Press Releases

CHICAGO, April 13, 2009 – The Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC), through its Entertainment and Media Communication Institute, has joined with The Boeing Company to launch a nation-wide project to elevate the importance of math, science and technology in various national entertainment media. The project, a multi-year program is designed to stimulate excitement for science, math and technology in students through an innovative business and entertainment industry collaboration.

The project seeks to strengthen how engineers and scientists are portrayed across the entertainment media to present a more positive and accurate view of the careers and potential available in aerospace. To do so, EIC will engage businesses and industries in major fields that require advancements in engineering and technology to enhance their future competitiveness, and will target all levels of education, extensive community outreach and all forms of entertainment media. The relationship reflects Boeing’s on-going commitment to promoting the development of quality learning environments in the areas of math, science and literacy necessary for future success in the workforce and in life.

“We’ve known for some time that we needed to rekindle interest and excitement in our students for math, science and technology,” said Rick Stephens, senior vice president of Human Resources for Boeing. “We need to find a way to engage and develop the next generation of scientific and mathematical thinkers who will lead the way in order for the U.S. to compete globally in the future.”

“We are crafting this technology project as a catalyst to meet this challenge and help springboard the U.S. once again to a leadership role in science and technology advancement,” commented Brian Dyak, president and CEO of EIC.

“Science and technology continue to contribute to the entertainment industry in shaping new entertainment platforms and providing new ways to bring stories to life in engaging ways. In turn, entertainment can be a powerful tool for reaching out to millions of people and grabbing the attention of both parents and the next generation of our future workforce by accurately incorporating and presenting science- and technology-based information into storylines in entertaining ways through all types of national and local entertainment media.”

Stephens added, “By partnering with aerospace, other science- and technology-based industries, and the entertainment media, we can highlight those career priorities and opportunities critical to our ability to compete in the future. We are also encouraging other companies and industries to join us in committing to the opportunity represented by this effort to develop the workforce and skills needed to reposition the U.S. for global competition in the future.”

The project is designed to be a multifaceted program to reach out to students through a variety of education avenues that may include a mentoring initiative, elementary and high school outreach programs, collaborations between university film/media departments and engineering schools, and unique incentive contests. Business, industry and entertainment components include the possible development of interdisciplinary think tanks, expert and technical advisory resources for journalists and entertainment creators, recognition incentive programs for media efforts and the formation of a blue ribbon advisory committee that encompasses the many industries impacted, academic communication scholars and leaders from the entertainment industry.

About the Entertainment Industries Council and The Entertainment & Media Communication InstituteThe Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to promote information, awareness and understanding of major health and social issues among the entertainment industries and to audiences at large. EIC is widely recognized as a chief pioneer of entertainment advocacy outreach and one of the premiere success stories in the field of entertainment education and information resources for entertainment creators, through innovative and time-proven services and methods of “encouraging the art of making a difference” from within the entertainment industry. For more information, please visit www.eiconline.org.

The Entertainment & Media Communication Institute (E&MCI) is the research and strategy component of EIC. The mission of the E&MCI is to foster developmental interdisciplinary activities in health, education and social sciences; communications research and theory; cultural studies; environmental strategies; and information technology. E&MCI activities address media opportunities to promote the well-being of the public and enhance the pro-social impact of entertainment and other media. The Institute provides a new means to implement and position health promotion campaigns, social marketing strategies, risk communication research and new informatics’ applications within the broader media space.

About BoeingBoeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

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For more information, please contact:Karen Fincutter

Boeing

312-544-2872

karen.m.fincutter@boeing.com

Larry Deutchman

EIC

818-333-5001

ldeutch@eiconline.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Henri Bollinger, 818-784-0534

Kim Rymsha, 774-454-2768

EIC THINK TANK PRESENTS MENTAL HEALTH MEDIA STRATEGY TO U.S.CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, DC, June 5, 2008 – A Think Tank formed to identify new directions for the perception of mental health issues announced results of a day-long meeting held yesterday, according to Brian Dyak, President and CEO of the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC), which sponsored the meeting. The Think Tank was a first-of-its-kind collaboration between individuals in entertainment, communication academia, medicine, patients, and families. The results were presented today to members and staffers of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and the Congressional Entertainment Caucus.

This first gathering is part of the development of a long term national strategy, the mission of which is to increase the nation’s mental health while decreasing the mental health burden. It is believed that such a collaborative approach will lead to more effective solutions and action steps for the role entertainment and the media can play in addressing issues such as post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, and other mental health issues.

For example, David E. Kelly catapulted the issue of Aspergers Syndrome to the nation’s attention by featuring a regular character with the illness in primetime television on “Boston Legal.” As a result, many viewers learned of Aspergers for the first time, while those who have Aspergers and their loved ones discovered that the illness now had a face on TV. Emmy-winning actor Christian Clemenson, who plays the character on “Boston Legal,” was one of the participants in the Think Tank.

Among the recommendations to come from the meeting is that it is vital for treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to be evidence-based. After September 11th, it was found by researchers that the more victims of traumatic events were debriefed the more likely they were to develop full-blown PTSD. Therefore, debriefing as a treatment strategy is not helpful. On the other hand, researchers found it helpful to treat the subject with medications to dampen the autonomic nervous system’s response immediately after a traumatic experience, and keeping the victim engaged with peers in their community.The Think Tank’s mission was to develop communication strategies that incorporate medical, communication, media and entertainment perspectives with a focus on mental healthcare, early diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The Think Tank marked the launch of the newly formed Entertainment & Media Communication Institute (EMCI), a new division of EIC.

The Think Tank recommendations were developed under the direction of EIC. Among those present for the briefing were Congressional Mental Health Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Grace Napolitano and Tim Murphy, and Congressional Entertainment Caucus Chair Representative Diane Watson.

Among Think Tank participants were: Christian Clemenson, Actor, “Boston Legal;” Marti Noxon, Executive Producer/Writer, “Private Practice;” Jonathan Greene, Co-Executive Producer/Writer, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit;” James W. Kearns, Screenwriter/Producer (“John Q”); John Kosinski, Writers Guild of America, west, Inc.; Frank Wheaton, EIC Board Director; Carlos Alcazar, President, Hispanic Communications Network; Prof. Gary Kreps, Chairman, Department of Communications, George Mason University; Prof. Lisa Sparks, Chapman University; Prof. Kathy Rowan, Department of Communications, George Mason University; Dr. Melinda Villagran, Department of Communications, George Mason University; Dr. Gary Sachs, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University; Dr. Mark Vanelli, Harvard Medical School and Chief Medical Officer at Adheris, Inc.; and Dr. Tom Barrett, President, Business/Life Management.

The Institute was formed by EIC to educate and provide information resources for the entertainment industry’s creative community and television, online and print media journalists relative to health and social issues, to enhance their capability of addressing such issues with accuracy and authenticity. “The Institute will coordinate a multi-disciplinary faculty of experts knowledgeable about various health and social issues and about health communications theory and practices,” said EIC President & CEO Brian Dyak. “These experts, under the leadership of EIC, will conduct briefings to media and entertainment professionals, produce informational publications, provide expert technical assistance through EIC’s branded First Draft service, and conduct audience-based research.” The Institute will also host Picture This forums or gatherings of experts and constituency group leaders at both the national and local levels to develop recommendations for media strategies and priority messages for potential entertainment storylines.

“Individuals’ mental health and well-being are critical issues that affect quality of life, as well as the health of our communities and of our economy,” said Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. “Discussions between leaders in the medical, communication and entertainment fields to introduce information and work cooperatively are crucial to establishing communication and finding different ways to increase awareness of mental health issues.”

Congressman Tim Murphy said, “During my time as both a psychologist in private practice and in public service, I have seen firsthand the stigma attached to mental illness. Mental illness is real – not an imagined problem – as real and devastating to a family as cancer or diabetes. Films, television and other forms of entertainment have the power to reach across cultural boundaries, traversing the globe with a unique ability to inform and educate audiences about mental health issues.”

“I look forward to continuing to work with EIC to create a greater understanding of the entertainment industries’ efforts to use their power and influence to address mental health issues,” said Congresswoman Diane Watson.

EIC, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to bring the power of the industry to bear on health and social issues. The organization is considered to be the grand daddy and chief pioneer of entertainment advocacy outreach and one of the premiere success stories in the field of entertainment education and information resources for entertainment creators, through innovative and time-proven services and methods of “encouraging the art of making a difference” from within the entertainment industry.

EIC addresses health issues such as drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and addiction; firearm safety and injury prevention; sun safety and skin cancer prevention; human trafficking; terrorism and homeland security; mental health and mental illness, including bipolar disorder, depression and suicide; diabetes; seat belt use and traffic safety; and HIV/AIDS prevention. For more information, please visit www.eiconline.org.

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Look what you’ve been missing for the last 8 years!

PRISM 2009 on April 23rd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Henri Bollinger Associates, 818.784.0534

Henri Bollinger

04.24.2008 Michael Clayton, GEORGIA RULE, The Simpsons,

Grey’s Anatomy, ER, The View, The Sopranos

Receive TOP HONORS AT THE

12th Annual PRISM Awardsä

James Denton, Casey Affleck, Sally Field, Dave Annable, Ben Vereen, Jennie Garth

Andrea Bowen also receive honors

Television’s Dr. Drew Receives Larry Stewart Leadership Award

LOS ANGELES, April 24, 2008 –The winners of the 12th Annual PRISM Awards were announced tonight at a gala dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel. These awards, presented by the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC), in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and FX Network, reflect the entertainment industry’s commitment to the accurate depiction of addiction and health issues in film, television, music, comic books and interactive entertainment.

The feature film Michael Clayton received the “Bipolar Disorder Depiction Award”; the Universal Pictures/Morgan Creek production, Georgia Rule, won in the “Feature Film – Wide Release” category; and You Kill Me produced by IFC Films/Code Entertainment/Baum Echo Lake Rosenman Productions/Bipolar Productions, received the award in the “Feature Film – Limited Release” category.

Fox Television’s The Simpsons was honored in the “TV Comedy Series Episode” category; ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy received the award for “Drama Series Episode.” NBC’s ER got the “Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline” award; ABC’s One Life to Live received a PRISM Award for the “Daytime Drama Storyline” category; and ABC’s The View got the award for “Talk Show Episode”. CBS was recognized for its “Outstanding Public Service Project,” CBS Cares, while HBO won the “Mental Health Depiction Award” for The Sopranos.

James Denton, from Desperate Housewives, won in the “Performance in a Comedy Series” category (presented by House star Hugh Laurie); Academy Award® nominee Casey Affleck won “Performance in a Feature Film” for Gone Baby Gone; Sally Field and Dave Annable were recognized in the Performance in a “Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline”category for Brothers and Sisters; Ben Vereen won in the “Performance in a Drama Series Episode” category for Grey’s Anatomy; and Jennie Garth and Andrea Bowen won in the “Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries” category for Girl Positive.

“With over 440 entries, this years PRISM Awards is a significant statement from the entertainment industry as we reach audiences to provide accurate information about health and social issues. Not only is our industry working to put forth accurate messages through creative stories, but we are also providing powerful messengers through the actors’ characterizations. Entertainment companies are taking their corporate citizenship very seriously as we work to address tough health and social issues that affect the public” said EIC President & CEO Brian Dyak.

“Today, accurate media portrayals of recovery among those suffering from addiction and mental illness offer realistic hope to people with these illnesses as well as to their friends and loved ones. By spreading the truth about recovery and the benefits it holds for all members of our society, the entertainment industry has been a very effective force for positive change,” said Terry Cline, Ph.D, SAMSHA Administrator.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Larry Stewart Leadership & Inspiration Award to Dr. Drew Pinsky by EIC President & CEO Brian Dyak and Board Director Michele Lee. The award, which is presented for leadership and inspiration by example, reflects Dr. Drew’s long history in addressing issues of drug and alcohol addiction in various radio and television programs.

The Larry Stewart Award was presented to Dr. Drew Pinsky for leadership and inspiration to his industry peers and colleagues by example with respect to substance abuse and mental health issues. In January of this year, he and VH1 teamed up for the first reality series on television to depict the process of overcoming addiction. Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and Celebrity Rehab Reunion pulled back the veil of secrecy on what goes on in rehab. Both shows were huge ratings successes. He also hosts two nationally syndicated radio shows – Loveline, where he has been taking calls from listeners since 1982, and Dr. Drew Live, which began airing on KGIL earlier this year.

Other celebrities taking part in the ceremony included Danny Arroyo, General Hospital: Night Shift; Jayne Brook, Boston Legal; Gordon Clapp, NYPD Blue; Amy Price-Francis, Cleaner; Melora Hardin, The Office; Mariette Hartley; Carolyn Hennesy, General Hospital; Kathy Joosten, Desperate Housewives; Joy Lauren, Desperate Housewives; Hugh Laurie, House; Sharon Lawrence, The Capture of the Green River Killer; Michele Lee; Lorna Luft; Dolph Lundgren; Mario, R&B and pop singer, Dancing with the Stars contestant; Christopher McDonald, Superhero Movie; Esai Morales, Jericho; Sarah Jane Morrison, Brothers and Sisters; Brigitte Nielsen, Celebrity Rehab; Tequan Richmond, Everybody Hates Chris; Eva Marie Saint, Academy Award®, On the Waterfront; Murray Sawchuck, Celebrecadabra on VH1; John Schneider, Smallville;Lindsey Shaw, Aliens in America; Henry Simmons, Shark; Tara Summers, Boston Legal; Dee Wallace; Gary Anthony Williams, Boston Legal.

An additional highlight of the ceremony was a tribute to EIC’s 25th anniversary of service to the entertainment industry and the public.

The 12th Annual PRISM Awards ceremony was executive produced by Brian Dyak, Lawrence Scot Deutchman and Marie Gallo Dyak. Supervising producer was Kenneth R. Paule.

About Entertainment Industries CouncilEIC, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to bring the power of the industry to bear on health and social issues. The organization is considered to be the grand daddy and chief pioneer of entertainment advocacy outreach and one of the premiere success stories in the field of entertainment education and information resources for entertainment creators, through innovative and time-proven services and methods of “encouraging the art of making a difference” from within the entertainment industry.

About SAMHSASAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services delivery systems.

About FX NetworkFX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 94 million homes. The diverse schedule includes an award-winning roster of distinctive original series, an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other major studios and an impressive roster of acquired hit series.

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***Please see below for a complete listing***

12th Annual PRISM Awards

Winner List

Feature Film – Wide Release

Georgia Rule

(Universal Pictures / Morgan Creek Productions)

Feature Film – Limited Release

You Kill Me

(IFC Films / Code Entertainment / Baum Echo Lake Rosenman Productions / Bipolar Productions)

Performance in a Feature Film

Casey Affleck – Gone Baby Gone

Comedy Series Episode

The Simpsons – “Crook and Ladder”

(Fox Broadcasting / 20th Century Fox Television / Gracie Films)

Comedy Series Multi-Episode Storyline

Tyler Perry’s House of Payne

(Episodes: “More Than Meets the Eye” / “Busted” / “No Money, Mo’ Problems” / “Just Say No” / “Surprise, Surprise”)

(TBS / Tyler Perry Studios)

Performance in a Comedy Series

James Denton – Desperate Housewives

Drama Episode

Grey’s Anatomy – “Love/Addiction”

(ABC Entertainment / ABC Studios / The Mark Gordon Company / Shondaland)

Performance in a Drama Series Episode

Ben Vereen – Grey’s Anatomy

Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline

(Episodes: “Gravity” / “Under the Influence” / “The Test” / “Blackout” / “Coming Home” / “Skye’s the Limit” / “300 Patients”)

(NBC Entertainment / Warner Bros. Television / Constant c Productions / Amblin Television)

Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline

Dave Annable – Brothers and Sisters

Sally Field – Brothers and Sisters

Daytime Drama Storyline

One Life to Live

(ABC Television Network)

TV Movie or Miniseries

Life Support

(HBO Films / Foxx-King Entertainment / Flavor Unit Films / Urban Romances / Shelby Stone Productions)

Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries

Andrea Bowen – Girl Positive

Jennie Garth – Girl Positive

Teen Program

I Won’t Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom

(MTV News and Documentaries / Gigantic! Productions)

Children’s Program

That’s So Raven – “Where There is Smoke”

(Disney Channel / That So Productions / Warren & Rinsler Productions)

Talk Show Episode

The View

(ABC Daytime / Barwall Productions)

News Magazine Segment

ESPN Outside the Lines – “Rod Beck”

(ESPN)

Documentary Program

The Addiction Project

(Specials: “Addiction: The Documentary” / “What is Addiction?” / “Understanding Relapse” / “The Search for Treatment: A Challenging Journey” / “The Adolescent Addict” / “An Interview with Nora Volkow, MD” / “An Interview with Mark Willenring” / “An Interview with Michael Dennis” / “An Interview with Kathleen Brady” / “Getting an Addict Into Treatment: The CRAFT Approach” / “Treating Stimulant Addiction: The CBT Approach” / “Opiate Addiction: Understanding Replacement Therapy” / “South Boston Drug Court” / “A Mother’s Desperation” / “A Revolving Door” / “Montana Meth” / “Cracked Not Broken”

(HBO Documentary Films)

Biographical Program

The E! True Hollywood Story – “The Osbournes”

(E! Entertainment Television)

Unscripted Non-Fiction Program

Intervention: Season 3

(A & E Network / GRB Entertainment)

Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is – “Episode #2″

(BET)

Original DVD

Bevel Up: Drugs, Users and Outreach Nursing

(National Film Board of Canada / Canada Wild / CBC Centre for Disease Control)

Music Recording

Nikki Sixx- “The Heroin Diaries”

Trail of Light

(Gracie Vandiver & Friends / Note to Self Recordings / Sunlight of the Spirit Music)

Comic Book Storyline

These Things Ain’t Gonna Smoke Themselves

(Bloomsbury USA)

Interactive Media

SoberCafePodcast.com

(Studio V Productions)

Outstanding Public Service Project

CBS Cares

(CBS Television Network)

Mental Health Depiction Award

The Sopranos

(Episodes: “The Second Coming” / “The Blue Comet”)

(HBO Entertainment / Chase Films)

Bipolar Disorder Depiction Award

Michael Clayton

(Warner Bros. Pictures / Castle Rock Pictures / Mirage Enterprises / Section Eight / Samuels Media)

Film Festival

Bobby Dogs

(Brooklawn Productions / GototheBall! Productions)

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