Teams of Digital Artists from Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America Use HP Technology to Compete in Creative Challenges for $400K Prize
Inspired by "The Computer Is Personal Again" Global Campaign from HP, the Multiplatform Series Represents MTV's Largest User-Generated Project to Date
NEW YORK, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV, mtvU and HP today announced they've brought together 16 of the world's most creative young minds to unleash their artistic talent in the "Engine Room," where state-of-the-art HP personal computer products inspire their vision as they master complex creative challenges.
"Engine Room," was filmed in a loft in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood, in a kinetic workspace designed for the cutting-edge digital artists competing for global bragging rights. The team that demonstrates the most creative digital skills will win $400K (USD), programming control of MTV's HD screen in Times Square for the night, and additional technology prizing. The series -- which will appear in the Unites States on MTV's college network, mtvU; globally on MTV channels around the world; and online in nine languages at http://www.mtvengineroom.com/ -- chronicles four teams of contestants as they pursue their passion for digital art and showcase their incredible talent on a worldwide stage.
"'Engine Room' was born to foster creativity and enable some of the most inventive young minds to amplify how technology brings digital art to life," said David Roman, vice president, Marketing Communications, Personal Systems Group, HP. "MTV is the ideal partner to share this 'battle for glory' with viewers around the world."
Fueling the "Engine Room"
An original, short-form series, "Engine Room" follows four teams representing Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia-Pacific, chronicling their teamwork and creative processes using HP notebook PCs, HP workstations, HP DreamColor displays and other HP monitors, as well as HP iPAQ smartphones, HP all-in-one printer/scanner/fax machines, and software from HP and its partners, such as Adobe(R). In each episode, teams compete in creative challenges that test their digital art skills - including animation, filmmaking, sound mixing, and web and graphic design.
Launching Sept. 15, "Engine Room" will harness the global reach of MTV's on-air, online and mobile screens. Around the world, MTV audiences and the show's already robust online community of artists will have a chance to become part of the creative process by interacting with the teams, responding to creative challenges and uploading their own work. Each week, new portfolios and artists will be showcased on-air and online, and will compete to win HP Special Edition notebooks. Online tutorials will also encourage viewers to try out some of the innovative techniques they see on the show using their personal computers.
Each challenge will be judged by an eclectic panel of iconic artists, musicians, filmmakers, celebrities and innovators. The judging panels include:
-- Aesop Rock, hip-hop artist signed to Definitive Jux Records
-- Katherine Brinson, assistant curator, Guggenheim Museum
-- Pete Conolly, art director, Goodby Silverstein & Partners
-- Jeffrey Deitch, art critic, exhibition organizer and founder, Deitch
Projects
-- Tom Delonge, guitarist and lead vocalist, Angels and Airwaves
-- El-P, hip-hop artist, producer and entrepreneur, and president,
Definitive Jux Records
-- Michio Kaku, world-renowned theoretical physicist, best-selling author
-- Kenna, Ethiopian-born electronica and synth-pop vocalist and musician
-- Lovefoxxx, lead singer of Brazilian indie-electro band Cansei de Ser
Sexy (aka CSS)
-- Travis McCoy, lead vocalist for the Gym Class Heroes
-- Mark Osborne, director, "Kung Fu Panda"
-- Benjamin Palmer, chief executive officer, The Barbarian Group
-- Oliver Peck, tattoo artist
-- Stefan Sagmeister, graphic designer and five-time Grammy nominee
-- Nancy Spector, chief curator, Guggenheim Museum
-- We Are Scientists, Brooklyn-based indie rock duo
-- Mocean Worker, platinum recording artist and music producer
In addition, throughout the series, special guest artists will surprise the "Engine Room" contestants and online community. The first of those guests to be announced are:
-- Moby, American DJ, singer-songwriter and musician
-- Kevin Smith, American film director ("Clerks," "Chasing Amy," "Zack and
Miri Make a Porno")
-- The Ting Tings, British indie-pop band
"MTV has always been a home for creative innovation," said Ross Martin, Senior Vice President of Programming, mtvU. "'Engine Room' taps the power of HP technology to enable the next generation of digital artists to bring their vision to life on MTV platforms around the world."
Discovering the 16 Contestants
In what has become the most successful user-generated content effort to date across any MTV Networks property, nearly 2,000 artists representing more than 111 countries vied for the 16 coveted spots in the "Engine Room" loft, submitting nearly 20,000 original works of art.
To be considered for one of the spots, contestants participated in a rigorous online casting call in which they uploaded digital portfolios of their work. As word of the competition spread, aspiring digital auteurs sparked a robust global dialogue -- with more than 6,000 comments posted to-date through the "Engine Room" blog, moderated by MTV's own SuChin Pak, who will host the series.
Contestants by region include:
Asia-Pacific
-- Santosh Gunaseelan, India
-- Jaehyuck Lee, South Korea
-- Muja Liao, China
-- Jonathan Yuen, Australia
Europe
-- Slimane Aniss, France
-- Charlotte Cornaton, France
-- Manon Magnet, Germany
-- Matthew Snyman, United Kingdom
Latin America
-- Fred Lammie, Panama
-- Enrico Martin, Ecuador
-- Rey Ortiz, Puerto Rico
-- Luis Salcedo, Brazil
North America
-- Dillion McCarthy, Mass., USA
-- Christopher Miles, Pa., USA
-- Allison Torneros, Calif., USA
-- Max Winston, Calif., USA
Ross Martin and Brian DeCubellis are executive producers of "Engine Room." Brian DeCubellis is director; Aimee Kramer is senior producer; Andrea Sabia is associate producer. Joe Buoye is director of operations and James Cohan is post-production manager.
About HP
HP, the world's largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE:HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/
About MTV
MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV has been the number one rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years. Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched 15 dynamic online communities and eight new virtual worlds. On the go, MTV Mobile is the #1 music brand in the wireless space -- delivering 90% more streams than in 2006. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE: VIA.B) , one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in ... www.mtvpress.com
About mtvU
Broadcast to more than 750 college campuses and via top cable distributors in 700 college communities nationwide, mtvU reaches upwards of 9 million U.S. college students -- making it the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, mtvU can be seen in the dining areas, fitness centers, student lounges and dorm rooms of campuses throughout the United States, as well as on cable systems from Charter Communications, Verizon FiOS TV, Suddenlink Communications, AT&T u-Verse and nearly 70 others. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are: on-air, online and on campus. mtvU programs music videos from emerging artists that can't be seen anywhere else, news, student life features and initiatives that give college students the tools to advance positive social change. mtvU is always on campus, with more than 250 events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU series and more. For more information about mtvU, and a complete programming schedule, visit www.mtvU.com
mtvU also owns and operates the College Media Network, the largest interactive network of online college newspapers in the United States, and RateMyProfessors.com, the Internet's largest listing of collegiate professor ratings. The College Media Network comprises nearly 600 campus publications that serve institutions including Brown University, the University of Illinois, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin and Duke University, with a combined enrollment of over 5.5 million students, reaching an average of 5 million unique users each month. RateMyProfessors.com reaches approximately 2.9 million college students each month, via the site's more than 6.6 million student-generated ratings of over 1,000,000 college professors.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected results; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2008 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
Source: MTV
CONTACT: Janice Gatti, +1-212-846-8852, Janice.Gatti@MTVstaff.com, or
Ter`rece Walker, +1-212-846-8535, Terrece.Walker@MTVstaff.com, both of MTV; or
Jim Christensen of HP, +1-408-447-1678, Jim.Christensen@hp.com, or Katie
Scrivano of Edelman, +1-312-240-3393, Katie.Scrivano@Edelman.com, for HP
Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.mtvengineroom.com/
http://www.mtvu.com/
http://www.hp.com/
