“‘The Fifth Beatle’ is a masterpiece” – IGN.com

“a complete triumph” – The Hollywood Reporter

“captivating, brilliant, funny … a must-have for Beatles fans and fans of great storytelling” – ComicBookResources.com

“THE FIFTH BEATLE” SCORES 2 HARVEY AWARD NOMINATIONS

WRITER/PRODUCER VIVEK J. TIWARY

ON 2 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2014 PANELS:

“Comics and Pop Music!” with MARKY RAMONE and

“The Fifth Beatle: The Beatles, The Big Screen, and Beyond”

NEW YORK (July 21, 2014) –“The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story” by writer/producer Vivek J. Tiwary and artists Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker, has garnered two Harvey Award nominations for “Best Graphic Novel – Original” and “Best Biographical, Historical or Journalistic Presentation.” One of the most established and prestigious comics honors, the Harvey Awards are the only awards that are fully nominated and granted by fellow comic book creators. Voting is open to “those who write, draw, ink, color, letter, design, edit or are involved in the creative aspect of comics."  The ballot is available here: http://www.harveyawards.org/2014-final-ballot/. Winners will be presented September 6, 2014 in Baltimore, MD, at the Baltimore Comic-Con. “The Fifth Beatle” has also been nominated for two Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for “Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior Art)” and “Best Reality-Based Work.” The “Eisners” are awarded July 25^th at Comic-Con International.  

“The Fifth Beatle” is about Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager and essentially the man behind their great success. Paul McCartney said, “If anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian.” A film version of the New York Times best-selling graphic novel is in development and has secured unprecedented access to Beatles’ music. Tiwary has written the screenplay and is producing.

Tiwary is participating in two panels during Comic-Con International:

“Comics And Pop Music!” -- Discussing the historical ties between popular music and comics. Patrick Reed (editor of Depth Of Field Magazine) will moderate, and music legend Marky Ramone (drummer of The Ramones) will serve as a fellow panelist among other creators, publishers, and musicians. Said Tiwary, “Being on a panel with Marky Ramone, talking about ‘The Fifth Beatle,’ at Comic-Con International is a teenage dream come true, on so many levels!" This panel will take place on July 26^th from 7:00 – 8:00p.m. in room 28DE in the San Diego Convention Center.

“The Fifth Beatle: The Beatles, The Big Screen, and Beyond”—One of the hottest graphic novels of 2013, ”The Fifth Beatle” is now one of the most highly anticipated films, having secured the approval of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and Olivia Harrison, along with unprecedented access to the entire Beatles music catalog. Join us as Fifth Beatle writer and producer Vivek J. Tiwary introduces a series of very special guests for a discussion of The Fifth Beatle’s development, and breaking news. This panel will take place on July 27^th from 10:00-11:00a.m. in room 24ABC in the San Diego Convention Center.

Additionally, Tiwary penned a short story for Valiant Comics’ Harbinger #25, for which indie comics icon Gilbert Hernandez illustrated a limited edition variant cover. The version with the Hernandez cover will be sold exclusively at Comic-Con International, benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Both Tiwary and Hernandez, among others, will appear at the CBLDF booth (#1920) to sign a limited number of copies starting 12pm Saturday, July 26^th.

VIVEK J. TIWARY APPEARANCE SCHEDULE AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2014

THURSDAY, JULY 24

·          “The Fifth Beatle” signing from 5:00-6:00p.m. at the Dark Horse booth (#2615)

FRIDAY, JULY 26

·         Valiant Harbinger signing from 12:00-2:00p.m. at the CBLDF booth (#1920)

·         “The Fifth Beatle” signing from 6:00-7:00p.m. at the Dark Horse booth (#2615)

·         “Comics and Pop Music!” panel from 7:00-8:00p.m. in room 28DE in the San Diego Convention Center.

SATURDAY, JULY 27

·         “The Fifth Beatle: The Beatles, The Big Screen, and Beyond” panel from 10:00-11:00a.m. in room 24ABC in the San Diego Convention Center

ABOUT VIVEK J. TIWARY

Vivek Tiwary is a New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning producer of Broadway shows, film, television, and graphic novels. 

Currently, Vivek is lead producing the Broadway adaptation of Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill.” The production will include Morissette’s participation, with Pulitzer and Tony award winner Tom Kitt attached.

For television, Vivek sold a sitcom pilot “Punk Rock Dad” to CBS, based on the bestselling memoir/parenting manual by Pennywise lead singer, Jim Lindberg.  He is developing a number of additional series including “Amelia Rules!”, a children’s film franchise and television series based on the series of tween graphic novels by New York Times best-selling author Jimmy Gownley.

On Broadway, Vivek’s productions have won a combined 25 Tony Awards and garnered a total of 44 Tony nominations. Every single one of his shows have been honored, including: “The Addams Family”; Green Day’s “American Idiot,” the groundbreaking adaptation of the superstar rock band’s multi-platinum album; Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” (which has garnered the most Tony Awards ever) and “Young Frankenstein”; “A Raisin In The Sun,” starring Sean Combs; and “A Little Night Music” starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury. Off-Broadway, Vivek produced a theatrical collaboration between electropop/performance artists Fischerspooner and avant-garde theatre collective The Wooster Group (founded by Willem Dafoe, Spalding Gray, and others) that launched the 2008 Sao Paulo Art Bienal.

Vivek also serves on the Board of Directors for Valiant Entertainment (www.valiantentertainment.com), a multi-platform company that boasts the third largest and most-loved universe of comic book characters and has been hailed by the New York Times as “Marvel 2.0.”

Prior to founding Tiwary Entertainment Group (www.tiwaryent.com) and online music education/empowerment company StarPolish, Vivek held a number of major label music-industry positions, including launching and heading the Alternative Marketing Department at Mercury/PolyGram Records and managing Video Promotion for Mercury/PolyGram, where he worked closely with MTV and VH1. Vivek has worked with artists covering the entire musical spectrum including Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, Kiss, LL Cool J, John Mellencamp, Allen Ginsberg, Oasis, Hanson, 311 and The Mighty Mighty BossTones to name a few.

Among many charitable pursuits, Vivek is the Co-Founder of Musicians On Call (www.musiciansoncall.org), a nonprofit organization that uses music and entertainment to complement the healing process.

Vivek is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of both the Wharton School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences. He also holds a filmmaking certificate from The New York Film Academy and is an acting student of Susan Batson/Black Nexxus Acting Studio.