Grouper Networks to Host the Sony Pictures Entertainment 'Ultimate Internship' Promotion

Grouper Networks to Host the Sony Pictures Entertainment 'Ultimate Internship' Promotion

- Video Community joins Columbia Pictures and Leading Corporations to Launch 'The Pursuit of Happyness 'Pursue It' the Ultimate Internship Contest' -

- Eight Winners to Be Offered Once-in-a-Lifetime Career Opportunity With Gap Inc., The Hollywood Reporter, Morgan Stanley, NBC, the National Football League (NFL), PEOPLE Magazine, PlayStation & Yahoo! -

SAUSALITO, Calif., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Grouper Networks Inc., developers of the most complete user-generated video sharing service, announced today its role as the video platform for the "The Pursuit of Happyness 'Pursue It' The Ultimate Internship Contest" from Columbia Pictures.

Contestants are asked to create a video audition that could win them a dream internship at Gap Inc., The Hollywood Reporter, Morgan Stanley, NBC, the National Football League (NFL), PEOPLE Magazine, PlayStation or Yahoo! Through November 5, 2006, contestants can visit the contest Web site www.sony.com/Pursue-It and choose the company at which they would like to intern. As part of the online application process, entrants will need to create a video of themselves, in which they share, in five minutes or less, their own personal motto or "words to live by" giving examples of how this philosophy makes them uniquely qualified to work at the company they have chosen.

Grouper will host and serve the videos on the "Pursuit of Happyness" Web site. The leading candidates' videos for each internship as determined by a top human resource specialist will be posted on the contest website. The public will then be invited to vote for the applicant they believe is best suited for each position. Officials at each of the eight companies will interview the top two finalists applying for their respective internships and select the ultimate winners.

Contestants are encouraged to learn as much as possible about the company for whose program they are applying and to tailor their video presentation accordingly. Each of the internship programs has its own eligibility requirements which are posted, along with complete contest rules, at www.sony.com/Pursue-It.

In addition to the internship position, each winner also will win a trip to the Hollywood premiere of Columbia Pictures' inspiring drama "The Pursuit of Happyness," starring Will Smith, Thandie Newton and Jaden Christopher Syre Smith. Winners will have the opportunity to meet Smith and enjoy the gala evening with the film's cast.

Inspired by actual events, "The Pursuit of Happyness" stars Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a marginally employed salesman who finds himself with nowhere to go after he and his five-year-old son (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) are evicted from their San Francisco apartment. When Gardner lands an internship at a prestigious brokerage firm, he and his son endure numerous hardships as he struggles to create a better life for the two of them. "The Pursuit of Happyness" is the story of one father's inspiring love for his son and his determination and drive to improve their future.

"Chris Gardner, the person I portray in 'The Pursuit of Happyness' is a bright, talented guy who's barely making ends meet until he gets an internship that enables him to pursue his dreams," said star and producer Will Smith.

"This contest is a truly unique way to promote a movie and also drive interest in our site," said Grouper co-founder and CEO Josh Felser. "Grouper is making it possible for people to have a virtual 'on line' audition for an internship. With this contest we are demonstrating the power of engagement that user-generated video offers."

Steve Tisch, one of the film's producers and a co-owner of the NFL's New York Giants football team added: "America is the land of opportunity, but to succeed in the corporate world everyone needs that first break, that foot in the door. The winners of this contest will get a unique chance both to learn about how great companies work and to demonstrate their own creativity, energy and determination."

Columbia Pictures' "The Pursuit of Happyness," opens nationwide on December 15, 2006 and has been rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for Some Language.

Grouper Networks, recently acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment, enables its members to watch, share and create video on the Web, desktop and connected devices, and continues to be the leading innovator in the user-generated video space. Members can browse videos on Grouper.com and post them to a wide variety of third-party Web sites directly from Grouper. With one-click, members can add video to their personal pages on MySpace, Blogger, Friendster and Wordpress, or download to their desktops, iPod and Sony PSP. Grouper Networks is located in Sausalito, California. For more information visit http://www.grouper.com/ or call 415-877-4800.

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com.

Source: Grouper Networks Inc.

CONTACT: LaurieAnne Lassek of Grouper Networks, lalassek@comcast.com,
+1-415-225-2236; Jonathan Bing of Freud Communications,
jonathan.bing@freud.com, +1-323-866-1822, for Grouper Networks

Web site: http://www.grouper.com/
http://www.sonypictures.com/
http://www.sony.com/Pursue-It

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