Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music Releases Exclusive: Eddie Vedder's 'Guaranteed' Custom Music Video Inspired By Sean Penn's Critically-Acclaimed Film 'Into The Wild'

Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music Releases Exclusive: Eddie Vedder's 'Guaranteed' Custom Music Video Inspired By Sean Penn's Critically-Acclaimed Film 'Into The Wild'

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and from 2008 INTERNATIONAL CES, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music service is delivering a new custom music video created exclusively for Verizon Wireless. Starting today, fans can enjoy the exclusive mobile version video of Eddie Vedder's "Guaranteed," as he appears for the first time as a solo artist in a music video for the Critic's Choice-, Golden Globe(R)- and GRAMMY(R)-nominated song from the Sean Penn- directed motion picture "Into the Wild".

Directed by critically acclaimed writer/director Marc Rocco, this unique version of the video -- edited from a 35mm film shoot -- weaves striking silhouettes of Vedder's intimate, soulful performance with images of his own handwritten lyrics in a simple yet powerful way that connects directly with fans through their mobile devices.

Over the next several weeks, Verizon Wireless customers can download -- for free -- three Eddie Vedder songs from the "Into the Wild" soundtrack: "Guaranteed," "Rise" and "Hard Sun." Fans can also purchase these exclusive tracks as ringtones and ringback tones. The full "Into the Wild" soundtrack is currently available on Monkeywrench/J Records.

Verizon Wireless customers can use their V CAST Music-enabled phones or PCs to download the following songs for free (excluding applicable airtime charges):

* "Guaranteed" -- available now through Jan. 25
* "Rise" -- available Jan. 25 through Feb. 15
* "Hard Sun" -- available Feb. 15 through March 7

Verizon Wireless customers with V CAST-enabled phones can purchase the music video on V CAST Performances, in the What's New or Featured category on V CAST Music and online in the V CAST Music store. The ringtone and ringback tone for each song will be available for purchase at the same time the full-track song is available for free. Customers who opt-in can receive free interactive MMS video messages with details about the video and exclusive music content for each Vedder song.

"We are thrilled to be the first digital music service to deliver Verizon Wireless customers the first ever music video created for mobile and distribute this legendary music to Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam fans across the nation," said Ed Ruth, director of digital music for Verizon Wireless.

"It's always interesting for us to explore new ways to get music to music fans. Much like the Internet, the advent of mobile technology has created another medium through which artists can get music directly to fans in an innovative and authentic way," said Kelly Curtis, Pearl Jam's manager.

"Eddie's music has always pierced to the heart of human experience," explains Rocco, "and 'Into the Wild' follows a young man's passionate search for his own voice in a noisy modern world. As a filmmaker, I was eager to use this cutting-edge medium to put Eddie's inspirational words, image and music right into the audience's hand to evoke a meaningful, personal experience for each viewer."

"J Records is excited to team with Verizon in this unique mobile campaign which will bring Eddie Vedder's music to new fans," said Sean Rosenberg, director mobile marketing, RCA Music Group.

"What is truly unique about this endeavor," said Guy Endore-Kaiser, executive vice president marketing and creative advertising, Paramount Vantage, "is the convergence of the mobile platform with music, video and movie, allowing us to create new audiences for 'Into The Wild' and Eddie's soundtrack."

"Guaranteed" is an acoustic song inspired by the true story of Christopher McCandless, who, in 1990 at the age of 22, left behind a life of comfort to test himself against the wilds of nature. The song was written and performed by Vedder for the soundtrack of the Paramount Vantage release "Into The Wild," which features nine original tracks and two cover songs by Vedder. To date, the soundtrack has been nominated for numerous awards including: a Critic's Choice nomination for "Guaranteed" for Best Song; two Golden Globe nominations, one for "Guaranteed" for Best Original Song, and one for Vedder/King/Brook for Best Original Score; and a GRAMMY nomination for "Guaranteed" for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

For more information on mobile music from Verizon Wireless, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com/music.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Into the Wild

Freshly graduated from college with a promising future, 22 year-old Christopher McCandless (EMILE HIRSCH) instead walked out of his privileged life and into the wild in search of adventure. What happened to him on the way transformed this young wanderer into an enduring symbol for countless people. Was Christopher McCandless a heroic adventurer or a naive idealist, a rebellious 1990s Thoreau or another lost American son, a fearless risk-taker or a tragic figure who wrestled with the precarious balance between man and nature? Each strand of his journey is woven into Sean Penn's screen adaptation of Jon Krakauer's acclaimed bestseller, Into The Wild, which is as much about the insatiable yearning for family, home and connection as it is the search for truth and happiness.

About Marc Rocco

Marc Rocco's fearless and compelling films have captivated audiences and filmmakers for nearly two decades, garnering numerous awards and honors on more than 100 Top Ten Best Picture lists. Selected credits for Rocco include The Jacket (Writer and Co-Producer, 2005), Murder in the First (Director and Executive Producer, 1995), Where the Day Takes You (Director and Writer, 1992), Dream a Little Dream (Director, Writer and Co-Producer, 1989), and Scenes from the Goldmine (Director, Writer and Co-Producer, 1987). Recently, Rocco has written and developed several projects, including the much-anticipated biopic of the groundbreaking 1960s rock icon Janis Joplin, as well as The Winter Hill Gang, the epic story of the notorious Boston gang wars of the 1960s (the latter to be produced in association with Cruise/Wagner). In addition, Rocco is attached to direct the long-awaited adaptation of Jim Thompson's seminal psychological thriller The Killer Inside Me.

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Jeffrey Nelson, Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7519,
Jeffrey.Nelson@verizonwireless.com; Nicole Vandenberg, For Eddie Vedder,
+1-206-447-1801, nicole@vandenbergcom.com; or Linda Brown, For Marc Rocco,
+1-818-753-0700, linda@indie-pr.com

Web site:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution photos of the making-of-the-video are available by request via Nicole Vandenberg.

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