Inaugural Hollywood and Games Summit to Celebrate Collaboration Between Movies and Video Games

Inaugural Hollywood and Games Summit to Celebrate Collaboration Between Movies and Video Games

Conference to Provide Forum for Sharing of Methodologies for Pitching Projects, Funding Models, Production Methods, Marketing, Distribution and More

LOS ANGELES, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural Hollywood and Games Summit, presented by the CMP Game Group, host of the industry-leading Game Developers Conference (GDC), and entertainment trade publication The Hollywood Reporter, will allow top executives to address the increasing collaboration between film and interactive entertainment and the resulting opportunity to improve production methods and business models. The event will take place on June 27, 2006 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The Summit will feature business and creative visionaries from both industries addressing topics such as synchronized production, who and how to pitch to the other side, capturing the movie feel in game play, sharing marketing buzz, and cross-pollinating production techniques (such as pre-visualization). The event will include focused sessions, small-scale exhibits and will close with a reception, enabling both sides to network.

"Success in collaboration has to date been sporadic, and our goal here is nothing less than bringing the top creative powers of the two most culturally influential art forms together," said Jamil Moledina, director of the GDC. "By featuring AAA talent and decision-makers in both fields, we'll have the critical mass to generate a whole new level of informed collaboration and a higher standard of quality entertainment."

"Movies and games are inspiring some of the most dynamic creative talents in the world today," said Chris Marlowe, editorial director of digital media for The Hollywood Reporter. "Hosting this timely event is a logical way to bring together everyone interested in the exciting artistic and business opportunities to be found where the two art forms intersect."

The summit will include:

* Neil Young, Vice President & General Manager, Electronic Arts Los
Angeles, giving pointers on the who, when, why, where and how of
pitching projects

* Chris Archer, Executive Producer, Spider-Man 3, Treyarch, and Kevin
Feige, President of Production at Marvel Studios, Inc., looking at a
property that has retained its identity across all platforms

* A session on establishing buzz for collaborative franchises led by
Gordon Paddison, Vice President, Worldwide Interactive Marketing &
Business Development, New Line Cinema

* A discussion about funding models, methods and budgets with Steve Krone,
President and CEO, Village Roadshow Pictures, and Dave Perry, founder,
Shiny Entertainment, Atari

* A session on the future of movie and game revenue and distribution
featuring Greg Canessa, General Manager, Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft
Corporation, and Dennis Quinn, Executive Vice President, Business
Development, Turner Network Sales

* Steve Gray, Executive Producer, Lord of the Rings Franchise, Electronic
Arts Los Angeles, discussing the "cross-pollination" of creative
techniques

Speakers will continue to be added to the lineup. More information about the Hollywood and Games Summit including registration is now available online at www.hollywoodandgames.com.

About the CMP Game Group (www.cmpgame.com)

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the CMP Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through the Game Developers Conference, GDC Europe, the Serious Games Summit D.C., GDC Mobile, GDC Asia, Game Developer magazine, Gamasutra.com, the Independent Games Festival, the Game Developers Choice Awards, and GDCTV. For more information, please visit www.cmpgame.com.

About CMP Media (www.cmp.com)

Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands in the technology, healthcare and lifestyles industries, CMP Media has earned the confidence of more professionals and enthusiasts in these fields than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in each of these industries in ways that yield superior return on investment.

About The Hollywood Reporter

The Hollywood Reporter is a must-read for entertainment's most powerful, influential professionals. More than 144,000 key decision makers worldwide rely on the publication for fuel for thought that enables success in a continually evolving business and creative environment. The Hollywood Reporter provides comprehensive coverage of the global entertainment industry with six editions: Daily; Weekly International; Special Issues; E-Mail; THR-East; and its Neal Award-winning Web site -- www.HollywoodReporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter is published by Netherlands-based VNU, the world's largest organization of entertainment-related publications and services.

Source: CMP Game Group

CONTACT: Sibel Sunar of The Bohle Company, +1-310-785-0515, ext. 271,
sibel@bohle.com, for CMP Game Group; or Tara Gibb of CMP Game Group,
+1-415-947-6219, tgibb@cmp.com; or Lynda Miller of The Hollywood Reporter,
+1-323-525-2153, lmiller@hollywoodreporter.com

Web site: http://www.cmpgame.com/
http://www.hollywoodandgames.com/

-------
Profile: intent