Star Harbor Films Awards 3dmx Animation Studios
STAR ISLAND Production Contract
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New York City, NY - June 21, 2006
After a lengthy and intense competition, Star Harbor Films, an independent motion picture studio in Dallas, Texas, has awarded 3dmx Animation Studios of San Jose, California and Guadalajara, Mexico the production contract to animate the feature release of STAR ISLAND.
Based on a series of tweenie/teen fairytale adventures by James "Jimmy" Holloway, STAR ISLAND introduces three orphans and an abandoned puppy to a magical floating island shielded by a mist, accompanied by a star and inhabited by talking birds and a people hidden from the contemporary wiles of the "Outsiders'" world.
In a local interview, STAR ISLAND's versatile writer, producer and director declared, "After three years in story and character development, having auditioned hundreds of voice-over actors and singers, and conceptualized fascinating ancillary products such as an interlocking board game played with our fun characters and Tiki sticks instead of dice, we are more than ready to come out of the studio and begin to promote our company and the STAR ISLAND brand."
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"If the initial reception we have received from several Fortune 100 licensees, prospective sponsors, notable advertising and PR Firms, virtually every talent agency in Dallas, several youth focus groups and fellow producers is a reliable indication of what is to come, we are already chasing a runaway train with this franchise. Moreover, we have great expectations for our original cast - Alright and Already the twin Kaka parrots, Toughy the puppy, Captain Blight and his band of runaway pirate poachers, the delightfully wicked Morlana, Princess Abigail, Sam the Tomboy and of course, the two buddies, Moe aka "The Great One" and Joe the Orphan have all evoked positive reactions from intelligent industry professionals."
Jim closed by adding, "We spent months evaluating the art, design and production capabilities of several major and independent studios. Frankly, we were amazed with the professionalism and enthusiasm of 3dmx for our project.¬Ý In the final analysis their love of children won us over as much as their attentiveness to our needs and the stylistic look we desired. We trust STAR ISLAND is the first of many collaborative projects for noth studios."
3dmx creates 3D animation in its San Jose facilities. Its Latin America studio in Guadalajara, Mexico provides producing services. A close consulting partner, One Hemisphere of San Jose, CA, facilitated 3dmx's Star Harbor alliance and is actively encouraging other companies to invest in the laregely untapped pool of creative talent South of the Border.
Bits and Pieces
STAR ISLAND SCORES BIG IN NEW YORK
The debut of Star Harbor Films' STAR ISLAND franchise at this year's Licensing Show International was a HUGE success. Attracted to its "Disneyesque" art and original storylines, several major entertainment property companies were quick to compete to represent and promote the brand. Countless licensing companies pitched placing the company's character designs on everything from backpacks to wallpaper. Additionally, several distribution companies offered to sign theatrical and home video distribution agreements as soon as the studio's preliminary teaser/trailer is complete.
As STAR ISLAND swings into full production, adding STAR ISLAND comics, board and video games, graphic novels, fashions, toys, etc. statewide enthusiasm for the studio's fun characters and story is growing deeper by the day. In preparation of its inital theatrical trailer/teaser, this Fall the studio will be casting supporting roles and inviting name stars to play the voices of STAR ISLAND's lead characters.
Written for the mainstream family entertainment market, promotional art, sample merchandise and a line of Star Island sportswear were created for this year's Licensing 2006 International trade show. An animatic overview of Star Island showcasing the story, characters and voice actors was successfully shown to a group of 28,000 licensees, manufacturers, distributors, agents and investors in attendance.
ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Dallas firm of Levenson and Hill, LLP, an esteemed marketing and advertising firm representing entertainment clients such as Paramount, Warner Brothers and Dreamworks, has prepared a marketing plan and company and film awareness campaign for taking Star Harbor Films and Star Island to the national stage. With emphasis on brand strategies their sister company, Levenson-Brinker Public Relations promises to make both Star Harbor Films the company and the Star Island franchise more recognizable to moviegoers and consumers.
PRODUCER AND STUDIO SERVICES
Showcase Productions and Willow Street Edit, two of Dallas' premier post production studios have offered exclusive studio services to help post produce and promote STAR ISLAND.
STAR HARBOR BRAND ANIMATION APPROVED
The studio has approved a storyboard proposal from 3dmx Animation Studios to animate it's theatrical brand identity. The animation will open with the camera following a shooting star across the sky into Star Harbor. As the star dies, we PULL BACK to reveal the scene shown here of a young boy and his cocker spaniel star gazing across the bay from a glowing lighthouse. With the water rippling and stars reflected across its waving surface in the evening light, the boy reaches up and catches a pieces of falling star dust. In a beat, he admires it and casually puts it in his pocket, which glows and draws the dog to turn his head to the boy. As the accompanying music rises, the company name dissolves into the night sky until all FADES TO BLACK.
Several derivations of the company's comprehensive brand have also been approved for other ventures. Star Harbor Sports, Star Harbor Comics and Star Harbor Records will all embrace the boy holding the glowing stardust sitting next to his faithful pet. The name of each respective enterprise will be stenciled in an outer circle rimmed in gold providing the illusion of looking through a port hole at the magical setting amd moment.
STAR HARBOR RELEASES NEW RECORD LABEL
After a painstaking search for singers, songwriters and musicians the studio has decided to accelerate it plans to promote its own record label. An initial Compilation CD entitled "Songbirds" will introduce a variety of professional singers mostly tied to the studio's productions of STAR ISLAND and VOICES. On a one-by-one basis to begin with, STAR HARBOR RECORDS will manage, produce, direct, represent and promote its previously undiscovered talent on stage and screen.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
On the product front, a role playing Star Island board game is being packaged to pitch to Milton Bradley, Mattel and Hasbro. Separately Star Harbor Films is developing a Star Island video game and extensive lines of Star Island educational products. Early interest in merchandise rights has precipitated pre-sales licensing negotiations with two major toy and game retail distribution outlets. Former Disney attorney and executive, Sheila Parkhill, will be handling all of the company's licensing negotiations.
NEW TECHNOLOGY TO REPLACE SCULPTORS
To help the creative teams better visualize final designs, the studio is investing in a 3D printer technology popularized by Z-Corporation. This machinery enables computer character models originated in Maya, Softimage, Lightwave, or any CAD system capable of outputting an STL file, to be inexpensively turned into high-resin polymer statues in a matter of hours. With the added capability to create molds, the Z-Corp system will help reduce manufacturing costs for any product the studio decides to retain and self market.
INVESTMENT BACKING AND PLANS
Commissioned to raise capital investment funds, Star Harbor Productions, LLC and Texas Film Partners, Ltd. of Dallas have teamed up in a joint marketing venture for Star Harbor's emerging Animation Group -- a separate Entertainment division specializing in Design, Animation and Games. In addition to high-level JVAs, Star Harbor Productions will assist in marketing STAR ISLAND licenses and corporate sponsorships.
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JAMES HOLLOWAY SIGNED TO NEW PROJECTS
Star Harbor Films has extended a contract with screenwriter, Jim Holloway, to write and direct his supernatural romance, VOICES, centered on a small town Texas reporter whose unexplained "gift of hearing" leads him to find the love of his life.
Enamored with Savannah, original plans to shoot in multiple locations have been largely revised. Most remote photography will now take place in and around this enchanting Southern city. After redacting the script accordingly, plans to film this Fall have also accelerated the search for a traveling crew. The lead cast and locations will be secured this Summer.
Set in rural, lakeside and riverside Connecticut, scouting for Holloway's dramatic action script, AIN'T LOVE GRAND, continues this Fall. Talks are underway to attach a West Coast director and DP to this fast action dramedy, a story of redemption with a humorous injection of unusual intervention.
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Choosing to wait on the availability of preferred star talent, preproduction will pick up the end of the year with an eye towards principal photography Q3 in New England
Similarly, due to scheduling conflicts, the studio has delayed packaging THE PEGASUS FILE, a medium-budget mystery involving an unsuspected killer's fascination with mythology. This clever, suspenseful thriller will be shot entirely in Dallas. Besides seeking theatrical distribution for its movies, the studio intends to break new ground withTHE PEGASUS FILE, a pilot project written to test Star Harbor's proprietary utility, MBD3*-- a customized software tool designed to attract media buyers to movie web sites and drive video/DVD sales, independent of the major studios, distributors and exhibitors.
NEW COMPANY AND FILM SITES
The studio's expansion into multiple creative arenas has necessitated the development of industry specific web sites. Soon to have a complete make-over, Star Harbor's corporate web site will remain available at starharbor.com. Look for Flash entertainment sites for the following subsidiaries and projects at:
Thank you for your patience with our growing pains.
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* Not to be confused with the nuclear methyl binding protein and antibody MBD3 (Yes, this is a joke.)
