Welcome To Re-Branding Nigeria Clubs on Facebook

I have put Re-Branding Nigeria Clubs on Facebook for all the members of the Re-Branding Nigeria Clubs in primary schools, secondary schools, Colleges of Education, polytechnics and universities to use Facebook to link to Re-Branding Nigeria Clubs and report progress of their respective Re-Branding Nigeria Clubs events and network with others locally and globally.

I am using my duly incomporated limited liability company, International Digital Post Network (IDPN) the largest Nigerian news media on the Internet to promote our Rebranding Nigerian project.

Yours proudly Nigerian,

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
The Publisher/Editor
GUARANTY SUCCESS

Two Thumbs Down For Lagos International Film Festival

I have been going to the so called Lagos International Film Festival since Wednesday and I am disappointed by the poor organization and poor standards.I cannot even write a good report as I did on the press parley of ION Film Festival published on Modern Ghana.

Nigerian Igbos are poor managers of their Nollywood film industry.

I have decided to start a real film festival as a model for Nigerian filmmakers and I will pass it on to the Yoruba Film Industry, because I know that Tunde Kelani will manage it well.

The organiser of the so called Lagos International Film Festival should call it Camel Film Festival and stop the misrepresentation of Lagos state with such a sham!

"Strigoi" to Hold World Premiere at Toronto's After Dark Festival

14 Aug 2009 13:04 Africa/Lagos

"Strigoi" to Hold World Premiere at Toronto's After Dark Festival

LONDON, August 14/PRNewswire/ --


- British-Romanian Vampire Flick To Debut At Canadian Thrill Fest


Strigoi (http://www.strigoimovie.com), a new independent vampire film set in present-day rural Romania, has announced that it will be holding its world premiere at the 4th annual Toronto After Dark Film Festival ( http://torontoafterdark.com/2009) on Monday, August 17th at the legendary Bloor Cinema.


"Strigoi", an English-language independent production, was cast and filmed entirely in Romania, the true home of vampire folklore. Remarkably, it is also the first film to be based on the original Romanian legend of "Strigoi" which inspired Dracula (which, in turn, inspired all modern vampire stories). However, the method for killing a Strigoi is a little different from the wooden stake through the heart method popularized by Bram Stoker. First, one needs to dig up the body of the person who's become Strigoi, and then their heart must be cut out and burned. Incredibly, this method of Strigoi disposal still occasionally happens in certain parts of rural Romania. See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/jun/19/theobserver.


The film's Director, Faye Jackson, said: "We're extremely excited to be holding our world premiere at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. Our film is the sort of genre mix that will really appeal to the Toronto After Dark Audience - a folk lore mystery that blends comedy and horror, set against the background of modern rural Romania, a place where the old world clashes with the new."


Shedding light on a post-communist Romanian village, the film focuses on the ancient myth of the Strigoi - souls that rise again after death to seek justice if they've been wronged, their appetites intensified by a hunger for blood.


The film's plot centres around Vlad, who investigates a mysterious death in his grandfather's village that raises questions about land ownership in the community. The trail points to ex-communist bully Constantin Tirescu and his wife, but when Vlad confronts them, he discovers that the richest landowners in the village have become real bloodsuckers.


Adam Lopez, Festival Director of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, added: "As a premier showcase of new horror, sci-fi, action and cult movies, we're very excited to be hosting the World Premiere of Strigoi. This is just the sort of creative, independent genre film that our fans thrive on and we're sure their reaction will be enthusiastic."


The World Premiere will take place on Monday, August 17th at 9:30pm at Toronto's legendary Bloor Cinema. For more information, visit: http://www.strigoimovie.com.


Fans can also follow the build-up to the film's release on social sites Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/strigoimovie), Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/strigoimovie) and video website Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs050qAhGNg).


About St.Moritz Productions


Strigoi is the debut feature film from St. Moritz Productions. Their previous film, the short LUMP, played internationally from Paris to Rio de Janeiro. It was featured in New York magazine as one of the top 5 shorts of the 44th New York Film Festival, where it screened on the closing night, twinned with Pan's Labyrinth.


About Toronto After Dark


Toronto After Dark Film Festival is one of the world's leading showcases of thrilling cinema and runs from August 14-21, 2009. The critically acclaimed annual festival, now in its fourth year, screens new horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, animated and cult films from around the world, including many award-winning features and shorts. Last year's festival was attended by a record 8,500 enthusiastic film fans and over 100 members of press and industry. Visit: http://torontoafterdark.com/2009 or email: info@torontoafterdark.com.



Strigoi Press & Distribution Enquiries:
Rey Muraru, St.Moritz Productions
E: rey.muraru@strigoimovie.com
T: +44(0)7812352919




Source: ST. Moritz Productions Ltd

Strigoi Press & Distribution Enquiries: Rey Muraru, St.Moritz Productions, E: rey.muraru@strigoimovie.com, T: +44(0)7812352919

MOFILM Gives Filmmakers the Chance to Shine With the Stars at The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival

13 Aug 2009 11:00 Africa/Lagos

MOFILM Gives Filmmakers the Chance to Shine With the Stars at The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival

LONDON, August 13/PRNewswire/ --


- Global Mega Brands Support MOFILM 'Make an Ad' Competition for the London Film Festival


MOFILM, a pioneer of User Generated Content (UGC), has announced it is to be a Main Sponsor of The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival taking place from 14-29 October 2009.


Following the success of the MOFILM Cannes Lions User Generated Content (UGC) competition with Spike Lee, MOFILM is launching its second online competition with some of the world's biggest brands including AT&T, Best Buy, Campbell's, Hewlett Packard, McDonald's, Nokia, PepsiCo (Pepsi Max) and Unilever (OMO).


Each brand will provide a creative brief on the MOFILM website (http://www.mofilm.com) for a limited period. Entrants will create a 90 second advertisement based on the creative brief and upload it to the MOFILM website before the closing date. The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16, with awards and prizes to be selected by a brand representatives and a distinguished group of independent judges.


Andy Baker, CEO of MOFILM said, "We are thrilled to be working with the London Film Festival and so many exciting brands to provide this global showcase for ordinary filmmakers and the MOFILM community. It's fantastic that London, one of the most prestigious international film festivals in the world, is supporting emerging talent in this way."


MOFILM and its partners are offering more than US$200,000 in prizes and an opportunity to "walk the red carpet" with celebrities and leaders in the film community at the London Film Festival. The overall winning advertisement will also be played prior to the MOFILM Gala at the Festival.


Michael Mendenhall, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at HP, one of the participating brands, said "We are pleased to be working with MOFILM again after an exciting run at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival. The London Film Festival provides consumers and the global creative community an unprecedented platform for expression in a world where the tools for creating content have never been more accessible."


The London Film Festival competition follows on from the highly successful "MOFILM U12 Competition" at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival, with Spike Lee, which saw creators from more than 120 countries compete for top prizes and a chance to be on set with Spike Lee during his next project. First time ad maker, Hiroki Ono, a 23-year-old from Yokohama, Japan took the Grand Prize with his winning video for Nokia, "Feel the Globe."


The MOFILM competition opens today and closes October 5, 2009 at Noon GMT. Brand winners will be announced on October 12 and the top three finalists selected on October 20 at the Festival. All brand winners will be flown to London to experience the 53rd Times London Film Festival, with the grand prize winner walking the red carpet at the MOFILM Gala. For complete competition rules and to enter, please visit MOFILM at www.mofilm.com.


About MOFILM


MOFILM is a pioneer in sourcing user-generated content for TV, online and mobile channels around the world as well as 'made for mobile' content. MOFILM distributes content to more than fifty countries and works with major film festivals and film schools to showcase the use of new media including mobile and the Internet. For more information visit: http://www.mofilm.com.


MOFILM supporters include Accenture, providing the video hosting technology; the GSM Association, with mobile marketing expertise; Hill & Knowlton, providing PR and social media expertise and The Marketing 50 executive network.


Source: MOFILM

Ralph Cochrane for MOFILM, +44-161-927-3150, press@mofilm.com; or Meredith Kish of Hill & Knowlton for MOFILM, +1-212-885-0329, Meredith.Kish@hillandknowlton.com


MOFILM permite a los directores de cine lucirse en el 53 Festival de Cine de Londres de The Times BFI

MOFILM bietet Filmemachern die Chance, beim 53. The Times BFI London Film Festival mit den Stars zu glänzen

MOFILM offre aux réalisateurs l'occasion de briller avec les stars au 53e Festival Times BFI de Londres

Logia Launches "Mo-Tip", Makes Personal SMS Channels Everyone's Territory

13 Aug 2009 16:23 Africa/Lagos


Logia Launches "Mo-Tip", Makes Personal SMS Channels Everyone's Territory

HERZLIYA, Israel, August 13/PRNewswire/ -- Logia Group, a leading global provider of innovative mobile entertainment services, announced the launch of Mo-Tip (http://www.mo-tip.com), a smart personal mobile alert service that matches publishers with end consumers.


Mo-Tip is the first service that enables publishers to create and manage personal SMS programs without going through any integration challenges or red tape. The service includes a wide variety of end user pricing options and features such as user segmentation, traffic boosters and a full web based back office. Each guru can set up multiple text alert programs and price them either per monthly subscription or per message models. The revenue is automatically shared with the content owners and the mobile carriers.


"Setting up premium SMS programs was not for everyone." noted Aner Ravon, GM Consumer Service at Logia Group. "Most people are deterred by the overall complexity it involves and end up neglecting the significant potential of SMS based channels. Everyone has a mobile phone with text messaging service and Twitter has demonstrated how efficient publishing can make all the difference. With Mo-Tip, you can set up and run your premium SMS program within minutes, and we'll help you market your goods and get subscribers on board."


Mo-Tip is currently available in the US, UK, Spain, India, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Israel. Future launches in additional countries are planned on an ongoing basis. "We are thrilled with the overall acceptance for the Mo-Tip service" commented Ravon. "We have signed quite a few A-List gurus within weeks. But the platform is by no means limited to A-List gurus, or to any type of specific content. The whole idea is to make mobile content as easy to distribute and monetize as any other form of content. Mo-Tip has taken that need a few significant steps further."


If you're a guru and wish to launch a premium text program, please contact support@mo-tip.com


About Logia Group


Logia Group is a mobile content power house. Working with more than 20 mobile operators and 300 content & application providers from all around the world, Logia Group has established an audience of over 10M unique visitors a month and a direct billing reach of over 0.5 billion mobile customers; Logia Group services are deployed across leading carriers and websites in the US, UK, Spain, India, Thailand, Philippines, Mexico, Nigeria and Vietnam.


Logia's headquarters is located in Herzeliya, Israel with regional offices located in Mumbai (India), Thailand, The Philippines, Vietnam and Nigeria. Logia Group, established in 2004, is a privately held company led by a group of Internet, media and technology veterans and has operations in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information please visit: http://www.logiagroup.com



Mo-Tip Enquiries:
Mo-Tip
Hila Azmanov, Marketing Manger
+972-73-2525252
hilaa@logiamobile.com




Source: Logia Group LTD

Mo-Tip Enquiries: Mo-Tip, Hila Azmanov, Marketing Manger, +972-73-2525252, hilaa@logiamobile.com

Deji Badiru's book "Getting Things Done Through Project Management"

12 Aug 2009 13:10 Africa/Lagos

'Getting Things Done Through Project Management': Increasing Personal and Job Efficiency

DAYTON, Ohio, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Most daily activities can be considered "projects." Most tasks have multiple ways to be completed -- some easier than others. Deji Badiru's book "Getting Things Done Through Project Management" (published by iUniverse) is a guide of helpful approaches to job completion.


Badiru introduces proven techniques vital to project management. These principles are applicable to both the corporate world and personal, everyday life use. "Getting Things Done Through Project Management" explores the hidden aspects of every assignment and how to use these as motivation to complete the task in the most efficient manner.


Project Management integrates the ideas of both personal and team goals fusing efficiently to increase value. It is the manager's job to create the most effective, feasible steps towards completion. Glitches and setbacks likely occur in the process, but Badiru's book teaches readers how to react, adapt and prosper in the face of adversity.


"Getting Things Done Through Project Management" is an easy to understand guide to achieve success on time, within budget and with exceptional quality. Its content is specific enough for personal business use, but also broad enough to cover a number of topics. This book allows readers to follow at a comfortable pace, and its step-by-step directions are pertinent to any task at hand.


Trade paperback, soft cover 9X6
Approximately 124 pages
ISBN: 9781440138225
$13.95 retail price
Available at http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

About the Author


Deji Badiru was born in Lagos, Nigeria; he moved to America at the age of 23. He received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee Technological University and received a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from University of Central Tennessee. In his free time, Badiru enjoys writing, painting and arts and crafts. Previously, he was a professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Tennessee and University of Oklahoma. Presently, he lives with his wife in Dayton, Ohio and is a professor of Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology.


iUniverse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit http://www.iuniverse.com/.


EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:
Ryne Meadors
Tel: 317.926.1727
Fax: 317.926.1728
Email: rmeadors@trendyminds.com
(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)


This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.


Source: iUniverse

CONTACT: Ryne Meadors,. +1-317-926-1727, Fax: +1-317-926-1728,
rmeadors@trendyminds.com


Web Site: http://www.iuniverse.com/


Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time 12 Aug 2009
13:10
'Getting Things Done Through Project Management': Increasing Personal and Job Efficiency
08:01
It is About

Nokia Names Emmanuel Odiase Among YouthActionNet(R) Global Fellows

Emmanuel Odiase

Nokia has honoured Emmanuel Odiase, 27, of Nigeria and 19 other youth leaders as the YouthActionNet(R) Global Fellows. Odiase was recognised for his laudable SmokeFreeNigeria Initiative, an NGO educating young people about the dangers of smoking tobacco and has been conducting advocacy campaigns to establish 'smoke free' zones in Nigeria.

The following is the full report of the press release.

10 Aug 2009 15:30 Africa/Lagos

International Youth Foundation & Nokia Honor 20 Youth Leaders as YouthActionNet(R) Global Fellows

BALTIMORE, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Nokia today announced the 2009 YouthActionNet(R) Global Fellows. The winners are distinguished by their innovative local solutions to urgent global challenges. Among the 20 Fellows are a 23-year-old in the United States who helps young female victims of sexual violence in Sri Lanka to heal from their past; and a 27-year-old in Palestine, who uses mobile phone technology to link unemployed youth to jobs.


Launched in 2001 by IYF and Nokia, YouthActionNet(R) seeks to develop a new generation of socially-conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world. Each year, YouthActionNet(R) selects 20 outstanding young leaders for its Global Fellowship program. Through the 12-month program, Fellows refine their leadership skills, participate in a weeklong retreat held in Washington, DC, and are recognized for their efforts at the YouthActionNet(R) Global Awards Ceremony.


"Each of the 2009 YouthActionNet(R) Fellows are passionate, committed young leaders who chose not to look the other way when they saw a problem, but to take a stand," said IYF President and CEO William S. Reese. "Through their efforts, companies in Colombia are learning how to operate sustainably, low-income farmers in Zimbabwe are able to send their children to school, and youth in violence-prone neighborhoods in the U.S. are learning to be peace-builders."


Kirsi Sormunen, Vice-President, Sustainability at Nokia, said, "Congratulations to each of this year's Fellows for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to improving the lives of others. Through their example, each teaches us the importance of creativity, perseverance, teamwork, and taking action to tackle society's most critical challenges."


A sample of the 2009 YouthActionNet(R) Fellows includes:


Cecilia Mendes Barros, 24, Brazil. Through Oficina-Escola de Artes e Oficios, Cecilia provides disadvantaged youth in S o Paolo with the skills needed to rehabilitate historic buildings, while preserving their city's cultural heritage. In 2008, she was honored as a local YouthActionNet(R) National Fellow in Brazil by the Anhembi Morumbi Youth Initiative (Iam), created with support from the Sylvan/Laureate Foundation.


Eugeniu Graur, 27, Moldova: The founder of NGO CERTITUDE, Eugeniu equips Moldovan youth, many living in isolated rural areas, with the skills and knowledge to get jobs or create successful enterprises.


Emmanuel Odiase, 27, Nigeria. Through the SmokeFreeNigeria Initiative, Emmanuel educates young people about the dangers of smoking tobacco, conducts advocacy campaigns, establishes 'smoke free' zones, and harnesses the power of electronic and print media to educate audiences.


Deepika Singh, 29, India. Believing that education is a powerful tool to bring about social change, Deepika co-founded Udaan, which develops curricula, trains teachers, and uses video technology to improve the quality and accessibility of primary school education in rural and slum communities.


Since the Global Fellowship program was launched in January 2002, 160 young social entrepreneurs have been selected, with applications received from more than 4,500 young people in over 60 countries. Fellows are chosen annually following a peer review process in which previous Fellows select the next round of winners.


To learn more about YouthActionNet(R) and this year's Fellows, visit: http://www.youthactionnet.org/.


About YouthActionNet(R)


Launched in 2001, YouthActionNet(R) seeks to develop a new generation of socially-conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world. Through its fellowship programs, national institutes, dynamic website, grants, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, YouthActionNet(R) offers young change makers ideas, resources, and connections to like minds around the world. To date, YouthActionNet(R) has launched national institutes in Australia, Brazil, Haiti, Israel, Mexico, and Spain. For further information, visit: www.youthactionnet.org.


About the International Youth Foundation (IYF)?


The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil-society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities. To learn more, visit: www.iyfnet.org.


About Nokia


Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions, and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks. More information about Nokia is available at: www.nokia.com.


About Nokia - Community involvement


Nokia is committed to having a positive impact on society that extends beyond the advanced technology, products, and services it creates. It has invested in community projects supporting young people and education in over 30 countries, benefiting more than one million young people. The company has an active employee volunteering program which last year saw its employees give almost 32,100 hours to local community projects. Nokia is also supporting innovative technology projects designed to bridge the digital divide and bring the benefits of mobile technology to communities around the world.


Source: International Youth Foundation

CONTACT: James Peirce of the International Youth Foundation,
+1-410-951-1606, Jim@iyfnet.org


Web Site: YouthActionNet
International Youth Foundation
Nokia

What Has Barack Obama Got To Do With Felix the Cat?

What has President Barack Obama got to do with Felix the Cat?
Ask Niall Ferguson of the Financial Times, who says that President Obama like Felix the cartoon cat was black and lucky.

"President Barack Obama reminds me of Felix the Cat. One of the best-loved cartoon characters of the 1920s, Felix was not only black. He was also very, very lucky. And that pretty much sums up the 44th president of the US as he takes a well-earned summer break after just over six months in the world's biggest and toughest job."

Read the full report on the Huffington Post


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International Youth Foundation & Nokia Honor 20 Youth Leaders as YouthActionNet(R) Global Fellows
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BOURBON: First Half Year 2009 Revenues up 11.2%




Did you know that there have been over 618,144 advert impressions on Nigerians Report since November 2008 to date?

Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' to Be Presented in Theaters Around the World by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment

Michael Jackson

10 Aug 2009 19:55 Africa/Lagos

Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' to Be Presented in Theaters Around the World by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment

-Film Drawn From Legendary Entertainer's Last Rehearsals and Behind-The-Scenes Footage Will Be Released October 30th in High Definition with Digital Sound-

CULVER CITY, Calif., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning October 30th, the world will have a front-row seat for Michael Jackson's final concert, as Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment release Michael Jackson's "This Is It."


"This Is It" is being produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson and will be drawn from hundreds of hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage, captured in high definition with state-of-the-art digital sound as the late singer was preparing for his concert series in London. The film, which will also offer select sequences in 3-D, will provide a unique career retrospective and feature interviews with some of Jackson's closest friends and creative collaborators.


The announcement was made by Michael Lynton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of the studio, Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chief Executive Officer of Sony Music Entertainment, and Rob Stringer, Chairman of Columbia/Epic Label Group, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. The companies serve as the principal entertainment divisions of Sony Corporation.


Joining Sony in the announcement was The Estate of Michael Jackson, administered by his longtime attorney John Branca and veteran music executive John McClain, a Jackson family friend for more than 40 years. Proceeds the Estate earns from the film's release will benefit the Michael Jackson Family Trust, the entity that Mr. Jackson specified in his will is to receive all of his assets.


The rights to the exclusive footage were acquired from AEG Live and The Estate of Michael Jackson. Sony Pictures and Sony Music will co-produce with AEG Live and the Estate, and Sony Pictures will distribute the film worldwide. Randy Phillips and Paul Gongaware of AEG Live will serve as producers of the film.


The majority of the film's footage was shot in June, 2009 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California and The Forum in Inglewood, California, as Jackson prepared for "This Is It," the series of fifty concerts Jackson planned to present at the O2 Arena in London.


"This Is It" will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer, his career, and the stage spectacular that would have been. The film will provide moviegoers with an unforgettable front row experience compiled from extensive footage that shows Jackson's meticulous preparation for his 2009 London shows.


Said Branca, "Our goal is to work with partners who treat Michael's legacy with dignity and respect, while allowing us to substantially build the value of his estate for the benefit of Mrs. Katherine Jackson, Michael's three children and the charitable causes that meant so much to him during his life. We are confident we found the right partners for this project in Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment. Sony and Michael enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial history together, and it's only fitting that the relationship continues."


Said McClain, "This film is not only a tribute to an artist who created excitement every moment he was on stage, but also is a fitting gift to the millions of fans worldwide who loved him and who he devoted his professional life to entertaining. John and I are thrilled to be working with Sony to build on Michael's musical legacy in a way that will generate significant proceeds for his family and for children in need."


"People who have seen this footage are astounded by the amazing quality of Michael Jackson's performance," said Lynton. "This historic recording of the last time he sang and danced on stage shows the legendary artist in an incredibly powerful way, with crystal clear images and sound. We understand the importance of producing a film that pays tribute to Michael as an artist, and are honored to work with The Estate of Michael Jackson to give audiences the gift of his final performances. I know this film will serve as further proof that Michael Jackson is one of the greatest entertainers who ever graced a stage."


"Michael lives on through his songs, his creative genius, his body of work and his passion for his art," said Rob Stringer. "He was a perfectionist on stage and through this unique film, audiences will be able to see, many for the first time, how much Michael poured into making his performances as special as they were perfect."


Said Kenny Ortega, director of and Jackson's creative partner on the This Is It concert, "The world will see what our team was so fortunate to experience, which was the full commitment, passion and creativity that Michael put into this project. He was the architect of This Is It, and we were his builders. The footage that was captured from the early stages of the production to our technical rehearsals at the STAPLES Center in L.A. will show Michael as he truly was, creatively involved with every aspect of the production, from the staging and choreography, to the music, lighting, production design and conception of the original short films and video backdrops. It will also show Michael as one of the greatest entertainers in the world and one of the industry's most creative minds. This Is It was Michael's last theatrical work and although it was still a work in progress, I think the footage will show that the process was something that Michael deeply enjoyed and that it was clear that he was on his way to another theatrical triumph."


In the coming weeks, additional information about the film will be available at www.michaeljackson.com .


Peter Schlessel, President of Worldwide Affairs, negotiated for the footage on behalf of Sony Pictures. Branca represented The Estate of Michael Jackson.


Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.


Five of Jackson's solo albums - "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad," "Dangerous" and "HIStory," all with Epic Records, a Sony Music label - are among the top-sellers of all time and "Thriller" holds the distinction as the largest selling album worldwide in the history of the recording industry with more than 70 million units sold. Additionally, singles released from the Thriller album sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, another all time record.


During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and "Thriller" as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award.


Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the epic "Thriller." Jackson's sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.


About Sony Pictures Entertainment


Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 130 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com


About Sony Music Entertainment


Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including American Recordings, Arista Nashville, Arista Records, Aware, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, Black Seal, BNA Records, Cinematic, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Epic Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, Fo-Yo Soul, GospoCentric, Hitz Committee Entertainment, J Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, Masterworks, Polo Grounds, RCA Records, RCA Nashville, RCA Red Seal, RCA Victor, Reunion Records, Slightly Dangerous, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Verity Records, and Volcano Entertainment. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. For more information, visit www.sonymusic.com


For More Information:

Steve Elzer
Senior Vice President, Media Relations
Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
(310) 244-7142
steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

Jim Bates
Terry Fahn
Estate of Michael Jackson
Sitrick & Company
(310) 788-2850
james_bates@sitrick.com
terry_fahn@sitrick.com

Brian Garrity
Sony Music Entertainment
(212)-833-5891
brian.garrity@sonymusic.com

Tom Cording
Sony Music Entertainment/Legacy Recordings
(212)-833-4448
tom.cording@sonymusic.com

Lois Najarian
Sony Music Entertainment/Epic Records
(718)-383-1708
lois@thedooronline.com


Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment

CONTACT: Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations of Columbia
TriStar Motion Picture Group, +1-310-244-7142, steve_elzer@spe.sony.com; or
Jim Bates, james_bates@sitrick.com, or Terry Fahn, terry_fahn@sitrick.com,
+1-310-788-2850, both of Sitrick & Company/Estate of Michael Jackson; or Brian
Garrity of Sony Music Entertainment, +1-212-833-5891,
brian.garrity@sonymusic.com; or Tom Cording of Sony Music Entertainment/Legacy
Recordings, +1-212-833-4448, tom.cording@sonymusic.com; or Lois Najarian of
Sony Music Entertainment/Epic Records, +1-718-383-1708,
lois@thedooronline.com


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Former Congressman William J. Jefferson Convicted of Bribery, Racketeering, Money Laundering and Other Related Charges

Mr. William J. Jefferson

6 Aug 2009 00:43 Africa/Lagos

Former Congressman William J. Jefferson Convicted of Bribery, Racketeering, Money Laundering and Other Related Charges

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal jury today convicted former United States Congressman William J. Jefferson, 62, of New Orleans, La., of using his office to corruptly solicit bribes, the Justice Department announced.


After hearing evidence for more than one month in a federal court in Alexandria, Va., a jury found Jefferson guilty on 11 charged counts, including solicitation of bribes, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, racketeering and conspiracy. Jefferson was acquitted on three counts of honest services wire fraud, an obstruction of justice charge and of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III accepted the verdict and scheduled sentencing for Oct. 30, 2009. Jefferson faces a maximum penalty of 150 years in prison and the jury will reconvene tomorrow to address whether he will additionally face forfeiture of up to $456,000 plus stock certificates.


"We have been reminded today that we are a nation of laws, and not men," said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. "It should be a clear signal that no public official -- and certainly not a U.S. Congressman -- can put their office up for sale and betray that office. It cannot be tolerated. It cannot just be another cost of doing business. And today, a jury of his peers held Congressman Jefferson accountable for his actions."


"Trust and integrity in public officials is at the heart of our democracy," said Joseph Persichini Jr., Assistant Director of the Washington Field Office of the FBI. "What a better way to ensure those virtues, than to expose those who breach that trust. I am proud of the fantastic team of career prosecutors, agents and analysts who worked long hours to provide the facts and evidence which resulted in this just conclusion today."


According to evidence at trial, from August 2000 to August 2005 Jefferson used his position as an elected member of the U.S. House of Representatives to corruptly seek, solicit and direct that things of value be paid to himself and his family members in exchange for his performance of official acts to advance the interests of people and businesses who offered him the bribes. The things of value, according to evidence at trial, included hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes in the form of payments from monthly fees or retainers, consulting fees, percentage shares of revenues and profits, flat fees for items sold and stock ownership in the companies seeking his official assistance.


Evidence at trial showed that Jefferson performed a wide range of official acts in return for things of value, including leading official business delegations to Africa, corresponding with U.S. and foreign government officials, and utilizing congressional staff members to promote businesses and businesspersons. The business ventures that Jefferson sought to promote included telecommunications deals in Nigeria, Ghana and elsewhere; oil concessions in Equatorial Guinea; satellite transmission contracts in Botswana, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo; and development of different plants and facilities in Nigeria.


Others involved in this scheme included Vernon L. Jackson, a Louisville, Ky., businessman who was sentenced to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and the payment of bribes to a public official; and Brett M. Pfeffer, a former Jefferson congressional staff member who was sentenced to 96 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and aiding and abetting the solicitation of bribers by a member of Congress.


This case is being prosecuted by Mark D. Lytle and Rebeca H. Bellows, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Charles E. Duross of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section. The case is being investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office, with assistance of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.


Source: U.S. Department of Justice

CONTACT: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs,
+1-202-514-2007, TDD +1-202-514-1888


Web Site: http://www.usdoj.gov/