MTV Films Acquires Rights to Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
Highly Anticipated Videogame to be Developed Into Feature Film Project
New York, NY/Santa Monica, CA (December 8, 2005) - MTV Films, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIAB) today announced that it has acquired the feature film rights to Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, the highly anticipated videogame from Atari (Nasdaq: ATAR) and Marc Ecko Enterprises. The videogame is scheduled for a February 2006 release for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, for the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and for Windows.
Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure adaptation as a feature project promises to be an homage to graffiti's rich culture. Told through an alternate reality in a futuristic universe, the game represents the culmination of seven years of story and character development by fashion pioneer Marc Ecko, the visionary behind several of today's most respected youth lifestyle brands. Mr. Ecko will serve as producer on the project with MTV Films' Gregg Goldin, who brought the project to the company. Jason Weiss and David Gale will be developing on behalf of MTV Films. "Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure" will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
"We are eager to continually tap into the unique culture that exists in the video gaming world because these types of projects have a unique connection to the MTV audience," said David Gale, Executive Vice President, MTV Films. "Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure is an incredibly cool and different title - and one that we believe will redefine the industry. We are extremely excited to join forces early on and tap into the creativity of Marc Ecko and Atari on this unique project."
"When I first began working on "Getting Up" seven years ago, I wanted to create a storyline that provided a rare look inside of one of the most influential, yet often overlooked, artistic movements in recent history. Today, graffiti is a global cultural phenomenon and few understand its impact better than MTV, pioneers in its use as a motion graphics tool nearly two decades ago. I am delighted to have the ability to bring the depth of our story to life on film and look forward to working with the great team MTV has assembled," added Marc Ecko.
About "Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure"
Set in the city of New Radius, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure features a world where freedom of expression is suppressed and graffiti has been outlawed by a tyrannical city government. In the game, players assume the role of Trane as they learn and master various graf skills as they journey from toy (beginner) to legend. During their quest, players find themselves with an even greater burden - to use their high-wire graffiti talents to expose the oppressive mayor and rid the city of his stranglehold.
An incredible lineup of Hollywood talent is providing voices for the characters featured in Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. Sean "Diddy" Combs, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, George Hamilton, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam West, Andy Dick, Charlie Murphy, The RZA, and Michael "M.C. Serch" Berrin will all add their voice to the first truly authentic video game based on urban culture and graffiti art. Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli is the voice of Trane - the game's lead character.
About Marc Ecko Enterprises
The youngest member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America's board of directors, Marc Ecko is founder of *ecko unltd., the world famous rhino brand. In eleven years since its creation in 1993, the group of companies that comprise Marc Ecko Enterprises has grown to include: *ecko unltd.® men's and Eckored® women's apparel, as well as outerwear, footwear, watches, eyewear, underwear, belts, bags, hats, small leather goods, formalwear and more.
Marc Ecko Enterprises also includes Marc Ecko "Cut & Sew" (a contemporary menswear line launched Fall 2004); G-Unit® clothing and accessories (a joint venture with multi-platinum musician, 50 Cent); Zoo York® (a line of action sports-inspired clothing and accessories); and Avirex® Sportswear Collection (a licensed mid-tier brand launched Spring 2005). The Company also publishes Complex® magazine, a men's consumer magazine with a rate base of 325,000, and is developing Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under PressureTM, the first truly authentic video game based on urban culture and graffiti art debuting in early 2006. *ecko unltd. products are available in over 5,000 stores domestically and in over 45 countries internationally, as well as through 34 of its own retail stores across the country. For additional information, please visit www.marceckoenterprises.com.
About Atari
New York-based Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company's 1,000+ titles include hard-core, genre-defining franchises such as DRIVERTM, The MatrixTM (Enter The Matrix and The Matrix: Path of Neo), StuntmanTM and Test Drive®; and mass-market and children's franchises such as Nickelodeon's Blue's CluesTM and Dora the ExplorerTM, and Dragon Ball Z®. Atari, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext - ISIN: FR-0000052573), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more information, visit www.atari.com.
About MTV Films
MTV Films is the feature film development and production division of MTV that releases films in conjunction with Paramount Pictures. Since its inception in 1995, MTV Films established itself as a unique movie label with a slate of diverse and successful films that have grossed more than 800 million dollars in domestic box office.
In partnership with Paramount Pictures, MTV Films has released 21 films including "Beavis and Butt-head Do America," "Varsity Blues" and "Save The Last Dance," which each broke box-office records on their opening weekends.
In 2004, MTV Films released with Fox Searchlight the indie comedy, "Napoleon Dynamite," which proved to be another huge success for the company as it earned critical raves, over $40 million at the box office, and three Independent Spirit Award nominations.
To date in 2005, MTV Films produced a string of hits beginning in January with the MTV box-office smash "Coach Carter," and the summer blockbuster "The Longest Yard" which took in the division's largest opening weekend ever with more than 58 million dollars domestically. MTV Films has also enjoyed success with the critically acclaimed acquisition "Hustle & Flow," winner of the Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and also released the documentary "Murderball," winner of the Documentary Competition Audience Award at the same festival.
Slated for later this year is the highly anticipated feature "Aeon Flux," produced with Gale Anne Hurd's Valhalla Pictures and starring Academy Award®-winner Charlize Theron as the title character.
Some other highlights of MTV Films include the Academy Award®-nominated "Election" (Best Adapted Screenplay) and "Tupac: Resurrection" (Best Documentary), as well as "Jackass: The Movie," "Orange County," and the Spike Lee directed comedy concert film "The Original Kings of Comedy."
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 100 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these brands are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 90 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
® 2005, Atari, Inc. All rights reserved. ATARI, the ATARI logo, and classic Atari game titles and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Atari Interactive, Inc. or its affiliates. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact: Todd Phillips
MTV
(212) 258-7004
todd.phillips@mtvnmix.com
Clint Cantwell
Marc Ecko Enterprises
(917) 262-1110
clintc@ecko.com