J-POP SUMMIT PRESENTS A BRAND NEW INTERACTIVE PUZZLE SOLVING GAME ATTRACTION 1000 TREASURE HUNTERS 2014

S.F.’s Annual Japanese Pop Culture Extravaganza Teams With Real Escape Game Inventors SCRAP To Offer Inventive Scavenger Hunt Event

San Francisco, CA, July 2, 2014 – The 2014 J-POP SUMMIT, San Francisco’s annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film, partners with SCRAP, the Kyoto-based creators of the innovative Real Escape Game, to present a special interactive puzzle solving game for this year’s Festival. 1000 Treasure Hunters 2014 is a brand new outdoor treasure hunt/puzzle solving attraction that will take place throughout the weekend of J-POP SUMMIT on Saturday and Sunday, July 19^th and 20^th.

Legions of players of all ages are invited to take part in what could become Bay Area’s biggest simultaneous scavenger hunt and search for dozens of clues and puzzles ingeniously hidden throughout Japantown. No special skills or familiarity with Japanese or the Japantown area are needed to play. There is no time limit and players can participate alone, or with friends, or as a team, while simultaneously enjoying other activities at J-POP SUMMIT Festival.

Advanced tickets are available now (thru July 18^th) for $22.00 each at http://realescapegame.com/1000th2014; Day-of tickets purchased at J-POP SUMMIT will be $25.00 each.

The story and game premise of 1000 Treasure Hunters revolves around a secret kingdom populated by animals living together in Japantown. Once a year they come out and play a concert during the J-POP SUMMIT Festival. But while preparing, they lost an instrument. Now they can't perform without recovering it. Players of 1000 Treasure Hunters must find the clues to find the instrument and help the animals get ready for their concert.

Players begin at check-in with the SCRAP Reception Team, located at the Real Escape Game Tent in Peace Plaza, anytime between 11:00am and 3:30pm Saturday, and 11:00-3:00pm Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased on-site at this location.

Players each will receive a “kit” containing clues, hints, and a detailed map of Japantown that will become the roadmap for the “game area.” Players should keep their eyes peeled because clues can be anywhere, in plain sight or hidden, both outdoors across the entire Japantown J-POP SUMMIT Festival grounds, Peace Plaza, and also inside immediate buildings. Players may work individually or in teams. As each clue is solved, players/teams move on to the next location where the ongoing mystery leads. Game play is estimated take roughly 1.5 to 3 hours depending on players/teams. 1000 Treasure Hunters is not a ‘fast victory game.’ There is no time limit. No special skills are needed, just astute cognition skills and a keen sense of logic.

On the second day of the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT (Sunday, July 20^th), a special solution debriefing will be held at 5:30pm as the finale of the game. All of the puzzle mysteries will be revealed in public to festival attendees. During this finale, a special ceremony will take place at Peace Plaza Pagoda Stage where the Grand Prize Treasure winner will be chosen in a random drawing from amongst all of the players that successfully completed the game.

The annual J-POP SUMMIT is FREE to attend (although certain attractions do require a modest admission fee) and has become one of the largest events in the United States dedicated to showcasing the many sides of Japanese pop culture and fandom. Full details are available at: www.J-POP.com.

About SCRAP

Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, SCRAP has been creating immersive and adventurous puzzle events. In 2007, it invented the world’s first live action game called, REAL ESCAPE GAME (REG) in Japan. REGs have been held in Japan and other Asian countries in unique places such as schools, abandoned hospitals, amusement parks, stadiums, and churches, and the events have drawn widespread attention and positive reviews.

The first Real Escape Game in the U.S took place in San Francisco in 2012 at NEW PEOPLE. Another San Francisco game took place on board a ship, a world-first. Since opening the Real Escape Room, Escape from the Mysterious Room at NEW PEOPLE, over 6,000 people have played. Despite being highly challenging, with only a 2% success rate, tickets have continuously sold out. In Japan, a series of TV dramas, Real Escape Game TV, and movies have also been developed. SCRAP is now pioneering a new genre of Real World Adventure. SCRAP Entertainment Inc. is the US branch of SCRAP Co Japan. Real Escape Game by SCRAP™ is the registered trademark of SCRAP

About J-POP SUMMIT Festival

Launched in 2009, J-POP SUMMIT Festival is an annual street fair held in San Francisco, CA that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest pop trends and creative innovations from Japan.

The 5^th annual J-POP SUMMIT held in July 2013 welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. In addition to the original Festival held in Japantown, new attractions include the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area’s premier dedicated Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, and sake-tasting and fine foods events at the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which have each further enriched the experience. Additional information about J-POP SUMMIT Festival is available at: J-POP.com.

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ARCHAIA RELAUNCHES 'SPERA'
WITH LONG-FORM GRAPHIC NOVEL
FORMAT BEGINNING WITH 'ASCENSION
OF THE STARLESS' VOL. 1

July 2,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - Archaia, the award-winning imprint of publisher BOOM! Studios, is pleased to announce the October debut of the SPERA: ASCENSION OF THE STARLESS VOL. 1 original graphic novel hardcover. Eisner Award-nominated writer Josh Tierney has once again assembled some of the most talented web and indie creators in the industry for this fresh new story in the world of Spera, including Giannis Milonogiannis (OLD CITY BLUES), Atelier Sentô (which is comprised of the duo of Cécile Brun and Olivier Pichard), Mindy Lee, Sourya Sihachakr (Rouge), and Valentin Seiche (Anguille et Baldaquin).

SPERA is a stunningly illustrated mash-up of some of the best things in life: webcomics, young-adult fantasy, retro video games, pulp adventure comics, and fairy tales. Fans of Zelda, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Frozen, author Tamora Pierce, and LUMBERJANES will love this series! Following the three previously released volumes of SPERA, ASCENSION OF THE STARLESS is the launch of a new, epic, multi-volume story that follows the adventures of two princesses as they once again join forces to combat a common threat. This is the perfect starting point for new readers to fall in love with SPERA charcacters Pira, Lono, Chobo, and Yonder alongside loyal fans of the series.

“After the outpouring of love for LUMBERJANES, we have a feeling a lot of our readers are going to dig this new SPERA graphic novel, starring the fierce duo of Princesses Pira and Lono,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “Josh has crafted a rich world with great characters, and seeing this story unfold with the talents of Giannis and so many other wonderful artists is a real treat.”

In SPERA: ASCENSION OF THE STARLESS VOL. 1, the Starless Queen is plotting an invasion of Spera, and has sent the merciless General Zeal to secure its capital. Unfortunately for the Queen, exiled adventurer Princess Pira—the Queen’s own daughter—and Pira’s best friend Princess Lono have discovered her plot…and will go to any lengths to stop her. Along with their friends—the fire spirit, Yonder, and the ruthless cat, Chobo—Pira and Lono set off on a perilous journey to warn the Speran King, up monster-infested mountains, through a village full of crazed warriors, and down dark tunnels walled with madness itself.

The SPERA: ASCENSION OF THE STARLESS VOL. 1 original graphic novel hardcover (176 pages, 6” x 9”, full color, ISBN: 978-1-60886-414-0) arrives from Archaia in comic shops on October 1st and bookstores on October 7th with a cover price of $24.99 and features a cover illustrated by Afu Chan. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one!

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is the home of Mike Carey’s SUICIDE RISK, Clive Barker’s NEXT TESTAMENT and HELLRAISER, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos’ FAIRY QUEST, PLANET OF THE APES, Max Bemis’ POLARITY and Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 GUNS was recently released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network’s ADVENTURE TIME and REGULAR SHOW, Mike Kunkel’s HEROBEAR AND THE KID, and Roger Langridge’s Eisner Award-winning SNARKED. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of MOUSE GUARD, COW BOY, GUNNERKRIGG COURT, RUST, SPERA, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, and many other great titles. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox's vast catalog of films.

THIS BAD DOG WON’T
STAY DOWN

A werewolf, an ex-priest, and a lot of bars
in July graphic novel

Lou and Wendell are bounty hunters in the blazing waste of the American Southwest. Pretty typical tough guys... except for a couple of things. Lou is a werewolf who's so disgusted by humanity that he never changes back to his human form. His partner, Wendell, is a former man of the cloth who's turned his back on the church to pursue his true calling of sexual deviancy, drugs, and alcohol. Together, they are perhaps the worst bounty hunters in the Four Corners — but this July, they’ll have a great time making a mess of things in the Image Comics graphic novel BAD DOG: IN THE LAND OF MILK AND MONEY, a dark adult comedy by Joe Kelly (I KILL GIANTS) and Diego Greco. Whether taking down white supremacists, wallowing in ennui, spouting holy blasphemy, or out for the biggest bust yet in Las Vegas, Lou and Wendell are all about the search for the next buzz, bad guys, and the meaning of life. No less of a team than their debauchery-seeking creations, Kelly and Greco combine filthy wit with gorgeous, painted artwork to create a bounty-hunting bender so vivid you can practically smell it.  “I love comedy. I especially love dark comedy and got to exercise those chops on Deadpool for a long time,” said writer Kelly. “For me, Bad Dog is a logical extension of that work — unrated, raunchier, nastier, hopefully funnier too — but with the same attention I gave to my previous flawed heroes. Without real themes and soul, the book would just be gags and blood. Lou is questioning his place in the universe, asking for answers, and getting one or two. Plus, there's a lot of inappropriate talk in the workplace. And sex toys. And drugs. And drugs mixed with other drugs. It's a hot mess really... but it has heart!” “Basically speaking, this is the equation: Working on Bad Dog = Laughing my head off,” said artist Greco. “This story is so, so… mmm… how can I put it… so nastily crazy and its characters are so dynamic that their combination turn the whole project into the most interesting one I have ever been part of. When I read the script I tend to laugh so hard that I spit all over my tablet. I just cannot get enough of all these people. In a few words, I love drawing Bad Dog, I love working with Joe and I really love spitting on my tablet!” Readers who love the subversive and irreverent will want to go along for the ride in BAD DOG, the most twisted buddy comedy this side of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The graphic novel will be in comic book stores on July 9 and in bookstores on July 22 and is available for pre-order now.

BAD DOG: IN THE LAND OF MILK AND MONEY by Joe Kelly and Diego Greco ISBN 978-1-63215-100-1 184 pages, $19.99 In comic book stores July 9, bookstores July 22 Collects issues #1-6 of BAD DOG Rated Mature

Praise for BAD DOG: “For the absolutely crazy humor, and outstanding character work we have Joe Kelly to thank; for the equally entertaining art I commend Diego Greco. The words may sell Bad Dog, but they wouldn't have half the effect they do if it weren't for the pacing, framing, and overall landscape provided by Greco. His depiction of Lou and Wendell is so amusing and strangely lifelike that it makes us instantly forget the impossibility of each scenario, allowing us to enjoy the comic for what it is.” –Dan Iverson, IGN

Preview

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
 

ABOUT MAN OF ACTION ENTERTAINMENT
Man of Action Entertainment, the creative studio and writers collective started in 2000, created the megahit Ben 10, a three billion dollar boys' action empire that has been called the most successful superhero launch of the past decade. Man of Action Entertainment is comprised of creators and acclaimed comic book writers Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle, having collectively worked on the largest franchise characters in comics from Superman to X-Men before refocusing on creating worlds and characters for their own original work published through their Man of Action imprint at Image Comics. They also created cult favorite series Generator Rex for Cartoon Network, and are co-executive producers and writers for Marvel's Avengers Assemble and executive produced/wrote Ultimate Spider-Man on Disney XD. Beyond the world of animation, Man of Action has created wildly successful video games, toy lines, comic books, stage productions, as well as forthcoming feature films and live action television shows, some of which are based on their own original comic book series and graphic novels. Upcoming films based upon Man of Action creations include New Line's The Great Unknown, Officer Downe and Big Hero 6, announced as Disney's first animated feature based on a Marvel property featuring the team of characters created by Man of Action. Follow them at their not-so-secret headquarters on the Web: www.manofaction.tv Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ManOfActionEnt Twitter: @ManOfActionEnt

FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX!
BOOM! BOX ANNOUNCES
'LUMBERJANES' SCOUT PATCHES

July 1,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - By popular demand, BOOM! Box, the newest imprint of award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios, announced it will make available Lumberjanes Scout Patches for sale to fans, starting with an exclusive set available for purchase at the BOOM! Studios booth (#2229) at Comic-Con International, to be held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA, July 24-27.

The patches are based on the unique badges that have been a prominent feature of the hit LUMBERJANES comic book series, in which the five main characters—Molly, Mal, April, Jo, and Ripley—earn them for their different achievements while away at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for “Hardcore Lady Types.” LUMBERJANES was created by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, and Noelle Stevenson. It is written by Ellis and Stevenson, and illustrated by Brooke Allen.

In addition, as a testament to the growing popularity of the series since its launch in April, BOOM! Box revealed that pre-release orders for issue #4 (on sale July 9th in comic shops) have exceeded that of issue #1, a rare achievement for non-#1 issues.

Each iron-on patch is a perfect embroidered replica of the badges featured in the book, which were designed by artist Kate Leth (BRAVEST WARRIORS, ADVENTURE TIME: SEEING RED). The set will include the following patches:

• Naval Gauging Badge - Awarded for proficiency in canoeing...and of course, for successfully navigating monster-infested waters
• Pungeon Master Badge - Awarded for being exceptionally pun-ny
• Up All Night Badge - Awarded for staying awake all night and up out of your bed after lights out
• Exclusive San Diego Comic-Con Badge - To be revealed!

The Lumberjanes Scout Patches Set will retail for $20 and will be available for sale at BOOM! Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con booth (#2229), while supplies last. Subsequent badges will be available in the coming months on a unit basis from the BOOM! Studios webstore for $6 each, which includes a $1 shipping charge.

LUMBERJANES #4 arrives in comic shops on July 9th with a cover price of $3.99 under Diamond Order Code MAY141177. It features a main cover illustrated by Noelle Stevenson and a retailer incentive cover by Kris Anka. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one! It’s also available for order directly from boom-studios.com.

LUMBERJANES #4 Cover A by Noelle Stevenson

LUMBERJANES #4 Cover B by Kris Anka

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is the home of Mike Carey’s SUICIDE RISK, Clive Barker’s NEXT TESTAMENT and HELLRAISER, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos’ FAIRY QUEST, PLANET OF THE APES, Max Bemis’ POLARITY and Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 GUNS was recently released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network’s ADVENTURE TIME and REGULAR SHOW, Mike Kunkel’s HEROBEAR AND THE KID, and Roger Langridge’s Eisner Award-winning SNARKED. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of MOUSE GUARD, COW BOY, GUNNERKRIGG COURT, RUST, SPERA, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, and many other great titles. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox's vast catalog of films.

STARZ DEVELOPING “AMERICAN GODS”

FROM FREMANTLEMEDIA

NORTH AMERICA

Bryan Fuller and Michael Green to serve as showrunners on the new scripted drama series

Beverly Hills, Calif. (July 1, 2014) – Starz has announced a script to series development of FremantleMedia North America’s (FMNA) adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed urban fantasy novel “American Gods.”  The pilot script will be penned by Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Heroes”) and Michael Green (“The River,” “Kings,” “Heroes”), who will also showrun the series. They will executive produce along with Gaiman. FremantleMedia North America will produce the series.

Starz Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik said, “‘American Gods’ is a project that deserves to be made.  With our partners at FremantleMedia and with Bryan, Michael and Neil, we believe we can create a series that honors the book and does right by the fans and viewers.”

Commented Neil Gaiman, "When you create something like ‘American Gods,’ which attracts fans and obsessives and people who tattoo quotes from it on themselves or each other, and who all, tattooed or not, just care about it deeply, it's really important to pick your team carefully: you don't want to let the fans down, or the people who care and have been casting it online since the dawn of recorded history. What I love most about the team who I trust to take it out to the world, is that they are the same kind of fanatics that ’American Gods’ has attracted since the start. I haven't actually checked Bryan Fuller or Michael Green for quote tattoos, but I would not be surprised if they have them. The people at Fremantle are the kinds of people who have copies of ‘American Gods in the bottom of their backpacks after going around the world, and who press them on their friends. And the team at Starz have been quite certain that they wanted to give Shadow, Wednesday and Laura a home since they first heard that the book was out there.I can't wait to see what they do to bring the story to the widest possible audience able to cope with it."

Thom Beers, CEO, FremantleMedia North America said, “’Neil Gaiman’s ‘American Gods’ is pure genius and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this classic to life on screen. Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk have put together a dream team with Fuller and Green joining Gaiman on this amazing journey. Coupled with Starz’ shared passion for this project, we’re confident this combination will raise the bar for drama.”

Commented Bryan Fuller, "Neil Gaiman has created the holiest of holy toy boxes with ‘American Gods’ and filled it with all manner of magical thing, born of new gods and old. Michael Green and I are thrilled to crack this toy box wide open and unleash the fantastical titans of heaven and earth and Neil's vividly prolific imagination."

The 2001 novel has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel.  The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of biblical and mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs.  Its protagonist, Shadow Moon, is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.  

FremantleMedia North America’s Thom Beers, Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk will executive produce the series along with Bryan Fuller, Michael Green and Neil Gaiman. Vice President of Original Programming Ken Segna will be the Starz executive in charge of “American Gods.” Starz will retain all network pay TV and SVOD rights to the project. FremantleMedia will distribute the series worldwide.

“American Gods” is part of the rich scripted slate that has been growing at FremantleMedia North America since CEO Thom Beers appointed Craig Cegielski as Executive Vice President, Scripted Programming, and Stefanie Berk, Senior Vice President, Scripted Programming in June 2013.  The company is currently in production on their cable scripted series, “The Returned.”

About Starz

Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.

Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ^® and ENCORE^® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies.  As of March 31, 2014, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.3 million subscribers, including 21.9 million at STARZ, and 34.4 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S.  STARZ^® and ENCORE^®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX^®, air over 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.

                                                                                     

About FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. arm of global media giant FremantleMedia, which includes a distribution arm, FremantleMedia International, a digital and branded entertainment division and a kids & family entertainment business.  As one of the world’s largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of TV  brands in the world, FremantleMedia’s comprehensive global network has operations in 28 countries, creating over 8500 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 400 individual titles. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. FMNA and its portfolio of companies, including Original Productions and 495 Productions, produce entertaining and innovative scripted and alternative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms. Their slate includes the upcoming “The Returned” (A&E) and “Celebrity Name Game” (SYN), as well as a diverse range of both critically-acclaimed and award-winning successes including “American Idol” (FOX), “America’s Got Talent” (NBC), “Family Feud” (SYN), “Let’s Make A Deal” (CBS), “The Price Is Right” (CBS), “The Great Christmas Light Fight” (ABC), “Deadliest Catch” (Discovery), “Party Down South” (CMT), “Ice Road Truckers” (HISTORY) and “Storage Wars” (A&E) among others. 

THE FIFTH BEATLE WINS IndieFab Award AT

FOREWORD REVIEWS’ BOOK of the Year Awards!

July 1, NEW YORK, NY— Vivek J. Tiwary’s debut graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, with art by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker, is the 2013 IndieFab Award Winner for the Foreword Reviews’ 16^th Annual Book Of The Year Awards in the Graphic Novels & Comics category. Foreword Reviews, the only review magazine solely dedicated to discovering new indie books, announced the winner on Friday, June 27^th at the 2014 American Library Association Annual Conference. Each year, Foreword Reviews highlights a small group of indie authors and publishers whose innovative work stands out among the crowd.

"I learned to love literature by hanging out in independent bookstores in New York's East Village, and by spending hours in my local school and neighborhood libraries. So it's a particular honor for 'The Fifth Beatle' to receive Foreword Review's IndieFab Gold Medal for Graphic Novels and Comics. And I'm thrilled that this recognition will help to further spread Beatles' manager Brian Epstein's inspiring story around the world,” Tiwary says.

Vivek J. Tiwary, who is a multiple Tony Award–winning producer (Green Day’s American Idiot, The Addams Family, A Raisin In The Sun) wrote the novel, which was painted by fanboy favorites Andrew C. Robinson (Dusty Star, King Conan, Starman, Superman) and Kyle Baker (The Shadow, Plastic Man, Why I Hate Saturn) The Fifth Beatle is the untold true story of Brian Epstein, the visionary manager who discovered and guided the Beatles to unprecedented international stardom. The Fifth Beatle is an inspirational story about the struggle to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Epstein was homosexual when it was illegal to be so in the UK, Jewish during a period of pervasive anti-Semitism, and from Liverpool when it was considered just a dingy port town. He helped spread the Beatles’ message of love to the entire world, yet died painfully lonely at the young age of thirty-two, consumed by staggering ambition and the endless struggles that came with it. The Fifth Beatle is available in bookstores everywhere and on Amazon.com.

The Fifth Beatle film adaptation, written and produced by Tiwary, is the first ever feature film about The Beatles to secure music rights to their songs, having been granted unprecedented access to the Lennon/McCartney music catalog. It is scheduled to begin shooting in early 2015 and more info can be found at www.FifthBeatle.com.

For more information on the IndieFab Awards and Foreword Reviews please visit: https://indiefab.forewordreviews.com/

About Vivek J. Tiwary

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

He is the producer and writer of “The Fifth Beatle,” a New York Times best-selling graphic novel based on the life of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein. “The Fifth Beatle” has secured unprecedented access to Beatles’ music and a feature film is in development to shoot in 2015. 

Vivek is attached to lead produce a Broadway adaptation of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. The production will include the participation of Morissette, as well as that of Pulitzer and Tony award winner Tom Kitt.

In 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 from 44 Tony nominations—every single one of his shows have been decorated. They include “The Addams Family,” Green Day’s “American Idiot” (the groundbreaking adaptation of the superstar rock band’s multi-platinum album), Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” (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 but 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.

MARK WAID RETURNS TO
BOOM! STUDIOS

. Click the image to watch Mark's message:

ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS

Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is the home of Mike Carey’s SUICIDE RISK, Clive Barker’s NEXT TESTAMENT and HELLRAISER, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos’ FAIRY QUEST, PLANET OF THE APES, Max Bemis’ POLARITY and Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 GUNS was recently released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network’s ADVENTURE TIME and REGULAR SHOW, Mike Kunkel’s HEROBEAR AND THE KID, and Roger Langridge’s Eisner Award-winning SNARKED. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of MOUSE GUARD, COW BOY, GUNNERKRIGG COURT, RUST, SPERA, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, and many other great titles. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox's vast catalog of films.

2014 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO WELCOMES SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOR DIRECTOR MITSUTOSHI TANAKA FOR HIS NEW BIOPIC ON JAPANESE TEA MASTER ASK THIS OF RIKYU

San Francisco, CA, July 1, 2014 – The 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area, is proud to present director Mitsutoshi Tanaka as an official Guest of Honor. Cinema fans are invited to join the Festival as it hosts the Bay Area premiere of Tanaka’s newest film, Ask This of Rikyu.

The film plays for a special single engagement at NEW PEOPLE Cinema on Saturday, July 19^th at 6:00pm. Director Tanaka will personally introduce the film and appear for a special audience Q&A immediately following the screening. Tickets are $15.00 each. Advance tickets, trailers and more information are available at: http://jffsf.org/2014/ask-this-of-rikyu.

The 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is presented in conjunction with the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival, San Francisco’s annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film which takes place July 19^th and 20^th across the city’s Japantown district. More information is available at www.J-POP.com.

Based on the award-winning novel, "Rikyu Ni Tazuneyo," by Kenichi Yamamoto, Ask This of Rikyu depicts the final days of Rikyu, a renowned 16^th Century tea master with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea" tradition, and was the first to emphasize several key aspects of the ceremony, including rustic simplicity, directness of approach and honesty of self. His outspoken beliefs caused him to be ordered to commit ritual suicide by the chancellor Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Who was Rikyu – why did he inspire so much fear among the most powerful man of his time?

Born in 1958 in Hokkaido, Japan, Mitsutoshi Tanaka joined Dentsu Eigasha (now Dentsu Tech) upon graduation from Osaka University of Arts, making TV commercials for TV Man Union before establishing the Creators’ Union Co. in 1984. As a director of numerous TV commercials, he has won awards from the Allied CM Council (ACC) and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan. Feature films he has directed include Kewaishi (2001), Shoro Nagashi (2003), and Castle Under Fiery Skies (2009).

About JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO

Launched in 2013, Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film event for the SF Bay Area, will feature a colorful mix of narratives, anime and documentary film premieres and exclusive screenings with special guest appearance at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema in SF Japantown from July 19 (Sat) through 27 (Sun), 2014. More details and ticket information is available at www.jffsf.org

About J-POP SUMMIT Festival

Launched in 2009, J-POP SUMMIT Festival is an annual street fair held in San Francisco, CA that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest pop trends and creative innovations from Japan.

The 5^th annual J-POP SUMMIT held in July 2013 welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. In addition to the original Festival held in Japantown, new attractions include the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area’s premier dedicated Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, and sake-tasting and fine foods events at the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which have each further enriched the experience. Additional information about J-POP SUMMIT Festival is available at: J-POP.com.

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Director Mitsutoshi Tanaka and shots from Ask This of Rikyu

Revisit Silent Hill In A Terrifying New Tale ‘Anne’s Story’ Reveals The Past! San Diego, CA (July 01, 2014) – The nightmare-inducing series based on the hit video game series Silent Hill by Konami Digital Entertainment (“Konami”) returns to IDW this summer with a brand new chapter, Silent Hill Downpour: Anne’s Story. Featuring the dark origins of Downpour’s enigmatic antagonist, this new comic book series will delve deeper into the history of prison guard Anne Marie Cunningham… as well as further explore the fog-shrouded haunted town that is caught between realities. Introduced in Silent Hill Downpour, officer Anne Cunningham set out on a bloody quest for revenge. The mystery surrounding her journey to Silent Hill, and the terrors she faced upon her arrival will finally be revealed, giving readers an entirely new perspective on the acclaimed video game. Having written both previous Silent Hill series at IDW, Sinner’s Reward and Past Life, as well as co-written the video game, Silent Hill Downpour, Tom Waltz returns to the foggy town that bleeds horror. “This will be my fourth foray as a writer into the dark side streets and alleyways of everyone’s favorite haunted vacation town and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Waltz. “More so because we finally get to share Anne Marie Cunningham’s canonical backstory, a mystery only hinted at until now. In our new story we can finally present all her grim and dirty secrets to Silent Hill fans, old and new alike.” Diving head first into Silent Hill is Australian artist Tristan Jones (Ghostbusters, Hoax Hunters), who is handling covers and interior art. Debuting this August, Silent Hill Downpour: Anne’s Story opens up a whole new experience for fans and players, and stands tall as an horrifying tale all it’s own! Catch up on the previous Silent Hill series’ anytime on read.idwpublishing.com.

About IDW Publishing IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; V-Wars from New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Maberry; Ragnarök from Eisner Award-winner Walter Simonson; Winterworld, created by Chuck Dixon and Jorge Zaffino; and Little Nemo from the award-winning duo of Eric Shanower and Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio, and the multiple award-winning Artist's Edition imprint. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot; Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Warner Brothers are producing a film based on Ashley Wood's Lore; Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony are bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film, Kurtzman/Orci are producing a movie based on Locke & Key at Universal.

VIZ MEDIA PREMIERES THE SUPERNATURAL ACTION COMEDY ANIME SERIES BLOOD LAD ON NEON ALLEY AND HULU

An Otaku Vampire Obsessed With The Human World Falls Hard For a Pretty Girl That Becomes A Ghost And He Vows To Help Her Regain Her Body; Series Premiere Features New English Dub Cast

San Francisco, CA, June 30, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, dials up the action and laughs for the special premiere of the anime series – BLOOD LAD – now available on Hulu and Neon Alley. The entire 10 episode paranormal action comedy series about an otaku vampire and a ghost girl features a brand new English dub cast and will available on the Hulu and Neon Alley for a limited time only!

A trailer and episodes may be viewed at: http://www.hulu.com/blood-lad.

BLOOD LAD will launch on NeonAlley.com, VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. Episodes will also be available on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service, where users can watch on a variety of devices including Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation^®3 (PS3^®) or PlayStation^®4 (PS4™) systems Roku, Chromecast, and mobile devices. A full list of Hulu and Hulu Plus-enabled devices can be found at http://www.hulu.com/plus/devices.

Adapted from Yuki Kodama's bestselling manga (graphic novel) series, BLOOD LAD introduces Staz, who is one of the toughest vampires in the demon world. But unlike his ancestors, he finds being a vampire to be a serious pain and prefers to spend his time watching anime and playing video games instead. When a Japanese girl named Fuyumi wanders into his territory, Staz cannot hide his excitement at finally meeting a living human from his favorite culture. Unfortunately, Fuyumi dies after being swallowed by a monster, leaving her bare soul behind. Staz vows to Fuyumi that he will bring her back to life by any bloody means necessary.

VIZ Media is the North American master licensor for the BLOOD LAD (rated TV-14) anime property. The company also plans to release the entire series for home media in a special Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack, as well as a Standard Edition DVD set on September 2^nd. Both editions are available now for pre-order from leading retailers. The BLOOD LAD Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack MSRP will be $69.99 U.S. / $89/99 CAN; the Standard Edition DVD MSRP will be $44.82 U.S. / $43.23 CAN.

“A nerdy vampire’s obsession with the human world collides with a girl that becomes lost in the demon world after wandering into a portal that suddenly opens in her bedroom, and the stage is set for plenty of thrilling supernatural action and laugh out loud comedic hijinks,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. “Anime fans will not want to miss this special premiere of BLOOD LAD, which features an amazing English dub cast including Bryce Papenbrook and Xanthe Huynh in the lead characters’ roles and supported by other top voice talents including Cristina Vee, Wendy Lee, Johnny Yong Bosch and Kyle Hebert. Catch the premiere of BLOOD LAD on Neon Alley and Hulu ahead of its special home media release this September!”

Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com.

For more information on BLOOD LAD, or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

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