Granny Ranny's Coming Attractions

According to Kids and Consumer Electronics: 2012 Edition, the latest report from leading market research company, The NPD Group, when compared to 2011, portable and console video game (VG) systems continue to have the highest usage levels among kids ages 4-14, but media tablets experienced the highest increase in usage at 13 percent in 2012 vs. only 3 percent in 2011.

While usage of more sophisticated devices such as computers and VG devices tend to increase as kids get older, tablet usage is highest among younger children, which highlights how important it is for manufacturers to make their devices easy to use.

According to the report, households with kids ages 4 – 14 own an average of 10 different devices, with kids using an average of five of those devices.

Televisions, computers and cell/smartphones continued to maintain the highest household ownership. Household ownership of console and portable VG systems, media tablets, and digital video cameras experienced the most significant increases.

Portable VG systems are the most popular devices personally owned by kids ages 4-14, with six years of age being the average age of adoption; this is slightly younger than 2011 where the average age was 6.4.

“Kids are using tablets to game, watch movies and TV shows, read books and listen to music-even occasionally for taking pictures- so they have embraced the utility of these devices quite rapidly,” said Russ Crupnick, senior vice president, industry analysis, The NPD Group. “Older kids also use the tablets for social media and communication, which squarely places these devices at the center for discovery and evangelism of new services and applications, as well as for brands and entertainment of all sorts.”

For more information, go to NPD Group.

Universal Pictures announced today that it has begun the search for new talent to appear in “Starships,” the official music video for Pitch Perfect, the studio’s upcoming musical comedy that hits theaters on October 5.  With the chance to join the film’s cast and Internet music sensation Mike Tompkins in the video, amateur musicians and dancers are encouraged to submit their best vocals; signature moves; beatbox; and/or guitar, bass, synth and back-up sounds to accompany this cover of Nicki Minaj’s worldwide smash.

With multiple options for participation, fans may submit their entries at www.pitchperfectmovie.com/musicvideo.  Those selected for the project will have their video showcased on both the Blu-ray DVD of Pitch Perfect and Tomkins’ YouTube channel, which currently has more than 550,000 subscribers.

“Pitch Perfect celebrates everyone out there who is following his or her true passion,” said the film’s director, Jason Moore.  “Mike Tompkins embodies passion for music, and we’re thrilled to be able to partner with him on this project.  I can’t wait to watch the undiscovered talent that I know we’ll find.”

“When Universal approached me with the idea to make a video for Pitch Perfect, I knew it would be a fun partnership,” noted Tompkins.  “Making music has driven me since I was a kid, and I know there are many others out there who love it as much as I do.  I’m looking forward to seeing what we are able to create together.”

This is the first time Tompkins has collaborated with filmmakers, talent and a studio on the official music video for a movie.  Tompkins, represented by Maker Studios—a next-generation talent-first music company—is best known for creating his own unique twist on music covers using only his voice and mouth.  As his popularity rose, he was noticed by some of the biggest names in entertainment and has since collaborated as a producer and writer with Timbaland and been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, NBC’s TODAY show and PerezHilton.com, among others.  Tompkins and Alana Da Fonseca arranged this new a cappella version of “Starships,” which was written by Nicki Minaj, RedOne, Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub and Wayne Hector.

All submissions must be received by August 22, 2012.  Please visit www.pitchperfectmovie.com/musicvideo for entry details and terms and conditions.

Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) is making its breakthrough BRDF Explorer available to the industry through a new open source site (github.com/wdas/brdf), it was announced August 7, 2012, at SIGGRAPH in Los Angeles by Brent Burley, the project’s principal engineer from WDAS software group. Burley, who gave a presentation at Tuesday’s conference on Disney’s proprietary approach to creating physically-based BRDFs (Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function, the mathematical description of how a surface reflects light), created the BRDF Explorer with his Disney colleagues Greg Nichols and Jared Johnson. He is a key player on the software team managed by Dan Candela, director of technology for WDAS.

Disney’s BRDF Explorer is an advanced physically-based shading and rendering toolset that evaluates BRDFs (a four-dimensional function that defines how light is reflected at an opaque surface) and how they compare to real life. It is capable of exploring the MERL 100 (Mitsubishi’s set of empirically measured data) and MIT CSAIL data sets, along with programmatic BRDF functions that can be defined by the user.

Said Burley, “We developed the BRDF Explorer to gain an intuition about the large number of BRDF models that have been developed over the years, to understand how well they fit real-world materials, and more importantly, see where they fall short. During this process, we discovered new ways to view the BRDF data more intuitively and holistically, and gained insights that allowed us to develop a robust new model. Somewhat surprisingly, our artists have also found this to be a very useful tool for crafting materials. We are happy to contribute this back to the graphics community and are excited to see what new BRDF innovations this tool will inspire.”

Peter Shirley, renowned principal research scientist at NVIDIA Research and adjunct professor for the School of Computing at University of Utah, added, “I have been doing research related to BRDFs for over 20 years, and yet I immediately learned new basic things from the output of this viewer. Often the key to scientific insight is getting the right picture, and this viewer accomplishes exactly that. It will become a staple in my own work.”

Naty Hoffman, vice president of technology at 2K and a pioneer in advancing realistic graphics in games and film, said, “The Disney BRDF Explorer is an excellent tool for analyzing, researching, developing and tuning BRDFs. I am sure that it will prove immensely useful for improving CG realism in film and games, as well as helping advance research in this important area.”

Calling all aspiring scientists! It’s time to put on your lab coat and let your imagination go wild. Discovery Science Center (DSC) is proud to partner with the famous El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to host a Frankenweenie Science Fair in conjunction with the October 5th release of the movie Frankenweenie by acclaimed director Tim Burton.

In Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences. Participating students will conduct and submit their own inventive science experiment! This unique science fair will gather the best and brightest students to compete for three grand prizes.

The first 50 participating students will receive a ticket to see Frankenweenie at the historic El Capitan Theatre, and a pair of tickets to visit Discovery Science Center. The exciting first round of judging to determine the finalists will happen the week of September 10, 2012, and then finalists will be judged by VIP judges the week of September 27. Of all participating students, six finalists will be selected to have their projects on display at El Capitan Theatre from October 5 to November 1, 2012. In addition, the six finalists will each receive Disneyland tickets for them and three guests for reaching this distinguished level.

The Science Fair competition concludes at the El Capitan Theatre on October 5th when three Grand Prize winners will accept their awards at a special ceremony, on the El Capitan stage prior to the showing of Frankenweenie. Grand Prize winners will receive all prizes listed previously plus a behind-the-scenes tour of Walt Disney Studios.

Interested participants must be entering the 2012-2013 school year as a 5th – 12th grade student. All projects must present an experimentally based research design; illustrating scientific methodology or a demonstration/exhibition of a science or engineering concept based on themes from the movie Frankenweenie.  To become inspired, please visit www.disney.go.com/FRANKENWEENIE

For more information and registration, please visit www.discoverycube.org/frankenweenie.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D. The talented voice cast includes: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder.

Presented by Disney, “Frankenweenie” is directed by Tim Burton, produced by Tim Burton and Allison Abbate, from a screenplay by John August, based on an original idea by Tim Burton. “Frankenweenie” releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.

First Lady Michelle Obama is leading the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games and she’s calling on families around the country to support Team USA, not just by cheering on our athletes, but by getting active in their own communities.

Saturday, July 28th is the first day of the competition in London. We’re calling on families around the country to join us by participating in “Olympics-inspired” Meetups in your towns or neighborhoods.

Join your local Olympic Fun Day Meetup with family, friends and neighbors to play soccer, hold relay races, go for a bike ride–whatever gets you moving! See more ideas below.

At your Let’s Move! Meetup, share photos and updates using the hashtag #LetsMoveDay. We’ll highlight activities happening across the country on LetsMove.gov, Twitter and Facebook.

RSVP and start planning your local Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day Meetup here: http://www.meetup.com/lets-move

Want to attend a Meetup in your area? Follow these steps:

Go to the Let’s Move! Meetup page at meetup.com/lets-move, and click on your town below the map
Click “RSVP” and select yes!
Share the Meetup on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #LetsMoveDay
Stay tuned for updates: Once you have RSVP’d, you’ll get updates from Let’s Move!

Want to organize a Meetup in your town? Follow these simple steps:

Go to the Let’s Move! Meetup at meetup.com/lets-move and click on your town below the map.
Suggest a location for your Meetup: Find a local park, community center or another space that will fit for your Meetup
Add the details: Let others know what to expect. Are you planning a hoola-hoop contest, a relay race or soccer game? See a list of more Meetup ideas and activities here, but feel free to get creative!
Talk about the Meetup! Start a conversation on the Meetup page and get the word out in your community. Use your Facebook and Twitter to encourage others to join and plan their own Meetups.

Need some ideas to get started? Here are 10 Olympic inspired activities, and stay tuned as we continue to add ideas for your Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day:

The Summer Games contain more than 40 different Track & Field Athletics! Combine multiple activities into a relay race around the neighborhood or park you’re using to stage your event. In addition to running, consider incorporating different types of movement, including skipping, jumping, and bear crawling. Set individual goals for time or distance, or compete as separate teams.
Did you know that the U.S. Women’s Basketball team has won four gold medals in a row?  Follow their lead and include a tournament in your neighborhood’s Olympic Day event. Create teams of 2 or more players and mix it up with dribbling races or shooting contests.
Tennis can be played on many surfaces, including asphalt, clay, or even grass! This year’s Olympic tennis competition will be held onthe iconic grass courts at Wimbledon. While you won’t find many grass courts in the U.S., tennis is a great way to get your community moving.  A round robin tournament is a fun way to include people of all ages and skill levels in your town’s event.  (If your kids get inspired and want to improve their skills, find a court near you that offers lessons).
Lace up your sneakers for a game of Olympic football – known in the U.S. as SOCCER!  This is an easy, familiar sport that is fun for all ages and ability levels.  Create teams as small or as large as you want.  (The official size is 11 players per team.)
Bump-Set-Spike!  These are the fundamental techniques for playing volleyball, a popular sport that first made it into the Summer Olympics in 1964.  Volleyball is typically played with six players per team, but you can play with as few as two.  Set up a net on grass, sand, or a gym court and get moving!
Swimming is one of the most watched Olympic sports. You can organize races – or, depending on the ages of your participants, games with balls, diving rings, and other water toys — at a beach, lake, or pool in your area.  For important water safety info and to find a pool near you, visit www.swimtoday.org.
Olympic cycling includes road events, track racing, BMX and mountain biking.  Map out a safe cycling course, and take turns riding through it as individuals, or in teams. Consider riding on a paved pathway, or for a more rugged ride, try grass or dirt. Click here to find a safe place to ride near you.
Gymnasts produce some of the most awe-inspiring moments of the Summer Games. Even if your participants can’t do a double back flip (on a balance beam), there are plenty of gymnastics events that are fun and safe. Check out the American Council on Exercise’s ideas for fun stretches and movements that bring out the gymnast in everyone.
Go retro! Organize teams for a tug of war, which was an official Olympic sport until 1920. It was also part of the original Olympic Games, dating back to 500 BC. In the modern Olympics, the tug-of-war contest was between two teams of eight, and one team had to pull the other six feet along in order to win. If after 5 minutes no team had done this, the team which had pulled the most was declared the winner.
Make sure your littlest athletes feel involved. Think about including activities that are fun for all skill levels, like who can hula hoop for the longest, or who can do the most jumping jacks.

Joining a Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day on Saturday, July 28th?

Share your story and follow the fun:

On Twitter, use the hashtag #LetsMoveDay to share updates and photos
“Like” Let’s Move on Facebook and join the discussion
Follow #LetsMoveDay and @LetsMove for highlights from around the country
After your event, tell us all about it here: http://www.letsmove.gov/share-your-story-lets-move-olympic-fun-day

We’ll highlight activities happening across the country on LetsMove.gov, Twitter and Facebook. We look forward to hearing from you!

Cynthia Turner, who founded Cynopsis Media 15 years ago as an inter-office memo and has helped shepherd the brand to be the first read of the day among broadcast and cable executives, is stepping down from the company and will become Editor Emeritus of Cynopsis.

Since Turner launched the first edition of Cynopsis in 1997, the brand has become an industry leader, read in every sector of the television industry, from networks to advertising agencies, production companies, local television stations, consumer brands, and has become a standard utilized tool in 160+ colleges across the country. Access Intelligence, an integrated media company, acquired Cynopsis Media in July 2011.

“It’s been a wonderful 15-year ride and am only stepping down now because I am so very confident in Access Intelligence and the Cynopsis Media staff who will continue the business of Cynopsis for its subscribers and clients for many more years to come,” said Turner. “I don’t know what my next adventure will be, but I’m looking forward to it!

Since Access Intelligence acquired Cynopsis Media a year ago, Turner has been working with the team to transfer editorial management of Cynopsis to editor Lisa Ball, and the overall strategic and business management of all Cynopsis properties to Diane Schwartz and her team, including Mike Farina, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, and Trish Pihonak, Director of Content and Operations.

“Cynthia Turner is an icon in the broadcasting market and has built very strong brands and a terrific team to carry the business forward and take it to the next level,” said Denise O’Connor, who joined Cynopsis this month as the Group Publisher.

Turner grew the company from a simple interoffice memo to today’s database of more than 60,000 subscribers covering every state in the US and 57 additional countries. Cynopsis was the first email-delivered news product in the television industry when it launched in 1997. It now includes four email newsletters in addition to the flagship brand covering Sports, Kids, Digital and Classifieds.

“Cynthia will be missed and we wish her great success in her new endeavors,” said Diane Schwartz, senior vice president of Cynopsis and the Media Entertainment Group at Access Intelligence. “She has been instrumental in the past year in working with Access Intelligence management to achieve a smooth transition of duties and thought leadership.

“Cynopsis grew every single year from its inception despite two major economic turndowns,” Turner reflected. “And it has kept its original mission through all these 15 years, no matter what the economy or technology threw at it: providing an early morning daily news edition that is accurate, concise, unbiased, smart and occasionally funny, with the news that our subscribers need to know, and doing this as a text-only edition!”

About Cynopsis and Access Intelligence:

Cynopsis Media publishes the Cynopsis daily covering the latest news in the TV business; Cynopsis Digital, Cynopsis Kids and Cynopsis Sports.  It is one of the leading publishers of classified jobs in the TV industry through the Cynopsis Classified Advantage, and its Web site, cynoposis.com, is the business executive’s destination for news, jobs listings and more covering the TV, entertainment, kids and digital markets. Cynopsis also produces highly acclaimed conferences and awards programs. The Cynopsis Sports Awards gala will be held August 9 in New York, and the Cynopsis Digital Measurement Summit will come to Manhattan on Nov. 14. Visit www.cynopsis.com for more information.

Access Intelligence (www.accessintel.com), an integrated media company serving a global audience, delivers award-winning business intelligence to executives in the media, communications, healthcare, aviation, energy, defense and chemical markets through conferences, trade shows, networking events, publications, books and emedia offerings.