20 August, 2002 
  
TV advertising is in trouble - its not as effective as it was, and its a tough market out there. Cocojambo are partnering with Mandalay Pictures, of Hollywood, and independent filmmaker Raindance, of London, to use the magic of the big screen to rescue this ailing advertising medium.  
  
The TV industry is suffering: low corporate earnings are keeping customers' hands in their pockets, competing media are cheaper, and the 'digital' and 'interactive' ages have weakened rather than strengthened TV's core product. 
  
London-based new media company Cocojambo believes that Branded Entertainment - the integration of the advertising and the entertainment - will tempt advertisers back.  
  
In conjunction with Mandalay Pictures, producers of Hollywood hits including 'Sleepy Hollow' , 'Donnie Brasco' and 'Enemy at the Gates', and Raindance, hosts of the prestigious 'British Independent Film Awards' and 'The Raindance Film Festival', Cocojambo are hosting a world-class  "Branded Entertainment" session in London titled [BEL:2003] in January  2002.  
  
Led by award winning producer Kent Bateman and Senior VP of Mandalay Branded Entertainment Noam Dromi, "Branded Entertainment London" will introduce European film makers and brands to the thoughts and processes of a major Hollywood studio and  their proven approach to successful Brand storytelling. "I am thrilled to be involved with Mandalay Pictures again" say's Cocojambo Managing Director Claes Loberg, "I attended initial 'VPOV - branded entertainment' sessions in Los Angeles in 2001, and have been working since to bring this kind of thinking and process to European film makers and brand marketers." 

BEL:2003 will be attended by a mix of creative (actors, writers, producers, directors, developers) and a mix of marketing (brand
 

managers, creative directors, advertising executives). If you would like to be considered for a place, contact Cocojambo in London.  
 
"With both the changing shape of a brands approach to entertainment, and the technology introductions that are fast threatening the state of broadcast funding. This is a very exciting opportunity for both independent film makers, actors, developers, writers and directors to get a Hollywood insight to the topic of brand funded entertainment that is being discussed all over Europe at present" added Loberg.  
  
ABOUT COCOJAMBO  
  
From a 15 year entrepreneurial and creative background, Cocojambo Founder and Director Claes Loberg was the Founder and CEO of the international award-winning new media consultancy  Hyro during the mid to late 90's. During his leadership at Hyro, Claes also produced and creative directed numerous international award winning "branded  entertainment" projects. These projects included VRLX, a virtual reality tour of the most exclusive and exotic destinations and hotels on earth, and VRAustralia, together with Sydney 2000 Olympics, a virtual reality tour of the games, olympic city and Australia. (awarded multiple international  awards for content, style and technology) Beyond  these high profile successes, Claes has delivered all types of media to clients such as Coca-Cola, Dell, TAB, Australia Post, American Express, Thomas Cook, CNBC, Sydney 2000 Olympics, Orient Express Hotels, RCI, Telstra, Pizza Hut and Wayne Gardner. Claes's work has had a direct impact on these organisations by helping them improve their businesses, winning new revenues from us$100,000 to us$850 million.  

Cocojambo is a creative and entertainment development company, focused on delivering best of breed creative ability to create award winning content  for brand funded entertainment across all media's

from iTV, Broadcast, Web, Broadband, Film, Gaming and Mobile.

ABOUT MANDALAY PICTURES  
  
In addition to Mandalay Branded Entertainment, the Mandalay family of companies, chaired by longtime entertainment industry pioneer Peter Guber, includes Mandalay Pictures, Television Pictures, E-Media and affiliated companies in the areas of sports team ownership and operation and sports marketing consultation. Recent Mandalay Pictures projects include the successful 2001 films Enemy at the Gates and The Score. Serving Sara, starring Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley, is scheduled for an August, 2002 release while the Mandalay Pictures production Beyond Borders is currently filming at locations throughout the world starring Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen and directed by Martin Campbell.  
  
Mandalay Branded Entertainment (MBE), headed by CEO Scott Mednick, a longtime entertainment industry marketing and advertising pro and successful advertising exec Greg Sabatino, produces cutting edge branded corporate entertainment vehicles for all mediums, including film, television and new media. Among MBE's recent productions are Go For It! a live and broadcast children's sports program for HealthSouth that has garnered significant ratings on the USA Network.  
  
ABOUT RAINDANCE  
  
Dedicated to fostering and promoting independent film in the UK and around the world, Raindance combines Film Training Courses, Rawtalent Productions and Raindance Film Festivals, Reelscene the Magazine of Independent Filmmaking, and hosts the prestigious British Independent Film Awards. Raindance spans the full spectrum of the art, craft and business of independent movies - from guerilla style low or no budget production through to big budget indie blockbusters.   
 
 
 
Press Contact: press@cocojambo.com 
 
Mandalay: info@mandalay.com 
 
Raindance: info@raindance.com