Sony launches Picture This Festival for the Planet competition

Sony Pictures Television Networks (SPTN), in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, has announced the opening of the Picture This Festival for the Planet, a short-film competition for emerging filmmakers, everyday storytellers and changemakers worldwide to showcase the positive future they see for our planet.

People from over 70 countries are invited to submit videos inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of global goals agreed upon by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet and promote prosperity for all.

In mid-2018, eight regional winners will be flown to Los Angeles, US to attend the Picture This Festival for the Planet for a day of networking and training alongside industry leaders and social impact partners at the Sony Pictures Studio lot, followed by a screening of the regional winners’ films. Regional winners will receive airfare and accommodations for two nights in Los Angeles, along with a Sony RX0 Camera and a one year WeTransfer Plus account. The grand prize winner honored with a Sony A6500 camera and a SEL1670 lens. In Asia, the first 100 successful entries will receive a one-year WeTransfer Plus account worth US$120 each.

Andy Kaplan, President, Sony Pictures Television Networks, said: “At Sony, we are proud champions of the intersection between storytelling and innovation and are incredibly excited to spearhead Picture This. With the support of the United Nations Foundation and our other partners, we look forward to elevating and amplifying these important development goals through the voices of emerging creatives and acknowledge their good work in a meaningful way.”

SPTN launched a similar contest in 2016 across its channel portfolio worldwide, including its flagship brands in Asia, AXN, Sony Channel, GEM, ONE and Animax and those same channels will participate in this year’s festival.

In addition to Kaplan, the judges include: Megan Boone, environmental advocate and actress from the TV series The Blacklist; Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy CEO, United Nations Foundation; Marie Jacobson, EVP Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks; Tom Bernard & Michael Barker, Co-Presidents, Sony Pictures Classics; NP Singh, MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India; Glenn Gainor, President of Physical Production, Screen Gems; Debbie Levin, President & CEO, Environmental Media Association; and Damian Bradfield, President and Chief Marketing Officer, WeTransfer.

Cousens said: “The Picture This Festival for the Planet is an innovative new platform to connect global audiences to what is happening on the ground as people put the SDGs into action in their daily lives. The United Nations Foundation appreciates Sony’s deep commitment to sustainability and its willingness to leverage its creativity and reach to bring the SDGs to new audiences. By celebrating individual stories of people around the world actively working to protect people and planet, Picture This will help inspire others to join the effort to realise these ambitious – and achievable – goals."

Sony Pictures Television Networks is a division of Sony Pictures Television Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. The Picture This Festival for the Planet is Sony Pictures Entertainment’s  latest project to bring awareness to the SDGs. In 2016, the United Nations and Sony Pictures Entertainment launched Angry Birds for a Happy Planet, a global youth outreach campaign that leveraged online and social media platforms to encourage action to protect the planet and fight climate change. Centered on the Sustainable Development Goal No. 13 – to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, the campaign featured Red and other characters of The Angry Birds Movie. In 2017, supported by the cast of the Smurfs: The Lost Village, audiences were encouraged to join Team Smurfs for the Small Smurfs Big Goals campaign that inspired everyone to learn about and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Details:

The contest is open to entrants from Brunei, Cambodia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. Fiction or non-fiction are welcome, and the film can be of a wide range of genres, new or existing. Videos should be between one and eight minutes in length. Submissions for the Picture This Festival for the Planet close April 30, 2018. Entry is free. Register

Explore:

Watch the video introducing the Picture This Festival for the Planet 

Philips showcases limited edition Star Wars shavers at Singapore popup

Source: Philips Singapore. Action at the toybox.

The Philips Master Your Shave popup store was launched yesterday at the Bugis+ mall in Singapore in the lead-up to the new Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie. Till 3 December 2017, Star Wars fans can experience some Star Wars action at Bugis+ with Philips at the popup store.

Visitors to the popup can enter a life-sized ‘toy-box’ style photo booth, posing next to their favourite Star Wars characters for Instagram memories.

Source: Philips.
The SW170
Stormtrooper-
inspired shaver.

Philips will also be presenting two special edition shavers featuring its cutting-edge rotary technology. Both shavers are part of a new range of shavers which emulate different characters from the Star Wars movie collection.

The shavers, a BB-8-inspired SW5700/07 (recommended retail price [RRP] S$149) and Philips Star Wars in Stormtrooper-inspired SW170/04 (RRP S$109) will be on sale at the popup. 

The SW5700/07 has five-direction flex heads that glide close to the skin for a close shave, even in tricky areas along the neck and jawline. The shaver’s Aquatec Wet & Dry seal gives a close shave wet or dry, while its 50-minute running time gives you more shaves without recharging.

The rounded edges and four-direction Flex Heads on the lightweight SW170/04 shaver ensure a comfortable, protective shave. Its ComfortCut Blade System will get as close as possible to the skin while protecting it from nicks and cuts.

Source: Philips.
The SW6700
Poe Dameron-
inspired shaver.

A third shaver, the Poe Dameron-inspired Philips Star Wars Shaver SW6700/14 (RRP S$219) is available exclusively at the Best Denki store. Eight-directional ContourDetect flex heads automatically recalibrate to every curve of the neck and face. The design is inspired by Poe Dameron’s X-wing fighter, down to the scratched metal finishing and red stripes. The Star Wars features continue with a red X-wing symbol flickering during use.

Featuring V-Track Precision Pro technology, the shaver boasts 72 self-sharpening V-shaped blades and cuts at 151,000 times per minute without pulling or tugging. This technology positions each hair in the best cutting position, even on a three-day stubble for a shave 30% closer* to the skin, while leaving no irritation or burns.

“This collection will not only excite Star Wars fans but also gentlemen who want to up their shaving game. The Philips Star Wars shavers will be introduced at wallet-friendly prices while still offering all-star performance. All Philips shavers make use of a proprietary rotary shaving technology that is designed to follow the contours of the face, offering the closest shave possible and can be used on-the-go for ultimate flexibility and convenience,” said Aw Ee Ling, Senior Marketing Manager, Personal Health, Philips Singapore.

Source: Philips.
The SW5700
shaver inspired by
the BB-8.

There will also be experience booths where visitors can pick up some expert Jedi Master level tips to make sure that they stay on top of their shaving game.

Details: 

The limited edition shavers will be available at the popup store till 3 December and until 31 December 2017 at selected electronic stores, major departmental stores and authorised dealers in Singapore as well as online - select “Singapore” for shavers available in Singapore.

Those who take a photo at the Star Wars toybox or with mascots and post them to Instagram with the hashtags #MasterYourShave and #PhilipsSG, and tag @PhilipsSG stand a chance to win a Philips Star Wars Shaver (BB-8 SW5700) and Kylo Ren Force FX Lightsaber by Hasbro (recommended selling price S$399.90). Chances are doubled for those who buy a shaver at the popup store. 

The popup store is open from 12pm to 9pm daily at Level 1 Civic Plaza @ Bugis+ in the outdoor area beside Uniqlo. Bugis + is at 201 Victoria Street, Singapore 188067.

Source: Philips infographic. The differences between manual and electric shavers.

Source: Philips infographic. Beard and moustache styles most suited to face shapes.

*Cuts 30% closer in less strokes compared to the Philips predecessor.

Golden Village Multiplex first in Singapore to launch Auro 11.1 audio technology

Golden Village Multiplex is the first cinema operator in Singapore to support three-dimensional, immersive Auro 11.1 by Barco sound technology.

Long, Long Time Ago depicts
Singapore some 50 years back.

Auro 11.1 will thrill audiences at Golden Village Suntec City in Singapore with the launch of Jack Neo’s latest Chinese New Year comedy/ drama Long, Long Time Ago (我们的故事), which debuts 4 February. The film was natively mixed to take full advantage of the new immersive technology at Galaxy Studios Belgium.

Set in mid-to-late 1960s, just after Singapore gains independence, the story revolves around heroine Zhaodi going back to live with her parents in a kampong after she is widowed. The film charts key milestones in Singapore's history such as Singapore's first elections as Zhaodi (Aileen Tan) struggles for a better life for herself and her children.

Neo explains why he included Auro 11.1 by Barco support. 

Yesteryear has been lovingly reconstructed, down to kampong life, floods, fights and misunderstandings, and the concerns of the multi-ethnic society of the time. This will be a nostalgic journey for those who lived through the first decades of Singapore's independence, and an eyeopener to life then. Mark Lee shines as Zhaodi's strong-willed, straight-talking younger brother Ah Kun while Suhaimi Yusof as Osman provides additional comic relief.

Director Jack Neo highlighted the flood and fight scenes as being particularly evocative due to support for Auro 11.1 by Barco, and the viewer truly does feel in the thick of action.

Whether watched at Golden Village Suntec City or at another cinema, do stay right to the end, where photographs of the cast as children, and then of key business figures in Singapore when they were young are shared as the credits roll.

Graphic displayed on the screens at Golden Village Suntec City, showing how different speakers above and around the audience contribute to the Auro 11.1 by Barco experience.

Auro 11.1 by Barco brings three layers of speakers to convey sound from all around as well as above the viewer to create an impactful experience. Says Sebastian Fong, Manager, Projection Management, Golden Village Multiplex, “Visualisation has grown tremendously in recent years. On the other hand, the evolution of audio technology has been at a gradual pace. This makes Auro 11.1 by Barco a monumental evolution in the history of cinema audio technology. We understand that 50% of the movie experience relies on pitch-perfect audio, which makes it most gratifying for us to be the first cinema operator to launch Auro 11.1 in Singapore.”

Wilfried van Baelen explains how he conceptualised
Auro technology.

Wilfried van Baelen, CEO at Auro Technologies, added that Auro 11.1 by Barco can reproduce elusive "3d reflections" which are what is missing from sound reproduction today. Unlike other technologies where speakers are placed only on a horizontal plane and directly above, the Auro 11.1 by Barco system uses a speaker layout based on three axes (x=width, y=depth, z=height) and three vertical layers (surround, height, top) to provide a natural, true-to-life reproduction of sound.

More than 125 films today leverage on the new technology. Jeffrey Katzenberg, the CEO of DreamWorks Animation, has praised Auro 11.1 for offering the best cinematic experience to movie patrons. DreamWorks Animation’s latest film, Kung Fu Panda 3, is currently playing in theatres in Auro 11.1 by Barco.

Eddie Tan, General Manager, South East Asia Entertainment for Barco said: “Auro 11.1 by Barco is the apex of cinema audio. Every boom, swoop and whisper will be fully experienced, making your movie experience the ultimate adventure. Auro 11.1 gives film fans the biggest reason to watch movies within the theatres and not in the confines of their homes. We thank Golden Village for this partnership and for launching Auro 11.1 in Singapore.”

Interested?

Check the Golden Village website on how to experience Auro 11.1 by Barco at Golden Village Suntec City

View the list of movies which support Auro 11.1 by Barco. The technology can only be experienced in Singapore at Golden Village Suntec City

Watch the trailer for Long, Long Time Ago

Hashtag: #GVAuroBarco

HP launches special edition notebook with Star Wars theme

HP has unveiled a special edition notebook in anticipation of the release of Star Wars: “The Force Awakens”.

“HP is delivering an amazing Star Wars experience as the only PC vendor collaborating with Disney and Lucasfilm to create a one-of-one-kind notebook,” said Serena Yong, Managing Director, HP Singapore. “As part of this relationship, we were able to tap into Lucasfilm’s media archives to create custom screen savers, desktop backgrounds and sound profiles – configurable by the customer.”

Source: HP.

The Star Wars Special Edition notebook has a “battle-worn” distressed design with Galactic Empire written in the Star Wars Aurebesh font on the hinge and iconic Stormtroopers on the keyboard deck. The touchpad design mirrors the X-Wing Star Fighter Guidance System and the red backlit keyboard completes the dark-side design.

For portability and power, the Star Wars Special Edition notebook gets up to seven hours of battery life¹ and is offered with Full HD² in a 15.6" diagonal display. Users have the choice of sixth generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors³.

Source: HP.

The notebook comes with up to 1 TB of HDD capacity⁴ and up to 8GB of RAM⁵ with the option to select between Intel HD Graphics 520 and NVIDIA GeForce 940M graphics processors. The notebook is also offered with an optical drive for customers to enjoy all their Star Wars movies. With audio tuned by B&O Play and dual speakers, customers will have remarkable sound experiences. Customers can enhance their Star Wars Special Edition with a Star Wars Special Edition Sleeve, and an optional Star Wars Special Edition Wireless Mouse⁶.

Source: HP. The Star Wars Special Edition Sleeve.

The Star Wars Special Edition notebook further adds themed software, content and audio on the Windows 10* PC. Users can click on the Imperial Cog desktop icon to be taken to the Star Wars Command Center for browsing the Star Wars Special Edition notebook’s Themes and Galleries. Users will have access to unique content collections with over 1,100 images spanning 40 years of Star Wars history. Content includes behind-the-scenes images, storyboards, artwork, classic photos, set and costume designs, and audio selections.

Themes offer customisability with sound, wallpaper and screensaver collections. This gives customers the option to replace the standard Windows notification sounds with eight categories of iconic Star Wars sounds including R2-D2's unique beeps and the whirr of the lightsaber. Wallpapers include planetary collections based on movie stills.

Galleries host several categories for customers to explore Star Wars content. Customers can view original movie posters in Collections or explore the Concept Art section to view Lucasfilm art that guided movie development including early ideas on characters, costumes and settings. Illustrated Art celebrates Star Wars with artwork from black and whites to comic book art. The Star Wars Special Edition notebook also includes access to the first Marvel Star Wars comic in the series, e-book excerpts from select Star Wars titles and Star Wars movie trailers. 

Hardcore fans will appreciate the included Aurebesh font in the font library, which allows users to type in Galactic Base Standard language. Another nod to Star Wars includes replacing the Recycle Bin with a Death Star icon – not destroyed when empty and destroyed when full.

Interested?

Source: HP. The Star Wars
Special Edition Wireless
Mouse.

The Star Wars Special Edition notebook, which comes with the Star Wars Special Edition Sleeve, is expected to be available from November 2015 in Singapore, starting at S$1,299⁷. The Star Wars Special Edition Wireless Mouse will be available at the end of November, with pricing to be set closer to the availability date.

*Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows functionality. Windows 10 is automatically updated, which is always enabled. ISP fees may apply and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.microsoft.com.

1 Windows 10/ MM14 battery life will vary depending on various factors including product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, use, wireless functionality, and power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. See www.bapco.com for additional details.

2 Full high-definition (FHD) content required to view FHD images.

3 Multi-Core is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. A 64-bit computing system is required. Performance and clock frequency will vary depending on application workload and your hardware and software configurations. Intel’s numbering is not a measurement of higher performance.

4 For hard drives, TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less. Up to 35GB of hard drive is reserved for system recovery software.

5 Part of the total system memory (RAM) is used for graphics/video performance. System memory dedicated to graphics/video performance is not available for other use by other software.

6 Accessories sold separately in select countries only, check with your local HP reseller for availability.

7 Estimated prices. Actual prices may vary.

posted from Bloggeroid