hollen said in a statement.
Campaign-finance regulations have received new scrutiny this election cycle, following a handful of federal court rulings that stripped away long-established limits on how much individuals and organizations may contribute to groups favoring certain candidates. One Supreme Court ruling, known as Citizens United, gave a green light for corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited cash on campaign ads.
Under McCain-Feingold, groups that spend more than $10,000 per year on such campaign ads must file reports with the FEC. Some groups later testified before the FEC that disclosing all donors — not ones who specifically earmarked their money for ads — would be an administrative burden.
“We’re pleased with the ruling today,” said Mario H. Lopez, president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund. “We have to wait and see how the rest of the case is resolved. We’re proud to be defending the First Amendment rights of not just our organization but all Americans.”
But Common Cause President Bob Edgar said the decision killed voters’ last chance of finding out who was pouring millions of dollars into the elections.
“With 49 days to go, there’s still no sheriff in town, it’s the wild, wild west,” he said in a statement. “People and companies making six- and seven-figure investments in candidates and causes will want something in return for their money, and the candidates who benefit from their generosity will have a powerful incentive to deliver it. That’s why disclosure is so important; before we go to the polls, voters should know to whom the candidates we choose will be beholden.”
VB&P hires Trace Cohen as group strategy director
SAN FRANCISCO–Trace Cohen has joined Venables Bell & Partners (VB&P) as group strategy director. She comes over from Riney, a Publicis Company, where she served as sr. VP, executive director of digital. At VB&P, Cohen will report to Lucy Farey-Jones, head of strategy, to oversee strategy on the eBay account and help with VB&P new business initiatives.
Most recently at Riney, Cohen was responsible for expanding brand touch points, both online and offline, for clients like Paypal, LG Mobile and US Cellular. Prior to Riney, she served as sr. VP strategy for Publicis Seatttle, where she focused on the digital evolution of T-Mobile from utilizing the web as a sales-only channel to a sustained brand marketing platform.
Early in her career, Cohen was a copywriter with Grey in South Africa and at FCB in San Francisco, where she wrote Levi’s first website that not only won the Gold Pencil, but set the stage for building branded experiences online. Following FCB, she was hired by Ikonic, a UX focused shop, as director of content strategy, where she launched a number of notable and award-winning digital experiences for Lexus Europe, Dockers, Sega, Kodak Kiosks and IBM’s Olympic Games. After leaving Ikonic to found her own social media start-up, Cohen created Razorfish’s first social media practice for clients like Napster, Microsoft and Best Buy and later worked as an independent social media strategist for Hearst Media, integrating social media into their newspaper properties (including the SF Chronicle SFGate.com).
The addition of Cohen follows a string of new leadership hires at VB&P in 2012, including Paul Birks-Hay (director of client services) and Manjula Nadkarni (director of digital services).
YouTube blocked in Saudi to stop anti-Islam filmBy Abdullah Shihri
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — YouTube said Tuesday that it was stopping users in Saudi Arabia from viewing an anti-Islam video that has sparked protests across the Muslim world, after the kingdom’s press agency reported that the ruler had banned all access to the film and the site appeared to be blocked there.
The online video sharing site said that it was preventing “Innocence of Muslims” from being seen on its site in Saudi Arabia after being notified by the government there that the clip is breaking the country’s laws.
Google Inc., YouTube’s owner, has blocked access to the video in Libya and Egypt following violence there, and in Indonesia and India because it says the video broke laws in those countries.
The Saudi Press Agency said that the kingdom had sent a request to Google to “veil” all links containing the video, which was produced in the United States and which ridicules the Prophet Muhammad.
The agency said King Abdullah had directed that all websites and links that accessed the video should be blocked. An Associated Press reporter in Saudi Arabia reported that the online video sharing site was inaccessible that evening.
400 movies from 60 countries at Rio Film FestivalRIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The 24th edition of the Rio Film Festival will bring some 400 films from 60 countries to the theaters, beaches and squares of Rio de Janeiro.
Organizers say offerings include movies by Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Soderbergh and Stephen Frears. More than 70 Brazilian films are also to be screened, including the opening-night biopic “Gonzaga,” about Brazilian music legend Luis Gonzaga.
A-list guests expected to attend include British actor Jeremy Irons, “Little Miss Sunshine” directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Farris and controversial Serbian artist Marina Abramovic, subject of a documentary that’s part of the festival lineup.
Organizers said Tuesday that movies will be screened at some 30 venues throughout Rio, including on the beach and in a “favela,” or hillside slum.
The festival runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 11.
Connecticut to unveil second phase of tourism campaign
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut is unveiling the second phase of a two-year, nearly $27 million tourism campaign, focusing on the state’s economic development efforts as well as the fall foliage season.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office announced Monday that the two-pronged fall initiative will tell the stories of companies in Connecticut that are “inventing the future today through innovation.” It will feature ESPN, Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Pratt & Whitney.
The “Still Revolutionary” campaign, launched in May, is intended to highlight what the state has to offer businesses as well as tourists. Christopher “Kip” Bergstrom, executive director of the Commission on Culture and Tourism, said Connecticut officials believe it makes sense that the “Still Revolutionary” brand should be used to promote the state on both the economic and tourism fronts.
“The environment out there is noisy,” Bergstrom said. “Unless you have one message and really reinforce it and really do it across all dimensions of state marketing and over a long period of time, you never break through the noise.”
Launched in May, the state’s tourism website has seen a 100 percent jump in traffic. Bergstrom credits much of that jump to the 30-second TV ads the state has run, focusing heavily in the New York area. Bergstrom said the state’s top five tourism attractions have reported a seven percent increase in visitors compared with last year.
The latest round of commercials will feature fall attractions and will also focus heavily on the New York market.
The ad promoting Connecticut as a good place to work and do business will be aired nationally on cable TV channels. The marketing campaign also includes print and digital advertising, as well as a new website, www.ctforbusiness.com, that promotes the state as a good place to start or bring a business.
Gap names Rebekka Bay as head of global designBy Anne D’Innocenzio, Retail Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Gap Inc. has tapped Rebekka Bay as creative director and executive vice president for global design, effective Oct. 1.
Bay, who developed and launched the COS brand at the Swedish fast-fashion retail chain H&M, will be responsible for products sold online and in the nearly 1,600 stores in 42 countries in which Gap’s namesake brand operates, according to a statement issued Monday.
She fills the spot vacated by Patrick Robinson who was ousted in May 2011. He had been design director for the Gap chain.
Bay will report to Gap North America president Art Peck and Gap International President Stephen Sunnucks. “We’ve taken the time to identify the right creative leader for Gap and we’ve found that in Rebekka,” said Sunnucks in a statement. “We’re confident that Rebekka’s approach to design, along with her considerable international experience, will allow her to help us build upon the momentum we’re delivering in the business today.”
Gap Inc. also operates stores under Old Navy, Banana Republic as well as under Piperlime.
Bay conceptualized, developed and launched the COS brand for Hennes & Mauritz –H&M– starting in 2006. The COS brand is now successful across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Since 2011, Bay served as creative director at Bruuns Bazaar, overseeing the designer of women’s and men’s apparel.
Bay is signing up with Gap at a time when the clothing chain is showing evidence of a turnaround. It reported in mid-August a 29 percent increase in second-quarter net income, as the fashion retailer’s moves to liven up its clothing with brightly colored trendy looks are winning over shoppers.
Gap also raised its full-year profit guidance for the second time since May.
At her new job at Gap, Bay will be based in New York, managing design teams there and at the 1969 Gap jeans brand office in Los Angeles and will work closely with Pam Wallack, who leads the Gap Global Creative Center. Tracy Gardner will continue in her role as Creative Adviser to Gap.
Spiegel appointed managing director of Partners + Napier, NY
NEW YORK–Partners + Napier has appointed Andrea Spiegel as managing director of the agency’s New York office. The hiring of Spiegel, a 20-year marketing veteran, aligns with the rapid growth of the award-winning creative ideas agency, whose acquisition by independent global agency network Project: WorldWide in 2011 accelerated expansion into new markets.
Most recently, as executive VP in account management at Leo Burnett in Chicago, Spiegel was responsible for leading the development of strategic and integrated brand solutions for key clients, including Allstate, Samsung, and Travelocity. Spiegel brings strong client experience as well, having held senior marketing roles at JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Cunard, and Avis. Additionally, she has run her own consultancy, serving clients that included American Express, Virgin America, Gilt Groupe, Departures magazine, Cunard Line, Necker Island, and Condé Nast Traveler.
With 150 marketing professionals across offices in Rochester, Atlanta, New York City, and San Francisco, Partners + Napier handles a roster of clients, including Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Constellation Brands, Capital One, and Delta Private Jets.
ATTIK Promotes Michelle O’Hea to Scion Account Director
SAN FRANCISCO–ATTIK has promoted Michelle O’Hea to the position of account director for the shop’s Scion account. ATTIK has served as the creative agency of record for Toyota Motor Sales USA’s Scion line of vehicles for the past 10 years, since before the brand’s official launch in 2003. O’Hea has spent the last four years on the Scion account as senior account manager.
O’Hea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising from Michigan State University and has been a marketing manager for Kelly Services, Inc., and an account person on a number of automotive brands, including Chrysler, Hyundia and Chevrolet. Most recently she oversaw ATTIK’s efforts behind the launch of the Scion FR-S “Driving is Back” integrated campaign.
Along with O’Hea, ATTIK’s current account team also includes senior account manager Sacha Zivanovic, account manager Tracy Allen, senior account executive Brianna Chown, assistant account executive Christine Rodriguez, and asset coordinator Rachel Piltch.
AT&T says it set iPhone 5 sales recordNEW YORK (AP) — AT&T says it set a sales record for the iPhone 5, with customers ordering more of them than any previous iPhone model on the first day of preorders and over the weekend.
The Dallas company said Monday that the iPhone 5 is still available for preorders online and will be available at its stores starting on Friday. It didn’t say how many were sold.
The iPhone 5 has a bigger screen — 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) measured diagonally — that creates room for another row of icons and lets widescreen movies fit better. The calendar will now show five days at a time instead of just three. Previous iPhone models carried 3.5-inch (8.89-centimeter) screens.
The iPhone 5 will also come with the capability to connect to the fastest new wireless data networks in the U.S. and overseas.
