Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced Mountain Dew as a collaborator on “Circle of 8,” an original interactive thriller produced by Milchan/Van Eyssen.
“Circle of 8” is a studio-quality episodic thriller that invites audiences to participate in the fate of its characters. Along the supernatural journey, numerous plots and engaging interactive elements will provide unprecedented opportunities for unique consumer experiences. Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is distributing the project.
“Paramount Digital Entertainment and Milchan/Van Eyssen are utilizing creative content and state-of-the-art technology in a way that is taking interactive entertainment to a new level,” said Frank Cooper, CMO of sparkling beverages, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages. “Mountain Dew will play a critical role in evolving the storytelling experience through ‘Circle of 8,’ going far beyond traditional sponsorship and brand integration models.”
“PDE is dedicated to developing fresh and innovative ways for brands to become part of the studio’s digital productions,” added Thomas Lesinski, President of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “Mountain Dew’s involvement in our first release of an original property is a testament to the growth of high-quality digital content.”
Distributed by PDE and produced by Milchan/Van Eyssen, “Circle of 8” is initially set to deliver the highest level of cinematic quality to the Web and portable devices. The series will debut exclusively on MySpace in October and, upon its conclusion, will be redistributed as a full-length feature showcasing the choices made by the audience online.
“‘Circle of 8’ combines narrative movie-making, Paramount’s core business for the last hundred years, with ‘user experience,’ which we strongly believe will be an essential component for entertainment over the next hundred years,” said David Van Eyssen of MVE.
“Mountain Dew is the perfect brand for ‘Circle of 8,'” continued Alexandra Milchan of MVE. “This unique, high-quality production presents a number of creative opportunities for major brands to work with the producers to integrate their brands and reach an engaged global audience.”
Endemol will oversee all “Circle of 8” international brand alliances and international distribution.
About Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a product of Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages (PCNAB). PCNAB is a division of PepsiCo, which offers the world’s largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade – also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in over 200 countries. With more than $43 billion in 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 people who are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.
About Paramount Digital Entertainment
Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. PDE develops and distributes filmed entertainment across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices, videogames, virtual worlds and emerging technologies.
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Worldwide Television Distribution.
About Milchan/Van Eyssen
MILCHAN/VAN EYSSEN is a new media production company with a first-look deal at Paramount Digital Entertainment. MVE specializes in the creation of high-quality interactive content to be launched on the web and distributed across the full spectrum of media in all major territories. MVE’s online content is geared for theatrical, TV, DVD and games-console release.
MVE is run by independent film producer, Alexandra Milchan, and producer/director, David van Eyssen, co-creator of the BMW Films Series.
