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New Media Gives Producers New Opportunities
May 11, 2010
CULVER CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- It may look like a big screen animated feature from a major Hollywood studio, but CybeRacers is a series of mobisodes designed specifically to be viewed on a mobile device, like an iPhone.
Mark Miller is the CEO of Famous Frames Mobile Interactive, which produces the series.
"We're a digital movie studio," explained Miller. "We produce and acquire original graphic content of all kind, and with our own digital platform we can distribute it to most mobile and wireless devices."
The traditional entertainment world is evolving rapidly, with DVRs, 3D films, smart phones, iPods and more. Technology is changing the way people watch TV, movies and videos.
Mark and his team are working to be out in front of this new wave of media by completely changing the rules.
"Our idea was to take our one-hundred-plus artists and hook them up with our own in-house animators, other content providers and produce and distribute - and basically control - our own product," said Miller.
Famous Frames Mobile Interactive
Miller says when he started out, a lot of people thought he was out of his mind.
"What new media does, it equalizes the field for talent," said Miller. "It enables content providers to really bypass the barriers and restrictions of old Hollywood studios. It also empowers the consumers, because the consumer can decide what they want to watch, when they want to watch it and in what format they want to watch it."
CybeRacers® Animated Series Released: Featured at iTunes
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire - April 21, 2010)
"CybeRacers," the first CGI series created exclusively for wireless/mobile and broadband delivery, is now commercially available at Famous Frames Mobile Interactive and as a featured iTunes CybeRacers Podcast.
"Our intention in developing the CybeRacers® series is to raise the bar on New Media production and test drive its full 360 potential" says Mark C. Miller, CEO of FFMI and one of the producing partners to CybeRacers Worldwide. Three selected three-minute webisodes in part one of "CybeRacers" can be viewed for free at FFMI and additional time-released webisodes will be available for free viewing by early summer. A four-minute podcast preview of "CybeRacers" can also be downloaded now through iTunes.
The original concept for "CybeRacers" was conceived by co-creator Gun Ho Jang, one of the prominent animation directors from Seoul, Korea, in 2001 when online games began to be popular around the world. "People who were once into console-based games suddenly became excited about what the online world was all about and the idea of playing against competitors from other countries," said Jang. "I began to think about an online racing game although I was more focused on online content that was exciting and interactive. After the Matrix trilogy, I began asking myself 'What's the next world after that? The answer was CybeRacers.'"
Paul Jenkins, one of the premier creators and writers of comic books, graphic novels and video games, is creative director of "CybeRacers," an action thriller set in the distant future. Jenkins began his career working with the creators of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," before beginning his freelance writing career in 1993 as scribe of the DC Comics "Hellblazer." In 1997 Paul won an Eisner for his work on Marvel comics "Inhumans" series. He has since worked on virtually every comic character in the business, including Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk, and the smash hit "Wolverine: Origin," for which he won five Wizard Fan Awards.
"CybeRacers is a new type of opportunity," says Jenkins. "I've always wanted to be the kind of creator who can break new ground. So many people these days are talking about 'New Media' and CybeRacers is specifically created and directed with an eye towards this New Media. It's designed for smart phones. Primarily the framing of the shots is tailored so that it can be seen easily on those types of screen. That renders it a cut above animation that has been simply imported and placed upon a smart phone screen. Hopefully, our fans will see the coolness in that. It looks amazing on my iPhone."
"CybeRacers" is produced by FFMI in association with South Korean and LA based 3D animation and visual effects leader Studio 8202, Inc. (a Famous Frames, Inc. exclusive U.S. client), Clockstop Entertainment, Peconic Pictures and Monkey Kingdom Productions. The creators are Gun Ho Jang, Paul Jenkins, Charlie Mars and Mitchelini. The principals of CybeRacers feel they have a franchise in the making with tie-ins to a multi-platform, broadband and console game, live-action release, television series, comic books, action figures and more. Eventually all the webisodes of "CybeRacers" will be edited into a full-length feature film.
FFMI is a New Media digital studio, specializing in the development, production and online/mobile distribution of a broad range of entertainment, interactive and marketing services delivered to a 24/7 audience in a multi-channel world. It also represents an extension of the deep talent roster of Famous Frames, Inc., America's largest storyboard artist agency that is currently celebrating its 22nd anniversary. With partners and creative resources extending across the globe, Famous Frames Mobile Interactive offers tomorrow's new technology today.
Famous Frames Mobile Interactive & M Channel Launch Famous Mobile.com
July 12, 2009
Famous Mobile brings together our state-of-the-art mobile nGen platform, F2D digital studio and deep roster of creative talent to offer a uniquely powerful set of mobile solutions and services. For agencies and brands, entertainment and new media, social communities and distributive web connections, Famous Mobile is where the action is …. engage your target audience with one-to-one marketing and multi-channel distribution.
Go mobile and take your message live 24/7/365!
Visit FamousMobile
Palm Springs International Shortfest
FFMI Produces trailer for The 2008 Palm Springs International Shortfest
August 27, 2008
Famous Frames Mobile Interactive (www.FFMI.com), a first-wave "new media" company that produces, acquires and distributes original graphic content of all kinds, produced the animated trailer for The 2008 Palm Springs International Shortfest that will take place August 21-27, 2008, it was announced by Darryl Macdonald, Executive Director of The Palm Springs International Shortfest, and Mark C. Miller, CEO of FFMI.
The animated trailer presents a humorous succession of frantic physical transformations besetting a beleaguered pooch. With a concept and script that was developed by Shortfest contributing writer Michael M. Meade before being animated by Famous Frames Digital (F2D) and the artist Burpo, the trailer will appear at the beginning of all festival programs as well as in television advertising and for a variety of marketing applications.Read the article at: http://www.famousm.com/wp/index.php/2008/08/27/ffmi-produces-trailer-for-the-2008-palm-springs-international-shortfest/
FFMI logs mobisodes on devices
Content includes animated 'Three Stooges'
May 21, 2008
Famous Frames Mobile Interactive has launched its first model digital studio, featuring five new "mobisodes" available for download on various digital devices.
FFMI is a new media company, and an extension of Famous Frames, Inc.; an entertainment industry storyboarding agency. The media company specializes in in-house animation and also acquires several types of graphic content for production or distribution, including games, screensavers, mobile movies, animated messages, and graphic novels. One of the new featured mobisodes is an animated version of "The Three Stooges."
The content not only can be viewed online
at www.ffmi.com but also on cellular phones, broadband TV, and other
handheld devices. Because content is so easily distributed to such different
platforms, FFMI is attempting to increase audience numbers, as well
as how quickly content can reach those audiences.
"As the Old Media Model becomes history, FFMI will lead the charge," said Mark C. Miller, FMMI CEO. "We're talking one-to-one targeted distribution."
Read the article at: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986291.html
Famous Frames Mobile Resurrects Stooges
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Moe, Larry and Curly are back and this time they're computer-generated in a new mobile series launching as one of several new animated offerings at www.FFMI.com. An initiative of new media company Famous Frames Mobile Interactive, the site beta launches today with previews of five diverse new toon mobisodes. Many in the industry know Famous Frames as a storyboard artist agency that has been in operation for the past 20 years.
Through an exclusive deal with C3 Ent., The Three Stooges returns after 50 years. The kings of slapstick run for president of the United States in 'The Grate Debate,' the first CG-animated episode, which is set to debut soon. Also to be featured on the site is CybeRacers, a CG futuristic action thriller co-produced by renowned Asian animation house Morph Studios, that will be offered in three minute mobisodes/webisodes and later as a full-length feature film.
FFMI has also acquired Aaron Sowd's Masterminds, an animated comic-book riff that features the voice of Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee; Duff Clawson's The Lucky Shop of Xao Fung, a CG film noir series; and Guy Henry and Girlband, irreverent cartoon comedies from artist Burpo, also known as Stephen DeBonrepos.
"FFMI allows creative talent to distribute their works without the big budget 'it's who you know' barriers of old Hollywood," says FFMI CEO Mark C. Miller. 'The nGen platform powers up this process by allowing greater artistic control and profit participation. What 'new media' comes down to is an immediate interaction between you and your audience.'
Miller, FFMI president Steven Schmidt and their international team greenlit development of FFMI, its creative production slate and multi-channel digital delivery platform (nGen TV/nGen Mobile) in 2005. Last summer, FFMI won iHollywood Forum's Best of Show Award after being voted the most worthy partner and funding prospect by the audience at the 12th Mobile Entertainment Summit. FFMI's nGen platform also distributes animated messages and greetings, graphic novels, games, screensavers, wallpapers, ringtones and products across a wide range of formats.
Read the article at: http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8364
Mobile phones emerging as new video distrib channel
'Mobisodes' becoming increasingly important
By Martin A. Grove
May 21, 2008
Mobile mobisodes: We've come to think of movies as the Big Screen and television as the Small Screen, but there's now an even smaller screen that's emerging as a new way in which to distribute entertainment content.
That screen, the so-called Third Screen, is the one on our mobile phones. It's a unique medium in that it's always with us no matter where we are. Our mobile phones, keys and wallets are the three things that virtually everyone takes with them when they leave the house. With the advent of new technology and larger phone screens, distributing entertainment content via mobile phones is now on its way to becoming an important new business for Hollywood.
A case in point is the Beta or soft launch May 21 of Famous Frames Mobile Interactive's model digital studio. FFMI, a first-wave new media company that produces, acquires and distributes original graphic content, has its first mobisodes of five new animated series available for free viewing online at www.FFMI.com. There are, for instance, new animated features starring The Three Stooges -- the first appearance by the legendary Moe, Larry and Curly in 50 years -- under the banner "The 3D Stooges." Among the site's other content is "CyberRacers," a CGI action thriller series of three minute mobisodes produced with the Asian animation house Morph Studios.
FFMI is a sister company to Famous Frames, Inc., the country's leading talent agency specializing in storyboards and comp illustrators for advertising, motion pictures and theme park entertainment, which is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary.
For some insights into how Hollywood and the mobile phone marketplace are working together, I was happy to have the opportunity to focus recently with Mark C. Miller, CEO of FFMI and President of Famous Frames, Inc , and FFMI president Steve Schmidt. In 1988 Mark and Janine Miller launched Famous Frames. In 2004 Famous Frames Digital (F2D) was created to produce animatics, animation, 3D and digital art and to extend Famous Frames into the next generation digital era.
"With Steve we created (in 2005) a whole new company, Famous Frames Mobile Interactive, as a digital new media studio," Miller explained. "What we are able to do is create our own graphic content of all kinds -- mobile movies, animated messages, games, graphic novels -- and through our own digital distribution platform we also have the ability to distribute it to broadband and mobile wireless devices.
"We originally just started as a mobile storefront selling wallpapers and ring tones, the very basics of this new industry. We were going through an aggregate phone provider out of Colorado. Before we could even launch, they were sold to a Canadian company and almost immediately they were sold to a Japanese company. While they were getting their business plans in order that's when we explored the possibility of building our own platform, which Steve oversaw, and that is our 'nGen™.' My definition of a studio is an entity that can produce its own work and has the ability to distribute it. That's what makes us a new media studio."
"In addition to FFMI branded content and content that we originally produce," Schmidt added, "the nGen platform, standing for Next Generation content distribution system, is intended as a distribution mechanism for partners. So we have content partners and content providers who are using and will be using our nGen distribution system to distribute original content in association with us. Our model is a new media digital studio for next generation Hollywood."
Asked why the mobile phone business is a good one to be involved with these days, Miller replied, "I think mobile's time has come. When we first started this the question was, 'Will people want to watch graphic content on the phone?' And often we were told, 'No, that is not the case.' But the iPhone totally changed our industry because now we can deliver our content and you see it in DVD quality. It has become an accepted form of entertainment where you can watch anything you want any time anywhere. People have become more selective. They are the ones in charge now. You don't have to watch what the few networks are offering when they are offering it. So the consumer is king in new media. We still have a long way to go, but we have more and more products being delivered on the mobile side and within the year it is going to become accepted. Advertising budgets are heading that way. There's far more graphic content being offered.
"Presently, most product offered for new media is rehashed from other forms of media. You see them on TV. You see them on cable. At the very end, they throw them on this trash heap of new media. What we're doing is turning that distribution platform upside down. We are creating original high quality content for new media and then we're exploring the more traditional channels of Hollywood."
"I think we are at a tipping point," Schmidt told me, "in that the download speeds that make data delivery possible -- which is to say (make) quality mobile video possible -- are just now coming to the point where the quality and speed of mobile video is sufficient for a breakout in the market. I always compare it to the breakout in the market on the PC side when we saw dial-up go broadband and then there was the boom of online video because the quality was there. The consumer no longer had to wait (a long time) for the download.
"Next February the country goes digital completely in terms of (television) transmission and that will be an accelerator as well as the wireless carriers each scrambling to out-compete each other in next gen 3G and 4G delivery speeds. The system that I think we all need to watch is the Sprint system with their new (Samsung touchscreen) Instinct phone, in particular, which is meant to be a phone 'killer,' as they call it, very much like the iPhone. But unlike the iPhone on the AT&T platform with its slow delivery speed, Sprint will be (providing a) much higher delivery speed. Sprint has just entered into a deal to deliver through WiMax the next generation competition to the carriers through their footprint that will be high speed in North America and then going beyond that."
There also is, Schmidt noted, "a breakout on the size of the mobile from the traditional brick phone (where) the 4 to 3 aspect ratio is giving way to a wide screen. You see that with the iPhone. Everybody when they first tilted it sideways was going, 'Whoo! Now we get it!' It's no longer a small screen. It has the wide screen aspect ratio. I think that is the other element that is making the tipping point obvious."
How is FFMI determining what kind of content people want to see on their mobile phones? "Over the years our artists have rendered the cinematic visions of every top industry director or art director," Miller replied. "This gives them the opportunity to really step out on their own, do their own projects and get what recognition they deserve. We built our company on a high level of artistic quality. We are not YouTube for the masses. We are very selective. We built our reputation on this high quality and that's what we're still adhering to.
"Along the way we have gone outside of the Famous Frames group and we've landed some very major projects. We have the exclusive digital rights to The Three Stooges, which we have repackaged as 'The 3D Stooges.' That's animated. The first one is called 'The Grate Debate.' We're bringing up these old Hollywood icons in new modern day settings and trying to introduce them to a whole new generation. We also are working with Morph Studios, one of the top special effects and animation houses in South Korea. We are co-producing together 'CyberRacers,' which is a feature length CGI film, which we'll be offering in three minute mobisodes or package downloads. We've also gotten some products coming from some very high quality content providers. We're going to let the public really decide (about content). That's what new media is about. The public will rate what they want to see and ultimately they are the judges. We are just the first round."
As for when and where people will want to view content on their phones, Miller observed, "I think it's going to become second-nature for people. I think people are going to start viewing on their phones on their bus and train trips, on holidays, in-between their classes -- whenever they have downtime. You now have access to the entertainment that you are going to want just as the Internet has become almost essential to people's lives where a couple of years ago it still was kind of unimagined that such a thing could happen. So I think the time has come for mobile entertainment. I believe it's actually going to be preferred (to have content always available) as opposed to being anchored at a certain time or place with a certain program which you have not chosen. It gives people a lot of freedom and I think that's what it's all about now."
When I mentioned that I rarely watch anything that's available on my own mobile phone's video channels, Miller emphasized, "The channels that are offered you can get other places. What's being offered now for new media is rehashed product from other media. You can watch it on cable (or) on TV and now they've got the mobisodes or repeats, which you can download from iTunes. But there's nothing original yet being made for new media unless it's amateur YouTube quality, which is not what we are about.
"'CyberRacers' is as high quality as anything that has been made for this new media. It's worthy of launching a new medium. That's how people are going to start treating new media. It is going to be an outlet for new content providers who can now overcome these barriers set up by the old Hollywood studios and actually produce their product, send it to the public and let the public decide. Watch 'CyberRacers' and you'll see what I'm talking about. We also have 'Masterminds' in development, which features (legendary Marvel Comics creator) Stan Lee, so that will be an exciting piece that we're looking forward to."
"I'd also point to handheld devices," Schmidt said, "because it's more than mobile phones. You pretty much have to look at the wireless category as handheld digital devices, which is very often used to describe phones that also are players. They're also digital systems that are used for downloading files and the change in memory and the change in the quality of the product makes for a very enjoyable (viewing) experience.
"You're going to have very happy consumers and you won't be looking at (what) people were saying three years ago -- 'You want to do what with mobile phones?' It's driven pretty much by (people) who are now using their mobile phones to upload videos to social sites like YouTube and MySpace. There are now for the first time awards contests like student film contests for video produced for mobile phones and handheld devices with built-in cameras. So the whole notion on the publishing side of people having their mobile phone with them and recording video and uploading it immediately and sending it to news organizations is becoming a very key element of that interest in mobile phones or handheld devices (because they are) ubiquitous and recording everywhere."
With FFMI's soft launch now underway, Miller told me, "We are presently in strong negotiations with certain phone carriers regarding our (official) launch and I would anticipate that around July." Looking ahead, he sees FFMI focusing on animated product, but doesn't rule out also developing some live action material such as short form stand-up comedian segments.
"Our intent is to really make FFMI an artists entertainment community where the public can eventually submit their own material and be rated by their peers," Schmidt said. "I think the beauty of new media is that interaction between the public and the provider."
"We're absolutely looking at our model and partnering and joint venturing with our platform with some major players," Miller added, saying that anything further on the subject needs to wait for future announcements.
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Martin Grove hosts movie coverage on the broadband television channel www.UpdateHollywood.com
Read the article at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/columns/e3iac5edbea24551b6507941c4a46098436
[more] http://gizmodo.com/374454/sprints-samsung-instinct-at-last-a-decent-iphone-competitor
Mobile Show
May 19-25, 2008
For the past two decades, Culver City-based talent agency Famous Frames Inc. represented storyboard artists, getting them work on thousands of television commercials, video games and films, including box office hits 'Titanic' and 'Matrix'.
Using the artists as independent contractors, the company created a firm in 2005 that produces mobile content, Famous Frames Mobile Interactive. The original content includes short movies, animated messages, screen savers and games. FFMI released its first animated 'mobisodes', including 'The Three Stooges' this week. The company partnered with Morph Studios in Seoul to create the computer generated videos.
Mark C. Miller, chief executive of FFMI, said online videos [produced for mobile and the web] don't have a history of high production values, but his product will be different.
Most producers of mobile content have skimped on costs by using young film school grads instead of experienced pros because companies have not yet figured out how to monetize mobile content.
Miller said he expects to see revenues through sponsorships, advertising and download fees. Viewing clips is free but there is a nominal fee for downloads.
He acknowledges that trying to run a company in the mobile space is like travelling through the Wild West.
'We are taking a risk,' Miller said, 'but the industry is catching up. Since the company launched, you've seen a release of a bunch of sophisticated phones geared toward playing content. This is where it's heading.'
FFMI is using a digital delivery platform, called nGenTM, which essentially plugs FFMI's content into the nation's top cell phone carrier networks.
Read the article at: http://www.labusinessjournal.com/industry.asp?cID=j
Famous Frames Mobile Launches Digital Studio To Create Mobisodes
Tricia Duryee
mocoNews.net
Friday, May 23, 2008
Famous Frames, a company that specializes in creating storyboards and concepts for advertising, film, television and multimedia projects, said it is launching a beta digital studio to create multimedia content for mobile phones. As part of the launch, Famous Frames Mobile Interactive, which is based in Los Angeles, is now providing a few "mobisodes" on its Web site, starting with The Three Stooges skit called "The Grate Debate," which has Moe, Larry and Curly running for president.
Famous Frames started off selling mobile content, such as wallpapers and ringtones, but it told The Hollywood Reporter that the timing is perfect to start producing mobile video. "I think mobile's time has come," said Mark Miller, FFMI's CEO and Famous Frames's President. "When we first started this the question was, 'Will people want to watch graphic content on the phone?' And often we were told, 'No, that is not the case.' But the iPhone totally changed our industry because now we can deliver our content and you see it in DVD quality. It has become an accepted form of entertainment where you can watch anything you want, any time, anywhere."
Famous Frame's has coined its new platform, "nGen," for next generation, which means it will be creating content for a wide range of formats to digital devices, including PCs, broadband TV, phones, and other handheld devices. It's joining a growing boutique industry of companies that are producing content that never gets big network or studio attention. The niche will be initially competitive as all those content producers clamour for audiences, and compete fiercely for a small amount of ad dollars.
Wherever you are, our streamlined mobile application brings you the latest headlines with unprecedented speed. Visit http://paidcontent.org/mobile to learn more.
Read the article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/22/AR2008052202217.html
FAQ
1. What is FFMI?
Famous Frames Mobile Interactive is a
'first wave' digital new media studio established to produce and
acquire original graphic content of all kinds, and using a multi-channel
digital delivery platform (nGen TV(TM) / nGen Mobile(TM)), distribute
product across a wide variety of mobile and wireless devices. FFMI
is a forerunner of next generation production/distribution as New Hollywood
reshapes yesterday's entertainment and marketing world.
2. When did you first have the idea to
form FFMI?
In 2004 Steve Schmidt, founder of M Channel,
approached Mark C. Miller, co-founder and President of Famous Frames,
with the idea of establishing a mobile storefront offering graphic designs
created by the deep talent roster of Famous Frames, the country's
largest storyboard artist talent agency. At first Mark questioned
the upside potential of this new media. Then one evening in November,
while walking along the Marina Village in Marina Del Rey, Mark couldn't
help but notice every kid looking at his or her cell phone. They weren't
talking on them. They were playing games, text messaging, watching
whatever limited content was available at the time. It was an epiphany.
The cell phone was becoming an intricate part of their life. It was
a rite of passage. Mark read how kids were reluctant to pay 99¢ to
download a song from the internet, but didn't think twice about paying
twice as much for a twenty second ringtone. Mark took another look
at his cell phone, its model and capabilities for the first time and
called Steve and told him he was on... it was time to go mobile and
take Famous Frames to the next level.
3. Why did you decide to launch
this company?
It seemed like a natural progression
for Famous Frames. Over a twenty year history, the company's services
have expanded from storyboards for advertising, to providing art services
for motion pictures, commercial production, video gaming and theme park
design. Famous Frames evolved from marker comps to digital art, 3D
and pre-visualization. F2D (Famous Frames Digital) was formed
to produce animatics and animation in-house. For years, Famous Frames
artists have rendered the cinematic visions of the industry's top
directors. FFMI allows them the opportunity to step out from the
shadows and get the recognition they deserve.
FFMI was officially formed in February
2005 as a mobile storefront offering screensavers, wallpapers, graphic
novels and comics. Some utilized flash animation. Prior to launch,
FFMI's aggregate mobile content provider, Cellus USA, was sold to
a Canadian company, Airborne. Then a few months later, Airborne was
sold to a Japanese company. As Airborne reworked its business
plan, FFMI explored building its own digital delivery platform, which
would eventually became the nGenTV/nGenMobile(TM) system.
4. Who has access to FFMI products?
Anyone who uses the internet or a mobile
device with graphic capabilities. The worldwide web is appropriately
named, wherever you are the web is there whether delivered via satellite,
wired or wireless. The number of cell phones and handheld devices
with these functions are rapidly increasing. Worldwide the numbers
are in the billions. There are around three billion mobile phone subscribers.
The figure will rise to 4 billion by 2010. By next year 1 billion cell
phones will be sold a year. Around a billion can receive rich mobile
content and most can handle data messaging and graphics. It's a new
world out there whether you're, as economists say, in the advanced
'first world' or developing 'third world.' For that matter
much of the world is out ahead of the US in wireless development and
networking. Here in the center of 'the industry,' we have a ways
to go to catch up.
5. What is your target demographic?
While the Famous group offers products
that appeal across the art and entertainment spectrum, given the nature
of new media technology, FFMI expects to be most popular with fifteen
to thirty five year old consumers.
6. What products do you offer?
Famous branded content ranges from short-form
animation to long-form SciFi. FFMI is heavy in comedy, peer to
peer messaging, action and fantasy. The company is working with
a wide range of creatives, production companies, agencies and clients.
FFMI's next generation distribution multi-channel capabilities are
designed to get your content message to your audience whenever, wherever
and however you want it.
With YouGetFamous and Famous Space FFMI
is offering a new vision of an art/entertainment community, kind of
like Saatchi's STUART site for fine artists but for digital artists
who are looking to be discovered. "Get Famous" is an online
reality show, an "American Idol" with contestants submitting their
best work and their peers voting and communicating online and wirelessly
who should rise to the top and be signed to the majors.
FFMI specializes in animation of all
styles in-house and offer a wide variety of graphic content including:
mobile movies (some as time released serial content), animated messages
and greetings, graphic novels, games, screensavers & wallpapers,
ringtones.
The FAMOUS STORE(TM) (under construction)
is an online mall and virtual shopping experience, escalator and all.
You can wander around and consider a wide variety of Famous products,
including art, posters, graphic novels and comic books, CDs, DVDs, and
action figures, games, memorabilia, even Famous tee-shirts and coffee
cups!
7. What cell phones and handheld
devices can display the product?
It's a long list. The number of mobile
phone manufacturers and models can make your head spin. We're talking
worldwide and our mobile delivery platform is designed to target most
all the popular ones. Beyond phones, handheld devices are reshaping
gaming and video. Media from simple SMS messaging to MMS multimedia,
to interactive and full-blown digital mobile TV, the wireless mix is
rich and deep. Uptake of new phones is a significant part of our value
equation as daily the web/wireless universe shifts. In the North American
market there are approximately 350 phone models with graphic capabilities
today and one of the points of differentiation that highlights the nGen
mobile platform is the ability to deliver to all enabled phone models.
8. Can I watch the product on my
computer?
Absolutely. For content delivered to
the PC, users will be able to watch the content full-screen in FFMI's
OVX(TM) (Optimized Viewing Experience) player. OVX is a full-screen
player that is designed to simulate the theater-like experience.
9. If I buy (what you call) a mobisode
for my cell phone, can I also view it on my computer?
Content can be viewed for free via the
internet on FFMI's Famous TV network. Download fees apply to
content viewed over a cell phone or sent as an animated message to another
computer. All FFMI Content can be viewed for free on FFMI's website.
However, if you would like to download it to your computer (as a .mov,
.avi, or any other format that is suitable for you) or take it around
on your iPhone, iPod, Zune or any other media device, you are able to
purchase a "DRM-free" version. We also provide discounts for content
purchased as a series. For example, "CybeRacers" can be purchased
and viewed as a package rather than buying each episode one at a time.
For our animated messages, if you would
like to send to a friend or friends with email, you can purchase them
for a low price and send it to as many friends as you want.
10. Is iPhone the best cell phone
to display FFMI product at the present time?
The iPhone offers a sneak peek at where
the mobile screen is going - think a wide-screen ratio not a 'square'
image as with first generation phones. Think high definition and quality
audio. Of course, the iPhone is limited right now by their partner
AT&T's network speed, but soon there will be high speed wireless
delivery with all the tier 1 US carriers going with 3- and 4-G networks.
EDGE replaced by EV-DO for example and frames per second getting better
and better, delivering higher quality streaming. It's like how dial
up went broadband and Internet video exploded as a result. The
iPhone uses Apple-specific files, but beyond Apple are multiple file
formats. Everyday there are new phones with features for nGen
that rival iPhone. The CTIA show just introduced a number of these
- one of the most impressive is Samsung's Instinct which
picks up on Korea's leading edge when it comes to best-in-world mobile
networking speeds and phone capabilities. iPhone changed the mobile
landscape overnight and now there's going to be wave of new phones
with extended video and multimedia capabilities.
11. How will the new "G Phone"
interact with your product?
The "G Phone" now referred to as
Android is designed as an open platform, allowing the user to import
programs and software through a growing choice of phone carriers. This
allows FFMI content to be imported through an option of popular phone
plans and to play with the high quality visual experience currently
seen on the iPhone.
12. Are there any difficulties
that consumers may encounter when trying to purchase FFMI product?
Like most new technologies, there will
be glitches and obstacles that will need to be overcome and refined.
The new media industry has been making great strides in recent months,
but it's generally understood that the U.S. is about two years behind
the Asian and European markets when it comes to mobile entertainment
and the handheld devices needed to support it. Presently, the U.S.
only makes up fourteen percent of the mobile entertainment market.
FFMI will continue to perfect its product to offer users the most enjoyable
viewing experience possible.
13. In addition to producing original
digital content, you also have the capability to distribute it?
That's correct. This is what makes
FFMI more than just another content provider or a delivery platform.
The company's definition of "studio" means the ability to produce
your own content and the means to deliver it. Unlike other content
providers, FFMI is not dependent on aggregate phone providers, wholesale
service providers or individual carrier decks. The nGen(TM) delivery
system provides greater monitoring control over graphics assets and
multiple channels of distribution at a greater revenue share.
The digital delivery platform enables
content producers and content aggregators to distribute their content
easily and affordably. The nGen platform provides a turnkey digital
solution for the asset libraries of content producers. The platform
has the ability to manage and distribute content to PCs and mobile devices
seamlessly.
Branded 'online theaters,' portals
and storefronts are hosted online and accessible through users' web
browsers. For content delivered to the PC, the user will be able to
watch the content full-screen in the 'OVX'(TM) (Optimized Viewing
Experience) player.
14. What is "nGen"?
The nGen, next generation, high speed
engine, is a digital platform designed and built to deliver digital
content including video, audio, animation, images, text and web-links.
It can support nearly every popular file format and reach and play on
most all web browsers. nGen incorporates industry leading standards,
mobile/wireless capabilities and cross-carrier connectivity. FFMI's
mobile/wireless extension of the nGen platform (nGen Mobile) offers
capabilities that few content delivery networks are able to provide
clients and audiences.
15. Describe how FFMI is a 'first
wave' digital studio?
The leaders of FFMI are pioneers with
a "digital new media studio" leading the charge into a new space
no one has explored before. Our definition of studio is an entity that
can both produce and distribute its own original content. Our depth
of Famous Frames artists and animation talent is unique and our own
digital delivery platform is out-in-front of multi-channel distribution.
While most content currently available to new media outlets consists
of recycled material offered previously through traditional media outlets
(i.e. network and cable TV, theatrical releases, DVDs, etc.) or amateur
'YouTube quality' shorts, Famous Frames Mobile Interactive and our
partners will offer original, exclusive content produced-for-new-media.
16. What are some of your first productions?
Among our slate of original entertainment
shows is "CybeRacers," a FFMI full length CGI feature co-produced
with Morph Studios of South Korea in association with Peconic Pictures.
This animated sci-fi thriller is set in the distant future, where the
fate of mankind rests in the death-defying skills of CybeRacers
as the forces of good and evil collide in mid-air and at the finish
line. Part One is thirty minutes and will be offered in three
minute mobisodes or complete package downloads. "CybeRacers"
is cutting edge animation worthy of launching a new media.
FFMI also has the exclusive digital rights
to The Three Stooges. These legendary Hollywood icons with worldwide
brand recognition are being reinvented as The 3D Stooges.
These animated characters are pushing the edge of slapstick entertainment.
The first episode, "The Grate Debate" has the Stooges running for
President. In "Masterminds" five freakish felons have only
one thing standing between them and global domination - each other!
FFMI co-produces this animated series featuring the voiceover talent
of Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman, the Hulk and Fantastic Four.
Acquired productions from Famous Frames
artists include "Guy Henry" and "GirlBand"
from 'Burpo,' as well as "The Lucky Shop of Xao Fung" from Duff
Clawsen Studio. Also in production are 60-second shorts featuring
"Rudy the Rude Rooster" from Lee Wilson, a visionary force behind
Halo 1, 2 & 3 and Twisted Metal 1&2.
FFMI will also be launching with over
fifty animated messages and greetings for significant as well as obscure
occasions.
17. Will you ever produce feature
films or television programming?
Many of our productions would carry over
very well to long form and can find resonance with over-the-air, cable
and satellite television. What we're doing is first producing for
new media distribution then as part of our release strategy addressing
'old media.' In effect, we are turning the old Hollywood distribution
formula around - we're premiering content for new media distribution
and at a later date employing the more traditional channels.
18. Will FFMI make it easier for
ordinary people to become filmmakers?
Absolutely. You have to envision what's
happening now in schools and with tomorrow's artists. It's not
about 'film' or expensive software editing. That's changed and
with the tools of digital production now ubiquitous, almost everyone
under 30 is coming of age familiar with digital. That's one of the
wonders of new media. In addition to empowering the consumer to
watch what they want...when they want to...where they want, "new media"
empowers everyone to get creative and interact and communicate live
and one-to-one. Cellphones have cameras and messaging capabilities.
More and more we're seeing YouTube-esque uploading to platforms.
Undiscovered and established sources of creative talent will distribute
their works without the big "it's-who-you-know" barriers of the
old Hollywood studio system. FFMI's nGen distribution platform allows
for greater artistic control and profit participation. In the
end, new media is an immediate interaction between the artist and the
audience.
19. Mobile messages/greetings are
super cool. Why hasn't anyone offered these before?
In the US the phone carriers are moving
from SMS to MMS, in other words the billions of text messages have prompted
new technology and advances. We're there on the front side of this
development with our animated messages and greetings. As more
cell phones and mobile devices offer graphic capabilities, more options
will become available to the consumer. There are other companies
emerging that offer similar product. One such company is MoGreet.
They'll be launching soon and through our licensing agreement will
offer FFMI messages as well.
20. Do you accept submissions or
ideas for original content?
We will. Our Second Phase construction
consists of FAMOUS SPACE and YOU GET FAMOUS. This allows the public
to submit their graphic content of all types, and allows for interaction,
critique and comments from the peer-to-peer public. Content that
scores high, will be offered as part of FFMI's Famous TV/Famous Mobile
network.
21. Where are your offices located?
FFMI is headquartered in Culver City,
California, with branch offices in Tampa, Florida and New York City.
22. Is FFMI available on handheld
devices in other countries?
It will be. FFMI content will be
offered through license agreements with a number of foreign phone carriers
(as well as iTunes). FFMI's production partners, Morph Studios
in South Korea, have deals in place with the major Asian carriers.
Through our gateway provider we expect to be able to eventually offer
FFMI content through our nGen platform.
Media Kit
