Events Will Be Held On Major College Campuses With One Winner Chosen From Each Market Starting September 30th, 2004
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Sep 30, 2004--Sony Pictures Digital today announced a partnership with Ford Motor Company to sponsor the Ford Focus ''Talent Drive'' College Tour, Sweepstakes and Showdown, a 16 market talent competition event on major college campuses and an online sweepstakes awarding Hollywood-themed prizes. The ''Talent Showdown'' features an online competition to win the grand prize of a two-year lease on a new 2005 Ford Focus ST.
The Ford Focus ''Talent Drive'' begins on September 30 at the University of Missouri and continues through Thanksgiving. Interested students compete by reciting their favorite lines, quotes or monologues from famous movies or television shows at an ''audition'' in front of three campus-based judges. Judges will be comprised of pre-selected college students and faculty. One lucky winner will be selected at each campus stop. Winners will be flown to Los Angeles, given a VIP tour of Sony Pictures Studios, attend a real Hollywood red carpet premiere, and appear in the Ford Focus ''Talent Drive'' documentary/short film.
''We are very excited to enter into a relationship with a leading global brand like Ford,'' stated Michael Arrieta, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Sony Pictures Digital. ''This mutually beneficial promotion offers both companies an opportunity to maximize this campaign on a grand scale and leverage the power of multiple business units within Sony.''
In addition to the ''audition'' area, each ''Talent Drive'' event will host a Sony-themed tent featuring download stations from Sony`s Connect(TM) music store (www.connect.com) as well as display areas for Sony Walkman(R) personal stereos, Sony Cyber-shot(R) digital cameras, VAIO(R) personal computers and Handycam(R) camcorders. On display will be two 2005 Ford Focus vehicles from local dealers, Ford Car Marketing and Ford Motor Credit finance representatives will be on hand to answer any questions from participants. The event will also feature an emcee to keep the crowd entertained with movie/pop culture trivia, raffles and door prizes.
All attendees who attend the on-campus events will also receive a ''Ford Focus Talent Drive CD-ROM'' complete with five free song downloads courtesy of Sony Connect, a variety of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Columbia Tri-Star Home Entertainment trailers, a free trial of Everquest(R) II, a Ford Focus tutorial and brochure and much more.
''The `Talent Drive` College Tour is yet another way that we`re connecting with consumers,'' says Steve Lyons, president, Ford Division. ''We`re giving consumers a chance to experience the new 2005 Focus and Sony`s latest products -- while creating fun on campus.''
Upon conclusion of the Ford Focus ''Talent Drive'' college tour, videos of the 16 winning performances will be posted online in the ''Talent Showdown'' area of the online Talent Drive website. Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite performance. The winning performer along with one lucky online voter will each drive home in a new 2005 Ford Focus ST.
The tour, produced and managed by Conundrum Marketing Inc., is currently scheduled* to stop at the following 16 campuses across the country including:
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9/30/04 University of Missouri
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10/4/04 Northwestern University
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10/7/04 Purdue University
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10/12/04 Michigan State University
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10/15/04 SUNY -- Buffalo
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10/18/04 University of Massachusetts -- Amherst
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10/25/04 Temple University
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10/27/04 Howard University
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10/29/04 North Carolina State University
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11/3/04 Florida State University
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11/8/04 Texas State University -- San Marcos
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11/12/04 University of Arizona
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11/15/04 University of California -- San Diego
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11/17/04 California Polytechnic University
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11/19/04 California State University -- Long Beach
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* ''Talent Drive'' campus locations are subject to change
For more information and applicable rules, please visit www.fordfocustalentdrive.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 327,000 employees worldwide, the company`s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz. Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003. For more information regarding Ford`s vehicles, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
About Sony Pictures Digital
Sony Pictures Digital, an operating unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), oversees the activities of SPE`s digital production and online assets. Sony Pictures Digital consists of Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Sony Online Entertainment and the studio`s interest in www.sonypictures.com, mobile entertainment, casual games, and online promotion. For more information please visit www.sonypictures.com.
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