2012 WSOP Day 1: Saechao, Routos Dominate Casino Employees Event

2012 WSOP Day 1: Saechao, Routos Dominate Casino Employees Event; Marcelo Ramos Da Fonseca Wins 2012 LAPT Punta del Este

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The weeks of anticipation are over. It’s time for everyone to calm their “inside tinglies.” The 43rd Annual World Series of Poker is underway! As is the tradition, the first and only event to kick off Sunday was the Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em event. While it is a gold bracelet event, it is different from most WSOP tournaments in that it is not an open event in which anyone and everyone can participate. As its name implies, only those who work at a casino may enter. That does not stop it from being a large tournament, though, as 732 players paid the $500 for a shot at glory. Ending the first day atop the chip counts are Chip Saechao with 150,600 chips and James Routos hot on his tail with 146,900.

Both of our chip leaders, who coincidentally were seated at the same table, made their big moves to the top of the leader board late in the night during the 11th and final level of Day 1. Saechao went first, opening a hand for 4,200 chips (blinds and antes were 800/1,600/200) from the button. After both blinds called, the dealer laid down a flop of 2♠-8♥-9♥, prompting the small blind to bet 6,000. The big blind, who happened to be Routos, tossed away his hand and Saechao ratcheted it up to 16,000. The small blind called and the two players saw a turn of 3♠. The small blind checked this card, but Saechao did quite the opposite, moving all-in for more than 40,000 chips. Seeming to know his opponent was on a draw, Saechao told him, “Trust me, it’s not coming.” Despite the warning, his opponent made the call, revealing that he did indeed have a draw, holding A♥-4♥. It was a great read by Saechao, as he himself only had 6♣-8♠ for middle pair. The river was the 3♦, giving Saechao the hand and a significant pot. At that point, his stack was up around 110,000 chips.

Just a few hands later, it was Routos’ turn. The details from those on the scene are a bit sketchy, but Routos and one other player saw a flop of Q♣-3♥-7♠. Routos checked, the other player bet 7,000 and Routos called. The turn was the 7♥ and Routos checked once more, but this time he check-raised his opponent’s 12,000 chip bet up to 30,000. That was enough for the “other guy,” as he laid down his hand, giving the pot to Routos. At that, Routos took over the chip lead with a 150,000 chip stack, but as we know, Saechao regained it before the night was over.

With 732 players, the prize pool for Event #1 is $329,400 (7 percent of the buy-in is taken out for entry fees and 3 percent is taken for the tournament staff). Just 46 players remain, all of whom have already made the money, as the payouts extend down to 81st place. The eventual winner will receive $70,859. The remaining players will resume play in the Amazon Room at the Rio at 1:00pm local time. Tournament Director Jack Effel estimates that another 11 to 12 more levels will be needed to complete the tourney, so it will be a long night for the last few players. The plan is for Day 2 to be the final day, but if it’s not over by 3:00am, a third day will be added. The final table will be streamed “almost live” on a five minute delay at WSOP.com.

2012 WSOP Event #1: Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em – End of Day 1 Chip Leaders

1. Chip Saechao – 150,600
2. James Routos – 146,900
3. Matthew Wilmot – 122,800
4. Don Michael – 110,200
5. John Vohs – 102,300
6. Ray Pulford – 91,100
7. Carisa Schweisberger – 76,400
8. Joshua Murray – 72,400
9. Joseph McCarthy – 71,100
10. Ty Stewart – 69,900

Marcelo Ramos Da Fonseca Wins 2012 LAPT Punta del Este

While the focus of the poker world is now set squarely on Las Vegas and the 2012 World Series of Poker (WSOP), there are still other live poker tournaments taking place all over the world. One of them, the Latin America Poker Tour (LAPT) Punta del Este stop, wrapped up Sunday with Brazil’s Marcelo Ramos Da Fonseca topping the 375 player field to take down his first ever live tournament title and $144,240.

If you skipped down to the list of final table payouts, you may notice that there is a significant gap between the money awarded to Pablo Joaquin Melogno in 4th place ($60,420) and Francisco Baruffi Neto in 3rd place ($116,240). This is the result of a deal made amongst the top three finishers when they all held approximately equal chip stacks. They didn’t start three-handed play like that, but after double-ups by both Fonseca and Baruffi probably made the three men realize that the tide can turn any which way that late in the game, regardless of any individual player’s skill.

Baruffi was the one to broach the topic of a deal after he doubled through Angel Guillen, suggesting they split the remaining prize pool three ways. This would have given each just shy of $129,000, close to the $133,688 that would have gone to the second place finisher without a deal. In the end, they agreed to each get $116,240 and play for the remaining $38,000.

Shortly after the deal was settled upon, Guillen crippled Baruffi, leaving him with barely more than a big blind. The next hand was Baruffi’s last, as his A♥-5♠ fell to Fonseca’s 9♠-9♣.

Going into heads-up play, Fonseca had a moderate chip lead, 4.1 million to Guillen’s 3.5 million. The two men then decided to adjust the previous deal, allotting $28,000 of the $38,000 left on the table to first place and the remaining $10,000 to second place.

Fonseca never gave up his lead for the entire hour and a half duration of the one-on-one match. Because of the cautiousness of both players, though, he also never stretched the lead to the point where a victory looked completely inevitable. But just like that, it ended.

Fonseca made a min-raise pre-flop to 200,000 and shockingly, Guillen moved all-in for 2.8 million. Fonseca called immediately with A♣-K♥, obviously happy to see Guillen’s A♠-9♣. The flop of T♥-7♠-J♠ gave a tiny bit of extra hope to Guillen, as he now had a gutshot straight draw, but neither the turn nor river helped at all and Marcelo Ramos Da Fonseca was the LAPT Punta del Este champion.

This win almost double’s Fonseca’s total career earnings in live tournaments. He had gone into the final table with six lifetime cashes for a total of $171,896.

2012 LAPT Punta del Este – Final Table Results

1. Marcelo Ramos Da Fonseca – $144,240
2. Angel Guillen – $126,240
3. Francisco Baruffi Neto – $116,240
4. Pablo Joaquin Melogno – $60,420
5. Ivan Luca – $46,000
6. Osvaldo Silvio Resquin – $35,970
7. Vladimir Dobrovolskiy – $26,770
8. Guido Ruffini – $20,080
9. Carlos Leoncio Mironiuk – $15,390


WSOP Unveils 2012 Bracelets - 20th May 2012

With the 43rd Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) just a week away, it is only appropriate that the new bracelet has been officially unveiled. After all, it’s the one thing by which poker players measure their success (we suppose one could count that whole business of cash winnings, too). This year’s designer is Jason Arasheben, perhaps better known as “Jason of Beverly Hills.”

Considering Jason of Beverly Hills’ reputation for creating gaudy, over-the-top pieces that can be seen from the moon, the bracelet is relatively tame. Make no mistake, though – it will still grab attention more than last year’s simple, gold piece of jewelry created by OnTilt Designs. The bracelet is gold, of course, with a very smooth look. The four playing card suits are represented in each corner of the bracelet’s face, with the heart and diamond comprised of white diamonds and the spade and club appearing to be made up of black diamonds. A raised World Series of Poker logo adorns the center of the bracelet face, enhanced by color to make it stand out.

But that is just the bracelet for the 66 preliminary events. Jason of Beverly Hills will also be creating the 2012 WSOP Main Event bracelet, which he promises will be a sight to behold.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to create this masterpiece for the World Series of Poker and it will go down as the most expensive piece of championship jewelry across all major sports,” said Jason of Beverly Hills about the WSOP Main Event gold bracelet. “We will tour this bracelet in our Las Vegas and Beverly Hills boutique so the world can bear witness to this historic work of art.”

The four card suits will be in their normal colors, with the heart and diamond formed by rubies and the spade and club created with black diamonds. All told, the Main Event bracelet will contain over 160 grams of 14 karat gold and over 35 carats of flawless diamonds.

“Blinger is Better,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart in a press release. “Jason grasped the heritage of WSOP bracelets, but was only interested if he could take it up several notches. This is a trophy that truly embodies the promise of today’s WSOP – seemingly unthinkable dreams are dealt each year. I challenge anyone to keep a poker face when they see this bracelet in person.”

Jason of Beverly Hills started his business as a student at UCLA, selling silver trinkets to fellow students, and eventually grew it into the go-to source for amazing diamond creations for the world’s biggest celebrities. He has created pieces for the likes of LeBron James, Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and even Middle Eastern royalty. The pendant he made for Lil Jon was named the largest in the world by Guinness World Records. (Poker News Daily)

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WINNERS FOR THE 2012 APRA MUSIC AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Wally De Backer Scores APRA’s Songwriting Trifecta!!!

World-beating songwriter Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) has tonight added to his accolades by taking out three APRA Music Awards, including the coveted, peer-voted APRA Song of the Year.

APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) is proud to reveal the winners of the 2012 APRA Music Awards, announced this evening during a red carpet event at the Parkside Ballroom, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. Hosted by Jonathan Biggins and Missy Higgins, the awards have celebrated composers and songwriters across 12 categories who have achieved excellence in their
craft over the last year.

At tonight’s 30th anniversary event for the APRA Music Awards, Wally De Backer (and Luiz Bonfa’s) global smash hit Somebody That I Used To Know walked away with the top prize (APRA Song of the Year) and has also won the category of Most Played Australian Work. The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors has also rewarded Wally De Backer with the crown of Songwriter of the Year. This caps off a
staggering year for Wally De Backer. His haunting break-up ode, Somebody That I Used To Know (from the album Making Mirrors) featuring a sample from Luiz Bonfa’s classic song Seville, has become a chart-topping hit in 11 countries around the world. It was number one for eight weeks on the Australian singles chart and recently hit the coveted number-one spot on the American Billboard chart – a feat not achieved by an Australian artist since Savage Garden in 2000. It still sits atop the US Billboard chart, now for the 6th consecutive week. The single also won triple j’s Hottest 100 in 2011, took out Single of the Year, Best Pop Release and Best Video, with Gotye himself winning Best Male Artist and Producer of the Year at the 2011 ARIA Awards. The statistics on this song (and its accompanying video clip) grow daily, but what we’ve witnessed is a songwriter at the top of his game. Part fanatical recording boffin, part pop genius, Wally De Backer is the APRA 2012 Songwriter of the Year.

The APRA Board of Directors have named Killian Gavin, Jonathon Hart, Timothy Hart, David Hosking and Jacob Tarasenko (Boy & Bear) the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year for their songwriting achievements on the debut album Moonfire. The phenomenal success of their 2010 EP, With Emperor Antarctica, transformed the Sydney quintet from promising newcomers to bonafide international sensations, helping them land two songs in triple j's 2010 Hottest 100. With all these accolades Boy & Bear found themselves perfectly placed to take things to the next level for their first full-length effort Moonfire. The first single Feeding Line led the way and saw Boy & Bear shift effortlessly into darker, deeper moods, melding huge atmospheres with sonic adventurousness. “Honesty resonates,” says lead vocalist David Hosking. “And I think that if it resonates with you as a writer, then it is going to resonate with the listener as well. I think that just happens naturally.”

Shane Nicholson, one of Australia’s most prolific songwriters, has taken out the Country Work of the Year category with Famous Last Words Music critics have been unanimous in their praise of Shane Nicholson and have delivered high praise for the lyrical depth of Shane’s songs and the extent of his honest and emotional vocal delivery.

The Blues & Roots Work of the Year has gone to first-time APRA nominees Busby Marou for the emotive Biding My Time from the band’s debut self-titled album. Hailing from Rockhampton, the duo of Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou last year won the Deadly Award for ‘Most Promising New Talent in Music’. The duo are a rare musical talent with a distinctly Australian way of sharing stories has developed into a unique song writing flavour - roots tinged with cracking harmonies, breathtaking musicianship and a natural feel for each others guitars.

The Potbelleez (David Green, Ilan Kidron, Marisa Lock and Jonathan Murphy) along with co-writer Justin Shave has received the APRA Award in the category of Dance Work of the Year for From The Music, a song which reached number one on the ARIA Australian Singles chart, made it into the Top 100 Singles chart of 2011 and has achieved Platinum sales in Australia.

Marvin Priest, the son of reggae royalty Maxi Priest has taken out the category of Urban Work of the Year, along with co-writers Antonio Egizii and David Musumeci for Own This Club, Priest’s official debut solo single and collaboration with Sydney-based hit makers, DNA Songs. Own This Club peaked at #6 on the ARIA chart and stayed in the top 10 for 10 weeks with over 250,000 downloads.

Rock Work of the Year has gone to Birds of Tokyo for Wild at Heart, the third single from the band’s self-titled album. Featuring uplifting guitar riffs within dark and driving introspective rock lyrics, the single achieved Gold status and was voted number 47 in triple j’s Hottest 100 of
2010. More recently, in 2012 the band has been recording its new album in LA.

It is the second-highest-selling single in Australian history, and now the irresistibly catchy Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO (written by LMFAO members Skyler Gordy and Stefan Gordy along with co-writers David LIstenbee and Peter Schroeder) has won International Work of the Year. Heard in clubs and at parties all over the planet, the song has been number one on music charts around the globe including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

AC / DC has won the APRA Award for Most Played Australian Work Overseas for the rock n’ roll classic Highway to Hell, written by Bon Scott and the 2010 APRA Songwriters of the Year Angus and Malcolm Young The song was released way back in 1979, but continues to prove that old is gold.

Widely respected talent agent Mary Lopez was presented with the 2012 Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Mary’s flair for capturing the spirit of Australia through themed productions, huge cast variety spectaculars and ceremonial events is legendary.

With her unique talent for bringing together a dazzling range of musical and dramatic performers, Mary is committed to helping young people be the best they can be.

Subscription television partner MAX will broadcast an exclusive APRA Music Awards special on MAX on TUESDAY 12TH JUNE at 8.00PM along with an encore presentation at 10.30am on THURSDAY JUNE 14TH. Featuring exclusive interviews from the red carpet and backstage, as well as a wrap up of all the award winners, this is a special broadcast not to be missed! MAX is available on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.
The 2012 APRA Music Awards were hosted by Jonathan Biggins and Missy Higgins, and featured performances by Tina Arena with Tex Perkins (performing their rendition of APRA Song of the Year Somebody That I Used To Know), Kate Miller-Heidke (who performed The Beards You Should Consider Having Sex With a Bearded Man) , Bob Evans (who performed I Started a Joke by the Bee Gees), Kram
(who performed Lanie Lane’s Oh Well, That’s What You Get For Falling in Love With a Cowboy), PVT who performed The Real Thing with Russell Morris ,Bertie Blackman (who performed Matt Corby’s Brother) Sophia Brous (who performed Kimbra’s Cameo) and special guest presenters Yusuf Islam, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, Imogen Heap, Felicity Urquhart and Philip Mortlock.

APRA sends hearty congratulations to all the winners for the 2012 awards.

2012 APRA MUSIC AWARDS
Monday 28th May
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
Hosted by Jonathan Biggins and Missy Higgins


WINNERS FOR THE 2012 APRA MUSIC AWARDS

Song of the Year
Title: Somebody That I Used To Know
Artist: Gotye feat Kimbra
Writers: Wally de Backer* / Luiz Bonfa (ASCAP)^
Publishers: J Albert and Son Pty Ltd* / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
Writers: Killian Gavin / Jonathon Hart / Timothy Hart / David Hosking / Jacob Tarasenko (Boy and Bear)
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd

Songwriter of the Year
Wally De Backer
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
Mary Lopez
Most Played Australian Work
Title: Somebody That I Used To Know
Artist: Gotye feat Kimbra
Writers: Wally de Backer* / Luiz Bonfa (ASCAP)^
Publishers: J Albert and Son Pty Ltd* / Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd^

Country Work of the Year
Title: Famous Last Words
Artist: Shane Nicholson
Writer: Shane Nicholson
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Blues & Roots Work of the Year
Title: Biding My Time
Artist: Busby Marou
Writers: Thomas Busby / Jeremy Marou
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd

Dance Work of the Year
Title: From The Music
Artist: The Potbelleez
Writers: David Greene* / Ilan Kidron* / Marisa Lock^ / Jonathan Murphy* / Justin Shave^
Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd obo MCDJ Music* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd^
Rock Work of the Year
Title: Wild At Heart
Artist: Birds of Tokyo
Writers: Anthony Jackson / Ian Kenny / Adam Spark / Adam Weston
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Urban Work of the Year
Title: Own This Club
Artist: Marvin Priest
Writers: Antonio Egizii* / David Musumeci* / Marvin Priest^
Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd* / Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd

Most Played Australian Work Overseas
Title: Highway To Hell
Artist: AC/DC
Writers: Angus Young / Malcolm Young / Bon Scott
Publisher : J Albert and Son Pty Ltd
International Work of the Year
Title: Party Rock Anthem
Artist: LMFAO
Writers: Skyler Gordy (ASCAP)* / Stefan Gordy (ASCAP)* / David Listenbee (ASCAP) / Peter Schroeder (ASCAP)
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd*

Want to know how the APRA nominees and eventual winners are determined?
The following categories are awarded based on APRA's statistical analysis of radio and TV broadcasting as well as digital activity:

• Most Played Australian Work
• International Work of the Year
• Most Played Australian Work Overseas
The list of eligible works for all genre categories are sourced from relevant industry charts, from which the nominations are determined
based on the level of broadcast and digital activity. These categories include:
• Blues and Roots Work of the Year
• Country Work of the Year
• Dance Work of the Year
• Rock Work of the Year
• Urban Work of the Year
Song of the Year

Is decided by the votes of APRA members. All songs written by an APRA member and released in the preceding calendar year are eligible for consideration.

Songwriter of the Year
Is decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors rewarding the songwriter who has recorded the most impressive body of work in the previous year.

Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music
Is decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors.

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
Is decided by APRA's Board of Writer and Publisher Directors for an emerging songwriter or group of writers.

For the complete list of nominee selection criteria please go to:
http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/apraawards/musicawards/rules.aspx

*Eligibility for APRA Song of the Year is determined by:
•All songs written by an APRA member and released in the preceding calendar year are eligible for consideration.
•The song must have been written principally (i.e. minimum 50% share) by an APRA writer member that has their principal residence in Australia.
•The songs are voted by APRA members (songwriters) making this a 100% peer-voted music award.
**Works of the Year categories are based on statistical analysis. Criteria is determined by:
•All songs written by an APRA member and released in the period July 2010 to December 2011 are eligible for consideration.
•The song must have been written principally (i.e. minimum 50% share) by an APRA member that has their principal residence in Australia
*Nominations are derived from broadcast performance activity including radio, television and online.


APRA MUSIC AWARDS PRESENTERS AND PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED...

With the red carpet set to roll out in just over a week, the 2012 APRA MUSIC AWARDS are the grand finale to Song Summit 2012 and will be held on the closing night of the three-day music industry expo on Monday May 28th at the Parkside Ballroom, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Along with details of special Music Awards guest presenters and performers, APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) is proud to announce that MARY LOPEZ AM will receive the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the 2012 APRA Music Awards.

Chosen by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors, the TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC has been bestowed upon some of Australia’s most respected music industry heavyweights including Don Burrows, Michael Chugg, Slim Dusty, Triple J, Bill Armstrong, Angus & Malcolm Young, Roger Davies, Denis Handlin AM, the late Jimmy Little and last year’s recipient Paul Kelly for their contribution in shaping and developing the Australian music landscape.

A highly respected talent consultant committed to finding ways to develop and showcase talented Australians of all ages, MARY LOPEZ is also committed to leveling the playing field, working hard to ensure that all aspiring and talented young Australians are given an equal opportunity to follow their music and entertainment dreams. Her love for, and admiration of, the performers she has mentored shines through in the success of the almost 60 significant and spectacular productions she has staged over her career, including the Schools Spectacular which she directed for 25 years. Mary has been responsible for dozens of other major public events including ‘An Australian Christmas’ at Darling Harbour, the NSW Premier’s Concert, the World Indigenous People’s Conference Opening and Closing Ceremonies and many more.

Mary’s passion for promoting and nurturing talented young people led her to co-found the Talent Development Project (TDP) in 1991, a widely respected music industry training program which prepares gifted young performers for careers in the music and entertainment industry. She has been the Artistic Director of this unique scheme since its inception. Mary’s ability to identify the potential in young performers has been shown by the success of the program. Star TDP graduates include recording artists Human Nature, Angus & Julia Stone and Paulini, Music Director and Composer John Foreman, Hi 5 star Nathan Foley, Jazz singer Emma Pask and a host of award-winning country music performers including Darren Coggan, Felicity Urquhart, Drew McAlister, Jedd Hughes, Travis Collins and The McClymonts. Mary’s success also lies in her use of the TDP and the Schools Spectacular to provide a level playing field for disadvantaged young performers. As a result, ATSI (Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander) students, and those with mental or physical disabilities are now being given a chance to excel, regardless of their circumstances.

Mary’s development of talented young Australian entertainers and her contribution to the performing arts was recognised by her appointment as a member of the Order of Australia, one of this country’s highest honours. In 2007, she received the Variety Humanitarian of the Year Award and in 2010 her contribution to Public Education and the Arts was recognised with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Western Sydney.

The TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC will be presented to MARY LOPEZ by country music singer songwriter FELICITY URQUHART at the 2012 APRA Music Awards. One of the leading lights of the Australian country music scene, Felicity is still very much involved in Mary’s NSW Talent Development Project and in between a hectic schedule which includes being a presenter on Channel 7’s Sydney Weekender, other TV and radio roles, and being the face of The Heart Of Country for Tourism NSW, she is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest vocalists and songwriters.
In addition to our hosting team of JONATHAN BIGGINS and MISSY HIGGINS, APRA is delighted to welcome YUSUF ISLAM as a special guest presenter for the 2012 APRA Music Awards. Singer songwriter, activist and philanthropist, Yusuf Islam is one of popular music's most famous and intriguing figures. Having
sold in excess of 60 million records sold worldwide, and with a phenomenal fan base, Yusuf is now focusing on a new musical he has produced called 'Moonshadow' which had its world premiere in Melbourne. The musical fantasy written by Yusuf, features the songs which he penned as Cat Stevens, weaving together new songs with his classics, hits such as Father & Son, Wild World, Matthew & Son and The First Cut is the Deepest. YUSUF ISLAM will present the award for APRA SONG OF THE YEAR. Widely respected music industry veteran PHILIP MORTLOCK, Head of Creative Services at Alberts will also present at the 2012 APRA Music Awards.

TINA ARENA one of Australia’s most iconic voices, will perform at the 2012 APRA Music Awards. From her humble beginnings in Moonee Ponds and a career defining slot on Young Talent Time in the early 80’s, TINA ARENA’s inner artist emerged and she has become a songwriter with emotional experience and depth of feeling and an internationally-acclaimed singer with the ability to touch and capture hearts through song. Tina joins us just ahead of a national orchestral tour scheduled for June to August.
Also performing at the APRA Music Awards will be TEX PERKINS, another bona-fide legend and founder of seminal bands Beasts of Bourbon, The Cruel Sea and Dark Horses. Most recently Tex has been channeling another legend in Johnny Cash receiving a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Concert, for THE
MAN IN BLACK where he takes to the stage as Cash for two hours of magnificent music interwoven with the story of his rise to stardom, his fight for survival and his eventual redemption.


Also performing at the 2012 APRA Music Awards will be the wonderful BOB EVANS (aka Kevin Mitchell). Renaissance man Mitchell has had a wonderful career with band Jebediah and his alter ego Bob Evans showing his skills as a champion songwriter and troubadour. His performance at the APRA Music Awards
preceeds an appearance at Splendour In The Grass under his original persona of Kevin Mitchell performing 50 Years of Bob Dylan!, where he will team up with Holly Throsby, Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe) and Patience Hodgson (The Grates) as well as surprise guests.

With a restless creative energy that has seen him make a killer solo album, join forces in numerous projects and supergroups including The Wrights and Hot Rollers as well as being founder and co-vocalist of a little band called Spiderbait, KRAM joins the APRA Music Awards as a special guest performer. An accomplished singer-songwriter, drummer and musical all-rounder, expect the unexpected when KRAM hits the stage.

We all know her voice by now. The wonderful talent that is KATE MILLER-HEIDKE joins us as a special guest performer at the 2012 APRA Music Awards.

Following double-platinum sales for her last album (2008’s Curiouser), sets at Coachella, international dates supporting Ben Folds, acclaimed opera performances in Australia and the UK, Kate Miller-Heidke has returned with her panoramic new album Nightflight, her first solo album in three years which debuted at #2 on the national ARIA Chart.

Singer-songwriter and performer extraordinaire BERTIE BLACKMAN rose to fame with her debut album in 2004, Headway, which came after years of prolific
performances in which she developed a dedicated following. Bertie delivers pop music with depth. Her voice is seductive, her lyrics are inventive and honest and she mesmerizes as a live performer. "When I’m playing music, I just disappear into what's going on," she says.

Touted as a “human powerhouse” (The Australian) and “prodigious chanteuse” (Rolling Stone), ascendant pop songstress SOPHIA BROUS (known as BROUS) brings to the APRA Music Awards an uncompromising vision for pop. Her songs evoke the widescreen majesty of Scott Walker and classic melodies of Morricone's Mina - unforgettable choruses crowned by Brous' extraordinarily expressive voice.

Performing live at the 2012 APRA Music Awards is RUSSELL MORRIS, one of Australia's most enduring singers. A major pop star in the late '60s, he went on to become one of the country's first singer-songwriters scoring five Australian Top 10 singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s. On 1 July 2008, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) recognised Morris' iconic status when he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Sydney outfit PVT has established themselves as a beacon of the Sydney music scene – awarded best local release of the decade by FBi Radio. Renowned for their live performances, the trio have approached recording as an ‘opportunity to create new space on stage’. They harness all their power for a special performance at the APRA Music Awards.

The 2012 APRA Music Awards, which will celebrate the achievements of Australian composers and publishers from the previous twelve months, will announce the winners in the categories of: Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, Most Played Australian Work, Most Played Australian Work Overseas, International Work of the Year, Country Work of the Year, Blues & Roots Work of the Year, Urban Work of the Year, Dance Work of the Year and Rock Work of the Year.

The recipients of the prestigious Songwriter of the Year (as determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors) will also be announced at the gala industry event. And of course, the event will feature the announcement of the coveted peer voted music prize – the APRA Song of the Year.
The 2012 APRA MUSIC AWARDS will be filmed by subscription television partner MAX for a special that will be broadcast exclusively on MAX on TUESDAY 12TH JUNE at 8.00PM along with an encore presentation at 10.30am on THURSDAY JUNE 14TH. Featuring exclusive interviews from the red carpet and backstage, as well as a wrap up of all the award winners, this is a special broadcast not to be missed! MAX is available on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.

Hosted by Jonathan Biggins and Missy Higgins, the 2012 APRA Music Awards will feature performances by Tina Arena, Tex Perkins, Kate Miller-Heidke, Bob Evans, Kram, Sophia Brous, Russell Morris, PVT and Bertie Blackman and special guest presenters Yusuf Islam, Felicity Urquhart and Philip Mortlock.

CATEGORIES FOR 2012 APRA MUSIC AWARDS

Song of the Year
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
Most Played Australian Work
Most Played Australian Work Overseas
International Work of the Year
Country Work of the Year
Blues & Roots Work of the Year
Urban Work of the Year
Dance Work of the Year
Rock Work of the Year.
The APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors determine the following:
Songwriter of the Year
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music

2012 APRA MUSIC AWARDS
Monday May 28th
Parkside Ballroom,
Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre,
Hosted by Jonathan Biggins and Missy Higgins
www.apra-amcos.com.au

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Nicole Richie launches her House of Harlow at David Jones' Sydney store - 26th May 2012

Profiles

Music Television Celebrities Hollywood Sydney Fashion

Nicole Richie this morning made her first official Sydney public appearance since husband Joel Madden joined The Voice.

The mum of two - who was being pitched around as "available for paid appearances" earlier this year - has found a taker and fronted up to David Jones' Elizabeth St store this morning.

The fashionista launched the new sunglasses and handbag range from her label House Of Harlow at a press conference and meet-and-greet with shoppers.

Any fans who wanted a photo with Australia loving Nicole had to part with about $100 to buy product, before a photo and meet and greet could happen.

Update...

Nicole Richie is planning to spend 'more time' in Australia.

The fashion designer and famous wife of rocker Joel Madden, has been in the country while her husband works on the Australian version of 'The Voice', and she admits she has become enchanted with Sydney and wants to find a way of spending more time in sin city Sydney.

She said: "We're going to be out here for a while, both of us love it. Sydney is my favourite city, we're definitely going to be looking to spend more time here, what's not to love!"

Nicole - who has daughter Harlow, four, and two-year-old son Sparrow with Joel - loves the city because people are "very respectful" when she is enjoying time with her family.

She said: "Part of the reason I love Sydney so much and why I love Australia as a whole, I find that people are very nice and very respectful, especially when I'm with my family, I really cannot complain about anything, we are so blessed to be here, I love Sydney so much, everyone is so nice and welcoming."

In addition to the welcoming people, Nicole has also enjoyed watching rugby Down Under, and she especially likes the hunky men who play the sport.

She told 2Day FM radio's Kyle Jackie O Show: "It was so fun, first of all I don't even understand American football, we were sitting in a box, we had the best time, that's the best view in Sydney of those guys running around in those outfits!".

Nicole is the latest in a long list of American celebrities who have looked to Australia as a new place to market their wares.

More facts...

Nicole Camille Richie (born Nicole Camille Escovedo; September 21, 1981) is an American fashion designer, author, actress, singer and television personality. Richie rose to prominence for her role in the Fox reality television series, The Simple Life which lasted five seasons. Afterwards she turned her focus on other projects including charity work and environmental issues. In November 2007 Richie and husband, Joel Madden, created "The Richie Madden Children's Foundation". She is currently one of the three mentors on NBC's Fashion Star.

Websites

Nicole Richie official website

House of Harlow

David Jones

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

Eva Rinaldi Photography

Music News Australia

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Australian Sports Entertainment

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Worldwide Satellite Trailer Debut: “The Great Gatsby”; YouTube Warner Bros. Pictures

Profiles

Movies Hollywood The Great Gatsby Leonardo DiCaprio Tobey Maguire Sydney

SATELLITE INFORMATION ASIA/PACIFIC DISTRIBUTION

1st Feed: Date: 22nd May 2012 Time: 2330-2345 GMT
Melbourne time - Wednesday 23rd May 9.30am-9.45am

2nd Feed: Date: 23rd May 2012 Time: 0230-0245 GMT

Melbourne time - Wednesday 23rd May 12.30pm-12.45pm Satellite: Asiasat 5 C3V Ch 2 Downlink Frequency: 3,735.50 Mhz Vertical Modulation: QPSK FEC: 3/4 Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 6.1113 Color: NTSC Uplink: GCA Sydney Australia +612.8258.7966 ~ 182647 + 182648 Pactv Ref: 250035 + 250041

From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. The filmmaker will create his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before, in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

“The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Academy Award® nominee DiCaprio (“J. Edgar,” “Aviator”) plays Jay Gatsby, with Tobey Maguire starring as Nick Carraway; Oscar® nominee Carey Mulligan (“An Education”) and Joel Edgerton as Daisy and Tom Buchanan; Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke as Myrtle and George Wilson; and newcomer Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker. Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan will play the role of Meyer Wolfsheim.

Oscar® nominee Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge!”) directs the film in 3D from a screenplay co-written with frequent collaborator Craig Pearce, based on Fitzgerald’s book. Luhrmann produces, along with Catherine Martin, Academy Award® winner Doug Wick (“Gladiator”), Lucy Fisher and Catherine Knapman. The executive producers are Academy Award® winner Barrie M. Osborne (“Lord of the Rings – Return of the King”) and Bruce Berman.

Two-time Academy Award®-winning production and costume designer Catherine Martin (“Moulin Rouge!”) designs as well as produces. The editors are Matt Villa, Jason Ballantine and Jonathan Redmond, and the director of photography is Simon Duggan. The music is by Craig Armstrong.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, in association with A&E Television, a Bazmark/Red Wagon Entertainment Production, a Film by Baz Luhrmann, “The Great Gatsby.” Opening December 2012, the film will be distributed in IMAX® 3D, 3D and 2D by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

THE GREAT GATSBY (3D) will release in Australian cinemas on 10th January 2013

Other...

Genre: Drama

Studio: Warner Bros.

Plot Outline: "The Great Gatsby" follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Elizabeth Debicki, Amitabh Bachchan

Directed By: Baz Luhrmann

Written By: Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce; Based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Produced By: Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick, Catherine Knapman

Websites

The Great Gatsby website

Bazmark official website

Warner Bros. official website

Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube.com (The Great Gatsby trailer)

Roadshow Films Australia

Leonardo DiCaprio official website

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr - The Great Gatsby portfolio

Eva Rinaldi Photography

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PartyCasino Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award; Promotions

PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month" award.

Bwin.Party's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.

The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both Virgin Casino, PKR Casino and Captain Cooks Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com

The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".

The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.

PartyCasino.com is one of a number of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment brands.

The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.

The PartyCasino.com jackpot is currently approaching the $6 million mark. Players can also compete for The Big One and Marvel Hero Jackpot, playing the Marvel super hero themed online slot games.

PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Co-CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasinowill soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.

PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino exclusive "Cash Machine" that is being championed as one of the greatest online casino promos ever.

Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.


Treasure Hunt promotion

Watch out for the surprise pop-up treasure chests!

Starts: 00:00 ET, 25th May 2012
Ends: 20:00 ET, 31st May 2012

Our Treasure Hunt chests are jam-packed with a wealth of cash, bonuses and points this month. What’s more, you don’t even have to look hard to find them – just play!

We’ve hidden chests all around the casino; just opt in and play any of the games listed on the promotional page in your account, and you could uncover a massive prize.

Remember, the more you play, the more chances you’ll have to discover great treasures!

Websites

PartyCasino.com

PartyPoker.com

Profiles

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Circus PartyCasino Marvel Slots The Big One Melon Madness Casino World Poker Tour PartyCasino Promotions

Crown Casino To Host World Series of Poker in 2013; Gold Coast high-roller fails to recover millions

Crown Limited gambler case; The Star entertains with musical in Sin City Sydney; World Series of Poker to Melbourne; Marvel Entertainment Online Games...

Profiles

Gambling Gaming Poker Politics Marvel Entertainment Marvel Slots Marvel Games Entertainment Sports Australia

Crown Casino To Host World Series of Poker in 2013...

James Packer's Crown Casino has announced an exciting partnership with the worlds largest poker brand, the World Series Of Poker. Set to take place at Crown Casino in Melbourne from April 4-15 2013, the World Series of poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC) is a huge expansion into the world's largest gaming market.

WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart said, “Our goal is to establish the worldwide grand slam of poker and use our platform to elevate the game through a series of major championships,”
“With WSOP Las Vegas growing annually and WSOP Europe poised for long-term success after five years, the time is right to turn our attention to the dynamic poker scene in Asia and Australia. Given Crown’s success with the ‘Aussie Millions Poker Championship’, we couldn’t ask for a better partner than Crown to establish the Asia-Pacific’s definitive poker festival.”

Crown Casino in Melbourne already is the home to the world's largest tournament series outside of the World Series Of Poker in Las Vegas with the Aussie Millions series each January attracting the worlds premier players. Crown Melbourne's CEO Greg Hawkins said, “This exciting partnership brings together two industry leaders, and two strong brands, to create a premier poker event in this region”.

“Our agreement firmly aligns with our objective of attracting the very best local and international players, all vying for a coveted WSOP bracelet. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved with the Aussie Millions and look forward to featuring WSOP Asia Pacific on our poker calendar in April 2013.”

The WSOP brand is one of the worlds most iconic and every poker player in the world dreams of one day being the proud owner of coveted WSOP Bracelet. The WSOP brand is 42-years old and in 2007 it expanded beyond the USA with the launch of the WSOP Europe in London (2007-2010) and subsequently into France (2011). The WSOP APAC is set to tap into the tremendous growth of peer-2-peer gaming in this region.

As part of the agreement with the WSOP, the WSOP APAC events are expected to be televised globally across ESPN. Fox Sports, as seen on Foxtel, already broadcasts games from competitor, World Poker Tour (owned by Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment).

One man who is no stranger to ESPN and the WSOP is Australian local sporting hero, Joe Hachem. Way back in 2005 Joe won the most prestigious poker event in the world, the World Series Of Poker Main Event.

“It’s thrilling to think the World Series of Poker is coming to Australian soil,” said Joe Hachem. “I know first-hand what a life-changing moment winning the WSOP gold bracelet was and how it served as a catalyst for the growth of poker in Australia and Asia. It will be a dream come true to host a worldwide poker event such as this at Crown. I can’t wait.”

The full WSOP APAC schedule is set to be released later this year.


In other gambling and gaming news...

Gold Coast high-roller fails to recover millions...

A Gold Coast businessman who turned over almost $1.5 billion in 14 months at Melbourne's Crown Casino has lost his bid to recover more than $20 million he lost there.

Property developer Harry Kakavas spent $1.479 billion on 30 separate visits to Crown between June 2005 and August 2006, winning and losing vast sums, but ultimately accruing losses of $20.5 million, a Melbourne court has heard.

Mr Kakavas claimed Crown knew he suffered from pathological gambling and lured him back to the casino with the use of a private jet and cash and entertainment gifts.

But on Monday the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier Supreme Court decision that the casino did not take advantage of his gambling habits.

Appeal judge Justice Bernard Bongiorno said Mr Kakavas alleged his pathological gambling condition impaired his ability to make rational decisions about the amount of money he gambled.

Mr Kakavas would gamble six-figure sums on hands of baccarat, which take a matter of seconds to play.

But Justice Bongiorno said the fact Mr Kakavas was able to negotiate favourable terms for himself at Crown demonstrated his ability to make decisions in his best interest.

"When gambling at Crown he had negotiated the terms on which he gambled and had threatened to and in fact had withheld his custom from Crown when he did not get what he wanted," Justice Bongiorno said.

"These are not the characteristics of someone unable to conserve his own interests."

Justice Bongiorno found the allowances Crown offered to Mr Kakavas were not out of step with those typically offered to high-rolling gamblers.

He also rejected a claim by Mr Kakavas that he had lost $30 million in one losing streak at Crown in 2006.

He said on one occasion in March 2006 Mr Kakavas returned home to the Gold Coast with $14 million in winnings.

"That he lost overall is not in any way surprising," he said.

"The longer a person plays, the more certain it is that he will ultimately lose. Were it otherwise casinos would fail."

Mr Kakavas was ordered to pay Crown's legal costs. (AAP)


The Star entertains with musical: An Officer and a Gentleman...

Australian casinos and entertainment do mix!

Last week An Officer and a Gentleman enjoyed its Sydney, Australia premiere at The Star's Lyric Theatre at Ultimo.

The red carpet premiere was well attended by media and celebrities, and its understood the production is likely to match if not well exceed the substantial hype.

Producer John Frost said that more hard-won world premieres were in store.

"Not just Australian stories, but international stories that can be exported to international markets," Frost said.

Producers from Germany, South Korea, Canada, New York and London were at tonight's opening.

Frost said the $6 million budget for An Officer And A Gentleman was about half what it might have been if it was developed in New York or London.

"Things are just easier and cheaper here, and in New York and London, you're so far out of town (doing the set building) trying to get it right and get it fixed," he said.

Frost said the process of developing new musicals, as opposed to simply remounting a successful overseas version, would help build production skills for the creation of new musicals in the future.

"What this is doing is establishing people like (An Officer And A Gentleman) director Simon Phillips, his choreographer and his assistants, to do new stuff they're not used to doing, because they are used to doing stuff that's already been done and what we are trying to do is to broaden that experience so a lot more directors and a lot more writers get that opportunity," Frost added.

Later next year and early 2014 Frost expects to mount world premieres of Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Show and Red Dog. His production of Doctor Zhivago is approaching the end of a six month-long run in Seoul and will then be mounted in New York.

The Media Man and Music News Australia agencies were overheard agreeing "Another world class production put on by The Star and Lyric Theatre".

The pitch:

A new musical based on the Paramount Pictures-Lorimar movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" written by Douglas Day Stewart

Music and lyrics by Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner
Book by Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen
Director Simon Phillips
Choreographer Andrew Hallsworth
Set and Costume Designer Dale Ferguson
Lighting Designer Matt Scott
Musical Director Dave Skelton
Associate Director Dean Bryant
Producers Sharleen Cooper Cohen and John Frost

In association with Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros Theatre Ventures

Based on the hugely successful Academy Award-winning film, this new production has been adapted for the stage by the original screen writer, Douglas Day Stewart and co-writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen, with music and lyrics by Kenny Hirsch and Robin Lerner. It will be produced by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and John Frost, and directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical).

The talented cast that will bring this timeless story to life includes Ben Mingay (Jersey Boys) as Zack Mayo, the classic angry young man who grew up in a "sewer" and dreams of flying jets and parlaying this skill into a better life; Amanda Harrison (Wicked) as Paula Pokrifki, the young factory worker who dreams of becoming a nurse and finding a better life without selling out for it, like everyone around her; Kate Kendall (Next to Normal) as Lynette Pomeroy, Paula's best friend who is determined to marry a flier to escape her dead end life, no matter what it takes; and Alex Rathgeber (The Phantom of the Opera) as Sid Worley, the likeable Okie son of a Navy Admiral who is the class "superstar" at the Naval Academy.

A hit across the ages, the 1982 film has become a phenomenon in cinema history, recently listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten love stories in cinema history. Featuring the iconic hit song "Up Where We Belong" and a new score by hit song writer Ken Hirsch and Grammy nominee Robin Lerner this timeless tale of struggle, success, friendship and love promises to be the musical blockbuster of 2012.

An Officer and a Gentleman is a triumphant story of working class heroes surviving great tests; a classic modern day love story about a working class boy and girl who must overcome their upbringing and personal weaknesses to accept life and love.

His Story, Her Romance.

The Star's history of celebrities...

Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair (ok, before it was rebranded The Star - back in Star City Casino days), Al Pacino, Bob Geldof, Russell Crowe, Paris Hilton, Afrojack, will.i.am, Snoop Dogg and so the list goes on.


Legally Blonde To Open 4th October 2012...

The Sydney Lyric Theatre is also going to be host to the famous musical 'Legally Blonde'.

Legally Blonde The Musical is the hilarious story of college sweetheart and homecoming queen, Elle Woods - a girl who doesn't take no for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone "serious", Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and heads for Harvard Law School! Along the way, she proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

Legally Blonde The Musical - Winner of Best Musical 2011 Olivier Awards and a smash hit running into its third year on the West End was created by a world-class creative team led by Tony Award-winning director Jerry Mitchell.

The musical opens 4th October 2012.


Marvel Entertainment - The Avengers Boosting Marvel Slots Popularity; Media Agency...

The box office success of Marvel Entertainment comic book based movie 'The Avengers', is boosting the popularity of Marvel slot games across internet networks, the Media Man agency has reported.

A Media Man spokesperson said "Marvel themed games have been popular ever since they were first released, but the success of Marvel Entertainment movies such as Thor, Captain America and The Avengers has at least doubled their popularity according to our data. A new rumoured Hulk movie or TV series, and the upcoming release of The Wolverine movie, staring Australia's own Hugh Jackman, will only further spike online game popularity."

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment has licensed the Marvel deal, and the games can be found at Hitwise top ten website portals such as Media Man, which has a b2b in place with Bwin.Party and PartyCasino.

More Marvel Entertainment games are in the works and the Media Man agency will be providing detailed reviews on the games as more information comes to hand.

Gamers and gamblers, as always - bet with your head, not over it, and have fun.

Marvel Entertainment movie game fans and true believers...there's only one thing to say - Excelsior!

Websites

Media Man International

New South Wales Rugby League official website

NRL official website

Casino News Media

Crown Melbourne (Crown Casino)

Media Man Entertainment

Australian Sports Entertainment

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Australian Sports Entertainment

Eva Rinaldi: Bodyartist, artist, photographer, community entrepreneur plus, by Greg Tingle

Profiles

Celebrities Eva Rinaldi Human Statue Bodyart Art Social and Community Entrepreneurs

As is usually the case, there's never any shortage of news to report.

This month our feature profile is on one of the Inner West's, if not Australia's, most diverse and talented creative artists. To call her a creative artist doesn't really do our subject justice, because she is that and a whole lot more, but creative arts is her foundation and main career focus.

The name Eva Rinaldi will quite likely sound familiar to those who follow the entertainment and arts world.

While certainly not over exposed to media coverage, she has attracted her fair share over the years and is often even part of the news making process as she helps companies and individuals come up with media and marketing ideas and concepts via her bodypainted and human statue creations, in addition to her photographs and news reporting on red carpet premiere events, music concerts, and all manner of other social happenings in and around Sydney.

Eva is one of those people who are so multi-talented its hard to pigeon hole them to just one occupation, so we won't try. Bodyartist / bodypainter, artist, professional photographer, internet publisher and supermum - Eva does it all, with the support of her family and her team - mainly comprised of her creative arts and photography students.

To get a grasp on the type of work Eva does let's look at some of her past few days activities... last night she shot and reported on a red carpet event at Hoyts, The Entertainment Quarter at Fox Studios and today it was off to the family farm at Goulburn where she took photographs, some of which will be displayed in her upcoming art exhibition, and then it was back to the Sydney office to work on Human Statue Bodyart campaigns for the likes of Foxtel, Vodafone and Hilton Hotels, and how can we forget the abstract art where she is in the final stages of completing sets on media heat seekers Rupert Murdoch, James Packer, Shane Warne, and his wife, Liz Hurley.

Much of Eva's abstract art creations carry a theme of celebrity for good, anti bullying and anti discrimination.

We spoke to Eva about some of her current projects and she shared: "Oh gosh, its so busy at the moment. It's quite a juggling act with my human statues, celebrity paintings, corporate campaigns, red carpet photography events and looking after the family, not to mention the family farm. Every week I'm shooting (photographing) celebrities and news makers and filing reviews. Human statues and bodypainting is our bread and butter, but the celebrity photography and internet publishing has really taken off for us also. I'm currently also painting media baron Rupert Murdoch, as well as doing an abstract of Shane Warne and his lovely wife Liz Hurley. For my paintings I like to choose subjects that ignite strong public interest and who have experienced life's ups and downs, and who use their celebrity for achieving good in the world. Murdoch and Packer have done a lot for Indigenous Australia, much of which is not known, and Shane and Liz do a lot of fundraising and help support children in Australian hospitals. I love sharing my creative gifts while at the same time offering exposure to worthy causes and people who make a positive difference in the world. I've borrowed a few pages out of the book of U2's Bono (Paul Hewson) who calls it 'currency of celebrity'. This year we're going for some government and private grants to help push forward our community projects where we involve many of our creative arts and disadvantaged students, so I'm hopeful that some of our latest news coverage helps make some of my modest dreams a reality. It's been a challenging year, but things have really been on the upswing of late".

We asked Eva to elaborate on her community and anti-bullying work, projects and inspiration, and after some hesitation she opened up to us: "I was bullied and discriminated against as a child - and still am sometimes. My heritage is Italian and my parents immigrated to Australia when I was a child. We all had to work really hard for what we have achieved. I was the different one at school. When I first got into the media industry I was also bullied by a couple of nasty types who didn't seem to respond well to a blonde women of artistic background making major positive waves in an industry they had been in for a while. It was a bit like 'You wog's are all the same'. One of my brothers is openly gay and he was bullied as a child also. I've recently submitted some of my artistic works to the IDAHO Exhibition at Parramatta which covers these themes. If they sell I will be able to donate more to my favourite worthy causes. I'm also ramping up my involvement in assisting disadvantaged students. My teaching work has exposed me to some people who have missed out on a lot of traditional support structures and those who experienced learning difficulties. Last year we were able to identify some of their core strengths and facilitate some paid and volunteer employment opportunities for them. Our creative arts and media program helped us discover some hidden talents in the group which some Australian employers place high value in. One student helps in first-aid at music festivals and events and other has secured gigs in television commercials advertising technology products. I believe and tell others - never give up and believe that anything is impossible".

Photography, another medium of both art (and media) has long been a passion of Eva's. She first picked up a camera at ten years of age. Eva has been making powerful images documenting children with bodyart, fashion and popular culture since 1997, when her photographs began appearing in publications and then later she commenced working for corporate events creating a diverse body of work.

She refined her art at locations such as Bondi Beach and the secret tram shed in the inner west in Sydney, and at her family farm in Goulburn New South Wales.

Some recognisable names that Eva has photographed:

Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, Joel Edgerton, Stevie Nicks, Russell Crowe, Elton John, Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Katy Perry, Russell Brand, Maxi Priest, Michael Buble', Lionel Ritchie, Neil Diamond, Rihanna, Bryan Ferry, Chris Isaak, Cyndi Lauper, Miley Cyrus, Ke$ha, Enrique Iglesias, Taylor Lautner, Jennifer Hawkins, Miranda Kerr, Rowan Atkinson, Owen Wilson, Danielle Spencer, Lincoln Lewis, Ita Buttrose, Sarah Murdoch, Kerry-Anne Kennerley, Frank Lowy, George Negus, Seal and Jack Black.

Current projects:

Art abstracts of Rupert Murdoch, Shane Warne and Liz Hurley, and corporate bodyart, bodypainting and human statues.

Eva is soon to once again commence her photography and make-up / bodyart courses, so if your interested be sure to send her an email or contact her office.

Once again, well done Eva on your career and community achievements and initiatives.

Readers, stay with us right here, as next month we will feature yet another amazing talent.

For more information on Eva and her work check out websites:

Human Statue Bodyart
www.humanstatuebodyart.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Website Network

Media Man Int

Media Man Entertainment

Media Man News

The Nullarbor Nymph opens and plays red carpet at Entertainment Quarter, Fox Studios, Sydney, Australia

Profiles

Movies Hollywood Entertainment Quarter Sydney Australia

Merrick & The Highway Patrol threw a huge premiere for ‘The Nullarbor Nymph’ tonight at Hoyts, Fox Studios Australia - Entertainment Quarter, in Sydney.

'The Nullarbor Nymph' was made in the small Australian town of Ceduna and stars mainly local farmers. The film’s director Mathew Wilkinson had to clean toilets for months, just so that he could fund it.

The movie has been turned away from every film festival in the world, so Merrick & The Highway Patrol want to get behind this tiny Aussie film by rolling out the red carpet and giving it the premiere it deserves!

'The Nullarbor Nymph' is a mockumentry following two Water Australia employees as they travel across the Nullarbor Plain only to be hunted down by the mythological creature the Nullarbor Nymph, a blonde, seductive temptress wearing kangaroo skins with a taste for destruction.

Director: Mathew J. Wilkinson
Writer: Mathew J. Wilkinson
Stars: Douglas Feary, Paul Hayman and Jessica Sterling

Websites

The Nullarbor Nymph Facebook

Triple M - Merrick And The Highway Patrol

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

Eva Rinaldi Photography

Music News Australia

Media Man News

Website Network

Media Man Int

Media Man

Media Man News

Media Man Entertainment

Worldwide Satellite Trailer Debut: “The Great Gatsby”

Profiles

Movies Hollywood The Great Gatsby Leonardo DiCaprio Tobey Maguire Sydney

SATELLITE INFORMATION ASIA/PACIFIC DISTRIBUTION

1st Feed: Date: 22nd May 2012 Time: 2330-2345 GMT
Melbourne time - Wednesday 23rd May 9.30am-9.45am

2nd Feed: Date: 23rd May 2012 Time: 0230-0245 GMT

Melbourne time - Wednesday 23rd May 12.30pm-12.45pm Satellite: Asiasat 5 C3V Ch 2 Downlink Frequency: 3,735.50 Mhz Vertical Modulation: QPSK FEC: 3/4 Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 6.1113 Color: NTSC Uplink: GCA Sydney Australia +612.8258.7966 ~ 182647 + 182648 Pactv Ref: 250035 + 250041

From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. The filmmaker will create his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story, bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before, in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

“The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Academy Award® nominee DiCaprio (“J. Edgar,” “Aviator”) plays Jay Gatsby, with Tobey Maguire starring as Nick Carraway; Oscar® nominee Carey Mulligan (“An Education”) and Joel Edgerton as Daisy and Tom Buchanan; Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke as Myrtle and George Wilson; and newcomer Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan Baker. Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan will play the role of Meyer Wolfsheim.

Oscar® nominee Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge!”) directs the film in 3D from a screenplay co-written with frequent collaborator Craig Pearce, based on Fitzgerald’s book. Luhrmann produces, along with Catherine Martin, Academy Award® winner Doug Wick (“Gladiator”), Lucy Fisher and Catherine Knapman. The executive producers are Academy Award® winner Barrie M. Osborne (“Lord of the Rings – Return of the King”) and Bruce Berman.

Two-time Academy Award®-winning production and costume designer Catherine Martin (“Moulin Rouge!”) designs as well as produces. The editors are Matt Villa, Jason Ballantine and Jonathan Redmond, and the director of photography is Simon Duggan. The music is by Craig Armstrong.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, in association with A&E Television, a Bazmark/Red Wagon Entertainment Production, a Film by Baz Luhrmann, “The Great Gatsby.” Opening December 2012, the film will be distributed in IMAX® 3D, 3D and 2D by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

THE GREAT GATSBY (3D) will release in Australian cinemas on 10th January 2013

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Genre: Drama

Studio: Warner Bros.

Plot Outline: "The Great Gatsby" follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Elizabeth Debicki, Amitabh Bachchan

Directed By: Baz Luhrmann

Written By: Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce; Based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Produced By: Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Lucy Fisher, Douglas Wick, Catherine Knapman

Websites

The Great Gatsby website

Bazmark official website

Warner Bros. official website

Roadshow Films Australia

Leonardo DiCaprio official website

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr - The Great Gatsby portfolio

Eva Rinaldi Photography

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Gambling on advertising billboards in Sydney NSW; Packer and Singleton: You Bet, by Greg Tingle

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Advertising James Packer John Singleton Crown Limited Politics Publicity Entertainment Media Man

With the 'Mad Men' TV series all the rage in Australia, Hollywood and all points in between, we thought the timing was excellent to bring you up to speed on some roadside advertising news in Sydney, Australia.

A mega cashed up company part-owned by media tycoons James Packer and John Singleton has started to cash in on major Sydney motorways, headed up by the M2 motorway.

Construction work on advertising billboards owned by Packer and Singleton's firm first started about 12 months ago and some campaigns are already up and running beautifully.

The firm is not disclosing its full client or campaign list, as you would expect - not that anyone else could likely give them much of a run for their money.

These are not any average billboards... they cost about $500,000 each all told, "Packer and Singo" are looking for strong return on investment and are looking to stand out from the pack.

The concession to erect billboards over the M2 was purchased by Manboom, a company owned by JP, Singo and Robert Whyte, from the M2's owner, Transurban, back in 1998. Talk about forward planning.

For more than a decade Manboom was unable to erect signs over the road because of road blocks from local councils! The M2 passes through three council areas and only one, Hornsby, would permit advertising billboards.

But in 2007 the then planning minister, Frank Sartor, amended legislation that stripped away councils of the right to determine policies for signs over motorways. The Department of Planning became the sole consent authority for motorway advertising.

The Media Man agency strongly suspects that a strained economy (and diluting council coffers) lessened council opposition to the advertising proposal put forward. You know... "Money talks and BS walks", whispered a Media Man insider.

It is not clear how much income Manboom makes from the concession to advertise over the congested M2. The firm has in place an annual payment deal with Hornsby Council, the Hills Shire and the City of Ryde in return for its signage rights.

It also pays for public benefit works commissioned by Roads and Maritime Services.

Transurban's spokesman said months ago: "The installation of advertising signage will fund improvements to the aesthetics and operation of bridges on the motorway, including new bridge facade cladding.

"The project will deliver safety improvements to the motorway and a designated source of ongoing funding for safety enhancements to the motorway," he said.

"The use of advertising signage provides an important alternative source of funding for infrastructure improvements and enhancements."

The M2 is in the middle of a two-year upgrade.

The former RTA last year opposed four of Manboom's 15 proposed signs on safety grounds. It cited a fear about "sign clutter" and a concern the angle of one billboard would distract motorists.

The Department of Planning upheld the RTA's concerns about the four signs.

Some studies say billboard advertising helps keep drivers alert, whilst others suggest they are a dangerous distraction. Readers - what do you think? A gamble with safety or a gamble on the investment?

Its a safe bet that Packer, Singleton and Whyte have done their sums.

In the meantime plenty of other Sydney councils are watching the project closely to see if they may be able to also benefit financially from extra advertising on their roads.

*the writer owns shares in Crown Limited, Network Ten and Virgin.

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