05/24/06 BASKING RIDGE, NJ and SAN FRANCISCO ? Atom Entertainment, Inc.TM, the broadband entertainment leader, and Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless provider, announced that several new short films developed by AtomFilmsTM Studio are premiering simultaneously today on Verizon Wireless? V CAST service and on the award-winning AtomFilms® Web site, atomfilms.com. Ranging in length from one to five minutes each, the new shorts provide unique comic perspectives on dating, classic video games, canine friendships and other entertaining storylines. Through AtomFilms? exclusive deal with Verizon Wireless announced last month, Verizon Wireless V CAST customers can view the films from their mobile phones for no additional charge as part of their monthly subscription to V CAST.
Announced in January, AtomFilms Studio funds promising new films by producers with a proven ability to connect with audiences on the AtomFilms site and beyond. Filmmakers involved in the new productions include Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin, the team that won Project Greenlight season 2 and directed the theatrical feature ?Battle of Shaker Heights?; stop-motion filmmaking star PES; film festival award-winners Sam Hearn, Richard Penfold and Matthew Bonifacio.
?The AtomFilms Studio premieres showcase our unique ability to develop quality original entertainment in partnership with the industry's most innovative creators, and distribute it digitally to mass-market audiences on the Web, and on mobile phones through our channel on V CAST,? said Mika Salmi, chief executive officer of Atom Entertainment, Inc.
Ryan Hughes, director of content and programming for Verizon Wireless, said, ?Large numbers of V CAST customers have been enjoying the AtomFilms channel on V CAST since we launched on May 1, and we are pleased to offer the new AtomFilms Studio productions.?
To get V CAST, Verizon Wireless customers can equip their V CAST-enabled phones with a V CAST VPak subscription for $15.00 monthly access added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan. The subscription includes unlimited basic video ? including AtomFilms Studio Originals in the AtomFilms mobile video channel ? but application download fees apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content.