Win tickets for two to see CATFISH
Thursday, September 2
7:30 PM at AMC Metreon in San Francisco, CA
Special screening event featuring Q&A with directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost and star Nev Shulman

Email your full name to sfmoviebuzz@yahoo.com with KRYSTYL in the subject line to receive a pass.

CATFISH
In Select Theaters September 17
www.iamrogue.com/catfish

In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel’s brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, CATFISH is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue.

Please note: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. ARRIVE EARLY. This pass is the property of Universal Pictures, which reserves the right to admit, revoke admission or refuse access to the theater at the discretion of an authorized representative. Seats are not guaranteed, and are limited on a first-come first-served basis. EXCEPT FOR MEMBERS OF THE REVIEWING PRESS. NO ADMITTANCE ONCE SCREEN HAS BEGUN. This theater is not responsible for seating over capacity. This ticket is not for resale.

Flixter has acquired movie review site Rotten Tomatoes, combining the two movie-oriented services to become one of the largest resources around. Previously a property of IGN, Rotten Tomatoes is now part of a new media family. The acquisition amount has not been revealed, though IGN will retain a minority stake in Rotten Tomatoes.

According to Mashable, there were rumors of Flixter being acquired by IGN, with possibilities around combining Flixter and Rotten Tomatoes under the IGN umbrella. IGN, however, is in the midst of refocusing its efforts on the male, gaming demographic. Perhaps Rotten Tomatoe didn’t quite fit the bill given IGN’s new direction.

But either way, it appears that Fliter and Rotten Tomatoes were destined to be together. If not under IGN’s umbrella, than under Flixter’s. The user-generated search engine for movies has gained traction as a resource and a personalized recommendation service, putting it in a good position to acquire another company that could help its primary cause. To that end, Flixter and Rotten Tomatoes have worked together in the past. Both companies have provided review content through various movie review resources and applications.

The applications, on social networks and mobile devices, are a strong suite for Flixter. The company already has a number of apps for social networks across the major platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Its mobile presence is also growing, with various outlets through which it streams its content. While Rotten Tomatoes and Flixter will remain separately operating websites, the combined reach of the two review sources will span a wide range of users.

It makes sense that Flixter and Rotten Tomatoes would keep separate websites to retain their brand, image and product. The two services still have a great deal they can accomplish cooperatively without having to re-brand one service or another. Cross-promotion between the two services could also prove beneficial, as they appeal to different aspects of a single industry.

The acquisition also reflects Flixter’s desire to grow its reach. For Flixter in particular socially integrated actions and distribution is key to Flixter’s future survival. Having the ability to focus its growth on this arena while utilizing new property Rotten Tomatoes only adds to the overall usefulness of their new combined efforts.

Source: Movieline

Casting is set and Facebook the movie will be connecting to you through a theater near you.

David Fincher will direct the bio drama “The Social Network,” scripted by Aaron Sorkin-scripted about the formation of Facebook.

Jesse Eisenberg will play Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg; Justin Timberlake will play Sean Parker, the Napster co-founder who became Facebook’s founding president; and Andrew Garfield will play Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder who fell out with Zuckerberg over real money, not virtual goods. The story takes place during the founding days in 2004 while attending Harvard.

The real question is, will you “like” it? Will you leave a comment? Will you fan the fan page? Will you share it with your social graph?

You can bet that Facebook events will riddle the site for months to centralize and organize screenings, premiers and outings. using the social network to promote, “The Social Network” will break new ground.

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Now available! (click below to purchase the new book or poster):

Mark

words and pictures by Brian Solis

The Children

I was given a tremendous gift recently, the ability to photograph a very special event that benefited a very special organization.

Relativity Media, LLC CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh and fashion designer Rosetta Millington Getty hosted The Art of Elysium’s 2nd annual black-tie charity gala at the beautiful and historic Vibiana in Los Angeles.

The Art of Elysium is a non-profit organization founded in 1997, that encourages working actors, artists and musicians to dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. The organization provides artistic workshops that help children learn and participate in acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing. To contribute your time or donations, please contact them at: info@theartofelysium.org

Vibiana

The occasion served as an event to showcase the multitude of artistic expressions The Art of Elysium shares with hospitalized children on a daily basis.

The visual and conceptual aspects of the theme, “Heaven and Hell,” were created by legendary director, Jim Sheridan (Brothers, My Left Foot, In America), who also received the program’s Visionary award that evening. Following the celebration dinner at Vibrian, guests went followed the hosts to “hell” at the after-party hosted at The Edison.

Eva Mendes received the “Spirit of Elysium” award for her enthusiastic support and active participation in The Art of Elysium’s hospital program over the past two years, as well as her dedication to securing considerable financial support for the program.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…

Amber Heard

Brittany Snow

Shannen Doherty and Ryan Kavanaugh

Ryan Kavanaugh, Topher Grace

Zelda Williams

Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Meyer

Ryan Kavanaugh, Amy Smart

Eva Mendes, Milla Jovovich

Rumer Willis, Ryan Kavanaugh

Priscilla Ahn

Ryan Kavanaugh, Sting

Gerard Butler

Ryan Kavanaugh and Kate Bosworth

Cartier Jewels

Priscilla Ahn performs

Ryan Kavanaugh, Jim Sheridan

The Edison

Daniel Lanois

Bonnie Sommerville, Andrew Marcus

Dave Annable

Ali Larter, Milla Jovovich

Kirsten Dunst

Donald Faison, Cacee Cobb

Gala attendants included Sting and wife, Trudie Styler, Gerard Butler, Kirsten Dunst, Aaron Eckhart, Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Meyer, Rosanna Arquette and Patricia Arquette, Joy Bryant, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Rumer Willis, Amy Smart, Milla Jovovich, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, Bonnie Sommerville, Dave Annable, Shiva Rose, Charles Roven, Kate Bosworth, Shannen Doherty, Brittany Snow, Marisa Tomei, Sophia Bush, Ali Larter, Elijah Wood, Jared Leto, Rachel Griffiths, Topher Grace, Amber Heard, Paula Wagner and Rick Nicita, Lisa Love, Frederic de Narp and Ben Silverman.

For more pictures, please visit my album on Flickr.

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by Brian Solis

One of the most discussed “viral” videos to hit the Web since #baconman was introduced to the world recently and it has much of the nation, at the very least, viewing, sharing, and discussing it at length.

If you take the video at face value, Dan Aykroyd appears as the front man and co-founder of Crystal Head Vodka, a new line of supposedly exquisite vodka bottled in glass skulls as testament to the legendary Crystal Skulls.

It is how he stages the introduction of the vodka that has everyone buzzing about whether or not Dan Aykroyd has lost his mind or whether it’s a clever promotion for either the greenlighted Ghostbusters 3 movie or the upcoming DVD release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

He spends the first half of the eight-minute video making the case for the existence of paranormal phenomena as well as alien life forms…or does he?

Before he officially introduces what’s inside the glass skulls that serve as the backdrop to the video, he prolithically connects the reasons for a glass skull bottle and why it should be filled with liquid joy, “We now have a touchstone in replica, which allows us if we wish, to connect to the message to the Crystal Head’s purpose on earth, the enlightenment of humankind and the spiritual awakening which can occur in allof us and the acceptance that there’s more to life than mere material reality. Hopefully this acceptance will lead to a less violent and more harmonious world as we respect the idea of higher power sources.”

So is it real or fake?

After further research, I’m still not sure.

Dan introduces Phil Powers of Newfoundland Liquor Corporation to discuss the process for making the new vodka. There is indeed a Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation, although I could not find mention of Phil Powers.

Aykroyd also credits Bruni Glass with the creation of the Crystal Head bottles. There just so happens to be such a facility in Europe.

The design of the glass skull is attributed to John Alexander a famous and highly regarded portaitist and landscape artist. Guess what, he’s real too.

Last, but not least, if you look at BevMo, there’s also a placeholder for Crystal Head Vodka.

Thousands of years ago, thirteen crystal heads were scattered across the earth and they are greater and more powerful than anything we have the ability to manufacture today. Their workmanship is perfect: they contain no tool marks and have been cut against the natural axis of the crystal, defying the laws of physics. Some say they are artifacts from the lost civilization of Atlantis, some say they date back to the Mayans, still others say they were created by a higher intelligence.

Brought together, the Crystal Heads are said to contain vast knowledge and enlightenment capable of unlocking our most enigmatic ancient mysteries. Alone, each is believed to house radiant psychic energy, which has magical powers and healing properties.

Dan Aykroyd has been very open about his belief in UFOs and supernatural phenomena and he’s no stranger to the business of another form of spirits. So, it could indeed be very real.

UPDATE: Thanks to our man Geoff who points us to a price list on the Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation site, Crystal Head Vodka is indeed on the sheet with an MSRP of $49.99. I guess I’ll be getting that new wine decanter after all!

Update #2: Mystery solved. It’s 100% real. Our good friend Jean sent us pics and decided to write a post about it to share the unboxing experience.

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