Cara Madison's Blog

Press Release: X JAPAN’S YOSHIKI TO AUCTION OFF HIS “CRYSTAL” PIANO

caramadison — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:36:11 +0000

LOS ANGELES, CA March 15, 2011 Yoshiki, leader of the Japanese rock band X Japan, will put his favorite ³crystal² piano on the auction block, donating all proceeds to help provide aid to the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

The custom-made, plexi-glass Yoshiki Signature Piano by Kawai with Yoshiki’s name engraved on it, was used when the band played their legendary shows at the Tokyo Dome.

The Japanese-born Yoshiki, who lives in Los Angeles, felt the earthquake tremors while in a Tokyo recording studio working on X Japan¹s first North American album, and was shocked by the large-scale damage across Japan. “It took awhile to locate my mother, but she is, thankfully, OK,” said Yoshiki, “I’ve spoken with [band members] Toshi, Pata, Sugizo and Heath, and they are all safe as well. I am praying for the people here who are still trying to locate their family and friends.”

X Japan has decided to postpone the release of their first U.S. single, ³Jade,² that had been scheduled to be released today, so that they may focus their time and energies on helping with the recovery.

In addition to raising money by auctioning his “crystal” piano, Yoshiki will collect donations for the Japanese disaster relief through the Yoshiki Foundation America, his California non-profit, public benefit corporation with tax-exempt status as a section 501(c)

The Yoshiki Foundation has already donated to American organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, the Grammy Foundation, and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.

For more information on this charity please check out the Official Website locate here: http://www.yoshikifoundation.com

Playasia: Weekly Special Kung Fu Panda and Lego Indiana Jones Bundle – Xbox360™ for US$ 14.90 [$5 Japan Earthquake Relief]

caramadison — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:17:27 +0000

Kung Fu Panda & LEGO Indiana Jones Bundle Compatible with Xbox360™ for US$14.90.

Please help Japan: Kung Fu Panda and Lego Indiana Jones Bundle – Xbox360™ (Asian version, region free) are available at a bargain price of US$ 14.90! Proceeds of US $5.00 will be donated to the Red Cross stationed in Japan and supplying aid to those in need.

Grab two games for the price of one. Activision packs two of their family friendly and exciting games into a magnificent package. And this weekly special isn’t just here to bring fun into the household, but to lend a helping hand to everyone affected by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. For every game sold, $5 will be donated to the Red Cross Japan. The Asian Xbox360™ version is region free and has English and French as language options.

News: Kevin Smith’s RED STATE showing at Radio City Music Hall on March 5th, 2011.

caramadison — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:42:43 +0000

Kevin Smith released a new video on his YouTube account REDSTATEMOVIE promoting the next stop on the film’s US Tour. This showing will take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 5th, 2011, and in the video Smith jokes that the movie isn’t a comedy like his other outings including CLERKS and MALLRATS, and that it is as “scary as JERSEY GIRL.” He goes on to promise a Question and Answer session with the audience after the film plays at Radio City and notes that he will be joined by members of the cast and crew of RED STATE.

Prices start at $54.50 and tickets for this event are now available at the official RED STATE movie site or from ticketmaster.

Game Trailer: Dead Island

caramadison — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:16:57 +0000

The announcement trailer for the new survival horror video game Dead Island is generating quite a bit of buzz on the web. The video plays out like a classic zombie horror film, and features an innocent child being brutally attacked by zombies, and what transpires in the aftermath of her inevitable zombie infection. The interesting thing about this video is that it rolls in reverse and shows viewers the disturbing end of the story first. It is an amazing and stylish trailer for what appears to be an incredible multiplayer game.

I have provided two YouTube videos for your viewing enjoyment, one is the standard issue trailer and the second is the same video, only rolled in reverse of the reverse. (Yeah, you read that right.) Check them both out down below and be sure to hit up the official FaceBook page for Dead Island. There is also an Official Website located here but it appears to be down right now. http://www.deadisland.com/

- first-person melee combat
- 4-player coop
- weapon customization
- set on an open world tropical island
- RPG elements for character development
- hordes of gruesome zombies
General Information Dead Island combines first-person action with a heavy focus on melee combat, character development and customization of a vast array of weapons. All of these gameplay features are presented in a dark story inspired by classic zombie movies with a gritty and engrossing campaign that can be played with up to 4 players in co-op mode.

The player is drawn into the world of Dead Island on the brink of a mysterious zombie epidemic, that suddenly and with no warning breaks out on the fictional island of Banoi. As a guest of the Royal Palms Resort, the player’s stay was supposed to be a dream holiday, a get away from daily grind into the idyllic beaches of a tropical paradise. But suddenly and faced with unimaginable terror, there is only one thing left to do: survive…

Press Release: Scarlett and the Spark of Life for iPhone / iPod Touch Special limited-time offer: Get the full game for free!

caramadison — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 05:59:44 +0000

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, February 7, 2011 – The acclaimed iPhone / iPod Touch adventure Scarlett and the Spark of Life has become even more entertaining with the addition of OpenFeint support. To mark the occasion, Launching Pad Games and OpenFeint are offering Scarlett and the Spark of Life for free! To participate in this extremely limited-time offer, visit the game’s App Store product page: http://itunes.apple.com/app/scarlett-spark-life-scarlett/id397685110

The first of four planned Scarlett Adventures episodes, Scarlett and the Spark of Life is a witty story game with sharp writing and a memorable cast of characters. While enjoying the company—and comedy—of the gutsy Princess Scarlett and her grumpy mechanical horse, players can now also test their mettle with new OpenFeint achievements that encourage even deeper exploration of the game’s unusual world.

When the limited-time free game offer ends, Scarlett and the Spark of Life will return to its new low price of $1.99. Screenshots, a trailer, and other game information can be found on the official website: http://launchingpadgames.com/games/scarlett

Fans who want an inside look at the game series’ development and access to special community offers are invited to visit the Scarlett Adventures Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scarlett-Adventures/157221737654906

YouTube: 2011 Kia Optima: “One Epic Ride” Big Game Commercial

caramadison — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:35:32 +0000

This commercial has it all, cops, robbers, aliens, Greek gods and even a vortex through space and time. I especially like the bit at the end since I am partial to that particular era in time. Too bad it’s only an ad for Kia.

Travel through space and time as a policeman, villain, Poseidon, alien and ancient chief try to get their hands on the all‐new Optima. Prepare for “One Epic Ride”.

Check out the Official Kia YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/KiaMotorsAmerica

YouTube: Cowboys & Aliens – Super Bowl Spot

caramadison — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:14:39 +0000

A crazy new trailer for the movie Cowboys & Aliens showed during the Super Bowl and I think I will just let this puppy speak for itself.

Blockbuster filmmaker Jon Favreau directs Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in an event film for summer 2011 that crosses the classic Western with the alien-invasion movie in a blazingly original way: Cowboys & Aliens. Joined by an arsenal of top moviemakers—Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci—he brings an all-new action thriller that will take audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world.

1875. New Mexico Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he’s been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

The screenplay for Cowboys & Aliens is by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, from a screen story by Fergus & Ostby and Steve Oedekerk. It is based on Platinum Studios’ “Cowboys & Aliens” by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. …

Learn more about it at the Official Movie Website:
http://cowboysandaliensmovie.com

Or check out the Official YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/cowboysandaliensfilm

YouTube: Sony Ericsson Xperia – PLAY. Android is ready to play – 2011 Super Bowl Commercial Ad

caramadison — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 05:40:38 +0000

This ad spot for the Sony Ericsson Xperia – PLAY. Android is downright disturbing. It starts off with a man lost in a frenzied rush to some unknown destination with a pair of scissors in his hand. If that is not ominous enough, his mad dash leads him to some kind of backroom laboratory complete with mad scientist and his Frankenstein’s Monster with opposable thumbs. I’m not sure about what Sony is trying to sell here, Playstation phones or black market medical supplies, (if you blink you can miss the product that they are trying to advertise entirely) but the ad is tops in my book. The Official Announcement for the release date of the Sony Ericsson Xperia – PLAY. Android will be on February 13th, 2011 at 18:00 GMT.

Website:http://www.sonyericsson.com

http://www.youtube.com/sonyericsson

http://www.twitter.com/sonyericsson

http://www.facebook.com/sonyericsson

Youtube: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – Super Bowl TV Spot

caramadison — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:59:11 +0000

Ian McShane looks simply devilish in the brand new TV Spot that premiered during Sunday Night’s televised broadcast of the Super Bowl. In the new trailer we see mermaids in peril, zombies running amok and Jack Sparrow reminding people that he still is the wily Captain from his three previous movies.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise – this time in Disney Digital 3D(TM).

In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love-or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.

When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.”

On Stranger Tides will set sail into theaters on May 20th, 2011.

Check out the Official Website here:

http://disney.go.com/pirates/index-on-stranger-tides.html

Or you can follow them on FaceBook:
http://www.facebook.com/PiratesoftheCaribbean

YouTube: Captain America: The First Avenger Super Bowl TV Spot

caramadison — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:44:00 +0000

Oh Super Bowl, what wonders you bring, even to those who do not like football. Once again the media bonanza that is Sunday Night Football has brought us a barrels full of commercial goodness including new tv spots for Captain America, Pirates of the Caribbean and more than a few juicy product placements.

Below you find the first tv trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger, and if you squint your eyes you might be able to catch a quick glimpse of some familiar villains and (anti)heroes.

Check out more at the Official Website locate here:
http://captainamerica.marvel.com/

Release Date: July 22, 2011 (3D/2D theaters)
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Marvel Studios
Director: Joe Johnston
Screenwriter: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Starring: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Toby Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Dominic Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, Neal McDonough
Genre: Action, Adventure
“Captain America: The First Avenger” will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

Category:
Film & Animation