The Wal-Mart Television Network Brings High Definition Art From Film Maker Christopher Coppola to Its Stores

The Wal-Mart Television Network Brings High Definition Art From Film Maker Christopher Coppola to Its Stores

'HD American Portraits' Focuses on the Story of Everyday People

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A creative alliance between PRN Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thomson SA (NYSE:TMS), and EARS XXI New Media Studios, the company headed by filmmaker Christopher Coppola, will debut its first joint project "HD American Portraits," through the in-store Wal-Mart Television Network.

Using high-definition TV as the unique format, "HD American Portraits" brings an artist to rural America to create a portrait of an every day person in HD. The portrait, and the making of the portrait, is then displayed on the Wal-Mart Television Network's HD monitors.

Tom Sebastian of PRN said, "It took a lot of people to think differently about how and where art could be seen to create this project. This project brings together one of the most creative minds in the entertainment industry with one of the most well-respected retail establishments in our country. Mr. Coppola had a vision that complemented Wal-Mart's; that art really is something that everyone can enjoy and the network could be the vehicle to bring art to the community."

Christopher Coppola said, "This is an opportunity to bring art to everyone and to celebrate the creative process. Technology, humanity and art share one unique characteristic and that is that they have no boundaries."

He continued, "PRN and Wal-Mart have designed an HD system that allows a mass audience to see the films in the highest quality environment possible, which was intriguing to me as a film maker and artist."

"Tens of millions of Americans visit Wal-Mart every week," said Steve Anker, Dean of the School Film/Video at CalArts. "I can't imagine a more daunting but potentially worthy challenge than to bring art into the environment of America's foremost retailer, Wal-Mart. Based on the evidence of the vibrant and expressive first short films produced so far, Christopher Coppola and his filmmaking colleagues have created evocative portraits of the everyday people who are customers and employees of Wal-Mart throughout the country."

"HD American Portraits celebrates the richness of collaboration between people, mediated by caring, perceptive artists and Wal-Mart. It makes evident that our nation is indeed a great family," said Stephen Goldstine, Former President of the San Francisco Art Institute. "To view our neighbors with the remarkable HD technology serving as an enhanced expressive vehicle, surely provides unexpected delight as we go about our daily routines."

Troy Steiner, Senior Media Director of Wal-Mart, commented, "Mr. Coppola had a very innovative concept and we're pleased that the network and our stores will enable millions of people to experience a combination of art and technology. Hopefully, this will inspire people to explore new ways to experience art in the future."

About EARS XXI New Media Studios

Ears XXI New Media Studios focuses on digital/high-definition production and distribution for film and television. The studio handles all phases of film and television production including pre-production, production, post- production and distribution, as well as building an education arm which extends to universities and the Internet.

About PRN Corporation

Founded in 1992, the PRN Corporation operates the PRN Network, the largest in-store television network in the United States based on the number of consumers reached each month. Through the PRN Network, PRN enables national and local advertisers to target consumers in more than 6,000 leading retail stores in all of the 210 media markets designated by AC Nielsen in the United States. PRN works with retailers and advertisers to create in-store television programming that includes entertainment, news, product information, advertising and community content. Retailers carrying the PRN Network include Albertsons, Best Buy, Circuit City, Costco, Jewel-Osco, Pathmark, Ralphs, SAM'S CLUB, Sears, Shaw's, ShopRite, Star Market, and Wal-Mart Stores. Based on information provided by several third-party research firms and retailers, PRN Network is watched more than 200 million times each month by consumers in retail stores. PRN's headquarters are in San Francisco, California. PRN is wholly-owned by Thomson SA (NYSE:TMS)(NYSE:www.thomson.net), the world leader in integrated solutions (technologies, equipment and services) for the entertainment and media industries. For more information, please visit www.prn.com.

Source: PRN Corporation

CONTACT: Genet Garamendi of Premier Retail Networks, +1-415-808-9167, or
Genet_Garamendi@prn.com; or Erica Pettit, +1-212-850-5614, or
epettit@fd-us.com, or Evan Smith, CFA, +1-212-850-5606, or esmith@fd-us.com,
both for Premier Retail Networks; or Eddie Michaels or Erik Bright,
ebright@insigniapr.com, both of Insignia, Inc., +1-310-777-1150, for EARS XXI

Web site: http://www.thomson.net/

Web site: http://www.prn.com/

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