Penguin Group (USA) and Starz Launch Groundbreaking Amplified Edition of Ken Follett’s No. 1 Bestseller ‘The Pillars of the Earth’

July 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NEW YORK, July 20 /PRNewswire/ — Penguin Group (USA), one of the leading U.S. consumer book publishers, and Starz, LLC, launched today the Amplified Edition of Ken Follett’s international bestselling novel “The Pillars of the Earth.” The Amplified Edition of “The Pillars of the Earth” showcases striking video clips, beautiful art and original music from the upcoming, critically acclaimed Starz Originals 8-hour epic television event based on the book.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100720/NY37408 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100720/NY37408 )

This visually stunning Amplified Edition of “The Pillars of the Earth” offers a rich and immersive way to read, watch and listen to Ken Follett’s beloved story. The Amplified Edition showcases exclusive videos with the author about his research and the process of bringing his book to the screen, and an innovative Character Tree that provides a remarkable aid to keeping the story’s myriad characters straight, yet prevents plot spoilers.

Available today for $12.99, this Amplified Edition of “The Pillars of the Earth” gives iPad users the opportunity to read the novel and watch key scenes and images from the event series in tandem over the course of Starz’ U.S. broadcast of the star-filled program.

Updates will occur repeatedly while the TV series airs so that consumers who purchase the Amplified Edition will have a dynamic user experience that complements the story and the viewing experience of the 8-part series.

The Amplified Edition of “The Pillars of the Earth,” optimized for the iPhone and iPod Touch, will also be available later this week.

Unique and exclusive features and content to “The Pillars of the Earth” amplified electronic book include:

* An interactive Character Tree, housed in a virtual stained glass window, grows as characters are introduced in the book, allowing the reader to learn more about the selected characters and their corresponding relationships. As the story progresses, the stained glass window becomes more intricate and reveals more and more about the characters.
* Contextual video footage and still images are carefully blended into the eBook from the corresponding section of the Starz series, so readers can choose to watch beautiful clips of cathedrals, horses and men in shining armor while inside the eBook. Or if they prefer, they can watch clips as well as longer scenes in another section of the Amplified Edition.
* Ken Follett’s Multimedia Diary, which is the author’s on-set impressions of the process of bringing “The Pillars of the Earth” from page to screen.
* Behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the event series, looking at how the filmmakers captured Follett’s vision and created the medieval world of “The Pillars of the Earth,” including interviews with the actors, director and producers.
* A Listening Lounge features music – including hymns, soundtrack themes, and battlefield scene scores – from the Starz Originals series.
* A sneak preview of Ken Follett’s next book coming this fall.

“Starz approached Penguin with the idea of leveraging Starz Digital Media division’s capabilities and jointly developing an iPad application that would both highlight the upcoming epic original with a terrific new business opportunity for selling more books electronically,” Ferrell McDonald, senior vice president, marketing for Starz Entertainment said. “We believe that this application will be a model for such cross-media partnerships and is a terrific showcase for the more than 3 million iPad users in the marketplace.”

“The Amplified Edition is the next step in Penguin Group (USA)’s ongoing efforts to take advantage of new technology to bring writers to readers in ways they have never experienced before,” Molly Barton, Director, Business Development, Penguin Group (USA), commented. “We are delighted to bring fans this thoughtful and exciting blend of imagery and artistry inspired by master storyteller Ken Follett.”

About “The Pillars of the Earth”

“The Pillars of the Earth” is a sweeping epic of good and evil, treachery and intrigue, violence and beauty, a sensuous, spirited story set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles in 12th Century England. Ken Follett’s book, first published in 1989, has sold more than 14 million copies worldwide and been published in more than 30 languages. The novel was chosen as an Oprah Book Club selection in 2007 and was included in the May 2010 issue of O Magazine as one of the 10 books that have mattered most to Oprah Winfrey over the past decade. NAL published a series tie-in edition of “The Pillars of the Earth” on June 29th.

The $40 million series is directed by three-time DGA award-winner Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (“Heroes,” “Into the West”) and was shot on location in Hungary and Austria with a star-studded cast including: Ian McShane (“Deadwood,” Sexy Beast), Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist, A Knight’s Tale), Matthew Macfadyen (Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood, Pride and Prejudice), Eddie Redmayne (The Yellow Handkerchief, The Good Shepherd, 2010 Tony Award-winner for Red ), Hayley Atwell (The Duchess, upcoming Captain America), Sarah Parish (“Merlin”), Donald Sutherland (“Dirty Sexy Money,” The Italian Job), Alison Pill (Milk) and Gordon Pinsent (Away From Her). It was produced by Emmy® and Golden Globe®-nominated Tandem Communications and multi-award winning Muse Entertainment, in association with Scott Free Films, headed by the internationally renowned, award-winning producers Sir Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.

About Ken Follett

Ken Follett is one of the world’s most popular and prolific fiction writers, whose twenty-six novels have been critical and commercial successes. They have earned him superlatives from every quarter. He has been recognized as one of the two most popular writers in the world, based on an analysis of international fiction bestseller lists. A #1 international bestselling author, whose titles consistently top bestseller lists globally, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, his audience continues to grow with each new book.

On September 28, 2010, Follett’s millions of fans everywhere will be rewarded with his highly anticipated new masterwork, Fall of Giants, which will be published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), and launched globally in more than fourteen countries. This magnificent new historical epic is the first novel in Follett’s Century Trilogy, and follows the fates of five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh—as they travel through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution and the struggle for women’s suffrage. With passion and the hand of a master, Follett brings us into a world we thought we knew but now will never seem the same again.

About Penguin Group (USA)

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Viking, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, The Penguin Press, Riverhead Books, Dutton, Penguin Books, Berkley Books, Gotham Books, Portfolio, New American Library, Plume, Tarcher, Philomel, Grosset & Dunlap, Puffin, and Frederick Warne, among others. The Penguin Group (http://www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

About Starz Entertainment

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 16 premium channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 17.1 million and 31.1 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its Starz, Encore and MoviePlex brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Starz (NASDAQ: LSTZA), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.

SOURCE Penguin Group (USA)

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Starz casts “Spartacus” prequel

July 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Starz is firming up the cast and story line for its “Spartacus” prequel series, whose subtitle will be the epic-sounding “Gods of the Arena.”

Three Australian actors have joined the cast, including Dustin Clare (“Underbelly”) in the lead role. He will play Gannicus, the champion gladiator in the House of Batiatus before Spartacus came along.

“Spartacus” star Andy Whitfield, who was sidelined for several months after being diagnosed with cancer, will make a brief appearance in the prequel. He has been cleared by doctors to return to work.

“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” will begin production on six episodes next month and will hit the air in January.

Season 2 of “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” starring Whitfield, will begin production immediately after “Arena” wraps and air later in 2011 for an undetermined number of episodes.

Starz also has cast Jaime Murray (“Dexter) as a Capua social climber and Marisa Ramirez (“General Hospital”) as a slave girl. In the prequel, Batiatus (John Hannah) is not yet the head of his family or of the gladiator training school. Gannicus is the lead gladiator in the Ludus, but the House of Batiatus hasn’t earned social respect or the right for its gladiators to fight in championship bouts. Gannicus struggles to turn around the House’s luck.

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Netflix and Relativity Media Announce Groundbreaking Deal to Stream First Run, Studio Quality Theatrical Movies to Netflix Subscribers

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES, July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and Relativity Media, LLC today announced a long term agreement through which major theatrically released films owned by Relativity will be licensed directly and exclusively to Netflix for streaming to its subscribers during the “pay TV window.” Traditionally, these films have flowed through Relativity’s studio releasing partners to output deals with premium TV channels.

The deal marks a continued shift in the distribution of major motion pictures in the U.S. Under the agreement, an increasing amount of popular contemporary movies previously encumbered by pay TV agreements with premium channels such as HBO, Showtime and Starz will become available to be streamed from Netflix months – and not years – after their release on DVD. It will be the first time that studio quality theatrical feature films will be streamed via subscription by Netflix instead of being broadcast by the traditional pay providers, and it opens up a new revenue stream for such movies.

Among the first wave of films covered under the Netflix-Relativity deal are “The Fighter,” starring Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams and distributed by Paramount Pictures, and “Skyline,” co-directed by the Brothers Strause and released by Rogue Pictures and Universal Studios. Both films are scheduled for theatrical release later this year and to be available at Netflix in early 2011. Also on tap for Netflix are Rogue Pictures’ Nicolas Cage action/thriller “Season of the Witch” and “Movie 43,” written and directed by Peter Farley. Both are set to hit theaters this year as well.

Relativity has financed, co-financed or produced more than 200 features, generating more than $13 billion in worldwide box office revenue. Fifty Relativity films have become “Top 10″ box office releases during the past two years. Current Relativity theatrical releases include “Robin Hood,” “Get Him to the Greek” and “Grown Ups.” Relativity produces and/or finances between 20 and 30 pictures a year, and it has more than 10 “single picture” movies – films it is financing and producing fully – that are scheduled to be released over the next 12 months.

Broadening the range and appeal of content available for Netflix members to watch instantly is among the company’s top priorities, and the agreement with Relativity is a meaningful step in building the company’s streaming offer.

“Our continued goal is to expand the breadth and timeliness of films and TV shows available to stream on Netflix,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. “Historically, the rights to distribute these films are pre-sold to pay TV for as long as nine years after their theatrical release. Through our partnership with Relativity, these films will start to become available to our members just months after their DVD release.”

Added Mr. Sarandos: “Relativity has produced and financed some of the biggest and best films released in the last few years. We are thrilled to partner with them on their exciting upcoming slate of films and to be part of each other’s ongoing success.”

“We have always been about finding new ways to grow and monetize our business,” said Ryan Kavanaugh, Relativity’s CEO. “This clearly is a natural step in the evolution of the movie business and opens up a whole new world of revenue and marketing opportunities. Netflix has certainly made its mark, with a service that reaches over 13 million people and allows consumers to have what they want, when they want it. We have a shared vision, and this deal marks a significant change in our industry.”

“Consumer demand and interest in new platforms are evolving nearly as quickly as the technology,” said Michael J. Joe, Relativity’s president. “The growing number of Netflix subscribers streaming first run movies is very exciting and presents another viable option for us to maximize the long-term business behind our properties. We’re delighted to partner with them on this incredible new opportunity, which has great promise for our industry-reshaping Pay TV deals going forward.”

The deal was negotiated on Relativity’s behalf by Mr. Joe and Andrew Marcus, the company’s chief operating officer, and on behalf of Netflix by Robert Kyncl, the company’s vice president of content acquisition.

About Netflix

With more than 13 million members, Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world’s largest subscription service streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and sending DVDs by mail. For $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. With Netflix, there are never any due dates or late fees. Members can select from a growing library of titles that can be watched instantly and a vast array of titles on DVD. Among the large and expanding base of devices that can stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix right to members’ TVs are Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii consoles; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung, LG and Insignia; Internet TVs from LG, Sony and VIZIO; the Roku digital video player and TiVo digital video recorders, and Apple’s iPad tablet. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com.

About Relativity Media, LLC

Relativity Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company that focuses on creating, financing and distributing first class, studio-quality entertainment content and intellectual property across multiple platforms, as well as making strategic partnerships with, and opportunistic investments in, media and entertainment-related companies and assets. Relativity owns and operates Rogue, a company that specializes in the production and distribution of lower-budget genre films, which has had particular success within the horror genre with films including The Unborn and The Strangers. Building upon its foundation of financing and producing films, Relativity has grown to include music, sports and television divisions and the next-generation social network iamrogue.com. Relativity also owns and operates RelativityREAL, Relativity’s television arm, which has become one of the leading suppliers of reality television with more than 20 shows in episodic or pilot. RelativityREAL is run by Tom Foreman; his past successes include Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Kid Nation.

To date, Relativity has committed to, produced and/or financed more than 200 studio-quality motion pictures through 2014. Released films have accumulated more than $13.0 billion in worldwide box office revenue. Relativity’s recent films include Dear John, Brothers, The Wolfman, It’s Complicated, Zombieland, Couples Retreat, The Bounty Hunter and, most recently, Get Him to the Greek, Robin Hood and Grown Ups. Upcoming films for Relativity include The Fighter, Despicable Me, Charlie St. Cloud, Salt, Nanny McPhee 2, The Social Network as well as James Cameron’s Sanctum in 3D and Wes Craven’s My Soul To Take in 3D. Twenty-nine of the company’s films have opened at No. 1 at the box office. Relativity films have earned 43 Oscar® nominations, including nods for Nine, A Serious Man, Frost/Nixon, Atonement, American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma. Forty-eight of Relativity’s films have each generated more than $100 million in worldwide box-office receipts.

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Kristen Bell saving “Whales”

June 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Kristen Bell is in negotiations to join Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski in “Whales,” a fact-based project set during Cold War-era 1988.

Film

The Working Title/Universal project follows a small-town news reporter (Krasinski) and a Greenpeace volunteer (Barrymore) who enlist the rival superpowers to save three gray whales trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle.

Bell will play an ambitious Los Angeles reporter who thinks her greatest assets are her looks.

Ken Kwapis is attached to direct “Whales,” which was formerly known as “Everybody Loves Whales.” It is based on the nonfiction book “Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World’s Greatest Non-Event” by Tom Rose.

Bell is coming off a starring gig in “When in Rome,” and did a guest stint on the Starz comedy “Party Down.” She next appears in Disney’s September comedy “You Again” with Sigourney Weaver and Betty White, and Screen Gems’ November musical drama “Burlesque,” with Christina Aguilera and Cher.

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Joseph Fiennes, Bond girl Eva Green join ‘Camelot’

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, June 4 (ANI): Joseph Fiennes and Bond girl Eva Green have joined an epic new TV mini-series ‘Camelot,’ a fresh take on the classic King Arthur saga.

Fiennes will star as the fabled wizard Merlin, while Green will play the sorceress Morgana in movie mogul Graham King”s ambitious 10-episode period drama, reports the Daily Express.

Harry Potter and Twilight star Jamie Campbell Bower and actress Tamsin Egerton have also been cast as King Arthur and Guinevere, respectively.

The project is expected to hit U.S. cable TV network Starz in 2011. (ANI)

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Lucy Lawless to go nude for ”Spartacus’

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, March 27 (ANI): ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ star Lucy Lawless will soon be seen nude in new series ”Spartacus’.

The actress has apparently filmed steamy scenes with both men and women for the Starz show.

Moreover, some actors have apparently used prosthetic sex parts.

“I think everyone”s got [a merkin] just for fun,” Fox News quoted Lawless as telling Uinterview.com.

She added: “Mine, I haven”t had to break it out yet. Though [laughs] next season, maybe! Yeah, wait for it!”

Referring to the character she plays, she said: “My character is not supposed to be ripped. She”s a woman. It”s Ancient Rome.

“It”s not like they were popping off to the gym every two seconds, but they were very image conscious, that”s for sure.” (ANI)

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Lucy Lawless to star in Roman drama

April 1, 2009 By 1 Comment

Washington, Mar 31 (ANI): Actress Lucy Lawless has signed on to star as a Roman slave owner in a new TV series.

The 41-year-old star, who rose to fame with her role in ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ has joined the cast of Spider-Man moviemaker Sam Raimi’s new U.S. TV series ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’, reports Contactmusic.

According to EW.com, Lawless will be seen playing the role of Lucretia opposite Aussie actor Andy Whitfield.

The show will premiere on U.S. cable channel Starz in January (10). (ANI)

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