IC2 and Wolf Group Bring Outer Space Into Viewers' Homes; Newly Expanded Media Production Facility Sees Creative Partnering as Wave of the Future.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 2000

IC2, Vertis' premier convergent media production facility, and the Wolf Group, NYC, recently completed three spots for Space.com utilizing the creative partnering capabilities that Managing Director, David Bridges had in mind when re-branding Imaging Consortium into IC2, and expanding the state-of-the-art Chelsea facility to include commercial production and new media.

"The spot is a great example of our expertise in managing broadcast design, editorial and sound all under one roof," says Bridges. "This is only the beginning. We have so many other services that will help our clients realize their most complex creative ideas for any media."

Creating the tag line, "Something Amazing Everyday," Mike Rogers, President/Creative Director, of the Wolf Group, and IC2 Senior Editor/Director, Anthony Marinelli, worked together to come up with the stunning combination of visuals and music that strikes a powerful and emotional chord in the hearts of viewers.

"Space.com is an interactive, fun and educational site that people will want to come back to again and again," says Rogers. "The spots capture the wonder and excitement of space and drive people to the site."

The use of phrases that both encapsulate and build to the final tag, accompanied by the actual NASA footage, demonstrate what is truly amazing about space: the first walk on the moon, eating in zero-gravity, the spectacular view of earth.

Utilizing Avid Symphony, Marinelli orchestrated the spot to culminate in a stimulating graphic crescendo created by IC2 Motion Media Design Director, Uska, and animator, Margeaux Mulligan.

"In combining simple visual examples, subtle type treatment and emotional music, we wanted to create something that people could connect to as both emotional and heroic at the same time," says Marinelli. "It's a very simple but clear structure."

"This is why we put this type of creative team together at IC2," says Geoff Smith, Director of Motion Media. "It's a team of editors, film makers, graphic and sound designers with a wealth of experience in producing various forms of creative media all under one roof. We have a vested interest in the success of our clients' projects and products. We offer clients an extra set of creative hands and get involved early in the projects so that we enhance the creative process."

Space.com is a free content web site founded by former CNN Moneyline anchor, Lou Dobbs. Inspired by his own love of space, the site is dedicated to space and all space-related subjects; the mission is the popularization of it.

Other recent commercial work by IC2 includes commercials for Ducati Motorcycles, Jasperon, and Miracle Grow. IC2 is a full-service media production company capable of managing brand consistency across all advertising media categories including radio, TV, web, outdoor, digital photography and online media asset management. Recently they've launched a new custom-built studio located at 111 W. 19th Street. The 30,000 square foot facility contains four editing suites, sound studios, a digital photography studio, as well as complete on-premise premedia services.

Vertis is a leading provider of integrated advertising and marketing solutions, providing highly targeted promotional vehicles and complete advertising, and software solutions. For anyone engaged in advertising or marketing, from manufacturer to merchant to agencies to media, Vertis provides a suite of solutions that are end-to-end in scope. Vertis delivers consumer and media research, media planning and placement, creative services, digital media production, targetable advertising insert programs, fully integrated direct marketing programs, circulation-building newspaper products and services, eMarketing and strategic media consulting. Vertis reported approximately $2 billion in revenues in 1999. For more information, visit www.vertisinc.com.

For press information, please contact: Roberta Lawrence Media at 212/627-0297; e-mail: [e-mail]. For all other information or to arrange a tour of the facility, please contact Geoff Smith, IC2 Director of Motion Media at 212/989-1888; e-mail: [e-mail].