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Friday, November 4, 2011

New James Bond Film "SKYFALL" Starts 7th November

Bérénice Marlohe, (left), Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris at the launch of Skyfall

Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment Announce 7th November Is Start of Production for 23rd James Bond Film "SKYFALL"

LONDON, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today presented the cast of the 23rd James Bond adventure, entitled SKYFALL. The film, from Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as James Bond 007. The screenplay is written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. SKYFALL, which goes into production on Monday, November 7th, will begin its worldwide roll-out in the UK and Ireland on October 26th 2012 and in North America on November 9th 2012.

Bérénice Marlohe

Joining Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Director Sam Mendes were members of the cast of SKYFALL, including: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe. The filmmakers also announced Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw.

In SKYFALL, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

"We're so delighted to have Sam Mendes direct SKYFALL and be working once again with Daniel Craig. We've a great script, an extraordinary cast and an incredibly talented creative team for this latest James Bond adventure," said Wilson and Broccoli.

The Director of Photography is Roger Deakins, a nine-time Oscar® nominee who previously shot the films Jarhead and Revolutionary Road for Mendes. The Production Designer is Oscar® winner Dennis Gassner, who previously designed Quantum of Solace and collaborated with Mendes on the films Road to Perdition and Jarhead. The Editor is Stuart Baird, A.C.E., whose many credits include Casino Royale. Jany Temime, whose many credits include the Harry Potter series, In Bruges, and Children of Men, is the Costume Designer. Action specialist Alexander Witt is the 2nd Unit Director. Gary Powell is Stunt Co-ordinator, Chris Corbould is SFX Supervisor and Steve Begg is Visual Effects Supervisor, all of whom have worked on previous Bond films.

007 fans can learn more about SKYFALL at the James Bond franchise Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JamesBond007.

EDITORS NOTE: A title treatment for SKYFALL is available and may be downloaded at www.sonypicturespublicity.com.

About Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions

EON Productions Limited and Danjaq LLC are wholly owned and controlled by the Broccoli/Wilson family. Danjaq is the US based company that co-owns, with MGM, the copyright in the existing James Bond films and controls the right to produce future James Bond films as well as all worldwide merchandising. EON Productions, an affiliate of Danjaq, is the UK based production company which makes the James Bond films. The 007 franchise is the longest running in film history with twenty-two films produced since 1962. Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the franchise from Albert R 'Cubby' Broccoli in 1995 and have produced some of the most successful Bond films ever including CASINO ROYALE and QUANTUM OF SOLACE.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching over 130 countries. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; worldwide television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

SOURCE Sony Pictures Entertainment; Eon Productions; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
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RELATED LINKS
http://www.sonypictures.com
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Thursday, November 3, 2011

U.S. Ranks 10th In Global Prosperity Index

President Barack Obama may need more Champagne, because things are not so rosy for majority of Americans. Photo Credit: Redif.

2 Nov 2011 21:31 Africa/Lagos

U.S. Ranks 10th In Global Prosperity Index - Falls Behind China In Economic Rankings

U.S. scores high on measures of public health and entrepreneurial environment but falls behind China in economic rankings

LONDON, November 2, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

A new study ranks the U.S. 10th out of 110 countries in a worldwide assessment of wealth and quality of life. Norway, Denmark, and Australia lead the rankings. China improved on economic indicators - moving ahead of the U.S. for the first time - and places 52nd overall.

The Legatum Prosperity Index(TM) ( http://www.prosperity.com) provides the world's only global assessment of national prosperity based on both wealth and well-being. The Index assesses 110 countries (accounting for over 93% of the world's population and 97% of the world's GDP) and ranks them based on their performance in eight sub-indices, including Economy, Governance, Personal Freedom, and Social Capital.

"The Prosperity Index allows us to see the way nations perform on globally significant factors," said Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's flagship international affairs program Fareed Zakaria GPS, at the event launching the Index in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. "Our dominance is being eroded by the rise of the rest. The U.S. will have to hustle, or fall further in such rankings."

The U.S. ranks high in categories such as Health (1st overall) and Entrepreneurship & Opportunity (5th), but has fallen behind China for the first time on the Economy sub-index (U.S. 18th; China 10th). The Economy sub-index measures the performance of countries in four areas that are essential to promoting prosperity: macroeconomic policies, economic satisfaction and expectations, foundations for growth, and financial sector efficiency.

"We want to assess the long term drivers of prosperity," said Jeffrey Gedmin, President and CEO of the Legatum Institute. "The Prosperity Index is designed to be a practical tool for researchers, policy makers, media, and the interested public. We hope this year's findings will contribute to the conversation about what makes societies healthy and successful."

The U.S. has dropped on the Entrepreneurship sub-index due to slightly higher start-up costs for businesses, uneven economic development, a decrease in research & development expenditures. In the Governance sub-index, the U.S. lost ground due to a drop in citizens' confidence in federal government, the honesty of elections, and in the judicial system.

"Some countries are catching up fast, but the Prosperity Index gives us reason not to despair," said Zakaria. "Look at where countries like India and China still are. But the U.S. will have to break out of its deadlocked political system and make choices that involve short term pain. Our crisis is political, not economic."

TOP 10
Norway
Denmark
New Zealand
Sweden
Canada
Finland
Switzerland
Netherlands
United States

BOTTOM 10
Zambia
Kenya
Mozambique
Nigeria
Sudan
Yemen
Pakistan
Ethopia
Zimbabwe
Central African Republic

Source: Legatum Institute

Julian Knapp, Communications Director, Legatum Institute: +44-7557-97-1210 or at julian.knapp@li.com

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06:16	Task force on ECOWAS free movement protocol meets in Lagos

Sydney Festival 2012

SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2012
THIS IS OUR CITY IN SUMMER
JANUARY 7-29

SYDNEY, November 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sydney Festival has announced the 2012 program for its next annual three-week celebration, January 7-29.

Sydney Festival is an explosion of exceptional theatre, dance, music, exhibitions, film and talks that takes over the city, celebrating uniquely Australian work as well as welcoming companies from all over the world. The Festival prides itself on its free large-scale outdoor events including concerts and performances and even a ferry race on Sydney’s iconic harbour.

Sydney Festival is the most wonderful summer festival in the world – a claim underpinned by the city’s lustre and charisma, making it an ideal showcase for the world's great artists. In 2012, Sydney Festival welcomes back some favourites of Sydney audiences – choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, legendary theatre director Declan Donnellan, the acclaimed National Theatre of Scotland, two-time Mercury Prize winner PJ Harvey, and versatile singer Mike Patton.

Sydney Festival opens with one of Australia’s largest free outdoor events – Festival First Night, an extravaganza that invites everyone to experience Sydney in spectacular and surprising new ways. In recent years, Sydneysiders and visitors alike have enjoyed free performances by Brian Wilson, Grace Jones, Al Green, Emmylou Harris, Sharon Jones & The Dapkings, Arrested Development and many more. Audiences have been dazzled by massive projections on buildings; seen Australia’s leading contemporary dancers; cheered on a mass saxophone ensemble battling it out with a pipe band; learnt to play the ukulele; witnessed three large-scale weddings; enjoyed watching the extraordinary and the very silly; and joined in a dance routine with 200,000 others.

QUICK FACTS

* Sydney Festival is Australia’s largest summer festival
* For three weeks every January, Sydney Festival presents a broad array of theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, film and talks, attracting up to one million enthusiastic locals and visitors
* The Festival uses 30 venues across the city including Sydney Opera House, as well as parks and city streets
* Sydney Festival 2012 has 11 world premieres, 15 Australian exclusives and 14 Australian premieres, presenting more than 1500 artists from around the globe
* The Festival is a celebration on a massive scale and is a natural promotion of the city – both are synonymous with energy, style, spectacle and sophistication

The Festival has multiple outdoor late-night venues, set amongst some of the city’s oldest buildings and parks. These late-night venues are a great way to experience the Festival ‘buzz’ on a balmy summer night.

Media Contact:
Sarah Wilson
Publicity Manager
Work +61 2 8248 6523
Cell + 61 405 364 643
sarah.wilson@sydneyfestival.org.au

Savannah Film Festival Honors Ellen Barkin and Ray Liotta During Opening Weekend

Ellen Barkin

Savannah Film Festival honors Ellen Barkin and Ray Liotta during opening weekend

SAVANNAH, Ga., November 02, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Savannah Film Festival, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, honored actress Ellen Barkin ("The Big Easy," "Ocean's Thirteen") and actor Ray Liotta ("Goodfellas," "Hannibal") with Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Awards during the opening weekend of the 14th annual event, which kicked off Saturday, Oct. 29 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 5, in historic Savannah, Ga.

Barkin received the honor prior to the screening of her independent film, “Another Happy Day,” which centers on a woman who returns to her parents’ home for a family wedding where she must deal with her wildly dysfunctional family.

“I would like to accept this award on behalf of independent cinema,” said an emotional Barkin upon seeing a video retrospective of her work. “Independent cinema, for the most part, consists of movies made with enormous passion, blood, sweat and tears by everyone involved. Without festivals like this, I would not have had the honor to do what I do for the past 30 years.”

Liotta was on hand to screen his film “The Son of No One,” which follows a young police officer who, upon being assigned to a precinct in the working class neighborhood where he grew up, must confront an old secret that threatens to destroy his life and his family. The film also stars noted actor Al Pacino, with whom Liotta said he always wanted to work. When introducing the film, Liotta laughingly noted, “He’s my godfather in this film, not in the mafia sense, but in the movie sense.”

Ray Liotta

Also on hand during the festival’s opening weekend were Alec Baldwin, James Cromwell, James Toback and Sam Levinson. Additional filmmaking luminaries on tap for the week include Universal Pictures President Ron Meyer, Anson Mount, Miles Teller, Geoffrey Fletcher, Kenneth Lonergan, and Famke Janssen.

The festival also will honor director Oliver Stone ("Platoon," "Wall Street"); actress Lily Tomlin ("9 to 5," "All of Me"); actor Aaron Eckhart ("The Dark Knight," "Erin Brockovich"); actor James Marsden ("27 Dresses," "X-Men") and directors/writers Mark and Jay Duplass ("Cyrus," "The Puffy Chair") during the weeklong festivities.

Hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, the Savannah Film Festival presents a full range of cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers. As the university for creative careers, SCAD offers the only major film program in the United States integrated within an acclaimed art and design university. In the past seven years, the university has been one of the top 10 U.S. film schools in producing Student Academy Award finalists.

For more information on the festival and a complete schedule of events, visit scad.edu/filmfest.

Media inquiries may be directed to 404.253.2769 or 404.406.0270 or jbins@scad.edu.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor’s and master’s degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit scad.edu.

Media Contact:
Jenn Bins
Media Relations Manager
Savannah College of Art and Design
404.253.2759 or 404.406.0270
jbins@scad.edu

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Task Force On ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol Meets in Lagos

2 Nov 2011 06:16 Africa/Lagos

Task force on ECOWAS free movement protocol meets in Lagos

ABUJA, November 2, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- A meeting of the National Task Force on the removal of impediments to the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on free movement of citizens, goods and services in Nigeria, opened in Lagos on Tuesday, 1st November 2011.

"ECOWAS should be applauded for this laudable, overdue but nevertheless timely initiative which will facilitate the realization of the objectives of the founding fathers of the organization", retired Air Vice-Marshal Terry Okorodudu, chair of the task force, said while opening the week-long meeting, the second by members of the task force.

He said that through the Protocol and the regional Standby Force arrangement, ECOWAS has become a model in regional integration, not only in Africa but also globally, particularly because of its regional security architecture.

"These initiatives will further enhance the image of the organization as a pacesetter and become the template for others interested in pursuing regional integration, particularly measures for realizing the unhindered movement of Community citizens", Vice-Marshal Okorodudu told members of the task force, drawn from security services and other stakeholder organizations.

The Director of Free Movement and Tourism of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Sanoh N'faly who represented the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, praised members of the task force for their commitment and explained that the objective of the task force is to improve mobility within the region, especially along the Lagos-Seme border shared by Nigeria and Benin Republic.

He expressed the willingness of the Commission to assist the task force realize its mandate of removing obstacles to intra-Community movement of citizens, goods and services, given the new ECOWAS Vision of citizen-driven regional integration project 2020.

"Our challenge is to reconcile the security imperatives in the region with the requirements for unhindered movement of Community citizens", the director added.

The task force members will undertake a trip along the Lagos-Seme route for a first-hand experience of challenges to cross-border movement. They will also discuss with stakeholders including security operatives, meet with heads of security organizations in Lagos and develop a work plan to facilitate free movement along the regional corridor.

Source: Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)

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Nollywood Star Alex Lopez’s Role in Changing Faces and Other Movies

Nollywood Star Alex Lopez’s role in Changing Faces and other movies

If Chineze Anyaene’s IJÉ the Journey brought out the best in Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, then Faruk Lasaki’s Changing Faces did the same for Nollywood diva Alex Lopez. But the only difference is that she did not make a big splash over the challenging role she played as Franca the caring Nigerian wife of a brilliant white Architecture whiz kid Dale, a born again Christian whose dignity is accentuated by his fidelity. But Franca’s marriage hit the rocks when Dale met the sexy fun loving, free spirited and lively young reporter Lola at an Architectural conference in a beautiful hill top hotel in Ibadan. Imagine how you would feel if you caught your darling husband having raunchy sex with your housemaid.

You can see how the whole drama played out when Changing Faces opens at the Silverbrd Cinemas and other cinemas on December 16, 2011.

Many people don’t know that Alex’s father was Brazilian, but her mother is a Nigerian Igbo from Obosi, Anambra State. The beautiful actress was the second runner up in the 1993 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and she is a happy single mother of a cute son.

Alex has played lead roles and supporting roles in scores of Nollywood movies like Domitilla, Love, Sex & Marriage, Dangerous Girls, Abuja Connection 2&3, Emotional Hazard, The One I Love, Akata, Catastrophe, Jungle Justice, Moving Train, Remarkable Pains, Scout, Sisters On the Run, Six Problem Girls, The Good The Bad And The Terrible and Walls Have Ears. She noted that playing a lesbian in Zeb Ejiro’s fantastic movie Domitilla affected her public image, but she would never be caught doing that in real life.

Alex recently played the role of Buchi in Pradah, produced by Tricia Eseigbe Kerry and directed by Kingsley Kerry. She presently on location making her own movie and acting in new TV series.

~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

EKOIFF and Goethe-institut Present Iara Lee's Cultures Of Resistance

Cultures of Resistance: The Official Trailer from Cultures of Resistance on Vimeo.

The Eko International Film Festival and the Goethe-Institut Lagos will host the press conference and screening of Iara Lee's Cultures of Resistance on Wednesday November 9, 2011, at the Goethe-Institut Lagos, Nigeria, at 3 pm.

Goethe-Institut Nigeria
Location Lagos
Lagos City Hall,
Catholic Mission Street
opposite Holy Cross Cathedral
Lagos Island.

Cultures of Resistance features the recollections of the socio-political resistance of the legendary Afrobeat king Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Niger Delta Militants of contemporary political struggle in Nigeria and other forces of resistance in other parts of the world.

Iara Lee is a Korean Brazilian film producer and director based in New York City. She is better known as the director of the documentaries Synthetic Pleasures and Modulations, as well as for her involvement with the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla", in which at least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli naval forces.

She is the founder of the Caipirinha Foundation and a member of the Council of Advisors to the National Geographic Society.

EKOIFF and Goethe-institut Presents Iara Lee's Cultures Of Resistance

Cultures of Resistance: The Official Trailer from Cultures of Resistance on Vimeo.

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