10 Films Contend for 5 "Best Visual Effects" Nominations at 87th Oscars (2015)

10 Contenders Remain In VFX Oscar® Race

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 87th Oscars®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

•     “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
•     “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
•     “Godzilla”
•     “Guardians of the Galaxy”
•     “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
•     “Interstellar”
•     “Maleficent”
•     “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb”
•     “Transformers: Age of Extinction”
•     “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist.  All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 10, 2015.  Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The 87th Academy Awards® nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

2015 Annie Awards Nominations Announced - Complete List

ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Society, presents the Annie Awards.  The Annie honors achievements in animation as a whole, including current animated productions, as well as career and lifetime achievements.  These awards were created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray.

On Monday, December 1, 2014, ASIFA-Hollywood announced nominations for the 42nd Annual Annie Awards, recognizing the year 2014's best in the field of animation.  The Annie Awards cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects, and Outstanding Individual Achievements.  The winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.  A pre-reception and press line begins at 5:00 pm with the awards ceremony following at 7:00 pm.  A post-show celebration begins immediately following the ceremony, and all events will be held at Royce Hall.

The “Juried Awards” honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation, will also be presented.  Three “Winsor McCay” recipients have been selected by the ASIFA-Hollywood Board of Directors, and they are Didier Brunner, Don Lusk and Lee Mendelson for their career contributions to the art of animation.  The “June Foray Award” goes to Charles Solomon for his significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation.  The “Ub Iwerks Award” goes to DreamWorks Animation’s Apollo Software for technical advancement that has made a significant impact on the art or industry of animation.  The “Special Achievement Award” will be given to The Walt Disney Family Museum recognizing the unique and significant impact on the art and industry of animation.

2015/42nd Annie Awards nominations:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
    Big Hero 6 - 
Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Cheatin' - Plymptoons Studio
    How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation
    Song of the Sea - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    The Book of Life - Reel FX
    The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika
    The LEGO Movie -Warner Bros. Pictures
    The Tale of The Princess Kaguya - GKIDS/Studio Ghibli

Best Animated Special Production
    Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey - Voyager Pictures LLC
    Dawn of the Dragon Racers - DreamWorks Animation
    How Murray Saved Christmas - Universal Television
    Polariffic - Bent Image Lab
    Toy Story That Time Forgot - Pixar Animation Studios

Best Animated Short Subject
    Coda
- 62 George Street
    Duet
- Glen Keane Productions
    Feast
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Inside Homer - The Simpsons Couch Gag (Episode #549)  - Acme Filmworks
    Me and My Moulton
- National Film Board of Canada
    Silent -
Creative Artists Agency
    The Dam Keeper 
- Tonko House LLC
    The Raven - Moonbot Studios

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial
    Citizen M: "Swan Song" - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
    Flight of the Stories - Aardman Animations
    LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham 
- Plastic Wax

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
    Doc McStuffins 
- Disney Channel / Disney XD
    Peter Rabbit - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Tumble Leaf
- Amazon Studios
    Wallykazam! - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Zack & Quack
- Zodiak Kids

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience
    Adventure Time
 - Cartoon Network
    Gravity Falls - 
Disney Television Animation
    Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Over The Garden Wall
 - Cartoon Network
    Wander Over Yonder 
- Disney Television Animation

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Archer
 - FX Networks
    Back To Backspace
- Cartoon Network Studios
    Bob's Burgers
 - Bento Box Entertainment
    Rick and Morty 
- Starburns Industries, Inc.
    Mike Tyson Mysteries 
- Warner Bros. Animation
    Regular Show 
- Cartoon Network Studios
    The Simpsons
 - The Simpsons

Best Animated Video Game
    Forza Horizon 2 - Microsoft - Turn 10 Studios
    Valiant Hearts: The Great War - Ubisoft
    Child of Light - Ubisoft

Best Student Film
    After School - Junyi Xiao
    Dead Over Heels  - Jose Matheu
    El Coyote
 - Javier Barboza
    Frog's Legs -
 Katie Tamboer
    My Big Brother 
- Jason Rayner
    Tiny Nomad 
- Toniko Pantoja

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
    Michael Kaschalk, Peter DeMund, David Hutchins, Henrik Falt, John Kosnik - Big Hero 6 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    James Jackson, Lucas Janin, Tobin Jones, Baptiste Van Opstal, Jason Mayer - How to Train Your Dragon 2
- DreamWorks Animation
    Fangwei Lee, Krzysztof Rost, Jihyun Yoon, Robert Chen - Mr. Peabody & Sherman -
DreamWorks Animation
    Mitul Patel, Nicolas Delbecq, Santosh Khedkar, Yash Argawal - Penguins of Madagascar
- DreamWorks Animation
    Augusto Schillaci, Erich Turner, Bill Konersman, Chris Rasch, Joseph Burnette - The Book of Life - Reel FX
    Rick Sevy, Peter Vickery, Kent Estep, Peter Stuart, Ralph Procida - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Jayandera Danappal, Matt Ebb, Christian Epunan Hernandez, Danielle Brooks, Raphael Gadot - The LEGO Movie - Warner Bros. Pictures

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
    Steve Avoujageli, Atsushi Ikarashi, Pawel Grochola, Paul Waggoner, Viktor Lundqvist - Edge of Tomorrow - Sony Pictures Imageworks
    Raul Essig, Karin Cooper, Rick Hankins, Owen Calouro - Noah - 
Industrial Light & Magic
    Charles-Felix Chabert, Daniel La Chapelle, Spencer Lueders, Klaus Seitschek, Chris Messineo - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 
- Sony Pictures Imageworks
    Areito Echevarria, Andreas Soderstrom, Ronnie Menahem, Christoph Sprenger, Kevin Romond - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - 
Weta Digital
    Michael Balog, Jim Van Allen, Rick Hankins, John Hansen - Transformers: Age of Extinction -
 Industrial Light & Magic
    Jeremy Hampton, Daniel Stern, Edmond Smith III, Hiroshi Tsubokawa, Daniel Jenkins - X-Men: Days of Future Past - 
Digital Domain

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
    Don Crum - Toy Story That Time Forgot - 
Pixar Animation Studios
    Carlo Vogele - Toy Story That Time Forgot 
- Pixar Animation Studios
    Ken Kim - Toy Story That Time Forgot  - Pixar Animation Studios
    Michael Granberry - Tumble Leaf - Amazon Studios
    Teresa Drilling - Tumble Leaf - Amazon Studios
    Justin Nichols - Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Feature Production
    Fabio Lignini - How to Train Your Dragon 2 
- DreamWorks Animation
    Steven "Shaggy" Hornby - How to Train Your Dragon 2
- DreamWorks Animation
    Thomas Grummt - How to Train Your Dragon 2
- DreamWorks Animation
    Ravi Kamble - Penguins of Madagascar
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Travis Knight - The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika
    Malcolm Lamont - The Boxtrolls
- Focus Features/Laika
    Jason Stalman - The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live Action Production
    Daniel Barrett, Paul Story, Eteuati Tema, Alessandro Bonora, Dejan Momcilovic - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
 - Weta Digital
    Kevin Spruce, Dale Newton, Sidney Kombo, Chris Mullins, Brad Silby - Guardians of the Galaxy - Framestore
    Eric Reynolds, David Clayton, Andreja Vuckovic, Guillaume Francois, Gios Johnston - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Weta Digital

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Video Game
    Mike Mennillo - Assassin's Creed Unity - Ubisoft
    Don't Starve: Console Edition - Klei Entertainment Inc.
    Alex Drouin - Child Of Light - Ubisoft

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Andy Suriano - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
    Benjamin Balistreri - Wander Over Yonder 
-  Disney Television Animation
    Zac Gorman - Welcome to the Wayne - Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
    Shiyoon Kim, Jin Kim - Big Hero 6
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Timothy Lamb, Joe Moshier - Mr. Peabody & Sherman - 
DreamWorks Animation
    Craig Kellman, Joe Moshier, Stevie Lewis, Todd Kurosawa - Penguins of Madagascar
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Sang Jun Lee, Jason Sadler, José Manuel Fernandez Oli - Rio 2 
- Blue Sky Studios
    Tomm Moore, Marie Thorhauge, Sandra Anderson, Rosa Ballester Cabo - Song of the Sea
 - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Paul Sullivan, Sandra Equihua, Jorge R. Gutierrez - The Book of Life - Reel FX 
    Mike Smith - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Yuasa Masaaki, Eunyoung Choi - Adventure Time
 - Cartoon Network
    Bryan Fordney - Archer
 - FX Networks
    Jennifer Coyle & Bernard Derriman - Bob's Burgers
 - Bento Box Entertainment
    Aaron Springer - Disney Mickey Mouse 
- Disney Television Animation
    Rob Renzetti - Gravity Falls
 - Disney Television Animation
    Robert Alvarez, Ken Bruce, Larry Leichliter - Over The Garden Wall - 
Cartoon Network
    Matthew Nastuk - The Simpsons
 - The Simpsons
    David Thomas - Wander Over Yonder - 
Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
    Don Hall & Chris Williams - Big Hero 6
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Bill Plympton - Cheatin'
 - Plymptoons Studio
    Dean DeBlois - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Tomm Moore - Song of the Sea
 - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Jorge R. Gutierrez - The Book of Life
 - Reel FX
    Anthony Stacchi & Graham Annable - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, Directors; Chris McKay, Co-Director - The LEGO Movie - Warner Bros. Pictures
    Isao Takahata - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
 - GKIDS/Studio Ghibli

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Christopher Willis - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
    Peter Lurye, George Gabriel, Chris Gifford - Dora and Friends: Into the City! - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Jay Vincent, Michael Kramer, Jeppe Riddervold, Erin Chapman - Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
 - Jam
    Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter & Michael McCuistion - Marvel's Avengers Assemble
 - Dynamic Music Partners
    Nathan Barr & Lisbeth Scott - Tumble Leaf
 - Amazon Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production
    Nicole Renaud, Composer - Cheatin'
 - Plymptoons Studio
    John Powell, Jónsi - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Danny Elfman - Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- DreamWorks Animation 
    Bruno Coulais & Kila - Song of the Sea
- GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Joe Hisaishi - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
- GKIDS/Studio Ghibli

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Kara Vallow, Brent Woods, Lucas Gray & Andrew Brandou - Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
 - Voyager Pictures LLC
    Joseph Holt - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation 
    Narina Sokolova - Mickey Shorts
- Disney
    Kevin Dart, Chris Turnham, Jasmin Lai & Elle Michalka - The Powerpuff Girls - Cartoon Network
    Antonio Canobbio, Khang Le, Mark Taihei, Howard Chen & Brandon Cuellar - Turbo FAST - 
DreamWorks Animation
    Alex Kirwan, Chris Tsirigotis, Alexander Duckworth, Janice Kubo & Francis Giglio - Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation
    Erez Gavish - Zack & Quack - Zodiak Kids

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
    David James, Ruben Perez, Priscilla Wong, Timothy Lamb & Alexandre Puvilland - Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- DreamWorks Animation
    Adrien Merigeau - Song of the Sea - 
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Simon Varela & Paul Sullivan - The Book of Life 
- Reel FX
    Paul Lasaine, Tom McClure & August Hall - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Grant Freckelton - The LEGO Movie
 - Warner Bros. Pictures 

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Heiko Drengenberg - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
    Luke Weber, Alonso Ramirez Ramos, Neil Graf & Steve Heneveld - Gravity Falls 
- Disney Television Animation
    Joaquim Dos Santos - Legend of Korra -Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Nathaniel Villanueva & Douglas Lovelace - Star Wars Rebels
 - Disney Channel / Disney XD
    Brad Ableson, Matthew Faughnan & Stephen Reis - The Simpsons
 - Film Roman
    Louise Smythe - Toy Story That Time Forgot 
- Pixar Animation Studios
    Mark Ackland - Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
    Marc E. Smith - Big Hero 6
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Truong "Tron" Son Mai - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Piero Peluso - Planes: Fire & Rescue
 - Disneytoon Studios
    John Hurst - Rio 2
 - Blue Sky Studios
    Rodrigo Castro - Rio 2
- Blue Sky Studios
    Julian Nariño - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features
    Emanuela Cozzi - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Bill Farmer as the voices of Goofy and Grandma - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
    Carlos Alazaraqui as the voice of Crocker - Fairly Oddparents - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Seth Green as the voice of Robot Chicken Nerd - Robot Chicken 
- Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
    Cyndi Lauper as the voice of Nurse Cyndi - Henry & Me - Reveal Animation Studios
    Andy Garcia as the voice of Eduardo - Rio 2 
- Blue Sky Studios
    Sir Ben Kingsley as the voice of Archibald Snatcher - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Dee Bradley Baker as the voice of Fish - The Boxtrolls 
- Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Darrick Bachman - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
    Dave Tennant, David P. Smith, Chris Mitchell & Will Mata - The Powerpuff Girls
 - Cartoon Network
    Rob LaZebnik - The Simpsons
 - 20th Century Fox
    Tim Long  - The Simpsons - 20th Century Fox
    Steve Purcell - Toy Story That Time Forgot  - 
Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
    Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson & Jordan Roberts - Big Hero 6
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Dean DeBlois - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Will Collins - Song of the Sea 
- GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Irena Brignull & Adam Pava - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Phil Lord & Christopher Miller - The Lego Movie
 - Warner Bros. Pictures

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Illya Owens - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
    Ernesto Matamoros - Dragons: Defenders of Berk
 - DreamWorks Animation Television
    Mike Elias - Family Guy
 - Super 78
    David Suther, Bradley Furnish & David Condolora - Toy Story That Time Forgot
 - Pixar Animation Studios
    Todd Raleigh & Doug Vito - Turbo FAST
 - DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
    Tim Mertens - Big Hero 6 
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
    John K. Carr - How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation
    Dan Molina, Mark Keefer & Karen Hathaway - Planes: Fire & Rescue - 
Disneytoon Studios
    Darragh Byrne - Song of the Sea
 - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    David Burrows, Todd Hansen, Doug Nicholas, Jonathan Tappin & Courtney O'Brien-Brown - The LEGO Movie 
- Warner Bros. Pictures

www.annieawards.org

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15 Documentary Films Will Compete for 5 Nominations at 87th Oscars (2015)

15 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES ADVANCE IN 2014 OSCAR RACE

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 87th Oscars®.  One hundred thirty-four films were originally submitted in the category.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:

• "Art and Craft," Purple Parrot Films
• "The Case against 8," Day in Court
• "Citizen Koch," Elsewhere Films
• "CitizenFour," Praxis Films
• "Finding Vivian Maier," Ravine Pictures
• "The Internet’s Own Boy," Luminant Media
• "Jodorowsky’s Dune," City Film
• "Keep On Keepin’ On," Absolute Clay Productions
• "The Kill Team," f/8 filmworks
• "Last Days in Vietnam," Moxie Firecracker Films
• "Life Itself," Kartemquin Films and Film Rites
• "The Overnighters," Mile End Films West
• "The Salt of the Earth," Decia Films
• "Tales of the Grim Sleeper," Lafayette Film
• "Virunga," Grain Media

The Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting.  Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles.

The 87th Academy Awards® nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of December 1 to 10, 2014 - Update #9

NEWS:

From Variety:  The 24th James Bond is named "Spectre" and is due November 6, 2015.

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From YahooMovies:  The title and cast of the new James Bond will be announced Thursday, December 4, 2014.

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From Variety:  The winner of the Thanksgiving holiday box office was The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 with an estimated gross of $82.7 million haul from Wednesday, November 26, 2014 to Sunday, November 30, 2014.

The film also won the Fri., Nov. 28th to 30th, 2014 weekend box office with an estimated take of $56.9 million.
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From THR:  Rupert Murdoch comments about the all-white cast of his company, 20th Century Fox's movie, Exodus: Gods and Kings.

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From THR:  Corey Sligh, an actor on "The Young and the Restless" was hit by a car and beaten on Thanksgiving.


COMIC BOOKS:

From YahooTV:  Krysten Ritter gets the lead in Marvel's Netflix series, "Marvel's A.K.A. Jessica Jones."

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From Variety:  Benedict Cumberbatch as Marvel's Doctor Strange is official.

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From YahooGames:  Synopsis for the "Fantastic Four" reboot.

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From YahooGames:  A look at the Vision as he will be in Avengers: Age of Ultron.


STAR WARS:

From IBTimes:  Rumors about Episode 7's take on Han and Leia's relationship.

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From TheVerge:  Next Episode 7 trailer may appear on "Avengers: Age of Ultron."

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From EntertainmentIE:  Could the plot described in this article be the plot for Episode 7.

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From CSN:  This whole "there were white stormtroopers only" thing simply reveals that a large percentage of white people in America are straight up racists.  If that were true, so what?  It's a new day in the Star Wars Universe.  Welcome to get over it or get out.

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From TheAtlantic:  Of course, there are black stormtroopers...

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From TheVerge:  Actor and nerd, Donald Faison, has been a Black stormtrooper for years.

From TheAtlantic:  Race in science fiction - mostly about films.

First Trailer and Poster for "Terminator: Genisys" Debut

  

Watch the first trailer for TERMINATOR GENISYS: http://youtu.be/62E4FJTwSuc

Terminator Genisys in theaters July 1, 2015
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, Matt Smith, Byung-Hun Lee, JK Simmons
Directed by Alan Taylor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerminatorGenisys
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Terminator
Instagram: http://instagram.com/TerminatorGenisys
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TerminatorGenisys

#HeIsBack

Magic Johnson Invests in "The Marvel Experience"

Earvin “Magic” Johnson Joins Hero Ventures to Support The Marvel Experience

NBA Icon and Legendary Entrepreneur Joins Hero Ventures for Next Generation Touring Entertainment Attraction

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hero Ventures, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, announced today that Los Angeles Lakers legend and NBA 2-Time Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined the team as an investor and Board Member for The Marvel Experience. He joins an accomplished Board that includes, among others, Michael Cohl, Steve Tisch, Stanley Gold, Jere Harris, Maurice Marciano, Basil DeVito of the WWE and Company founders Rick Licht and Doug Schaer.

    “Magic Johnson stands for greatness in every way possible. We are thrilled that he is joining The Marvel Experience team. I look forward to working with him again. It's going to be great to take a Step Into Hyper Reality with him on board.”

The Marvel Experience’s massive Dome complex launches January 10, 2015 in Dallas, Texas following a preview beginning next month on December 19th in Phoenix, Arizona. The singular story line running through the Experience will engage guests for two hours or more in an adventure unlike anything ever before produced. This first-of-its-kind premier touring experience features a dynamic 4D motion ride, the world’s only 360-degree Stereoscopic 3D Dome, a wide range of technologically advanced interactive and immersive elements, state-of-the-art projection techniques and dozens of Marvel’s most popular Super Heroes.

Earvin Johnson is not only an accomplished athlete but also a very successful businessman and philanthropist. His vast business achievements include co-ownership of key sports and entertainment properties, Los Angeles Dodgers, LA Sparks and LA Football Club. Johnson brings a wealth of business knowledge and marketing across multiple industries, and charitable experience to Hero Ventures.

“The Marvel Experience is a traveling destination that not only provides unique high quality entertainment for families and fans of all ages but will create jobs in each city that it visits,” said Johnson. “I’m excited to partner with Hero Ventures and bring this affordable entertainment option around the world; specifically to ethnically diverse communities that over-index as followers of the Marvel Super Heroes. Growing up watching the Hulk as my favorite Marvel character, and this opportunity to work with a team of business all-stars, made this partnership an easy decision.”

“We always felt like there was a bit of ‘magic’ in The Marvel Experience, and now it’s official! From unparalleled success on the basketball court to unparalleled success in the business world – Magic Johnson has done it all at the highest level,” said Rick Licht, Hero Ventures CEO. “When you look at our Board and partners that we’ve assembled for The Marvel Experience, there aren’t very many people who can measure up to our team, but Magic is in a class by himself and, just like when he played, he does everything possible to make everyone on our team better.”

Executive Producer Michael Cohl stated: “Magic Johnson stands for greatness in every way possible. We are thrilled that he is joining The Marvel Experience team. I look forward to working with him again. It's going to be great to take a Step Into Hyper Reality with him on board.” Steve Tisch, the first investor in Hero Ventures, added, “I have cheered for Magic the player...and known Magic the executive, Magic the philanthropist, and Magic my friend over the past few decades. No matter what role he is playing, he has continually proven his expertise. We are excited to welcome our own ‘modern day Super Hero’ to our Board to help us build this franchise of the future – The Marvel Experience.”

“Hero Ventures has done a fantastic job in assembling the best and the brightest for this unique experience. Adding Magic, who has a proven track record on and off the court, is a coup in itself and adds even more excitement and credibility to this venture,” said Marvel Studios Senior VP Business Development Benjamin Hung.

The Marvel Experience lands in Phoenix on December 19, 2014 and runs through January 3, 2015, before the Domes move on to Dallas on January 10, 2015 followed by San Diego and San Francisco, with more cities to be announced shortly. Tickets are available both at Ticketmaster.com and at www.themarvelexperiencetour.com/tickets.


ABOUT HERO VENTURES
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Hero Ventures, LLC develops and produces live entertainment experiences that delight and surprise consumers through innovative technology. The Company has brought together the best creative and business minds in animation, interactive technology and the live event space to create dynamic, unparalleled productions to share with audiences around the world in unique and unprecedented ways. Governing Board members include Oscar winning film producer and co-owner of the NFL’s New York Giants, Steve Tisch; WWE Senior Business Advisor, Basil V. DeVito, Jr.; Shamrock Holdings CEO, Stanley Gold; Guess Jeans Co-founder Maurice Marciano; Enlight Media’s David B. Miller; Parker Capital's Junfeng Li as well as Hero Ventures’ founders Rick Licht and Doug Schaer and Partners/Executive Producers Michael Cohl of S2BN and Jere Harris of PRG. For more information, visit www.hero-ventures.com.

ABOUT MAGIC JOHNSON ENTERPRISES
Magic Johnson Enterprises, formed in 1987, is owned and operated by retired NBA 2-Time Hall of Fame legend, entrepreneur and philanthropist Earvin “Magic” Johnson. The Enterprises serves as a catalyst for community and economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that focus primarily on ethnically diverse and urban communities. Through strategic alliances, investments, consulting and endorsements, Magic Johnson Enterprises has a portfolio of companies that strategically work together to reinforce the organization’s focus on serving emerging, multicultural communities. For more information, visit www.magicjohnson.com.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2014 MARVEL

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Will Smith Leads All-Star Cast for "Suicide Squad"

Stars Commit to “Suicide Squad”

Will Smith, Tom Hardy, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto to Head Cast

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An all-star roster of actors has joined Warner Bros. Pictures’ new action adventure “Suicide Squad,” bringing DC Comics’ super villain team to the big screen under the direction of David Ayer (“Fury”). The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

The film will star two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith (“The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Ali,” upcoming “Focus”) as Deadshot; Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises,” upcoming “Mad Max: Fury Road”) as Rick Flagg; Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street,” upcoming “Focus,” the “Tarzan” movie) as Harley Quinn; Oscar winner Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “Alexander”) as the Joker; Jai Courtney (“Divergent,” upcoming “The Water Diviner”) as Boomerang; and Cara Delevingne (“Anna Karenina,” upcoming “Pan”) as Enchantress.

In making the announcement, Silverman said, “The Warner Bros. roots are deep on this one. David Ayer returns to the studio where he wrote ‘Training Day’ and brings his incredible ability to craft multidimensional villains to this iconic DC property with a cast of longtime Warner collaborators Will Smith and Tom Hardy, and other new and returning favorites: Margot, Jared, Jai and Cara. We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under Ayer’s amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero.”

Ayer is also writing the script for “Suicide Squad,” which is being produced by Charles Roven (“The Dark Knight” trilogy, upcoming “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”) and Richard Suckle (“American Hustle”). Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson and Geoff Johns are serving as executive producers.

The film is slated for release on August 5, 2016.

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