National Campaign Spotlights Horror’s Aspiring Filmmakers,
Special Effects Artists, Animators, Illustrators, Actors, Musicians & More
Legendary Comic Book Artist Bernie Swamp Thing Wrightson
Enlisted to Create Animated “Host” for Multi-Tiered Promotional Campaign
NEW YORK, NY, July 11, 2006 – VOOM’s Monsters HD, the first 24-hour high-definition television network dedicated to horror and creature features, is looking for new blood! Monsters HD is giving talented fans the opportunity to join the ranks of horror greats with American MonStar, a new grassroots outreach designed to discover and spotlight the broad range of aspiring talent in the horror community, including filmmakers, make-up and effects artists, actors, animators, illustrators, sculptors, and musicians.
To bring this bold venture to life, the network has enlisted legendary comic book artist Bernie Wrightson, the creator of Swamp Thing, to develop original artwork to be used in on-air, online, print advertising and direct marketing.
The fruit of Wrightson’s fertile imagination is the campaign spokesghoul, “Uncle Samhain,” who pointedly tells viewers, “EYE Want YOU to Become an American MonStar!” For those not in the know, Samhain means “summer’s end” in Gaelic, the time of the harvest festivals from which Halloween was derived. Monsters HD’s gory version of Uncle Sam, dressed in red white and blue and with detached eyeball in hand, will issue a call to arms for aspiring horror “MonStars” to showcase their talent.
Monsters HD’s American MonStar will be anchored at the network’s website/broadband channel, www.monstershd.com. Beginning in July, horror lovers will be able to head to a dedicated page to view rules and format requirements for submitting creations including short films, still images of art work, songs and more. Every entry will be reviewed by Monsters HD and the most noteworthy will be posted on the site. The community of horror-lovers will then be able to rate the offerings. The top submissions, as judged by the staff of VOOM’s Monsters HD and horror authorities (to be announced), will be featured in upcoming original Monsters HD productions.
Monsters HD’s American MonStar will be aggressively promoted with on-air spots, online and viral marketing and print advertising in leading genre magazines. The network will also be bringing word of this unusually broad talent call directly to the grassroots horror community at events like Comic Con and Screamfest.
“The horror community is a uniquely talented one, a base of fans who not only like to repeatedly watch and study their favorite films, but use the inspiration and their creative talents in many, many artistic ways,” states David Sehring, General Manager of VOOM’s Monsters HD.
“With American MonStar, we’re looking for the next great monster talent to join the ranks of Sam Raimi, George Romero, Tom Savini, John Carpenter, Rob Zombie, Stan Winston and many more true fans and filmmakers who have made the horror and creature-feature genre their profession,” adds Sehring. “VOOM’s Monsters HD knows horror fans will put their blood, sweat and tears into it… but especially their blood!”
About Monsters HD
VOOM’s MONSTERS HD is television’s first and only definitive channel dedicated to the popular horror and creature feature category, from the classic horrors of Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman to prehistoric giants like King Kong and Godzilla, to supernatural terrors like The Evil Dead and The Exorcist, to the modern maniacs of Freddy, Jason and Leatherface. MONSTERS HD also goes behind the screams with Monsterama, the channel’s original series hosted by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Monsterama focuses on every aspect of monster-movie mania imaginable, from Hollywood special effects, creature shops and monster make-up to the latest creature collectibles, conventions and upcoming theatrical, DVD and video-game releases. MONSTERS HD’s Monsterama series has fright fans glued to their seats and drooling with delight with the eerie sights on display shot in stunning hi definition. For more information on MONSTERS HD please log on to www.monstershd.com. MONSTERS HD is one of the 15 VOOM HD Networks.
About VOOM HD Networks
The VOOM HD Networks are the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere. Produced exclusively in true high definition and 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound for distribution in the U.S. through satellite and cable operators, the 15 VOOM HD Networks carry programming in categories as diverse as sports, movies, fashion, music and art. The VOOM HD Networks are commercial-free and available nationally on Echostar’s DISH Network. Developed by Rainbow Media to meet the growing demand for quality high definition programming, the VOOM HD Networks build on Rainbow Media’s history of original programming innovation.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE TV, and three FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.