Anti-Piracy Film Contest Winner Announced; PSA About Movie Theft to Be Aired on Monitors in Video Stores.

LAS VEGAS -- The winning entry in the Project: FAIR contest for an anti-piracy public service announcement was unveiled today during the Opening Session of VSDA's Home Entertainment 2005, the annual convention of the home entertainment industry. The winning entry, "Taken Away," depicts an artist putting a lot of effort and creative energy into a charcoal sketch only to see the final picture illegally duplicated on a photocopy machine with utter disregard for the time, talent, and energy it took the artist to create the original work. It was created by Joshua Smith, a student at The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles. "Taken Away" will be made available to video retailers to display on their in-store monitors. In addition, VSDA will make the spot available at no cost to motion picture studios, movie theaters, and others who would like to utilize it.

The public service announcement can be viewed online at http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=12 &clipid=e24539&playerid=19. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

"I found the presentation of the message extremely thoughtful and well-crafted," said Bo Andersen, President of VSDA. "We believe this public service announcement depicts the impact of the illegal downloading of movies and trading in bootleg DVDs in a way that today's youth will find compelling without being preachy."

Joshua Smith just completed his first year at The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles, where he is studying video production. Originally aspiring to be an aeronautical engineer, Smith decided that he would be more satisfied making movies. Smith is originally from Cloverdale, CA.

"Piracy is obviously a significant issue for me personally because I plan on making a living in this field someday, but more importantly, it's about respect for the artist," Smith said. "It's not just about stealing an object. Artists, whatever field they work in, pour their passion, imagination, philosophies, values, and love for what they do into their work; it's a personal expression. It is disrespectful to steal that. In my video, I wanted to show people how beautiful it is to create something and how ugly it often is when that work is taken away by others. I'm honored that I was able to convey this in my video, and it makes me feel great to know that I might actually be somewhat decent at this particular art form!"

"Piracy really hits independent filmmakers and their casts and crews harder than anyone," said Mike Kyle, CEO of Had To Be Made Films. "This is not only their art, it's their livelihood. When they don't get paid, they have to stop making their art. We are proud to be part of such an important program to help let the public know it is not a game of not getting caught, but an issue of art and ownership."

Project: FAIR (Filmmakers Against Illegal Replication) was a contest for filmmakers to create public service announcements that speak out against motion picture theft in imaginative ways that will resonate with the public. The contest gave filmmakers the opportunity to contribute to raising the awareness of the problem of Internet file-swapping of movies and bootleg DVDs, while expanding the reach and exposure of their creative works to a wide group of entertainment industry leaders and millions of consumers.

The contest is part of the Video Software Dealers Association's continuing strategy to combat illegal file-swapping of movies and bootleg DVDs. The strategy includes educating the public, advocating more effective anti-piracy laws, supporting vigorous enforcement of existing laws, encouraging the use of anti-piracy technology, and providing consumers with multiple competitive, lawful alternatives to video piracy. Project: FAIR complements other VSDA public education programs, which include a recently launched initiative to play anti-piracy trailers and display anti-piracy posters in video stores and the Association's ongoing effort to encourage motion picture studios to include anti-piracy trailers on DVDs.

ABOUT VSDA -- Established in 1981, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) is the not-for-profit international trade association for the $24 billion home entertainment industry. VSDA represents more than 1,000 companies throughout the United States, Canada, and other nations. Its members operate more than 11,500 retail outlets in the U.S. that sell and/or rent DVDs, VHS cassettes, and console video games. Membership comprises the full spectrum of video retailers (from single-store operators to large chains), video distributors, the home video divisions of major and independent motion picture studios, and other related businesses that constitute and support the home video entertainment industry.

ABOUT HAD TO BE MADE FILMS -- Established in 2002, Had To Be Made is focused on providing distribution services to independent filmmakers. In addition to the HTBM/VSDA Filmmaker Program, Had To Be Made also runs the Had To Be Made Film Festival, the first nationwide film festival available theatrically and on DVD at the top video rental and retail outlets across the country.