Thursday, October 15, 2009

Movie News: NYC NAMES INTERSECTION OF GREENWICH AVE AND CHRISTOPHER ST IN HONOR OF AUTHOR MAURICE SENDAK IN CELEBRATION OF “WILD THINGS WEEK IN NYC”



—Street Naming Celebrates Author of Famed Children’s Book, Where the Wild Things Are, which Comes to Life on the Big Screen in Spike Jonze-Directed Film on October 16—

—Sendak’s Work Commemorated with a Special Department of Education Curriculum, Available to Schools Nationwide—


NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta, Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the Department of Education Santiago Taveras, author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, director Spike Jonze, and 50 school children from PS 41 today honored Sendak at a street naming ceremony in Greenwich Village. Sendak, whose most celebrated book, Where the Wild Things Are, was adapted for film by Jonze and Dave Eggers, wrote the childhood story while living on Greenwich Avenue. Two signs at the corner of Greenwich Avenue and Christopher Street temporarily declare the intersection of “Maurice Sendak Way” and “Wild Things Way.” A proclamation declaring today “Where the Wild Things Are Day” was also unveiled.

“We are privileged to welcome back Maurice Sendak to the very neighborhood in which he wrote the classic children’s tale – a story about discovery which still resonates today with audiences of all ages,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “Today’s declaration of ‘Where the Wild Things Are Day’ is a highlight celebration during ‘Wild Things Week in NYC’ and which we are honored to share with the author who started it all 46 years ago.”

“Where the Wild Things Are is one of the most beloved and best-selling children’s books of all time and the New York City Department of Education is thrilled to celebrate the opening of its release as a film,” said Santiago Taveras, Interim Acting Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the DOE. “We are especially excited to honor Mr. Sendak’s work by offering a curriculum that encourages teachers to use it to engage students to make connections between
the book and the film.”

Also announced at today's event was the creation of a special curriculum resource, created by the New York City Department of Education. Guided by the belief that appreciating the film begins by looking deeply at the book this resource invites elementary and middle school teachers to engage their students in thoughtful comparisons and analyses of the two media. The curriculum is posted on the DOE's website of the Office of Arts and Special Projects, and is available to educators nationwide.

Maurice Sendak was born in Brooklyn in 1928. His most acclaimed literary work, Where the Wild Things Are, which won the coveted Caldecott Medal in 1963, has consistently ranked as one of the 10 all-time, best-selling children’s books by Publishers Weekly since it was first published in 1963. The book continues to touch millions of readers worldwide and, with its enduring and captivating appeal, provide an invaluable contribution to the ongoing fight for global child literacy.

Directed by Spike Jonze, “Where the Wild Things Are” has attracted the attention of fans young and old - including the original, loyal supporters of Sendak’s timeless classic, the young readers for which it still appeals, and the youthful generation of enthusiastic, devoted followers of Jonze’s unconventional work.

“Where the Wild Things Are,” distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, opens in theaters nationwide on October 16.

In celebration of the highly-anticipated, big-screen adaptation of the book, NYC & Company, has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring Wild Things Week in NYC to New York City, from October 12 - October 16. Wild Things Week in NYC provides New Yorkers and visitors of all ages the chance to embrace their inner wild child through a week of one-time cultural events, special exhibits, celebrity appearances, promotional giveaways, outdoor adventures, and “wild” festivities throughout New York City, leading up to the films national release on October 16.

A complete list of “Wild Things Week in NYC” events can be found at www.nycgo.com/wildthingsweek.

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Movie News: LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!



CATHERINE O’HARA TO UNVEIL WILD THING WAY AND ATTEND A WILD RUMPUS AT INDIGO BAY & BLOOR IN TORONTO


Warner Bros. Canada (WB) announced today that Catherine O’Hara (the voice of Judith in WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE) will make an appearance at the unveiling of a new street sign at the north east corner of Bay and Charles Street W. in Toronto on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. The street will be temporarily renamed Wild Thing Way for one week to celebrate the opening of the film in theatres.

Following the unveiling, Ms. O’Hara will attend a Wild Rumpus event at Indigo Bay & Bloor at 3:45 p.m. and will read an excerpt from the Movie Storybook and be on hand for autographs.

Children and guests are encouraged to come to both events dressed as Max or their favourite Wild Thing. The first 20 guests in attendance at the Wild Rumpus at Indigo Bay & Bloor will receive a pass to attend a special screening of the film at Cineplex Varsity Cinemas following the event.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE opens in theatres across Canada on Friday, October 16, 2009.

Innovative director Spike Jonze collaborates with celebrated author Maurice Sendak to bring one of the most beloved books of all time to the big screen in WHERE THE WILD THIGNS ARE, a classic story about childhood and the places we go to figure out the world we live in.

The film tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. Max lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions.

The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just asMax longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned king, he promises to create a place where everyone will be happy.

Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought.

WHAT: WB welcomes all members of the press to do standups/photos at the unveiling of WILD THING WAY and at the WILD RUMPUS EVENT at Indigo Bay & Bloor with Catherine O’Hara in attendance.

WHEN & WHERE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009
3:15 p.m. – Press Call
3:30 p.m. – Unveiling of Wild Thing Way on the Northeast corner of Bay and Charles Street W. in Toronto
3:45 p.m. – Wild Rumpus Event at Indigo Bay & Bloor (55 Bloor Street West)




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Dream Halloween 2009 - Night to Benefit Children with AIDS

Mattel is proud to continue its successful partnership of CAAF at Dream Halloween in 2009 with an exciting new auction concept featuring original art.



The night of the 2009 CAAF Dream Halloween event will include an auction of original 2D art created by artists in and around the Mattel toy community. Also included in the auction is original art donated from Mattel’s library of classic brands. Never has such a talented group of the world’s premier toy artists displayed and sold original art of this caliber. If you have a passion for art, toys and giving, this is an event you will not want to miss!

ABOUT CAAF
The mission of the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF) is to make a positive difference in the lives of children infected with HIV and affected by AIDS. CAAF accomplishes this by helping meet their diverse special needs, advocating and educating on their behalf, and bringing joy and fun into their lives. Read more...

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Toy News: Doctor Who in Toys'r'us USA



Underground Toys are pleased to announce the release of a new Doctor Who action figure - available exclusively in the US at selected Toys’r’us stores.

6th Doctor Regeneration Action Figure from Caves of Androzani episode.


This item features an exclusive Underground Toys action figure of the newly regenerated 6th Doctor, as played by Colin Baker, still wearing the mud splashed outfit of his previous incarnation. Change my dear .. and it seems not a moment too soon!

The TARDIS arrives on Androzani Minor, the source of a life-prolonging drug refined from a substance called Spectrox. Production of the drug is controlled by Sharaz Jek, a madman in self imposed exile, who blames Morgus, a powerful industrialist on Androzani Major, for all his misfortunes. The two sides are pitched in a convoluted ongoing war which, unknown to Jek, gives Morgus a monopoly of Spectrox on his planet, Major. Jek becomes infatuated with Peri, and saves her and the Doctor from being executed on Morgus’s orders. However, the two travellers learn that they have contracted spectrox toxaemia, a fatal disease. The only antidote is the milk from a queen bat, which the Doctor must find in the deep caves on Minor. With moments to spare, the Doctor carries Peri back to the TARDIS, where he gives her all the milk he has collected. She recovers, but the Doctor has to regenerate to save his own

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Comic News: His Evil Knows No Limit



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Matty Answers 10/15/09


Mattel took time out their busy schedule to answer some questions

1) Does Mattel have any type of buyback policy with the major retail outlets for unsold DC figures? If so, can you tell us what the buyback percentage is?

Sorry, this is not information we can share.

2) The upcoming Superman/Batman: Public Enemies figures are just great. Was there are reason they weren't released the same time as the DVD? Production, shipping, customs, etc.

The figures release is timed for an aisle switch over which will happen a few weeks after the DVD release.

3) Will we be seeing 3 1/3" & 6" figures for the new DC Animated movie, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths? If so, will these be another retail store exclusive?

We won’t be doing Crisis on Earth 2, but if Public Enemies does well we may look at future DVD releases as inspiration for toy lines.

4) In terms of selling to local comic shops & other types of smaller stores, do they buy directly from you or do they buy through Diamond Distribution? Personally I know my LCS does buy through Diamond, but wondering how others, like online stores as Enchanted Toy Chest & Big Bad Toy Store, buy your product.

The short answer is both. Each retailer decides how to order their product.

5) I'm especially excited for the World's Greatest DC Superheroes series. These are the just like the Megos I grew up with. Are you using the same tooling for the bodies, or have you redesigned them? And will the costumes be removable?

They are 100% new bodies, but meant to mimic the classic vintage look in style and articulation. The costumes are removable. Our goal for the line was to make them as close to the original in feel, look and cheesyness.

6) There are a lot of International collectors that can't get some of the store exclusives, like Wave 10. Are there any plans to make the exclusives available for them? What about an international/European online shop?

Wave 10 will be available at Wal-Mart locations world wide.

7) On the bios for the MOTUC figures, it seems heavy on the 200X continuity. Are a lot of the bios coming from a 200X series bible or the comics bible?

The bios are a combination of several MOTU stories including the 2002 series, the mini comics and other vintage material. One of the goals of the line was to create a continuity that would be true to the core details while still leaving room to incorporate fan requested characters like Goddess, He-Ro and Wun-Dar into the world. Not an easy task!
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