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Mar 30

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Posted by Bill at 11:41 AM | Permalink

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Mar 31

Pictures from Omma Hollywood

(C) MBN 2007 William Hoehne

Posted by Bill at 11:39 AM | Permalink

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Mar 30

MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA TO ANNOUNCE ECONOMIC GOALS AND RECEIVE KEY TO FASHION DISTRICT AT LA FASHION MARKET GRAND OPENING PARTY

Los Angeles, CA (3/15/07) – On March 23, 2007 the LA Fashion District Business Improvement District (BID), Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and thousands of industry heavyweights and celebrities will ban together for the first-ever combined grand opening party for the LA Fashion Market. Special guest Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will make a historic announcement regarding the economic impact of the fashion industry to Los Angeles businesses and receive a key to the LA Fashion District from Rosanne Karmes, designer of Sydney Evan jewelry at 6:00 p.m. The high profile event will entertain thousands of guests and famous Los Angeles designers such as Chip and Pepper, Adriano Goldschmeid, Tarina Tarantino, Trina Turk, Robert Rodriguez, Paul Guez (Yanuk Denim, Antik Denim), Walter, Dick Cantrell (Hard Tail), Pamela Protzel (Ella Moss), Yana K, Diane Levin (Poleci), LeeJay Mitz (Iron), Sheri Bodell, Yael Alfalo (YA YA), Glenn Kay (Mandalay), Carilyn Vaile and Allen Schwartz (ABS), who will be available for a photo opportunity with the mayor at 5:50 p.m. The event will be located in the California Market Center’s front patio and main lobby and run from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

“California already leads the nation in apparel manufacturing and with the combined efforts of the government and LA Fashion District, we are able to raise the profile of Los Angeles as the premier resource for apparel,” says Kent Smith, Executive Director of LA Fashion District Business Improvement District (BID). “The idea of joining forces for a major event has been a longtime goal for the Intersection and we are looking to continue and expand the concept even further with the October LA Fashion Market.” 

The party will feature live music by Lemon Sun who is touring with The Killers, cocktails and food by Tiara Café. Event sponsors include: LA Fashion District, The Intersection and California Market Center, with support from Downtown Center Business Improvement District and Santee Village. 

(C) MBN 2007  William Hoehne

Posted by Bill at 11:37 AM | Permalink

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Mar 30

Posted by Bill at 09:04 AM | Permalink

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Mar 29

Makes it a civil violation for any person to possess a dog or cat over four months of age that has not been spayed or neutered.

Requires owners of unaltered purebred dogs to annually acquire an intact animal permit from their local jurisdiction. The cost of the intact permit would be determined by the locality. Responsible dog owners could be required to pay unreasonable and punitive fees, possibly amounting to hundreds of dollars.

Does not provide exemptions for dogs temporarily entering California for show, competition, or exhibition.

Contact your representative in the California State Assembly.

Contact the members of the California Assembly Business and Professions Committee who will consider this bill.

Posted by Bill at 08:34 PM | Permalink

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Mar 29

To see why our junior editor photographer is such a darling of the photographers look here also

Sexy Legs, Legs More Legs & A Smile

Night of 100 Stars

Gibson Guitars Hosts DeHoghton Denim Fall Collection 2007 LA Fashion Week – Day 2

http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====265905

 

Night of 100 Stars

http://www.exposay.com/tj-myers-17th-annual-night-of-100-stars-oscar-gala/p/8837/10/?f=Joyce%20Chow

 

 

Dinner with Gene Simmons to Launch New Clothing Line – Moneybags

http://www.filmmagic.com/SearchResult.aspx?str=joyce+chow&sfld=C

Posted by Bill at 07:33 PM | Permalink

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April 2

PG. 2 BRANDI CARLILE SONG “STORY” HAS BROADCAST DEBUT ON GREY’S ANATOMY

PG. 3 ABC LAUNCHES DO YOU JIMMY AD CAMPAIGN

PG. 4-5 FAST FACTS OVERNIGHT RATINGS (FOR 4/1)

ADDITIONALLY:

PG. 6 DANCING WITH THE STARS THE RESULTS SHOW (4/3)

PG. 7 AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS (4/15)

PG. 8 EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION (4/15)

PG. 9 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (4/15)

PG. 10 BROTHERS & SISTERS (4/15)

PG. 11 GEORGE LOPEZ (4/17)

PG. 12 ACCORDING TO JIM (4/17)

PG. 13 BOSTON LEGAL (4/17)

PG. 15 LOST (4/18)

PG. 16 UGLY BETTY (4/19)

PG. 17 GREY’S ANATOMY (4/19)

PG. 18 SIX DEGREES (4/20)

PG. 19 HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (4/21)

PG. 20-21 CORRECTION/UPDATE

The one-hour special, “Grey’s Anatomy: Every Moment Counts,” premiering THURSDAY, APRIL 12 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET), will debut the world broadcast premiere of a music video combining scenes from the hit series and singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile’s title track video from her new album, “The Story.“

The special, which highlights some of the most memorable moments from the last three seasons, will be hosted by actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, loved by “Grey’s Anatomy” fans for his role as Denny on the series.

On her new album, “The Story,” Brandi Carlile opens up her heart, soul and psyche in a series of memorable songs that invite you into her world. To her growing community of fans, it’s Carlile’s revelatory imagery, stark emotive vocals and finely-detailed songs which provide the keys to who she is, where she’s been and where’s she’s going. The title track provides a perfect backdrop for the drama and intensity of the experiences of the characters on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“Grey’s Anatomy” stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke, Katherine Heigl as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, T.R. Knight as George O’Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Kate Walsh as Addison Shepherd, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres and Eric Dane as Mark Sloan.

Shonda Rhimes (“Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”) is creator and executive producer. Betsy Beers (“Casanova”), Mark Gordon (“Saving Private Ryan”) and Krista Vernoff (“Law & Order”) are executive producers. “Grey’s Anatomy” is an ABC Television Studio Production.

Shortly after the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut (Rolling Stone named her one of the magazine’s “10 Artists to Watch in 2005”), Carlile left her home in Seattle and set out with twin brothers Tim (guitar) and Phil (bass) Hanseroth, with whom she’d worked on her earliest recordings and independent regional tours. The tightly knit trio, which forms the core of her band today, spent the better part of two years on the road. By the end of 2006, Carlile had embarked on several headlining tours and supported a variety of artists, including The Fray, Ray LaMontagne, Chris Isaak, Tori Amos and Shawn Colvin. Her new album, “The Story,” will be in stores and online April 3.

Starting today, ABC is launching a ground-breaking branding campaign for the hit late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” including outdoor, wild postings, spot cable, radio buys and a college targeted component. The campaign was teased on-air beginning March 26.

Additional outdoor exposure includes wild postings, taxi tops, bus sides and LCD panels at subway entrances in New York, with messages such as “For a Better Tomorrow… Jimmy Tonight” and “Jimmy 5 Nights a Week.”

Emmy-winner Jimmy Kimmel serves as host and executive producer of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the ABC Television Network’s distinctive late-night talk show, now in its fifth season. The show features a diverse lineup of guests, including celebrities, athletes, comedians, politicians and human interest subjects.

Jimmy Kimmel and Jill Leiderman serve as executive producers and Jason Schrift and Douglas DeLuca as co-executive producers. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” is shot live in front of a studio audience and produced by Jackhole Industries in association with ABC Television Studio.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate Ratings, Live+SD), 4/1/07

“Episode 403A” – The second couple will be dismissed on “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,” TUESDAY, APRIL 3 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Grammy-winning recording artist Ciara takes to the stage to perform her hit, “Like a Boy.” Music sensation Josh Groban will then sing “So She Dances,” as Tony Dovolani and Julianne Hough perform. In addition, the rock band Survivor will perform the classic “Eye of the Tiger” as the professionals do a group Paso Doble.

Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel (“Jimmy Kimmel Live”) will also be featured in his weekly segment entitled “Dance Along at Home with Jimmy Kimmel.” Each week Jimmy will offer up his parking lot security guard, Guillermo, to hilariously demonstrate a ballroom dancing technique.

By evening’s end, the couple with the lowest composite score will be eliminated, as determined by a combination of the judges’ scores and viewers’ votes. Who among the following ten teams will be dismissed from the competition?

“Episode No. 1720” – Clip highlights include practical jokes, with one man scaring his wife by putting a rubber bird in the freezer; a man getting a pistachio nut stuck to his lip; and a dog that makes a really big mess of the yard, on “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” SUNDAY, APRIL 15 (7:00-8:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Tom Bergeron hosts.

In its 17 seasons to date, “America’s Funniest Home Videos” has given away over $9 million in prize money and evaluated more than half a million videotapes from home viewers. Viewers wishing to submit home videos to “America’s Funniest Home Videos” should visit www.abc.com for details.

Vin Di Bona is executive producer, with Todd Thicke and Michele Nasraway serving as co-executive producers. “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” which premiered on January 14, 1990 and is from Vin Di Bona Productions, airs with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning.

This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

“Koepke Family” -- Ty and the gang builds a new and renovated home for the Koepke (pronounced kep-key) family of Campbellsport, WI, who recently lost their loving father, Matthew, to cancer, on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” SUNDAY, APRIL 15 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 11/19/06)

At the age of 41, Matthew was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in April 2006. Once the doctors became aware of the disease, the cancer had already spread from his left arm to his brain. He was expected to live another five years, but passed away only a few short months later, on August 21, 2006, leaving behind mother Christine and children Derek, Jayna, Mitchell and Johanna.

In addition to being a loving father, Matthew was an active community member who played a huge role in initiating and leading several local projects. Matt’s greatest achievement was the initial restoration of the old town Mill into an historical landmark that today is the center of community gatherings and the “heart” of the town. In addition to his work on the Mill Park, Matt was the President of Dundee Mill Park and helped build the Sportsman’s Lodge and baseball park.

Matt had dreams of renovating his home and finishing the renovations on the town Mill, but those plans were put on hold once he was diagnosed. He will be missed but never forgotten. Before Matt died, he had a chance to ask EMHE for one wish -- to take care of his family and give them the home they deserved.

While the Ty and the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” design team, local builder Monarch Homes, contractors and hundreds of workers and volunteers remember Matt’s dreams and work together to transform the Koepke house into a dream home in a remarkable seven days, the family will go on vacation to San Diego.

The design team for this episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will feature team leader Ty Pennington, as well as Michael Moloney, Ed Sanders, Paige Hemmis and Preston Sharp.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Denise Cramsey is the executive producer. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

“Liaisons” – Tom feels threatened by the interest a new Scavo’s Pizzeria employee shows in Lynette, Susan considers moving from Wisteria Lane and a neighbor’s darkest secret is revealed, on “Desperate Housewives,” SUNDAY, APRIL 15 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Desperate Housewives” stars Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young, James Denton as Mike Delfino, Doug Savant as Tom Scavo, Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis, Kyle MacLachlan as Orson Hodge, Andrea Bowen as Julie Mayer, Shawn Pyfrom as Andrew Van De Kamp, Joy Lauren as Danielle Van De Kamp, Josh Henderson as Austin Britt, Rachel Fox as Kayla Huntington and Brent and Shane Kinsman as Porter and Preston Scavo.

Guest starring are John Slattery as Victor Lang, Dougray Scott as Ian Hainsworth, Jake Cherry as Travers McLain, Jason Gedrick as Rick Coletti, Kathryn Joosten as Mrs. McCluskey, Corey Mendell Parker as doctor, Kenneth Kimmins as Mayor Johnson, Mel Fair as moderator, Kylie Sparks as Kim, Pat Asanti as Arnold, Pat Crawford Brown as Ida Greenberg, Michael Guarnera as Toby, Thomas Crawford as campaign rally introducer, Ron Rogge as middle-aged man, John Harnagel as Gilbert McCluskey and Wayne Lopez as Clyde.

“Liaisons” was directed by David Grossman and written by Alexandra Cunningham & Jenna Bans.

”Desperate Housewives” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.

A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

“Game Night” – The Walkers challenge their all-too-perfect lifelong nemesis family, the Jones (guest starring Susan Sullivan as Miranda Jones and Jenna Elfman as Lizzie Jones-Baker), to a long overdue game night rematch and cautiously begin to embrace Rebecca as their sister. Meanwhile, Kitty soon regrets introducing Kevin to the Senator’s brother (guest starring Eric Winter as Jason McCallister), on “Brothers & Sisters,” SUNDAY, APRIL 15 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

“Brothers & Sisters” stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig as Holly, Balthazar Getty as Thomas, Dave Annable as Justin, Matthew Rhys as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson as Joe, Sarah Jane Morris as Julia, Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige.

Guest starring are Rob Lowe as Senator McCallister, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Eric Winter as Jason McCallister, Paul Cassell as Gary Morris, Perry King as Curtis Jones, Susan Sullivan as Miranda Jones, Jenna Elfman as Lizzie Jones-Baker, Elina Madison as Stephanie Jones-Reed, Kim Murphy Zandell as Donna Jones, Duffy Dibley as Doug Jones, Clint Carmichael as Ken Baker, Bryan Krasner as Roger Jones, James Ritz as Wallace, Jack Ritter as Ken Junior and Darcy Rose Byrnes as Gwyneth.

The story for “Game Night” is by Peter Calloway and Cliff Olin and the script written by Molly Newman. The episode was directed by Matt Shakman.

“Brothers & Sisters” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning.

A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

ENTERTAINMENT

April 2, 2007

“George Doesn’t’ Trustee Angie’s Brother” – Angie’s scam artist brother, Ray (guest starring Andy Garcia as Ray), reappears after a long absence looking to make amends with his estranged daughter, Veronica, and the Lopez family. But George is the first to see through Ray’s transparent scheme when TUESDAY, APRIL 17 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 3/1/06)

“George Lopez” stars George Lopez as George, Constance Marie as Angie, Valente Rodriguez as Ernie, Masiela Lusha as Carmen, Luis Armand Garcia as Max, Belita Moreno as Benny and Emiliano Díez as Vic Palmero.

Guest starring are Andy Garcia as Ray and Aimee Garcia as Veronica.

”George Doesn’t Trustee Angie’s Brother” was written by Paul A. Kaplan & Mark Torgove, and directed by Sheldon Epps.

“George Lopez” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.

This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

ENTERTAINMENT

April 2, 2007

“Guise ‘n Dolls” – Alan Shore finds himself pitted against old friend Jerry Espenson in a case of a woman suing a department store for selling “pornographic” dolls to kids. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt and Paul Lewiston must decide the fate of Denny Crane after he makes a politically incorrect statement to an African-American under consideration for employment at the firm, and a colleague’s valued opinion causes Denise Bauer to re-think her future with Brad, on “Boston Legal,” TUESDAY, APRIL 17 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

“Boston Legal” stars James Spader as Alan Shore, Julie Bowen as Denise Bauer, Mark Valley as Brad Chase, Rene Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston, Constance Zimmer as Claire Simms and Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence/Clarice Bell, with Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt and William Shatner as Denny Crane.

Guest starring are Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson, Gail O’Grady as Judge Gloria Weldon, Jaleel White as Kevin Givens, Kate Hodge as Kaye Kent, Michael Bofshever as Charles Costello and Jim Jansen as Marshall Kennedy.

“Guise ‘n Dolls” was written by Sanford Golden & Karen Wyscarver & David E. Kelley and directed by John Terlesky.

“Boston Legal” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning.

A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

ENTERTAINMENT

April 2, 2007

“Punch Out” – Betty frantically tries to keep Daniel focused on work as he reverts to his old hard-partying ways, including romancing a multitude of stunning models. Things go from bad to worse when a tell-all writer (Emmy winner Leslie Jordan, “Will & Grace,” “Boston Legal”) in possession of Fey Sommer’s diaries starts stalking the Meades. Another Suarez, Ignacio, feels the heat when Immigration caseworker Constance (guest star Octavia Spencer) pressures him to make their relationship a romantic one, and Wilhelmina and Alexis both try to get their hands on Fey’s diaries -- but for different reasons -- on “Ugly Betty,” THURSDAY, APRIL 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Bond girl Ivana Milicevic (“Casino Royale”) guest stars as Lena.

“Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda, Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin, Michael Urie as Marc, Kevin Sussman as Walter, Rebecca Romijn as Alexis Meade and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.

Guest stars include Leslie Jordan as Quincy Combs, Ivana Milicevic as Lena, Annalynne McCord as Petra, Eric Edelstein as Ben, Jeff Meacham as Kevin, Max Greenfield as Nick Pepper, Bailey Chase as Becks and Octavia Spencer as Constance.

“Punch Out,” was written by Oliver Goldstick, and directed by Miguel Arteta.

”Ugly Betty” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.

A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

“Time After Time” – Izzie faces her past and finds comfort in George, while Alex becomes more attached to Jane Doe (Elizabeth Reaser), Meredith and Derek question their own status, and Cristina resolves to fight for her relationship with Burke -- despite her past with Colin Marlow (Roger Rees) -- on “Grey’s Anatomy,” THURSDAY, APRIL 19 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Grey’s Anatomy” stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke, Katherine Heigl as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, T.R. Knight as George O’Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Kate Walsh as Addison Shepherd, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres and Eric Dane as Mark Sloan.

Guest starring Elizabeth Reaser as Jane Doe, Roger Rees as Dr. Colin Marlowe, Dee Wallace as Joan Waring, Brent Jennings as Charles, Suzanne Cryer as Caroline Klein, Tim Hopper as Dustin Klein, Marc Vann as hematologist, Steven W. Bailey as Joe, with Mare Winningham as Susan Grey

“Time After Time” was written by Stacy McKee and directed by Christopher Misiano.

“Grey’s Anatomy” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.

A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

“Surstromming or a Slice” – Ray hires Laura and Caseman to decorate his new office space, and while working together, they figure out that they have chemistry. However Ray learns that Caseman means more to Whitney than he originally thought. Meanwhile Damien goes to work for Ray and uses his boss’ name to pull a favor for Carlos, who lands a new job, and Mae finds out about a woman who may be her mother while babysitting for Laura and Caseman, on “Six Degrees,” FRIDAY, APRIL 20 (9:01-10:00 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Six Degrees” stars Jay Hernandez as Carlos, Bridget Moynahan as Whitney, Erika Christensen as Mae, Dorian Missick as Damian, with Campbell Scott as Steven Caseman and Hope Davis as Laura.

Guest starring Josh Charles as Ray Jones, Caroline Lagerfelt as JT Zeff, Deborah Craig as Melanie, Jill Flint as Lisa, Ben Livingston as Arne Bengston, J. Smith-Cameron as Maggie Newton, John Ventimiglia as Jimmy, Samantha Buck as Susan Clayman, Mark La Mura as partner and Miles Chandler as Max.

“Surstromming or a Slice” is written by Ken Biller and Peter Elkoff and directed by David Petrarca.

”Six Degrees” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning.

This program carries a TV-PG,D,S parental guideline.

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” a magical adventure tale nominated for three Academy Awards, will air as a presentation of “ABC Saturday Movie of the Week,” APRIL 21 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET). The feature will be broadcast in HDTV format with 5.1-channel surround sound and with Spanish audio. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 5/9/04)

Based on the first of J.K. Rowling’s popular children’s novels about Harry Potter, the live action family adventure film “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” tells the story of a boy who learns on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. Invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry embarks on the adventure of a lifetime and finds the home and the family he has never had.

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick, Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, Warwick Davis as Professor Flitwick, Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon, Richard Harris as Professor Albus Dumbledore, Ian Hart as Professor Quirrell, John Hurt as Mr. Ollivander, Alan Rickman as Professor Snape, Fiona Shaw as Aunt Petunia,Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall and Julie Walters as Mrs. Weasley.

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” released in 2001, was directed by Chris Columbus (“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” “Home Alone” series, “Mrs. Doubtfire”) and the screenplay was written by Steven Kloves (“The Wonder Boys,” “Harry Potter” series) based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. The film is produced by David Heyman. The executive producers are Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan and Duncan Henderson. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” is a production of 1492 Pictures, Heyday Films and Warner Bros. Pictures. (CLOSED-CAPTIONED) (Broadcast in stereo where available)

The ABC Television Network’s HDTV broadcast of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format and 5.1-channel surround sound and with Spanish audio.

This film carries a TV-PG,V parental guideline.

Mar 30

Mar 29

March 29, 2007

DILIP BALA PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,

ABC ENTERTAINMENT AND ABC TELEVISION STUDIO

Dilip Bala has been promoted to vice president, Business Development, ABC Entertainment and ABC Television Studio, it was announced today by Bruce Gersh, senior vice president, Business Development, ABC Entertainment and ABC Television Studio, to whom he reports.

In his new role Mr. Bala is responsible for mobile and e-commerce new media business development related to ABC and ABC Television Studio for the Disney-ABC Television Group’s digital media team. This includes projects for ABC Entertainment’s Daytime, Primetime and Late Night, as well as ABC Television Studio around the world.

“Dilip has made significant contributions towards developing our wireless and digital media initiatives,” said Mr. Gersh. “Under his direction, ABC-related mobile content continues to raise the bar in the industry, and I am confident that he will add leadership and more value to the company in his new role.“

Specifically Mr. Bala oversees production and distribution of all mobile content, including video, personalization products and games. He also manages e-commerce activities for ABC. He is charged with developing and managing mobile initiatives related to ABC’s annual broadcast of the Academy Awards; and this year marked the first time Oscar content was available on mobile for the 79^th Academy Awards show.

Employed by ABC since 2004, Mr. Bala most recently served as director, Business Development, ABC Entertainment and ABC Television Studio. Prior to joining ABC, he headed up operations for a direct marketing start-up and was previously with The Walt Disney Company for over six years in various finance and planning roles. He began his career at Ernst & Young, where he earned his CPA credentials.

Mr. Bala resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

Disney-ABC Television Group is home to all of The Walt Disney Company’s worldwide entertainment and news television properties. The Group includes the ABC Television Network, Disney Channel’s worldwide portfolio of kids’ channels, ABC Family and SOAPnet; as well as television production and syndication divisions ABC Television Studio, Walt Disney Television Animation, Buena Vista Worldwide Television and Walt Disney Television International. Disney-ABC Television Group also manages the Radio Disney Network in addition to the Company’s equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Networks.

Media Contact: Marlene Zakovich (818) 460-6355

-- DISNEY-ABC TELEVISION GROUP --

NEWSMarch 29, 2007

IS YOUR PHARMACY ERROR-PROOF, OR IS IT A PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTER? A BRIAN ROSS EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION, ON ABC NEWS’ “20/20,” FRIDAY, MARCH 30

Also: Barbara Walters Interviews Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani’s Wife,

Judith Giuliani; Former Mayor Joins Interview

After reports from around the country of devastating prescription errors, ABC News’ “20/20” embarked on a four-month investigation led by ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross to examine what some industry experts fear is an unreported epidemic of pharmacy errors at the country’s fast growing chain drug stores. As Ross reports, overworked pharmacists are pushed to fill prescriptions at a fast pace and frequently rely on pharmacy technicians -- who often are just high school students -- to actually fill the prescriptions. “20/20” cameras go undercover to investigate the rate of error and find a widespread failure to spot potentially dangerous drug interactions, and customers signing away their right to get information on the drugs they are taking without realizing it. The exclusive report airs on “20/20” on FRIDAY, MARCH 30 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. 

Mary Ann Wagner, senior vice president of the Washington, DC trade group representing the big drug store chains, said huge sums of money are being spent in new training and high tech programs that help prevent errors in the billions of prescriptions filled by the chains each year, and that “patient safety is our number one concern.” But she cannot answer Ross’ question -- “how can you say this industry is taking serious steps to prevent errors if they don’t even know how big the problem is?” -- because, in all but four states, the industry is not required to report pharmacy errors, even those resulting in serious injury or death.

Ross also reports on cases in which pharmacy errors led to a devastating brain injury for a four-month-old baby in suburban Chicago and a crippling stroke for a mother of three from Florida who was given a dosage 10 times higher than what her doctor prescribed.

Plus: Barbara Walters interviews Judith Giuliani, wife of presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. This is her first in-depth television interview since becoming Mrs. Giuliani, and she responds to numerous questions, including whether she was responsible for the break-up of her husband’s second marriage, her relationship with her step children, the role she will play in her husband’s campaign and what kind of First Lady she would be. Former Mayor Giuliani also joins in the far-reaching interview and addresses these and other topics.

Also: Should cops be held accountable when innocent bystanders are killed during high speed police chases? Bill Ritter reports on a tragic accident in New Jersey last September that took the lives of two teenage sisters when a State Trooper ran a stop sign at high speed, hitting the girls in their car.

“20/20” is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and John Stossel. David Sloan is executive producer.

-- ABC --

Fringe Ratings Report: ABC Daytime Programming LIVE +SD data

ABC DAYTIME’S FULL AND DRAMA LINEUPS RANKED NO. 1 FOR THE WEEK

(BOTH ABC LINEUPS HAVE RANKED NO. 1 FOR 26 OUT OF 27 WEEKS

THIS SEASON AMONG WOMEN 18-49)

ABC DAYTIME’S FULL AND DRAMA LINEUPS ALSO RANKED NO. 1

FOR THE 7^th WEEK IN A ROW AMONG WOMEN 18-34

ABC’S FULL AND DRAMA LINEUPS RANK NO.1 SEASON TO DATE AMONG WOMEN 18-49

ABC’S FULL LINEUP IS UP 3% SEASON TO DATE AMONG TOTAL VIEWERS (MOST GROWTH), AND IS ALSO UP 1% AMONG WOMEN 18-34, MAKING ABC THE ONLY NETWORK UP

AMONG WOMEN 18-34

“GENERAL HOSPITAL” RANKED NO. 1 AMONG BOTH WOMEN 18-49 AND FEMALE TEENS, MARKING THE SEVENTH WEEK IN A ROW THAT “GH” HAS RANKED NO. 1

WITH BOTH DEMOS IN RATING

“GENERAL HOSPITAL” IS THE ONLY DAYTIME DRAMA TO SHOW SEASON-TO-DATE GROWTH

IN WOMEN 18-34

“THE VIEW” RANKED IN THE TOP 5 DAYTIME PROGRAMS AMONG WOMEN 18-49

FOR THE 26^TH STRAIGHT WEEK, AND IS UP SEASON TO DATE AMONG WOMEN 18-49,

WOMEN 18-34 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

ABC WON THE COMMON 1-3 P.M. TIME PERIOD FOR THE WEEK,

OUTPERFORMING NBC BY 29% AND CBS BY 5% AMONG WOMEN 18-49

ABC’s daytime Drama lineup was No. 1 for the week among Women 18-49, with a 1.6 rating and a 10 share, delivering 1.1 million Women 18-49 for the week of March 19, 2007. The lineup outperformed CBS by 16% and NBC by 40%. Among Women 18-34, the lineup was also No.1 for the week, with a 1.2 rating and an 8 share, delivering 396,000 women 18-34.

ABC’s Full daytime schedule was No. 1 for the week among Women 18-49, with a 1.6 rating and a 10 share, delivering an average audience of 1.02 million Women 18-49. The lineup outperformed CBS by 14% and NBC by 35% among Women 18-49. Among Women 18-34, the lineup was also No. 1 for the week, with a 1.1 rating and an 8 share, delivering 380,000 Women 18-34. The Full lineup is up 1% season to date, making ABC the only network to show season-to-date growth among women 18-34. Among Total Viewers, the Full lineup is up 3% season to date (more than any other network).

This week marks the seventh week in a row that both ABC’s Full and Drama lineups ranked
No. 1 among Women 18-49 and Women 18-34.

ABC won three of its four time periods and delivered three out of the top five shows in Women 18-49:

“The View” was the No. 4*-ranked program of the week (tied with “All My Children” and “The Price Is Right 2” in rating), with a 1.4 rating and a 10 share, delivering an average audience of 901,000 Women 18-49. The program was up 18% vs. the same week last year (the only daytime program up) among Women 18-49. “The View” beat the average of the combined half-hours of “the Price is Right” by 8%, “As the World Turns” by 14% and “Guiding Light” by 26% among Women 18-49. Season to date, “The View” is up 21% among Women 18-49. Among Women 18-34, it was up 38% vs. the same week last year and is up 23% season to date.

Among Total Viewers, “The View” had a 1.2 rating and a 9 share, delivering 3.5 million Total Viewers for the week. It was up 34% vs. the same week last year, and is up 18% season to date.

“General Hospital” was the No. 1-ranked program for the 8^th straight week, with a 1.9 rating (tied with Y&R) and a 12 share, delivering 1.23 million Women 18-49. “GH” beat “Days of Our Lives” by 40% among Women 18-49. Additionally, “General Hospital” beat its time period rival, “Guiding Light,” by 71% for the week among Women 18-49.

Among Women 18-34, “GH” was No.2 for the week, with a 1.4 rating and a 9 share, delivering 470,000 Women 18-34. “GH” is up 5% season to date among Women 18-34 (the only daytime drama up among women 18-34.) Among Female Teens, “GH” was the No. 1 ranked program for the week, and was up 23% vs. the prior week and up 42% versus the same week last year. Also, “GH” outperformed “Days” by 118% among Female Teens. Among Total Viewers, “General Hospital” is up 1% season to date. This week marks the seventh week in a row “GH” has ranked No. 1 in both Women 18-49 and Female Teens.

“One Life to Live” was the No. 3*-ranked program of the week, with a 1.5 rating and a 10 share, delivering 1.01million Women 18-49. “OLTL” outperformed time period competitors “As the World Turns” by 27% and “Passions” by 57% for the week. “One Life to Live” was also up 4% versus last week among Female Teens.

Season to date, ABC Daytime’s drama lineup ranks No. 1, with a 1.7 rating and an 11 share, delivering 1.1 million Women 18-49 – outperforming CBS by 18% and NBC by 16% in actuals. In the Full lineup, ABC Daytime is No. 1, with a 1.7 rating and an 11 share, delivering 1.1 million Women 18-49, outperforming CBS by 20% and NBC 15% in actuals.

Following are the Daytime drama and full Daytime ratings averages for the week:

DAYTIME DRAMAS: TOTAL VIEWERS WOMEN 18-49

No. 2 ABC  3,140,000 No. 2 CBS 1.4/9

No. 3 NBC  2,230,000 No. 3 NBC  1.2/8FULL DAYTIME: TOTAL VIEWERS WOMEN 18-49

No. 2 ABC  3,224,000 No. 2 CBS  1.4/9

No. 3 NBC  2,230,000 No. 2 NBC  1.2/8

 CORRECTION/UPDATE

MARCH 29

Originally was 9:00-10:01 p.m.

Originally was 10:01-11:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 12 (10:01 –11:00 PM)

CORRECTION “NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY” will air episodes (TBA) seamlessly as a one-hour telecast in the 10:01-11:00 p.m. hour. (HD/5.1) (CC; Spanish subtitles via secondary CC)

Posted by Bill at 12:13 PM | Permalink

options

 April 2

High Court rebukes Bush on car pollution

The Supreme Court rebuked the Bush administration Monday for its inaction on global warming in a decision that could lead to more fuel-efficient cars as early as next year.

The court, in a 5-4 ruling in its first case on climate change, declared that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate those emissions from new cars and trucks under the landmark environment law, and the "laundry list" of reasons it has given for declining to do so are insufficient, the court said.

"A reduction in domestic emissions would slow the pace of global emissions increases, no matter what happens elsewhere," Justice John Paul Stevens said in the majority opinion. "EPA has offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether greenhouse gases cause or contribute to climate change."

The politics of global warming have changed dramatically since the court agreed last year to hear its first case on the subject, with many Republicans as well as Democrats now pressing for action. However, the administration has argued for a voluntary approach rather than new regulation.

The reasoning in the court's ruling also appears to apply to EPA's decision not to impose controls on global warming pollution from power plants, a decision that has been challenged separately in court, several environmental lawyers said.

In the short term, the decision boosts California's and 10 other states' prospects for gaining EPA approval of their own program to limit tailpipe emissions, beginning with the 2009 model year. Those cars begin appearing in showrooms next year. Emission limits would become stricter each year until 2016.

Mar 30

A HI CORPORATION (Sede: Meguro-ku, Tóquio; Presidente e CEO: Kazuo Kawabata, a partir de agora "HI") divulgou hoje que a sua ferramenta de renderização de 3D MascotCapsule(R) alcançou o total de 230 milhões de integrações em dispositivos móveis até o final do quarto trimestre (outubro-dezembro) de 2006.

O MascotCapsule(R) tem sido amplamente adotado em todo o mundo por ser integrado aos aparelhos portáteis de 4 dos 5 principais fabricantes internacionais. Mais de 100 milhões de aparelhos portáteis com a ferramenta foram integrados em todo o mundo até o final do trimestre. (Estas integrações no Japão ultrapassaram o total de 100 milhões de unidades no terceiro trimestre (julho-setembro) de 2006).

O MascotCapsule(R) bateu o recorde de integração em outros dispositivos além dos telefones móveis no final do quarto trimestre, alcançando um total de 2 milhões de dispositivos.

"Estamos muito empolgados com o fato do nosso principal produto, o MascotCapsule(R) já ter sido utilizado em mais de 200 milhões de dispositivos móveis. Sabemos que existe uma forte procura por gráficos em 3D para telefones móveis em todo o mundo. Estamos cultivando o mercado e constantemente atualizando os nossos produtos para atender às demandas do mercado. Continuaremos com o nosso trabalho de desenvolvimento de soluções e serviços de interface com computador "mais confortáveis e divertidas" para vários dispositivos móveis, incluindo a contínua promoção do MascotCapsule(R), para que os usuários possam aproveitar as novas funções trazidas pela mais recente tecnologia sem estresse nem maior gasto de tempo com o aprendizado destas funções", disse Kazuo Kawabata, Presidente e CEO da HI.

* MascotCapule(R) é uma marca comercial registrada da HI Corporation. * Os nomes de outros produtos e companhias mencionados neste documento podem ser marcas comerciais ou marcas comerciais registradas de seus respectivos proprietários.

HI CORPORATION

Criada em 1989, a HI é a principal desenvolvedora e fornecedora de middleware para dispositivos integrados. O principal produto da companhia, o "MascotCapsule(R)" é uma ferramenta de renderização em 3D em tempo real adotada pelas quatro operadoras do Japão e operadoras dos EUA, Coréia e China. A maioria dos fabricantes de aparelhos portáteis do Japão e do exterior tem uma licença global da HI.

Desde o seu lançamento, centenas de conteúdo e UIS em 3D de qualidade para jogos que usam o MascotCapsule(R) foram lançados por diversas redes sem fio. Para mais informação, acesse http://www.hicorp.co.jp/

Mar 29

-- Following are remarks

by President George W. Bush at a congressional gold medal ceremony honoring

the Tuskegee airmen:

United States Capitol

2:23 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you. Madam

Speaker, Mr. Leader, members of Congress, Secretary Powell, distinguished

guests: You know, the Speaker and I had the honor of having our picture

taken with you, and as I walked into the rotunda, a place that occasionally

I get invited up here and I walk into, I was impressed by the fact that I

wasn't amongst heroes who were statues. I was impressed that I was amongst

heroes who still live. (Applause.) I thank you for the honor you have

brought to our country. And the medal you're about to receive means our

country honors you, and rightly so.

I want to thank Senator Carl Levin and Sergeant Rangel. (Laughter.)

Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. (Applause.) I thank you for your leadership on

this issue. I have a strong interest in World War II airmen. I was raised

by one. He flew with a group of brave young men who endured difficult times

in the defense of our country. Yet for all they sacrificed and all they

lost, in a way, they were very fortunate, because they never had the burden

of having their every mission, their every success, their every failure

viewed through the color of their skin. Nobody told them they were a credit

to their race. Nobody refused to return their salutes. Nobody expected them

to bear the daily humiliations while wearing the uniform of their country.

It was different for the men in this room. When America entered World

War II, it might have been easy for them to do little for our country.

After all, the country didn't do much for them. Even the Nazis asked why

African American men would fight for a country that treated them so

unfairly. Yet the Tuskegee airmen were eager to join up.

You know, I'm interested in the story about a young man who was so

worried that the Army might change its mind about allowing him to fly, that

he drove immediately to the train station. He left his car, as well as

$1,000 worth of photography equipment. He never saw his car, he never saw

his camera, but he became a flyer.

These men in our presence felt a special sense of urgency. They were

fighting two wars: One was in Europe, and the other took place in the

hearts and minds of our citizens. That's why we're here. The white

commander of the Tuskegee airfield was once asked -- with all seriousness

-- how do African Americans fly? -- reflecting the ignorance of the times,

they said, how do African Americans fly? He said, "Oh, they fly just like

everybody else flies -- stick and rudder." Soon, Americans in their

kitchens and living rooms were reading the headlines. You probably didn't

realize it at the time, but you were making headlines at home, headlines

that spoke about daring pilots winning a common battle.

And little by little, every victory at war was translated to a victory

here in the United States. And we're in the presence of men who are earning

those victories, important victories, leaders who pierced the unquestioned

prejudices of a different society. You gave African Americans a sense of

pride and possibility.

You saw that pride and awe, I'm sure you remember, in the faces of

young children who came up to you right after the war and tugged and your

uniforms and said, "Mister, can you really fly an airplane?" Some of you

have been in Germany and Iraq, and you still see that sense of pride.

I appreciate your going. I appreciate the fact that one of our young

soldiers today took pictures for -- of you for a scrapbook for his

children. I appreciate the fact that one of our soldiers today said, "It's

not often that you get a chance to meet the guys who have paved the path

for you." (Applause.)

The Tuskegee Airmen helped win a war, and you helped change our nation

for the better. Yours is the story of the human spirit, and it ends like

all great stories do -- with wisdom and lessons and hope for tomorrow. And

the medal that we confer today means that we're doing a small part to

ensure that your story will be told and honored for generations to come.

(Applause.)

And I would like to offer a gesture to help atone for all the

unreturned salutes and unforgivable indignities. And so, on behalf of the

office I hold, and a country that honors you, I salute you for the service

to the United States of America. (Applause.)

(The Congressional Gold Medal is conferred.) (Applause.)

END 2:34 P.M. EDT

SOURCE White House Press Office

Focus on the Family issued the following statement today regarding a story that appeared Wednesday on the U.S. News & World Report Web site quoting the ministry's founder and chairman, James C. Dobson, Ph.D: "We welcome the opportunity to clarify Dr. Dobson's remarks that were first reported in Dan Gilgoff's online article titled 'Dobson Offers Insight on 2008 Republican Hopefuls: Focus on the Family Founder Snubs Thompson, Praises Gingrich.' At the outset, it's important to note that this headline is an outright mischaracterization of the views Dr. Dobson expressed. His words weren't intended to represent either an endorsement of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich or a disparagement of former Sen. Fred Thompson. Dr. Dobson appreciates Sen. Thompson's solid, pro-family voting record and his position that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided. "In his conversation with Mr. Gilgoff, Dr. Dobson was attempting to highlight that to the best of his knowledge, Sen. Thompson hadn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him. Dr. Dobson told Mr. Gilgoff he had never met Sen. Thompson and wasn't certain that his understanding of the former senator's religious convictions was accurate. Unfortunately, these qualifiers weren't reported by Mr. Gilgoff. We were, however, pleased to learn from his spokesperson that Sen. Thompson professes to be a believer. "With regard to Mr. Gingrich, while Dr. Dobson spoke positively about his intelligence and his ability to articulate conservative values, he expressed concern about the former speaker's past moral failures. You may be aware that Mr. Gingrich recently appeared on a Focus on the Family broadcast to discuss America's Christian heritage and the threat posed by radical Islam. Prior to the interview, Dr. Dobson asked Mr. Gingrich if he'd be willing to talk about his family life on the air because he felt our friends deserved an explanation. Those who listened to the exchange heard nothing indicating that Dr. Dobson excused Mr. Gingrich's past indiscretions. The former speaker was offered a chance to address the subject openly and honestly, and he did so, stating, 'I have turned to God and have gotten on my knees ... and sought God's forgiveness.' Dr. Dobson firmly believes that Scripture teaches there is redemption available through Christ for those who confess their sins -- were it not so, we'd all be in a world of trouble. Of course, only the Lord knows the condition of individual hearts. "In conclusion, we would caution friends of our ministry not to believe what they read about Dr. Dobson in the secular media today. Never in the 30-year history of this ministry has there been more misreporting and outright distortion of his beliefs and teachings. It is apparent that those who represent a liberal worldview seek to marginalize him and confuse our friends. Anyone who ever has a question concerning what they read about Dr. Dobson or Focus on the Family is encouraged to contact us for clarification. The chances are they have been misinformed."

due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said today. "During routine inspection, a preliminary test showed the presence of Listeria bacteria in some of the raw milk samples taken from the Bartels farm," said Wolff. "If consumers have raw milk from this dairy, they should discard it immediately." There have been no illnesses reported because of the potential contamination, but if individuals who consumed the raw milk become ill, they are advised to consult their physician. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized. The Department of Agriculture has suspended sales of raw milk at the dairy and is ensuring that corrective action is taken. Multiple laboratory samples must come back negative before sales can resume. Symptoms of Listeriosis are fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions can occur. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, but infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. Symptoms of Listeriosis can appear in four days to three weeks.

PETA News Conference Urges Consumers to Boycott Iams Over Possible Recall

Delay and History of Cruelty to Cats and Dogs

WASHINGTON, March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the FDA now

confirming that consumers suspect dry pet food may have sickened or killed

their companion animals, PETA will hold an emergency news conference on

Friday and call on the FDA to immediately expand the pet food recall to

include all dry varieties subject to complaints until they are chemically

tested for safety. PETA will also ask the FDA to investigate Iams in order

to find out if the company knew about the contaminated food before calling

for a recall. Pennsylvania resident Yvette Faulkner - whose cat Sassafras

suffered kidney failure and had to be euthanized and who states that

Sassafras ate only Iams' dry food - will speak at the news conference.

Date: Friday, March 30

Time: 12 noon

Place: National Press Club, 529 14th St. N.W., Murrow Room

PETA will also explain its call for an investigation into whether Iams

may have known about the contaminated food. Reports indicate that Menu

Foods, Iams' manufacturer, may have known about the contaminated food as

early as February 20. The recall did not go into effect until March 16.

Iams has a history of causing animal suffering. During a 2002 to 2003

undercover investigation of an animal-testing laboratory contracted by

Iams, a PETA investigator documented that terrified animals were confined

to cramped, unsanitary cages in dilapidated rooms; that dogs had chunks of

muscle cut from their thighs; and other acts of cruelty. The investigator

also documented that at least 27 dogs were deliberately killed. An ensuing

investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed many of

PETA's findings and resulted in the issue of 40 violations of the Animal

Welfare Act. PETA will show video footage of its investigation at the news

conference.

"Nearly a month elapsed between the first reports of illness and death

from contaminated products and the recall-time during which countless cats

and dogs may have been sickened and died," says PETA Vice President Bruce

Friedrich. "We're calling on Iams and other companies not to gamble with

animals' lives and to recall all dry food products that are the subject of

complaints immediately."

For more information and to see a list of dog and cat food

manufacturers that don't test on animals, please visit PETA's Web site

Mar 26

-- Senator Hillary Clinton is still the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States according to recent polls, even as Senator Barack Obama gains ground on her in the race.(1) However, according to a new Harris Poll, half of U.S. adults say they would not vote for Senator Clinton if she was the Democratic candidate, while only 36 percent say they would, with 11 percent unsure. Her own party is not unanimously behind her either, as 21 percent of Democrats say they would not vote for her. In the all-important contest for Independents, 48 percent say they would not vote for Senator Clinton, while 37 percent say they would.

Gender also plays an important role. While one would expect that women would be more likely than men to lean towards Senator Clinton, this is not the case as 38 percent of women and 34 percent of men both say they would vote for her. Even among women there is a divide as four in 10 (41%) single women say they would vote for Senator Clinton, compared to 36 percent of married women. Over half of both men (56%) and married women (52%) say they would not vote for her for president.

These are just some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,223 U.S. adults conducted online between March 6 and 14, 2007 by Harris Interactive(R).

Clinton's track record, political opinion and personality

In looking deeper, a picture begins to emerge as to what critics dislike about Hillary Clinton. When asked about her track record as First Lady, just under half (48%) say they like her track record, while 41 percent say they do not. Four in 10 (42%) like her track record as a U.S. Senator, while 38 percent dislike it. Moving from the offices to the personal, the dislikes edge out the likes -- by a 45 percent to 44 percent margin, adults dislike Hillary Clinton as a person and by a 45 percent to 42 percent margin, they dislike her political opinions.

Unsurprisingly, Republicans and Conservatives are much more likely than Democrats and Liberals to dislike Senator Clinton on these issues. Men are also more likely than women to dislike her on these issues. There is also a large generational gap. Those who are "Matures" (aged 62 and older) are, across the board, more likely to dislike Hillary Clinton. Over half (54%) dislike her track record as a U.S. Senator and 60 percent feel the same about her track record as First Lady. But, two-thirds (65%) of matures say they dislike Hillary Clinton's personal opinions and 61 percent dislike her as a person. Among the generations, Generation X (31-42) is the age group which provides her the most support. This is also seen in the 44 percent of Gen Xers who would vote for her, compared to 23 percent of Matures.

Other personal assets and liabilities

Besides her track records and politics, there are other reasons why so many people do not like Senator Clinton. Fully half (52%) agree that she does not appear to connect with people on a personal level, and this number is even higher among married women (53%), men (56%), Matures (68%), and, of course, Republicans (73%). This may be her big problem.

There is also an issue with things that happened during the Bill Clinton presidency. A plurality (45%) agrees that it is difficult to trust her because of Whitewater and other scandals in the Clinton White House, while 42 percent disagree. Similar numbers (44%) agree that her handling of health care in the White House raises questions about her ability and 34 percent disagree.

Nevertheless, the news is not all bad for Senator Clinton. Three-quarters of adults (76%) agree that she is a very intelligent person and this is the sentiment across the board. Even 65 percent of Republicans agree. Just over half (52%) of adults agree that Hillary Clinton understands family and children's issues, while 44 percent say she inspires confidence personally. When it comes to her experience, 39 percent say she lacks experience and is unqualified to be president, but 49 percent of adults disagree with that statement.

Additionally, Senator Clinton's supposed liberalism is not a major liability. One area that the Senator has had to deal with has been her perceived inconsistencies on issues and claims that she has moved from liberal to the middle and back to liberal again. When asked about her political philosophy, one-third (31%) say Hillary Clinton is too liberal and 41 percent say she is neither too liberal nor too conservative. Just four percent say she is too conservative, but among liberals that number rises to 11 percent. What the Clinton campaign may have to address is the 25 percent who say they are not sure, including 22 percent of their own party. This could be a plus or it could be a minus.

While the first votes are still many months away, there are a few groups that Senator Clinton and her team need to target. First, married women are consistently more likely to have negative feelings toward the Senator than single women. Second, those over age 62 have some of the highest negatives for her -- behind only Republicans and Conservatives. Since this is the age group that votes in the highest numbers, there is work to be done here. Finally, the Clinton campaign may not want to use the slogan "a vote for Hill is one for Bill." Only just over one-third (37%) feel it would be good to have both Hillary and Bill Clinton back in the White House.

TABLE 1

VOTING FOR HILLARY CLINTON "If Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee for President, which is closest

to the way you think?"

Base: All adults

Total Gender Gender/Marital Status

Single Married

Male Female Women Women

% % % % %

Would vote for her (NET) 36 34 38 41 36

I definitely would vote for

her 15 13 17 19 14

I probably would vote for her 22 22 21 22 22

Would not vote for her (NET) 50 56 45 42 52

I probably would not vote for

her 11 11 10 11 10

I definitely would not vote for

her 39 44 35 31 42

I wouldn't vote at all 3 2 3 4 2

Not sure 11 8 13 13 10

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding

TABLE 2

VOTING FOR HILLARY CLINTON - BY GENERATION AND POLITICAL PARTY "If Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee for President, which is closest

to the way you think?"

Base: All adults

Generation Political Party

Echo Baby

Boomers Gen X Boomers Matures

Total (18-30) (31-42) (43-61) (62+) Rep. Dem. Ind.

% % % % % % % %

Would vote

for her

(NET) 36 34 44 39 23 5 68 37

I definitely

would vote

for her 15 11 15 19 10 1 33 11

I probably

would vote

for her 22 23 29 21 13 4 35 26

Would not

vote for

her (NET) 50 46 40 49 69 91 21 48

I probably

would not

vote for

her 11 12 11 12 9 10 10 13

I definitely

would not

vote for her 39 35 29 38 60 81 11 35

I wouldn't

vote at all 3 4 2 3 1 1 1 3

Not sure 11 15 14 9 6 2 10 12

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding

TABLE 3

OPINION OF HILLARY CLINTON "Looking at the list of attributes, please indicate how you feel about each."

Base: All adults

Like Strongly Somewhat Dislike Somewhat Strongly Not

(NET) like like (NET) dislike dislike sure

% % % % % % %

Hillary

Clinton's

track record

as First Lady 48 23 25 41 14 27 12

Hillary Clinton

as a person 44 19 26 45 15 29 11

Hillary

Clinton's

track record

as a U.S.

Senator 42 19 23 38 14 24 20

Hillary

Clinton's

political

opinions 42 15 27 45 13 31 14

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 4

OPINION OF HILLARY CLINTON - BY GENERATION AND GENDER "Looking at the list of attributes, please indicate how you feel about each."

Those saying "Somewhat/Strongly Dislike"

Base: All adults

Gender/Marital

Generation Gender Status

Echo Baby

Total Boomers Gen X Boomers Matures Single Married

Dislike (18-30) (31-42) (43-61) (62+) Male Female Women Women

% % % % % % % % %

Hillary

Clinton's

political

opinions 45 42 31 43 65 52 38 34 46

Hillary

Clinton

as a

person 45 43 36 42 61 50 40 36 46

Hillary

Clinton's

track

record as

First

Lady 41 35 34 39 60 45 37 33 44

Hillary

Clinton's

track

record as

a U.S.

Senator 38 36 28 38 54 45 32 27 39

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding

TABLE 5

OPINION OF HILLARY CLINTON - BY POLITICAL PARTY AND PHILOSOPHY "Looking at the list of attributes, please indicate how you feel about each."

Those saying "Somewhat/Strongly Dislike"

Base: All adults

Total Political party Political philosophy

Dislike Rep. Dem. Ind. Cons. Mod. Lib.

% % % % % % %

Hillary Clinton's

political opinions 45 84 17 43 72 39 19

Hillary Clinton as

a person 45 81 17 44 72 39 20

Hillary Clinton's

track record as

First Lady 41 77 15 39 68 35 16

Hillary Clinton's

track record as a

U.S. Senator 38 75 15 33 65 32 17

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding

TABLE 6

ATTITUDES TOWARD HILLARY CLINTON

"Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements

about Hillary Clinton."

Base: All adults

Total Total

Agree Strongly Somewhat disagree Somewhat Strongly Not

(NET) agree agree (NET) disagree disagree sure

% % % % % % %

She is a very

intelligent

person. 76 47 29 14 6 8 11

She does not

appear to

connect with

people on a

personal level. 52 27 26 34 21 13 14

She understands

family and

children's issues. 52 24 28 34 15 19 14

It's difficult to

trust her because

of Whitewater and

other scandals in

the Clinton White

House. 45 28 17 42 18 24 13

She inspires

confidence

personally. 44 18 27 43 15 27 13

Her handling of

health care

reform in the

White House

raises questions

about her ability. 44 24 20 34 19 14 22

She lacks

experience and

is unqualified to

be president. 39 23 16 49 23 26 11

It would be good

to have both her

and Bill Clinton

in the White House

again. 37 19 18 50 10 40 13

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 7

ATTITUDES TOWARD HILLARY CLINTON - BY GENERATION AND POLITICAL PARTY

"Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements

about Hillary Clinton."

Those saying "Somewhat/Strongly Agree"

Base: All adults

Generation Political Party

Total Echo Baby

Agree Boomers Gen X Boomers Matures

(NET) (18-30) (31-42) (43-61) (62+) Rep. Dem. Ind.

% % % % % % % %

She is a very

intelligent

person. 76 66 79 79 78 65 90 79

She does not

appear to

connect with

people on a

personal level. 52 42 51 51 68 73 41 52

She understands

family and

children's issues. 52 45 53 56 50 28 78 53

It's difficult

to trust her

because of

Whitewater and

other scandals in

the Clinton White

House. 45 36 46 43 57 74 23 44

She inspires

confidence

personally. 44 37 50 51 35 19 72 45

Her handling of

health care

reform in the

White House

raises questions

about her ability. 44 36 43 43 57 67 29 43

She lacks

experience and

is unqualified to

be president. 39 34 35 38 54 66 23 38

It would be good

to have both her

and Bill Clinton

in the White House

again. 37 36 38 43 27 9 67 36

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 8

ATTITUDES TOWARD HILLARY CLINTON - BY GENERATION AND POLITICAL PARTY

"Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements

about Hillary Clinton."

Those saying "Somewhat/Strongly Agree"

Base: All adults

Gender/Marital

Gender Status

Total

Agree Single Married

(NET) Male Female Women Women

% % % % %

She is a very intelligent person. 76 75 77 78 76

She does not appear to connect with

people on a personal level. 52 56 49 45 53

She understands family and children's

issues. 52 49 55 57 52

It's difficult to trust her because

of Whitewater and other scandals in

the Clinton White House. 45 49 41 39 46

She inspires confidence personally. 44 39 50 52 49

Her handling of health care reform in

the White House raises questions

about her ability. 44 50 38 35 44

She lacks experience and is

unqualified to be president. 39 45 35 35 38

It would be good to have both her and

Bill Clinton in the White House

again. 37 35 39 43 34

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 9

HILLARY CLINTON'S POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

"Do you think Hillary Clinton ... ?"

Base: All adults

Political

Total Party Philosophy

Rep. Dem. Ind. Cons. Mod. Lib.

% % % % % % %

Is too liberal 31 68 7 26 66 23 2

Is neither too liberal nor

too conservative 41 13 67 44 13 46 66

Is too conservative 4 2 5 4 * 3 11

Not sure 25 17 22 26 20 28 21

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.

Note: *less than 0.5%

Methodology

This Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between March 6 and 14, 2007, among 2,223 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,223 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- two percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

J29950

Q705, 710, 715, 720

The Harris Poll (R)#28, March 27, 2007

By Regina Corso, Director, The Harris Poll

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://www.harrispollonline.com/.

Source: Harris Interactive

Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/

- Le premier éditeur mondial de jeux vidéo pour mobiles obtient une licence exclusive pour le développement et l'édition de ce nouveau jeu baptisé << Heroes : le jeu >>

Gameloft, leader du jeu vidéo pour téléphones mobiles, vient d'annoncer aujourd'hui la signature d'un contrat de licence exclusif de portée mondiale avec NBC Universal pour le développement et l'édition de Heroes : Le jeu.

Véritable phénomène télévisuel de l'année 2007, la série télévisée << Heroes >>, diffusée par la chaîne américaine NBC, raconte la vie de personnes ordinaires qui se découvrent des dons extraordinaires et qui s'avèrent être destinés à sauver le monde. Cette série immensément populaire a récemment reçu le titre de << Meilleure nouvelle série TV dramatique >> lors de la remise des People's Choice Awards.

<< La série Heroes a su drainer derrière elle une foule d'inconditionnels et nous sommes ravis de pouvoir leur offrir ainsi qu'aux joueurs du monde entier, un jeu reproduisant fidèlement toute la dynamique et l'intrigue de cette série dramatique incontournable diffusée par NBC >> a déclaré Gonzague de Vallois, Vice President Publishing de Gameloft, avant d'ajouter << Grâce à son casting international et à la rapidité avec laquelle se propage son succès dans le monde entier, la série Heroes a su conquérir un public mondial et Gameloft est certainement l'éditeur le mieux placé pour obtenir un succès d'une même ampleur avec Heroes : Le jeu >>

<< La qualité intransigeante de tous leurs jeux, le nombre impressionnant de très grandes séries télévisés à leur actif, et leur réseau de distribution sans égal font de Gameloft le meilleur partenaire pmossible pour Heroes: Le jeu >> a dit Jeremy Laws, Senior Vice President, Universal Mobile Entertainment.

A propos de Heroes : le jeu

Heroes : Le jeu permettra aux fans de la série et aux joueurs occasionnels d'expérimenter pleinement les sensations grisantes que procurent les capacités surhumaines dont sont dotés les héros de la série. L'action du jeu se fondra sur les évènements qui ont marqué les phases les plus électrisantes de la première saison ainsi que sur ceux de la prochaine saison que tout le monde attend avec impatience, les auteurs du script étant les mêmes que ceux qui ont écrit la série. Que ce soit sous les traits d'un voyageur à travers le temps dénommé Hiro Nakamura, de la superbe mais redoutable Niki Sanders, du flic télépathique Matt Parkman ou de l'énigmatique Peter Petrelli, les joueurs ne manqueront pas d'apprécier les styles de jeu spécifiques reflétant les pouvoirs bien particuliers de ces différents personnages.

About Heroes

From creator/writer Tim Kring (NBC's "Crossing Jordan") comes the Golden Globe nominated "Heroes," an epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. As a total eclipse casts its shadow across the globe, a genetics professor (Sendhil Ramamurthy, "Blind Guy Driving") in India is led by father's disappearance to uncover a secret theory -- there are people with super powers living among us. A young dreamer (Milo Ventimiglia, "Gilmore Girls") tries to convince his politician brother (Adrian Pasdar, "Judging Amy") that he can fly. A high school cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere, "Ice Princess") learns that she is totally indestructible while trying to relate to her father (Jack Coleman, "Dynasty") who has a keen interest in people with special abilities. A Las Vegas single mother (Ali Larter, "Final Destination"), struggles to make ends meet to support her young son (Noah Gray-Cabey, "My Wife & Kids") and discovers that her mirror image has a secret. A fugitive from justice (Leonard Roberts, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") continues to baffle authorities who twice have been unable to contain him. A gifted artist (Santiago Cabrera, "Empire"), whose drug addiction is destroying his life and relationship with his girlfriend (Tawny Cypress, NBC's "Third Watch"), can paint the future. A down-on-his-luck Los Angeles beat cop (Greg Grunberg, "Alias") can hear people's thoughts, which puts him on the trail of an elusive serial killer. In Japan, a young man (Masi Oka, NBC's "Scrubs") develops a way to stop time through sheer will power. Their ultimate destiny is nothing less than saving the world. Joining Kring as executive producer are Dennis Hammer (NBC's "Crossing Jordan") and Allan Arkush (NBC's "Crossing Jordan"). The drama is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Tailwind Productions.

A propos de Gameloft

Gameloft est un éditeur et un développeur international de jeux vidéo pour téléphones mobiles.

Fondé en 1999 et aujourd'hui leader dans son domaine, Gameloft conçoit des jeux pour les téléphones incluant les technologies Java, Brew ou Symbian, dont le parc installé devrait dépasser deux milliards d'unités en 2008.( source Arc Group)

Des accords de partenariat avec de grands détenteurs de droits comme Ubisoft Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Endemol, Viacom, Sony Pictures, Paris Hilton Ent., FifPro, Lamborghini, FHM, l'Equipe, Lleyton Hewitt ou Patrick Vierra, permettent à Gameloft d'associer de très fortes marques internationales à ses jeux. En plus de ces marques, Gameloft possède ses propres marques comme Block Breaker Deluxe, Asphalt: Urban GT ou New York Nights.

Grâce à des accords avec l'ensemble des principaux opérateurs télécom, des fabricants de téléphones, des distributeurs spécialisés ainsi que sa boutique www.gameloft.com, Gameloft distribue ses jeux dans 75 pays.

Gameloft est présent à New York, San Francisco, Kansas City, Seattle, Montréal, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Paris, Londres, Düsseldorf, Copenhague, Milan, Madrid, New Dehli, Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Séoul et Sydney. Gameloft est cotée au Compartiment B de la bourse de Paris (ISIN: FR0000079600, Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GLFT.PA).

Pour plus d'informations, visitez www.gameloft.com

About Universal Mobile Entertainment

Universal Mobile Entertainment (UME) generates revenues and enhances brand awareness for NBC Universal's motion picture and television properties through licensing agreements with top-tier publishers. UME oversees the creation of high-quality mobile application services that include games, ringtones, wallpapers, MMS, SMS services and audiovisual services, and ensures ubiquitous distribution through mobile operators and portals worldwide. With offices in Los Angeles, London and Tokyo the team has been aggressive in the mobile content market since 2000 and currently has hundreds of mobile products that are available to consumers in every major territory of the world.

About NBC Universal

Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

Mar 26

-- An indictment was

unsealed today revealing charges against David A. Stockman, the former

President and CEO of Collins and Aikman Corporation (C&A), and seven other

former members of C&A's management, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Garcia for the

Southern District of New York, and Ron Walker, Inspector-in-Charge of the

New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced

today. The indictment unsealed in federal court in Manhattan charges

Stockman with conspiracy, securities fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and

obstruction of an agency proceeding, in connection with his participation,

from December 2001 through May 2005, in a scheme to conceal from investors

and lenders the truth about C&A's declining operating performance and

financial results. The indictment also charges former C&A Chief Financial

Officer J. Michael Stepp; former Controller David R. Cosgrove; and former

Director of Purchasing Paul C. Barnaba. Four felony informations, filed

today and last week, charge other C&A executives with related crimes.

Mr. Garcia also announced a non-prosecution agreement between his

Office and Collins & Aikman Corporation.

Summary of the Fraudulent Scheme

The indictment alleges that starting in December 2001, Stockman, Stepp

and others knew that C&A's true operating performance and financial results

were not meeting internal and external expectations. Rather than reveal

C&A's true condition, which might trigger default on the financial

covenants governing C&A's credit facilities and impede C&A's ability to

raise additional capital in the debt markets, Stockman, Cosgrove, Stepp,

Barnaba and others joined in a scheme to defraud C&A's investors, banks and

creditors by manipulating C&A's reported earnings.

From December 2001 through 2004, Stockman, Stepp, Cosgrove, Barnaba,

and their co-conspirators schemed to misrepresent C&A's true operating

performance and financial results by causing C&A's reported figures for

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization),

operating income, and other financial metrics to be falsely and

fraudulently inflated through the systematic premature recognition of cost

reductions based on supplier rebates.

According to the indictment, to further the scheme and conceal the

fraud, Stockman, Stepp, Cosgrove, Barnaba, and their co-conspirators caused

C&A to file financial statements with the U.S. Securities & Exchange

Commission (SEC) that presented a misleading picture of C&A's operating

performance and financial results, including quarterly and annual reports

that misrepresented C&A's expenses, operating income, and earnings per

share.

At the end of 2004 and the beginning of 2005, C&A's true operating

results substantially deteriorated, causing an unprecedented liquidity

crisis. The indictment charges that Stockman directed a scheme to further

defraud C&A's creditors by, among other things, misrepresenting to General

Electric Capital Corporation (GECC) the nature of C&A's portfolio of

accounts receivable, against which GECC was permitting C&A to borrow over a

$100 million dollars on a daily basis. Also in the beginning of 2005, as

C&A's improper rebate accounting practices came under scrutiny from its

auditors, Stockman directed a scheme to further defraud C&A's investors and

creditors by making numerous false statements to the public and to C&A's

creditors concerning: (a) C&A's current liquidity situation, (b) C&A's

forecasted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2005, and (c) the scope of the

improper rebate recognition practices that C&A's outside auditors and Audit

Committee were beginning to examine.

In early April 2005, Stockman repeated many of these false assurances

to Credit Suisse First Boston (Credit Suisse), in order to secure $75

million in additional financing. These additional funds, however, were not

sufficient to meet C&A's needs and were depleted by late April 2005,

according to the indictment.

In May 2005, the Board of Directors discovered that C&A had run out of

cash and had, at Stockman's direction, misled C&A's investors about C&A's

true operating performance. When the truth about C&A's operations and

finances was revealed, C&A went into bankruptcy, its common stock became

nearly worthless, and the value of its bonds plummeted, resulting in

hundreds of millions of dollars in investor and creditor losses.

Charges

The eight-count indictment charges Stockman, Stepp, Cosgrove, and

Barnaba each with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, make

false filings with the SEC, falsify books and records of C&A, commit wire

fraud, commit bank fraud, and obstruct justice, and with three counts of

securities fraud. Stockman alone is charged with two counts of bank fraud

(arising from fraud on GECC and JP Morgan Chase) and one count of wire

fraud. Stockman and Stepp together are charged with obstruction of an

agency proceeding.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in

prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or

loss resulting from the offense. Each of the securities fraud counts

carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of the greater

of $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense.

Each of the bank fraud counts carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in

prison and a fine of the greater of $1 million, or twice the gross gain or

loss resulting from the offense. The wire fraud count carries a maximum

sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, or

twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense. Finally, the

obstruction of an agency proceeding count carries a maximum sentence of

five years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, or twice the

gross gain or loss resulting from the offense.

Non-Prosecution Agreement With C&A

In light of C&A's cooperation with the government's investigation and

the current financial situation of C&A, among other factors, the government

has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with C&A. C&A will continue to

cooperate with the government as a condition of that agreement.

U.S. Attorney Garcia, a member of the President's Corporate Fraud Task

Force, praised the efforts of the USPIS and thanked the SEC for its

assistance in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen V. Cantwell is in charge of the

prosecution.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the

defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

Women Still Have No Guarantee of Equal Rights in the Constitution

-- Senator Ted Kennedy (D-

MA), Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep.

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Ellie Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority

and strong leader on the fight for women's equality will announce the

reintroduction of the Women's Equality Amendment on Tuesday. An amendment

to guarantee equal rights to women has still never been ratified and added

to the U.S. Constitution, even though it was first introduced in 1923. The

ERA passed Congress in 1972 but lapsed in 1982 when it fell three states

short of ratification. This year, there are more than 190 original

co-sponsors of the Women's Equality Amendment (ERA).

The Members will also announce the plans for forthcoming hearings on

the Women's Equality Amendment in the House Judiciary Committee's

Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Chaired

by Rep. Nadler.

The Senators and Members will be joined by leading women's rights

groups for the reintroduction with the hopes that in the 110th Congress,

women will finally achieve official equality in America.

WHAT: Announcement of the Women's Equality Amendment

WHO: Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-CA)

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

Eleanor Smeal, Feminist Majority

WHEN: TUESDAY, March 27, 2:30 pm

WHERE: 485 Russell Senate Office Building (Indian Affairs hearing room)

Washington, DC

Gonzales survives a growing loss of support on Capitol Hill, the standoff

between the executive branch and Congress over whether to require sworn

testimony from Bush aides is not likely to reach the courts, according to

Vanderbilt University judicial expert Stefanie Lindquist.

''These conflicts about executive privilege are often settled by

negotiation,'' said Lindquist. ''Congress and the White House are playing a

game of chicken right now because neither side wants to risk having the

courts set new precedent about the issue of executive privilege.''

Gonzales, the U.S. attorney general and longtime Bush adviser, is

facing harsh criticism from Congress over the dismissal of eight U.S.

attorneys. Gonzales has said that he did not take part in the discussions

over the firings.

Lindquist noted that the U.S. attorneys are always political appointees

who are expected to follow the president's agenda and to be evaluated on

that basis. On the other hand, the public should be reasonably concerned

about prosecutorial discretion and whether any inappropriate pressure was

put on that discretion by the White House.

Lindquist is a professor of political science and law and co-author of

the book "Judging on a Collegial Court: Influences on Appellate Court

Decision Making."

-- The following is a statement

from Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) President and CEO Kathleen

Jaeger on today's House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

hearing on biogenerics:

"Countless patients seeking safe, effective and affordable biogenerics

received good news today with the FDA stating that the science exists and,

furthermore, it has the scientific expertise to review these life-saving

medicines. The Agency and witnesses confirmed that the same scientific

principles that apply to the review of changes made to brand products after

approval would also be the underpinning for the review of biogenerics.

Moreover, FDA Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock noted that the Agency

needs flexibility in its ability to review products on a case-by-case basis

and that this flexibility is in the best interest of the public and the

Agency. This flexibility and authority are specifically granted in the

Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act.

"The statement by Dr. Woodcock echoed those by former FDA officials who

also testified at today's hearing that the Agency has the scientific

expertise to review biogenerics. Moreover, Dr. Woodcock and the former

officials stated that clinical trials are not always the most sensitive

means in analyzing safety and efficacy and that the Agency has an array of

analytical tools to best determine safety and efficacy for intended use.

Dr. Woodcock also noted that most post-approval product changes, such as

cell line change, are not supported by clinical outcome studies. In fact,

Dr. Woodcock stated that about one in 50 post-approval changes are

supported by such trials. As Congressman Waxman stated, the Access to

Life-Saving Medicine Act would give the FDA the authority it needs to ask

for any tests it deems necessary to ensure safety and efficacy, including

clinical trials.

"Today's hearing also proved that the claim by PhRMA and BIO that the

legislation will restrict FDA's ability to require testing is simply FALSE.

As they did in 1984 during the Hatch-Waxman Act debate, brand companies are

playing the safety scare card to maintain their monopolies. And, as

Congressman Waxman said, 'They were wrong then ... and they are wrong now.'

"As the patients testifying at today's hearing so eloquently stated,

the need is there for biogenerics. And, as the FDA stated, the scientific

expertise is there. Now we need Congress to act. Safety will always be

priority number one and the Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act will make

certain that safety is ensured. The FDA, Congress and our industry will

accept nothing less.

"Finally, on the issue of immunogenicity, the Committee heard that both

brand and generic biologic products share the same concern of

immunogenicity and that FDA has the ability to assess that risk. While

immunogenicity is an important consideration for both brands and

biogenerics, it is not an obstacle to their development.

"We thank Chairman Waxman for holding this important hearing today and

for his leadership, along with the leadership of Representative Jo Ann

Emerson and other members from both sides of the aisle who are sponsoring

this critical legislation to bring safe, effective and affordable

biogenerics to consumers."

GPhA represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic

pharmaceuticals, manufacturers and distributors of bulk active

pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the

generic drug industry. Unbranded and branded generics represent 63% of the

total prescriptions dispensed in the United States, but only 20% of all

dollars spent on prescription drugs. For more information about the

The following was

released today by the Democratic National Committee:

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney brings his campaign to

smooth talk primary voters into ignoring his real record to Texas today,

where he will join former Swift Boat Veterans for Truth backer Bob Perry

for a fundraiser in Dallas. Today's visit comes on the same day the

Associated Press highlighted Romney's "checklist" approach to winning the

Republican nomination by hiding his complete lack of "national and

international political experience."

As the report notes, Romney has tried to check "foreign policy

credentials" off his campaign checklist by staging "one-day visits to Iraq,

Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Check, check, check." He has also

tried to gloss over his previous support for gun control by recently

becoming a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. "Check

again." [Associated Press, 3/26/07]

Today in Texas, Romney will check the most disturbing box in his quest

for the White House. By adding Bob Perry to an already troubling campaign

team, Romney is showing his willingness to resort to some of the GOP's most

shameful political tactics. Perry donated more than $4.5 million to the

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's 2004 campaign to distort John Kerry's war

record and is a leading backer of the College Republican groups running

divisive anti- immigrant games on college campuses across the country. His

contributions have caused some to call him a "corrosive" force in politics.

[AP, 11/2/03] Perry joins Romney's national finance co-chair, John Rakolta,

who financed a Michigan group that ran despicable ads comparing leading

Democrats to Hitler. And Romney's leading media strategist is Alex

Castellanos, who has been called the "father of the modern attack ad"

because of his reputation for producing vicious, irresponsible, and

racially divisive ads. [Detroit Free Press, 3/15/07; http://Salon.com,

3/15/04]

"Today's fundraiser with Bob Perry and his refusal to distance himself

from the John Rakolta-Alex Castellanos brand of political attack ads shows

that Romney's campaign checklist includes some of the most shameful

political tactics in decades," said Democratic National Committee spokesman

Damien LaVera. "Mitt Romney is in big trouble in Big D if he thinks

flip-flops, photo-ops, and nasty campaign tactics will be enough to smooth

talk the voters into ignoring his real record."

The following is a fact sheet on Romney's inner circle:

The Mitt Romney Campaign All-Stars

In his quest to deflect attention from his lack of experience and all

his flop-flops, smooth talking Mitt Romney has built an inner circle filled

with characters that have played a disgusting and corrosive role in

American politics. From questioning the service of a highly decorated

Vietnam veteran, to funding ads that compare Democratic presidents to

Hitler, to producing some of the most racially charged ads in memory,

Romney's campaign includes some of the shadiest characters in modern

politics.

ROMNEY FUNDRAISER BANKROLLED SWIFT VETERANS FOR TRUTH

Swift Boat Money Man Bob Perry Signed to Romney's Texas Fundraising Team.

Bob Perry, a Texas homebuilder and one of the primary funders of the

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, has signed on to raise money for the

presidential campaign of former Governor Mitt Romney. An invite to the

Dallas fundraiser for Romney on March 26 includes Perry's name as a member

of the governor's "Texas Leadership Team." [The Fix, Washington Post,

3/16/07]

Bob Perry Was Chief Backer of Swift Boat Group, Gave $4.5 Million.

Bob Perry, who owns Houston-based builder Perry Homes, is a Republican

Party financial donor who gained notoriety as the chief financial backer of

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, whose ads criticized the Vietnam War record

of Senator John F. Kerry. [The Washington Post, 8/9/05] Perry gave $4.5

million to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's campaign in 2004 to distort John

Kerry's military record. [Washington Post, 3/17/07]

Bush Friend Bankrolled Anti-Kerry Vet Group During Campaign.

IRS records show that the Texas Anti-Kerry group is being bankrolled by

Bob Perry, a good friend of George Bush & Karl Rove. Perry is one of the

largest Republican donors in Texas, having given "hundreds of thousands of

dollars" in campaign contributions to state and national Republican

parties, local and federal Republican candidates and President Bush's

campaign. [IRS records, 4/23/04-6/30/04]

Bob Perry's Massive Contributions a "Corrosive" Force in Politics.

"Critics say the 71-year-old donor has introduced a level of giving

that is corrosive in politics." [AP, 11/2/03]

Perry is top Donor to College Republican Club Criticized for Racist,

Anti-

Immigrant Activities.

Bob Perry is the fourth largest donor to the College Republicans 527

organization. The group has come under fire lately for sponsoring

activities including:

-- Offering a dinner for two at a local Mexican restaurant for the winner

of a 'food stamp drawing' that required climbing through a hole in a

chain link fence and offering fake identification.

-- Sponsoring a game called 'Catch the Illegal Immigrant'. Under the

game's rules, according to one student Republican, players were to

search on campus for the student chosen to wear a name tag saying

'illegal immigrant.' [New York Times, 2/23/07]

-- Advocating events like 'Fun with Guns,' in which young Republicans

would use a BB gun or paintball gun to shoot cardboard cut-outs of

Democratic leaders such as Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John

Kerry (D-Mass.)" [The Michigan Daily, 9/12/06]

Perry gave the group $200,000 on October 24, 2006.

ROMNEY NATIONAL FINANCE CO-CHAIR FUNDED GROUP THAT PRODUCED ADS COMPARING

DEMOCRATS TO HITLER

John Rakolta Named as National Finance Co-Chair for the Romney Campaign.

Romney named John Rakolta, Jr., as his National Finance Co-Chair.

Rakolta also serves on Romney's Florida statewide Finance Steering

Committee. [Romney Press Release, 2/22/07; Associated Press, 1/5/07; Boston

Globe, 9/24/05]

Rakolta Family Gave Voice the Vote One-Third Its Total Budget.

Detroit political consultant Adolph Mongo solicited contributions from

the families of John Rakolta and Peter Cummings to fund Voice the Vote

political action committee. John Rakolta and his wife each donated $5,000

to Voice the Vote. The $10,000 Rakolta and his wife gave Voice the Vote

accounts for more than one-third of the $29,000 the group raised. [Detroit

Free Press, 3/15/07]

Voice the Vote PAC Produced Ad Comparing Democrats to Adolf Hitler.

In 2006, the Detroit-based political action committee Voice the Vote

ran an ad in the Michigan Chronicle newspaper that featured photographs of

Hitler alongside Governor Granholm and five former Democratic presidents.

[Detroit Free Press, 3/15/07]

ROMNEY HIRED RACE BAITING AD PRODUCER AS MEDIA STRATEGIST

Alex Castellanos is Known for Producing Vicious and Irresponsible Attack

Ads.

Castellanos is "father of the modern attack ad." He is known as

Castellanos Produced Racially Divisive Ad Blasting Black Senate

Challenger.

In 1990, Castellanos produced a racially divisive ad blasting Jessie

Helms's challenger, Harvey Gantt, a black man, for his support of racial

quotas. "The ad depicted a pair of white hands ripping up a rejection

letter from an employer. 'You needed that job and you were the best

qualified, but they had to give it to a minority,' the narrator says."

2000: Castellanos Used Subliminal Messages in Derogatory Ad.

In 2000, Castellanos produced an infamous television ad for George W.

Bush against Vice President Al Gore's prescription drug plan. In the ad,

the word "RATS" flashes for a split second. Democrats accused Castellanos

of using subliminal derogatory messages. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution,

2/4/07; Boston Globe, 11/16/06]

Jeb Bush Fired Castellanos Because of Vicious Ad.

"In a 1994 spot for Jeb Bush, who was challenging Chiles for Florida

governor, Castellanos tried to paint Chiles as soft on crime for refusing

to sign a death warrant for the murderer of a 10-year-old girl. But it

turned out that Florida courts were still hearing the killer's appeal, and

some observers believe the backlash from the ad helped Chiles eke out a

victory. Four years later, Bush ran a successful campaign with a different

ad man." [Boston Globe, 11/16/06]

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,

candidate or candidate's committee.

SOURCE Democratic National Committee

Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) se complace en anunciar importantes mejoras en su portafolio de propiedades de Internet, incluyendo el relanzamiento de su portal de entretenimiento líder: Lamusica.com., así como el cambio de nombre de todos los websites de las estaciones radiales asociadas a la empresa. Estas iniciativas son parte de la actual estrategia de Internet de SBS e incluye retoques en el look de los websites que promoverán una experiencia más entretenida y completa para los usuarios de sus servicios de Internet.

Lamusica.com es un destino líder en términos de noticias actualizadas en el campo de la información de entretenimiento. El sitio web ha sido totalmente renovado con modernas gráficas, nuevos enlaces y lo ultimo de la interactividad para deleite de los fanáticos de la buena música y del Internet. También se ha modernizado el video player, lo que forma parte de la nueva dinámica de enganche entre el website y sus usuarios. En consonancia con el deseo de mantener esta nueva línea, SBS ha contratado los servicios de quien fuera la editora fotográfica de la revista “Mira”, Gabriela Ordóñez, quien liderará el departamento de fotografía de Lamusica.com.

Además, tomando en cuenta que el centro de la estrategia de Internet de SBS reside en el desarrollo de contenidos atractivos para sus usuarios, Lamusica.com presenta una moderna diagramación de prensa, videos y contenidos musicales que lograrán transmitir más efectivamente la programación de SBS en radio y TV. Liderando el esfuerzo renovador estará el ex editor de la Revista “Mira”, René Solorio. René cuenta con una vasta experiencia en el campo del periodismo de entretenimiento, con una larga trayectoria tanto en su patria México como en los Estados Unidos. En su nuevo rol contribuirá también como colaborador editorial para la estación de TV de SBS en Miami, Mega TV Canal 22.

Paralelamente, los websites de las estaciones de radio de SBS han sido relanzados, como parte del permanente esfuerzo de brindar lo mejor de la información musical a sus fieles audiencias a lo largo de los Estados Unidos. SBS mantiene el portafolio líder de la industria en estaciones radiales hispanas, incrustadas en los más largos mercados hispanos como Nueva York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco y Puerto Rico. Las radioemisoras de la empresa se encuentran entre las más escuchadas del ámbito hispano en el país, y los websites de éstas han evolucionado hasta convertirse en destinos prioritarios para quienes buscan música y entretenimiento. Lamusica.com proveerá a sus seguidores de noticias y primicias -tanto en inglés como en español-, actualizadas con regularidad a lo largo del día. Los fanáticos de la música tendrán la posibilidad de darle una mirada a sus estrellas favoritas siendo entrevistadas por La musica.com, gracias a la división de noticias de entretenimiento. Una lista de las estaciones de radio y sus respectivos websites puede ser consultada al final de esta nota.

A propósito de este anuncio, Cynthia Hudson Fernández, Vice Presidenta Ejecutiva y Directora General Creativa de SBS comentó que “El relanzamiento de nuestra plataforma de Internet es el siguiente paso en el desarrollo de nuestra estrategia online. Hemos hecho modernizaciones significativas tanto en los contenidos como en el diseño de nuestros websites, mejorando e introduciendo modificaciones que posibilitan un acceso más interactivo, comunal y amigable a nuestros destinos de noticias y entretenimiento. Nuestros websites se encuentran entre los más visitados en el mundo a nivel hispano y el anuncio de hoy confirma, precisamente, nuestro compromiso creciente en proyectar más el valor y el atractivo de nuestros sitios de Internet, tanto para las audiencias como para los anunciantes.”

“Quiero asimismo aprovechar esta oportunidad para darle la bienvenida a René Solorio y a Gabriela Ordóñez al dinámico equipo de SBS. Sus reconocidas trayectorias en los medios hispanos serán claves para la ejecución exitosa de nuestra estrategia de Internet ”, concluyó Cynthia Hudson Fernández.

Web sites de las estaciones de radio de SBS:

Nueva York:
Mega 97.9 (WSKQ-97.9) http://www.lamega.com
Amor 93.1 (WPAT-93.1 FM) http://www.931amor.com

Los Ángeles:
Latino 96.3 (KXOL 96.3 FM) http://www.latino963.com
La Raza 97.9 (KLAX-97.9 FM) http://www.979laraza.com

Miami:
Romance 106.7 (WRMA-106.7 FM) http://www.romance106fm.com
El Zol 95.7 (WXDJ-95.7) http://www.elzol.com
Clásica 92.3 (WCMQ-FM) http://www.clasica92fm.com
WSBS - Mega TV Channel 22 – http://www.mega.tv

Chicago:
La Ley 107.9 (WLEY 107.9 FM) http://www.laley1079.com

San Francisco:
La Raza 93.3 (KRZZ FM) http://www.yosoyraza.com

Puerto Rico:
Romance 96.5 (WCMA-96.5 FM) Web: prontamente.
Estereotempo (WIOA 99.9 FM/WIOB 97.5 FM/ WIOC 105.1 FM) Web: prontamente.
La Mega (WMEG-FM/WEGM-FM-La Mega 106.9 FM/95.1) http://www.lamega.fm
Reggaeton 94 (WODA-94.7 FM) Web: prontamente.
La Zeta (WZNT-93.7 FM/WZMT 93.3 FM/ WZET) Web: prontamente.

Sobre Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. es la mayor empresa del mundo del espectáculo y de medios de comunicación de los EE.UU., la cual es controlada por hispanos, y figura en la bolsa de valores. SBS es propietaria y operadora de 20 radioemisoras situadas en los principales mercados hispanos de Nueva York, Los Ángeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco y Puerto Rico, incluyendo WSKQ-FM, de la ciudad de Nueva York, la radioemisora hispanohablante que ocupa el primer lugar de los EE.UU., al igual que 3 de las 4 radioemisoras catalogadas como las lideres a nivel nacional con programaciones tropical, regional mexicana, contemporánea para adultos hispanos y “Hurban”. Así mismo, esta compañía posee los niveles más altos de facturación, de empresas con formato latino, en los tres mercados hispanos más grandes de los EE.UU. SBS, también propietaria de Mega TV-una estación televisiva que proporciona servicio al Sur de la Florida-, produce conciertos en vivo y eventos en los Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico. La empresa además opera http://www.lamusica.com, un portal de Internet con contenido en inglés y español relacionado con música latina, espectáculos, noticias y cultura. La página Web corporativa de la empresa se puede visitar en http://www.spanishbroadcasting.com

La Cámara de Comercio Hispana de los Estados Unidos (USHCC, por sus siglas en inglés), principal defensora de los más de dos millones de negocios de propiedad hispana en la nación, ha emitido la siguiente declaración con respecto a la próxima audiencia en la que comparecerá ante el Senado el Secretario de Justicia de los Estados Unidos, Alberto Gonzales:

“El reciente despido de varios fiscales de los Estados Unidos ha atraído un significativo interés por parte del Congreso, y ha hecho surgir preguntas y acusaciones provenientes de varios líderes de opinión”, expresó David C. Lizárraga, Presidente de la Junta Directiva de USHCC. “Es vital que se reúnan todos los hechos antes de que los medios de comunicación o nuestros líderes políticos emitan sus opiniones acerca del Secretario de Justicia Gonzales”.

El Secretario de Justicia Gonzales ha servido fielmente a nuestro país, con el beneplácito del Presidente, desde el comienzo de esta administración, por lo que les imploramos a los líderes del Congreso a tener en cuenta que tal servicio no merece juicios apresurados. Si es necesaria una evaluación e investigación exhaustivas, las mismas deben ejecutarse y realizarse en forma oportuna y justa.

“La USHCC elogia al Secretario de Justicia Gonzales por su servicio devoto y patriótico a la justicia, la equidad judicial y la administración de nuestras leyes en los Estados Unidos”, patentizó Michael L. Barrera, Presidente y Director Ejecutivo de USHCC. “El Secretario de Justicia Gonzales es un ejemplo fehaciente de servicio leal y dedicación competente al sistema jurídico de los Estados Unidos. Su ética de trabajo y los resultados que la misma ha logrado son una representación positiva de la creciente influencia que está teniendo la comunidad hispana en los Estados Unidos y en todo el mundo”.

Los hispanos, particularmente los miembros de la comunidad comercial, están llevando a cabo contribuciones potentes e influyentes a esta gran nación, y seguirán haciéndolo. Comprendemos los numerosos desafíos que confrontará la comunidad hispana en la medida que vaya creciendo en alcance y éxito, pero también sabemos que el esfuerzo y los resultados consistentes serán sinónimos de éxito y expansión continuos. Esas cualidades se reflejan en los dos millones de negocios de propiedad hispana de los Estados Unidos, y en las más de 200 cámaras de comercio que representamos en los Estados Unidos, México, Canadá y Puerto Rico. El Secretario de Justicia Gonzales es también un reflejo de esas cualidades, así como un líder firme, no sólo para la comunidad hispana, sino también para toda la nación.

Por estas razones, reiteramos nuestra exhortación al Congreso para que despliegue una iniciativa exhaustiva y bipartidista a la hora de revisar los hechos que han conducido a la actual situación.

NEWS & NEWS IN SPANISH

Posted by Bill at 01:50 PM | Permalink

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April 1

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and LCAL today announced the leasing company placed an order for one additional 787-9 Dreamliner, expanding its fleet to 15 of the advanced-technology aircraft.

The deal is worth $183 million at list prices. This order was allocated to an unidentified customer on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website in 2006.

LCAL established itself in 2005 as an aircraft leasing company providing lease services exclusively with the 787 Dreamliner. The company was the first leasing company to order 787s, making a commitment to purchase six 787-8s in May 2005, remaining unidentified until November of the same year.

At the end of 2005, LCAL ordered an additional eight 787s worth another $1.2 billion at list prices. The second order was for the 787-9, establishing LCAL as the first leasing customer for this variant.

"This latest addition to our fleet is further confirmation of our unwavering confidence in the 787 program," said Clive Joy, chairman and founder of LCAL.

"The technological benefits that the 787 brings will set the new standard in operator and passenger preference for decades to come, while taking a significant step to address the environmental issue," said LCAL Chief Operating Officer and President Steve Clarke.

"Today's commitment by LCAL reinforces the remarkable market success of the Boeing 787 among a wide variety of customers and business models," said John Feren, vice president of Sales - Leasing and Asset Management, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "With its dedicated and growing Dreamliner fleet, LCAL is offering its airline customers exclusively an airplane that delivers breakthrough technology, best-in-class fuel efficiency and lower operating costs."

LCAL has selected Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 engine for a number of its 787s, and is negotiating with GE to equip some of its fleet with GEnx engines.

The technologically advanced 787 Dreamliner will use 20 percent less fuel than today's airplanes of comparable size, provide airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity, and will present passengers with innovations including a new interior environment with higher humidity, wider seats and aisles, larger windows and other conveniences. The Dreamliner will allow airlines to offer more of the comfortable point-to-point travel that passengers want.

Since the 787's launch in April 2004, 39 customers have booked 491 orders, making it one of the fastest-selling commercial airplanes in aviation history.

Additional information about LCAL is available at www.lcal.com.

The world's longest-range commercial jetliner, the Boeing [NYSE: BA] 777-200LR Worldliner (Longer Range), marks its first year in revenue service this month. With several airlines scheduled to take delivery of new Worldliners this year, the newest 777 to enter service is set to change how passengers travel by offering airlines more flexibility to serve the nonstop routes that passengers demand.

Pakistan International Airlines was the first customer to put the 777-200LR into service, taking delivery of the first two airplanes built. Other airlines taking delivery of new 777-200LRs this year include Air India, Emirates and Air Canada.

"The Boeing 777-200LR supports our business plan to grow Emirates' route structure to include new nonstop flights to destinations worldwide, including the West Coast of the United States and South America," said Emirates Chairman H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum. "The 777-200LR will complement our existing fleet of 777 jetliners, soon to be the world's largest, and offer our passengers the exceptional level of service and comfort they've come to expect from Emirates."

One of the routes Emirates plans to open with a 777-200LR is a nonstop flight between Sao Paulo and Dubai, making it the first time an airline has offered nonstop service between the Middle East and South America. Air India plans to open a new nonstop route between Mumbai and New York. To date, the 777-200LR has won 40 orders from seven customers.

"The 777-200LR is changing the way airlines fly passengers around the world by opening more direct, nonstop routes that fly passengers directly to where they want to go," said Lars Andersen, vice president-program manger, 777 Program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The 777-200LR is capable of flying up to 9,450 nautical miles (17,500 km), enabling the airplane to connect virtually any two cities around the world nonstop, carrying 301 passengers in a typical three-class configuration. Also, the 777-200LR can carry a full cargo load on routes where other airplanes are payload limited. This gives airlines the capability to carry the same number of passengers farther, and with additional revenue-generating cargo.

In its first year in service, the 777-200LR amassed a 99.7 percent average schedule reliability rate and is in line with 777's best-in-class schedule reliability. The 777-200LR is equipped with the GE90-110B1L, a re-rated version of the world's most powerful commercial jet engine - the GE90-115B.

"The GE90-110B1L engine has performed exceptionally well on the Boeing 777-200LR airplane," said Tom Wygle, general manager of the GE90 program at GE Aviation. "Based on the proven technologies of the GE90 engine family, the engine has demonstrated an outstanding reliability record, fuel efficiency and low cost of ownership."

The 777 family of airplanes is the market leader in the 300 to 400-seat segment, capturing more than 65 percent of that market. To date, 48 customers have placed 918 orders for the efficient, reliable and passenger-pleasing 777 jetliner. Boeing continues to enhance the 777 family with the recent introduction of two new longer-range models and a freighter version currently in development.

Boeing Integrated Materials Management Opens Asia Regional Center

Boeing's Integrated Materials Management helps maintain and manage an airline's spare parts inventory, providing items to the airline mechanic as needed. The IMM team manages supplier-owned inventory at airline maintenance locations which results in reduced inventory holding and other supply-chain management costs at the airline.

The opening of the regional center enhances the current support of on-site teams throughout the globe and improves communications and visibility of inventory within the IMM network which directly benefits the customer. The center will provide around-the-clock support to all IMM customers and network suppliers.

"We are very excited to enlarge our footprint in the Asia region," said, Joe Brummitt, director of Integrated Materials Management for Boeing. "We have a strong base of customers in the region and our center in Singapore positions us well to better support this important customer base. It's also the next logical step in our strategy to efficiently connect all suppliers and customers in our network."

The IMM Asia Regional Center was developed using Lean principles to standardize processes and reduce the variation in inventory planning. Utilizing Lean within the center's operation will increase productivity, improve communications and enhance demand visibility. This will enable suppliers to better support the IMM supply-chain requirements. The new regional center also postures IMM to support the 787 Dreamliner and the GoldCare service solutions.

The Asia Regional Center will be based at Schenker Singapore's Megahub facility in the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS), where Boeing currently maintains a regional distribution center through its lead logistics service provider. This further leverages Boeing's use of these facilities and continues the expansion of a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship in the country of Singapore.

"We congratulate The Boeing Company on the IMM Asia Regional Center," said Manohar Khiatani, assistant managing director for Industry Development, Singapore Economic Development Board. "We are glad that Boeing continues to grow its activities in Singapore, leveraging on our strengths as the leading aviation and logistics hub in the region. The IMM Asia Regional Centre underlines Singapore's attractiveness as a location for the logistics and supply-chain management activities of global companies."

The IMM Asia Regional Center will also serve as a model as IMM looks at centers in other locations around the globe to support the current and expanding IMM customer base. Current customers for IMM include Air Tran, All Nippon Airways, Delta Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Japan Transocean Air and Singapore Airlines. Network supplier partners include Honeywell, UFC Aerospace, Satair, Hamilton Sundstrand, Avio-Diepen, and the recently acquired Boeing subsidiary, Aviall.

Boeing Submits Bid to Design AMF JTRS Radio System

Boeing's best-of-industry team offers a low-cost, low-risk solution based on successful demonstrations that showcased interoperability between JTRS radios and radios currently used by joint forces. The demonstrations also validated the porting of key waveforms and successfully tested a 200-node network that featured self-forming and self-healing capabilities.

Boeing's teammates -- Harris, L-3 Communications, Rockwell Collins, BBN Technologies, Milcom Systems Corporation and Northrop Grumman -- have supported the AMF JTRS pre-system design and development phase since 2004. Contract award is anticipated third/fourth quarter 2007.

"Our design meets the government's requirements for a low-risk, low-cost solution that takes the joint services to the next level in networked communications," said Leo Conboy, Boeing AMF JTRS program manager. "By leveraging our market-leading experience in network-centric technologies, we've demonstrated transformational networking capability and interoperability with the key legacy radio waveforms needed by the warfighter."

Numerous pre-system design and development demonstrations validated the system's ability to support hundreds of user nodes that serve as routers, allowing warfighters to create self-forming and self-healing mobile, ad-hoc networks that can speed the flow of information across the battlespace.

A key risk reduction demonstration featured five airborne prototype radios running both legacy voice communications and the Wideband Networking Waveform, which enables Internet-like capabilities. The team provided multi-node networking simulations using virtual and hardware-based radios, featuring Boeing's Heterogeneous Networking capability with legacy datalinks and low latency edge networking using Rockwell's Tactical Targeting Networking Technologies. Communications effects models have been developed to demonstrate network performance in a virtual environment, providing the capability to fly various scenarios to demonstrate system improvements.

Boeing's AMF JTRS communications system will provide warfighters with software-defined radios that feature Internet-like capabilities, allowing air, land and sea assets to communicate in a network-centric environment. The battlespace networking capability supports real-time text, voice and multi-media information, including the ability to stream live audio and video, share maps and real-time collaboration and use Voiceover Internet Protocol.

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and partner Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI], acting as the Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, today announced the selection of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, as provider of the FCS Centralized Controller device.

The Centralized Controller is a single, hand-held device that will allow soldiers to command and control FCS Class I unmanned aerial vehicles and their sensor payloads; unmanned ground vehicles and their sensor and weapon payloads; unattended ground sensors; manned ground vehicle functions; and enable superior situational awareness, training, logistics and medical functions.

"The Centralized Controller is a key component of our FCS capability, and we are pleased that Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control will be leading the effort on this new Tier I contract," said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing vice president-general manager, Combat Systems, and Future Combat Systems program manager. "The controller will consolidate what traditionally would be numerous disparate controllers into a single controller, which will simplify logistics and empower the soldier while reducing his load. Overall, it will allow a Centralized Controller-equipped soldier to remotely control one or more of the nearly 750 systems within each brigade at any particular time."

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control was selected as the Centralized Controller provider based on technical merit, schedule integration, management approach, past performance and cost after a best-value evaluation process by the Lead Systems Integrator team and its government partners. The potential value of the Centralized Controller contract, which will be finalized shortly and will run through 2014, is in excess of $35 million.

SAIC is a leading provider of scientific, engineering, systems integration and technical services and solutions to all branches of the U.S. military, Department of Defense agencies, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. Government civil agencies, as well as to customers in selected commercial markets. With more than 43,000 employees in over 150 cities worldwide, SAIC engineers and scientists solve complex technical challenges requiring innovative solutions for customers' mission-critical functions. SAIC had annual revenues of $7.8 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2006. SAIC: FROM SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS.

Mar 29

 Boeing, Avianca Airlines Announce Order for 10 787 Dreamliners

 The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Avianca Airlines, Colombia's flagship air carrier, today announced the airline has ordered 10 787s, making it the first South American carrier to order the 787 and marking the largest 787 order to date for Latin America.

The order, worth approximately $1.5 billion at list prices, was previously credited to an unidentified customer on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site. Today's order also includes purchase rights for an additional 10 787s.

Avianca made the announcement at an event attended by German Efromovich, President of the Synergy group which owns Avianca, Avianca President Fabio Villegas and some 400 dignitaries including Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon, United States Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Milton Drucker, regional country representatives and Avianca and Boeing employees.

"This order reaffirms the enduring relationship Boeing has maintained with this historic airline for 70 years," said John Wojick, vice president, Sales, Latin America and the Caribbean -- Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "With the 787, Avianca will be able to provide its passengers with the very best in long-range air travel including larger windows, higher cabin humidity, more space and a lower cabin altitude."

"Today's purchase ratifies our commitment to transform Avianca into the leading airline in Latin America," Efromovich said. "We will be the first to offer passengers in our market the most advanced technology guaranteeing more comfortable and pleasurable flights."

Avianca is Colombia's largest airline and the second oldest commercial airline in the world.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, scheduled for entry into service in 2008, provides passengers with a better flying experience and operators with a more efficient commercial jetliner. Thirty-nine airlines have logged 491 orders worth more than $75 billion at current list prices since the 787 launch in April 2004, making the Dreamliner the most successful commercial airplane launch in history.

With the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing continues its leadership and innovation with a mostly composite airplane that consumes 20 percent less fuel, provides airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity and offers passengers a better flying experience.

Mar 27

Boeing Prepares Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane for Ground and Flight Testing

 In an effort to develop environmentally progressive technologies for aerospace applications, Boeing [NYSE: BA] researchers and industry partners throughout Europe plan to conduct experimental flight tests this year of a manned airplane powered only by a fuel cell and lightweight batteries.

The systems integration phase of the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane research project, under way since 2003 at Boeing Research and Technology -- Europe (BR&TE), was completed recently. Thorough systems integration testing is now under way in preparation for upcoming ground and flight testing.

"Given the efficiency and environmental benefits of emerging fuel cell technology, Boeing wants to be on the forefront of developing and applying it to aerospace products," said Francisco Escarti, BR&TE managing director. "The Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane project is an important step in that direction."

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen directly into electricity and heat without combustion. Fuel cells are emission-free and quieter than hydrocarbon fuel-powered engines. They save fuel and are cleaner for the environment.

The Boeing demonstrator uses a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor, which is coupled to a conventional propeller. The fuel cell provides all power for the cruise phase of flight. During takeoff and climb, the flight segment that requires the most power, the system draws on lightweight lithium-ion batteries.

Flight tests, which will take place in Spain, will demonstrate for the first time that a manned airplane can maintain a straight level flight with fuel cells as the only power source.

"While Boeing does not envision that fuel cells will provide primary power for future commercial passenger airplanes, demonstrations like this help pave the way for potentially using this technology in small manned and unmanned air vehicles," Escarti said. "It also gives us hands-on experience to complement other fuel-cell studies being carried out throughout the company."

Boeing researchers see promise in other types of fuel cell technology as well as the PEM system. An example is a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell that could be applied to secondary power-generating systems, such as auxiliary power units. This technology could be mature enough in 10 to 15 years for potential use in commercial aviation.

BR&TE, part of the Boeing Phantom Works advanced R&D unit, which is chartered to provide innovative technology and system solutions to meet future aerospace needs, has worked closely with its colleagues in Boeing Commercial Airplanes, its Spanish partners, and with companies in Austria, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States to design and assemble the experimental airplane.

The PEM fuel-cell system used on the flight demonstrator, for instance, was designed and built by the UK-based firm Intelligent Energy.

The demonstrator aircraft is a Dimona motor glider, built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, which also performed major structural modifications to the aircraft. With a wing span of 16.3 meters (53.5 feet), the airplane will be able to cruise at approximately 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) using fuel cell-provided power.

The Madrid-based avionics group Aerlyper performed airframe modifications, as well as the mounting and wiring of all components; SAFT France designed and assembled the auxiliary batteries and the backup battery; Air Liquide Spain performed the detailed design and assembly of the onboard fuel system and the refueling station; the Electronic Engineering Division of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (School of Industrial Engineering) collaborated in the design and construction of the power management and distribution box; post-integration bench testing is being conducted in a facility that belongs to the Polytechnic University of Madrid (INSIA); and SENASA (Spain) will provide a test pilot and facilities for flight tests.

Other suppliers for the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane include UQM Technologies Inc. (United States), MT Propeller (Germany), Tecnicas Aeronauticas de Madrid (Spain), Ingenieria de Instrumentacion y Control (Spain), GORE (Germany), Indra (Spain) and Inventia (Spain).

Mar 26

Wheelchair-accessible lavatories on the all-new Boeing [NYSE:BA] 787 Dreamliner will be significantly enhanced. The airline-selectable 56-inch longitudinal lavatory features improvements for passengers by offering more usable space and easer access to facilities, including a fold-down assist bar for independent transfers (shown here in the fold-down position).

When Boeing's [NYSE:BA] newest airplane, the all-new 787 Dreamliner, enters service in 2008, passengers will experience a more comfortable flight because of enhanced accessibility features.

"We analyzed accessibility issues passengers face on today's airplanes and incorporated advancements to better accommodate passengers of all ages and capabilities," said Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "These advancements, coupled with the Dreamliner's larger windows, bigger carry-on bins, lower cabin altitude and cleaner air, will ensure that everyone enjoys a better flying experience on the 787."

Boeing partnered with the National Center for Accessible Transportation at Oregon State University to research accessibility improvements. As part of the research, Boeing engineers who design interiors were placed in simulated environments to better understand accessibility issues faced by persons with mobility, sensory and cognitive disabilities. In addition, the team worked with individuals with these disabilities to verify improvements.

Virtually all aspects of the Dreamliner's interior enhance passenger comfort. For example, all lavatories aboard the 787 Dreamliner feature universally designed interior and exterior door handles that are more intuitive and enable easier access by passengers with limited hand agility. Assist-handles installed in all lavatories are easier to grip and offer passengers better stability through improved design and location. "Touchless" features including faucets, toilet flushing and waste flaps can be activated by infrared sensors in addition to their traditional mechanical operation, making them easier to use.

Boeing is offering two wheelchair-accessible lavatories on the Dreamliner, each with significant advancements. The 56-inch longitudinal lavatory repositions the entryway door and toilet to provide extra usable space and makes it easier for passengers to reach and use the facilities.

A 56-inch by 57-inch convertible lavatory includes a movable center wall that allows two separate lavatories to become one large, wheelchair-accessible facility.

Other wheelchair-accessible lavatory improvements include an additional toilet flush button on the sink cabinet and a fold-down assist bar to aid independent transfers.

Additional enhancements are sprinkled throughout the airplane. Exterior assist handles are better positioned to accommodate passengers of all heights and levels of mobility. Overhead stowage bins are easier to reach, and latches work whether they are pushed or pulled, eliminating uncertainty. Bigger closets are offered that enable personal wheelchair stowage in the passenger cabin, while special closet features will better secure the wheelchair. As on current airplanes, aisle seats will have movable arm rests that offer passengers with disabilities easier access to their seats.

"Boeing is making an ongoing effort to identify opportunities to improve the flying experience," said Bair. "The 787 Dreamliner will set a new industry standard for accessibility on airplanes."

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Mar 26

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April 2

DESPITE FEWER OUTBREAKS THIS YEAR, UN AGENCY WARNS BIRD FLU STILL THREATENS LIVES

New York, Apr 2 2007 9:00AM Although there have been fewer outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus this year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that the disease continues to spread to new areas in countries where it has not been contained, threatening the lives of those working around poultry and hurting farm economies. Worldwide, "there have been fewer cases of the disease this year than last year at the same time, indicating that there is a reduction in overall viral load," said Joseph Domenech, Chief Veterinanry Officer of the FAO. Last year, 53 countries reported H5N1 outbreaks while this year, only 17 countries have been affected. Dr. Domenech said that surveillance and reporting of the virus has improved, and also he noted that the presence of H5N1 in wild birds is less this year. Last year, avian flu was believed largely to have been transmitted through the migration of contaminated birds. This season, the poultry trade is seen as main route by which the disease spreads, and the greatest threat the virus poses is that every instance a person contracts H5N1 from poultry offers a new possibility for mutation into a form which could spread rapidly between people. "The risk of a pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future," Dr. Domenech said. "This situation is a constant call to increase global efforts to contain this disease before it has an opportunity to mutate into a form that can threaten the world with a human pandemic." Although Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam have been generally successful in controlling the virus, FAO experts say that Egypt, Indonesia and Nigeria have not been able to contain it, making them reservoirs of the disease for possible introduction to other countries. In Egpyt, 24 human cases of the virus have been reported since mid-February, of which 13 were fatal. Outbreaks have occurred on four commercial farms and 13 cases originated in backy the beginning of last month. The country has been hindered in curbing the disease for several reasons, including the lack compensation for farmers who lose poultry due to culling. Egypt is currently revising its plan for controlling the disease with the help of FAO and other international partners. Since the avian flu first surfaced in 2003, Indonesia has seen the highest death toll of any country, with 66 fatalities out of 171 worldwide. Only three of the 33 Indonesian provinces are bird flu free, and the virus remains endemic in Java, Sumatra, Bali and South Sulawesi, according to FAO. Disease surveillance is being bolstered by FAO's village-based Participatory Disease Surveillance system now functional in 130 of the 444 districts in the country, but more comprehensive information on nationwide outbreaks will remain spotty until surveillance coverage is increased. Containing the disease in Indonesia has been hampered by its large size and geography with 17,000 islands spread over three time zones, a weak national veterinary service and insufficient global and national financing of prevention and control. In Nigeria, authorities have not been able to control the movement of poultry and poultry products in infected areas, causing the disease to spread in many parts of the country. FAO also cautions of the spread of H5N1 to new countries. Last month, the virus was detected in Bangladesh for the first time, and the agency said that this is not a surprising development since the disease is circulating in the wider region and transmission by contaminated migrating birds cannot be rule out. 2007-04-02 00:00:00.000

UN SENDS AID, EXPERTS TO SOLOMON ISLANDS IN RESPONSE TO PACIFIC TSUNAMI

 New York, Apr 2 2007 9:00AM The United Nations Children's Fund has pre-positioned emergency medical supplies to help thousands of people in the Solomon Islands while experts from the world body are poised to travel to the region in response to an earthquake and resulting tsunami which shook the region earlier today. An earthquake measuring 8.1 struck 345 kilometres northwest of the Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara, causing a tsunami, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which cited reports of damage in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Media reports put the number of deaths in the Solomon Islands at eight, though numbers are expected to increase. Some reports are claiming that villages have been "completely wiped out," OCHA said in its first situation report on the emergency. UNICEF has pre-positioned emergency medical supplies in the Solomon Islands for up to 10,000 people including 10 emergency kits, 5 'school in a box' kits and 3 recreation kits. The UNICEF Pacific Emergency Focal Point -- a member of the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team -- will travel to the Islands tomorrow. The Government of the Solomon Islands is expected to make a request for international assistance, OCHA said. 2007-04-02 00:00:00.000

April 1

UN'S NEPAL ENVOY WELCOMES ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERIM GOVERNMENT

New York, Apr 1 2007 3:00PM The senior United Nations envoy to Nepal today hailed the establishment of the country's interim Government, while emphasizing that many challenges lie ahead as preparations continue for elections aimed at cementing the democratic transition in the Himalayan country. "I welcome the establishment of the new interim government as a key moment for the consolidation of Nepal's peace process, and I congratulate the leaders of the eight political parties on their willingness to share responsibilities in this transitional period," Ian Martin, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative said in a statement. He pointed out that a unified Government should be in a stronger position to face the challenges ahead, including "creating conditions for a credible Constituent Assembly election, addressing the legitimate demands of groups in Nepalese society calling for more inclusive democracy, establishing effective law enforcement across the country, and providing for the future of former combatants and a wider reform of the security sector." Mr. Martin pledged the UN's help in ensuring full compliance with the commitments made by the parties to the Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies, as well as to support and monitor the electoral process. "The challenges ahead cannot be overemphasized," Mr. Martin said, welcoming "the renewed commitments intended to create a conducive environment for polls and to provide for more effective monitoring of agreements, which will be crucial in transforming conditions throughout the districts and which the United Nations is committed to assist." He added that success will require effective law enforcement that respects international standards, accountability for violations of citizens' rights, and ending breaches of the commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The Security Council established UNMIN in January to assist with the follow-up to the Nepa planned elections in the impoverished Himalayan country where 10 years of civil war killed around 15,000 people and displaced over 100,000 others. 2007-04-01 00:00:00.000

UN'S KOSOVO ENVOY VOICES CONCERN AT APPARENT ATTACK ON MONASTERY

 New York, Mar 31 2007 9:00PM The senior United Nations envoy to Kosovo has voiced concern about a recent apparent attack on the Deçan/Deæani monastery, which he said holds great value for the province's Serb community, currently outnumbered nine to one by the ethnic Albanian majority. On Friday afternoon, a grenade launcher was found on the hillside overlooking the monastery, and a rocket engine was discovered lodged in one of its outer walls, according to the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). This follows reports of two explosive noises heard by the monks on Friday. The Police and KFOR international forces "are investigating what exactly happened yesterday," said Joachim Rücker, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo. "Violence, especially directed at minority communities, is intolerable and impermissible and has no place in Kosovo," he declared. "The Deæani monastery is a place of immense spiritual importance for the Kosovo Serb community and a treasure for the people of Kosovo and beyond. I expect quick results from the ongoing investigation." The province has been run by the UN since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid fighting and ethnic abuses. A UN envoy on Kosovo's status, Martti Ahtisaari, has presented a report to the Security Council which says that independence is the only option that will foster a politically stable and economically viable Kosovo. 2007-03-31 00:00:00.000

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: MILITARY ABUSES WILL BE PROBED, LEADER TELLS UN OFFICIAL

 New York, Mar 31 2007 9:00PM In the Central African Republic (CAR), where civilians have been caught in the crossfire as rebels fight government troops, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator today said the country's president said any military abuses will be investigated. "The President and I held useful talks on a range of issues, from the urgent and immediate humanitarian needs, to the problems caused by under-development," said Under-Secretary-General John Holmes following his meeting with President François Bozizé in Bangui, the capital. "I emphasized my concern about reports of abuses by all parties against civilians, including the people in the bush with whom I had spoken. President Bozizé told me that any Government military abuses would be investigated and dealt with promptly and correctly." Mr. Holmes was wrapping up a ten-day mission to three countries, including also Chad and Sudan. While in the Central African Republic, the Under-Secretary-General visited several of the worst-affected areas in the country's northwest where civilians have been caught in the midst of the ongoing conflict between government and rebel forces. In the towns of Pendé and Paoua, he saw torched homes and entire deserted villages, and met with some of the thousands of men, women and children who are living in the bush, out of reach of basic amenities such as clean water, medicines, food and proper shelter, because they are too afraid to return to their villages. Roughly 285,000 people in the Central African Republic have been forced to flee from their homes, 150,000 in the last six months alone, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "There is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance, and the international community must increase its financial support for aid agencies providing emergency relief," Mr. Holmes said, pledging also to work towards development in CAR. "The United Nations challenges. But we also recognize that humanitarian action cannot be a substitute for a political solution, which is why I urged the government to step up their efforts aimed at political dialogue." The Emergency Relief Coordinator, who took up his post at the beginning of this month, started his first official mission on 21 March in Sudan. After continuing on to Chad and finally the Central African Republic, he travels back to New York today and is expected to brief the Security Council on Thursday. 2007-03-31 00:00:00.000

IN SOUTH LEBANON, BAN KI-MOON STRESSES NEED FOR EVENTUAL PERMANENT CEASEFIRE

 New York, Mar 31 2007 3:00PM United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today visited South Lebanon, where he voiced hope that a cessation of hostilities in place since the end of last year's 34-day war between Israel and Hizbollah could be transformed into a permanent ceasefire. Responding to questions at a press conference in Naqoura, Mr. Ban said both Israel and Lebanon showed interested in this goal. "It is important that the current cessation of hostilities could be transferred and developed into a permanent ceasefire. I know that Lebanese Government is very much interested. "When I visited Israel, the Israeli Government also expressed such hope, that the current cessation of hostilities could be developed into an agreement of permanent ceasefire, and we are working for that," he said. "This area, Lebanon, unfortunately has been suffering from decades-long wars, and we hope that the Lebanese people and Government will be able to enjoy genuine freedom in a secure and peaceful land," he said. "The United Nations is fully committed to support such efforts by the Lebanese people." He stressed the importance of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) engaging in "close cooperation with the Lebanese Armed forces" and having a "harmonious and cooperative relationship" with the local community. Asked about challenges facing the mission, he acknowledged that there are "some potential threats" adding that in response "UNIFIL members will have to be continuously vigilant." At the same time, he noted that situation is generally calm. "We hope that, with the increased and enhanced capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces and close coordination with UNIFIL, we'll be seeing continuing peace and security here." Mr. Ban said in his meetings in recent days with Lebanese as well as Israeli officials, he was struck by their commitment to Security Council resolution 1701, which mandated an end to the war between Israel and Hizbollah and conside "I was encouraged by the strong commitment of the Lebanese Government to fully comply with this resolution. When I visited Israel, I also urged the Israeli Government to fully comply with this resolution." He also voiced concern about reports of arms smuggling across the border. "I hope and urge that the parties concerned will fully comply with the Security Council resolution, and there needs to be an enhanced maritime capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure that there will be no such smuggling activities," he said. "We are grateful to some members of the international community, particularly the German government who offered such assistance, and as Secretary-General I am going to discuss this matter with other member of the international community who may contribute such assistance." Mr. Ban also paid tribute to the blue helmets operating in the area. "I am very much impressed and moved by all what UNIFIL officers, men and women, have been contributing to preserve peace and security in Lebanon," he said, emphasizing that this is critical also to the stability of the region and the world. 2007-03-31 00:00:00.000

Mar 30

BAN KI-MOON URGES LEBANON'S LEADERS TO SEEK NATIONAL RECONCILIATION THROUGH DIALOGUE

New York, Mar 30 2007 11:00AM United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Lebanon's leaders to engage in dialogue to promote national reconciliation as he continued his first visit to the Middle East as the world's top diplomat. "I know that you are going through a very difficult process for national reconstruction," he said after conferring with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. "The international community, the United Nations, and I, as Secretary-General will always be fully supportive of such efforts and I need also to see some improvements in that regard." While in Lebanon, Mr. Ban is scheduled to visit the enhanced UN peacekeeping mission sent to the country to monitor the cessation of hostilities after last year's 34-day war between Israel and Hizbollah. TheInterim Force is now close to its maximum strength of 15,000, with nearly 13,000 troops and sailors from some 30 countries patrolling on land and sea. Since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701 last August, the peacekeepers have played a key role in monitoring the Israeli withdrawal and in assisting the Lebanese army in deploying in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL also helped the army in establishing an area between the Blue Line, separating Lebanon and Israel, and the Litani River that is free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government and UNIFIL. In addition to its core military mandate, UNIFIL de-miners have destroyed more than 25,000 explosive devices, including rockets, grenades, cluster bombs, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. UNIFIL peacekeepers have continued to provide humanitarian aid to the local population, including medical and dental aid, providing several thousand free health checks and medicine from bases and mobile clinics. UNIFIL, first created by the Security Council in 1978 to confirm an Israeli withdrawal from an ea August following the latest conflict. Mr. Ban discussed the mission with Mr. Berri. "We agreed on the importance of UNIFIL and the excellent cooperation maintained so far with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the people of south Lebanon," he said. The two also discussed "the Tribunal of an international character" to prosecute the suspected killers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, on which the UN and Lebanon signed an agreement in February. At the time Mr. Ban voiced hope that the Government would ratify it in line with the country's constitutional requirements. "I welcome Lebanese national consensus on the tribunal but stress the importance of moving forward on this issue," he said today. "I urged the parties to find a quick solution to this issue while respecting Lebanon's constitutional procedures." Mr. Hariri's murder is being investigated by the International Independent Investigation Commission, established by the Security Council in 2005 after an earlier UN mission found Lebanon's own probe was seriously flawed and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the assassination. 2007-03-30 00:00:00.000

SIX MILLION CHILDREN IMMUNIZED AGAINST MEASLES IN DPR KOREA IN UN-BACKED CAMPAIGN

 New York, Mar 30 2007 10:00AM Six million children in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) aged six months to 15 years have been immunized in the first phase of a United Nations-backed emergency campaign targeting more than 16 million of the country’s 22 million people following a recent outbreak of the sometimes deadly disease. The UN Children’s Fund flew a consignment of vaccine to the DPRK within 14 days of the Government’s declaration of a nationwide measles outbreak in support of the massive campaign earlier this month. The huge undertaking comes in response to a recent outbreak that affected more than 3,500 people, most of them children. Two infants and two adults died and more than 1,000 people were hospitalized, according to reports. The second phase of the campaign, in which the UN World Health Organization (WHO) is also participating, is set to start on 10 April and will aim to reach an additional 10.2 million people between 16 and 45 years of age, UNICEF's Chief of Health and Nutrition in the DPRK Majeed Ezatullah said. Measles, one of the most contagious diseases known, remains a leading cause of death among young children worldwide, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine for the past 40 years. An estimated 345,000 people, the majority of them children, died from the disease in 2005, the latest year for which figures are available.

THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED CHADIANS RUNNING OUT OF FOOD DUE TO FUNDING SHORTFALL – UN

New York, Mar 30 2007 10:00AM Scores of thousands of displaced Chadians are running out of food in the eastern border region with Sudan and face a desperate struggle to survive absent new donations to meet the needs of a rising tide of people uprooted by continuing conflict, the United Nations World Food Programme warned today. “This is not a sustainable situation,” WFP Chad Country Director Felix Bamezon said, noting that even before the latest increase in displaced people the agency’s $85-million Emergency Operation to assist Sudanese refugees, internally displaced people, host communities and refugee-affected local people in eastern Chad from January 2007 until June 2008 had received only $39 million, leaving a 54 per cent shortfall. “Life in eastern Chad has always been precarious, but now tens of thousands of Chadians are being pushed to the breaking point. There is simply not enough food to go around,” he added of the “race against time” to pre-position as much food as possible before the rainy season starts in late June, making most roads impassable. WFP had planned to feed 50,000 displaced Chadians, but it now estimates that an additional 80,000 displaced people are in urgent need of aid, requiring 7,500 metric tons of food at a cost of $7.5 for the next six months. The agency already feeds 225,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad who have fled nearly four years of fighting between the Government, allied militias and rebels seeking greater autonomy in Sudan’s Darfur region, as well as more than 45,000 refugees in southern Chad who have fled fighting and in security in the neighbouring. But then a flood of internal displacements added to the crisis in eastern Chad, fuelled by a series of bloody inter-ethnic attacks, competition for scarce water, grazing land and other resources, reflecting a spill-over of violence from Darfur with armed, mainly Arab attackers on horseback and camels burning African villages, destroying crops, stealing cattle, terrorizing villagers and killing people. “These people were forced to leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” Mr. Bamezon said. “They are completely dependent on host communities who can barely feed themselves, and their living conditions are going from bad to worse.” A recent WFP-led assessment found nearly 130,000 displaced people living on the outskirts of villages – almost three times the number expected – the vast majority living in flimsy shelters patched together from straw or millet stalks that will not survive the rains. One in five families does not even have a roof. Few have access to potable water or latrines, and local health services cannot handle the unexpected flood of new patients. With so many new mouths to feed, local host communities are being forced to kill off their livestock, and WFP fears that soon seed stores will start to be consumed as hunger and rising cereal prices take their toll. 2007-03-30 00:00:00.000

Mar 29

– UN New York, Mar 29 2007 10:00AM Over 12,000 people have fled Somalia’s strife-torn capital, Mogadishu, in just the last week when escalated fighting left at least 24 people dead, bringing the total since the beginning of February to 57,000, according to the latest update from the United Nations refugee agency. “They are hungry and face harassment from thugs, while the mothers worry about their children not being able to go to school,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a news release. “Those who can afford it are looking for a house to rent, but most shelter under trees.” Violence in the capital has increased since the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Mogadishu and much of the rest of the country at the end of last year. Mortar rounds and other fire have since killed many civilians in residential areas and settlements housing 250,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). UNHCR’s local partners said they saw hundreds of people waiting anxiously during the weekend in crowded bus stations or searching for truck drivers to take them out of the city. Others packed their meagre belongings onto donkey-drawn carts and headed for safety. The TFG told civilians to leave certain areas, apparently so that it could step up its offensive against the insurgents. Most people have headed south to the neighbouring Shabelle Hoose (Lower Shabelle) region, according to UNHCR’s local partners. Many are destitute women and children who lack clan support and access to humanitarian aid, including treatment for prevalent health problems such as diarrhoea. Since the beginning of March, 2,250 people have travelled more than 700 kilometres north-east to Galkayo, where UNHCR has a presence. Most reach the town in the autonomous region of Puntland after a jarring truck ride of up to five days. “These people remain at risk even after leaving Mogadishu,” a UNHCR partner said. “They have to travel through illegal road blocks, knowing that their belongings might attract thugs and fearing that they might be killed or see their teenage children be raped or abducted.” In Galkayo, UNHCR Protection Officer Alexander Tyler said most of the new arrivals were women and children with relatives or clan links in the town, where they either stayed with family or moved to one of 14 IDP settlements. Those moving to the settlements arrived with only the most basic household items and depended on other people to support them. “They have to live in the shelters of other IDPs and to ask them for food, which puts further pressure on the limited capacity of Galkayo to cope with already up to 25,000 IDPs,” he added. There are currently an estimated 400,000 IDPs in Somalia, which has been torn apart by factional fighting and has not a functioning central government since 1991. Thousands of others have fled to neighbouring countries. 2007-03-29 00:00:00.000

BUILDING SECTOR CAN PLAY KEY ROLE IN COMBATING GLOBAL WARMING, UN REPORT SAYS

New York, Mar 29 2007 10:00AM The right mix of appropriate government regulation, greater use of energy saving technologies and behavioural change can substantially reduce global-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the building sector, which accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of total energy use, according to a United Nations reported released today. “The savings that can be made right now are potentially huge and the costs to implement them relatively low if sufficient numbers of Governments, industries, businesses and consumers act,” UN Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner said of the measures that range from revamping ventilation systems to replacing the traditional incandescent light bulb. “By some conservative estimates, the building sector worldwide could deliver emission reductions of 1.8 billion tonnes of C02. A more aggressive energy efficiency policy might deliver over 2 billion tonnes or close to three times the amount scheduled to be reduced under the Kyoto Protocol,” he added, referring to the pact setting legally binding emission reduction targets for 35 industrialized countries in the 2008-2012 period. The report – Buildings and Climate Change: Status, Challenges and Opportunities – produced by UNEP’s Sustainable Construction and Building Initiative (SBCI), pushes for greater use of existing technologies like thermal insulation, solar shading and more efficient lighting and electrical appliances. In the lifetime of an average building most energy is consumed not for construction but for heating, cooling, lighting, cooking and ventilation. Typically more than 80 per cent of total energy consumption occurs during use and less than 20 per cent during construction. Citing the example of Europe, the report says more than one fifth of present energy consumption and up to 45 million tonnes of CO2 per year could be saved by 2010 by applying more ambitious standards to new and existing buildings. “Energy efficiency, along with cleaner and renewable forms of energy generation, is one of the pillars upon which a de-carbonized world will stand or fall,” Mr. Steiner said, noting that several countries, including Australia, Cuba and the European Union, are looking to phase out or ban the traditional incandescent light bulb that has been around for well over a century in various forms. The International Energy Agency estimates that a total global switch to compact fluorescent bulbs would, in 2010, deliver C02 savings of 470 million tonnes, or slightly over half of the Kyoto reductions. “We have to ask what the hurdles are, if any, to achieving such positive low cost change and set about decisively and swiftly to overcome them, if they exist at all,” Mr. Steiner said. SBCI Chairman Olivier Luneau added that advanced and expensive high-tech solutions were often not needed. “Simple solutions can include sun shading and natural ventilation, improved insulation of the building envelope, use of recycled building materials, adoption of the size and form of the building to its intended use, etc,” he said. “Of course you can achieve even better results if more sustainable construction system solutions are used, such as intelligent lighting and ventilation systems, low temperature heating and cooling systems and energy saving household appliances.” The report stresses the importance of appropriate government policies on building codes, energy pricing and financial incentives that encourage reductions in energy consumption. In developed countries the main challenge is to achieve emission reduction among mostly existing buildings, and this can largely be done by reducing the use of energy. In other parts of the world, especially places like China where almost 2 billion square meters of new building space is added every year, the challenge is to leapfrog directly to more energy efficient building solutions, the report says. 2007-03-29 00:00:00.000

Mar 28

INDONESIA, UN REACH ACCORD ON BIRD FLU VIRUS SAMPLES AND VACCINE ACCESS

New York, Mar 28 2007 12:00PM Indonesia will immediately resume supplying the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) with viruses from its bird flu outbreak, a vital tool in tracking possible mutations into a deadly human pandemic and producing vaccines, while the agency will seek to ensure access for developing countries to any such commercially developed vaccines. “We have struck a balance between the need to continue the sharing of influenza viruses for risk assessment and for vaccine development, and the need to help ensure that developing countries benefit from sharing without compromising global public health security,” WHO Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases David Heymann said after a two-day meeting in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital. Indonesia, which has suffered more human bird flu fatalities, 63 out of 81 cases, than any other country, had been concerned that developing countries have supplied H5N1 virus to WHO Collaborating Centres for analysis and preparation for vaccine production, but that the resulting vaccines produced by commercial companies are likely to be unavailable to developing countries such as Indonesia. Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari called this system “unfair” and Dr. Heymann said Indonesia had raised “an issue that is very important.” Other attendees at the meeting included experts from some 20 countries which have had animal or human outbreaks, senior scientists and potential funders, including representatives from the Asian Development Bank and the Gates Foundation. The meeting endorsed WHO activities to increase safe and effective pandemic vaccine access, including mobilizing financial support to develop a vaccine stockpile with guidelines for equitable distribution, strengthening national laboratory capacity, and linking vaccine manufacturers in developed and developing countries to speed the transfer of vaccine manufacturing technology. “WHO’s best practices for influenza virus sharing were developed for seasonal influenza vaccine, which only has a market in the developed countries and a few of the developing countries,” Dr. Heymann said. “H5N1 vaccines are a totally different issue. We will now modify our best practices to ensure that they are transparent to the developing countries which are providing samples, and which have requested to share in the benefits resulting from those viruses.” There have so far been 284 confirmed human cases worldwide, 169 of them fatal, the vast majority in South-East Asia. UN officials have been on constant alert to detect any mutation that could make the disease more easily transmissible in humans. Nearly all human cases so far have been traced to contact with infected birds. The so-called Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1920, which also originated from birds, is estimated to have killed from 20 million to 40 million people worldwide. More than 200 million birds have died from either the virus or preventive culling in the current outbreak. 2007-03-28 00:00:00.000

MYANMAR: UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT CALLS FOR RELEASE OF PRIZE-WINNING JOURNALIST AND POET

 New York, Mar 28 2007 12:00PM The United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in Myanmar appealed to the Government to release the distinguished poet and journalist U Win Tin who is the country’s longest serving political prisoner, having been jailed for nearly 18 years and all other political prisoners. “The path to which the Government has committed itself is one in which there is no place for political prisoners,” the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro said in a statement yesterday. “Rather, processes of national reconciliation and democratic transition are invariably facilitated by the release of all political prisoners.” U Win Tin, who earlier this month spent his 77th birthday in a prison cell in Yangon, is a Laureate of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Press Freedom Award, among other international accolades. He is a “human rights defender and democracy advocate whose commitment to the cause of democracy, freedom of speech and human rights have earned him the support and respect of people around the world striving to promote and protect these values,” Mr. Pinheiro said. Since he was originally imprisoned in 1989, U Win Tin has been sentenced three times, each time while behind bars. Currently, he is serving a seven year sentence following a letter he wrote to the UN about the ill treatment and poor conditions of political prisoners. There are over 1,200 political prisoners in Myanmar, several of whom are now elderly or in poor health and in urgent need of medical attention, according to the statement. U Win Tin, who has been held for extended periods of time in solitary confinement, is one of many detainees whose state of health has deteriorated partly due to detention conditions and who should be freed on humanitarian grounds alone. 2007-03-28 00:00:00.000

MALE CIRCUMCISION IS IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL STEP IN CUTTING HIV INFECTION

– UN New York, Mar 28 2007 11:00AM Male circumcision should be recognized as an additional important step in curbing heterosexually acquired HIV in men after trials showed that the procedure cut the risk of infection by up to 60 per cent, the United Nations health agency said today. Modelling studies suggest that male circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa could prevent 5.7 million new HIV cases and 3 million deaths over 20 years, the UN World Health Organization WHO) added, summarizing the findings of an experts meeting it convened earlier this month together with the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS UNAIDS). But circumcision should only be considered as part of a comprehensive prevention package that includes treatment for sexually transmitted infections, promotion of safer sex practices and provision and correct use of male and female condoms. “The recommendations represent a significant step forward in HIV prevention,” Kevin De Cock, Director of WHO’s HIV/AIDS Department, said. “Countries with high rates of heterosexual HIV infection and low rates of male circumcision now have an additional intervention which can reduce the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual men. “Scaling up male circumcision in such countries will result in immediate benefit to individuals. However, it will be a number of years before we can expect to see an impact on the epidemic from such investment,” he added. Three randomized controlled trials in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa provide strong evidence that male circumcision cuts the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by about 60 per cent, supporting numerous observational studies showing that the correlation between lower HIV prevalence and high rates of male circumcision in some countries in Africa is, at least in part, a causal association. Currently 665 million men, or 30 per cent of men worldwide, are estimated to be circumcised. But counselling of men and their sexual partners is necessary to prevent them from developing a false sense of security and engaging in high-risk behaviours that could undermine the partial protection provided by circumcision, WHO stressed. “Being able to recommend an additional HIV prevention method is a significant step towards getting ahead of this epidemic,” Catherine Hankins, Associate Director of UNAIDS Department of Policy, Evidence and Partnerships, said. “However, we must be clear: male circumcision does not provide complete protection against HIV. “Men and women who consider male circumcision as an HIV preventive method must continue to use other forms of protection such as male and female condoms, delaying sexual debut and reducing the number of sexual partners,” she added. The risks involved in male circumcision are generally low, but can be serious if it is undertaken in unhygienic settings by poorly trained providers or with inadequate instruments. Wherever the service is offered, training and certification of providers as well as careful evaluation of programmes will be needed. A significant public health impact is likely to occur most rapidly if male circumcision is first provided where the incidence of heterosexually acquired HIV is high, and countries with generalized heterosexual HIV epidemics but low male circumcision rates should consider urgently scaling up access to the procedure. In view of the large potential public health benefit, countries should also consider providing the services free of charge or at the lowest possible cost to the client. The experts’ meeting, held 6-8 March in Montreux, Switzerland, was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, civil society, researchers, human rights and women’s health advocates, young people, funding agencies and implementing partners. 2007-03-28 00:00:00.000

PROVINCIAL HAITIAN HOSPITAL TO HAVE YEAR-ROUND CLEAN WATER THANKS TO UN PROJECT

 New York, Mar 28 2007 11:00AM A provincial hospital in Haiti near the country’s border with the Dominican Republic will now enjoy a continual supply of clean water thanks to the United Nations peacekeeping mission, just one of the 300 so-called Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) it has financed in the past three years to improve life in the impoverished Caribbean country. Every year the Sainte Thérèse hospital in Hinche has faced a shortage during the dry season while floods during the rainy season can contaminate drinking water supplies. But no longer. The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) has funded a project to build a reservoir with wells to stock underground water and a series of gutters on the hospital’s roof to gather rainwater. The project is the third such QIP related to water that MINUSTAH has financed in Hinche. Overall 68 of the 300 QIPs in the country have been water-related, for a total amount of more than $620,000. QIPs are widely viewed as being among the most effective tools used by UN missions around the world to help local communities at ground level and at low cost, from repairing leaking roofs in schools in Georgia to opening a vocational centre in Liberia to refurbishing sanitation facilities in Burundi. In Haiti, MINUSTAH, set up in 2004 to help re-establish peace after an insurgency forced President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to go into exile, has focused on a wide range of such projects, from resurrecting a provincial library in the in Fort-Liberté, the main town in the north-east, to rehabilitating schools and laying out sports fields in formerly violence-ridden neighbourhoods it has helped rid of armed criminal gangs. 2007-03-28 00:00:00.000

CONCERNED AT FOOD SHORTFALL IN DPR KOREA, UN AGENCY SEEKS TO INCREASE AID

 New York, Mar 28 2007 10:00AM Facing a huge shortfall in the $102 million it has already sought to feed up to 1.9 million especially vulnerable people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations World Food Programme today appealed for an immediate increase in funding from donor nations just to avert a further deterioration of the situation. “We are losing ground in the struggle against hunger in the DPRK,” WFP Asia Regional Director Tony Banbury said at the end of six-day visit during which Government officials indicated that the country faced a shortfall of 1 million metric tons of food. “Last year’s harvest was smaller due in part to summer flooding and that, combined with major reductions in international assistance, has left millions of North Koreans more vulnerable to food insecurity. People are going hungry as we head into the lean season. It’s time for WFP and the donors to respond,” he added. Despite steady improvements after the famine years of the mid to late 1990s, having enough to eat is still a daily struggle for one-third to one-half of the 23 million North Koreans. In 2006, the situation again started to deteriorate because of June and August flooding of critical cropland and major reductions in WFP and bilateral food aid. WFP ended 10 years of emergency aid during which it mobilized more than 4 million tons of food valued at $1.7 billion in 2005 after the Government, citing better harvests and concerns about the emergence of a dependency culture and the intrusiveness of monitoring, said it would accept only aid addressing medium- and long-term needs. But last May WFP reached an agreement with the Government on new working arrangements, including some on-site monitoring, for the $102-million two-year deal. But to date, donations amount to less than 20 per cent of that amount. “The Government officials I met indicated a new openness toward an increase of food assistance for the DPRK through WFP,” Mr. Banbury said on his return to Beijing from Pyongyang, the DPRK capital. “I am concerned about the well-being of the people we are supposed to be helping but are not able to reach due to lack of resources, and I am concerned about millions more who need our help, who struggle to feed themselves day in and day out. Increased WFP food assistance would help address the pressing needs of the children and pregnant and nursing women that WFP is trying to help, but only if we get much-needed contributions soon,” he added. During visit Mr. Banbury spent three days in North Phyongan province and visited 12 WFP food delivery sites, an orphanage, a child centre, a paediatric hospital and a boarding school. 2007-03-28 00:00:00.000

Mar 26

PRESIDENT ABBAS IS READY FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE, BAN KI-MOON SAYS IN RAMALLAH

 New York, Mar 25 2007 3:00PM United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today in Ramallah offered full support for plans by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for achieving Statehood, and stressed that the current critical juncture opens a window of opportunity for peace in the region. "President Abbas, you have shown an unwavering commitment to achieving the self-determination and an independent State for the Palestinian people," Mr. Ban said at a joint press conference given by the two men. "Today, you have explained to me your plans for advancing this goal: unity among Palestinians; negotiations with Israel; a two-State solution; a permanent settlement of all of the issues, including Jerusalem, refugees, borders, and settlements; an end to the conflict with Israel; comprehensive peace between Israel and all Arab countries." Mr. Ban told reporters that he had offered President Abbas support for these endeavors. "His vision of peace is consistent with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. I welcomed President Abbas' commitment to the Road Map, and his desire to advance its implementation," the Secretary-General said, referring to an outline peace plan put forward by the diplomatic Quartet -- the UN, Russian Federation, United States and European Union -- for achieving a two-State solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace. "I encourage this new Government, and I very much hope that its actions will show a genuine commitment to the basic principles not only of the Quartet, but of peace," Mr. Ban said. "Its immediate priorities should be to stabilize the situation in Gaza through releasing the captured Israeli soldier, consolidating the ceasefire, and bringing law and order back to the streets. Such steps would address vital Palestinian interests, and would be strongly welcomed by the international community." The Secretary-General said he and President Abbas "also discussed the importance o revenue, ease the closure and checkpoints, freeze all settlement activity, remove outposts, and cease construction of the barrier in occupied Palestinian territory." He added that he would be encouraging Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on those issues during their scheduled talks tomorrow, "as well as hearing his concerns and plans." "Above all, President Abbas and I agreed on the importance of this moment," the Secretary-General said, citing a unity government that supports President Abbas negotiating with Israel; renewed dynamism in the Arab world based on the Arab Peace Initiative; and the efforts of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to advance dialogue. The Secretary-General acknowledged the difficulties while voicing cautious optimism. "Progress will be very hard. The obstacles are enormous. Achieving peace will require all parties to go further than they have before. But it can and must be done. And my message to Israel and to the world from here in Ramallah is that I am convinced that President Abbas is ready." Addressing himself to the Palestinian people, Mr. Ban pledged the UN's continued support. "I have seen for myself the challenges that the Palestinian people face every day, and I have been moved by what I have seen this morning," he said. "My determination to ensure that we continue our support to the Palestinian people has been fortified. So has my conviction that we must find a political solution to this painful conflict. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I will work tirelessly in that cause." 2007-03-25 00:00:00.000

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON IRAN TO COMPLY WITH SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS ON NUCLEAR FILE

New York, Mar 25 2007 3:00PM One day after the Security Council tightened the sanctions it has imposed against Iran over its uranium-enrichment activities, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for the country to take steps to restore trust that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. In a statement released by his spokesperson in New York, the Secretary-General noted "with satisfaction" that the Council had acted unanimously in adopting Resolution 1747, which imposed a ban on arms sales and expanded the assets freeze against Iran. He called on the Iran "to fully implement the resolution's provisions and to urgently take the necessary steps to restore the international community's trust that its nuclear programme is peaceful in nature," according to the statement. "The Secretary-General believes that a negotiated solution would strengthen the international non-proliferation regime and hopes that dialogue will resume on this issue of paramount importance." Iran's nuclear programme has been a matter of international concern ever since the discovery in 2003 that it had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the NPT. At yesterday's Security Council meeting, Iran's Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, rejected the resolution as a politically motivated scheme to deprive the country's people of their rights.

COUNTRIES MUST RATIFY ANTI-DOPING PACT IF THEY WANT TO HOST OLYMPIC GAMES – UNESCO

 New York, Mar 26 2007 11:00AM The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today hailed a call by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to render cities in countries that have not ratified the UN anti-doping treaty ineligible to host the Olympic Games. “I heartily welcome the IOC’s proposition, which UNESCO will completely support,” agency Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura in a statement, calling on the international community to speed up ratification of the Convention Against Doping in Sport, which promotes no-advance-notice, out-of-competition and in-competition testing. “It is already remarkable that the next three Olympic Games – Beijing in 2008, Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012 – will be held in countries that have ratified the Convention,” he added. The treaty, the first binding and universal legal instrument seeking to eliminate doping in sport, came into force last month after receiving its 30th ratification, following its unanimous adoption by the UNESCO’s General Conference in October 2005. It imposes uniform rules, tests and sanctions worldwide and gives fresh emphasis to raising public awareness of the scourge. To date, 48 countries have ratified it. “This mobilization must be pursued, and all efforts must be made to ensure that the ideals of the Olympic movement are supported by the aspirations expressed in UNESCO’s Convention against Doping in Sport, especially ahead of the Games of 2014 and 2016,” Mr. Matsuura said. He also welcomed the present process of reviewing the World Anti-Doping Code with the aim of linking the organization of any international sporting event to the ratification of UNESCO’s Convention. “This measure bears witness to the strong backing the world of sport is lending to the fight against doping and to the effective implementation of the principles of harmonization and cooperation that are at the heart of the Convention,” he added. 2007-03-26 00:00:00.000

 UNITED NATIONS NEWS 

Posted by Bill at 09:13 AM | Permalink

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Mar 25

The DUB Show kicked off its 2007 US 16 city tour in Los Angeles , a hop skip and a jump from DUB’s Southern California headquarters with 30,000 attendees and the hottest custom rides seen in the past year of any car show.

Promoted as The World’s Largest Custom Auto Show and Concert Tour, we would have to agree. With the concert portion to that, and the possibility to see all-star performances with Ludacris amongst other musical performances for the cost of entry and it’s no mystery why there were crowds standing outside in excess of an hour, if they were lucky enough to get in, and parking escalated to $40 a car.

The overall customization of most of the rides were far superior to any car show attended, whether it was the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Hot Import Nights, the Los Angeles Auto Show amongst others.

Customized rides included DUB’s Alpine Imprint Mercedes RLS unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas , celebrity cars, sponsored cars, and cars from car clubs so customized that they are art on wheels. Two owners, we’d spoken with which had been awarded first place in their categories, had spent 2-1\2 years customizing their rides and an investment 2-3 times the initial price of the car.

Hot on the customized show gloss rides were airbrushing, custom upholstery with many Coach details, plenty of monitors, gullwing doors, and hoods that opened with a zig zag clamshell.

DUB’s next tour stop in on April 29^th in Phoenix , Arizona . Our advice, go early,

The tour kick-off this past Sunday March18th set the perfect tone for the 2007 show series with DUB Magazine's largest show in it's seven year history. More than 30,000 attendees crammed into the Los Angeles Convention Center to see a collection of the nation's hottest custom rides and the all star concert performances. It was the largest automotive event to ever hit Los Angeles !

With more than $15 million worth of exotic cars, luxury sedans, sport compacts, 4x4's, and motorcycles on display, the DUB show in L.A. was the only place to see such a diversity in customs under one roof. Highlights included Alpine's debut of the $1 million Imprint Mercedes RLS, as well as a huge roster of exotics including the Mercedes Benz SLR, McLaren 722, Ferrari Enzo, and dozens of vehicles from Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley and many others. Also on display were the new line-up of DUB Edition customs such as the Dodge Nitro and Caliber, Chrysler Aspen, Chevy Tahoe, and the hot new Wrangler Unlimited on 30-inch TIS:M wheels. Another DUB show staple is the celebrity car showcase which this time featured rides from Gwen Stefani, Matt Leinart, and Danity Kane just to name a few.

The all-star concert lit up the convention center capacity crowd with performances from the LAX Boys, Baby Bash, Jim Jones, Bone Thugs 'n Harmony, Hot Dollar with Guerilla Black, Mike Jones, and Ludacris, with a special unannounced performance from Chris Brown! Among the many celebrities roaming the show floor were football stars Matt Leinart & Smush Parker, Vida Guerra, Chris Brown, Sergio Mora, Will I Am, Bernard Hopkins, Rampage, and Korn's Fieldy.

Our sincerest apologies to those who waited outside of the convention hall and were turned away when the show was announced as sold out in the early afternoon. In the effort to produce an even better show for 2008, next year's L.A. show will be pre-sale tickets only, to ensure a smoother experience to those who wish to attend.

Hot cars, hot music, hot models and our own Joyce Chow all on display.

(C) MBN 2007 William Hoehne

Posted by Bill at 11:52 AM | Permalink

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Mar 24

(C) Warners Brothers all rights reserved

Posted by Bill at 06:43 PM | Permalink

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April 1

Selction from Burger King Dollar Menu

Coca Cola® (Small)
French Fries - salted (Small)
Side Garden Salad *
WHOPPER JR.® with Cheese

Calories

410
140
230
15
795 

Senior Cost was $3.79. You should always use the senior menu if possible when out eating, for pennies, nickles and dimes mout up over a month.

It is also always best to eat in rather then use the drive thru. You can take your time, refill your drink and eat not swallow the meal.

The burger once again was about as could be expected, the fries not as good as Burger King but the salad with Garlic Parmesan Croutons, and Ranch Dressing were a great addition.

The lowest cost item on the menu was a Whopper Jr. medium fries and a medium drink at $3.99.

As you can see the individual pricing is a bargin.

Mar 24

Selection from Jack in the Box Value Menu.

Junior Bacon Cheeseburger

SM Fanta® Strawberry

Natural Cut Fries - small

TOTAL 649.8 of weight

846.8 calories per serving

The food was about what you could expect in a fast food business, it was fast.

The strawberry drink was the best drink on the menu. The burger was slightly filling if not the best tasting burger I have ever ate. The French Fries were of natural cut and bland compared to current McDonald's fries.

The cost of  what I chose from the value menu came to a total cost of $3.65 at the store I ate at. When compared to a value meal it was more then $1.30 cheaper then the least expensive meal which would have been of medium size meaning you get slightly larger portions but not enough to really make a difference or to justify the extra cost.

They have a 99-cent Big Cheeseburger, which features a jumbo beef patty and two kinds of melting cheese. The Big Cheeseburger joins a variety of items priced under a dollar on the chain's Value Menu, including the Jumbo Jack® hamburger, Jack's Western Cheeseburger, Chicken Sandwich, two tacos and Breakfast Jack® sandwich, to name a few.

The main thing about fast food is that it is meant to be fast food. If you want more nutritious meals and slower cooked then you should go to a full service restaurant not a fast food.

Jack in the Box Inc. (NYSE:JBX), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box restaurants, one of the nation's largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,000 restaurants in 17 states. The company also operates a proprietary chain of convenience stores called Quick Stuff , with more than 50 locations, each built adjacent to a full-size Jack in the Box restaurant and including a major-brand fuel station. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill , an emerging leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 300 restaurants in 40 states. For more information, visit www.jackinthebox.com.

At the time of writing shares are up 10% to $71.39 with over 1.2 million in volume. This momentum comes as Jack in the Box Inc. (NYSE:JBX) reported record earnings for the first quarter ended Jan. 21, 2007, which increased to $37.4 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, compared with $25.2 million, or 70 cents per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

MarketGainer.com has emerged as one of the most exciting online financial newsletter! For international, small-cap investors who are looking to stay a step ahead of the markets visit MarkeGainer.com.

First quarter earnings exceeded the high end of the range previously forecast by the company and analysts' First Call consensus estimate of 81 cents. The improvement was due primarily to the following, in approximate amounts:

+17 cents from higher sales and restaurant operating margin at Jack in the Box.

+4 cents from a lower tax rate.

+4 cents due to the rollout of new employee uniforms, which was originally anticipated to be completed in the first quarter and instead began in the second quarter.

-3 cents from financing costs related to retiring the company's previous credit facility.

"The outstanding first-quarter performance reflects continued execution of our strategic initiatives to profitably grow the company, expand franchising and reinvent the Jack in the Box brand," said Linda A. Lang, chairman and chief executive officer.

First quarter financial highlights

Same-store sales at Jack in the Box company restaurants increased 5.6 percent in the first quarter, with an increase in both average check and transactions, compared with a year-ago increase of 5.5 percent. System same-store sales at Qdoba Mexican Grill increased 4.1 percent in the first quarter on top of a 7.9 percent increase in the first quarter of 2006.

Restaurant operating margin improved to 18.4 percent of sales in the first quarter compared with 16.4 percent a year ago, due primarily to higher sales in 2007 and lower food costs - principally beef, chicken, cheese and produce - as well as expense control, lower utility costs and fixed-cost leverage on same-store sales growth.

SG&A expense rate in the first quarter decreased to 10.4 percent of revenues compared with 11.0 percent last year, which included approximately 30 basis points related to the settlement of a legal matter.

Ten company and franchised Jack in the Box restaurants opened in the first quarter, along with 2 new Quick Stuff convenience stores, compared with 4 new restaurants and 2 Quick Stuff sites opened in the same quarter a year ago. Qdoba opened 29 company and franchised restaurants in the first quarter compared with 23 locations opened in the same quarter a year ago. At Jan. 21, the company's system total comprised 2,088 company and franchised Jack in the Box restaurants, including 57 with Quick Stuff convenience stores, and 344 company and franchised Qdoba restaurants.

Gains on sale of company-operated restaurants were $7.2 million in the first quarter from the sale of 15 Jack in the Box company restaurants to franchisees. In the first quarter of fiscal 2006, gains on sale of company-operated restaurants totaled $6.7 million from the sale of 17 Jack in the Box company restaurants to franchisees. The difference in average gains is related to the specific sales and cash flows of restaurants sold. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, and as noted in the attached consolidated statements of earnings, the company is reporting gains as a discrete line item, reclassified within operating costs and expenses rather than within other revenues, as previously presented. Last year's gains on sale of company-operated restaurants to franchisees have also been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

The effective tax rate in the first quarter was 35.6 percent versus 37.0 percent a year ago, with the decrease due primarily to the retroactive reinstatement of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program.

Capital expenditures, including capital lease obligations, were $40.1 million in the quarter compared with $40.3 million in fiscal 2006.

First quarter initiatives

Jack in the Box continues to execute its strategy to holistically reinvent the Jack in the Box brand through major changes to its menu, restaurant environment and guest service.

Menu additions in the first quarter included the following products:

Sirloin Steak 'n' Cheddar Ciabatta Sandwich, which features tender, marinated, 100-percent sirloin steak on toasted ciabatta bread with cheddar cheese, red onions, tomatoes and green leaf lettuce topped with a creamy peppercorn mayo.

Bacon Breakfast Jack(TM), which combines a fried egg, American cheese and crispy bacon on a soft bun.

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, which feature mozzarella cheese coated in crunchy, herb-and-spice breading and served with a side of zesty marinara sauce.

Chocolate Oreo Cookie Shake, which blends bits of Oreo cookies with real vanilla ice cream and bittersweet chocolate syrup.

"While we continue to offer great product variety at a tremendous value, Jack in the Box is also a leader in menu innovation and quality with new products like our Steak 'n' Cheddar Ciabatta Sandwich and Mozzarella Cheese Sticks," Lang said. "When combined with our guest-service initiatives and restaurant re-image program, Jack in the Box is a much more compelling brand than it was just a few years ago."

In the first quarter, Jack in the Box became the first major quick-serve chain to install contactless credit card readers at all company restaurants. With this new technology, guests at the service counters and drive-thru windows can pay simply by holding their MasterCard PayPass(TM), Visa Contactless, American Express or Discover Network card in front of a small device, which processes the transaction via radio frequency.

Jack in the Box expanded its reloadable Jack Ca$h(TM) card program in the first quarter to include a retail component: The cards are now available at grocery chains such as Safeway, Albertsons, Randalls and Tom Thumb stores.

Also in the first quarter, the company continued re-imaging its Jack in the Box restaurants with a comprehensive program that includes a complete redesign of the dining room and common areas. Interior finishes include ceramic tile floors, a mix of seating styles ranging from booths and bars to high-top round tables, decorative pendant lighting, and graphics and wall collages. The program also includes music, uniforms, menu boards and packaging, along with new paint schemes, landscaping and other exterior enhancements. The company remains on track to re-image 150-200 restaurants in fiscal 2007 and expects to complete the program in 4-5 years.

Posted by Bill at 03:09 PM | Permalink

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Mar 22

WARNER BROS. PICTURES and THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY Present

An IMAGI ANIMATION STUDIOS Production

CAST

Casey ........................................................................ Chris Evans

April O’Neil..................................................... Sarah Michelle Gellar

Splinter .............................................................................. Mako

Diner Cook..................................................................Kevin Smith

Winters.................................................................. Patrick Stewart

Karai ............................................................................Ziyi Zhang

Narrated by...................................................... Laurence Fishburne

Donatello.............................................................Mitchell Whitfield

Leonardo ........................................................ James Arnold Taylor

Michelangelo .............................................................. Mikey Kelley

Raphael / Nightwatcher.................................................Nolan North

Colonel Santino........................................................ John DiMaggio

General Serpiente ......................................................Paula Mattioli

General Aguila .......................................... Kevin Michael Richardson

General Gato..........................................................Fred Tatasciore

ADDITIONAL VOICES

Dee Baker Jess Harnell

Greg Baldwin Phil LaMarr

Jeff Bennett Kevin Michael Richardson

Jim Cummings Paul Michael Robinson

Grey Delisle Tara Strong

Chris Edgerly Fred Tatasciore

Kim Mai Guest Billy West

Jennifer Hale Mitchell Whitfield

BACKGROUND VOICES (Wallah)

Jason Broad Tracy Metro

Willow Geer David Michie

Andy Hirsch David J. Randolph

Barbara Iley Vernon Scott

Terry Maratos Andreana Weiner

Jeremy Maxwell

FILMMAKERS

Written and Directed by ..............................................Kevin Munroe

Produced by .......................................................... Thomas K. Gray

H. Galen Walker

Paul Wang

Executive Producers ..................................................... Francis Kao

Peter Laird

Gary Richardson

Frederick U. Fierst

Co-Producer ...................................................................... Felix Ip

Line Producer ....................................................... Michael J. Arnold

Based on Characters Created by...................................... Peter Laird

Kevin Eastman

Music by .................................................................... Klaus Badelt

Music Supervisor.....................................................Julianne Jordan

Editor ................................................................John Damien Ryan

Production Designer .................................................. Simon Murton

Visual Effects Supervisor ..................................................... Kith Ng

Supervising Animator......................................................... Kim Ooi

Casting by.....................................................Dawn Hershey, C.S.A.

Creative Consultant....................................................... Peter Laird

Assistant Director........................................................ Tom Tanaka

Director of Photography ..............................................Steve Lumley

Additional Animation Supervisor ......................................Colin Brady

STORY

STORYBOARD ARTISTS

Trevor Goring Sean Song

Anson Jew Simeon Wilkins

Chris Rutkowski Chap Yaep

David Schwartz

Production Coordinator .............................................Vahe Kallibjian

ART DEPARTMENT

Production Supervisors ............Leung Shuk Fan, Will Maurer, Kris Zhai

Assistant to Art Director..............................................Greg Bartkus

CHARACTER DESIGN

Lead Designer ............................................................ Jeff Matsuda

CHARACTER DESIGN ARTISTS

Jose Lopez Rhoydon Shishido

Kevin Munroe Tom Tanaka

Thomas N. Perkins Dave Wilkins

ENVIRONMENT DESIGN ARTISTS

James Alles Ben Proctor

Julian Ashby Spencer Shum

Augusto Barranco Terry Sit

Andy Chung Dawn Snyder

Jeff Julian Alex Tavoularis

Steve Jung Francis Tsai

William Law Feng Zhu

Eric Mahady

PROP DESIGN ARTISTS

Julian Ashby Byron Penaranda

Augusto Barranco Thomas N. Perkins

COLOR DESIGN ARTISTS

Brian Beppu Dave McCaig

Steve Jung Anthony Washington

Graffiti Design Artist ..................................................... Seth Wilder

Graphic Design Artist..................................................Adam Tankell

Matte Painting .............................................................. Steve Jung

Production Coordinators...Jonathan Christopher Carlos, Joseph Shamel

Production Assistants........ Carlos Jacinto, Robert Royds, Mark Sullivan

U.S. LAYOUT

Layout Supervisor ..................................................... Adam Holmes

Production Supervisor................................Emerald Wong, Jojo Chuk

LAYOUT ARTISTS

Joshua Gunther Ira Shain

Earl Hibbert Tim Soman

Edmund Kozin Charles Trebino

Samir Patel Sammy Wong

Donald Reich

POST PRODUCTION

Post Production Supervisor ....................................... Brad Arensman

1st Assistant Editor ...................................................Brett McCarthy

Production Assistant......................................................Sean Coyle

Sound Editorial and Re-Recording by

Warner Bros. Studio Facilities

SOUND DESIGN AND SUPERVISION

Cameron Frankley

Re-Recording Mixers............................... Ron Bartlett, D.M. Hemphill

Recordist ................................................................. Eric Flickinger

First Assistant Sound Editor .......................................... Jon Michaels

Sound Designers................................Ai-Ling Lee, Jason W. Jennings

Randall Kelley, Doug Jackson

Dialogue Director .................................................. Jamie Thomason

Supervising ADR Editor .................................................. Petra Bach

ADR Editors................................... David V. Butler, Russell Farmarco

ADR Mixer....................................................... Thomas J. O’Connell

ADR Recordist.............................................................. Rick Canelli

Supervising Foley Editor...........................................Ryan B. Juggler

Sound Effects Recording........................................... John Paul Fasal

Foley Artists ...... John Roesch, Alyson Moore, David Fein, Hilda Hodges

Foley Mixer .............................................. Mary Jo Lang, David Jobe

Foley Recordists...................................... Scott Morgan, Eric Hosmer

Additional ADR Recorded at ....................... LA Studios, Margarita Mix

Additional ADR Recording Engineers......................... Carlos Sotolongo

Wouter VanHerwerden, David Atherton

Casting Associate.........................................................Dave Lieber

Group Wallah Casting by ........................................... Barbara Harris

MUSIC

Score Co-Produced by......................................... Christopher Brooks

Music Editor ...............................................................Curtis Roush

Score Recorded and Mixed by ........................................Joel Iwataki

Score Recorded at...................Eastwood Scoring Stage, Warner Bros.

Additional Recording at ............................................ Groovemasters

Orchestra Conductor....................................................William Ross

Additional Recording Engineer.................................Nathaniel Kunkel

Assistant Engineer........................................ Christopher Carmichael

Orchestration / Music Preparation by...............................Robert Elhai

Orchestrators .............................Jeff Toyne, Brad Warnaar, Dana Niu

Additional Orchestrators.............................Kyle Batter, Kevin Kleisch

Synth Orchestration, Arranging ............ Ian Honeyman, Andrew Raiher

and Programming John Ashton Thomas, Tobias Marberger

Music Contractors.............................Sandy De Crescent, Peter Rotter

Music Preparation by ................................................ Eric Stonerook

Featured Drums....................................................... Russell Kunkel

Featured Guitar.......................................................George Doering

Featured Shakuhachi ........................................Masakazu Yoshizawa

Featured Erhu................................................................Karen Han

Assistant to Klaus Badelt..........................................Jamie Bukowski

Technical Advisor .............................................. Alexander Reumers

Music Clearances.................................................. Christine Bergren

Digital Intermediate and Opticals by

Technicolor Digital Intermediates

Digital Film Colorist ......................................................Tony Dustin

Digital Intermediate Producer ...................................... Allyse Manoff

Imaging Technicians..........Steve Hodge, Kevin Schwab, John Herndon

Digital QC .........Wilson Tang, LaNelle Mason, Brad Sutton, Erin Nelson

Color Timer ...............................................................Terry Claborn

Continuity Script...................................Susan Bliss, Spot-On Scripts

Unit Photographers.................................... Justin Lubin, Sam Urdank

Production Accounting ............. Solomon Sebastian, Stephan Rothman

Production Office Manager.................................... Sharon Thompson

Assistant to the Producers .............................................. Howard Ho

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Digital Supervisor...................................................... Adam Holmes

Technical Support ..............................David McClure, Kenneth Wilder

Hong Kong Studio

Head of Studio............................................................. Edward Lee

Head of Production.............................................................Mo Mou

Senior Studio Advisors ..................................................... Terry Tse

Raymond Yip

Production Managers ....................................................Justine Lam

Jojo Chuk

CREATIVE & ART (HK)

Art Directors............................................. Mon Cheung, Ahtam Tam

Assistant Art Directors ........................... Chan Chi Fai, Spencer Shum

SENIOR CONCEPT ARTISTS

Spencer Shum Chan Chi Fai

Lau Yun Sang Yiu Chi Shing

CONCEPT ARTISTS

Lau Yun Sang

Harley Cheung

Law Kwong Wing

Yiu Chi Shing

Cathy Leung

Li Tin Lun

Den Mark Wong

Jack Lee

Chan Chi Fai

Harley Cheung

Chu Pok Man

Karis Lau

MATTE PAINTERS

Lee Wai Sum

Jack Lee

Den Mark Wong

Production Coordinators ......... Chan Ka Chun, Hui Kai Man, Cherie Mak

CHARACTER MODELING & RIGGING

Department Supervisors........................Chow Kin Man, Stephen Tong

Yip Wai Kit, German Cheung

Production Supervisors ..........................Ricardo Leung, Carson Wong

SENIOR MODELERS

Alphen Cham Lee Yin Lun

Chan Shi Chiu Lee Shing Pan

Steve Chan Man Kwok Chu

Kevin Lau Loafer Sham

MODELERS

Chan Chi Chung Lee Shu Shing

Jerffy Chan Leung Wan Ching

Chan Yam Jun Jason Li

Chan Chi Kit Lo Pui Kwan

David Chau Ngan Wing Yu

Chong Hai Ling Sy Chin Pang

Leo Fok Joseph Wong

Yip Ka Ho Wong Tsang Keung

Dave Kwok Wong Yiu Hong

Lam Tai Hang Aries Wu

Lau Ho Lun Raymond Yip

Sinna Law Yip Ka Ho

Dennis Lee

Production Coordinator ...................................................Anita Poon

MODELING – BACKGROUND & PROPS (HK)

Department Supervisor......................................... Wong Kwok Yuen

Production Supervisor.................................................Yuen Wing Fa

SENIOR MODELERS

Chu Chi Leong Shum Ping Shun

Ben Lau Wong Chung Wai

Mansz Man

MODELERS

Ho Yiu Fung Lo Lai Yi

Ho Yu Fung Matt Lo

Ho Yeuk Yu Terry Sit

Jovi Kwan Tsang Shin Dai

Lee Wai Cheung Wong Pak Kin

Cyril Li Yeung Chi Hang

Technical Director .................................................. Cheng Hei Chun

Production Coordinator .................................................. Lorraine Ip

CHARACTER SURFACING

Department Supervisor ................................................ Lau Chi Ping

Production Supervisors ..........................Ricardo Leung, Carson Wong

SENIOR SURFACERS

Cheung Hoi Lam Bonnie Tang

Lomeo Cheung Ng Hoi Tong

Sandy Poon Wong Lai Shan

SURFACERS

Ankoe Chan Nick Li

Yuki Chan Canny Sheh

Ho Chun Fai Sin Chun Sing

Annie Kwok Alice Tang

Lee Ning Andy Tse

Yoko Lee

Technical Director ...................................................... Ip Weng Hon

Production Coordinator .....................................................Jet Wong

BACKGROUND & PROPS SURFACING

Department Supervisor .................................................Herbert Law

Production Supervisor.................................................Yuen Wing Fa

SENIOR BACKGROUND SURFACERS

Lee Kam Shing Wong Chi Wai

Shiu Wai Hang Samuel Yeung

Andy Wong

BACKGROUND SURFACERS

Chan Po Yuen Lo Lok Kin

Annisa Chan Steven Shum

Tommy Chan Tang Kwok Wai

Chau Sze Heung Tse Wing Fai

Cheung Ngai Wong Sau Ming

Chow Kei Yin Yau Wai Hung

Chung Ting Yip Tin Hang

Lam Ching Yee Yip Yuen Wai

Lee Hiu Yu Yip Ho Bun

Anthony Lee Venus Yung

Technical Director .......................................................... Wan Shun

Production Coordinator ............................................. Wong Yuk Nga

ADDITIONAL LAYOUT

Department Supervisor ...................................................... Kim Ooi

Consultant ...............................................................Wong Kin Man

SENIOR ANIMATORS

Matthew Chan Tse Chi Lun

Chang Kwok Chuen Wong Man Cho

Hsu Kin Ting Yeung Lok Kan

Law Lok Kei

ANIMATORS

Chau Yun Ai Wong Cheuk Yin

Cheng Yin Hong Yung Siu Lung

Choy Wing Tao

FINAL LAYOUT

Department Supervisor....................................... Cheung Tak Keung

Production Supervisors ......................Sandy Chan, Leung Cheuk Wah

SENIOR ANIMATORS

Li Ping Kwan Yu Ho Kei

ANIMATORS

Simon Cheung Clement Ma

Olive Chu Ngan Hiu Laam

Chung Ka Wing Tsang Kin Fung

Hung Tak Hing Wong Sing Long

Kelvin Ip Wong Kin Keung

Kwan Shuk Ching Wong Pui Wah

Lam Ka Wan Raymond Wong

Jenny Lo

Technical Director ............................................................. Jebb Ng

Production Coordinator ............................................Tam Man Ching

ANIMATION

Directing Animators.............................Chau Lai Lok, Wong Chin Chiu

Production Supervisor............................................... Josephine Chu

SENIOR ANIMATORS

Matthew Chan Leung Hung Fai

Chan Chi Kai Luk Wing Chung

Chan Chi Ho Ma Kam Fai

Chang Kwok Chuen Mak Ching Lok

Chau Pui Hing Seen Yuk Tong

Cheung Chi Kin Shut Kai Kwong

Cho Chun Wai Szeto Fai

Choi Kit Ying Tse Chi Shing

Fung Wan Fung Tse Chi Lun

Hsu Kin Ting Phoenix Wong

Ko Man Bun Wong Ka Hong

Kwan Cho Fai Wong Kin Man

Law Lok Kei Wong Man Cho

Leung Kwun Ping Yeung Lok Kan

ANIMATORS

Ao Jun Kit Ng Ka Cheong

Chan Kin Hei Ng Cheuk Ki

Chan Man Hin Siu Kwok Cheong

Chau Yun Ai Siu Wai Cheung

Chau Kin Nam Eric Suen

Cheng Yin Hong Sung Sze Yu

Chow Cheuk Fai Tsang Pak Hung

Mona Chow Tsoi Kim Hung

Choy Wing Tao Wong Cheuk Yin

Fung Pak Sum Mark Wong

Lam Yung Ting Yam Wing Lam

Lau Kai Chung Suki Yeung

Lau Wai Ming Yu Yuen Ki

Lee Hin Yiu Yung Siu Lung

Pinky Ng

Technical Director ...................................................Chan Kwok San

Production Coordinators ............ Peggy Leung, Bonnie Lin, SaSa Tsang

SIMULATION

Department Supervisor...........................................Lui Chin Cheung

Production Supervisors ..........................Ricardo Leung, Carson Wong

SENIOR ANIMATORS

Chan Wai May Leung Ho Chun

ANIMATORS

Chan Cheung Yeung Lam Wai Ming

Chan Ka Fai Lai Pui Yin

Chan Yuk Ting Lam Siu Pong

Chan Ka Chun Lam Ting Yin

Chan Chun San Law Chi Hong

Chen Cheong Ho Law Long Chung

Ko Chun Lap Leung Chin Fung

Kwok Wai Ting Tam Ki Lam

Lai Pui Yin Yeung Kai Ho

Lam Nga Man Yin Hoi Kuen

Technical Director ....................................................Wong Chi Ming

Production Coordinator .....................................................Carrie Lu

LIGHTING

Department Supervisors.....................Lau Wai Ming, Leung Man Hong

Chow Chung Kwok, Miles Cheng

Production Supervisor...............................................Cheung Wai To

Associate Production Supervisor ...................................Lam Sze Wan

SENIOR LIGHTERS

Chan Ho Pong Sze Sze

ChinSin Yu Michell Tam

Chiang Cho Leuk Tam Ching Ho

Chow Wai Kit Wong Cheuk Yan

Choy So Ching Yeung Pak Man

Lo Wai Lun

LIGHTERS

Chan Kwok Wing Lo Siu Wing

Chan Ming To Lui Yuen Ting

Chan Kwun Lam Ma Siu Fu

Chan Shu Ming Ng Yip Fung

Chan Wing Yan Ng Pui Shan

Chan Ka Wa Po Wah Shan

Cheng Cho Wing Shih Man Yeung

Cheng Pui Shan Sin Chi Kwong

Cheung Ka Ho Siu Wing Sze

Ching Cheung Lam Tai Man Kwong

Choi Tang Yik Tam Ching Keung

Choi Sau Ling Tang Chun Man

Choi Ping Nam Tsang Chun Fung

Fong Chi Yung Tse Ka Yung

Ho Pui Kuen Tse Kwok Fai

Ho Yuen Man Tung Wai Chun

Lai Po Lam Wong Chi Cheong

Lam Hiu Kwan Wong Wing Chi

Lam Tsz Him Yam Kwok Kei

Lee Yuen Ting Yau Kiu Fung

Leung Wai Lap Yeung Sai Pong

Li Wing Kit Yeung Sheung Leung

Li Kai Chung Yim Kwok Kit

Li Yun Man Yu Hoi Sun

Lo Man Tung Yu Ka Hing

Technical Directors..............................Lo Wai Kwong, Tse Wing Sum

Production Coordinators ...........................Chan Mei Fung, Cherie Mak

Lighting Consultant .....................................................Sherry Hsieh

EFFECTS

Department Supervisor...........................................Lui Chin Cheung

Production Supervisors ..........................Ricardo Leung, Carson Wong

SENIOR ANIMATORS

Choi Siu Yin Ng Ka Ho

Chui Chung Yan Yau Kar Yin

Cecilia Lee Yip Pak Ho

ANIMATORS

Au Hoi Cheuk Leung Yin Lai

Chan Ho Man Mak Pui Chi

Chan Yik Ping So Tze Man

Chong Kam Ho To Wai Ting

Lam Yip Shing Tsang Man Fung

Lee Mei Yan

Technical Directors....................................................Tsang Siu Fan

Production Coordinator .....................................................Carrie Lu

COMPOSITING

Department Supervisor.............................................Mak Tsz Yeung

Production Supervisor.....................................................Yvonne Au

Senior Compositors .............Lee Chi Shun, Liu Yuk Fai, Wong Chun Kit

COMPOSITORS

Cheung Chun Yu Leung Tak Chi

Fong Shuk Yan Tang Kit Ying

Kwok Ting Kei Ting Cheuk Yin

Lau Ho Yau Tong Yan Yan

Law Lai Ha Wong Man Ho

Leung Yiu Kwong Yan Kwun Ming

Leung Chung Hei Yuen Shing Tin

Technical Director ........................................................Yip Chi Choi

Production Coordinator ............................................... Yung Wai Kei

ADDITIONAL EDITORIAL

Associate Editor ............................................................... Brian Ng

Editorial Production Supervisor....................................... Enoch Chan

TECHNICAL DIRECTION

Digital Supervisor.................................................... Desmond Chan

Technical Directors.....................Fanny Chan, Ng Wai Tat, Wesley Sin

Sunny Tang, Dong Wong

Software Developers............................... Keaven Law, Wing Ting Yan

ANIMATION TECHNOLOGY

Head of Animation Technology ....................................... Johnny Mak

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Department Supervisor..................................................Travis Shin

SENIOR PROGRAMMERS

Chow Wai For Lam Kin Ting

Chan Chun Ming Ken Lee

Ho Tsun Chuen

PROGRAMMERS

Chong Man Shun Christopher Justin Lo

Bartholomew Iu Ma Wing Kit

Dominic Kwan Wong Chi Man

Elton Lau Yeung Hon Tung

Lau Koon Chung

Production Assistant .................................................. Yiu Yuen Hing

SYSTEMS & ENGINEERING (HK)

MIS Manager................................................................ Peter Pang

Senior Systems Engineers ............... Anthony Chung, Wong Chi Chung

Systems Engineers..........Kenneth Chan, Lam Yat Pang, Yu Hau Chong

Senior Computer Operator..................................................Li Yip To

Computer Operators....................................Franco Ho, Ng Tze Hong

Erik Shek, Henry Shut

Technical Support .................................. Vincent Lee, Tam Kwok Yee

Department Secretary .............................................. Mak Wing Man

Studio Accounting

Assistant Financial Controller ...........................................Winnie Hui

Accounting.................................Emily Seen, Patrick Ting, May Wong

Production Office Adminstration

Production Office Administration Manager ......................... Lemon Lee

ADMINISTRATION TEAM

Wicky Cheng Sally So

Stephanie Cheung So Hei

Ho Kwai Hing Jessie Yeung

Lee Kwok Yam

Titles and Prologue Animation by................ Pacific Title and Art Studio

Title Design by......................................................... Bruce Schluter

ADDITONAL CHARACTER ANIMATION BY

REEL FX CREATIVE STUDIOS

Executive Producers ................................................... Dale Carman

Steve O’Brien

Producer....................................................................... Kyle Clark

Production Manager..............................................Shanna Bassinger

Production Coordinator ................................................Cassie Fauss

Technical Supervisors ................Harry Michelakeas, George De Chiara

Animation Director .......................................................Ken Duncan

Animation Supervisor.................................................Bryan Engram

CHARACTER ANIMATORS

Drew Adams Shaun Freeman

Paul Allen Lionel Gallat

John Berry Tim Hatcher

Ray chase Jim Hull

Mark Donald Todd Wilbur

Sean Ermey

SPECIAL THANKS

Michael Kao Douglas E. Glen

Harvey Weinstein Jeff Robinov

Michael Cole Dan Fellman

Eric Robinson Dan Lin

Rachel Levy Matt Reilly

Matt Landon Darren Higman

Alan Grodin, Esq. Marc Solomon

Kathy Sarreal Barbara Galbo

Yvonne Shapiro Jussi Tegelman

Wayne Kazan, Esq. Nika Futterman

Alan Kirios, Esq. Quinton Flynn

New York City Police Department Weissmann, Wolff, Bergmann,

Coleman, Grodin & Evall LLP

CineFinance Insurance Services, LLC City National Bank

Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services, Inc. David Goyer

Blue Yonder Group

SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE ON ATLANTIC RECORDS

SONGS

Cumbia

Written by Jose Agote and Adrian Buono

Performed by Los Pinguos

Courtesy of Pinguos Records

Red Flag

Written by Billy Talent

Performed by Billy Talent

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Rip It Up

Written by Christopher Cester and Nicholas Cester

Performed by Jet

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Bring Me Along

Written by Bret Bollinger, Kaleo Wassman and Yesod Williams

Performed by Pepper

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

NJ News

Written by Neil Jason and Ali Theodore

Performed by Argonaut Seven

Courtesy of DeeTown Entertainment by arrangement with format

Youth Like Tigers

Written by Ryan Furlott, Adam Brazie and Matt Szklarz

Performed by Ever We Fall

Courtesy of Hopeless Records

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Roses

Written by Meg Frampton and Dia Frampton

Performed by Meg and Dia

Courtesy of Doghouse Records

Walking on Water

Written by Dan Young, Phil Cobrea, Gavin Phillips and Ryan Tapert

Performed by This Providence

Courtesy of Ramen/Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Fall Back Into My Life

Written by William Nutter

Performed by Amber Pacific

Courtesy of Hopeless Records

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Black Betty

Written by Huddie Ledbetter

Performed by Big City Rock

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

There’s a Class For This

Written by Shaant Hackiyan, Jeff Czum, Tom Falcone and Fred Cimato

Performed by Cute Is What We Aim For

Courtesy of Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Lights Out (Chris Vrenna Remix)

Written by Paul Sandoval, Noah Bernardo, Jr., Mark Daniels and Jason Truby

Performed by P.O.D.

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Awww Dip

Written by Gabe Saporta, Alex Suarez, Ryland Blackinton and Nate Novarro

Performed by Cobra Starship

Courtesy of Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Shell Shock

Written by Travis McCoy, Matt McGinley, Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo, Sam Hollander,

Dave Katz and Patrick Stump

Performed by Gym Class Heroes

Courtesy of Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Recording Corp.

By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

Prints by TECHNICOLOR ®

KODAK Motion Picture Products FUJIFILM Motion Picture Products

Dolby Digital (Logo) SDDS (Logo)

DTS (Logo) MPAA (Logo) No. 43348

This Motion Picture © 2007 Imagi Production Limited

Screenplay © 2005 Imagi Production Limited

Original Score © 2007 Golden Fling Music

The NYPD™ name, logos, and insignia are trademarks of the City of New York and

are used with the City’s permission.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®, Donatello™, Leonardo™, Michelangelo™, Raphael™

,

Shredder™, Splinter™, April O’Neil™ and related characters, logos, names and

distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of, and copyrighted by, Mirage Studios,

Inc. unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved.

MIRAGE

In Memoriam

Mako Iwamatsu

German Cheung

A Film Distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Distribution

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to the big screen as never

before in an all-new CGI action adventure, written and directed by Kevin

Munroe.

After the defeat of their old arch nemesis, The Shredder, the Turtles

have grown apart as a family. Struggling to keep them together, their rat

sensei, Splinter (Mako), becomes worried when strange things begin to brew

in New York City. Tech-industrialist Maximillian J. Winters (Patrick Stewart)

is raising up an army of ancient monsters, and only one super-ninja fighting

team can stop them—Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor), Michelangelo (Mikey

Kelley), Donatello (Mitchell Whitfield) and Raphael (Nolan North)! With the

help of old allies April O’Neil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Casey Jones (Chris

Evans), the Turtles are in for the fight of their lives as they once again must

face the mysterious Foot Clan, who have put their own ninja skills behind

Winters’ endeavors.

Making this new incarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles truly

cutting-edge, the film was created entirely with state-of-the-art CG

animation, giving them a completely new look for the 21st century.

Warner Bros. Pictures and The Weinstein Company present an Imagi

Animation Studios Production, “TMNT,” featuring the voices of Chris Evans,

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ziyi Zhang, and

narrated by Laurence Fishburne. Kevin Munroe wrote and directed the film,

which is produced by Thomas K. Gray, H. Galen Walker and Paul Wang. The

executive producers are Francis Kao, Peter Laird, Gary Richardson and

Frederick U. Fierst, with Felix Ip serving as co-producer. The music is by

Klaus Badelt.

Opening nationwide on March 23, “TMNT” will be distributed

domestically and in select international territories by Warner Bros. Pictures, a

Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. The Weinstein Company will

distribute the film in other international territories.

“TMNT” has been rated “PG” by the MPAA for “animated action

violence, some scary cartoon images and mild language.”

www.tmnt.com

“Let’s make a movie, dude.”

- Peter Laird, TMNT co-creator

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created in 1984 by Peter Laird

and Kevin Eastman. “TMNT” writer-director Kevin Munroe reveals, “They did

it to spoof the world of superhero characters. The original comic book was

published in black-and-white and only 3,000 copies were printed, which,

much to everyone’s surprise, sold out right away.”

Within a year, Laird and Eastman were approached with a toy license,

which was followed by a cartoon television series and three live-action

feature films over the course of nine years. The live-action films, released in

the early 1990s, provided a brand-new TMNT experience for audiences

around the world with state-of-the-art animatronics and expert martial arts

choreography.

Producer Thomas K. Gray, who also served as producer on all three

previous TMNT films, notes, “We wanted to take the Turtles to another level

in film and do something we hadn’t done before. For more than 20 years,

they have been one of the most popular toys sold in several parts of the U.S.

as well as Europe, Australia and in some Asian-Pacific countries. With the

syndicated cartoon series doing great, and the comic book enjoying cult

status, we wanted to give the fans something new.”

2

Even with the perennial success of the TMNT franchise, the film’s

producers still had the task of convincing the creators to grant them the

rights to bring their heroic, sewer-dwelling bipeds back to the big screen.

Producer H. Galen Walker offers that in an early meeting with Peter

Laird to pitch the idea for the new TMNT feature, “I was nervous, because

Peter didn’t really know me, and everybody from the company was waiting

for an answer. So there we were, walking along, and as I was about to ask

the big question, he puts his hand across my chest to stop me and says,

‘turtle.’ I looked down, and saw this little turtle crossing our path!”

But, in spite of witnessing such serendipity, Walker didn’t know that he

had Laird’s formal blessing until, he recalls, “I was on the airplane flying

back, and I opened the book that Peter autographed for me. On the first

page he wrote, ‘Let’s make a movie, dude.’”

To re-imagine “TMNT” for a new generation, the producers turned to

up-and-coming animation filmmaker Kevin Munroe. Gray comments, “Kevin

came in and designed a great trailer for us. It was obvious that he loved the

Turtles and we really liked his ideas. It turned out to be a beautiful fit.”

Daring to go where no Turtles have gone before...

Production of “TMNT” took place over roughly 28 months, in two very

different locations: Sherman Oaks in sunny Southern California and on the

other side of the Pacific Ocean in Hong Kong. More than 300 artists were

employed in Hong Kong and nearly 70 artists in Los Angeles. With the

production offices separated by 7,000-plus miles, a project like this would

have been almost inconceivable in the pre-high speed internet era.

However, with access to advanced video teleconferencing and high-

speed point-to-point data transfers, Munroe says, “It felt like the Hong Kong

office was just a click away. Also, because of the time difference, we could

work around the clock. When it’s five in the afternoon in LA, it’s nine in the

morning in Hong Kong, so we could teleconference at the end of our day,

while they were just starting theirs.”

3

Walker notes, “Having a 24-hour production schedule allowed us to

move faster. But, you know, not everyone in LA got to go home at the end

of the day, since there would be issues from Hong Kong that needed to be

addressed during their working hours—also known as our middle of the night.

It was extremely taxing, but Kevin and the team handled it wonderfully, and

the animators in Hong Kong were amazing.”

However, there were some barriers that were not so easily overcome

by modern technology.

Producer Paul Wang notes that the Hong Kong crew were given a crash

course in Americanisms, “Kevin speaks with a lot of slang, so it took a few

meetings for them to accept that when Kevin said ‘cool,’ he wasn’t referring

to temperature, but that he meant ‘it’s approved.’”

Munroe remarks, “It was interesting to work with so many of the

artists in Hong Kong because they have such a deep appreciation for martial

arts, which complemented the style of the film. These are guys in their

twenties who’ve been raised on Kung Fu action flicks, and when I would say

things like, ‘Okay, I want you to make your own Kung Fu movie in this

scene,’ they’d just go nuts over it.”

In establishing a fresh storyline for the all-new CGI version of “TMNT,”

the director states, “We didn’t want to go back and remake the original, so

we decided to start a new chapter in the Turtles’ lives. We wanted to focus

on each of the Turtles more by emphasizing their family relationship and how

it’s evolved since the last time we saw them.”

Drawing inspiration from modern-day family dynamics, Munroe chose

to begin his story with a rift in the close-knit team. He expounds, “Splinter

has sent Leonardo away on a worldwide training mission; and he has become

even more protective of the remaining Turtles by discouraging them from

fighting crime without Leonardo.”

As a result, the remaining Turtles’ sense of purpose has become

somewhat derailed in the humdrum of their day-to-day lives. Tech-guru

Donatello has been reduced to providing computer technical support over the

phone, and fun-loving Michelangelo has resorted to entertaining kids at

4

birthday parties as “Cowabunga Carl,” a clown-for-hire in a “fake” turtle suit.

Hot-headed Raphael, whose burning quest for justice doesn’t wait for

anyone, has assumed the secret persona of a solo crime-fighting vigilante,

known to the outside world only as “The Nightwatcher.”

Providing the voices for the Turtles are veteran voice-over artists:

James Arnold Taylor as Leonardo; Mikey Kelley as Michelangelo; Nolan North

as Raphael; and Mitchell Whitfield as Donatello. Once again representing the

wise father figure in the Turtle Lair is Splinter, voiced by the late Oscar-

nominated, Japanese-American actor Mako.

Munroe offers, “Splinter’s biggest concern is the unity of their family.

When Leonardo comes home from training, we see Raphael showing a little

resentment towards Leo—kind of like a kid who’s envious of his brother who

went to college while he stayed at home to work in the family business.”

Raphael’s frustration becomes more apparent as the well-disciplined

and perhaps a tad self-righteous Leonardo openly condemns the latest

triumph of The Nightwatcher. Brotherhood and egos are put to the test

when Leonardo catches the rogue crime-fighter in action, setting the two on

a collision course that brings forth a never-before-seen face-off between

Leonardo and Raphael.

With trouble brewing at home, even bigger problems lay on the

horizon. “We continued the storyline that The Shredder has been defeated

and, as a result, the Turtles’ other nemeses, Karai and the Foot Clan, have

basically become muscle for hire, acting as a private army for anybody who’s

willing to pay the price,” reveals Munroe.

Karai, the de facto leader of the Foot Clan, is voiced by the martial

arts-trained Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang, who first caught the world’s

attention in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and more recently

received multiple award nominations for her leading role in Rob Marshall’s

“Memoirs of a Geisha.”

Munroe continues, “One of the clients Karai and the Foot Clan end up

working for is the enigmatic Maximillian J. Winters, a very powerful multi-

billionaire who lives in a monolithic tower and collects ancient artifacts from

5

around the world. He’s a very mysterious guy and, as the movie goes on, we

realize that he’s collecting monsters. As a result, really strange things start

happening in New York City fueled by Winters’ secret plan.”

Winters is voiced by award-winning actor Patrick Stewart, who already

has experience in the mutant superhero milieu as Professor Charles Xavier

from the “X-Men” films. Stewart recalls being familiar with the Turtles

franchise 20 years ago when his son was a fan and, now, is proud to

introduce the exciting world of half-shelled heroism to his grandchildren.

Describing his character, Stewart offers, “Max is not what he seems.

He may look like a healthy, vigorous and modern individual, but, as his

character unfolds, we see why he is such an anomaly in today’s world.”

Caught in the middle of Winters’ plot is the Turtles’ friend and ally April

O’Neil, an archaeologist who collects rare treasures and artifacts for wealthy

individuals.

“When April returns from her latest overseas expedition, she

unwittingly brings a relic home that could be the catalyst for possible

Armageddon,” says the director. “Of course, she’s completely in the dark

about its true origin because she’s just doing a job for her client...Max

Winters.”

April O’Neil is voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar, who has portrayed

something of a superhero in her own right on the hit television series “Buffy

the Vampire Slayer,” and more recently starred in the horror thrillers “The

Grudge” and “The Grudge 2.”

A fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series herself, Gellar

recalls seeing the program for the first time in the late ‘80s. “I remember

sitting at home, flipping through TV Guide when I saw a listing for a show

called ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.’ It’s a household name now, but when

I first saw it, I thought it was the strangest combination of words. And I

remember laughing and thinking, ‘This is great, I am definitely watching

this!’”

Original TMNT fans may also remember the baseball bat-wielding,

hockey mask-wearing vigilante Casey Jones. Another Turtle ally and

6

boyfriend of April O’Neil, Casey is voiced by actor Chris Evans. Evans also

has experience in the superhero realm, having recently played Johnny Storm

in the action adventure film “Fantastic Four,” based on the comic book series

of the same name.

Munroe offers, “Casey is just a guy who misses the good old days of

vigilante crime-fighting with the Turtles. In this film, Casey and April are

now an item, but April doesn’t like the whole hockey-mask vigilante thing, so

they’re at a crossroads and aren’t getting along the way they used to.”

With tension abounding, the tone of the all-new TMNT film “is very

different from the TV series and previous films,” says the director.

“Stylistically, it’s more like the comics. The action’s more intense, and the

threat to the world is more intense, as are the emotions of the main

characters.”

Also lending his voice talents to the film is Laurence Fishburne, who

provides narration for critical flashback scenes that take us back 3,000 years

where the story begins.

Additionally, longtime TMNT fan and writer-director-actor Kevin Smith

serves up a cameo role as the Diner Cook, who faces one of Winters’ unruly

monsters.

Designing “TMNT”

To bring his vision for the latest incarnation of TMNT to life, Munroe

sought the talents of veteran art director/concept illustrator Simon Murton.

With more than 25 years of experience in film concept illustration and design,

Murton counts among his recent film credits “Charlie and the Chocolate

Factory,” “I, Robot,” “Van Helsing” and “The Matrix Revolutions.”

Munroe says, “This was Simon’s first all-CGI project and, to me, that’s

the most exciting thing about it because he had a different take on design

coming from live action. I told him that, when we’re done, I want to be able

to go through this movie, and pull any frame of the film and put it into a

comic book...in widescreen, of course.”

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“We began with cinematic cues from certain black-and-white films

from the 1940s and ‘50s,” notes Murton. “I really wanted to push the

lighting and the environments to create the look and feel of an alternate

reality.”

With most of the story set in New York City, Murton stylized the

familiar Manhattan skyline and urban landscapes to make them appear

uniquely “TMNT.”

For an action sequence early in the film where Michelangelo turns the

sewers into his personal, extreme skate park, Murton describes, “I found

excellent examples from waterworks projects in Hong Kong and Japan. Pipes

in those places have to serve such dense populations that they make for

some very interesting designs and shapes, which, in Mikey’s mind, are

perfect for ollies and railslides.”

The look of Winters’ monolithic tower was inspired by architectural

illustrations from 1920s New York and Chicago.

The art director offers, “Max Winters is a very successful man with the

world at his fingertips. We gave him a huge, round office that also worked

as an encased, glass elevator, so he can access any floor at the push of a

button. The elevator office became the defining exterior feature of the

Winters Tower.”

Three basic levels of the city were designed to juxtapose Turtle “safe”

zones against human zones. Particular attention was paid to how a ninja

would move stealthily through the city.

“A ninja would use shadows, rooftops and sewers to get around and

remain undetected. To indicate Turtle ‘safe’ zones we made the sewers

warmer-looking, with rich browns and reds, versus the surface streets, which

are lit with bright neon signs that seem very alienating to the Turtles,” notes

Munroe. “The rooftops are also a safe zone for them, warmly lit by the night

sky and the lights below. Like the sewers, it’s a quiet place for the Turtles to

look at the world from extreme vantage points.”

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Digitally Outfitted Heroes

Half the battle in creating believable, CG-animated lean green crime-

fighting machines was fought by digital artists who were responsible for

researching and developing the Turtles’ overall musculature, along with such

details as the translucency of their skin and each of the characters’ defining

traits.

“We designed full-on muscle systems for the Turtles because they’re

essentially wearing nothing but a sash and a half-shell,” Munroe explains.

“We also gave them unique characteristics. For example, on Raphael, he

actually has veins that pop out whenever he flexes, and Michelangelo has

freckles.”

Apart from the reptilian crime-fighters, Splinter, a human-sized,

mutated sewer rat, presented the animators with another challenge. Munroe

describes, “Not only is Splinter furry, but he wears a robe. So we fully

rendered and animated the robe as well as his fur to show the effects of

movement and outside elements.”

Exterior structures ranging from muscles to shells to tentacles also had

to be designed and animated for Winters’ monsters—all 13 of them.

“A few of Max’s monsters are based on those in popular folklore. We

also created some monsters that are slightly off the beaten path like a little

guy we jokingly dubbed ‘The Jersey Devil Monster,’ which is a little

crustacean-like creature who’s basically a freakishly strong koala bear with a

bad temper,” jokes the director.

Beyond attention to the aesthetic quality of the backgrounds and

characters, much effort was spent on choreographing the fight sequences for

maximum impact.

Working closely with Munroe, animation director Kim Ooi was

responsible for overseeing the execution of anything that moves on screen.

Ooi offers, “The Turtles’ fighting style is derived from Chinese and Japanese-

style martial arts. Many of the fight sequences were inspired by Hong Kong

action films, but because we’re doing CGI, we can push and stylize beyond

the limits of live action.”

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Movement for each of the Turtles was also scrutinized to enhance their

individual characteristics. Ooi explains, “For Leonardo, he’s very confident

because he’s the oldest and the leader, so he walks very tall and has good

posture. Raphael’s the rebel, so he’s got a bit of a swagger. Michelangelo is

the more childlike one, so he’s jumpy and restless. And Donatello’s

movements are more subdued because he’s the intellectual one and

characterized by more polite gestures.”

In tackling one of the most action-packed sequences in the film, Ooi

says, “There’s a sequence where three Turtles, together with April, Casey

and Splinter, are trying to rescue Leonardo. They have to go through tons of

foot ninjas to get into the tower, and it was the most challenging of

sequences because there are so many things happening at once.”

Perhaps the most important challenge was staying true to TMNT fans

while creating a completely new look for a new generation. Tom Gray

attests, “We wanted to stay true to the concept while taking the Turtles in a

new direction. We went back to the original comic book, which is actually

grittier than the previous films. We think this will be a fun experience for

core fans and new fans alike.”

Munroe concludes, “We’ve done everything possible in this film to fill it

with wall-to-wall action and classic TMNT humor. At the end of the day, this

is a story about a typical American family,” smiles the director, “that is, if

your family lives underground and saves the world battling countless ninjas

and big bad monsters!”

# # #

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ABOUT THE CAST

CHRIS EVANS (Casey) has emerged in recent years as one of the

busiest young actors in Hollywood. In addition to “TMNT,” he has three films

upcoming in 2007, beginning with the sci-fi thriller “Sunshine,” for director

Danny Boyle, followed by “The Nanny Diaries,” opposite Scarlett Johansson.

This summer, he stars in “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” in which

he reprises the role of Johnny Storm, a.k.a. The Human Torch.

Raised in Massachusetts, Evans began acting in regional theatre before

moving to New York, where he studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute. He

made a few guest appearances on television series before landing his first

feature film starring role in the comedy spoof “Not Another Teen Movie.” His

next film was the crime comedy “The Perfect Score,” in which he starred with

Scarlett Johansson and Erika Christensen. Switching gears, he starred with

Kim Basinger, William H. Macy and Jessica Biel in the thriller “Cellular,”

playing a young man who is drawn into a kidnapping plot.

In 2005, Evans starred in four feature films, including the summer

action hit “Fantastic Four,” in which he joined Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis

and Ioan Gruffudd as a group of astronauts who gain individual super powers

after they are exposed to cosmic radiation. Also that year, Evans starred in

the independent features “The Orphan King,” opposite Alexis Bledel; “Fierce

People,” with Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland; and, most recently, the

romantic drama “London,” opposite Jessica Biel.

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR (April O’Neil) is an award-winning actress

who is well known to both film and television audiences. She stars in four

upcoming independent features to be released in 2007, including the

romantic comedy/drama “The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing,” opposite

Alec Baldwin; “The Air I Breathe,” with Forest Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, Andy

Garcia, Emile Hirsch and Brendan Fraser; “Addicted,” in which she plays a

woman whose life is thrown into chaos after a freak car accident; and

“Southland Tales,” an ensemble piece set in Los Angeles of the not-too

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distant future as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental

disaster. Gellar stars opposite The Rock and Seann William Scott in the film,

which premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

Her previous film credits include “The Grudge” and its recent sequel

“The Grudge 2”; “Scooby-Doo” and its sequel “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters

Unleashed”; “Harvard Man”; “Cruel Intentions”; “Scream 2”; and “I Know

What You Did Last Summer.” She most recently lent her voice to the

animated feature “Happily N’Ever After.”

Gellar is perhaps best known for her role on the long-running series

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” in which she starred as the title character.

During the show’s seven-season run, she earned a Golden Globe nomination

for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Earlier in her career, Gellar won an

Emmy Award and earned another Emmy nomination for her work on the

popular ABC daytime drama “All My Children.”

Apart from her acting work, Gellar is involved in a wide range of

charitable organizations, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Make-a-

Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Project Angel Food and the Starlight

Starbright Children’s Foundation.

MAKO (Splinter) had a successful career that spanned five decades

and encompassed more than 50 features and more than 100 television

appearances. In 1967, he was honored with Academy Award and Golden

Globe nominations for his major feature film debut performance in Robert

Wise’s “The Sand Pebbles.” His subsequent film credits included “The

Hawaiians,” “Conan the Barbarian,” “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,”

“Pacific Heights,” “Rising Sun,” “Seven Years in Tibet,” “Pearl Harbor” and,

most recently, “Memoirs of a Geisha,” to name only a portion.

On television, he was seen in guest roles on series dating back to the

mid-1960s, and more recently including “The West Wing,” “Monk,”

“Charmed” and “7th Heaven.” His television credits also included such

telefilms as “When Hell Was in Session,” Columbo: Murder Under Glass,”

“Farewell to Manzanar” and “If Tomorrow Comes.”

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Mako also worked on the stage, most notably in the Broadway musical

“Pacific Overtures,” for which he received a Tony Award nomination in 1976.

He was also the first artistic director of the nation’s premier Asian American

theatre organization, East West Players, based in Los Angeles, and was later

named Artistic Director Emeritus of the company.

KEVIN SMITH (Diner Cook) has seen it all—from the surprise critical

and commercial success he received for his debut film “Clerks,” to the

disappointing critical and commercial drubbing he took on his second outing,

“Mallrats.” He caught a break on his third film, the critically hailed “Chasing

Amy,” managed not to get killed by religious zealots over his fourth film, the

comedic meditation “Dogma,” and made a very profitable ninety-five minute

in-joke with “Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back.” The joke, however, was on

him once “Jersey Girl” hit screens. Mercifully, there was the made-classywith-

Roman-Numerals “Clerks II” to the rescue, the film that offered a

second visit with both the characters (Dante and Randal) and the accolades

(an eight-minute standing ovation in Cannes and the Audience Award at the

Edinburgh Film Festival) that launched his career.

Along the way, Smith has also found time to make himself a nuisance

by smearing his name all over John Pierson’s indie-film bible, Spike, Mike,

Slackers and Dykes. He’s published the screenplays to six of his films,

written comic books featuring not only his own characters (the multiple-

printed Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob), but also legendary mainstays of the

superhero world (the award-winning Daredevil and Spider-Man and the Black

Cat at Marvel Comics, and the award-winning Green Arrow at DC Comics),

and written a monthly column for UK based Arena Magazine – the lion’s

share of which were reprinted in the best-selling book Silent Bob Speaks.

With his View Askew partner, Scott Mosier, he’s also executive-produced four

low-budget, first-film efforts (including Bryan Johnson’s “Vulgar”), one large-

budget, multiple Academy Award winner (“Good Will Hunting”), and a pair of

Sundance-selected documentaries (“Reel Paradise” and “Small Town Gay

Bar”).

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Besides “Mallrats” and “Jersey Girl,” however, Smith has survived

other humbling “creative” experiences that he’s inexplicably failed to

suppress—including his animated series version of “Clerks,” which was

unceremoniously aired only twice.

Smith was one of the first filmmakers to venture into cyberspace,

establishing the insanely popular View Askewniverse website

(www.viewaskew.com) in the mid-nineties, which in turn spawned a bevy of

other Smith-centric sites, including his online diary entitled “My Boring-Ass

Life,” found at www.silentbobspeaks.com. And if the film thing doesn’t pan

out, there’s always retail: Smith owns two comic book stores, both named

Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash (one in Red Bank, New Jersey and the

other in Westwood, Los Angeles).

As for the hood ornaments he’s collected, there’s plenty of tin to go

around: the Filmmaker’s Trophy at Sundance for “Clerks,” the Prix de la

Jeunesse and the International Critic’s Week Award at the Cannes Film

Festival, also for “Clerks,” the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay

for “Chasing Amy,” and a Humanitas Award for “Good Will Hunting.”

Smith also received the Defender of Democracy Award from Norman

Lear’s People for the American Way for his production of “Dogma.” For his

writing in the comics field, Smith has received a Harvey Award, a Wizard Fan

Award, and an Eagle Award; in addition, Green Arrow: Quiver was named as

one of 2003’s Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library

Association’s Young Adult Library Service. In the fall of 2002, the town of

Paulsboro, New Jersey named a street after him: Kevin Smith Way. In 2004,

the Video Software Dealers Association gave Smith the DVD Visionary Award,

and, in 2005, he collected the Independent Spirit Award from Britain’s

Empire Magazine. Most recently, in April of 2006, he was given UCLA’s Jack

Benny Award for Comedy, joining a prestigious list of previous honorees that

includes Johnny Carson, John Belushi, David Letterman, John Cleese, and

Adam Sandler.

Smith most recently starred in the romantic comedy/drama “Catch and

Release,” with Jennifer Garner.

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At the end of the day, the two titles Smith touts most proudly are

“husband” and “father.” He married wife Jennifer in April 1999 and

celebrated the birth of their daughter, Harley Quinn, in June of that same

year (you do the math).

PATRICK STEWART (Winters) is an internationally respected actor,

known for successfully bridging the gap between the worlds of classical

theatre and contemporary film and television. Stewart most recently

starred in “X-Men: The Last Stand,” the third installment of the blockbuster

“X-Men” films, in which he reprised the role of Professor Charles Xavier.

He also starred in four installments of another successful movie

franchise, the “Star Trek” features, bringing the character of Captain Jean-

Luc Picard to the big screen in “Star Trek: Generations,” “Star Trek: First

Contact,” “Star Trek: Insurrection” and “Star Trek: Nemesis.” For his

portrayal of Captain Picard on the television show “Star Trek: The Next

Generation,” Stewart received a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award

nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 1995. In addition to starring

on the series for seven seasons, Stewart also directed several episodes.

Stewart earned another SAG Award nomination for his performance

as Ebenezer Scrooge in TNT’s 1999 presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A

Christmas Carol,” which he also executive produced. The television

adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” continued Stewart’s cherished association

with the Dickens classic. In 1991, he introduced his widely acclaimed solo

presentation of “A Christmas Carol,” in which he plays all of the story’s

more than 40 characters. Opening the show on Broadway, he went on to

win a Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance. When Stewart took

the play to London in 1993, he garnered an Olivier Award for Best Solo

Performance and another Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor. He has

since performed “A Christmas Carol” for rapt theatre audiences throughout

the United States and England.

Bringing another literary classic to television, Stewart starred as

Captain Ahab in the USA Network’s 1998 presentation of “Moby Dick,”

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earning Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor in a

Miniseries or Movie. He more recently received a Golden Globe nomination

for his performance in Showtime’s remake of “A Lion in Winter.”

Additionally, Stewart gained an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Made for

Television Movie for his work as an executive producer on that project.

Stewart most recently starred in the Granada television series

“Eleventh Hour.” His long list of television credits also includes such

longform projects as “King of Texas,” “Animal Farm,” “The Canterville

Ghost,” “In Search of Dr. Seuss,” “The Devil’s Disciple,” “Smiley’s People,”

“Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,” “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” “I, Claudius,”

“North and South” and “The Gathering Storm.”

His additional film credits include “Excalibur,” “Dune,” “Lifeforce,”

“Lady Jane,” “L.A. Story,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” “Gunmen,”

“Jeffrey,” “Conspiracy Theory,” “Masterminds,” “Dad Savage” and “Safe

House.” He has also lent his distinctive voice to such animated features as

“Prince of Egypt,” “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” “Chicken Little” and

“Bambi II,” among others.

One of the most distinguished theatre actors of our time, Stewart has

continued to return to the stage throughout his career. His extensive

theatre repertoire encompasses numerous plays on Broadway and in

London’s West End, as well as the stages of major cities in the U.S. and his

native England. He also has a longstanding relationship with the Royal

Shakespeare Company, which spans more than forty years and includes

dozens of productions, both classical and contemporary.

On the 2001 New Year’s Honours list, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

conferred on Stewart the order of the Officer of the British Empire (O.B.E.).

ZIYI ZHANG (Karai) made her English-language film debut in Rob

Marshall’s award-winning drama “Memoirs of a Geisha.” For her role, Zhang

received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA Award nominations

for Best Actress. She is currently filming “Horsemen,” a psychological

thriller, in which she stars with Dennis Quaid.

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Zhang was previously recognized for her role in Ang Lee’s Oscar-

winning action drama “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” winning an

Independent Spirit Award and a Toronto Film Critics Association Award for

Best Supporting Actress, as well as gaining a BAFTA Award nomination in the

same category. She received another BAFTA Award nomination for her work

in Zhang Yimou’s “House of Flying Daggers,” for which she also won the

Huabiao Film Award, one of China’s premiere film accolades.

Zhang also starred in Wong Kar-Wai’s acclaimed film “2046,” for which

she was named Best Actress by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society and won

a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress. She most recently starred in Feng

Xiaogang’s “The Banquet,” for which she was nominated for Best Actress at

the 2007 Asian Film Festival.

Zhang’s other film credits include the Cannes Film Festival selection

“Princess Raccoon,” for director Seijun Suzuki; Yong Hou’s “Jasmine Flower,”

for which Zhang received a Golden Rooster for Best Actress; Lou Ye’s “Purple

Butterfly,” which was a Palme d’Or selection at the 2003 Cannes Film

Festival; and Zhang Yimou’s martial arts actioner “Hero,” which earned

Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for Best Foreign

Language Film.

Zhang attended China’s most prestigious drama school, the Central

Drama College in Beijing. She made her film debut in Zhang Yimou’s award-

winning film “The Road Home,” which later screened at the 2001 Sundance

Film Festival.

In May of 2006, Zhang became the youngest person to serve on the

jury of the Cannes Film Festival.

LAURENCE FISHBURNE (Narrator) has been honored for his work on

both the stage and screen. In 1994, he earned an Academy Award nomination

for his searing portrayal of Ike Turner in the hit biopic “What’s Love Got to Do

with It.” He more recently shared in two Screen Actors Guild Award

nominations for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast: one in 2004 for his role in

Clint Eastwood’s “Mystic River,” and another this year as a member of the

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ensemble cast of the acclaimed historical feature “Bobby.”

Fishburne, who began acting at the age of 10, was only 15 years old

when he won a starring role in Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War epic

“Apocalypse Now.” He went on to work with Coppola on “Rumble Fish,”

“Gardens of Stone” and “The Cotton Club.” In addition, Fishburne has

collaborated twice with noted director John Singleton, on “Boyz ‘N the Hood”

and “Higher Learning,” earning an NAACP Image Award for Best Actor for the

latter. He also starred as the enigmatic Morpheus in the three installments of

the groundbreaking “Matrix” franchise: “The Matrix,” “The Matrix Reloaded”

and “The Matrix Revolutions.”

In 2000, Fishburne made his feature film directorial debut “Once in the

Life,” which he also starred in, produced and wrote, based on his own one-act

play “Riff Raff.” Fishburne more recently starred in and produced the inspiring

drama “Akeelah and the Bee.” His other film credits include “Mission:

Impossible III,” “Assault on Precinct 13,” “Hoodlum,” “Event Horizon,”

“Othello,” “Just Cause,” “Bad Company,” “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” “Deep

Cover,” “Class Action,” “King of New York,” “Red Heat,” Spike Lee’s “School

Daze” and Steven Spielberg’s “The Color Purple.”

On the small screen, Fishburne starred in and executive produced the

acclaimed telefilm “Miss Evers’ Boys,” for which he won an Emmy for

Outstanding Made for Television Movie and earned an Emmy nomination for

Outstanding Lead Actor. He had previously garnered Emmy and Golden Globe

Award nominations and won an NAACP Image Award for his performance in

the HBO movie “The Tuskegee Airmen.” He also won an Emmy Award for his

role in the premiere episode of Robert De Niro’s series “Tribeca.” His television

work also includes the HBO movie “Always Outnumbered,” and the telefilms “A

Rumor of War,” “For Us the Living” and “Decoration Day.”

In 1992, Fishburne won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer

Critics Circle Award and a Theatre World Award for his work in the Broadway

production of August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running,” in which he reprised the

role of Sterling Johnson, which he originated at the Yale Repertory Theatre. In

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1999, he returned to the Broadway stage to star opposite Stockard Channing

in “The Lion in Winter.”

MITCHELL WHITFIELD (Donatello) counts “TMNT” as his first

animated feature film, although he has appeared on stage, screen and

television. Starting his career on the New York stage, Whitfield starred in

productions of Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Biloxi Blues,”

before making his major motion picture debut in “Reversal of Fortune.” His

subsequent credits include “Dogfight,” “My Cousin Vinny,” “Sergeant Bilko,”

“I Love You, Don’t Touch Me!,” “Best Men” and “Lost & Found.”

On television, Whitfield is perhaps best known for his recurring role as

Barry the orthodontist on “Friends,” opposite Jennifer Aniston. His other

credits include starring roles on the series “Minor Adjustments” and “Head

Over Heels,” as well as guest starring roles on such shows as “Curb Your

Enthusiasm” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

Whitfield has also been a top voice-over artist in recent years, and has

been heard in commercials for Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Comcast, American

Express, Burger King and Blockbuster Video, to name only a few. He can

also be heard weekly as one of the stars of the hit ABC cartoon series

“W.I.T.C.H.”

JAMES ARNOLD TAYLOR (Leonardo) has enjoyed success as a voice-

over actor in every facet of the industry, from animated films to television

cartoons, and from commercials to video games. On television, he can

currently be heard as the voice of the title character on the CW cartoon

series “Johnny Test,” as well as the voices of Wooldoor Sockbat on Comedy

Central’s “Drawn Together,” Axel on Toon Disney’s “A.T.O.M.: Alpha Teens

on Machines,” and Obi-Wan Kenobi on the Cartoon Network’s “Star Wars:

Clone Wars.” He considers his greatest honor to be taking over the voice of

Fred Flintstone in recent cartoons and commercials.

Taylor’s direct-to-video projects include “The Animatrix” and “Atlantis:

Milo’s Return.” He has also lent his voice to more than 50 recent video game

19

titles, including “Marvel: Ultimate Alliance,” the “Syphon Filter” series, and

the “Final Fantasy X” series, as well as the games for such blockbuster films

as “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “X-Men,” “Spider-Man,” “Shrek” and “The Lord

of the Rings.”

In addition to creating original voices, Taylor is often called upon to recreate

actors’ voices when taking over a role for video games, direct-to-video

project or commercial. He also keeps busy from his home studio with regular

promo work for Fox, Spike, G4, and Game Show Network, among others.

MIKEY KELLEY (Michelangelo) is a veteran voice-over actor who has

lent his talent to a wide range of film and television animated projects,

including “Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase,” “Rugrats: All Grown Up,” “Ben

10,” “Loonatics Unleashed,” “Rocket Power” and “The Land Before Time,”

among others. Kelley has also been featured in a variety of video games,

including “Tony Hawk’s Underground,” “Full Spectrum Warrior,” “Metal Gear

Solid,” and the upcoming “Spider-Man 3.”

A native of Quincy, Massachusetts, Kelley is a graduate of Boston’s

Emerson College. Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles, he landed his first

major animation role when he was cast as the lead in “Invasion America” for

The WB Network. The show became the first dramatic animated series to air

in primetime on network television.

NOLAN NORTH (Raphael / Nightwatcher) is perhaps best known for

his long-running role as Dr. Chris Ramsey on the daytime drama “Port

Charles.” He has more recently appeared in guest roles on such series as

“Ugly Betty,” “Big Love,” “NCIS,” “JAG” and “Six Feet Under.” In addition,

his voice has been heard in the animated feature “The Wild,” the videos

“Ultimate Avengers” and “Ultimate Avengers II,” and on episodes of the

cartoon series “Ben 10” and “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.” He

will also voice the character of Cyclops in the new animated series “Wolverine

and the X-Men.”

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North has also done voice-over work for numerous video games,

including “Lost Planet: Extreme Condition,” “Agatha Christie: Murder on the

Orient Express,” “Titan Quest,” “Cars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend

of Jack Sparrow,” “Final Fantasy XII,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for

Middle-Earth,” “24: The Game,” “50 Cent: Bulletproof,” “Dungeons &

Dragons: Dragonshard” and “Evil Dead: Regeneration,” among many others.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

KEVIN MUNROE (Director/Writer) has spent the last decade in the

animation industry, working on television shows, feature films, comic books

and video games. “TMNT” marks his feature film directorial debut, although

his experience in the animation arena ranges from screenplays to production

design to direction.

He has worked as a writer, artist and director for such companies as

Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, Fox, The Jim Henson

Company, Stan Winston Studios and Nickelodeon. He also wrote the

critically acclaimed comic book series El Zombo Fantasma, which he cocreated

with Dave Wilkins for Dark Horse Comics, and Olympus Heights from

IDW Publishing.

Munroe also created, scripted and produced the international

Christmas special “Donner” for ABC Family and TV-Loonland.

Cited by Animation Magazine as one of the “Rising Stars of CGI,”

Munroe is currently writing the screenplay for Imagi Studios’ next CG-

animated motion picture, based on Japan’s popular “Gatchaman” anime

franchise, which he will also direct for a 2008 release.

THOMAS K. GRAY (Producer) currently serves as the President and

CEO of Imagi USA.

Previously, as the head of production for Golden Harvest, Gray was the

architect of the original “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film franchise.

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Released in the early 1990s, the TMNT film trilogy collectively earned more

than $256 million domestically. The first, 1990’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja

Turtles,” held the record for the highest-grossing independent movie for

seven years. During his tenure at Golden Harvest, Gray was also involved in

several internationally successful Jackie Chan films, including “The Protector.”

Gray has had over 30 years of experience, encompassing production,

marketing and distribution in the global motion picture industry. Over the

course of his career, he has also held management positions with United

Artists, Warner Bros. and CIC (Paramount/Universal partnership). He was

named President and Chief Executive Officer of Imagi USA in 2004.

In addition to producing “TMNT,” Gray was a producer on Imagi’s new

“Highlander: The Search for Vengeance,” an anime movie from acclaimed

Japanese director Yoshiaki Kawajiri, which is scheduled for release in June

2007.

Imagi USA is currently developing two CG-animated superhero

properties: a feature film based on “Gatchaman,” the long-running Japanese

anime franchise for release in 2008; and a feature film version of “Astro

Boy,” which follows the adventures of the cartoon character who was first

introduced as manga in the 1950s and gained international popularity on

television in the 1960s.

H. GALEN WALKER (Producer) is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of

Imagi USA.

Prior to entering the film industry, Walker spent a decade as a studio

and touring lead guitarist, performing with such artists as Kingdom Come,

The Runaways and Cellmates. Segueing to motion pictures, Walker

established himself as a sound designer and post-production sound

supervisor. His credits include Sofia Coppola’s “The Virgin Suicides,” and

“Blind Horizon,” starring Val Kilmer, to name only a few.

Walker went on to open his own independent post-production sound

company and subsequently developed a joint venture known as Pacifica

Media Affiliates (PMA), consisting of five Hollywood sound studio facilities.

22

Following the successful acquisition of PMA by Technicolor, Walker joined

Imagi USA in 2004 as its COO.

“TMNT” marks Walker’s first film as a producer. He is also a producer

on Imagi’s “Highlander: The Search for Vengeance,” directed by acclaimed

anime director Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who brings his distinctive visual style to the

immortal Colin MacLeod’s quest for revenge in the future. The film is slated

for release in June 2007.

PAUL WANG (Producer) has been involved in filmmaking and

computer graphics for the last 20 years. After running Four-D, his own

boutique animation house in New York, Wang entered the computer-

generated visual effects industry, where he created FX for such movies as

“Batman Forever” and “The Peacemaker.”

Wang later joined PDI/DreamWorks where, for almost a decade, he

worked on such groundbreaking animated features as the company’s first

animated feature, “Antz,” the Oscar-winning “Shrek,” and the more recent hit

“Madagascar.” He also worked on the theme park ride “Shrek 4D,” and

DreamWorks Television’s computer animated series “Father of the Pride.”

Wang joined Imagi Studios in 2005 as Chief Creative Officer and Chief

Technical Officer.

He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Communications Design from

the Pratt Institute and a Bachelors Degree from the University of California,

Berkeley.

FRANCIS KAO (Executive Producer) founded Imagi Studios in 2000.

In addition to his roles as Deputy Chairman & Co-Chief Executive Officer, he

is responsible for the company’s overall creative vision and strategy.

Kao’s additional credits as an executive producer include Imagi’s CG-

animated television series “Zentrix” (2002), the 2005 CG feature film “Digital

Monster X-Evolution,” and the upcoming anime film “Highlander: The Search

for Vengeance,” due out in June 2007. His future projects include CG-

animated feature films based on “Gatchaman” and “Astro Boy.”

23

Kao was born and raised in Hong Kong, where Imagi is headquartered.

He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, where he studied

business and finance.

PETER LAIRD (Executive Producer), sole owner of Mirage Studios,

Inc., co-created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1984 and, since the

dissolution of the partnership with co-creator Kevin Eastman in 2000, has

been the major creative force behind the revival of the TMNT property in

television, film and merchandise.

In addition to executive producing the TMNT movie, Mr. Laird was a

key creative consultant on the script and all the major character designs for

the film.

GARY RICHARDSON (Executive Producer) is CEO of the Mirage

Group, the group of companies that, for the last 20 years, have managed,

nurtured and protected the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property, one of

the most successful and respected children’s entertainment and

merchandising properties of all time.

FREDERICK U. FIERST (Executive Producer) has represented Mirage

Studios and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property for the past 20 years.

In addition, he represents numerous high profile clients and properties

in the toy, television, interactive, film and licensing industries. His specialties

include packaging and structuring television and film projects, and

negotiating agreements for video game development and distribution, as well

as for toys, comic books, home video and other merchandising activities. He

also coordinates worldwide intellectual property registration and protection

activities for a number of his clients.

FELIX IP (Co-Producer) has been with Imagi Studios since it was set

up in 2000. Based in Hong Kong, Ip served as director and art director on

the company’s first production, the prize-winning television series “Zentrix,”

24

which was aired in Europe and Asia. He subsequently worked at Imagi as the

Hong Kong creative director on DreamWorks Television’s “Father of the

Pride,” the first network primetime fully computer-animated series, which

premiered on NBC in August 2004.

Currently, Ip is Imagi’s Creative Director and Head of Development in

Asia. Prior to joining the group, he had over 10 years of experience in

graphic design, multimedia development and games production.

Ip has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from Hong Kong

Polytechnic University.

MICHAEL J. ARNOLD (Line Producer) has been part of the

independent film community for several years. Most notably, he has worked

with Golden Harvest Films and Rim Film Distributors. “TMNT” marks his first

producer credit.

KLAUS BADELT (Composer) has composed the scores for a wide

range of films, from mainstream hits to smaller independent releases. His

recent film credits include Wolfgang Petersen’s “Poseidon”; Kurt Wimmer’s

“Ultraviolet”; Richard Donner’s “16 Blocks”; China’s Golden Globe-nominated

feature “The Promise”; “Constantine,” starring Keanu Reeves; and the

blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” for

director Gore Verbinski.

Badelt began composing for films in his native Germany and built his

Hollywood career though collaborations with such composers as Hans

Zimmer and Michael Kamen. His first American feature as a sole composer

was Sean Penn’s “The Pledge,” starring Jack Nicholson. His other early film

credits included Werner Herzog’s “Invincible”; Kathryn Bigelow’s “K-19: The

Widowmaker,” starring Harrison Ford; Kurt Wimmer’s “Equilibrium”; Roger

Donaldson’s “The Recruit,” teaming Al Pacino and Colin Farrell; “Ned Kelly,”

starring Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom; and “Basic,” starring John

Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.

In addition, Badelt has composed additional score music for such films

as “Gladiator,” “Mission: Impossible II” “Hannibal” and “Pearl Harbor.”

25

JOHN DAMIEN RYAN (Editor) counts “TMNT” as his first feature film

as an editor. He previously worked as an assistant editor on the direct-tovideo

release “The Lion King 1½.” He also served as an assistant visual

effects editor on the films “Kangaroo Jack” and “Reign of Fire.”

Ryan began his animation career as a production assistant on such

films as “Mulan” and “Atlantis: The Lost Empire.”

SIMON MURTON (Production Designer) has worked in the art

department on more than 30 live-action features. “TMNT” marks his first

animated film credit.

He served as the art director on Alex Proyas’ action thriller “The Crow”

and the sci-fi actioner “Fortress,” and as the assistant art director on “Super

Mario Bros.” Murton’s additional credits include “Charlie and the Chocolate

Factory,” “The Island,” “I, Robot,” “The Matrix Revolutions,” “Pearl Harbor,”

“Galaxy Quest,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “What Dreams May Come” and “Stargate.”

KITH NG (Visual Effects Supervisor) began his career in Japan a

decade ago as a freelance CG animator. Over the past eight years, he has

worked on more than 60 television spots for such major companies as

Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. The Chinese Coca-Cola

commercial entitled “Clay Dolls,” on which Ng served as a senior animator,

was selected to screen at Siggraph 2001.

Ng has also worked as a CG supervisor on the Stephen Chow-directed

feature “Kung Fu Hustle,” as well as several games, including Ubisoft’s

“Splinter Cell” and “Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow.”

KIM OOI (Supervising Animator) has worked in animation in such far-

flung locations as Vancouver, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

A graduate of Vancouver Film School, Ooi began his animation career

in local commercials, as well as children’s cartoons. He subsequently created

storyboards for commercials at major advertising agencies in Shanghai and

26

Hong Kong. He also supervised TV cartoons at an animation house in

Hangzhou, China.

Ooi served as animation director on Imagi’s 3D-animated television

series “Zentrix.” Working at Imagi in Hong Kong, he was also an animation

supervisor on DreamWorks Television’s “Father of the Pride,” the first fully

CG-animated primetime series.

# # #

27

Las Tortugas ninja (The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

“TMNT”

) vuelven a la

pantalla grande como nunca antes, con ilustraciones y animaciones tridimensionales

creadas por computadora (CGI), bajo la dirección de Kevin Munroe.

Tras haber vencido a su archienemigo, el Shredder, la familia de las Tortugas se

fue separando.

Por su lado, Splinter (Mako), la gigante rata maestra (o sensei) de las Tortugas,

está preocupada. Cosas raras han comenzado a suceder en la ciudad de Nueva York. El

industrial de tecnología Maximillian J. Winters (Patrick Stewart) está formando un

ejército de monstruos antiguos. Sólo el grupo de Tortugas luchadoras súper-ninjas podría

detenerlos: ¡Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor), Michelangelo (Mikey Kelley), Donatello

(Mitchell Whitfield) y Raphael (Nolan North)! Con la ayuda de sus antiguos aliados,

April O’Neil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) y Casey Jones (Chris Evans), las Tortugas deberán

enfrentarse a una gran pelea, cuando una vez más se encuentren con el misterioso Clan

del Pié. Ellos también son ninjas, y están dirigidos por el industrial Winters.

En esta nueva película de las Tortugas mutantes, se utilizó la más alta tecnología

de vanguardia, con animación tridimensional creada por computadoras, lo que da al film

el aspecto perfecto para el siglo XXI.

Warner Bros. Pictures y The Weinstein Company presentan una producción de

Imagi Animation Studios,

“TMNT”

, con las voces de Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle

Gellar, Mako, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ziyi Zhang, y la narración de Laurence

Fishburne. Kevin Munroe escribió y dirigió la película, la cual fue producida por Thomas

K. Gray, H. Galen Walker y Paul Wang. Los productores ejecutivos fueron Francis Kao,

Peter Laird, Gary Richardson y Frederick U. Fierst. Felix Ip fue co-productor. Música de

Klaus Badelt.

“TMNT”

se estrenará nacionalmente el 23 de Marzo, y será distribuida dentro de

los Estados Unidos y en territorios selectos por Warner Bros. Pictures, una compañía de

Warner Bros. Entertainment. La compañía Weinstein distribuirá la película en otros

territorios internacionales.

www.tmnt.com

“¡Hagamos una película, amigo!”

- Peter Laird, co-creador de

“TMNT”

Las Tortugas Mutantes Adolescentes Ninjas (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

fueron creadas en el año 1984 por Peter Laird y Kevin Eastman. El director/ escritor de

“TMNT”

, Kevin Munroe dice reveladoramente: -“Lo hicieron para burlarse del mundo

de los personajes súper héroes. El libro de cómics original se publicó en blanco y negro,

con una tirada de sólo 3.000 ejemplares. Para sorpresa de todos, se vendieron

inmediatamente”.

En el término de un año, Laird e Eastman recibieron ofertas para fabricar juguetes

licenciados, realizar una serie de televisión y tres películas de acción con actores a lo

largo de nueve años. Las películas de acción se estrenaron al principio de la década de los

’90, y brindaron a los fanáticos de las

“TMNT”

de todo el mundo, una nueva experiencia

con animatronics (robots controlados por medio de computadoras), y coreografías

realizadas por expertos en artes marciales.

El productor Thomas K. Gray, quien también había sido productor de las otras

tres películas de

“TMNT”

, comenta: -“Queríamos llegar a un nuevo nivel de filmación

con las Tortugas, hacer algo que no habíamos hecho antes. Durante más de 20 años, las

Tortugas han sido unos de los juguetes más populares vendidos en varios lugares de los

Estados Unidos, de Europa, Australia y otros países de Asia y el Pacífico. La serie de

dibujos animados es todo un éxito y se distribuye nacionalmente, y las revistas de cómic

de las Tortugas han llegado a tener un nivel de culto, todo por lo cual queríamos darle a

los seguidores de las Tortugas algo nuevo y diferente”.

Aunque la franquicia de

“TMNT”

tiene un éxito que no decae, los productores de

la película debieron convencer a los creadores de las Tortugas, para que les otorgaran los

derechos de volver a llevar a la gran pantalla a las heroicas y bípedas Tortugas, que viven

en el sistema cloacal de la ciudad.

El productor H. Galen Walker, cuenta sobre las primeras reuniones con Peter

Laird, para tratar de convencerlo de la idea de una nueva película de

“TMNT”

y dice: “

Yo estaba nervioso, porque en realidad Peter no me conocía, y todos en la compañía

estaban a la espera de su respuesta. Así que allí estábamos caminando juntos, y yo ya le

iba a hacer la pregunta clave, cuando de repente Laird levanta su brazo y frenando mi

paso me dice: ¡Tortuga! Y al mirar al suelo, ¡veo una tortuga que estaba cruzando nuestro

camino!”

Pese a la increíble casualidad, Walter aún no sabía que ya tenían la bendición

formal de Laird hasta que: -“Estaba en el avión de vuelta, y abrí el libro que Peter me

había autografiado. En la primera página había escrito: “¡Hagamos una película, amigo!”

Para crear una nueva imagen de las Tortugas para la nueva generación, los

productores confiaron en las artes del animador Kevin Munroe. Gray comenta: -“Kevin

diseñó un trailer de muestra para nosotros. Era obvio que amaba a las Tortugas, y a

nosotros nos encantaron sus ideas. Resultó ser la perfecta elección”.

Atreviéndose a ir a donde ninguna Tortuga fue antes

La producción de la película

“TMNT”

duró aproximadamente 28 meses. Todo se

creó en dos distintos lugares: Sherman Oaks en la soleada California del sur, y en la otra

costa del Océano Pacífico, en Hong Kong.

En China se emplearon más de 300 artistas para la tarea, y en Los Angeles cerca

de 70. Al existir más de 7 mil millas de distancia entre ambos estudios, en épocas

pasadas, cuando aún no existía Internet de alta velocidad, esta producción hubiera sido

imposible de realizar. Hoy las cosas son distintas, y contando con video conferencias y

transmisiones de alta velocidad:-“Fue como si Hong Kong estuviera a la vuelta de la

esquina”- dice Munroe –“Especialmente porque gracias a la diferencia horaria, podíamos

trabajar ‘el día entero’. Cuando en Los Angeles son las 5 de la tarde, en Hong Kong son

las 9 de la mañana, y eso resultaba perfecto para hablar con el otro estudio al final de

nuestro día, cuando ellos recién comenzaban el suyo”.

Walker agrega: -“Tener 24 horas diarias para trabajar nos permitió movernos muy

rápido. Sin embargo, no todo el mundo en Los Angeles se iba a su casa al fin del día,

porque surgían cosas en Hong Kong que debían ser resueltas durante su horario laboral.

Claro, para nosotros era ‘el medio de la noche’. Eso a veces era extremadamente

cansador, pero Kevin y su equipo lo llevaron magníficamente, y los animadores de Hong

Kong fueron fantásticos”.

Sin embargo hubo barreras no tan fáciles de superar con pura tecnología. El

productor Paul Wang cuenta que el equipo de Hong Kong tomó cursos rápidos de

americanismos. -“Kevin habla con mucha jerga, así que tomó varias sesiones para que

ellos se dieran cuenta que cuando Kevin decía ‘cool’, no se refería a la temperatura, sino

que quería decir ‘aprobado’”.

Munroe destaca que: -“Fue interesante trabajar con tantos distintos artistas de

Hong Kong, porque ellos aprecian realmente las artes marciales, lo cual complementó el

estilo de la película. Por ejemplo, yo les decía cosas como: ‘bueno, para esta escena

puedes incluír algo de tu propio Kung Fu’ y ellos se volvían locos de alegría”.

Esta es una nueva y fresca historia de

“TMNT”

con imágenes creadas por

computadora, comenta el director: -“No queríamos hacer una nueva versión de la película

original, por lo que decidimos comenzar un nuevo capítulo en la vida de las Tortugas.

Nos enfocamos en cada una de las Tortugas, enfatizamos su relación de familia, y lo que

sucedió en su vida desde la última vez que las vimos".

Inspirándose en la moderna dinámica de las familias de hoy, Munroe eligió

comenzar su historia con la familia separada por la distancia. -“Splinter envió a Leonardo

en una misión de entrenamiento alrededor del mundo, y el maestro, tratando de proteger

al resto de las Tortugas, trató de disuadirlos de pelear contra el crimen durante la ausencia

de Leonardo”.

Eso llevó a que el resto de las Tortugas ya no se centraran en su propósito contra

el mal, y se dedicaran en vez a simples y comunes quehaceres diarios. Donatello, un

experto en tecnología, se dedicó a proveer servicio técnico telefónico para computadoras,

el divertido Michelangelo se dedicó a realizar actos de entretenimiento en fiestas de

niños, con su personaje “Cowabunga Carl”, un payaso con un traje de tortuga “falso”. El

testarudo Raphael - con un gran sentido de la justicia- creó para él una nueva

personalidad, el “Nightwatcher” (Centinela), un justiciero solitario que lucha contra el

crimen.

Los actores que prestan su voz a las Tortugas, son ya veteranos del doblaje: James

Arnold Taylor es Leonardo; Mikey Kelley es Michelangelo; Nolan North es Raphael; y

Mitchell Whitfield es Donatello. Hablando a través de la sabia figura paternal del mundo

de las Tortugas, está el actor americano-japonés Mako, nominado para el Oscar.

El director Munroe dice: -“La preocupación más grande de Splinter es mantener

unida a la familia. Cuando Leonardo vuelve al hogar, es obvio que Raphael tiene cierto

recelo hacia él, una especie de envidia, como la que siente un muchacho cuando su

hermano mayor se va a la universidad, pero él debe quedarse a trabajar en el negocio de

la familia”.

La frustración de Raphael se va volviendo cada vez más evidente, especialmente

cuando el muy disciplinado y tal vez un tanto pretencioso Leonardo, abiertamente juzga

mal el último triunfo del Nightwatcher/ Raphael. Los egos y la hermandad se ponen a

prueba cuando Leonardo encuentra al solitario justiciero en acción, y ambos hermanos se

enfrentan, como nunca sucedió antes.

Hay problemas familiares, pero se vislumbran problemas aún más grandes en el

horizonte. –“En la última película el Shredder había sido vencido. Nosotros continuamos

la historia desde ahí. La consecuencia de la ausencia del Shredder, fue que los otros

enemigos de las Tortugas - Karai y el Clan del Pié - prácticamente trabajaran a sueldo.

Ahora actúan como un ejército privado para cualquiera que pueda pagar el precio”-

revela Munroe.

Karai, el líder de facto del Clan del Pié, tiene la voz de la actriz china Ziyi Zhang,

entrenada en artes marciales. Ella pasó a ser conocida a través de la película de Ang Lee,

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. Más recientemente fue nominada para varios

premios, por su actuación como el personaje principal de la película de Rob Marshall,

“Memoirs of a Geisha”.

Munroe continúa diciendo: -“Uno de los clientes de Karai y el Clan del Pié es el

enigmático Maximillian J. Winters, un poderoso multimillonario que vive en una torre

monolítica, y colecciona antiguos artefactos de todo el mundo. El es un tipo muy

misterioso, y luego en la película nos damos cuenta que lo que él en realidad colecciona,

son monstruos. Como resultado de ello, cosas extrañas empiezan a suceder en Nueva

York, y eso en realidad es parte el plan secreto de Winters”.

La voz de Winters es la del premiado actor Patrick Stewart. El ya había prestado

su voz en el mundo de los superhéroes mutantes, como el profesor Charles Xavier, en las

películas “X-Men”. Stewart conoce el mundo de las Tortugas desde hace unos 20 años,

porque su hijo era fanático de ellas. Ahora, está orgulloso de presentar el heroísmo del los

héroes de caparazón a sus nietos.

Al describir a su personaje, Stewart dice: -“Max no es lo que parece. Su aspecto

es el de un individuo moderno, saludable, lleno de vigor. Pero poco a poco, uno va

descubriendo porqué su personaje es anormal en el día de hoy”.

Entre medio del complot de Winters, está la amiga y aliada de las Tortugas, la

arqueóloga April O’Neil. Ella consigue tesoros y artefactos raros para coleccionistas muy

ricos.

-“Cuando April retorna de su última expedición por el mundo, sin saberlo trae con

ella una reliquia que podría ser la causante de un gran caos”- comenta el director - “Claro

que April no conoce el oscuro origen de la pieza. Sólo está haciendo un trabajo para un

cliente…...Max Winters”.

La voz de April O’Neil es la de la actriz Sarah Michelle Gellar, quien ya

interpretó a una súper heroína en la serie de televisión “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, en la

cual ella era la protagonista. Recientemente Gellar protagonizó las películas de terror

“The Grudge” y “The Grudge 2”.

Cuando niña, Gellar misma era fanática de las Tortugas mutantes, y recuerda ver

el programa por primera vez a fines de los años ’80. –“Recuerdo estar en casa y mirar el

TV Guide, y ver anunciado un show de nombre ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. Hoy ese

es un nombre muy conocido, pero la primera vez que yo lo ví, pensé que era una

combinación de palabras muy extraña. Recuerdo que me reí y pensé ‘¡qué bueno! ¡voy a

mirar este programa!’”.

Los seguidores de las Tortugas desde sus inicios, seguramente recordarán al

enmascarado justiciero Casey Jones, que blandía un bate de béisbol y un palo de hockey.

Casey es aliado de las Tortugas y novio de April O’Neil. Su voz es la del actor Chris

Evans. Evans ya está familiarizado con el mundo de los superhéroes, ya que

recientemente interpretó a Johnny Storm, en la película de acción “Fantastic Four”, que

se basaba en la serie de libros de cómic del mismo nombre.

Munroe comenta: -“Casey es un tipo que añora sus buenas épocas de justiciero,

cuando combatía el crimen junto a las Tortugas. En esta película, Casey y April están

juntos, pero a April no le gusta todo eso de la máscara y el que Casey sea un justiciero.

Por eso no se llevan tan bien como antes”.

La nueva película

“TMNT”

tiene varios momentos de tensión, -“es muy diferente

de la serie de televisión y de las películas de cine anteriores”- aclara el director –“El

estilo es el de las revistas de cómics. La acción es más intensa, al igual que las emociones

de los personajes principales”.

En la película también se escucha la voz de Laurence Fishburne, quien narra las

escenas del pasado, sucedidas hace más de 3.000 años atrás, que es cuando esta historia

comienza.

El escritor/ director/ actor Kevin Smith, es un viejo admirador de las Tortugas, y

se incluyó en el film a través de un cameo, en el personaje del cocinero del restaurante

Diner. El deberá enfrentarse con uno de los agresivos monstruos de Winters.

El diseño de

“TMNT”

Para llevar a cabo la idea de

“TMNT”

que Munroe tenía en su mente, y para

poder plasmarla en la película, el director contó con el talento del ya veterano director de

arte e ilustrador de concepto Simon Murton. Entre las películas más recientes que

muestran el arte de Murton - más de 25 años de experiencia en ilustración de concepto de

películas y diseño – cabe mencionar “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “I, Robot”,

“Van Helsing” y “The Matrix Revolutions”.

Munroe, el director, dice: -“Este fue el primer trabajo completamente realizado

con ilustraciones creadas por computadoras (CGI) de Simon, y para mí eso fue lo bueno

de todo esto. Porque Simon, habiendo trabajado en películas con actores, tiene una idea

de diseño distinta. Yo le dije: ‘Cuando hayamos terminado, quiero que sea posible ver

esta película, y tomar cualquier cuadro de ella y que sirva para ilustrar una revista de

cómics…pero en pantalla grande, claro’”.

-“Comenzamos por tomar ideas cinematográficas de películas en blanco y negro

de 1940 y 1950”- detalla Murton -“Yo quería llevar las luces y el entorno a sus extremos

totales, para crear el aspecto y la sensación realidad alternativa”.

La mayor parte de la historia sucede en la ciudad de Nueva York, por eso Murton

diseñó entornos reconocibles de Manhattan, sus edificios y parques, pero a la manera del

estilo único de

“TMNT”

.

Murton describe una de las primeras escenas de acción dentro de las cloacas de la

ciudad, en donde Michelangelo estableció su pista personal para ir con su patineta a todo

dar: -“Encontré excelentes ejemplos de trabajos de albañales en Hong Kong y Japón. Los

caños en esos lugares reciben el agua de poblaciones muy densas, y tienen diseños y

formas muy interesantes, los cuales en la mente de la Tortuga Mike, son perfectos para

saltar y hacer piruetas con la patineta”.

Ilustraciones arquitectónicas de la década de 1920 de Nueva York y Chicago,

inspiraron la imagen de la torre monolítica de Winters.

El director de arte explica: -“Max Winters es un hombre de gran éxito, que tiene

el mundo a sus pies. Creamos para él una enorme oficina redonda, que a la vez era un

elevador de cristal encajonado. De esta manera, él podía ir a cualquier piso con tan solo

apretar un botón. La oficina/ ascensor fue lo que definió el aspecto exterior de la Torre

Winters”.

Tres niveles básicos de la ciudad designaban las ‘zonas a salvo de humanos” para

las Tortugas. Se prestó particular atención a cómo se movería un ninja secretamente a

través de la ciudad.

-“Un ninja usaría sombras, tejados y albañales para moverse por la ciudad y pasar

desapercibido. Para que se destacaran mejor cuáles zonas eran seguras para las Tortugas,

les dimos un aspecto acogedor, coloreando el entorno con colores cálidos, por eso las

cloacas las hicimos con ricos marrones y rojos. Todo lo contrario, para el mundo

‘humano’ de la superficie, utilizamos colores fríos, las calles están iluminadas con luces

de neón brillantes - cosa que parece alienar a las Tortugas”- describe Munroe -“Los

tejados también son lugares seguros para las Tortugas, y están iluminados otra vez con

colores templados, por la luz de la noche o por los faroles de las calles. Al igual que las

cloacas, los tejados son un lugar ventajoso para las Tortugas, porque desde allí pueden

mirar lo que sucede en el mundo, a salvo y desde puntos estratégicos”.

Héroes vestidos digitalmente

Uno de los grandes desafíos para los artistas de animación digital, fue crear

Tortugas/ máquinas anti-crimen creíbles, con muy buena musculatura, y con detalles

como piel traslúcida, y rasgos personales que las distinguieran entre sí.

-“Diseñamos músculos para las Tortugas, porque esencialmente ellos no usan

nada más que un cinturón y la caparazón” - explica Munroe -“También les dimos

características únicas. Por ejemplo, Raphael tiene venas que se hinchan cuando hace

flexiones y Michelangelo tiene pecas”.

Además de los héroes reptiles, Splinter, la rata mutante de tamaño humano que

vive en las cloacas, presentó sus propios retos a los animadores. Munroe lo cuenta así: “

Splinter no sólo es peludo sino que además usa una robe. Por eso tuvimos que dibujar y

animar la robe tanto como a sus pelos, para que de esa manera pudieran verse los efectos

de los movimientos y del medio ambiente sobre ellos”.

Las estructuras exteriores de los 13 monstruos de Winters, también tuvieron que

ser diseñadas y animadas: desde los músculos, a las caparazones a los tentáculos.

-“Algunos de los monstruos de Max se basan en el folklore popular. También

creamos unos monstruos ya un poco trillados, como al que dimos en llamar ‘El monstruo

demonio de Jersey’, que es una criatura parecida a un crustáceo pero que básicamente es

un koala extrañamente forzudo con un pésimo temperamento”- dice bromeando el

director.

Se prestó mucha atención a la calidad estética de los fondos y a la de los

personajes. También se pusieron muchos esfuerzos en la coreografía de las escenas de

peleas, para que ofrecieran el máximo impacto visual.

Trabajando lado a lado con Munroe, estuvo el director de animación Kim Ooi,

quien fue el responsable de supervisar la ejecución de todas las cosas que se mueven en la

película. Ooi dice: -“El estilo de lucha de las Tortugas deriva de artes marciales chinas y

japonesas. Muchas de las escenas se inspiraron en películas de acción de Hong Kong,

pero como estábamos haciendo animación por computadora, la creatividad podía ir

mucho más lejos de los límites que impone la acción en vivo”.

Cada movimiento de las Tortugas fue detalladamente observado para realzar sus

características. Ooi sigue explicando: -“Leonardo, tiene mucha confianza en sí mismo,

porque es el mayor de las Tortugas y el líder, por eso él camina bien erguido y tiene muy

buena postura. Raphael es el rebelde, y se balancea un tanto. Michelangelo es un poco

chiquilín, inquieto y se mueve todo el tiempo. Por su lado, los movimientos de Donatello

son más suaves, porque él es un intelectual, y se caracteriza por sus gestos de cortesía”.

Al hablar de una de las escenas de más acción de la película, Ooi dice: -“Hay una

secuencia en la cual tres de las Tortugas están junto a April, Casey y Splinter, tratando de

rescatar a Leonardo. Ellos tiene que abrirse paso a través de un montón de ninjas del Pié

para poder entrar en la torre. Esa fue una de las partes más difíciles de lograr, porque

suceden un montón de pequeñas cosas al mismo tiempo”.

Tal vez el desafío por excelencia haya sido no decepcionar a los fanáticos de las

Tortugas y al mismo tiempo lograr una imagen fresca y renovada para la nueva

generación.

Tom Gray da fé de ello y agrega: -“Quisimos ser fieles al concepto de

“TMNT”

y

al mismo tiempo, llevar a las Tortugas hacia una nueva dirección. Volvimos a consultar

al libro de cómics original que tiene más garra que las películas anteriores. Pienso que

esta película será divertida tanto para los viejos fanáticos de las Tortugas como para los

nuevos”.

Munroe concluye diciendo: -“Hicimos todo lo posible para llenar esta película

con acción de punta a punta y para darle el clásico sentido del humor de los

“TMNT”

.

Después de todo, esta es la historia de una típica familia norteamericana– dice sonriendo

el director – ¡digo, si la familia vive bajo la tierra y salva al mundo teniendo incontables

peleas ninja y con monstruos!”.

# # #

SOBRE LOS ACTORES

CHRIS EVANS (Casey) poco a poco ha llegado a ser un muy requerido actor de

Hollywood. Además de en

“TMNT”

, él actuó en otras tres películas que se estrenarán en

el 2007: el thriller de ciencia-ficción “Sunshine”, del director Danny Boyle, “The Nanny

Diaries”, en donde actúa junto a Scarlett Johansson; y “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver

Surfer”, en la cual él vuelve a ser el personaje Johnny Storm, alias The Human Torch

(Antorcha Humana). Esta última película se estrenará este verano. Evans nació y se crió

en Massachusetts, y comenzó a actuar en teatro regionales. Luego se mudó a Nueva York

en donde estudió en el Instituto de actuación de Lee Strasberg. Fue actor invitado en

varias series de televisión, y poco después obtuvo su primer papel principal en una

película de cine: la parodia cómica “Not Another Teen Movie”. A eso siguió una

comedia de crimen, “The Perfect Score”, en donde las co-protagonistas eran Scarlett

Johansson y Erika Christensen. Cambió el tema de comedias luego, y pasó a actuar en la

película policial “Cellular”, en donde también actuaban Kim Basinger, William H. Macy

y Jessica Biel. En ella hacía el papel principal del hombre que a través de su teléfono

celular, se encuentra envuelto en el drama de un secuestro.

En el año 2005, Evans fue protagonista de cuatro películas para cine: la película

de acción de verano “Fantastic Four”, en la que actuó junto a Jessica Alba, Michael

Chiklis y Ioan Gruffudd. Todos ellos eran un grupo de astronautas que cobraban súper

poderes al ser expuestos a radiación cósmica. Ese mismo año Evans protagonizó las

películas independientes “The Orphan King”, junto a Alexis Bledel; “Fierce People” con

Diane Lane y Donald Sutherland; y más recientemente el drama romántico “London”,

junto a Jessica Biel.

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR (April O’Neil) ha ganado premios por su

actuación y ha llegado a ser conocida por sus trabajos tanto en cine como en televisión.

Hay cuatro películas independientes nuevas en las que ella actúa, que se estrenarán en el

2007: la comedia melodramática “The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing”, junto a Alec

Baldwin; “The Air I Breathe”, como parte del gran reparto de actores que son Forest

Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, Andy Garcia, Emile Hirsch y Brendan Fraser; “Addicted”,

película en la que ella interpreta a una mujer cuya vida se vuelve un infierno a partir de

un accidente de auto; y “Southland Tales”, la cual sucede en Los Angeles del futuro

próximo, en donde los habitantes del lugar están al borde de un desastre social,

económico y ecológico. En la película – que se estrenó en el Festival de Cine de Cannes

2006 - Gellar actúa junto a The Rock y a Seann William Scott.

Entre sus trabajos anteriores cabe mencionar: “The Grudge” y su reciente secuela

“The Grudge 2”; “Scooby-Doo” y su segunda película “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters

Unleashed”; “Harvard Man”; “Cruel Intentions”; “Scream 2”; y “I Know What You Did

Last Summer”. Además, su voz fue una de las que se escucharon en la reciente película

animada “Happily N’Ever After”.

Gellar comenzó a ser conocida a través de su personaje en la serie televisiva

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, que duró varios años, y en la cual ella era el personaje

principal. A través de sus siete temporadas Gellar fue propuesta para el premio Globo de

Oro a la Mejor Actriz en una Serie Dramática. Al comienzo de su carrera, ya había

ganado un premio Emmy y había sido postulada para otro Emmy, por su actuación en la

popular serie del canal ABC, el drama “All My Children”.

Además de ser actriz, Gellar se dedica a una diversa variedad de obras de caridad,

como las fundaciones Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Make-a-Wish, Habitat for

Humanity, Starlight Starbright para los niños y el proyecto Angel Food.

MAKO (Splinter) hizo una gran carrera a lo largo de cinco décadas, realizando

más de 50 películas y actuando en más de 100 programas en televisión. En 1967, fue

propuesto para un premio de la Academia y un Globo de Oro, por su actuación debut en

una gran película de cine, en “The Sand Pebbles” del director Robert Wise. Las películas

que siguieron fueron “The Hawaiians”, “Conan the Barbarian”, “Tucker: The Man and

His Dream”, “Pacific Heights”, “Rising Sun”, “Seven Years in Tibet”, “Pearl Harbor” y

más recientemente “Memoirs of a Geisha”, entre otras.

En televisión, actuó como actor invitado en distintas series desde 1960 hasta hace

poco. Entre ellas están “The West Wing”, “Monk”, “Charmed” y “7th Heaven”. Mako

también actuó en telefilms como “When Hell Was in Session”, “Columbo: Murder Under

Glass”, “Farewell to Manzanar” y “If Tomorrow Comes”.

El actor también trabajó en teatro, la obra más notable fue en Broadway, en el

musical “Pacific Overtures”. Con ella fue postulado para el premio Tony en el año 1976.

Mako fue también el primer director artístico del primer teatro asiático-americano, East

West Players, ubicado en Los Angeles, y más tarde fue nombrado Director Artístico

Emérito de la compañía.

KEVIN SMITH (cocinero de Diner) ha pasado por todo: desde la emoción ante

el sorpresivo éxito comercial y aceptación de la crítica, por su debut en la película

“Clerks”, a soportar la terrible paliza de la crítica y el decepcionante resultado comercial

de su segunda película, “Mallrats”. Tuvo un respiro con su tercer film, cuando la crítica

aprobó “Chasing Amy”, y se las arregló para no morir en manos de fanáticos religiosos al

presentar su cuarta película, “Dogma”. Luego, tuvo provechosas ganancias con la

graciosa película de 95 minutos “Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back”. Las cosas no fueron

tan graciosas sin embargo, al estrenar “Jersey Girl”. Por suerte al ponerle números

romanos que dieron clase a “Clerks II” las cosas comenzaron a ir mejor. La película

volvía a presentar a los personajes Dante y Randal, que arrancaron una ovación del

público de pié en el Festival de Cine de Cannes, y obtuvieron el premio de la Audiencia

en el Festival de Cine de Edimburgo. Con ello su carrera tomó envión.

Mientras tanto, Smith encontró tiempo para trabajar en la película independiente

de John Pierson, Spike, Mike, Slackers and Dykes. También publicó los guiones de seis

de sus películas, escribió libros de cómic con sus propios personajes (los ya publicados

varias veces Clerks y Jay and Silent Bob), y los personajes pilares del mundo de súper

héroes (el premiado Daredevil, Spider-Man, y Black Cat en Marvel Comics, y el

premiado Green Arrow de DC Comics). También escribió una columna mensual para la

británica publicación Arena Magazine – algunas de las cuales fueron vueltas a publicar

en el libro superventas Silent Bob Speaks. Junto con su socio Scott Mosier, en la empresa

productora View Askew, ambos fueron productores ejecutivos de cuatro primeras

películas de bajo presupuesto (incluyendo la de Bryan Jonson, “Vulgar”), una de gran

presupuesto, una que ganó el Premio de la Academia (“Good Will Hunting”), y un par de

documentales seleccionados en el Festival de Cine de Sundance (“Reel Paradise” y

“Small Town Gay Bar”).

Al margen de “Mallrats” y “Jersey Girl”, Smith sobrevivió otras humildes

experiencias “creativas”, que él inexplicablemente no pudo suprimir, entre ellas la

versión animada de la serie “Clerks”, la cual sin muchas ceremonias se transmitió sólo

dos veces.

Smith fue uno de los primeros cineastas que se aventuró en el mundo cibernético

al idear el sitio web insanamente popular View Askewniverse (www.viewaskew.com), a

mediados de los años noventa. De allí salieron varios otros “sitios Smith”, entre ellos su

diario online llamado “My Boring-Ass Life”, en la dirección www.silentbobspeaks.com.

Si las películasde Smith no fueran taquilleras, él siempre puede salvarse con la

venta de cómics, ya que él posee dos negocios del ramo. Ambos establecimientos se

llaman “Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash” (uno queda en Red Bank, New Jersey y el

otro en Westwood, Los Angeles).

En cuanto a los honores recibidos, hay varios: el Trofeo de los Cineastas , por

“Clerks”, el Premio Prix de la Jeunesse de la Semana de la Crítica Internacional del

Festival de Cannes, también por “Clerks”, el Premio Independent Spirit al Mejor Guión ,

por “Chasing Amy”, y el Premio Humanitas por “Good Will Hunting”.

Smith también recibió el Premio Defensor de la Democracia de Norman Lear de

People for the American Way, por su producción de “Dogma”. En cuanto a la creatividad

de sus cómics, Smith recibió los Premios Harvey Award, Wizard Fan, e Eagle; además,

Green Arrow: Quiver fue nombrado uno de los Mejores Libros para Jóvenes en el 2003,

por el servicio de la Asociación de Bibliotecarios para la Juventud. Durante el otoño del

2002, la ciudad de Paulsboro, en New Jersey, puso su nombre a una de sus calles: Kevin

Smith Way. En el año 2004, la Asociación de Comerciantes de Programas de Video,

otorgó a Smith el Premio DVD Visionario, y en el 2005, Smith recibió el Premio

Independent Spirit de la revista Britain’s Empire. Más recientemente, en Abril del 2006,

la Universidad de California en Los Angeles (UCLA) otorgó a Smith su premio Jack

Benny a la Comedia, el cual fue recibido anteriormente por una lista de prestigiosos

hombres del espectáculo, como Johnny Carson, John Belushi, David Letterman, John

Cleese, y Adam Sandler.

Hace poco Smith actuó en la comedia romántica/ dramática “Catch and Release”,

junto a Jennifer Garner.

Sin embargo, los títulos que Smith lleva con más orgullo son los de “marido” y

“padre”. El se casó con Jennifer en Abril de 1999, y celebró junto a ella el nacimiento de

su hija Harley Quinn, en Junio de ese mismo año (si, saque la cuenta).

PATRICK STEWART (Winters) es un actor internacionalmente respetado,

conocido por haber pasado con gracia el abismo entre el teatro clásico, la televisión y el

cine contemporáneos. Recientemente Stewart trabajó en las películas “X-Men: The Last

Stand”, y en la tercera de la exitosa serie “X-Men”, en la cual continúa haciendo el papel

del profesor Charles Xavier.

Stewart también actuó en cuatro capítulos de otra muy famosa serie televisiva,

“Star Trek”, y llevó asimismo a su personaje, el capitán Jean-Luc Picard a la pantalla

grande en las películas “Star Trek: Generations”, “Star Trek: First Contact”, “Star Trek:

Insurrection” y “Star Trek: Nemesis”. Por su interpretación del capitán Picard en el

programa de televisión “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, Stewart fue postulado para el

premio del Gremio de Actores de Cine (SAG) al Mejor Actor en una Serie Dramática en

el año 1995. Además de actuar en la serie durante siete temporadas, Stewart dirigió varios

episodios.

En 1999, Stewart fue postulado para otro premio de la SAG por su interpretación

de Ebenezer Scrooge, para la película versión televisiva de la obra de Charles Dickens “A

Christmas Carol”, del canal TNT. Stewart quien anteriormente había realizado otras

interpretaciones de la obra clásica, fue también productor ejecutivo de la misma. En el

año 1991, presentó la muy aclamada versión de “A Christmas Carol”, en la que él solo

actuaba todos los cuarenta personajes de la obra. Cuando el show abrió en Broadway,

Stewart ganó el premio Drama Desk a la Mejor Actuación en Solo. Al llevar la obra a

Londres en 1993, Stewart ganó el Premio Olivier a la Mejor Actuación en Solo, y fue

postulado a otro premio Olivier al Mejor Actor. Desde entonces, el actor ha presentado la

misma obra “A Christmas Carol”, para variadas audiencias a lo largo de todos los

Estados Unidos y de Inglaterra.

En 1998, Stewart llevó aún otra obra clásica a la televisión, “Moby Dick”, en la

cual interpretaba el papel del capitán Ahab, para la cadena USA. Por ello fue postulado

para los premios Emmy y Globo de Oro al Mejor Actor en una Miniserie o Película.

Luego, volvió a ser candidato al premio Globo de Oro por su actuación en la nueva

versión del clásico “A Lion in Winter”, del canal Showtime. Además, el actor fue

propuesto para el premio Emmy en la categoría Película Televisiva Sobresaliente por su

trabajo como productor ejecutivo en la misma obra.

Hace poco fue protagonista de la serie de televisión “Eleventh Hour” para

Granada. Entre sus muchas interpretaciones para la pantalla chica, cabe mencionar las

realizadas para las películas: “King of Texas”, “Animal Farm”, “The Canterville Ghost”,

“In Search of Dr. Seuss”, “The Devil’s Disciple”, “Smiley’s People”, “Hamlet, Prince of

Denmark”, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”, “I, Claudius”, “North and South” y “The

Gathering Storm”.

Stewart también interpretó diversos personajes en “Excalibur”, “Dune”,

“Lifeforce”, “Lady Jane”, “L.A. Story”, “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”, “Gunmen”,

“Jeffrey”, “Conspiracy Theory”, “Masterminds”, “Dad Savage” y “Safe House”. El

intérprete, prestó el especial timbre de su voz para las películas animadas “Prince of

Egypt”, “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius”, “Chicken Little” y “Bambi II”, entre otras.

Stewart es uno de los más distinguidos actores teatrales de nuestro tiempo, y ha

interpretado diversos personajes a través de su carrera. Su extenso repertorio fue

mostrado en los escenarios de teatros de Broadway y del londinense West End, y en otros

teatros menores de los Estados Unidos y de su nativa Inglaterra. A través de su larga

asociación de más de cuarenta años con la compañía teatral Royal Shakespeare, Stewart

trabajó en gran cantidad de producciones, tanto clásicas como contemporáneas.

En la Lista de Honores otorgados por su Majestad, la Reina Isabel II de Inglaterra,

se otorgó a Stewart en el año 2001 la orden de Oficial del Imperio Británico (O.B.E.).

ZIYI ZHANG (Karai) su primera película en inglés fue el drama de Rob

Marshall, “Memoirs of a Geisha”. Su actuación allí le valió nominaciones a varios

premios a la Mejor Actriz, entre ellos al Globo de Oro, al del Gremio de Actores de Cine

(SAG) y al de la BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts). En este

momento la actriz está filmando “Horsemen”, una película de suspenso de tema

psicológico, en el que también actúa Dennis Quaid.

Las artes de actuación de Zhang ya habían sido reconocidas previamente, en la

película dramática de acción de Ang Lee, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, ganadora

del Oscar, del premio Independent Spirit, y del premio a la Mejor Actriz Secundaria,

otorgado por la Asociación de Críticos de Cine de Toronto. Otro honor por el mismo

trabajo, fue la postulación al premio de la BAFTA en la misma categoría. Volvió a ser

nominada para el premio de la BAFTA por su actuación en la película de Zhang Yimou,

“House of Flying Daggers”, con la cual ganó el Premio Huabiao Film, uno de los premios

más importantes en el mundo de cine de China.

Zhang fue protagonista en el aclamado filme de Wong Kar-Wai, “2046”, por el

cual ganó el premio a la Mejor Actriz otorgado por la Sociedad de Críticos de Cine de

Hong Kong, y ganó también el premio Hong Kong Film a la Mejor Actriz. Hace poco

Zhang fue protagonista en “The Banquet”, del director Feng Xiaogang, papel por el que

fue candidata al premio a la Mejor Actriz en el Festival de Cine de Asia 2007.

Entre otros trabajos de Zhang en películas, cabe mencionar: “Princess Raccoon”

del director Seijun Suzuki, la cual fue seleccionada para el Festival de Cine de Cannes;

“Jasmine Flower” de Yong Hou, con la cual Zhang recibió el Premio Gallo de Oro a la

Mejor Actriz; “Purple Butterfly” de Lou, que fue parte de la selección a las Palmas de

Oro del Festival de Cine de Cannes 2003; y la muy nominada película de artes marciales

de Zhang Yimou “Hero”, que estuvo en las listas para los premios a la Mejor Película

Extranjera del Oscar, del Globo de Oro, y de la BAFTA.

Zhang estudió actuación en la prestigiosa escuela de artes dramáticas Central

Drama, en Pekín, China. Debutó en la pantalla grande con la premiada película del

director Zhang Yimou, The Road Home”, que luego se pasó en el Festival de Cine de

Sundance 2001.

En Mayo del 2006, Zhang fue la persona más joven que tomó lugar entre el jurado

del Festival de Cine de Cannes.

LAURENCE FISHBURNE (Narrador) ha sido honrado tanto por su trabajo en

teatro como en cine. En 1994, fue postulado para el premio de la Academia por su

impresionante interpretación de Ike Turner, en la película biográfica “What’s Love Got to

Do with It”. Más recientemente compartió dos nominaciones al premio del Gremio de

Actores de Cine, en la categoría Reparto Sobresaliente de una Película de Cine: uno en el

año 2004, por su papel en la película de Clint Eastwood, “Mystic River”; y el segundo

este año, como miembro del reparto de la aclamada película “Bobby”.

Fishburne comenzó a actuar a los 10 años, y sólo tenía 15 cuando tuvo un papel

protagónico, en la película épica de la guerra de Vietnam de Francis Ford Coppola,

“Apocalypse Now”. Volvió a trabajar con Coppola en “Rumble Fish”, “Gardens of

Stone” y “The Cotton Club”. Además, Fishburne trabajó dos veces con el notable director

John Singleton, una en “Boyz ‘N the Hood”, y otra en “Higher Learning”, y con esta

última ganó el premio Image Award al Mejor Actor, otorgado por la Asociación Nacional

para el Avance de la Gente de Color (NAACP). Fishburne fue también el enigmático

Morpheus, en las tres películas de la franquicia “Matrix”: “The Matrix”, “The Matrix

Reloaded” y “The Matrix Revolutions”.

En el año 2000, Fishburne debutó como director con la película “Once in the

Life”, la cual también escribió, produjo y protagonizó. El film se basaba en su propia

obra de un solo acto “Riff Raff”. Hace poco tiempo, Fishburne protagonizó y produjo el

inspirador drama “Akeelah and the Bee”. Otras de sus actuaciones en películas, pudieron

verse en: “Mission: Impossible III”, “Assault on Precinct 13”, “Hoodlum”, “Event

Horizon”, “Othello”, “Just Cause”, “Bad Company”, “Searching for Bobby Fischer”,

“Deep Cover”, “Class Action”, “King of New York”, “Red Heat”, “School Daze” del

director Spike Lee, y “The Color Purple” de Steven Spielberg.

En la pantalla chica, Fishburne fue protagonista y productor ejecutivo del

aclamado telefilm “Miss Evers’ Boys”, con el cual ganó un Premio Emmy a la Película

para Televisión Sobresaliente, y recibió una postulación también al Emmy como Actor

Principal Sobresaliente. Previamente había sido nominado para los premios Emmy y

Globo de Oro, y ganó el Premio Image de la NAACP, por su actuación en la película

“The Tuskegee Airmen” del canal HBO. Fishburne también ganó un Premio Emmy, por

su papel en el episodio première de la serie “Tribeca” de Robert De Niro. En televisión,

el actor también trabajó en la película “Always Outnumbered” del canal HBO, y en los

telefilms “A Rumor of War”, “For Us the Living” y “Decoration Day”.

En 1992, Fishburne ganó los Premios: Tony, Drama Desk, el del Círculo Outer

Critics y el Theatre World, por su actuación en la producción de Broadway, de la obra de

August Wilson, “Two Trains Running”. En ella Fishburne volvía a retomar su papel de

Sterling Johnson, el cual ya había interpretado en el teatro Yale Repertory. En 1999, el

actor volvió a los escenarios de Broadway, para actuar junto a Stockard Channing en

“The Lion in Winter”.

Para MITCHELL WHITFIELD (Donatello),

“TMNT”

es su primera película

animada en la pantalla grande, si bien él ya había actuado anteriormente en teatro, cine y

televisión. Whitfield comenzó su carrera de actor en los escenarios de Nueva York, en las

producciones de Neil Simon “Brighton Beach Memoirs” y “Biloxi Blues”. Más tarde

debutó en cine con la película “Reversal of Fortune”. A continuación tuvo papeles en las

películas “Dogfight”, “My Cousin Vinny”, “Sergeant Bilko”, “I Love You, Don’t Touch

Me”, “Best Men” y “Lost and Found”.

En televisión Whitfield es conocido por su papel recurrente en la serie “Friends”,

en donde hacía el papel de Barry, un dentista de ortodoncia, que interactuaba con Jennifer

Aniston. El actor también interpretó papeles principales en las series “Minor

Adjustments” y “Heads Over Heels”, y fue artista invitado en otras series, como “Curb

Your Entusiasm” y “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”.

Whitfield hizo doblajes de voz en años recientes, y es a él a quien se escucha en

los comerciales de Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Comcast, American Express, Burger King y

Blockbuster Video, entre otros. También es su voz la que habla a través de uno de los

personajes de dibujos animados de la serie "W.I.T.C.H", del canal ABC.

JAMES ARNOLD TAYLOR (Leonardo) ha tenido mucho éxito como actor de

doblajes para cada faceta de la industria: dibujos animados para televisión, comerciales y

juegos de video. En television se puede escuchar su voz tras el personaje principal de la

serie “Johnny Test”, del canal CW. También es la voz de Wooldoor Sockbat en “Drawn

Together”, de Comedy Central; es Axel en “A.T.O.M.: Alpha Teens on Machines” de

Toon Disney, y también es la voz de Obi-Wan Kenobi en “Star Wars: Clone Wars” del

canal Cartoon Network. Para Taylor, es un gran honor haber realizado el doblaje de voz

de Fred Flintstone en recientes dibujos animados y comerciales de televisión.

Taylor también realizó doblajes en los videos “The Animatrix” y “Atlantis:

Milo’s Return”. Su voz se escucha en más de 50 video juegos recientes, tales como

“Marvel: Ultimate Alliance”, la serie “Syphon Filter”, y la serie “Final Fantasy X”.

También prestó su voz para video juegos de películas súper populares, como “Pirates of

the Caribbean”, “X-Men”, “Spider-Man”, “Shrek” y “The Lord of the Rings”.

Además de grabar voces originales, Taylor es llamado muchas veces para recrear

las voces de actores al realizar video juegos, videos o comerciales. En su casa tiene un

estudio en donde trabaja regularmente realizando promociones para Fox, Spike, G4, y

Game Show Network, entre muchos otros.

MIKEY KELLEY (Michelangelo) es un actor veterano en el doblaje de voces.

Su voz es la que se escucha en una gran cantidad de programas televisivos animados.

Entre ellos, cabe destacar: “Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase”, “Rugrats: All Grown

Up”, “Ben 10”, “Loonatics Unleashed”, “Rocket Power” y “The Land Before Time”,

entre otros. Kelley también prestó su voz para una variedad de juegos de video, entre

ellos: “Tony Hawk’s Underground”, “Full Spectrum Warrior”, “Metal Gear Solid”, y el

por salir “Spider-Man 3”.

Kelley nació en Quincy, Massachusetts, estudió y se graduó del colegio Boston’s

Emerson. A poco tiempo de mudarse a Los Angeles, tuvo la oportunidad de grabar para

su primera película animada, en el papel principal de “Invasion America” para la red The

WB. El show fue la primera serie animada dramática que se emitió en la red televisiva en

horario de mayor audiencia.

NOLAN NORTH (Raphael/ Nightwatcher) tal vez sea más conocido por su

papel de hace ya años, como el Dr. Chris Ramsey, en el drama televisivo “Port Charles”.

Más recientemente fue actor invitado en las series “Ugly Betty”, “Big Love”, “NCIS”,

“JAG” y “Six Feet Under”. También fue su voz la que se escuchó tras algunos de los

personajes de la película animada “The Wild”, los videos “Ultimate Avengers” y

“Ultimate Avengers II”, y en algunos episodios de la serie de dibujos animados “Ben 10”

y “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy”. North también será la voz de Cyclops, en

la nueva serie televisiva animada “Wolverine and the X-Men”.

North dio su voz a numerosos juegos de video, entre ellos “Lost Planet: Extreme

Condition”, “Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express”, “Titan Quest”, “Cars”,

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow”, “Final Fantasy XII”, “The Lord

of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth”, “24: The Game”, “50 Cent: Bulletproof”,

“Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard” y “Evil Dead: Regeneration”, entre muchos otros.

SOBRE LOS REALIZADORES

KEVIN MUNROE (Director/Escritor) ha trabajado en la industria de la

animación por más de diez años, tanto para películas para televisión, como para cine y

juegos de video. También realizó ilustraciones en revistas de cómic. Con esta película de

“TMNT”

, Munroe debuta como director, si bien tiene amplia experiencia en las arenas de

animación, escritura de guiones y diseño de producción.

Munroe trabajó como escritor, artista y director para compañías como Walt

Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, Fox, The Jim Henson Company, Stan

Winston Studios y Nickelodeon. El también escribió la serie de libros de cómic “El

Zombo Fantasma”, muy aclamados por la crítica, los cuales co-creó junto a Dave Wilkins

para la casa editora Dark Horse Comics, y “Olympus Heights” para ediciones IDW.

Munroe creó, escribió el guión y produjo el especial internacional de Navidad

“Donner”, para el canal ABC Family y TV-Loonland.

La revista “Animation” menciona a Munroe como “estrella de animación por

computadora en ascenso”. En este momento, él está escribiendo el guión de la próxima

película para cine animada por computadora, de Imagi Studios. La historia se basa en la

popular franquicia de la animación japonesa Gatchaman. Munroe también dirigirá la

película, la cual se estrenará en el año 2008.

THOMAS K. GRAY (Productor) es el Presidente y uno de los ejecutivos de la

compañía Imagi USA.

Anteriormente había sido el jefe de producción en el estudio Golden Harvest.

Gray fue el arquitecto de la primera película original y ahora franquicia “TeenageMutant

Ninja Turtles”. La película se estrenó al principio de 1990, y el total de sus tres películas

recaudó conjuntamente $256 millones de dólares dentro de los Estados Unidos. La

primera de las películas “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” en 1990, fue el filme

independiente que más ganancia dio a lo largo de siete años. Durante sus años de trabajo

en Golden Harvest, Gray también participó en varias de las internacionalmente exitosas

películas de Jackie Chan, entre ellas “The Protector”.

Gray tiene más de 30 años de experiencia en producción, marketing y distribución

global en el mundo de las películas para cine. A lo largo de su carrera tuvo varias

posiciones como Gerente en United Artists, Warner Bros. y CIC (de la sociedad

Paramount/Universal). En el año 2004 Gray pasó a ser presidente y ejecutivo de Imagi

USA.

Además de haber producido

“TMNT

Gray también produjo la venidera

“Highlander: The Search for Vengeance”, la nueva película con animación de Imagi,

dirigida por el aclamado director japonés Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Dicha película se estrenará

en Junio del 2007.

En este momento Imagi USA está desarrollando dos nuevas películas animadas

por computadora. Ambas están basadas en héroes ya muy conocidos: una es

“Gatchaman”, una franquicia japonesa que tiene ya varios años en el mercado, y que se

estrenará en el 2008; y la versión para cine de “Astro Boy”, las aventuras del personaje

de dibujos animados, que comenzó como manga en 1950. Las películas de Astroboy

cobraron fama internacional, al ser pasadas por televisión en la década de 1960.

H. GALEN WALKER (Productor) es el Presidente Ejecutivo (COO) de Imagi

USA. Antes de entrar en la industria del cine, durante toda una década Walker fue

guitarrista de estudios y para giras, lo que le dio la oportunidad de tocar con grupos como

Kingdom Come, The Runaways y Cellmates. Al entrar en el mundo del cine, Walker

comenzó a trabajar como diseñador de sonido y supervisor de sonido de postproducción.

Así, trabajó en su especialidad en películas como “The Virgin Suicides”, de

Sofia Coppola; y “Blind Horizon”, en la que actuaba Val Kilmer.

Más tarde Walker abrió su propia compañía de post-producción de sonido, y

luego hizo una sociedad junto con cinco estudios de sonido de Hollywood, conocida

como Pacifica Media Affiliates (PMA). Technicolor compró al tiempo PMA, y fue

entonces que Walker comenzó a trabajar en Imagi USA, en el 2004 como Jefe de

Operaciones.

“TMNT”

, es su primera película como productor. Walker fue también productor

en otra de las películas de Imagi: “Highlander: The Search for Vengeance”, dirigida por

el aclamado director de películas animadas, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, quien dio su especial

toque visual al inmortal Colin MacLeod, en su búsqueda de venganza en tiempos futuros.

La película se estrenará en Junio del 2007.

PAUL WANG (Productor) durante los últimos 20 años trabajó en filmación y

gráficos por computadora. Wang tenía su propia empresa de animación en Nueva York,

llamada Four-D. Con ella, entró en la industria de efectos visuales creados por

computadoras, y creó los de las películas “Batman Forever” y “The Peacemaker”.

Luego Wang pasó a trabajar para PDI/ DreamWorks en donde, a lo largo de una

década trabajó en grandes películas animadas como “Antz”, la cual fue la primera

película animada para la empresa, la ganadora del Oscar “Shrek”, y más recientemente en

“Madagascar”. El también trabajó en el diseño del juego para parques de diversiones

“Shrek 4D”, y en la serie animada de DreamWorks Television, “Father of the Pride”.

Wang comenzó a trabajar en Imagi Studios en el año 2005 como jefe creativo, y

jefe técnico.

El estudió arte en el Instituto Pratt, Con especialización en Diseño de

Comunicaciones. También estudió en la Universidad de California en Berkeley.

FRANCIS KAO (Productor Ejecutivo) fundó Imagi Studios en el año 2000.

Además de ser Vice-Presidente y Co- Jefe Ejecutivo de la empresa, Kao es el responsable

de la visión creativa y estrategias generales de la misma.

En el año 2002, Kao también fue el productor ejecutivo para la creación de la

serie televisiva, animada por medio de computadoras (CG) “Zentrix”, creada por Imagi.

Asimismo lo fue en el 2005, para la película para cine “Digital Monster X-Evolution”, y

para el filme animado “Highlander: The Search for Vengeance”, que se estrenará en

Junio del 2007. Dos de sus futuras películas animadas por computadora serán las basadas

en “Gatchaman” y “Astro Boy”.

Kao nació y se crió en Hong Kong, donde hoy está la oficina central de Imagi.

Kao estudió administración de negocios y finanzas en la Universidad Estatal de

California.

PETER LAIRD (Productor Ejecutivo), es el dueño único de Mirage Studios,

Inc., que co-creó a las ahora famosas Tortugas Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (

“TMNT”

)

en el año 1984. En el año 2000 la sociedad entre Kevin Eastman y Laird - ambos

creadores de las Tortugas - se disolvió. Laird se convirtió en la fuerza creativa de los

estudios y fue quien se ocupó de la constante presencia de las Tortugas, y de sus derechos

tanto para televisión, cine y productos.

En la producción de esta nueva película de las

“TMNT”

, el señor Laird no sólo

fue productor ejecutivo, sino uno de los asesores creativos claves para hacer el guión, y

para diseñar los personajes más importantes del film.

GARY RICHARDSON (Productor ejecutivo) es el Presidente de Mirage Group,

un grupo de compañías que durante los últimos 20 años manejó, mejoró y protegió la

propiedad de Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (

“TMNT”

), una de las más famosas y

exitosas películas para niños, y lo mismo hizo para todas sus propiedades de

entretenimiento y mercadeo de productos.

FREDERICK U. FIERST (Productor ejecutivo) ha sido el representante de

Mirage Studios y la propiedad de Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (

“TMNT”

) por los

últimos 20 años.

Fierst es además representante de muchos clientes de alto perfil y sus derechos y

propiedades en los campos de juguetes, televisión, interactivo y películas.

Su especialidad es armar la producción y vender programas de televisión y

películas para cine, negociar los contratos para el desarrollo de juegos de video y su

distribución, y lo mismo para el campo de juguetes, libros de cómic, videos para el hogar

y otras mercaderías.

Fierst también coordina el registro de propiedad intelectual y protege las

actividades de numerosos clientes.

FELIX IP (Co-Productor) ha trabajado para la empresa Imagi Studios desde su

fundación en el año 2000. La empresa quedaba en Hong Kong, y allí Ip era director y

director de arte de la primera producción de la empresa, la serie televisiva que luego ganó

varios premios “Zentrix”. El programa se pasó también en Europa y Asia. Luego Ip pasó

a trabajar en los estudios Imagi de Hong Kong, como director creativo del programa en

serie “Father of the Pride”, para la cadena DreamWorks de Televisión. “Father of the

Pride” fue la primera serie que se pasó en televisión en horario de mayor audiencia.

Completamente animada por medio de ordenadores. Se estrenó en el canal NBC en

Agosto del 2004.

En este momento IP es el Director Creativo y Jefe de Desarrollo en Asia de Imagi.

Previamente a su trabajo en Imagi, Ip había trabajado por más de 10 años en los

campos de diseño gráfico, desarrollo de multimedia y producción de juegos.

El artista estudió diseño gráfico en la Universidad Politécnica de Hong Kong.

MICHAEL J. ARNOLD (Productor activo) ha sido parte de la comunidad de

cine independiente por muchos años. El trabajó en Golden Harvest Films y en la

distribuidora Rim Film.

“TMNT”

es su primer trabajo como productor.

KLAUS BADELT (Compositor) creó la música para una gran variedad de

películas, tanto para grandes éxitos de taquilla como para películas independientes de

bajo presupuesto. Entre las películas más recientes que llevan sus música están:

“Poseidon” de Wolfgang Petersen; “Ultraviolet” de Kurt Wimmer; “16 Blocks” de

Richard Donner; la película china postulada para los Globos de Oro “The Promise”;

“Constantine”, protagonizada por Keanu Reeves; y el super éxito “Pirates of the

Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”, del director Gore Verbinski.

Badelt comenzó a componer música para películas en su nativa Alemania. En

Hollywood, inició su carrera colaborando con compositores como Hans Zimmer y

Michael Kamen. La primera película en la que él fue el único compositor fue la del actor/

director Sean Penn, “The Pledge”, protagonizada por Jack Nicholson. Otras de sus

primeras composiciones, se escucharon en las películas: “Invincible” de Werner Herzog;

“K-19: The Widowmaker” de Kathryn Bigelow, en la que era estrella Harrison Ford;

“Equilibrium” de Kurt Wimmer; “The Recruit” de Roger Donaldson, con los primeros

actores Al Pacino y Colin Farrell; “Ned Kelly”, con Heath Ledger y Orlando Bloom;

“Basic”, protagonizada por John Travolta y Samuel L. Jackson.

Badelt también compuso la música original de “Gladiator”, “Mission: Impossible

II” “Hannibal” y “Pearl Harbor”.

Para JOHN DAMIEN RYAN (Montaje)

“TMNT”

es su primer trabajo de

montaje de una película animada. Anteriormente había trabajado como asistente de

montaje, en el video para el hogar de la película “The Lion King 1½”. Ryan fue asistente

del editor de efectos visuales para las películas “Kangaroo Jack” y “Reign of Fire”.

Comenzó su carrera en animación como asistente de producción en filmes como

“Mulan” y “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”.

SIMON MURTON (Director de Arte) trabajó en el departamento de arte de la

producción de más de 30 películas con actores en vivo.

“TMNT”

es su primer película

animada.

Murton fue el director de arte para la película de suspenso y acción de Alex

Proyas, “The Crow”, y en la de ciencia-ficción “Fortress”. Fue asistente del director de

arte para “Super Mario Bros”. Otros de los trabajos de Murton fueron las películas

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “The Island”, “I, Robot”, “The Matrix

Revolutions”, “Pearl Harbor”, “Galaxy Quest”, “Sleepy Hollow”, “What Dreams May

Come” y “Stargate”.

KITH NG (Supervisor de Efectos Visuales) Comenzó su carrera hace diez años

atrás en Japón, trabajando como animador de gráficos por computadora (CG) freelance.

En los últimos ocho años, NG ha trabajado en más de 60 cortos publicitarios, para

compañías como Procter &Gamble, Coca-Cola y McDonald’s. La publicidad de Coca-

Cola en China, titulada “Clay Dolls” fue seleccionada para ser pasada en Siggraph 2001.

NG había sido uno de los animadores principales de la misma. Ng ha trabajado también

como supervisor de gráficos por computadora en la película dirigida por Stephen Chow,

“Kung Fu Hustle”, y en varios juegos, como “Splinter Cell” y “SplinterCell: Pandora

Tomorrow” de Ubisoft.

KIM OOI (Supervisor de animación) ha trabajado en animación en lugares tan

diversos como Vancouver, Shangai, Hong Kong y Los Angeles.

Ooi estudió y se graduó de la escuela de Filmación de Vancouver, y comenzó su

carrera de animación con comerciales, y dibujos animados para niños. Más tarde creó

storyboards para comerciales en grandes empresas de publicidad de Shangai y Hong

Kong. Supervisó la realización de dibujos animados para televisión en una casa de

animación en Hangzhou, China.

Ooi fue director de animación en Imagi, para la serie tridimensional televisiva

“Zentrix”. Mientras que trabajaba en Imagi en Hong Kong, también fue supervisor de

animación para la primera película de la serie totalmente animada por computadora de

Dreamworks Television, que se pasó en horario de mayor audiencia.

Posted by Bill at 03:19 PM | Permalink

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Mar 22

A SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

Revolution Studios Presenta

Dirigida por

James Foley

Guión de Todd Komarnicki

Historia por Jon Bokenkamp

Producida por

Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas

Productores Ejecutivos

Ron Bozman

Deborah Schindler

Charles Newirth

Director de Fotografía

Anastas Michos, ASC

Diseñador de Producción

Bill Groom

Editada por

Christopher Tellefsen, A.C.E.

Música de

Antonio Pinto

Halle Berry

Bruce Willis

Giovanni Ribisi

Gary Dourdan

Richard Portnow

Patti D’Arbanville

Clea Lewis

Casting por

Todd Thaler

Co-Productores

Stephanie Langhoff

Daniel A. Thomas

Supervisora Musical

Denise Luiso

Diseñadora de Vestuario

Renée Ehrlich Kalfus

Una Película de James Foley

Gerente Unidad de Producción

Harvey Waldman

Gerente Unidad de Producción

Ron Bozman

Primer Asistente al Director

Glen Trotiner

Segundo Asistente al Director

ddie Micallef

Productor Asociado

Stephen Eads

Rowena Halle Berry

Harrison Hill Bruce Willis

Miles Giovanni Ribisi

Narron Richard Portnow

Cameron Gary Dourdan

Teniente Tejada Florencia Lozano

Grace Nicki Aycox

Elizabeth Clayton Kathleen Chalfant

Senador Sachs Gordon MacDonald

Josie Daniella Van Graas

Mia Hill Paula Miranda

Esmeralda Patti D’Arbanville

Gina Clea Lewis

Bethany Tamara Feldman

Jon Kirshenbaum Gerry Becker

Kenneth Phelps Jared Burke

Jesse Drake Jay Wilkison

Gunnar Hope Aaron Nauta

Toni Jane Bradbury

Policía de Capital Jeffrey Bellamy

Coronel Charles Thomas

Bill Patel Jason Antoon

Como Ella Misma Heidi Klum

Fiscal de Distrito Daniel A. Thomas

Abogado Defensor Jack Menz

Jury Foreman Liliane Thomas

Testigo De CSI Todd Komarnicki

Tipo De CSI Daniel Cheswick

Analista De CSI James Mazzola

Donna Emma Heming

Carol Whittier Kristy Hinze

Banquero Jay Coyle

Asistente del Fotógrafo Stephen Eads

Juez Michael Tolan

Mamá De Ro Yvonna Kopacz

Mamá De Ro (Mayor) Jacqueline Cannon

Papá De Ro Vincent Lamberti

Ro a los 9 Años Maya N. Blake

Grace a los 9 Años Nadine Jacobson

Ejecutivos De Reebok Jonathan Ave

Thomas Sullivan

Mujer de Recursos Humanos Pat Pritchett Lewis

Vendedor De Puesto De Diarios Gaetano Lisi

Vendedor De Puesto De Café Brandhyze Stanley

Guardia De Seguridad Maurice Ballard

Hombre En Elevador Justin Ritson

Clientes Lauren Potter

Robert L. Haber

Mitch Giannunzio

Técnico De Computadoras De NYPD John Heinlein

Hombre En Bar Mike O’Brien

Portero De Hill Joe Paparone

Cantante James “D-Train” Williams

Coordinadores de Dobles George Aguilar

John Cenatiempo

Piloto De Helicóptero Al Cerullo

Director de Arte Charley Beal

Decorador de Sets Susan Tyson

Encargado de Ubicar Objetos en el Set Jim Mazzola

Supervisor de Guión Massoumeh Emami

Gerente de Locaciones Maria T. Bierniak

Coordinador de Producción Anne Nevin

Contador de Producción Mike Phillips

Operador Cámara “A” Patrick Capone

Primer Asistente Cámara “A” Heather Norton

Segundo Asistente Cámara “A” Ed Nessen

Operador Cámara “B”/Operador Steadicam Will Arnot

Primer Asistente Cámara “B” Geb Byers

Segundo Asistente Cámara “B” Amanda Hudson

Recargador de Cámara Pierson Silver

Diseñador de Vestuario Asistente Richard Schurkamp

Supervisores de vestuario M.J. McGrath

Thomas Stokes

Vestuaristas Principales Jennifer M. Moore

Vestuarista para la Sra. Berry Nina Johnston

Vestuarista para el Sr. Willis Michelle Teague

Supervisor de Compra de Vestuario Joni M. Huth

Cabeza Departamento de Peinados Wayne Herndon

Estilista Principal Diana Sikes

Estilista para el Sr. Willis Linda Arnold

Artista de Maquillaje Co-Principal para el Sr. Willis Richard Dean

Artista de Maquillaje Co-Principal Leslie Fuller

Artista de Maquillaje para la Sra. Berry Norma Hill-Patton

Artista de Maquillaje Frances A. Kolar

Electricidad Andrew Day

Ayudante de Electricidad Ralph Crowley

Operador Consola de Luces Kelly Britt

Operadores de Focos David Baney

Peter Russell

Bill Almeida

Michael Hunold

William MacGhee

Joshua Van Praag

Jamie Gallagher

Electricidad Principal Charles Grubbs

Ayudante de la Electricidad Principal William Hines

Coordinador del Personal de Producción Tommy Prate

Ayudante del Coordinador del Personal

de Producción Chris Kilduff

Personal de Producción a Cargo del

Movimiento de Cámara Matt Blades

Gregory Cahill

Personal de Producción Tony Arnaud

Balint Pinczehelyi

Gerald Gloster

William Moran

Coordinador Principal del Personal de Producción Kevin W. Flynn

Ayudante del Coordinador Principal del

Personal de Producción Franz J. Yeich

Mezclador de Sonido Allan Byer

Operadores de Micrófono Alfredo Viteri

John Gutierrez

Asistencia de Video Brian Carmichael

Joe Trammell

Supervisor de Video en 24 Cuadros James Domorski

Coordinador de Efectos Especiales Mark Bero

Encargado de Efectos Especiales Bob Scupp

Asistentes al Gerente de Locaciones Ian MacGregor

Guy Efrat

Kip Davis Myers

Coordinadores de Estacionamiento Maurice Cabrera

Mike Fermin

Asistente al Coordinador de Producción Meegan Neeb

Secretaria de Producción Betsy Davis

Contadores Asistentes Theresa L. Marsh

Deborah A. Becker

Contador Encargado de Sueldos Darryl A. Smith

Empleados de Contaduría Katherine DeJesus

Jennie Myers

Coordinador de Construcción Raymond M. Samitz

Artesano en Metales Gerard Furey

Capataz en Artesanía de Metales Charles Romanello

Brian Becker

Coordinadores de Personal de Producción

de Construcción Todd MacNicholl

Ayudante del Coordinadores de Personal

de Producción de Construcción Vincent J. Biscaino

Gerente de Escenario Jan Claire Tynes

Maestro Escénico Robert Topol

Artista de Cámara Escénico M. Tony Trotta

Encargado de Escenografía Lyvan A. Munlyn

Ayudante al Encargado de Escenografía Maggie Ryan

Artistas Escénicos Rand Angelicola

Stephen Caldwell

Directores de Arte Asistentes Emily Beck

Michael Auszura

Heesoo Kim

Director de Arte Asistente/Gráficos Mark Pollard

Artista Gráfico Kevin L. Raper

Artista de Bocetos Steven Glazman

Coordinador Departamento de Arte Judith L. Buckley

Asistente al Decorador de Sets Alyssa Winter

Hombre Líder Bruce Lee Gross

2do Vestuarista del Set D. Scott Gagnon

Vestuaristas en el Set Ruth A. Deleon

Steve Brennan

Jason A. Brown

James Whelan

Asistentes al Encargado de Ubicar Objetos en el Set Vinny Mazzarella

Dave Schanker

Tonero Williams

Publicista de la Unidad Eric Myers

Fotógrafo de Tomas Quietas Barry Wetcher

Segundo 2do Asistente al Director Chris DeAngelis

Pasante DGA Matt McLoota

Asistente al Sr. Foley Lindsay Jaeger

Asistentes a la Sra. Goldsmith-Thomas Brooke Schaiberger

Sean Dooley

Asistente al Sr. Bozman Gabrielle Cran

Asistente a la Sra. Schindler Jessica Kantor

Asistente al Sr. Newirth Dawn Clounch

Asistente a la Sra. Langhoff Brian Cruey

Asistente al Sr. Thomas Michelle Vicidomini

Asistentes de Producción

Adam Bernard Filipe Bessa

Antonio Bonilla Natalie S. Brown

Glenn Ferrara Danielle Goldsmith

Siddeeqah Malik Jeremy Mohler

Matthew S. Pratt-Hewitt Justin Ritson

Katie Ryan Roth Omar Vaid

Ryan Westphal Zach Wolf

John Wu Zachary Zirlin

Asistente al Casting Philip Huffman

Casting para el Fondo Lee Genick

Catering Tomkats

Chef John Edmunds

Servicios de Mantenimiento Wilson Rivas

Marcia Rivas

Seguridad Wayne Petrucelli

Seguridad para la Sra. Berry G.S.I.S.

Médico del Set Kathleen Cossu

Capitán de Transporte James P. Whalen, Jr.

Co- Capitán de Transporte Timothy J. Shannon

Choferes

Mike Buckman Joseph J. Buonocore, Jr.

Dan Connolly Telly Davis

Bob Dwyer William Featherstone

Roy Fortier Brian Hogan

Joseph J. Parvis Timothy J. Shannon

Donald Yeager

1er Asistente de Editor/Editor VFX Kent Blocher

Asistente de Editor/Producción de VFX John Sosnovsky

Supervisor de Post Producción Paul A. Levin

Coordinador de Post Producción Ann Gray

Editor de Sonido Supervisor Ron Bochar

Editor de Diálogos Branka Mrkic-tana

Editor Supervisor de ADR Gina R. Alfano

Editores de ADR Marissa Littlefield

Mary Ellen Porto

Editor de Efectos de Sonido Heather Gross

Editor de Sonidos de Fondo Kam Chan

Editores de Sonido Asistentes Alexa Zimmerman

Chad Birmingham

Aprendices de Editores de Sonido Lidia Tamplenizza

Serge Stanley

Ingeniero del Sonido de Fondo George A. Lara

Artista de Sonido de Fondo Leslie Bloom

Casting de Voces por Sondra James

Mezcladores de Regrabado Ron Bochar

Michael Barry

Ingeniero de Regrabado Eric Hirsch

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Mezclador de Música de Fondo John J. Kurlander

Conductor Bruce Fowler

Contratista Musical Sandra Park

Copista Tony Finno

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Coordinador de Música de Fondo Marilia Franco

Títulos Finales Nina Saxon Design

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Ingeniería de D.I. Mike Whipple

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MÚSICA

“Steady Baby”

Escrita por James Small, Cedric Lindsey y Anthony Carl Nollie

Interpretada por Dukes Of Daville

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“You Sexy Thing”

Escrita por Errol Brown

Producida por Matt Chiaravalle

Interpretada por James “D-Train” Williams

“My Funny Valentine”

Escrita por Richard Rodgers y Lorenz Hart

Producida por Matt Chiaravalle

Interpretada por James “D-Train” Williams

“Stir It Up”

Escrita e Interpretada por Bob Marley

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“Like A Star”

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“Nausea”

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“I Put A Spell On You”

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Interrpetada por Nina Simone

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“A Transa”

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“The Lie”

Escrita e Interpretada por James Newton Howard

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“Troubled Waters”

Escrita por Sam Coslow y Arthur Johnston

Interpretada por Cat Power

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Mar 29

   U.S., BRAZIL SIGN TAX INFORMATION  EXCHANGE AGREEMENT



   Washington, DC -- The Treasury Department today announced that
   Clifford M. Sobel, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, and Jorge Rachid,
   Secretary of the Receita Federal of Brazil, signed a Tax Information
   Exchange Agreement (TIEA) between the two countries in Brasilia on
   March 20. A copy of the signed TIEA and joint declaration is
attached.

   The agreement establishes the means by which the tax authorities of
   the United States and Brazil may exchange information for the
purpose
   of facilitating the administration of both countries' tax systems.

   "The United States and Brazil are very interested in building on the
   progress embodied by the TIEA," said Ambassador Sobel.  "Both
   countries are committed to working together to try to find ways of
   reaching our ultimate objective of overcoming the tax policy
   differences that have prevented the conclusion of a bilateral tax
   treaty in the past."

   The Governments of both countries hope that the signing of the TIEA
   will be the first step to developing a deeper bilateral tax
   relationship between the United States and Brazil.  The Treasury
   Department and the Brazilian Secretaria da Receita Federal initiated
   informal discussions in 2006 to exchange views on a number of
aspects
   of tax treaty policy, including transfer pricing, permanent
   establishment, the taxation of income from services and mutual
   agreement procedures.

Related Documents:
   U.S., Brazil Tax Information Exchange Agreement
    http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/braziltiea2007.pdf
   U.S., Brazil TIEA Joint Declaration

Mar 22

Testimony of Stuart Levey
Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence
Before the Senate Committee on Banking,
Housing and Urban Affairs

WASHINGTON, DC-  Chairman Dodd, Ranking Member Shelby and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about the Treasury Department's role in dealing with the myriad challenges posed by the radical regime in Iran.  I welcome this Committee's ongoing focus on the Iranian threat, and, more broadly, your continued support for our efforts to stop illicit financial flows. 

INTRODUCTION

The challenges posed by Iran have become particularly urgent, and the Administration is employing a multi-faceted strategy to meet them.  I know you are hearing much about that strategy today from my colleague, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.  The Department of State's diplomatic efforts have yielded critical successes, including a unanimously adopted UN Security Council resolution last December, Resolution 1737, imposing Chapter VII sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear and missile programs.  As a result of Iran's noncompliance with that resolution, including its expansion rather than suspension, of uranium enrichment, the Security Council is now set to pass a follow-on resolution with expanded sanctions.  That our international partners now support pressuring the Iranian regime to comply with its international obligations is a true credit to Under Secretary Burns's patient, yet persistent, diplomacy. 

The Treasury developed the financial component of the Administration's overall Iran strategy at the direction of Secretary Rice and Secretary Paulson and in close coordination with other agencies.  Through our teamwork, we have crafted an innovative strategy to highlight the reckless and dangerous conduct of the Iranian regime, deter Tehran's dangerous activities through the use of financial measures, and prevent the regime's abuse and manipulation of the international financial system.  As I will discuss, the Treasury's efforts and the State Department's intensive diplomacy at the United Nations are mutually reinforcing.

Over the past nine months, senior Treasury Department officials, including Secretary Paulson and Deputy Secretary Kimmitt, have met with foreign finance ministry and central bank counterparts from tens of countries -- in many cases multiple times -- to discuss the imperative of ensuring that the international financial system is not tainted or harmed by Iran's abuse.  We have also engaged in unprecedented outreach to the international private sector, meeting with more than 40 banks around the world to share information and discuss the risks of doing business with Iran.  And we have implemented targeted financial measures against Iranian banks, entities, and individuals engaged in illicit activities, highlighting to the world their dangerous conduct, preventing U.S. persons from doing any business with them, and, in some cases, requiring that any assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction be frozen.  Those targeted actions have helped pave the way for international action.  

Today, I would like to give you an overview of these Treasury efforts.

IRANIAN THREAT AND DECEPTION

Mr. Chairman, the Committee is well aware of the threat posed by Iran's dangerous activities, so I will just briefly summarize the problem.  Iran poses two threats – an unrelenting pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability, on the one hand, and the provision of financial and material support to terrorist groups, on the other – the combination of which has an extraordinarily lethal potential.  Under President Ahmadinejad, the regime has ignored calls from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council to suspend its enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, and to comply with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.  The danger we face is that Ahmadinejad not only has an extreme vision of the future but that he might develop the weapons that make him believe that his vision can be obtained.

Iran's role in supporting international terrorism is of serious concern.  Iran has long been a state sponsor of terrorism.  Tehran arms, funds, and advises Hizballah, an organization that has killed more Americans than any terrorist network except for al Qaeda.  It is also widely reported that Iran provides extensive support to Palestinian terrorist organizations, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas.  In the case of PIJ, Iran's financial support has been contingent upon the terrorist group carrying out attacks against Israel.   And we are all familiar with Iran's funding and equipping of elements of the insurgency in Iraq, further destabilizing that country and resulting in deaths of Americans, Iraqis and others.  Iran needs money to provide all of this support.  Indeed, the regime operates as the central banker of terror, spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year to fund terrorism. 

Iran also uses its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, to provide a `train and equip program' for terrorist organizations like Hizballah, as well as to pursue other military objectives of the regime.  The head of the IRGC was listed last December by the UN Security Council as supporting Iran's nuclear and missile programs.  The IRGC's control and influence in the Iranian economy is growing substantially.  More and more IRGC-associated companies are being awarded important government contracts. An IRGC company, for example, has taken over management of the airport and runways in Tehran, while another company has won the contract to build the Tehran metro system.

Iran's present integration into the world financial community allows it to support and facilitate its dangerous activities.  The regime disguises its hand in terrorism and weapons proliferation through an array of deceptive techniques specifically designed to avoid suspicion and evade detection from the law-abiding international community.  For example, Tehran uses front companies and intermediaries to engage in ostensibly innocent commercial transactions that are actually related to its WMD programs.  These front companies and intermediaries enable the regime to obtain dual-use technology and materials from countries that would typically prohibit such exports to Iran. 

We have also seen Iranian banks request that other financial institutions take their names off of U.S. dollar transactions when processing them in the international financial system.  This practice is even used by the Central Bank of Iran.  This practice is specifically designed to evade the controls put in place by responsible financial institutions and has the effect of threatening to involve them in transactions they would never knowingly choose to settle.  It can allow Iran's banks to remain undetected as they move money through the international financial system to pay for the Iranian regime's illicit and terrorist-related activities.

TREASURY ACTION AGAINST IRAN

Because of the longstanding U.S. concerns about Iran's well-documented illicit behavior, the Treasury Department maintains broad sanctions against Iran.  Although I want to focus today on our new, targeted sanctions -- or "measures" as I prefer to call them – against individual bad actors, it is important to remember that the U.S. Government has maintained these general country sanctions for some time and that the new measures build upon our overall and long-standing Iran policy. 

U.S. commercial and financial sanctions against Iran, which are administered by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in a wide variety of trade and financial transactions with Iran or the Government of Iran.  They prohibit most trade in goods and services between the United States and Iran, and any post-May 7, 1995 investments by U.S. persons in Iran.  U.S. persons are also prohibited from facilitating transactions via third-country persons that they could not engage in themselves.

Beyond these general country sanctions, we are relying more and more on "targeted" measures directed at specific individuals, key members of the government, front companies, and financial institutions.  These measures are aimed at specific actors engaged in specific conduct.  Some require financial institutions to freeze funds and close the accounts of designated actors, denying them access to the traditional financial system. At times, the action includes bans on travel or arms transfers, which further confine and isolate those engaged in illicit activities. To maximize the effect, we try to apply these measures in concert with others. Whenever possible, we act with a partner or a group of allied countries.  We have done so, for example, in the context of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1737, which I will discuss shortly.

These kinds of measures have several advantages. Because they single out those responsible for supporting terrorism, proliferation, and other criminal activities, rather than apply to an entire country, they are more apt to be accepted by a wider number of international actors and governments. Targeted financial measures also warn people and businesses not to deal with the designated target.  And those who might still be tempted to work with targeted high risk actors get the message loud and clear: if they do so, they may be next.

The United States is using various types of targeted measures to combat Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and development of ballistic missiles, as well as its support for terrorism. 

First, while under our general Iran country sanctions program Iranian financial institutions are prohibited from directly accessing the U.S. financial system, they are permitted to do so indirectly through a third-country bank for payment to another third-country bank.  In September 2006, we cut off one of the largest Iranian state-owned banks, Bank Saderat, from any access, including this indirect, or "u-turn," access to the U.S. financial system.  This bank, which has approximately 3400 branch offices, is used by the Government of Iran to transfer money to terrorist organizations.  Iran has used Saderat to transfer money to Hizballah.  Iran and Hizballah also use it to transfer money to E.U.-designated terrorist groups, such as Hamas, the PFLP-GC, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.  Since 2001, for example, a Hizballah-controlled organization received $50 million directly from Iran through Saderat.

We have also acted against 19 entities and individuals supporting Iran's WMD and missile programs, including another Iranian bank, Bank Sepah, using Executive Order 13382.  That Executive Order, signed by President Bush in June of 2005, authorizes the Treasury and State Departments to target key nodes of WMD and missile proliferation networks, including their suppliers and financiers, in the same way we target terrorists and their supporters.  A designation under E.O. 13382 effectively cuts the target entity or individual off from access to the U.S. financial and commercial systems and puts the international community on notice about the threat they pose to global security as a result of their activities.  Specifically, such a designation freezes any assets that the target may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from doing business with it. 

While most states do not have a similar national-level designation authority as a tool to stem proliferation, they do now have binding obligations, which are similar to those under our  Executive Order, under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1737.  That resolution contains an annex listing entities and individuals responsible for Iran's nuclear and missile programs, and requires states to freeze their assets and the assets of entities owned or controlled by them. 

Five of the U.S. designations against Iranian entities and individuals under E.O. 13382 have been similarly designated under UNSCR 1737.  And, where our designations are not matched by designations at the United Nations, I can tell you that they still receive a great deal of international attention.  I have traveled all over the world, sharing our list of Iran-related designations with foreign government counterparts and private sector representatives, and stressing the importance of ensuring that these proliferators are not able to access the international financial system.  Our list of targeted proliferators is incorporated into the compliance systems at major financial institutions worldwide, who have little appetite for the business of proliferation firms and who also need to be mindful of U.S. measures given their ties to the U.S. financial system.

The Treasury's designation of Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah under E.O. 13382 in January of this year is particularly significant because it makes it more difficult for the regime to hide behind its banks to support its proliferation activities.  Like certain other Iranian banks and entities, Bank Sepah has engaged in a range of deceptive practices in an effort to avoid detection, including requesting that other financial institutions take its name off of transactions when processing them in the international financial system.

Bank Sepah provides direct and extensive financial services to Iranian entities responsible for developing missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction.  It has been a key provider of financial services to the Shahid Hemmat Industries Group (SHIG) and the Shahid Bakeri Industries Group (SBIG), two Iranian missile firms listed in the annex to UN Resolution 1737 for their direct role in advancing Iran's ballistic missile programs. Bank Sepah also provides financial services to SHIG's and SBIG's parent entity, Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), which has been designated as a proliferator by the United States for its role in overseeing all of Iran's missile industries. AIO's Director is listed in the annex of Resolution 1737, thereby requiring states to freeze his assets as well as the assets of entities under his ownership or control.

Since at least 2000, Bank Sepah has provided a variety of critical financial services to Iran's missile industry, arranging financing and processing dozens of multi-million dollar transactions for AIO and its subordinates. The bank has also facilitated business between AIO and North Korea's chief ballistic missile-related exporter, KOMID. Also previously designated by the Treasury, KOMID is known to have provided Iran with missile technology. The financial relationship between Iran and North Korea, as reflected in the business handled by Bank Sepah, is indeed of great concern to the United States.

PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONSE

As I mentioned, aside from these "formal" actions, the Treasury has engaged in unprecedented, high-level outreach to the international private sector, meeting with more than 40 banks worldwide to discuss the threat Iran poses to the international financial system and to their institutions.  Secretary Paulson kicked off this effort last fall in Singapore, in discussions during the annual IMF/World Bank meetings, where he met with the executives from major banks throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.  Secretary Paulson, Deputy Secretary Kimmitt, Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Patrick O'Brien, and I have continued to engage with these institutions abroad, as well as in Washington and New York. 

Through this outreach, we have shared information about Iran's deceptive financial behavior and raised awareness about the high financial and reputational risk associated with doing business with Iran.  Our use of targeted measures has aided this effort by allowing us to highlight specific threats.  We share common interests and objectives with the financial community when it comes to dealing with threats. Financial institutions want to identify and avoid dangerous or risky customers who could harm their reputations and business. And we want to isolate those actors and prevent them from abusing the financial system. 

By partnering with the private sector, including by sharing information and concerns with financial institutions, we are increasingly seeing less of a tendency to work around sanctions.  As I have traveled and met with bank officials abroad, I have learned that even those institutions that are not formally bound to follow U.S. law pay close attention to our targeted actions and often adjust their business activities accordingly for two main reasons.  First, regardless of the underlying law in any particular country, most bankers truly want to avoid facilitating proliferation, terrorism, or crime. These are responsible corporate citizens. Second, avoiding government-identified risks is simply good business. Banks need to manage risk in order to preserve their corporate reputations.  Keeping a few customers that we have identified as terrorists or proliferators is not worth the risk of facing public scrutiny or a regulatory action that may impact on their ability to do business with the United States or the responsible international financial community.

As evidence of Iran's deceptive practices has mounted, financial institutions and other companies worldwide have begun to reevaluate their business relationships with Tehran.  Many leading financial institutions have either scaled back dramatically or even terminated their Iran-related business entirely. They have done so of their own accord, many concluding that they did not wish to be the banker for a regime that deliberately conceals the nature of its dangerous and illicit business.  Many global financial institutions have indicated that they have limited their exposure to Iranian business.  A number of them have cut off Iranian business in dollars, but have not yet done so in other currencies.   It is unclear whether this is just a first step toward phasing out the business entirely.  Regardless of the currency, the core risk with Iranian business – that you simply cannot be sure that the party with whom you are dealing is not connected to some form of illicit activity – remains the same.  Scaling back dollar-business reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk.  

As further evidence of the change in tide, a number of foreign banks are refusing to issue new letters of credit to Iranian businesses. And in early 2006, the OECD raised the risk rating of Iran, reflecting this shift in perceptions and sending a message to those institutions that have not yet reconsidered their stance.

Additionally, many other companies have scaled back on their investments or projects in Iran, concluding that the risks of expanding operations in the country are too great. Multinational corporations have held back from investing in Iran, including limiting investment in Iran's oil field development. These companies have done their risk analyses, and they have realized that the Iranian regime's behavior makes it impossible to know what lies ahead in terms of Iran's future and stability.

If Tehran chooses to continue on its current path, this is a trend that will continue.  Iran's increasing isolation is the result of its own costly behavior.  These are costs that the regime is not only imposing on itself, but also the Iranian people.  Targeted financial measures, coupled with the private sector's reevaluation of its business with Iran, have sparked a debate inside Iran about the wisdom of the regime's policies.  It is our hope that the Iranian regime will realize that the only way to rejoin the community of responsible nations is to change its behavior.

CONCLUSION

Mr. Chairman, the Treasury Department – working closely with the State Department and the rest of the interagency – is playing an integral role in the Administration's Iran strategy.  Our use of targeted financial measures, along with outreach to the private sector about the risks of doing business with Iran, are indeed having an impact on the Iranian regime's ability to misuse the financial system to carry out its dangerous activities.  To be sure, the threat posed by Iran remains significant, but it is not insurmountable.  We have made important progress on countering this threat, and we will continue working diligently to take all prudent steps to respond expediently to this challenge.      

I look forward to working closely with you, other Members of the Committee, and your staff on this important issue.  Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today.

 

 

 

 TREASURY DEPARTMENT NEWS   

Posted by Bill at 01:41 PM | Permalink

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Mar 27

Just A Week Left to Bid! Auction closes on April 9 at 5:00 PM EDT.