CRee8 Productions has launched a new Digital Content and Mobile Media division called Upside Downloads. Emmy-nominated producer and former Madison Avenue executive Cory Rosenberg began Upside Downloads “to bring branded entertainment into the 21st century and beyond.” The first entry into mobile entertainment is the iSlinky App, now available for iPhones and iPod Touch on the iTunes App store for just $.99! “I think you'll find it's a fun conversation piece that will bring back some fond childhood memories,” said Rosenberg.

Who doesn’t remember the classic jingle:

It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky,
For fun it’s a wonderful toy!
It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky,
It’s fun for a girl and a boy!

Based on the classic Slinky toy, recently featured as one of Oprah’s “Favorite Things,” iSlinky version 1.0, reintroduces people to the Slinky fun of yesteryear. It features the sights and sounds of the actual Slinky so familiar throughout childhood, including the original Slinky jingle and full length versions of the classic TV commercials. Today’s young people will be introduced to the product that has entertained kids and teens for generations.

The debut of iSlinky, version 1.0 is designed to familiarize downloaders with the app, while the iSlinky Challenge 2.0 version will bring Slinky further into the digital age with all new and exciting Slinky game-based challenges, added interactivity and a sizzling new version of the classic Slinky jingle performed by ‘70's pop icon David Cassidy. Version 2.0 has an anticipated release date of Spring 2010 and will sell for $1.99.

Now App lovers everywhere can become Slinky lovers like Oprah, because when it comes to iPhone fun, everyone knows it's iSlinky! 

Hogwarts will be visiting the Ontario Science Centre.

Next spring, the Centre will host “Harry Potter: The Exhibition.” The display will feature more than 200 costumes, props, and artifacts from the Harry Potter movie series. These items will be placed on settings, which are inspired by the films.

“You'll be able to walk in the film's environments, sit in Hagrid's chair, pull out a Mandrake in Herbology, and even throw a Quaffle like in a Quidditch match,” explained Eddie Newquist, President of  Exhibitgroup/Giltspur—the company that planned the museum.

The exhibit has already been a big hit in Boston and Chicago. Ontario will be the first venue outside of the United States (US).

Source: TheStar.com
 

It's not 30 seconds of shoving a logo into people's faces. It's not even actively trying to sell something. But it does come from an advertising agency, notably Wieden+Kennedy, the company responsible for 25 years of memorable Nike commercials, through an Internet initiative called Wieden+Kennedy Entertainment. "It" is branded entertainment.

"Clients today want a more personal connection with consumers through content-based material." says Joseph DiSanto, executive producer at the West Los Angeles-based post-production company Therapy. "We're answering this need by partnering with people like BlackLake to produce smart, high quality content."

Wieden+Kennedy Entertainment (WKE) is a broadband channel, or web distribution platform, that went live on December 1. It features informative, personal, documentary-style and alternative entertainment programs that, though they may be backed by the agency's clients, will only subtly market a company and its products, if at all, as in the case of the web series DIY America, which made its debut when WKE launched last week. (www.wk.com/wke)

DIY America is made up of webisodes from three to five minutes in length about art, inspiration and creation from BlackLake Productions, which tapped Therapy to handle editorial and finishing duties.

BlackLake recently completed a feature documentary about a group of contemporary artists called Beautiful Losers, which is available on Apple's iTunes. "The tagline for Beautiful Losers is 'Make something from nothing'" says Jon Barlow, executive producer at BlackLake Productions. "The common thread is following your inspiration and making it happen for yourself. If you're producing stuff that you love, you are rewarded. When we finished cutting Beautiful Losers, Nike came in with some finishing and marketing money."

Some of that marketing money went into a series of artist-based workshops for kids, which became a series of nine webisodes for Nike called Make Something!! "It's a unique marketing tool – a series of webisodes direct with a brand," Barlow says. "we got the inspirational message in Beautiful Losers embodied in this side project: artists from the film inspiring kids to do art – 'make something.' We realized the message of the film in the real world. Nike's presence in Make Something!! is pervasive but not blatant. It's really subtle marketing for both Nike and for Beautiful Losers." Therapy editor Meg Decker cut two of the Make Something!! pieces which can be found on the Beautiful Losers DVD due out on December 8.

DIY America also has its roots in Beautiful Losers, notes Barlow. "It grew out of the massive archive we have of great artists," he says. "We shot 70 interviews for Beautiful Losers but only used 14. DIY America takes what we didn't use and cuts it up – artists, filmmakers, musicians - all sorts of people."

Some notable characters in DIY America's 15-episodes: Shepard Fairey (Artist), Tony Hawk (Skateboarder), Jason Lee (Actor, Skateboarder), Ian MacKaye (Musician, Fugazi), Harmony Korine (Filmmaker), Larry Clark (Filmmaker), Geoff McFetridge (Artist), Craig Stecyk III (Photographer), Thurston Moore (Musician, Sonic Youth).

ABOUT THERAPY

Therapy Studios is a fully integrated post-production company whose unique, award-winning work spans commercials, features, music videos, and online media. The Los Angeles based company was founded in 2005 by executive producers Joe DiSanto and John Ramsay, and artists Wren Waters and Doobie White. They have since expanded into a collaborative team which includes top artists in all areas of post-production, including creative editorial, graphics, finishing, sound design, mix, and color correction.

Therapy's facility is located at 2010 S. Westgate Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90025. For more information, call 310.917.1507 or visit www.youneedtherapy.tv.

ABOUT BLACKLAKE

BlackLake Productions creates branded content designed to attract, build, and interact with targeted communities. By combining filmmaking, advertising, and social media, BlackLake is redefining how branded storytelling looks, how it's consumed, and how its benefits are measured.

BlackLake is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information call (310) 882-5150 or please visit www.blacklakeproductions.com. 

Fallon Minneapolis is back in the car industry.

The advertising company is now going to handle Chrysler, which marks the first time Fallon has held an auto account since the BMW film series.

Oliver Francois—Chrysler’s president and CEO—said that Chrysler’s official ad agency will be Fallon, which will develop new commercials for the auto manufacturer.

“We are proud to be involved with rebuilding such a great, iconic American Brand,” explained Chris Foster, CEO of Fallon. “This win for us is a testament to our renewed momentum under Darren Spiller's creative leadership.” 

Spiller became Fallon’s creative director last April.

Fallon became a notable company after the success of the BMW films. These productions featured top class talent, including Clive Owen. The series was launched in 2001, and it set the bar for branded entertainment productions in the auto industry.

The big question remains: how will Fallon boost the struggling auto brand?

Source: AdAge