The Inbox (Jan. 4-10, 2014)

Every week, I get several press releases, screening invitations and other notifications from a handful of studio contacts. While I won’t be sharing any information regarding my screening invites, some of the press releases might be of interest to my readers, so I thought I’d start sharing them in toto with all of you. These could include new image galleries for various films or important updates to upcoming releases from various smaller studios and art house production companies.

Image Gallery: “Gone Girl” EW Cover
Image Gallery: “Knights of Badassdom” Poster
Image Gallery: “3 Days to Kill”
Press Release: “Tiger Eyes” Now Available on DVD
Press Release: Kent Sanderson Joins GoDigital
Press Release: Mo’Nique Joins the Cast of “Blackbird”
Press Release: Scott Carlson & Liev Schreiber Launches Van’s General Store
Press Release: Fandor Appoints Ted Hope CEO
Press Release: Ben Sachs Named President of Benaroya Pictures
Press Release: AFI Awards Reveal Program Rationale At Annual Luncheon
Press Release: Pivot Greenlights Season 2 of “Hitrecord on TV”
Press Release: Megan McCain to Co-host “Take Part Live”
Press Release: Pivot Announces Season 2 of “Please Like Me”
Press Release: Pivot Greenlights “Terracycle” and “Welcome to Fairfax”
Press Release: Pivot Announces 2.0 Phone App Improvements

Image Gallery: “Gone Girl” EW Cover

Image Gallery: “Knights of Badassdom” Poster

Image Gallery: “3 Days to Kill”

Press Release: “Tiger Eyes” Now Available on DVD

Willa Holland Stars in Judy Blume’s Coming-of-Age Classic ‘TIGER EYES’ now Available on DVD from Freestyle Digital Media

First Blume novel made into feature film debuts nationwide on January 7th

Los Angeles, CA (January 6, 2013) – Freestyle Digital Media announced today that on January 7, 2014 they will release TIGER EYES, based on Judy Blume’s acclaimed young adult novel of the same name, on DVD nationwide. Tiger Eyes marks the first major motion picture adaptation from Blume’s work, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries. The DVD will be available at Barnes & Noble, Target, Books A Million and additional nationwide outlets.

Co-written by Blume and her son, Lawrence Blume, who also directed, the film stars Willa Holland (“Arrow,” “Gossip Girl”), Tatanka Means (“The Host”), Amy Jo Johnson (“Flashpoint”), Russell Means (“The Last of the Mohicans”), Cynthia Stevenson (“The Player”), and Elise Eberle (“The Astronaut Farmer”). TIGER EYES was a co-production of Amber Entertainment (Mark Ordesky, Ileen Maisel) and Tashmoo Productions (George Cooper, Judy Blume, Lawrence Blume) with Linda Moran co-producing, and Ruth Pomerance executive producing.

Tiger Eyes tells the story of Davey, a 17 year old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, everything that once mattered suddenly seems insignificant. But while exploring the surrounding canyons Davey meets Wolf, a mysterious young Native-American who is able to see past her pain. The connection they make brings Davey back from the edge and sets her on a journey from heartbreak and confusion to love and life after tragedy.

Blume is the iconic author of many best-selling books including Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Blubber; Forever; Summer Sisters; and the five book series featuring the irrepressible Fudge.

About Freestyle Digital Media
Freestyle Digital Media, LLC was launched in November 2011 by its CEO Susan Jackson who is Co-President and founder of independent theatrical distributor Freestyle Releasing, LLC and North American sales company Turtles Crossing, LLC. Freestyle Digital Media supplies quality commercial film and TV content directly to all US VOD/SVOD rental DVD/Kiosks and theaters using the latest cloud-based technologies to automate digital workflow. Freestyle’s goal is to provide fresh, well-marketed product and stay on the cutting edge of the ever-compressing windows to ensure that their partners benefit from a platform that delivers an anytime-anywhere capability in the medium of their choice and a positive digital viewing experience on any device in any location.

Press Release: Kent Sanderson Joins GoDigital

FORMER FOCUS FEATURES EXECUTIVE KENT SANDERSON JOINS GODIGITAL

Will Manage All Digital Platform Relationships as a Key Senior Team Member

Los Angeles, CA (January 7, 2014) – GoDigital Inc. has hired Kent Sanderson, recently a central player in the development and day-to-day operations of Focus World, Focus Features – VOD-centric alternative distribution label. Sanderson will serve as GoDigital – s Executive Vice President of Distribution & Merchandising and will report to GoDigital CEO Logan Mulvey. Sanderson will have oversight of the company – s cable, satellite and digital platform relationships as well as manage content windowing and marketing opportunities with the various digital retailers. Sanderson will be attending the upcoming Sundance Film Festival in an acquisitions capacity on behalf of the company.

Sanderson hails from Focus Features where he most recently served as Director, Alternative Content & Distribution. In that role, he was a key player in the acquisition, distribution and marketing of its titles which include Alex Gibney’s acclaimed “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks,” the recently released 2013 Sundance Film Festival titles “The Lifeguard” starring Kristen Bell and “C.O.G.” based on the story by David Sedaris. He was also involved in the campaigns for recent Focus theatrical releases “The World’s End,” “The Place Beyond the Pines,” and “Moonrise Kingdom.”

Mulvey commented, – Kent is a strategic thinker in all aspects of film distribution; we are proud to have secured his talents as one of the premiere executives in digital distribution. Together, we look forward to discovering the best in fiction and non-fiction film and sharing those works with global audiences. –

GoDigital was co-founded by Mulvey in 2008, originally as a distributor of music and filmed entertainment content via digital platforms. In 2012, GoDigital received an investment from Preferred Ventures, the digital media VC fund launched by FreeCreditReport.com founder and former Experian Interactive CEO Ed Ojdana with former Facebook Chief Privacy Officer and Fandor investor Chris Kelly. Both Ojdana and Kelly joined the GoDigital Board with Ojdana serving as its Chairman. In 2013, Internet Entrepreneur Charles Chase joined GoDigital as an investor and Board Member.

Upon the announcement Sanderson said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at GoDigital at this exciting moment of change, both for them and the industry at large. I look forward to jumping in and building upon the great work they’ve done in the past few years.”

Press Release: Mo’Nique Joins the Cast of “Blackbird”

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER MO’NIQUE JOINS CAST OF PATRIK IAN POLK’S “BLACKBIRD,” ALONGSIDE ISAIAH WASHINGTON

New York, January 6th, 2014—Academy Award winner Mo’Nique (“Precious”) has joined the cast of Patrik Ian Polk’s BLACKBIRD and will co-star along side Isaiah Washington, fresh off his critically acclaimed and Gotham Award-nominated performance in the film “Blue Caprice.” Mo’Nique and her husband Sidney Hicks are also Executive Producing the film through their NAACP Image Award winning Hicks Media production banner. Producers are Patrik-Ian Polk (Tall Skinny Black Boy Productions), Keith Brown (Kbiz Entertainment), Isaiah Washington (Coalhouse Productions) and Carol Ann Shine.

“Blackbird,” which was shot on location in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is based on the coming of age novel of the same name by Larry Duplechan.

“‘Blackbird’ is a film about the choices people are forced to make as they struggle to figure out how to be themselves. And why should just being who you are be a struggle?” explained Executive Producer Sidney Hicks. “Since Mo’Nique won the Oscar, we have received numerous scripts, but nothing captured our attention until Isaiah, who we have a high level of respect for, sent us Blackbird. We became instant fans of Patrik-Ian Polk and knew we had to get behind this important film.”

Patrik Ian Polk said, “When we wrote the role of Claire Rousseau, we dreamed of attracting an A-list actress. So to actually get an Oscar winner of Mo’Nique’s caliber was literally a dream come true. And she’s quite simply amazing in the role.”

Blackbird tells the story of 17-year-old Randy Rousseau (newcomer Julian Walker), a devout high school choir boy struggling to come of age in the small religiously conservative Mississippi town he calls home. Randy juggles his role as star of the church choir with facing the everyday trials of life as a high school misfit- a misfit plagued by eerie visions and premonitions. Complicating matters, his little sister has gone missing and his parents have subsequently split up, leaving him to care for his heartbroken mother, Claire (Mo’Nique). When Claire discovers a shocking secret her son has been hiding, she blames him for the disappearance of his sister. Randy’s father, Lance (Isaiah Washington), who has been keeping a watchful eye on his broken family, steps in to give his son a hand as he struggles to make the difficult transition into manhood.

In addition to Mo’Nique and Washington, the film stars newcomer Julian Walker, Terrell Tilford, Gary L. Gray, Kevin Allesee, Torrey Lamaar, Nikki Jane and D. Woods.

Mo’Nique is an award-winning stand-up comedian and actress. Her credits include the hit television series “The Parkers,” the late-night talk show “The Mo’Nique Show” and feature films “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,” “Domino,” “Phat Girlz,” “Two Can Play That Game” and “Precious”- for which she received an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Independent Spirit Award, BAFTA Award, NAACP Image Award and a Sundance Special Jury Prize.

Isaiah Washington is a veteran of over 30 feature films with A-list directors including Clint Eastwood, Jonathan Demme and Spike Lee. His credits include “Crooklyn,” “Clockers,” “Girl 6,” “Get On The Bus,” “love jones,” “True Crime,” “Out Of Sight,” “Romeo Must Die,” and “Blue Caprice.” His television credits include “Soul Food,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Bionic Woman” and the upcoming CW drama series “The 100.” He has received two NAACP Image Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Patrik-Ian Polk is an award-winning filmmaker best known for creating the hit TV series “Noah’s Arc” for MTV’s Logo network. His feature film credits include “Punks,” which premiered at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, “Noah’s Arc: Jumping The Broom”, nominated for three NAACP Image Awards (Outstanding Film, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Directing) and winner of the GLAAD Award for Best Film (2008) and “The Skinny.”

Worldwide sales for the film are being handled by Hicks Media and attorney Ricky Anderson of Anderson & Smith.

Press Release: Scott Carlson & Liev Schreiber Launches Van’s General Store

SCOTT CARLSON & LIEV SCHREIBER LAUNCH VAN’S GENERAL STORE

NEW YORK CITY (2 January 2014) — Van’s General Store is a hybrid creative collective. A modern agency model that crafts advertising, content, experiences, products, package design and fine art in the service of brands and the public. After collaborating for years, advertising vet and artist Scott Carlson and actor, director, writer Liev Schreiber opened the collective as a response to the growing need for cohesive master narratives – brand story arcs that can be told and built upon regardless of platform; and employing imaginative activations so they don’t get lost in translation from strategic vision to creative expression. The collective’s members include a group of industry leaders including directors, strategists, screenwriters, scriptwriters, cinematographers, producers, photographers, music makers, designers and dreamers of all kinds united by a love of good storytelling. The VGS office, located in the Lower East Side of New York City, also boasts a storefront space that will function as a pop-up shop for clients, artists and friends. An experiential crash pad for great ideas that need a good home. Visit www. vansgeneralstore.com for more.

Interested media who wish to interview Van’s General Store principals, please contact WORKHOUSE, CEO Adam Nelson via nelson@workhousepr.com directly or by telephone +1 646.205.3540

Just this year Van’s General Store was named Agency of Record for NERGIA, a new 100% natural energy shot created by America’s Naturals. VGS was pleased to unveil the first creative for the product early this fall which focuses on communicating the brand’s mission to provide premium energy that’s both convenient and healthy. Treasured individually for their restorative and healing properties, NERGIA’s organic ingredients – Guarana seeds, Açaí berries and Catuaba bark – have all been sustainably harvested and bottled for a pure boost of clean energy; the way Mother Nature intended. The glass packaging is both recyclable and prevents the chemical properties of plastic leaking into the product (and ultimately your body). Stop by the VGS offices for a sample today.

Press Release: Fandor Appoints Ted Hope CEO

FANDOR ANNOUNCES FILM VET TED HOPE AS CEO

Film veteran Ted Hope will take the reins at Fandor on January 30th.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 8, 2014 – Fandor, the curated online service for exceptional independent and international films, today announced that former San Francisco Film Society Executive Director and award-winning independent producer Ted Hope, has been named Chief Executive Officer. His official start date is January 30th.

Hope brings to Fandor a wealth of film experience as a creator, curator, advocate, and innovator in the film community as well as a vision for how Fandor will grow in the ever-changing digital world of content distribution. Hope has been on Fandor’s Board of Advisors since March 2011 and he has long been a powerful advocate for new ways to deliver vibrant independent content to the millions of independent film fans around the world.

Using innovative ways to find and share a greater array of works with the audience that craves them is Fandor’s mission and among Hope’s strongest passions. His understanding of how the film world has changed over the last 25 years is unparalleled, particularly in the areas of distribution and connecting with audiences.

“Our entire film culture remains structured around antiquated concepts of cinema, audience, and engagement,” said Hope, “Fandor is part of a great systems reboot of this ecosystem, one that is as equally rewarding for the artist and the audience.”

Continuing, Hope added that “Fandor offers film fans better curation and deeper engagement, making ambitious, diverse, and vibrant film culture a sustainable enterprise for all participants. Fandor is the cure for Fear Of Missing Out.”

Hope is an influential figure in the film community who has served as inspiration and mentor to countless filmmakers. In 1990, Hope co-founded production and sales powerhouse Good Machine with writer/producer James Schamus and the company went on to produce such acclaimed and award winning films as American Splendor, The Ice Storm, In the Bedroom and Happiness.

Hope was most recently the Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society where he successfully raised significant new sponsorship funding, expanded the San Francisco International Film Festival’s offerings to include the innovative Artist to Entrepreneur (A2E) program and launched their new Fall Awards event. He also introduced new alliances, including a distribution arrangement with Sundance Artist Services and implemented several grants in such areas as documentary, strategic planning, and operations. He will continue with SFFS on the Advisory Board.

Fandor Board of Directors member and former Facebook executive Chris Kelly welcomed Hope to the company, remarking that “Ted has repeatedly proven his entrepreneurial talents over the years in making incredible films and articulating a powerful future vision for the independent film business,” adding, “We’re thrilled to have him lead Fandor’s quest to remake the film ecosystem.”

“Ted’s front-line view of how social networks, mass-availability of media content, and the empowerment of audiences change film will assure that Fandor accelerates its pioneering approach to curation and digital content distribution,” Kelly continued.

Hope joins Fandor as the company continues to expand. Over three dozen new partners and individual filmmakers have been added to Fandor’s curated service in 2013, creating a film library of over 5,000 high quality and distinctive titles that span hundreds of genres. Many of these films are unavailable anywhere else. Fandor launched internationally into Canada and expanded the services availability on a wide selection of devices including Sony Blu-ray players and home theater systems plus Android tablets and smartphones.

Founder and current CEO Dan Aronson will continue to serve on Fandor’s Board of Directors and as the company’s CTO; he will work closely with key partners on strategies to ensure that Fandor remains at the forefront of technological advances in digital content distribution.

About Fandor:
Fandor is the on-demand film source for people who love movies, offering a broad and carefully curated library of independent and international movies, easily accessed through search and discovery tools. Fandor’s subscription-based service allows audiences to watch unlimited movies wherever they are, on mobile devices, computers and TVs. Fandor was launched in 2011 with the goal of showcasing and supporting the world’s best filmmakers, and returns half its revenue to them.

Press Release: Ben Sachs Named President of Benaroya Pictures

LEADING INDEPENDENT FILM COMPANY BENAROYA PICTURES NAMES BEN SACHS ITS NEW PRESIDENT

Company Picks Up ‘SLINGSHOT’ Spec Script in Pre-Emptive Deal

Los Angeles, CA (January 9, 2014)— Michael Benaroya, one of the leading independent financiers and producers of high quality entertainment, announced today that his company Benaroya Pictures has promoted Ben Sachs from Senior Vice President to President. Sachs will oversee the company’s ever-expanding production and development slate and will executive produce or produce all films financed by Benaroya Pictures. He reports directly to Michael Benaroya.

One of the newest projects on the company slate will be SLINGSHOT, a spec script written by Scott Adams that has just been acquired in a pre-emptive deal with Michael Benaroya, Energy Entertainment’s Brooklyn Weaver (RUN ALL NIGHT, EXTANT) and Jonathan Krauss (TRANQUILITY BASE) on board to produce.

The plot elements are currently under wraps, but it is a contained sci-fi based thriller with elements of SOLARIS and THE GAME.

The project was put together by CAA’s indie financing division with the goal of fast-tracking the title through the packaging process. Adams, who was scouted out of the 2013 Nicholls Fellowship in Screenwriting Finals by Weaver, is repped by Above The Line Agency’s Rima Greer.

Sachs will be overseeing an extremely active schedule for the first quarter of 2014 including the highly-anticipated QUEEN OF THE DESERT directed by Werner Herzog and starring Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Damien Lewis, and Z IS FOR ZACHARIAH with Amanda Seyfried, Chris Pine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Both films will shoot in early 2014.

Additional projects in pre-production include the recently announced KING OF THE KASTLE with Asa Butterfield, Clive Owen and Jacki Weaver, and CELL, the Stephen King adaptation which stars John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. The company just wrapped principal photography on CYMBELINE starring Ed Harris, Ethan Hawke and Mila Jovovich in New York this past fall.

“Since I founded the company over six years ago, this will mark the first time I have elevated any executive beyond V.P. status, which I find indicative of Sachs’ style and business acumen. Ben has become equally impactful as I am in selecting the material in which we get involved. He has great taste and represents how Benaroya Pictures does business; he’s honest, collaborative and fair, but strong and decisive. He knows what he likes and isn’t afraid to make strong offers to get the projects we want,” said Benaroya.

“With so many great projects set to film in early 2014, and several more slated for later in the year, this will be a breakout year for the company as we move towards our goal of producing a nice mix of both meaningful and commercial films,” said Sachs.

Benaroya’s film credits include KILL YOUR DARLINGS, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DaHaan, Ben Foster, Michael C. Hall, Jack Huston, and Elizabeth Olsen, which bowed in competition at the 2013 Sundance festival. The film was released domestically by Sony Pictures Classics. Other titles include the romantic mystery THE WORDS starring Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, and Ben Barnes, which was released by CBS Films last year. Additional films include the thriller LAWLESS, starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska from the Weinstein Company. The company’s financial thriller MARGIN CALL was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the Best First Feature Award at the 2011 Independent Spirit Awards.

Press Release: AFI Awards Reveal Program Rationale At Annual Luncheon

AFI AWARDS TAKE THE COMPETITION OUT OF THE COMPETITION

Annual Luncheon Celebrates the Art Form While Official Rationales for Outstanding Motion Pictures and TV Programs Revealed.

Exclusive Videos of Talent Posted Online as AFI’s Almanac for the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2014, Los Angeles – America’s finest film and television artists were among the guests honored by the American Film Institute (AFI) at its January 10 AFI AWARDS 2013 luncheon, sponsored by Verizon Digital Media Services and Audi of America. At the event, the much-anticipated AFI rationales were presented to the room, revealing for the first time the words that will be recorded into the Institute’s annual almanac honoring these 10 outstanding films and television programs. New for 2013, an online almanac page with exclusive video content will be launched at AFI.com on Tuesday, January 14, 2014. In a series of short videos captured during the luncheon, actors and filmmakers will offer their comments on the art form in 2013 – further preserving our nation’s cultural heritage, honoring the artists involved and educating audiences worldwide.

Favored by artists and entertainment executives for its collaborative recognition, AFI Awards is the only national program that honors the community’s creative ensembles as a whole.

Representing their teams were guests such as: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Steve McQueen and Lupita Nyong’o (12 YEARS A SLAVE); Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and David O. Russell (AMERICAN HUSTLE); Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS); Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer (FRUITVALE STATION); Sandra Bullock and Alfonso Cuarón (GRAVITY); Spike Jonze (HER); T Bone Burnett, Joel Coen and Oscar Isaac (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS); Bruce Dern and Alexander Payne (NEBRASKA); John Lee Hancock and Emma Thompson (SAVING MR. BANKS); Martin Scorsese (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET); Steven Spielberg (THE AMERICANS); Brian Cranston, Vince Gilligan, Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul (BREAKING BAD); David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (GAME OF THRONES); Julianna Marguilies (THE GOOD WIFE); Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright (HOUSE OF CARDS); John Hamm, Christina Hendricks, Elizabeth Moss and Mathew Weiner (MAD MEN); Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen (MASTERS OF SEX); Jason Biggs, Jenji Kohan (ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK); Tony Goldwyn and Shonda Rhimes (SCANDAL); Tony Hale and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (VEEP).

Amy Adams, Tom Hanks and Spike Jonze appeared in two AFI AWARDS 2013 honored works, Adams for AMERICAN HUSTLE and HER, Hanks for CAPTAIN PHILLIPS and SAVING MR. BANKS and Jonze for HER and THE WOLF OF WALL STREET. Highlighting the exemplary nature of the event, four AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT recipients attended including Tom Hanks (2002), Shirley MacLaine (2012), Martin Scorsese (1997), and Steven Spielberg (1995). Notably, Directors from all ten films were in attendance. Twenty-eight AFI Conservatory alumni were among the creative ensembles of 13 official selections.

AFI Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tom Pollock, Chair of the AFI Jury for Motion Pictures, recognized the film honorees. Richard Frank, Chair of the AFI Jury for Television and an AFI Board of Trustees Vice Chair, acknowledged the television honorees.

Surprise guest and legendary screen icon Shirley MacLaine, the 2012 AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD recipient, delivered the benediction, acknowledging the magnitude of the American Film Institute’s contributions to the film and television community.

AFI Board of Trustees in attendance included: AFI Board of Trustees Chair Sir Howard Stringer, AFI Board of Directors Chair Bob Daly, Lisa Arpey, Jon Avnet, Paris Barclay, Roger Birnbaum, Todd Bradley, Jim Breyer, Senator Chris Dodd, Tracey Edmonds, Jean Picker Firstenberg, Nancy Fisher, Rich Frank, Alan Horn, Ken Howard, Marshall Herskovitz, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Kathy Kennedy, Donna Langley, Bryan Lourd, Michael Lynton, Lori McCreary, Leslie Moonves, Phil Moyneux, Wendy Murdoch, Tom Pollock, Shonda Rhimes, Rich Ross, Steven Spielberg, Anne Sweeney, Robert Toohey and Edward Zwick.

Verizon Digital Media Services is the Digital Sponsor of AFI AWARDS and luncheon. Audi of America has supported AFI for the past 10 years and is proud to return as a major sponsor of the event. Additional sponsors include Stella Artois and American Airlines, the official airline of the American Film Institute, providing travel support throughout the year.

As previously announced in December 2013, the AFI AWARDS 2013 official selections are listed below along with the jury rationales.

AFI AWARDS 2013 – MOTION PICTURE RATIONALES

12 YEARS A SLAVE is a story amazing – and in no good way. Director Steve McQueen shines a bright light on the horrors of the past – a time when caged and tortured humans were fuel to the machine that is America. Ultimately, this true tale is one of survival, a screenplay written by John Ridley and resting firmly upon the shoulders of Chiwetel Ejiofor, who delivers a strong and soulful performance as Solomon Northup – a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery. His injustice is set against the breathtaking beauty of Southern landscapes, which only serve to enhance atrocities disgracefully forgotten – and never before depicted with such raw intensity.

AMERICAN HUSTLE is eight-track entertainment from the feet up – exposing the question, “What is façade and what is for real?” With no detail overlooked, no hair out of place, David O. Russell’s masterful period piece wires audiences into the exhilarating cons of Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper. Enter Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner, with all players playing against type, and you have a tale of ambition that is rollicking and emotionally raw – and an anthem to the notion that the art of survival is a story that never ends.

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS sails the high seas of heroism in this adrenaline-fueled thriller, where a blinking dot on a radar screen signals the collision of two worlds. Melding documentary realism with pure action filmmaking, Paul Greengrass’ pulse-pounding narrative is anchored by a taut script from Billy Ray and a commanding performance from Tom Hanks, who again captures a character that we all live and breathe. Explosive turns by Barkhad Abdi and other first-time Somali actors ignite the film’s urgent telling of a true tale – an extraordinary effort to save the life of one man and preserve an American ideal.

FRUITVALE STATION illustrates the power of an art form to find the humanity in a headline. With a steady hand, Ryan Coogler conducts this haunting chronicle of injustice to its inevitable final destination by allowing audiences to share an intimate, bittersweet day with Oscar Grant. Michael B. Jordan brings a delicate, raw nuance to his portrayal of the struggling but hopeful youth, and Octavia Spencer’s big-hearted mom adds to the power of the message – that change will come when we understand and appreciate each other as fellow passengers on a train toward tomorrow.

GRAVITY holds audiences with the power of a force of nature. Reaching skyward with pioneering ambition, Alfonso Cuarón paints with a canvas so vast and visuals so breathtaking, that the film instantly rockets into the heavens of unforgettable achievements. A theatrical spectacle humbling beyond words, it is at its core a human drama that floats between wonder and terror, with a beating heart provided by two of America’s brightest stars – Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Bullock’s lead role is so deeply felt and epic in emotion that we stand with her at film’s end, grateful to have experienced one helluva ride.

HER asks what it is to connect – and what it means to love. This near-future romance is a profoundly relevant valentine to today’s world – a modern fairy tale written and directed by the mind-soaring talents of Spike Jonze. Deeply personal, vulnerable performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson tell the story of one man’s passion for an operating system and her shared joy for him. The inevitability of human evolution is a concept scary to some and embraced by others, but this is art at its most powerful – to imagine “what if?” – and present it with a pure, beating heart.

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS embodies the spirit of a great American folk tale – but finds the power of a lyrical odyssey when told by the talents of Joel and Ethan Coen. With T Bone Burnett as their musical muse, the Coens brilliantly encapsulate the saturated soul of the early sixties, as they play this cyclical ballad sparked by a bar fight and a cat on an incredible journey. Oscar Isaac’s finely tuned performance is inseparable from character as he wanders down the road to redemption; lost between undeniable talent and hopeless abjection, he sees his music as we see the film – it’s never new and it never gets old; it’s a folk song.

NEBRASKA paints a stark portrait of Midwestern America – a Rockwell drained of both color and nostalgia, but nonetheless infused with astounding depth and sentiment. Shadows cast with austere beauty by director Alexander Payne reveal innumerable shades of gray in the film’s characters – evoking empathy, if not sympathy, for an embittered family on an unlikely pilgrimage. Bruce Dern’s million-dollar performance as wayward patriarch Woody Grant creates a quietly stirring and darkly comic study on aging, and Will Forte shines as the son who helps Woody look to the future as the long, open road of memory disappears in the rear-view mirror.

SAVING MR. BANKS soars to the highest heights, elevating the memory of one of American film’s most celebrated stories. Magic leaps from the pages of Sue Smith and Kelly Marcel’s script, as director John Lee Hancock brilliantly blends the story and the back-story of MARY POPPINS’ flight to the silver screen. Icons as icons, Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks spar deftly and delightfully as P.L. Travers and Walt Disney, beautifully embodying the struggle inherent in creating a character so deeply personal and then sharing it with the world. Like Poppins herself, the film is practically perfect in every way.

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET howls at a moon hanging high above an atavistic America. This cinematic exploration of excess is a cautionary tale, administered like a dangerously addictive drug by a master of cinema. Here, Martin Scorsese and his talented team – with Terence Winter’s script as guide – write another chapter in the history of New York crime families, with Leonardo DiCaprio’s fearless performance hypnotizing those who believe that money matters above all else. Complicit in his transgressions is an all-star ensemble – with Jonah Hill emerging as his colorful partner in crime.

AFI AWARDS 2013 – TELEVISION PROGRAM RATIONALES

THE AMERICANS embeds audiences into a seductive study of the conflicting loyalties between undercover Soviet spies and their adopted American suburbs. Joe Weisberg’s taut Cold War thriller doubles as a portrait of a troubled middle-class marriage – with stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys providing the glowing core to this new take on the nuclear family.

BREAKING BAD held the world captive in its addictive final episodes – breathlessly waiting for word on Walter White’s cancerous descent from sympathetic family man to the darkest of villains. Vince Gilligan and his crack creative ensemble missed no opportunity for conflict and character development as they cooked up an epic conclusion worthy of the series’ undeniable place in the pantheon.

GAME OF THRONES soars to new heights on dragons’ wings. Rare are the moments when a series so thoroughly shakes its audience with a grim marriage of shock and bloodshed – but in an epic feat, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss execute an exquisite betrayal, turning a strategic alliance into a red wedding so infamous that the world was left gasping for breath.

THE GOOD WIFE raises the bar in its fifth year with an audacious act of reinvention. Creators Michelle and Robert King upset the status quo with the dissolution of the series’ core legal team – making politics deeply personal in a delicious dance played out by a sparkling, sophisticated ensemble led by Julianna Margulies.

HOUSE OF CARDS has built a monument to revenge with the careful hand of Beau Willimon. With equal parts bravado and bluff, Kevin Spacey flourishes as a mastermind of Shakespearean ambition – one whose instantly iconic asides reveal the darkly comic and deeply cynical underbelly of the American political system.

MAD MEN cuts a fashionable figure in its impeccably tailored sixth year – which finds Jon Hamm’s Don Draper and a stellar ensemble careening through the dark days of 1968. Creator Matt Weiner’s stylish stories serve as both a poetic recreation of America’s past and a sobering reminder that nothing endures but change.

MASTERS OF SEX remembers a time before the world was awash in images of sex – and in doing so, finds the ground to become the rare work actually about sex. Michelle Ashford’s lushly produced period piece embraces both the kinky and clinical aspects of Masters and Johnson’s pioneering research, allowing the series to lay bare its subject with candor and humor – raising consciousness as it raises eyebrows.

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK escapes conventional TV models with a liberating look at life inside a women’s prison. Jenji Kohan’s fearlessly funny and intensely dramatic stories navigate a new world, where fiercely original characters remind audiences that gender and race should be explored and celebrated – on the inside and the outside.

SCANDAL is a grand opera of passionate political delights – amplified for modern day by maestro Shonda Rhimes. Hot topics are handled with a matter-of-fact approach to diversity that makes the series incisively relevant. Operating on all cylinders is Kerry Washington, who dazzles each week as she leads her gladiators into the world to fix the lives of all but their own.

VEEP is second to none in today’s television comedies. Armando Iannucci’s satiric eye peers into the office of the Vice President – embodied by the hilariously deadpanJulia Louis-Dreyfus and her oafish entourage of snakes and sycophants. This incisive indictment of government dysfunction finds humor in bureaucratic bad behavior – a political reality that’s so painfully funny because it might just be true.

About Verizon Digital Media Services
Verizon Digital Media Services offers enterprises a suite of robust and flexible end-to-end video solutions for best-in-class TV Everywhere and superior over-the-top experiences. Built on one of the world’s most advanced networks with a video-optimized platform, Verizon Digital Media Services delivers a vast range of content management and delivery services with carrier-grade quality, reliability, security and scale. For more information about Digital Media Services, visit verizondigitalmedia.com.

About Audi
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. Audi was a top-performing luxury brand in Europe during 2012, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Through 2016; AUDI AG will invest about $17 billion on new products, facilities and technologies. Visit audiusa.com or audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicles and business topics.

About the American Film Institute
AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI programs include the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; the AFI Life Achievement Award – the highest honor for a career in film – now in its 42nd year; AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year; AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI Fest presented by Audi, AFI Docs presented by Audi and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world renowned AFI Conservatory, recognized for the quality of its instructors and speakers and its notable alumni.

Press Release: Pivot Greenlights Season 2 of “Hitrecord on TV”

PIVOT GREENLIGHTS A SECOND SEASON OF JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT’S ‘HITRECORD ON TV’ IN ADVANCE OF THE SERIES’ JANUARY 18 DEBUT

Pasadena, CA, January 11, 2014 – Just days prior to the debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s “HITRECORD ON TV,” Pivot (Pivot.tv), Participant Media’s TV network targeting passionate Millennials (18-34), has ordered an eight episode sophomore season of the collaborative original series. The announcement was made today by Evan Shapiro, President of Pivot, at the bi-annual gathering of television critics in Pasadena.

“HITRECORD ON TV” is the re-imagination of the variety show, created, hosted, and directed by Gordon-Levitt and executive produced by Jared Geller and Brian Graden Media. The series is far from traditional as Gordon-Levitt directs countless artists from his global online community — hitRECord — to create short films, live performances, music, animation, conversation and more. Each episode focuses on a different theme as he invites and encourages anybody with an internet connection to join him and contribute. The eight-episode series will premiere on Pivot on Saturday, January 18 at 10pm ET/PT, with two back-to-back episodes.

“I’m deeply proud of this show and I’m thrilled that Pivot’s giving us a chance to do it again,” said Gordon-Levitt. “Honestly, making this together with all the artists from around the world in our hitRECord community has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life so far. I can’t wait to start making the next season.”

“Joe and thousands of artists around the world have come together to create something truly revolutionary — a magical one-of-a-kind mix of genres, media and talent. We are thrilled to extend our relationship with Joe and the team on a second season to bring a spotlight to even more talented RECorders on Pivot,” said Shapiro.

About Pivot
Pivot (Pivot.tv), which launched nationally August 1, is a television network from Participant Media serving passionate Millennials (18-34) with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content and, through its website TakePart.com, connects audiences to a wealth of content and customizable actions. Pivot is available via traditional Pay TV subscription and integrating a Live and on demand streaming option via its interactive, downloadable Pivot APP. In both content and delivery, Pivot is TV for The New Greatest Generation. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision.

About Participant Media
Participant (ParticipantMedia.com) is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant’s more than 45 films include GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC., WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’, THE HELP, CONTAGION and LINCOLN. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network TakePart.com and Pivot, its new television network for Millennials, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.

Press Release: Megan McCain to Co-host “Take Part Live”

MEGAN MCCAIN TO CO-HOST PIVOT’S ‘TAKE PART LIVE’ BEGINNING THIS SPRING MCCAIN JOINS JACOB SOBOROFF FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK ON LATE-NIGHT TOPICAL SERIES

Pasadena, CA January 11, 2014 – During a presentation today for television critics, Pivot (Pivot.tv), Participant Media’s TV network targeting Millennials (18-34), announced that it has expanded its relationship with Meghan McCain. Beginning this Spring, the New York Times best selling author, TV producer, commentator and outspoken daughter of Senator John McCain will join the network’s late night topical show “TakePart Live” as co-host, alongside Jacob Soboroff. The announcement was made by Evan Shapiro, President, Pivot.

“From the moment I started working with Pivot, I knew this was home. ‘Raising McCain’ was an unbelievable experience that gave me a platform to address issues important for my generation. Now I get to do it five nights a week! I am really excited to be a part of “TakePart Live” and grateful for all of the network’s support,” said McCain.

“TakePart Live” decodes the events that make up the fabric of daily life for the Millennial generation while giving them a platform to get involved and take action in real-time at TakePart.com. The show, which launched with Pivot on August 1, 2013, recently celebrated its 100th episode.

“Meghan has a tremendous following and continues to win audiences on Pivot and beyond and, simply put, we wanted more of her,” said Shapiro. “This new role gives her a format to have a continuing dialogue with our audience about what most affects them, and – together with Jacob – offer perspectives from their generation.”

In the blitz of media that McCain commanded during “Raising McCain,” Politico touted her as “proud and outspoken about her beliefs,” the Guardian wrote: “For a Millennial Republican, it’s probably refreshing to see someone you can relate to. For a Millennial Democrat…it’s intriguing to see what a socially liberal Republican’s beliefs can really look like” and Slate called her “indefatigable, unembarrassable, fun to watch.”

Press Release: Pivot Announces Season 2 of “Please Like Me”

PIVOT ANNOUNCES SEASON TWO OF JOSH THOMAS’ CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SCRIPTED COMEDY ‘PLEASE LIKE ME’ SET TO DEBUT IN AUGUST 2014

Production of Season Two Begins in Australia in February 2014

Pasadena, CA January 11, 2014 – Pivot (Pivot.tv), the TV network targeting Millennials (18-34) from Participant Media, announced today that the award-winning comedy/drama, “Please Like Me,” created by Josh Thomas, returns for a second season with ten original half-hour episodes in August 2014. As previously announced at TCA last summer, the network ordered a sophomore season of its first original scripted series just days before the network’s launch and series premiere on August 1, 2013. Production of season two is scheduled to begin in Australia in February 2014. Season two of the series is being co-produced by Pivot and Pigeon Fancier Productions/John & Josh International, in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s upstart digital channel ABC1.

The coming-of-age comedy has received critical acclaim in the U.S. and Australia and named one of the “Best TV Shows of 2013” by publications including Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker, Time Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and The Atlantic. ]The series is inspired in part by actual painfully awkward events in the life of 25-year-old Australian comedian Josh Thomas who created, wrote and executive produced the charming, laugh-out-loud series.

“We are so proud to be working with Josh and the incredibly talented team behind ‘Please Like Me’ and can’t wait to get started shooting the second season,” said Pivot Executive SVP, Scripted Programming Holly Hines. “His voice and experiences represent this generation like few others right now and we were thrilled to see how others fell in love with the first season just as much as we did.”

“Hello America. The idea that many of you take time out to watch “Please Like Me” when you live in a country where you can eat a toasted macaroni & cheese sandwich from a food truck, warms my heart. I’m super excited about season two,” said Thomas. I love that Pivot has the unique ‘doing good things that will make the world nicer’ at its core. Both Pivot and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation are dream networks for us to be working with.”

In the first season, Josh was dumped by his girlfriend, gained and lost a boyfriend, came out to his parents, lost his eccentric great aunt, and moved back in to live with his bipolar mother after her suicide attempt. In season two, Josh tries to get through the day without upsetting anyone. The new season also welcomes a new dog, a new rabbit and a new baby.

The Pivot Original series was created and written by Josh Thomas. Executive Producers are Josh Thomas, Todd Abbott and Kevin Whyte. Jeff Skoll and Holly Hines also serve as Executive Producers for Pivot. The series stars Thomas Ward, Debra Lawrance, David Roberts and Renee Lim. Josh Thomas has been called by critics: “brilliantly personal and so very sharply observed” and “brave, funny and thoroughly entertaining.” He was also the recipient of the 2010 GQ Comedian of the Year Award.

Catch up with a few clips from season one here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP9_9dIVKnoDVrF9t2xbO60JyB1tf_ZQX

Press Release: Pivot Greenlights “Terracycle” and “Welcome to Fairfax”

PIVOT GREENLIGHTS TWO ORIGINAL DOCU-SERIES ‘TERRACYCLE’ AND ‘WELCOME TO FAIRFAX’ FOLLOW ECCENTRIC AND INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURS IN THEIR PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM

Pasadena, CA – January 11, 2014 – During a presentation today for television critics, Pivot (Pivot.tv), Participant Media’s TV network targeting Millennials (18-34), announced that it has greenlit production of two original unscripted series, “TerraCycle,” premiering in Q3 2014 and “Welcome to Fairfax” for Q4 2014. The announcement was made today by Evan Shapiro, President, Pivot and Belisa Balaban, Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming.

“We are dedicated to telling unique stories that spark conversation and inspire action and each of these shows is a reflection of our audience and the types of fulfilling jobs they seek,” said Balaban. “Tom and the TerraCycle team are a colorful and hilarious group whose jobs mean more to them than a paycheck. As a result, their office culture is like few others you will find. Fairfax is focused on individuals that are striving to do what they love while also making a prosperous living for themselves and their community.”

Documenting the non-stop and deadline-driven world of an innovative New Jersey-based company touted as the “coolest little start-up in America,” “TerraCycle” is a ten episode

half-hour, comedic “occu-series” about an eccentric entrepreneur, Tom Szaky, and his staff, who have made it their mission to eliminate the concept of waste. A 32-year-old businessman and Princeton University dropout, Tom‘s multimillion-dollar business (which operates in 24 countries) takes anything and everything that is land-fill bound — from potato chip bags to cigarette butts — and recycles, up-cycles and transforms them into cool and functional new products. TerraCycle is a place where visionary thinking is celebrated. A mix of hippie types who take time away from their desk to share in some kale chips or morning yoga vs. the older and more skeptical staff who find the younger set to be a “bit naïve.” The one thing all the employees have in common is a passion for the “brand” and a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done. Produced by Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver and Anneka Jones of Left/Right (Mob Wives, Small Town Security, This American Life), the series is executive produced by Jeff Skoll and Belisa Balaban who is also executive in charge of production for Pivot.

“Welcome to Fairfax” is a behind-the scenes look at a vibrant, artistic and unique community that has emerged in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles, as seen through the eyes of some of the young visionaries who inhabit it. The neighborhood, which is often visited by megastars who themselves are looking for the newest fads, is a crossroads of the skate-life and rap-life filled with the next wave of young trendsetters and innovators who are willing to defy the odds in order to achieve greatness. Each of the ten half-hour episodes spotlights Millennials with varying interests who share the same mantra, “Dream Big, Grind Hard and Be Chill”: Mizzle is a self-taught entrepreneur and social activist, determined to grow his fashion brand on a global level to support his family; Felicia, his make-up artist girlfriend, is striving to create her own brand while caring for her sibling who struggles with addiction; and The CBG: Chill Black Guys, a rap group with a distinctive sound and message of being true to who you are and owning whatever you are passionate about. Produced by Ryan Sidhoo and Ben Selkow, along with Todd Lubin and Jay Peterson of Matador, the series is executive produced by Jeff Skoll and Belisa Balaban, who is also executive in charge of production for Pivot.

Press Release: Pivot Announces 2.0 Phone App Improvements

PIVOT’S APP 2.0 EXTENDS LIVE TV AND SOCIAL ACTION FUNCTIONALITY

Latest Version Expands Availability to iPhones, Android Phones, Tablets and the Web

Pasadena, CA January 11, 2014 – Pivot (Pivot.tv), Participant Media’s TV network targeting Millennials (18-34), today announced the launch of a new version of its Pivot APP at a gathering of the country’s television critics.

Pivot gives viewers the ability to watch TV any time, anywhere by offering authenticated Pay TV subscribers TV Everywhere Live and On Demand, on any device. It is currently available for subscribers of DISH and DIRECTV.

“We are a next generation network, so offering our viewers, who are primarily digital natives, the opportunity to watch and connect with Pivot in the way that best meets their lifestyle is incredibly important. The new Pivot APP offers exciting new ways for our audience to experience and interact with our programming and the social action it inspires, and we’ve only just begun.”

Pivot APP 2.0 includes:

Take Action Button: Viewers can now connect, get involved and even take action with one click while watching live television. At relevant moments during a program a social action message appears tied to an issue featured in the program, viewers can click the Take Action Button to complete a pledge, sign a petition, learn more about an issue, make a donation, and more.
New Devices: The Pivot TV App is now available for iPads, iPhones, Android phones, Android tablets, and the Web via Pivot.TV and iTunes.
Twitter: The new Twitter social function allows Pivot viewers to Tweet about Pivot shows and movies while they watch. A feed of activity connects those who are talking about Pivot, or Pivot shows to their followers, in real time.
Never Miss an Episode: Viewers can set reminders for Pivot shows and movies right from the program guide and receive alerts when chosen shows and movies air.
Free Content Area: A limited selection of free sample content by Pivot is now available via the App to anyone with an internet connection.