Independent Gaming Web Series The Game

** MEDIA ADVISORY **
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2010
Contact: Lynn Jeter
(323) 933-8007
[email protected]
Independent Gaming Web Series The Game Basement Garners
Large Buzz
WHO:
The Game Basement is a new independent interactive web series created, produced, and directed by Haile Mahmoud, a 23 year old man who lives to film and
game.
WHAT:
The Game Basement offers a revealing look into gaming culture, exploring
games and the interesting people who play them, serving as a “stepping stone
into understanding the gaming world,” and countering the cynical, satirical, and
exploitive views of “nerds” currently found in the media.
The show is set in “The Basement,” a hang out spot where the main cast gathers
to de-stress and get away from their everyday lives by discussing, playing, and
experiencing everything gaming. The Game Basement represents the gaming
world‟s first scripted show to deal with the nature of it‟s inhabitants the show‟s
characters represent various perspectives of the gaming world, including nerds,
otakus, geeks, the rare “girl gamer,” and the even more rare womanizing nerd.
The Game Basement has been well received by the gaming community; receiving over 11, 000 total views in three weeks without any promotion, as well as
enthusiastic reviews on prominent gaming message boards.
The Game Basement seeks to appeal to not only the seasoned gamer, but also the
gamer in all of us. As the creator Mahmoud explains, “we are trying to bring
back that innocent feeling of pure fun you had as a child playing Mario bros.
with your little brother.”
Mahmoud would like not only to “supply the industry with grounded reviews,
fresh looks, recovering pure enjoyment of games,” but also “to lead the industry
in a more positive direction.
WHEN:
New episodes premier every Tuesday.
WHERE:
www.TheGameBasement.com
www.youtube.com/thegamebasementcrew
For interview requests, please contact Lynn Allen Jeter at (323) 933-8007, or via email
at [email protected].
** MEDIA ADVISORY **
For Immediate Release
June 15, 2010
Contact: Lynn Jeter
(323) 933-8007
The Lamar Project Opens For R&B Sensation Anthony Hamilton
in Pre- Father’s Day Performance
WHO:
Neo Soul Inspirational group The Lamar Project opens for Anthony
Hamilton. The show‟s lineup, comedian JJ Williamson featured on
BET and HBO, host Ced Delaney, and a surprise musical act, as well
as Baton Rouge natives The Lamar Project will rock the house.
WHAT:
An incredible assortment of entertainers are slated to create a remarkable Pre-Father‟s Day experience presented by Soulrefined Promotions, where former barber Anthony Hamilton promises to “cut up”
more than usual.
WHEN:
Friday, June 18, 2009.
Showtime 8:00 pm
WHERE: Baton Rouge Rivercenter
275 South River Road
Baton Rouge, LA
For interview requests, please contact Lynn Allen Jeter and Associates
via email at [email protected] or call (323) 933-8007.
** MEDIA ADVISORY **
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lynn Jeter
June 4, 2010
(323) 933-8007
Jazz Icon Ronnie Laws Live In Concert At Hot New Venue Cotton
Club LA
WHO: Renowned jazz artist Ronnie Laws.
Most distinguished for his inventive, non-traditional, “Jazz Fusion” style, this
gifted contemporary musician has enjoyed unprecedented cross-over success in
R&B and Pop genres, receiving numerous awards for his originality and working
with such distinguished artists as Earth, Wind, and Fire, Arthur Adams, Howard
Hewett, Ramsey Lewis, Jeff Lorber, Hugh Masekela, Alphonse Mouzon, and
David Sea.
WHAT: Jazz staple and musical veteran Ronnie Laws offers an extraordinary,
live performance to a mature crowd at LA‟s newest hot spot: Cotton Club LA.
Seasoned, celebrated Laws will showcase his exceptional gift at a new nightclub
offering a refined, classy experience with live performances and Cotton Club all
star band lead by musical director Tony Boyd. Patrons will gather for one unforgettable night of soulfulness and an uncommon encounter with good music.
WHEN: Saturday, June 5, 2010.
Doors open: 9:00 pm
Showtime: 10:00 pm
WHERE: Cotton Club LA
6465 Sunset Blvd (Inside SIR)
Los Angeles, CA 90028
For press credentials and interview requests, please contact Lynn Allen Jeter by
at (323) 933-8007, or via email at [email protected].
DESIGNED & HAD IT PRINTED
CREDIT FOR LAYOUT, PHOTOS, STORY.
READ AT http://www.paradiseexit.com/2010/03/02/something-new-out-the-south/
Ringing lightly on the ears
of common HU conversation is the name of a freshman. Mr. Freshman. Poet,
singer, songwriter, emcee
Ashton Travis comes to a
milestone on his journey
Northbound
Howard University freshman Ashton Travis reflects on the large buzz generated by his recent performance
at the Chicago People‟s Union Talent show. Travis shared an apparently amazing moment with his Cramton Auditorium audience last week. “My goal when I‟m performing is to make people actually believe I‟m
feeling what I‟m saying. I saw people lookin‟ like „damn, this really a story‟ So I felt like my goal was actually accomplished.” Ashton describes it as one one his most successful performances. The recognition he
received afforded further nurture to his already blossoming notoriety.
An established spoken word artist, Travis was most distinguished for his poetry in the fall semester.
Ashton made it to the national level of the NAACP ACT-SO competition, participated in the Brave New
Voices festival, and performed in Howard University‟s Homecoming poetry show. Awareness surrounding
Ashton‟s musical efforts reflects a shift in focus from poetry to music. “I was supposed to start last semester, but it was so much poetry going on. So I went home for Christmas break and started writing and ever
since i got back this semester it‟s been grind, grind, grind, grind grind.”
His efforts have culminated in the completion of the mixtape Mr. Freshman, scheduled for release March
3rd.
Mr. Freshman is to include a mixture of song, rap, and poetry. It features collaborations from such artists
as Surreal, Paul Gasper, and Jane. “There is something for everybody on the mixtape,” assures Ashton,
“Something that everyone can relate to… if i could describe it in three words, I would say it‟s
“
” Ashton hopes to strengthen and expand his campus fan base with
this album, “I want more people to know about me musically, I want a bigger buzz around schools.”
HOWARD DAZE
Temperatures are crisp and the air is still damp with the first heavy rain of the fall. It is 6 p.m. on a
Monday and the line of students embracing the frontal perimeter of Cramton Auditorium has begun
to extend toward the Childers Hall entrance yards away. Howard University is readily awaiting the
release of a series of highly anticipated secrets.
One recognizes immediately the especial gravity these secrets hold at Howard in the demeanors and
attitudes of the students. “They better come correct this year,” one indignant young woman in line
scoffs.
At 7 p.m. students begin to file in. They are met with the sounds of popular campus DJ, “Chubby
Swagg” who cleverly mixes songs from regions across the country, offering each student a piece of
home. Crowd members rise from seats, singing and dancing in the aisles as “their song” is played.
Chubby‟s performance halts as the full Howard University Band makes its way down the aisles to
the stage, their faces filled with grimaces of fierce battle. Their instruments blasted renditions of
popular songs to the audience‟s delight.
The band exits and the auditorium is filled with darkness interrupted by glimmering splashes of
purple and gold light. From opposite aisles enter chiseled young men clad in black suits. On their
shoulders rest thrones carried toward the stage in majestic dramatic fashion well suited for this
year‟s homecoming theme, DYNASTY. The Chair and Vice-Chair are lowered from their thrones.
The keepers of the secrets have arrived, ready to reveal this year’s homecoming. Howard’s Homecoming Unveiling has begun.
Video teasers revealing the theme and content of each homecoming event flicker before the eyes of
the audience, eliciting an array of responses. Show coordinators step forward to unveil select confirmed celebrities and performers, Slick Rick, Rick Ross, and popular up and coming Roc Nation
artist J.Coles among their number.
Vice Chair of the steering committee, Dionne moves to the front of the stage.”Oh, y‟all want more
names?” Dionne asks. She mentions casually, “I know you‟ve probably heard of songs like „Call
Tyrone‟.” The auditorium is suddenly gripped with piercing shrieks as its attendants realize R&B/
Soul sensation Erykah Badu will be headlining this year‟s R&B Show.
Yet back stage, Kai Lawson is not as pleased with all the excitement as one might expect the
show‟s coordinator to be. Past the dancing security guard, amidst an engrossed Cramton operations
team, and beyond the homecoming festivities stands Kai Lawson peering anxiously from the
stage‟s wings. “Where is the poster?” Kai mutters “I‟m done with this unveiling...In fact, I‟ve
been done with this unveiling since 6:00.” This is Kai‟s event... and Kai expects every detail of her
event to run perfectly.
This is Kai‟s second go-round with homecoming. She coordinated the large Yardfest concert last
year, and has returned to oversee marketing this year. While many might believe undertakings like
these enough for one person at one time, Kai juggles multiple part-time jobs, internships, elementary school involvement, and leadership positions along with her homecoming responsibilities, all
in the interest of accomplishment.
HOWARD DAZE
Kai‟s began working in entertainment at 15 as a member of the Roc-A-Fella Records street team.
Now a senior telecomm management major of 22, she has since established herself as a recognized
force of entertainment on campus, working with Columbia Records, Capitol Records, MTV, BET
and heading such prevalent campus organizations as Endustry Power Players.
She knew what she was getting into when she came to Howard. “I came here because I knew this
would be a great networking opportunity,” said Kai. “I knew I could get it done here.” Kai Lawson
represents a prevalent strain of determination and career focus in Howard students.
Kai is among many students representing the combination of fun, involvement, studiousness, and
consciousness Howard has come to be known for. She is an admitted perfectionist and work-aholic... and she is not the only student expressing the Howard “hustle trait.”
It is now 9:30 p.m. and the unveiling festivities have come to a close. Junior journalism major
Chelsea Carson searches for an unoccupied computer as she reaches the congested I-lab. It seems
Chelsea isn‟t the only one with plans to work hard that night. “Its too early in the year for all these
people to be in here,” Chelsea complains.
Rain continues to fall outside. Homecoming is approaching. Midterms are approaching. Fall is in
full swing and with students getting back to work, it isn‟t likely securing a spot in I-lab will be so
easy for Chelsea from here on.
At 11:30 a.m. the next day, Cramton and Childers are again wrapped in that familiar embrace.
Homecoming tickets went on sale the morning after Unveiling, and the lines are long. Students
reach the register to find that the R&B Show is now sold out-- it has only been two hours.
In Blackburn, the homecoming office is alive with students working hard toward the coming week
of events. The room is filled with music as students simultaneously joke and manage the pressures
of facilitating a major event of the DC Metropolitan area.
As these students worry about what will happen at homecoming, some other students worry about
what will happen with the world.
In a nearby Douglass Hall class room students keenly engage in deliberative dialogue facilitated by
Nation of Islam spokesperson Dr. Alim Muhammad. Students are gathered for Power Study group,
a discourse on current events, awareness, and philosophy held weekly.
“If a teacher is teaching up here,” Alim explains with a raised hand “but the students mental capacity remains down here, what happens? The instructor is forced to bring the material to the level of
the students. What is someone going to do who has been systematically miseducated their whole
life? What options do they have besides the military?” the group goes on to explore and trends in
literacy, divorce rates, military training, and food deserts, its members amazed and enthralled.
Back in Blackburn‟s Digital auditorium, Howard alumni look to help students perform at the highest level in a panel titled, “Get Creative: Inventing Your Dream Career,” a discussion on work for
“creatives” in industry. Accomplished journalist and alum Jozen Cummings urges students to remember, “it‟s a race not a marathon.” He is a product of the “grind” work ethic commonly exhibited by over-achieveing Howard students and advises the Blackburn audience to balance work and
play.
HOWARD DAZE
The director of the Cedar Center advising office brings the discussion to a close with an anecdote.
“A former [Howard] president always told the story about Howard connections,” He began “He
says he was in an island in the Caribbean, when his assistant noticed him grimacing. The assistant
ascertained the president was suffering from a toothache and told him he was going to find a dentist. The president said, „wait. But I don‟t want just any dentist, I want a Howard dentist‟.” The
room laughed. The director continued, “The assistant replied, „Well that's no problem at all! Here
on the island, that‟s all we‟ve got!‟”
“That‟s the thing about Howard,” the director finishes with a statement that perhaps serves to explain the winning combination of traits that describes Howard students, “we are always connected.”
New legislation may alter the way students receive financial aid.
Photo credit: Olympia Ekine
Despite excitement surrounding the new health bill‟s adjustments to grant and loan policies, university officials foresee little impact of the legislation on Howard student‟s financial aid packages.
“We don‟t anticipate there will be a very large jump. Students on an individual basis will not see much of
an impact,” says Howard University financial aid director Derek Kindle.
Beginning July 1, federal student loans will be issued directly through The U.S. Department of
Education, instead of students and parents selecting private companies to service their loans.
Kindle says the legislation will not eradicate private bank loans.
“It will only change the source of funding for the federal loans some students are awarded.”
This new legislation will have the most significant impact on the 69 percent of universities currently financing federal loans with private funds.
Those institutions will now have to alter many of their processes to comply with the new law—possibly
lengthening disbursement times in some instances.
While 60 percent of Howard students awarded financial aid receive some form of federal loans,
they will experience no difference in the way their aid is dispersed.
"Howard University is already a participant in the Direct Lending program and has been since the
program's inception in the late 1990s," adds Kindle.
“Howard University does not project any of the major changes in federal financial aid due to the
HCERA to negatively impact our students or alter disbursements.”
The switch enables institutions to make any necessary adjustments directly to its students' loans,
thereby expediting financial aid awarding and packaging processes. Some describe it as “cutting out the
middle man.”
While legislators expect these changes to result in savings, Kindle offers some perspective as to
whom the savings will benefit.
“The reason behind changing loan services is not to save students money,” says Kindle. “The
money this bill saves will go toward paying for the healthcare bill and eliminating some of the national
debt.”
The terms of the new legislation remain muddled in the minds of many students and faculty members.
“I don‟t know much about the loan changes,” admits sophomore architecture major Kimberly
McGrew, “but aren‟t we supposed to get bigger Pell Grants?”
Not Quite.
While the maximum grant amount was projected to fall from $5,350 to $2,150 in the
coming year 2010-2011 academic year, the new policy prevents that and allows for a gradual
adjustment to $5,975 by the year 2017.
Kindle offers clarification regarding changes in Pell Grant policy.
“One change that will positively impact our students is an increase in the expected
Family Contribution (EFC) required to be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.”
The number of Howard students currently receiving pell grants is 2,984. Previously, only those
students with an EFC between zero and $4,731 were eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
Now, students with an EFC between zero and $5,273 will be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant. This will slightly increase the financial aid packages for those students whose
EFCs are between $4,731 and $5,273.
Junior telecom management major Dominique Da Cruz, a son of middle class parents
welcomes the change.
"I think it's about time they made some sort of adjustment to accommodate middle
class college students."
"I'm almost out of here, so I won‟t reap most of the benefits, but my EFC is $4,923
right now so my family's financial burden will be relaxed next year."
Kindle explains that Da Cruz‟ burden may not be lightened by much.
“The people in the new bracket would only be getting a few hundred dollars,” says
Kindle. “What‟s more, most people don‟t consider that these increases are not enough to keep
up with tuition.”
Video, “HCERA and HU” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uabqR_6fdgM