Billy Zane debuts as visual artist with "Killing With Love"

For Immediate Release
June 27, 2010

Contact: Popular Press Media Group (PPMG)
T 310.860.7774 | media@ppmg.info |@ppmginfo

Billy Zane Debuts As Visual Artist

First exhibition "Killing With Love" at Laurie Frank Gallery
Exhibition Dates: June 26th - September 1st, 2010
Opening Reception
Sunday, June 27 6:00pm - 10Pm
*Artist in Attendance*

Los Angeles, CA (June 21, 2010) -- Frank Pictures Gallery is delighted to present, KILLING WITH LOVE, Billy Zane’s debut show of paintings from June 26th to September 1st, with an opening reception for the artist on Sunday, June 27th from 6:30 to 9:30.

Zane, best known for his achievements as an actor in over 80 films, most memorably as Caledon Hockley in the 1997 film Titanic, began painting during his seven months of filming. It didn’t take long for his interest in painting become more than a pastime, it became a consuming passion, often interrupted by his on set responsibilities. Since then he has set up makeshift art studios on almost every location he has filmed in, the cultural influences and use of only local materials influence his spontaneous abstract offerings.

“I love the surprise. The joy of making do with what you have to work with. The Hardware store, ship yard, roadside dumpsite is my art store and most countries, cities and villages are not short on supplies. If I can’t find canvas, I find old signage, shelf liner, or shipping crates. If I can’t find enough paint I use soil, clay, wine, spit, anything that adheres.”

He has been further influenced in his art by his practice of the Japanese sword fighting martial art of Kendo. “In Kendo, or Specifically the Samurai ethic and art of swordsmanship, before it was diluted into a sport after WW2, one should not insult their opponent with a mincing, poorly executed cut. It should be decisive, effective, a clean kill, informed with respect for ones adversary and ones own skill. In painting, it’s this commitment to task that interests me most, the cut, the stroke. The act supersedes the message. Logic and meaning, if any, emerge after the fact, but are inherent, like the sculpture in the stone, and only evident when I have been guided by an almost brash confidence. Painting for me, is more physical than psychological or even emotional. Although, I derive great joy from the act and serve an almost insatiable desire to sling paint.”

For more information and to view more of Billy Zane's paintings please visit www.frankpicturesgallery.com.

Please Click Here to View Work by Billy Zane

For more, please contact media@ppmg.info

# # #

Munising Volunteer Fire Department Raises Funds To Save Lives

For Immediate Release
June 22, 2010

Contact: Popular Press Media Group (PPMG)
T 310.860.7774 | media@ppmg.info

Munising Volunteer Fire Department Raises Funds To Save Lives
2nd Annual Munising Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser calls on Hollywood in an effort to raise funds for training, operational costs and purchasing critical life saving equipment.

Munising, MI (June 22, 2010) – The 2nd Annual Munising Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser is an opportunity to give back to those who have given so much. The event will take place at the Barge Inn on July 2nd, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. in Munising, MI.

For the second year running the fundraiser will include live music, a silent auction and hat and t-shirt sales to benefit volunteer firefighters. “Community support is vital to our future,” says Munising Fire Chief, Dan Malone.

To spice things up, the fire department called on a former Munising resident for a little help with the Silent Auction. Taking place June 28th through July 2nd at People’s State Bank in the lobby, Emmy Award winning film producer Jennifer Champagne, asked friends for one-of-a-kind auction items including:

Jennie Finch autographed Chicago Bandits softball; Cat Osterman autographed Rockford Thunder hat; a signed photo of the cast and crew of Full House; signed photo of Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy, Enchanted); signed Avatar stunt hat; signed Barbie DVDs; signed Charlie Valentine DVD; History of Violence script, with photo of Academy Award Nominated Writer Josh Olson & Viggo Mortenson in diner; Weta Lord of the Rings crew t-shirts; signed Future Weapons book & signed photo; signed Brothers & Sisters script & signed cast photo; autographed book by Monica Nucciarone; Ghost Whisper cast photo, Season 4 DVD and cast signed copy of the 100th episode; signed cast poster of Deadliest Catch; signed prints from The Peeper; iCarly signed script & cast photo; Signed headshot and photos of Vincent Spano (Law Order: SVU)…

For fans of Sex and the City 2, there is an autographed photo of Max Ryan; effects from Highlander’s Adrian Paul; Hercules’ Kevin Sorbo and OK! Magazine favorite, Scott Elrod of Jennifer Aniston’s upcoming Summer blockbuster “The Switch”.

Winners will be announced between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. during the fundraiser. All proceeds will go directly to the fire department. The Barge Inn has sponsored the evening, donating half of the night’s sales to the Munising Volunteer Firefighters.

To accommodate the many request for donations, there is a DONATE NOW button set up on the Fire Department website at: http://www.cityofmunising.org/fire-department.html

For information, please contact Popular Press Media Group (PPMG), media@ppmg.info, +1-310-860-7774.

###

Director Brenton Spencer wins coveted Leo Award for Best Direction in a Television Series

For Immediate
Release June 5, 2010

Brenton Spencer wins coveted Leo Award for Best Direction in a Television Series

Brenton Spencer wins for directing SyFy's Top Rated TV Series Sanctuary, "Pavor Nocturnus"

Hollywood, CA (6/5/10) -- Director Brenton Spencer has captured the coveted Leo Award for Best Direction in a Television Series with Damian Kindler's, SyFy Network series Sanctuary in the episode Pavor Nocturnus.

Spencer, who's television credits include Stargate Atlantis; Mutant X; Body & Soul; The Chris Isaak Show, Earth: Final Conflict; Strange Frequency; Andromeda; Call of the Wild; Hope Island; Poltergeist: The Legacy; The Crow; Dead Man's Gun; First Wave; The Outer Limits; Hawkeye; Cobra; Street Justice and Johnny Depp catalyst 21 Jump Street was thrilled with the win. "This is an amazing series, and I was honored to be a part of the team."

Brenton also has a litany of made for television feature films including Lightning: Bolts of Destruction (Joanna Pacula, Nick Mancuso); and feature films to his credit including Never Cry Werewolf (Nina Dobrev, Kevin Sorbo), Blown Away (Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Nicole Eggert), The Club (Kim Coates, Andrea Roth, Zack Ward), and Arcana's kick-off picture Paradox (Kevin Sorbo, Steph Song).

Currently filming Tower Prep 1-hour drama for The Cartoon Network, Brenton is in development with Hunting Ground Earth for Hollywood Media Bridge.

Brenton Spencer is represented by Lee Dinstman (Agency for the Performing Arts) and Popular Press Media Group (PPMG).

For more information please contact media@ppmg.info or call +1-310-860-7774.

# # #

PPMG Headlines: Vast Entertainment - Variety

PPMG client Vast Entertainment, founded by Lane Shefter Bishop, secured a deal for their literary property DUFF with McG's, Wonderland, which was reported in Variety by Dave McNary.

Original story: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118020017?refcatid=13

PPMG client Vast Entertainment and founder Lane Shefter Bishop, secures deal with McG's Wonderland Sound.

*****

McG eyes teenage 'DUFF' novel

Wonderland Sound options rights to coming-of-age book

By Dave McNary

 

McG is going after "The DUFF," optioning feature rights to Kody Keplinger's coming-of-age novel to produce through his Wonderland Sound and Vision with Vast Entertainment.
McG will produce with Vast Entertainment CEO Lane Shefter Bishop. Wonderland's Mary Viola will exec produce.

"DUFF," which stands for Designated Ugly Fat Friend, focuses on a 17-year-old high school student who realizes she's the epitome of "Duffness" and subsequently struggles with maintaining her sense of identity while juggling a tumultuous home life.

It is the debut novel by the 20-year-old Keplinger and will be released this fall by Poppy. "DUFF" was featured at last week's BookExpo America on the Young Adult Editors' Buzz panel.

Wonderland is also producing film adaptations of the books "Dead Spy Running," adapted by Steve Gaghan; and "I'm An Evil Genius and I Want to Be Your Class President," adapted by Josh Lieb. The banner also has four TV shows in production, including the new CW drama "Nikita," as well as returning shows "Human Target," "Chuck" and "Supernatural."

Vast Entertainment is producing the feature films "Ghost Keepers" with Sid Ganis' Out of the Blue Entertainment and "Stray" with Evolution Entertainment. It is also producing "Savannah Reid Mysteries" skein for Lifetime and telepics "Girls Guide to Witchcraft" for ABC Family and "Fringe Girl" for Disney Channel.

Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com