Monday, October 31, 2011

How Facebook Made The Mighty Macs the Highest Grossing Film



With over 800 million users, the world's largest social network is making it easy for film advertisers to target the perfect consumer with the perfect message to get them to show up at the box office.



WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the filmmakers of The Mighty Macs, last weekend's highest grossing limited release film, Facebook put a new spin on film marketing by offering advertisers the ability to target consumers based on their 'Favorites.' The strategy is simple: target an audience based on the 'Favorite films' posted on their Facebook page, then deliver a compelling message that informs them that there is a new film that is just like their favorite movie.

"If you know what a Facebook user's favorite films have been in the past, you can predict what their favorite films will be in the future," said Sean Wolfington, owner of Tier10Marketing.com, the marketing company that worked with Facebook executives to conduct a laser targeted campaign that helped catapult the new inspirational sports film, The Mighty Macs, into the #1 top-grossing limited release film the weekend it opened in theaters. "Most films are marketed through giant TV campaigns. Because this movie didn't have the budget, we created a 'Targeted TV' campaign that reached consumers who have the highest statistical probability of showing up at the theater for this type of inspirational sports film with a message they cannot deny."

Here is how it worked - Facebook users who covet inspirational sports films based on true stories, like the ever-popular movies Rudy and Hoosiers, and have posted these movies as "Favorites" on their Facebook page, are the target audience. After determining these targets, marketers can filter them based on demographics. "The Mighty Macs began as a limited release in less than 1,000 theaters, so we targeted Facebook users who live within driving distance of the theaters that are showing our film," said Wolfington.

After identifying the target audience, the filmmakers produced a video to send to the consumers to motivate them to come to the box office on opening weekend. As fate would dictate, Rudy Ruettiger, the real-life "Rudy" who inspired the film about his life, saw and loved The Mighty Macs, and volunteered to promote it, saying, "The Mighty Macs is the Rudy of this generation."

The filmmakers utilized an interview with Ruettiger, in which Rudy praised the film, saying, "If you liked Hoosiers and Rudy, you will love The Mighty Macs." With Ruettiger's permission, the short video clip was distributed by Facebook to Facebook users who had chosen Rudy as one of their favorite movies. In short, consumers who love Rudy, received a video from Ruettiger encouraging them to go see The Mighty Macs, and to "Share" the clip with their Facebook friends. With the average Facebook user having 180 friends, the viral power of a user clicking "Like-Share-Comment," now more than ever, creates the potential for videos to spiral into global Internet sensations.

With Facebook enabling Ruettiger to tell Rudy lovers who live close to hosting theaters to go see The Mighty Macs, the strategy lends for the most targeted film marketing campaign in history. What is also unique is the filmmakers only pay when users click on the video initially, and not for impressions of the video or when users share with friends.

"We call this strategy 'Targeted TV' because it gives us all the upside of TV, with its powerful combination of sight, sound and motion, with the ability to deliver the right message to the right consumer. In this case it's the consumer who loves inspiring sports films, particularly, Rudy. It's a perfect campaign because people who love the real-life Rudy want to listen to what Rudy loves, especially films that inspire him," said Tim Chambers, the writer, director and producer of The Mighty Macs.

"We call the second half of the campaign, 'Social TV' because users who "Like" the Ruettiger video can share it with all of their friends and then the whole process repeats itself indefinitely," added Wolfington. "When 'Targeted TV' becomes 'Viral TV' with the click of a button, it is a very effective way to attract customers who have the highest statistical probability of going to see The Mighty Macs."

"Traditional TV can't target to that level of detail today and consumers can't 'Like' and 'Share' commercials the way they can with videos online," Wolfington emphasizes. "This is the future of marketing. It's amazing!"

About The Mighty Macs: The Mighty Macs is based on the incredible true story of the 1971-72 Immaculata College team that started in obscurity but became the original Cinderella story in women's basketball when a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball. This newly founded team of pioneers went from barely making that inaugural tournament to the first dynasty in their game. And Cathy Rush, the woman that changed the game for the better, became immortalized when she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year. The Mighty Macs stars Carla Gugino as Cathy Rush; David Boreanaz as her husband, NBA referee Ed Rush; Marley Shelton as Sister Sunday; and Academy Award and Tony Award winner Ellen Burstyn as Mother St. John. The Mighty Macs opened in theaters on October 21st and was released in 1,000 theaters through Sony Pictures. Tim Chambers wrote, produced and directed, with executive producers Vince Curran, John Chambers, Thomas Carl, Bud S. Smith, Pat Croce and Sean Wolfington, who also owns Tier10Marketing.com, the company that architected this new social media marketing strategy for films.

To see the video of Ruettiger praising The Mighty Macs, please visit the following link: http://vimeo.com/30606493

Other related links are listed below:

Film Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_VXhJCetwc
Film Website: http://www.themightymacs.com
Film Press Release: http://www.themightymacs.com/pressroom/pressmaterials
Marketing Company: http://www.tier10marketing.com

SOURCE Tier 10 Marketing

RELATED LINKS
http://www.tier10marketing.com





The 7 billionth Person in the World


Baby 7 Billion: A milestone for girls' survival rights. (PRNewsFoto/Plan International)

31 Oct 2011 19:25 Africa/Lagos


Baby 7 Billion: A Milestone for Girls' Survival Rights

PR Newswire

LUCKNOW, India, Oct. 31, 2011

LUCKNOW, India, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Child rights organisation Plan India today celebrated the birth of a girl in Uttar Pradesh as the world's symbolic 7 billionth person. The organisation described ‘Baby 7 Billion' as a milestone for comprehensive action for survival rights of girls.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111031/DC96700)

In an event held outside Lucknow, the capital of India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, the newborn girl was given a birth certificate by the local administration.

#Baby7Billion girl was born at 7.20 am India time to Vinita (23) and Ajay (25) at a community health centre in Mall near Lucknow in India's state of Uttar Pradesh. She has been named "Nargis" - a beautiful flower. Nargis was born a healthy baby and weighed nearly 3 kgs (6lbs 60z).

Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India said: "By celebrating the birth of a girl as Baby 7 Billion we are drawing attention to the serious issue of India's declining child sex ratio."

Hundreds of thousands of female foetuses are being terminated in India every year even though sex-selective abortions and use of ultrasound technology for foetal gender-determination is illegal in the country.

According to India's 2011 Census, the ratio of girls to boys has dropped to an all time low since records began. Today, there are just 914 girls for every 1,000 boys between 0 and 6 years.

Plan India has launched the Let Girls Be Born campaign in six Indian states to galvanise action to address the issue of female foeticide.

"Plan has been working in India for the last three decades and the survival, protection and development rights of girls have been a key focus of our community development work. With ‘Let Girls be Born' we are raising awareness and advocating for the fundamental survival rights of girls," added Bhagyashri Dengle .

In Uttar Pradesh, Plan's partner Vatsalya is working with communities and making them understand the social consequences of widening gender gap. Plan chose Uttar Pradesh to mark the birth of Baby 7 Billion as the state accounts not only for the highest number of births but also the highest number of ‘missing girls'. With a population bigger than that of Brazil, it has just 899 girls for every 1,000 boys. The situation is similar in other states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and the country's capital, Delhi.

As part of Plan's initiative, Baby 7 Billion, along with other six newborn girls from the same community, will be sponsored by several eminent women from India. They will support the sponsored girls for the next seven years – the key period for survival and childhood development – and serve as ambassadors for girls' survival rights. The organisation will report back on the development of Baby7 Billion girls at regular intervals.

Arti Kirloskar , Secretary, Plan India Board is spearheading this initiative and the other eminent personalities joining her are: Abha Narain Lambah, Conservation architect; Anoushka Shankar, Sitarist; Mallika Sarabhai, dancer and choreographer; and Sunita Narain , environmental activist.

Kirloskar said: "Through this small initiative we want to demonstrate that through concerted efforts we can bring in a lasting change in the lives of millions of girls. Allowing girls to be born and giving them equal chances in life is critical and it does not cost much to ensure a quality life."

For more information, please visit www.Plan-International.org.

SOURCE Plan International

CONTACT: CONTACT: Meg Cangany of Plan International USA, +1-202-223-8325 x 139, meg.cangany@planusa.org



Dear Father Christmas


SANTAS PENCIL Santa Claus can be an inspiration to children when they receive a customized letter from Santa. (PRNewsFoto/Santas Pencil) DUNEDIN, FL UNITED STATES



Saturday, October 29, 2011

Love Heals

Love heals all ills, including old wounds.

But if only we are willing to take the medicine of love, even when it is bitter and sour.

~ Orikinla Osinachi

I recommend the bestselling book Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich.



The first book in Louise Erdrich's Native American series, which also includes The Beet Queen, Tracks, and The Bingo Palace, Love Medicine tells the story of two families--the Kashpaws and the Lamartines.Now resequenced by the author with the addition of never-before-published chapters, this is a publishing event equivalent to the presentation of a new and definitive text. Written in Erdrich's uniquely poetic, powerful style, Love Medicine springs to raging life: a multigenerational portrait of new truths and secrets whose time has come, of strong men and women caught in an unforgettable drama of anger, desire, and the healing power that is Love Medicine. Discover the writer whom Philp Roth called "the most interesting new American novelist to have appeared in years" all over again.



Poppy Cat to Debut Exclusively on Sprout® in U.S



Poppy Cat to Debut Exclusively on Sprout® in U.S. During New Season of The Good Night Show®



Philadelphia, PA — October 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout will debut the new, animated preschool series Poppy Cat on Monday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET, during the season premiere of Sprout’s signature, original bedtime block, The Good Night Show. Airing exclusively on Sprout in the U.S., Poppy Cat is produced by Coolabi Productions.

Based on the award-winning books by British illustrator and author Lara Jones, Poppy Cat is an adorable and curious feline who loves to explore with her colorful mix of animal friends – and makes their adventures extraordinary! First published in 2003 in the UK (with over 2.5 million copies sold worldwide since then), Poppy Cat was specifically written, and now animated, for a preschool audience. Each adventure is told from the point-of-view of Lara, a young girl with a vivid imagination and exceptional storytelling ability who talks to her faithful cat, Poppy. They travel to destinations full of fantasy and magic for fun-filled adventures in pirate ships, hot air balloons and rocket rides.


“The Poppy Cat series has been a huge hit in the UK in both books and on television,” said Andrew Beecham, senior vice president of programming for Sprout. “She is a character that I think kids will fall in love with. Poppy Cat has a great sense of adventure, fun, fairness and compassion, and we are thrilled to be bringing this new show to U.S. audiences.”

Each evening, Poppy Cat will air within Sprout’s popular The Good Night Show, a three-hour programming block that was created as a tool for parents to help wind down their preschoolers for bedtime after a busy day. In addition to all the songs, stories, games and bedtime activities shared by hosts Nina and Star that Sprout viewers have made a part of their nightly bedtime routine, three brand new Good Night Show activity links will be introduced this season:

* Star Talks to Kids – Star has a one-on-one with a preschooler who shares everything from the name of his or her favorite made-up superhero to what they like most about rainy days.
* Sprout a Sandy Story – Nina and Star create a story pertaining to the night’s theme. As the story unfolds, Nina illustrates it with the use of a sand art table illuminated by a light box.
* Clean Up – Nina and Star model the importance of cleaning up after a long day of play, and sing a new “Clean Up” song as they straighten up and prepare for going to sleep.

Nina will also be sporting four new pair of pajamas. “Sprout viewers let us know that they wanted to see Nina in some new PJs,” said Beecham. “So, we had a poll allowing viewers to vote on new designs and received an overwhelming 700,000 votes!”

All of these new links are taking place on the new Good Night Show set, aptly named the “You and Me Tree,” a whimsical and handcrafted tree house where Nina and Star cozy up each night to play with their Sprout friends.

The Good Night Show airs nightly from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET (and repeats from 9:00 p.m. to midnight ET for families in different time zones).

For additional information on Sprout programs or schedules, or to play games, download free coloring pages or find great activities for kids, visit SproutOnline.com. To find out where Sprout is available in your area, call 1.8.SPROUT.411 or go to SproutPlease.com.

About Sprout®
Available in over 50 million homes, Sprout is the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for children ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers. The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the only channel that follows the day of a preschooler from breakfast to bedtime with its distinctive, interactive programming and original hosted blocks. Sprout’s VOD offering is the #1 on demand service for younger children with over one billion views.

Sprout is a partnership among NBCUniversal, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop. Its program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based preschool shows includes: Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™, Barney & Friends™, The Wiggles®, Thomas & Friends™, Caillou®, The Berenstain Bears™, Roary the Racing Car™, dirtgirlworld and more.

www.SproutOnline.com
www.facebook.com/Sprout
www.twitter.com/SproutTV

About Coolabi Productions
Coolabi specialises in the ownership, development and creative management of high quality children’s and family brands and intellectual property. The current portfolio includes Purple Ronnie, Poppy Cat, Scarlett & Crimson, The Large Family and Dead Gorgeous. In addition, Coolabi also licenses rights to selected brands, including Bagpuss, Clangers and Ivor the Engine. For more information and a background on the company, visit www.coolabi.com.



Friday, October 28, 2011

It's the End of the World, Baby!




The Campari Calendar 2012 Makes A Toast To Life

MILAN, October 27th 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The 2012 Campari Calendar, entitled It’s the end of the world, baby!, was unveiled in Milan today.

Now in its 13th edition, this year's iconic Campari Calendar is inspired by the many prophesies that in 2012 the world will see a global transformation leading to the end of the world as we currently know it. With nothing but a blur of unknown possibilities, Campari takes a positive look at intriguing theories, and presents their vision in a series of powerful, awe inspiring photos starring Hollywood actress and supermodel, Milla Jovovich.



"This year we've really pushed the creative boundaries as we’ve chosen to take a real imaginative look at the possibilities to come, in what could be a transformative period. It is our mission as an aperitif company to offer Campari lovers an intense, positive moment during this time, to celebrate whatever may happen and take a toast to life. With Milla’s mysterious, intriguing style, she was a perfect choice as the interpreter of this theme." comments Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO of Gruppo Campari.

From hurricanes to volcanic explosions, this year’s Calendar showcases Milla Jovovich in 13 vivid shots, all representing different hypotheses about the end of the world. It is the anticipation of these possible events that inspire the Calendar, and Campari takes this moment to celebrate life with optimism and energy, encouraging people the world over to join them in creating passionate, memorable moments to remember, by raising a glass together in a toast to life.

“As a model and an actress, this was an exciting new challenge for me, combining the skills to bring to life each of the hypotheses in a theatrical, yet sophisticated way.” Milla Jovovich comments.

Campari chose one of the most interesting players in international photography, Dimitri Daniloff, to shoot the Calendar for its 13th edition. An obvious choice for shooting a truly mystical story, the Parisian born photographer perfectly captures each scenario, as he sought to shape each shot piece by piece on camera, converting them into reality.

The Campari Calendar, of which only 9,999 copies are printed, will not go on sale but will be distributed to friends of Campari internationally.

The concept of It’s the end of the world, baby! was created by Euros RSCG Milano.

Campari Calendar Disclaimer

Access to the 2012 Campari Calendar materials (incl. but not limited to photos, press kit, texts, images, video, press conference, etc) is available for non-paid PR purposes only.

Any non-authorized reproduction, use or transmission of this material will cause irreparable injury and damage to Gruppo Campari, which will be entitled to pursue any and all remedies available to it through law or equity against the violators.




More than Five Million Americans Abuse Painkillers Each Month



More than Five Million Americans Abuse Painkillers Each Month

During Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, BeSmartBeWell.com shares the story of Julie, who overcame a nearly fatal addiction to painkillers

Chicago, October 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Drugs are everywhere. The use of prescription painkillers has increased dramatically in recent years, and prescription drug abuse is now the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 5 million Americans misuse painkillers each month. Opioid painkillers—a class of very powerful and potentially addicting pain relievers—are the most common source of drug overdose deaths, resulting in more unintentional deaths than cocaine and heroin combined.

Who is taking all these drugs? Americans like Julie, a preschool teacher who suffered from back pain and became addicted to painkillers. “When you think of an addict, you think of the person laying in the street that’s addicted to heroin,” Julie says in her video on the site. “You don’t think of the person that’s living down the street from you and is addicted to painkillers.” Watch Julie’s video at BeSmartBeWell.com to see her complete story.


Julie



Teens and prescription drug abuse

Because prescription drugs are so widely available, they’re also more accessible to teens, with nearly 2 million teens abusing prescription drugs each year. According to a survey sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, more than half of high school seniors said that opioid (narcotic) drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin would be fairly easy or very easy to get. Watch Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership at Drugfree.org, discuss prescription drug abuse among teens at BeSmartBeWell.com. Parents can also get educated about the most commonly abused prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including the street names kids use to describe them, with the new BeSmartBeWell.com Drug Guide.

Where can I learn more?
BeSmartBeWell.com/Drug-Safety is a website that provides practical information to help identify and prevent prescription drug abuse. Produced by the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer in collaboration with medical experts and national health organizations, BeSmartBeWell.com features: Life stories of real people struggling with health and safety issues, expert Q&As, reputable resources and links, health news, in-depth articles and health quizzes.

At the site, visitors can also register for the monthly Spotlight Newsletter and News Alerts for in-depth articles and breaking news on drug safety and other health topics.
About Be Smart. Be Well.

BeSmartBeWell.com is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Media Contact:
Ross Blackstone
Media and Public Relations Manager
Health Care Service Corporation
972.766.1735
Ross_Blackstone@hcsc.net

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES:
editor@besmartbewell.com 312.653.BSBW (2729)



Thursday, October 27, 2011

We Need to Talk About Kevin is Best Film at London Film Festival



The movie adaptation of We Need to Talk About Kevin, the 2003 novel of American author Lionel Shriver is the winner of the best film at the 55th BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday. The novel won the Orange Prize for fiction in 2005.

The British-American film described by Mike Collett-White as an unflinching portrayal of a mother's troubled relationship with her son featured Oscar winner Tilda Swinton, starring as Eva, Kevin's mother



Kevin (Ezra Miller), 15, commits a massacre at his high school and goes to jail. Stunned, his mother, Eve (Tilda Swinton) can only react to tragedy when it begins to correspond with her husband, Franklin (John C. Reilly), who lives far and recalls the boy's troubled past.

We Need to Talk about Kevin premiered at the last Cannes Film Festival, was directed by Scottish film maker Lynne Ramsay. It beat eight other films, including Russian Alexander Sokurov’s Faust that won the Golden Lion at the 68th Venice International Film Festival.

"In the end, we were simply bowled over by one film, a sublime, uncompromising tale of the torment that can stand in the place of love," said John Madden, chair of the judging panel.
"'We Need to Talk About Kevin' is made with the kind of singular vision that links great directors across all the traditions of cinema."

The festival closes Thursday evening with a gala screening of The Deep Blue Sea, Terence Davies' adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play starring Rachel Weisz.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima


Click here to read the novel.



The following is the press release on the 55th BFI London Film Festival.

The 55th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express announced the winners at its high profile awards ceremony, supported by Montblanc at London's LSO St Luke's yesterday evening. Hosted by Marcus Brigstocke, the four awards were presented by some of the most respected figures in the film world.

Best Film: We Need To Talk About Kevin, directed by Lynne Ramsay
Celebrating the most original, intelligent and distinctive filmmaking in the Festival, the Best Film award, presented in partnership with American Express, was chaired by John Madden who presented the award with fellow judge Gillian Anderson.

On behalf of the jury John Madden (Chair) said: "This year's shortlist for Best Film comprises work that is outstanding in terms of its originality and its stylistic reach. It is an international group, one united by a common sense of unflinching human enquiry and we were struck by the sheer panache displayed by these great storytellers. In the end, we were simply bowled over by one film, a sublime, uncompromising tale of the torment that can stand in the place of love. We Need to Talk About Kevin is made with the kind of singular vision that links great directors across all the traditions of cinema."

Best British Newcomer: Candese Reid, actress, Junkhearts
This award is presented in partnership with Swarovski and honours new and emerging film talent, recognising the achievements of a new writer, producer, director, actor or actress. The award for Best British Newcomer was presented by Edgar Wright and Minnie Driver to Candese Reid, for her acting role in Junkhearts, a sophisticated, social drama about hope and the search for redemption. Starting acting at the age of nine, she joined Nottingham's prestigious Television Workshop, and her role in Junkhearts, at the age of 18, was her first professional acting role. Candese also received a bursary of £5,000 courtesy of Swarovski.

Chair of the Best British Newcomer jury, Andy Harries said, "Candese is a fresh, brilliant and exciting new talent. Every moment she was on screen was compelling."

Sutherland Award Winner: Pablo Giorgelli, director of Las Acacias
The long-standing Sutherland Award is presented to the director of the most original and imaginative feature debut in the Festival. This year, Argentinian director Pablo Giorgelli took the award for his film Las Acacias, a slow-burning, uplifting and enchanting story of a truck driver and his passengers. The director received his Star of London from film director Terry Gilliam.

The jury commented: "In a lively and thoughtful jury room debate, Las Acacias emerged as a worthy winner, largely because of the originality of its conception. Finely judged performances and a palpable sympathy for his characters makes this a hugely impressive debut for director Pablo Giorgelli."

Grierson Award for Best Documentary: Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life, directed by Werner Herzog
The award is co-presented with the Grierson Trust, in commemoration of John Grierson, the grandfather of British documentary. Recognising outstanding feature length documentaries of integrity, originality, technical excellence or cultural significance, the jury was chaired by Adam Curtis and the award went to Werner Herzog's coruscating study of the senselessness of violence and its consequences.

BFI Fellowship: Ralph Fiennes and David Cronenberg
Awarded to an individual whose body of work has made an outstanding contribution to film culture, the Fellowship is the highest accolade that the British Film Institute bestows and was awarded to Canadian auteur David Cronenberg whose film A Dangerous Method premiered at the Festival on Monday. The Fellowship was presented by Jeremy Thomas and Michael Fassbender.

Ralph Fiennes, one of Britain's pre-eminent actors, who has just made a bold and critically well received transition to film directing with his festival film Coriolanus, was also presented with a Fellowship, this time from fellow actor and personal friend Liam Neeson.

Greg Dyke, Chair, BFI said: "The BFI London Film Festival Awards pay tribute to outstanding film talent, so we are delighted and honoured that both Ralph Fiennes, one of the world's finest and most respected actors and David Cronenberg, one of the most original and ground-breaking film directors of contemporary cinema, have both accepted BFI Fellowships - the highest accolade the BFI can bestow. I also want to congratulate all the filmmakers and industry professionals here tonight, not only on their nominations and awards, but also for their vision, skill, passion and creativity."

The Star of London award was commissioned especially for the Festival and designed by leading sculptor Almuth Tebbenhoff.

Jurors present at the ceremony included: Best Film jurors John Madden, Andrew O'Hagan. Gillian Anderson, Asif Kapadia, Tracey Seaward and Sam Taylor-Wood OBE; Sutherland jurors Tim Robey, Joanna Hogg, Saskia Reeves, Peter Kosminsky, Hugo Grumbar, and the artist Phil Collins. Best British Newcomer jurors Anne-Marie Duff, Tom Hollander, Edith Bowman, Stephen Woolley and Nik Powell; and Grierson Award jurors Mandy Chang of the Grierson Trust, Charlotte Moore, Head of Documentary Commissioning at BBC, Kim Longinotto and Adam Curtis.

Other guests included: Alfonso CuarĂłn, Sheharazade Goldsmith, Duncan Kenworthy, Aaron Johnson, Paul Gambaccini, Chair of the BFI Greg Dyke, Chief Executive Amanda Nevill and Festival Director Sandra Hebron.



Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Victorian Art From the Private Collection of Dr. Howard & Linda Knohl



26 Oct 2011 13:40 Africa/Lagos



THE QUEEN'S GALLERY: Victorian Art From the Private Collection of Dr. Howard & Linda Knohl

On display at MUZEO in Anaheim, CA, October 23, 2011 through January 8, 2012

PR Newswire

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 26, 2011

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MUZEO is delighted to present the World Premiere of THE QUEEN'S GALLERY, a remarkable exhibition of Victorian art and objects on display at MUZEO in Anaheim, California from October 23, 2011 through January 8, 2012.



THE QUEEN'S GALLERY is on loan from two of California's most passionate and highly respected collectors, Dr. Howard and Linda Knohl. This marks the first time the Knohl's extensive private collection has been curated and made available to the public.

This fascinating and comprehensive exhibition brings together over 60 paintings by leading artists of the Victorian Era and more than 400 personal and decorative objects from the British Empire. From walking sticks and weapons to match safes and music boxes, from ivory sculptures and bronze statues to household necessities and fashion accessories - each of the objects on display offers a window into this significant period in history, and collectively delivers a rich mix of visual stimulation, narrative intrigue and social commentary.

Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901) was a time of tumultuous social and political change, an explosion of new ideas, scientific discoveries, and artistic curiosity. Within a few short decades the small island of England transformed from an agricultural society into an industrial superpower with an empire that spanned the globe. THE QUEEN'S GALLERY allows visitors the opportunity to become immersed in the Victorian age and experience the British Empire at its pinnacle of power.



"England in the 19th century was the engine of the world," explains Dr. Knohl. "Their influence across the globe was monumental. We've created this exhibition to show what it was like to live in 19th century England, and feel what the average person living in England felt: how proud they were of their artists, how proud they were of their queen, and how proud they were of the influence England had on the world."

THE QUEEN'S GALLERY features masterpieces by prominent artists of the Victorian Era. Included in the exhibition are works by James Sant (official portrait artist to Queen Victoria), Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema (one of the most famous and prolific artists of this period), Edward Burne-Jones (an artist associated with the late Pre-Raphaelite movement) and William Powell Frith (a favorite of the Royal Family and a good friend of Charles Dickens). Many of the artists showcased were members of the Royal Academy and represent some of the greatest names in British art.

Tickets to THE QUEEN'S GALLERY are $13. Discounts available for students, teachers and military. For more information, visit http://www.Muzeo.org or call (714) 95-MUZEO.

MUZEO is located at 241 S. Anaheim Blvd. in Anaheim, California, two miles from the Disneyland Resort. MUZEO is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on THE QUEEN'S GALLERY, visit http://www.TheQueensGallery.net.

Additional press info is on the ArtsPR press site: http://www.pitchengine.com/artspr/victorian-art-from-the-private-collection-of-dr-howard--linda-knohl/172392/

Press Contact:

Christopher Trela
ArtsPR
714.708.3119
cCTrela@ArtsPR.org

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE MUZEO

Web Site: http://www.Muzeo.org



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Beautiful Women Rejected By Ugly Guy



Good Looks Not Important… “REALLY?”

BeautifulPeople.com reveals the ugly truth of political correctness

Anderson Cooper: “Scary”

Barbara Walters: “It’s discriminatory and painful”


Joy Behar: “It has a scent of eugenics that we saw in Nazi Germany”

New York, 25th October 2011 /PRNewswire/ — BeautifulPeople.com, the dating community exclusively for good-looking people, has launched “REALLY?” a 90 second movie in response to a sustained assault on the site’s concept.


Diahnna Nicole Baxter (Emmy award winner) Claudia Salinas, Jessica Morris on the set of “REALLY?”

Since BeautifulPeople.com launched in 2002, the dating site which is founded on the principle that everyone wants to be with someone they are attracted to, has come under fire for being prejudiced, unfair, and even for misunderstanding human nature. In the words of renowned social psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall, former lecturer and researcher at Cardiff University, it has been “lambasted for telling the truth.”


Nevada Schaefer as "Brad unfortunate beautiful man" on the set of “REALLY?”

Managing director Greg Hodge said: “We receive hundreds of emails each week from people who are furious with BeautifulPeople.com and we have experienced a continued media backlash. In my opinion, political correctness has gone too far. Take Anderson Cooper for example, while relaxing in a bar after finishing a hard day chasing hurricanes I am quite sure he does not notice a potential mate across the room and say hmmmm…look at that person’s beautiful soul!

“Watch “REALLY?””, Hodge continued, “and you’ll agree that our critics are fooling themselves. They can’t argue with millions of years of evolution. Everyone naturally wants to be with someone they are attracted to. This is the concept on which BeautifulPeople.com was founded.”

The movie shows a politically correct world gone too far, where physical attraction is not important and beauty shines solely from within. A world where women shun the beautiful and fawn over the ugly guy because he must have feelings, intelligence and sensitivity. In their eyes, he must be perfect, because he is ugly. “REALLY?”


Too Hot To Handle?
Actors and featured extras on the set of “REALLY?” – agreed that the film they were shooting had no basis in reality. Michael J Sielaff, who plays the “ugly guy” said:

“I’m the last person to be cast as the next Hollywood sex symbol and that’s fine by me – I’m comfortable in my own skin, playing this role was a hoot. Unfortunately reality doesn’t work like the promo shows – you can’t ignore the physical side of beauty. And likewise, I’d never assume a woman has an ugly soul because she has a face like Kim Kardashian. Who would? Unless you’re actually talking about Kim Kardashian”

Heather Seychelle, a BeautifulPeople.com member who was cast as an extra in the movie said: “I asked to be cast in the film when I heard it was being made. I am proud to be a member of BeautifulPeople.com, I strongly object to reverse lookism; so many of my attractive friends have encountered it and struggle to be taken seriously”.

BeautifulPeople.com is the largest community of attractive people in the world. Since its conception in 2002, the site has launched in 190 countries with over 700,000 members worldwide. Over 5.5 million people have been rejected from the site over the same period.
Currently, an average of one in eight applicants is accepted. The majority of successful new members come from the USA, Canada and France. The countries with the highest rate of rejections are the UK, Russia and Poland with the UK and Poland having the least attractive male applicants in the world.

‘Beauty’ versus the untruthful world of the politically correct, by Dr Cliff Arnall:

Why are very good looking people vilified for being democratically elected onto a dating website? What are these people meant to do? Scar themselves or hide away to make other less attractive people feel less ugly? Political correctness has repressed the truth to the point that telling the truth has become a social crime.

The truth is some people are born more beautiful. Assuming they are devoid of an intelligent thought is petty, and simply incorrect. And as for a democratic internet service that is totally grounded in highly respected research and based on psychological and biological truths I say good for them.

To watch the “REALLY?” movie and have your say visit www.BeautifulPeople.com

Further information:

Entry to BeautifulPeople.com is only possible after passing a democratic rating process, where existing members vote based on photographs and a brief profile submitted by new applicants.

There have been over 600 marriages through unions founded on BeautifulPeople.com and many beautiful babies born.

An elite global lifestyle
Members of BeautifulPeople.com enjoy:

* Access to beautiful people locally and from around the world
* Glamorous parties and a jet set global network
* Approaches by leading film and TV companies
* Extended professional networks

BeautifulPeople.com is located at www.BeautifulPeople.com



Media Contacts

GoldenGoose PR

Miki Haines-Sanger
+44 7900 690 574

Felicity Hardingham
+44 7747 445 898

Fiona Hardingham
+1 310 880 7439

beautifulpeople@goldengoosepr.com
www.beautifulpeople.com

Greg Hodge Managing Director and members available for interviews





Monday, October 24, 2011

Open Invitation To Salsa Dance Nite At Ember Creek In Ikoyi



Salsa Dance Of Romance At Ember Creek In Ikoyi This Wednesday Night
October 26, 2011.



http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ember-Creek-Lagos

32 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
6 pm.
Dress Code: YOU MUST DRESS WELL.
NO GATE FEE.

RSVP: 08083422803




Sunday, October 23, 2011

Rihanna's New Music Video, Art Imitating Life?



Rihanna's New Music Video, Art Imitating Life?

Rihanna's video for "We Found Love" has left many wondering if the clip reflects the singers relationship with Chris Brown.



Friday, October 21, 2011

Avon and Christy Turlington Launch Step Into Sexy



Avon and Christy Turlington Burns Celebrate the Launch of "Step Into Sexy"

Avon Announces Donation to Every Mother Counts



New York, NY, October 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Last night, supermodel, activist and Avon spokesperson Christy Turlington Burns stepped out to celebrate the launch of Avon’s latest fragrance, Step Into Sexy. At the event Avon announced a $10,000 donation to Christy Turlington Burns’s charity, Every Mother Counts.

“At Avon, beauty means finding a great new fragrance like Step Into Sexy, but it also means championing economic empowerment and improving the lives of women around the world,” says Lily Destefano, Avon’s Vice President of Marketing, North America Beauty. “It’s very special to work with someone like Christy who shares our Avon values.”

About Step Into Sexy
The Scent: An Oriental Floral, this is a fragrance for the woman who aspires to be her most sensual self.

The Face: Effortlessly beautiful and subtly sexy, Christy Turlington Burns is the glamorous face of the Step Into Sexy… fragrance. With her timeless look and classic appeal, Christy Turlington Burns embodies the transformative allure of the new fragrance. A dedicated advocate for women’s health, Turlington Burns shares Avon’s values and longstanding commitment to improving the lives of women on a global level.

The Notes:
TOP NOTES
The seductive scent opens with alluring, elegant notes of black raspberry, mingled with delicate spring freesia flower and a whisper of fresh, crisp, violet leaf.
MID NOTES
A deeper, more sensual heart reveals warm rosewood and velvety ultra violet blended with a flutter of exotic butterfly orchid.
BASE NOTES
Transformative notes of creamy cashmeran, sueded orris root and golden ambers unveil a sophisticated, long lasting base.

Step Into Sexy Eau de Parfum (1.7 fl oz) is available November 2011 for $28.00 exclusively through Avon Representatives. To locate an Avon Representative, call 1-800-FOR-AVON, or visit www.avon.com.

About Avon

Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with over $10 billion in annual revenue. As the world’s largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in more than 100 countries through over 5.5 million independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon’s product line includes beauty products, fashion jewelry and apparel, and features such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, and Mark. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avoncompany.com.


Media Contact:


Claudia Shaum
Avon Products, Inc.
212.282.8195



Big Brothers Big Sisters Presents: the Start Something™ Web Series


Tawana and Kaira



Big Brothers Big Sisters Presents: the Start Something™ Web Series

The Unique Social Media Reality Documentary Sheds Light on Successful Youth Mentoring

PHILADELPHIA (October 21, 2011) /PRNewswire/ — Big Brothers Big Sisters presents the Start Something™ Web Series, a unique multiple-episode social media reality documentary. The series, developed pro bono by Publicis Modem New York in partnership with The Advertising Council, will reveal how the nation’s largest mentoring network carefully partners with families, volunteers and communities to help children and teens overcome adversity to drive achievement in school and succeed in life.


Thomas and Julio

“By observing our successful mentoring program unfiltered, current and prospective donors, volunteers and partners can see exactly how their investment in Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children overcome adversity to beat the odds,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters President and Chief Executive Officer Karen J. Mathis. “The Start Something™ Web Series will show how and why we boldly hold ourselves accountable for helping children who face adversity achieve measurable, positive outcomes.”


Dan and Kyhron

The Start Something™ Web Series, which began on October 13 and runs through the end of the year on the national mentoring network’s Facebook® page (www.facebook.com/BigBrothersBigSisters), follows mentors, mentees, families and professional staffers – the people who make the program work. Independent studies find when enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters, children who face adversity are more likely to improve in school, avoid risky/delinquent behaviors and have higher self-esteem and aspirations.


Ian and Mujahid

The reality series, featuring “Bigs” and “Littles” enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties, New Jersey, is part of the nationwide mentoring network’s Start Something™ campaign. Introduced in January through a website redesign and national TV, radio and online public service advertising, Start Something™ is a call to action for donations, story sharing, volunteers, celebrity ambassador engagement and advocacy to strengthen Big Brothers Big Sisters’ capacity to help children overcome adversity and achieve lifelong success. Big Brothers Big Sisters national corporate partner American Eagle Outfitters Foundation provided funding to support the development of the documentary.


Jill and Makaila

“This Web series is a wonderful extension of our Start Something™ campaign with Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO of The Advertising Council. “By documenting the relationships between Bigs and Littles, viewers will get a firsthand look at the life-changing impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters and they will be even more motivated to donate, volunteer or spread the word about this important work.”


Paul and Juwan

The Start Something™ Web Series will be promoted online with ads developed by Publicis Modem. The Advertising Council has also secured significant commitments from sites such as AOL, Facebook®, Mojiva and MSN to support the campaign with donated impressions.

The documentary series will be followed by user-generated stories from mentor-mentee matches around the country who documented their shared experiences using digital video cameras donated by Orion Trading.

Reality-Based Documentary Series Cast and Stories
Kyhron and Dan: Little Brother Kyhron is the lone boy in his single-mother headed family. He hopes to go to college, but is struggling in school. He participates in a number of sports and dreams of owning a business some day. Early this year, Kyhron’s mother enrolled him in Big Brothers Big Sisters, where the professional match team made Dan his volunteer mentor. Recently laid off from his job in Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s office, Dan has had his own personal struggles, but remains inspired by knowing he motivates Kyhron. The cameras follow Dan as he leaves the two-family home he shares with relatives to pick up Kyhron for an outing to visit a few small businesses in Newark and for a meeting with a Very Important Person who offers Khyron some personal encouragement. Since the filming, Dan has landed a new job with Prudential Financial, Inc.

Kiwi and Tawana: “Kiwi” is one of single dad Stephan’s three daughters. A former Little Brother, Stephan enrolled all three of his girls in Big Brothers Big Sisters to round out their childhood experiences with special attention from a female role model for each daughter. The cameras follow Kiwi and her Big Sister Tawana, a single mother of a teenaged son, who helps her mentee explore her creativity through the sharing of baking, craft fairs, girl talk and other adventures.

Julio and Thomas: Julio’s grandmother enrolled him in Big Brothers Big Sisters to help him become more focused and disciplined in school. Thomas, Julio’s Big Brother, travels from Montclair where he lives with his mother (a school teacher) and father, to take Julio out to play a little baseball and later to attend a Saturday night wrestling match. Thomas spends a lot of time with Julio and leans on his Big Brothers Big Sisters match support team to assist him with his mentoring relationship.

Juwan and Paul: The story of Juwan and Paul is a tale of how people from two sides of town are pulling together to help a bright young boy beat the odds. During a period of marital separation, the mentee’s mother enrolled Juwan and his sisters in Big Brother Big Sisters to give her children every opportunity to help each of them succeed. The cameras follow Paul on a Saturday morning as he leaves his upscale Jersey City condo to meet up with Juwan at his home on the other side of the tracks. The two head back to Paul’s neighborhood for brunch, followed by a pick-up basketball at a nearby well-equipped and maintained facility.

Makaila and Jill: Makaila’s mom enrolled her precocious daughter in Big Brothers Big Sisters to give her little girl the special attention she seemingly craved, particularly as her older sister reached her teen years and required more parental guidance. Jill, Makaila’s mentor, lives a town away from the small apartment Makaila shares with her mother and sister. Match activities between the two have included visits to Jill’s home where Makaila is learning to swim. The cameras follow the mentor and mentee during one of their cultural outings — a visit to Turtle Back Zoo. In the year since the two have been matched, Jill has grown close not just to Makaila, but to her family as well.

Mujahid and Ian: Mujahid’s mother enrolled her son in Big Brothers Big Sisters to give him a male role model, as he is the only boy in a large family of girls. Mujahid’s Big Brother, Ian, is pleasantly surprised at the positive changes he’s seen in his Little Brother since their mentoring relationship started. The cameras follow the two as Ian leaves his suburban home and arrives in Newark to meet up with Mujahid and then head off with his Little Brother to catch a ballgame.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports them in one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The organization holds itself accountable for children in the program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as higher aspirations; greater confidence and better relationships; educational success; and avoidance of delinquency and other risky behaviors. Most children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters are in single-parent and low-income families or households where a parent is incarcerated. Headquartered in Philadelphia with a network of about 370 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 240,000 children. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life, donate or volunteer at BigBrothersBigSisters.org. Find the Start Something™ Web Series on Facebook.com/BigBrothersBigSisters.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties
All stories featured in the web series are those of mentors and mentees enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, based in Newark, New Jersey. One of nearly 370 affiliates in the Big Brothers Big Sisters network, the Newark-based agency serves more than 1,000 mentees and as many mentors in one-to-one relationships. The agency carefully matches the children with their volunteer mentors and provides ongoing service and support to the mentors, mentees and the youths’ families to keep the relationships going strong so that they yield the best results. For more information, please go to bigsandkids.org.

About Publicis Modem
Publicis Modem is the digital specialist arm of Publicis Worldwide, the largest global agency network within Publicis Groupe. Uniquely embedded within Publicis Worldwide, Publicis Modem is a leading multi-channel digital experience agency and is the fourth largest digital agency network in the world with a presence in more than 30 countries. Within Publicis Worldwide in the USA, Publicis Modem creates digital initiatives for some of the world’s most-talked about brands including Citi, General Mills, Sanofi, LG and Cartier, among others.


About the Ad Council


The Ad Council is a non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org.

###

For More Information Contact:
Kelly Williams
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
215-665-7795
Kelly.Williams@bbbs.org

Ellyn Fisher
The Ad Council
212-984-1964
efisher@adcouncil.org

Janice Snook
janice & associates pr for Publicis Modem
650-400-4448
janicesnook@gmail.com



Thursday, October 20, 2011

Book of the Month: 10,000 Ways to Say I Love You



The Kisses 'n' Roses Book of the Month is 10,000 Ways to Say I Love You by Gregory Godek.



The 85th Edition of Neiman Marcus' Legendary Christmas Book


Neiman Marcus Christmas Book 2011

Neiman Marcus Presents the 85th Edition of its Legendary Christmas Book

The 2011 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book Features A Selection of Fantasy Gifts that Offer Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences and Evoke Beauty, Culinary Perfection and Whimsy, Including Dancing Fountains, an International Flower Show Tour, a Stone Barns Farm Experience, and a Ferrari FF, Bespoke for Neiman Marcus
Up to Eight Charities Will Benefit from the Sale of Fantasy Gifts Featured in the 2011 Christmas Book

DALLAS, TX—October 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The 2011 Christmas Book was unveiled today by luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas. The 85th edition of this legendary book continues Neiman Marcus’s unmatched tradition of offering its customers a selection of spectacular and unique holiday gifts sure to make even their wildest dreams come true.

The arrival of the Christmas Book is considered by many to mark the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year’s edition of the Christmas Book carries on the Neiman Marcus tradition of presenting a refined selection of items across a broad range of categories for everyone on your holiday shopping list. With a new collection of fantasy gifts certain to satisfy even the most indulgent appetite, the Christmas Book features exceptional and distinctive gifts and experiences, including an Assouline custom-built library, a “Dream Folly” opulent customized yurt, a Neiman Marcus-edition Hacker-Craft speedboat and a table-tennis table that doubles as a contemporary work of art. This year’s featured car is the 2012 Ferrari FF, bespoke for Neiman Marcus.


His & Hers 2011 Dancing Fountains From WET

The “His & Hers” fantasy gift tradition continues this year with a pair of dancing fountains from WET, the company behind the world’s most famous fountains.

First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store’s best customers. Building on tradition through the years, the book has maintained its personal touch while evolving into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts.

Eight of the fantasy gifts offered in the Christmas Book feature a unique charitable component. The 2011 featured charities include Water.org, the Double H Ranch, Stone Barns Center, First Book, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, amfAR™ and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“The annual holiday tradition continues this year with a new selection of fantasy gifts that cater to people’s wildest dreams and promise to provide truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” said John E. Koryl, President of Neiman Marcus Direct. “This year’s gifts live up to the time honored tradition of presenting our customers with the rare and unusual, while also incorporating connections to a group of wonderful charitable organizations that will see a tremendous benefit from the sale of their corresponding fantasy gifts.”

Once again, customers may access the Christmas Book on Apple’s iPad via the "NM Editions" app.

Among the selection of fantasy gifts in the 2011 Christmas Book are some remarkable items, including:

“HIS & HERS” 2011
DANCING FOUNTAINS FROM WET
Founded in 1983 in Sun Valley, California, WET has become the foremost pioneer in creating state-of-the-art fountain technology. For the first time ever, the company will bring its magic to a private residence and create a personal scale fountain showcasing two of its amazing underwater robot nozzles. Individually programmable, each fountain will have a full range of motion, which adds personality and versatility to their performances. The elegant duo whirls, twirls, sweeps, and bows—sometimes in unison, sometimes as counterpoints, but always with engaging grace. These beautiful fountains will thrill onlookers for a lifetime, while their purchase will touch the lives of hundreds. Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 of the proceeds to Water.org, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries. A second package offered by WET—will grant one person the once-in-a-lifetime experience of choreographing a song to be performed by The Fountains of Bellagio. Just one of these packages will be available and $5,000 of the proceeds will benefit Water.org as well.

(Dancing Fountains, $1,000,000.00; page 57; Guest Choreographer package, $500,000; information available online only)

NEIMAN MARCUS-EDITION HACKER-CRAFT SPEEDBOAT
Chart a glamorous course in what is considered by boating enthusiasts worldwide to be the gold standard of pleasure boating. Entirely handbuilt in the USA, this 27-foot, solid mahogany wonder is the result of 1,400 hours of meticulous craftsmanship. Underneath 15 coats of handbrushed varnish and premium mahogany sits a glistening Mercury Marine 8.2 High Output 425-horsepower engine-CE, also compliant for use in Europe. A custom-designed bow burgee, gold-leafed waterline, underwater lighting, and deep violet bottom are among the rich details exclusive to the NM edition, which will feature the name you bestow it in gleaming 23-carat gold leafing. The ultra-posh, customized interior includes cream-colored seating with purple piping, a monogrammed humidor, topnotch refrigerator, GPS, and premium stereo sound system. Also included are the all-important sea trial, commissioning, and instructions in operation and maintenance. For every speedboat sold, Neiman Marcus will make a $3,000 donation to the Double H Ranch, a program that provides year-round support for families with children affected by life-threatening illnesses. Co-founded by Paul Newman and Charles R. Wood, the ranch offers unique camp experiences that are memorable, exciting, fun, and empowering.

($250,000.00; page 58)

DAYTRIP TO STONE BARNS FARM
The idyllic Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is located just 25 miles north of Manhattan in the countryside of Pocantico Hills, New York. Its mission is simple: Improve the way Americans eat and farm. Within this picturesque 80-acre compound resides the critically hailed restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns, which offers multiple-course “farmer’s feasts,” prepared from the day’s harvests. Gather six friends and head to the farm, where your group will participate in a hands-on learning experience. Farmer Jack Algiere will host an “edible garden lesson” and help participants plot their own home-based garden. Next, you’ll receive a cooking demonstration from Chef-Kitchen Director Adam Kaye, followed by a four-course lunch featuring the best seasonal ingredients. The purchase of this package benefits the nonprofit Stone Barns Center with 100% of the proceeds. For more ways to support the farm, Neiman Marcus is offering a luxury weekend for two at Stone Barns that includes a full-access, behind-the scenes tour of the farm and a dinner prepared by executive chef Dan Barber at Blue Hill. If you can’t make a trip to the farm yourself, you can still make your presence felt by giving a gift that will help keep the honeybees happy and productive – a jar of local honey.

(Daytrip: $9,500.00; page 59; Luxury Weekend for two: $20,000; Jar of local honey: $45; information available online only)

ASSOULINE CUSTOM-BUILT LIBRARY
The publishing house renowned for its beautiful volumes and cultural perspective is offering the ultimate enriching addition to your home: a bespoke library. From floor to ceiling and wall to wall, every nuance of this room will reflect Assouline’s brilliant style—through custom carpeting, objets d’art, and beautifully framed prints—as well as your intellectual viewpoint. When the decor is complete, the shelves will be lined with a one-of-a-kind Assouline collection, consisting of 250 current and vintage volumes in the genre of your choice. Enjoy published works from the world’s foremost artists, photographers, writers, architects, interior designers, and fashion and culinary masters. With this purchase, Neiman Marcus will donate $2,500 to First Book, an award-winning nonprofit organization that provides access to new books for children in need throughout the U.S. and Canada.

($125,000.00; page 60)

INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW TOUR, ARRANGED BY JETWAY PRIVATE AIR
Round up nine friends and head to Europe’s most celebrated flower shows, organized by the exclusive private jet-chartering company, JetWay Private Air. Your journey begins May 12, 2012, where you’ll hop across the pond in first-class style on a Gulfstream G-IV—with a JetWay representative as your group’s guide, concierge, and wine aficionado. Your tour will begin in Merges, Switzerland, at The Tulip Festival, where Lake Geneva provides a sparkling backdrop to 300 varieties of some 100,000 tulips. Later, rest and relax in luxury at the Hotel Lausanne Palace & Spa. Next, you’ll fly to Athens, Greece, home of the Kifissia Flower Show, a lavish display of more than 2,000 native and foreign plant species. After a lovely promenade, enjoy superior accommodations at Hotel Grand Bretagne. Your next stop: Avignon, France, where the Altera Rosa Festival awaits. The garden boasts an extensive collection of established rose breeds, which comingle with 30 new species introduced each year. Afterward, head to the Hotel d’Europe Avignon. Finally, you’ll visit London, England’s renowned Chelsea Flower Show, site of The Daily Telegraph Garden. Later that night, you’ll bask in the beauty of the historic Goring Hotel. This package includes two nights and three days at each destination, gourmet in-flight meals, private ground transportation, and flower show tickets. With the purchase of this excursion, Neiman Marcus will donate $5,000 to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, an organization devoted to increasing the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes.

($420,000.00; page 61)

DREAM FOLLY
Ever wish you could cross your arms, bat your eyes, and escape to a serene place all your own? Our “Dream Folly” is inspired by the classic 1960s TV show I Dream of Jeannie. Starting with a sturdy 18-foot-diameter yurt—a structure invented centuries ago by ancient Mongols—from Rainier Yurts, “Dream Folly” is the ideal simulation of a genie’s posh bottle. The structure consists of a mixed-grain interior lattice system, a Sunbrella® exterior lining, and a plexiglass door and dome. The roof is made from vinyl-coated polyester with an acrylic top coat for extra durability. But it’s the interior that goes beyond your wildest, most decadent dreams. Let’s start with the pièces de rĂ©sistance: a bevy of one-of-a-kind, down-filled pillows from renowned designer Rebecca Vizard. Vizard built a workshop in her rural hometown of St. Joseph, Louisiana, where she and a group of craftsmen create these plush accessories—all by hand—from the finest textiles. In addition to the pillows, Vizard designed every detail of this space and selected colors to evoke the bubbles of a warm, soothing bath. The room’s other noteworthy embellishments include linen wall coverings by Coleman Taylor Handpainted Textiles in Montgomery, Alabama, and a custom, handcrafted crystal chandelier from New Orleans-based Julie Neill Designs. You can choose a different color scheme and decor from the ones depicted in the Christmas Book. The “Dream Folly” stands 12’5" tall with an 18’ diameter. For every retreat sold, Neiman Marcus will donate $5,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

(Beginning at $75,000.00; page 63)

JOHNNIE WALKER® PRIVATE SCOTCH TASTING
In 1820 Kilmarnock, Scotland, an enterprising young man named Johnnie Walker created powerful scotch blends that remain unrivaled in taste to this day. Now you can experience the smoothness of these perfectly aged libations during The Ultimate Scotch Tasting—your chance to host a truly exceptional gathering in the comfort of your own home. You and 20 guests will be entertained by an authentic Scottish bagpiper, while a Master of Whisky relays the history and palatable attributes of the five premium marques in the Johnnie Walker portfolio: the Blue, Black, Gold, Red, and Green Labels. A top-notch event planner will be on hand to orchestrate the entire evening. Guests will leave with a custom-engraved bottle of Johnnie’s premium-blend Blue Label for their personal enjoyment. 100% of the proceeds from this tax-deductible event will go directly to amfAR™, The Foundation for AIDS Research. Five available.

($5,000.00; page 64)

TOM BURR TABLE-TENNIS TABLE
Noted artist Tom Burr brings his modern aesthetic to your home in the form of a beautifully rendered table-tennis table, which also doubles as a contemporary work of art. Originally, the game of table tennis was favored by 19th-century British society before staging its most recent comeback among hipsters, families, and serious competitors alike. This limited-edition table, perfectly sculpted from a distinctive choice in material—black rubber—turns ordinary sporting equipment into the sublime. As Burr notes, “I like the notion of rubber. It has low-key glamour, like that of a sports car’s bumpers and guards. And, quite simply, rubber makes the balls bounce—more bounce for your buck.” For each table sold, Neiman Marcus will donate $2,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s mentoring leader in changing children’s lives for the better, forever. The table measures 9’L x 5’W x 30"H. Limited edition of 10 available.

($45,000.00; page 65)

THE 2012 FERRARI FF, BESPOKE FOR NEIMAN MARCUS
The NM exclusive edition of the 2012 Ferrari FF jumps from 0 to 60 in less than 3.7 seconds and reaches top speeds of over 200 MPH. The top-of-the-line model features 651-horsepower and a V12 engine, a proprietary, lightweight 4WD system (4RM™), as well as a 7-speed, dual-clutch transmission for seamless automatic shifting. Each car is identified by a numbered interior plaque and unique exterior color, “Grigio Caldo.” The interior features soft-touch, semi-aniline leather with a matching custom luggage set. It comfortably seats 4 adults and features a class-leading 16 cubic feet of trunk space. The vehicle comes with Ferrari’s 7-year maintenance plan, and enrollment in the 2012 Ferrari Winter Driving Experience in Aspen, Colorado. 10 available. Reserve your Ferrari FF by calling 800.558.0022 beginning promptly at 12:00 PM EDT on Thursday, October 27, 2011. Delivery to occur in Spring 2012.

($395,000.00; page 170)

Keep up with the latest news and events happening at Neiman Marcus, by becoming a fan on Facebook, and by following us on Twitter, and subscribing to our blog, NMDaily.
Satellite Feeds:

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM ET
Galaxy 19
C-Band
Transponder 24
Downlink Freq: 4180 Horizontal

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM ET
Galaxy 28
C-Band
Transponder 10
Downlink Freq: 3900 Horizontal

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
1:00 PM – 1:15 PM ET
Galaxy 28
C-Band
Transponder 10
Downlink Freq: 3900 Horizontal

ADDITIONAL LINKS :
http://www.NeimanMarcus.com
http://www.NeimanMarcusGroup.com


Media Contacts:

Melinda Lee
Neiman Marcus Direct
972.969.3210
Melinda_Lee@neimanmarcus.com

Liane Ramirez
Goodman Media International
212.576.2700
lramirez@goodmanmedia.com