News
KYOCERA'S All Access Winners to Create Documentary at Virgin Mobile Freefest With Public Enemy, Weezer, Blink-182 & More
Documentary to debut on Independent Film Channel, along with "making of the documentary" featurette by producers of "Flight of the Conchords"
San Diego, CA., August 28, 2009 - Young music fans got the break of a lifetime today when they were chosen from thousands of entries and named as part of the "Kyocera ALL Access" documentary crew. They will travel from hometowns across the country to the Virgin Mobile FreeFest music festival - taking place Aug. 30 at Maryland's Merriweather Post Pavilion - and create a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with Weezer, Franz Ferdinand, the founders of Public Enemy, Taking Back Sunday and Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge. Their documentary will capture every pulse-pounding moment from the tour buses to the stage and the fan frenzy in the moshpit.
While the Kyocera ALL Access crewmembers produce their one-hour documentary, their journey will be captured on film in a "making-of-the-documentary" featurette by Dakota Pictures, producers of the hit HBO series "Flight of the Conchords." Both the documentary and the Dakota Pictures featurette will premiere nationwide on The Independent Film Channel (IFC) and all Virgin America Airlines flights beginning in October. IFC reaches 7 million households nationwide and is dedicated to presenting independent films from cinema's most compelling filmmakers and up-and-coming artists.
"We knew we'd be giving some lucky young people a huge break with Kyocera ALL Access, but that opportunity grew exponentially with the involvement of IFC and Dakota Pictures," said Tom Maguire, head of global marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. "Not only do the winners have a chance to learn the craft from award-winning professionals and go behind the scenes at a premier music event, but now their work will be seen by millions. It's truly a life-changing experience."
According to Troy Miller, founder of Dakota Pictures, "When we heard about the Kyocera ALL Access project we knew we had to be right there alongside these young documentarians to bring their stories and experiences to people nationwide."
"We're so proud to have IFC and Troy Miller's Dakota Films join the FreeFest movement," said Ron Faris, senior director of brand marketing and innovation at Virgin Mobile USA. "We're huge fans of Flight of the Conchords here, and Troy's vision will assuredly give this piece the perfect unique point-of-view it so deserves."
Public Enemy's Flavor Flav added his endorsement, saying "It is important to support opportunities like Kyocera's ALL Access that empower young people. The youth of the nation are talented and bring unique voices and unique perspectives. This project will help America recognize that."
Kyocera ALL Access was created in conjunction with Dreaming Tree Films, which specializes in creating hands-on, interactive programs for youth interested in filmmaking. It was open to anyone 16-22 with a love for music and the desire to express a passion for music and film. Entrants were asked a few simple questions and were judged on creativity, passion and anything else that stood out about the budding documentarians. Those selected as part of the Kyocera ALL Access crew are:
- Kristen Ablamsky - 20 - Port Washington, NY
- Heather Allison - 22 - New York, NY
- Maria Garcia - 16 - West Palm Beach, FL
- Neal Heatherly - 19 - Palatine, IL
- Mark Helenowski - 18 - Glenview, IL
- Austin Hughes - 18 - Yorba Linda, CA
- Marlee Kamis - 17 - Leesburg, VA
- Desiree McMahon - 20 - Lynn, MA
- Maris Mezs - 21 - Lakewood, WA
- Brendan Nahmias - 19 - Orange, CA
- Travis Ratcliff - 18 - Plano, TX
- Joshua Romero - 21 - Des Plaines, IL
- Sarah Soltan - 17 - Winthrop, ME
- Lindsey Underwood - 21 - Columbia, MO
Travis Ratcliff, who was selected to join the crew, noted, "I see Kyocera's ALL Access as more than a terrific learning opportunity to grow as an artist and storyteller, but also as a way to pay homage to two art forms that bring joy to my life, music and film."
About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. [NYSE:VM], through its operating company Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., offers its millions of customers control, flexibility and choice through Virgin Mobile's Plans Without Annual Contracts, with coverage powered by the Nationwide Sprint Network. Virgin Mobile USA also offers unlimited all-in contract plans with advanced devices like the Ocean 2. Its full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets are available at approximately 40,000 top retailers nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at almost 150,000 locations.
Virgin Mobile USA service recently announced its Pink Slip Protection program, which provides eligible monthly plan customers who lose their jobs and become eligible for state unemployment benefits free service for up to three months.
(1) Subject to certain terms and conditions
About Dreaming Tree Films
Dreaming Tree Films specializes in creating national youth creative programs that provide teens with hands-on experiences and allows them to interact with and explore the creative process of filmmaking. Dreaming Tree Films' mission is to nurture creativity, encourage teens to believe in themselves and provide the career insight that will help them grow both as artists and individuals. Our programs break through the Hollywood glam and allow teens to explore different creative mediums such as writing, design, photography, acting, directing, producing, cinematography and film editing. Dreaming Tree Films proudly produces Kyocera ALL Access along with Fresh Films, the nation's top filmmaking competition for teens, NG Docs, a youth documentary film program, and Body by Milk's got noise?, a music video competition where teens produce music videos for R&B superstar Usher. For more information on Dreaming Tree Films please visit http://www.dreamingtreefilms.com.
About Kyocera
Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the sales, marketing, customer engineering and service headquarters for Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless products and Accessories in the Americas. The company's devices are driving the convergence of telecommunications, broadband and multimedia. KCI was formed in April 2009 through the combination of Kyocera Wireless Corp. and Kyocera Sanyo Telecommunications Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. The former was created when Kyocera purchased QUALCOMM Incorporated's consumer wireless phone business in 2000, while the latter was formed when Kyocera purchased the wireless phone business of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 2008. Based in San Diego, KCI leverages Japan's history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, office-document imaging equipment, solar power generating systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2009, the company's net sales totaled 1.13 trillion yen (approximately US$11.5 billion). Kyocera marks its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #418 on Forbes magazine's 2009 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.
© 2009 Kyocera. All rights reserved. Kyocera is a registered trademark of Kyocera Corporation.
Top of page