New York International Wine Competition and Press/Trade Event 2011. Showcasing and explaining the competition and the winners of this trade only wine competition held in Manhattan, New York.
World Liberty TV was on hand to cover the International Wine Event in New York, interviewing wine producers and drinkers from all over the world.
The annual Monster Retailer Awards drew an overflow crowd to the Ballroom of the Paris Hotel, where Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys wowed it with a, well, monster live performance.
Before the concert kicked off, head monster Noel Lee presented the company’s Most Monstrous Awards to its best-performing retail partners of the previous year, with the top honor, the Gold Award, going to Australian CE chain Harvey Norman.
This year’s winners, by category, were as follows:
Most Monstrous Domestic Distributor: Almo
Most Monstrous Independent CE Retailer: Crutchfield
Most Monstrous Travel Retailer: Dixon’s Travel (United Kingdom)
Most Monstrous Specialty Chain: Media Markt (Russia)
Most Monstrous Power Retail Chain: Harvey Norman (Australia)
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986. Kenny G is the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era, with global sales totaling more than 75 million records.
Kenny G signed with Arista Records as a solo artist in 1982, after label president Clive Davis heard his rendition of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”. He has released many solo albums and collaborated with various artists including Andrea Bocelli, Whitney Houston, Peabo Bryson, Aaron Neville, Toni Braxton, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Natalie Cole, Steve Miller, Weezer, Dudley Moore, Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, Smokey Robinson, Bebel Gilberto, George Benson, Chante Moore, and Aretha Franklin. Influenced by the likes of saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., his own albums are usually classified as smooth jazz.
The unusual premiere speaks to Will.i.am’s larger initiative to inspire students and young people to cultivate an interest in science. At the JPL event, the artist, born William James Adams Jr., also announced a partnership between his i.am.angel Foundation and digital resource provider Discovery Education for a program called i.am.STEAM, intended to bring science, technology, engineering, art and math (or STEAM) to K-12 classrooms around the country.
Will.i.am isn’t the first musician whose music cracked Earth’s atmosphere. The Voyager deep-space probes, launched in 1977, house a copy of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” for instance, but Will.i.am became the first to have a song on Mars. He initially connected with NASA after buying a $5 million time block on ABC for the back-to-school one-hour TV special “i.am.FIRST-Science Is Rock and Roll” last August. (The special was filmed at the 2011 FIRST Robotics Championships for kids.) After the show, NASA administrator Charlie Bolden was piqued by Will.i.am’s educational initiative, inviting him to attend the Curiosity launch at Cape Canaveral in November and putting in motion the idea to beam an original song on a 708 million mile round trip between Earth and Mars.
Based on the 1992 film of the same name, Sister Act tells the story of aspiring disco diva Deloris Van Cartier. Trying to work her way to the top in 1970s Philadelphia, Deloris falls in love with a very tough—and very married—gangster boyfriend named Curtis, and when Deloris witnesses him commit a murder she ends up in hiding on police orders in a convent whose parish has fallen on hard times. Though the sequin-free lifestyle doesn’t agree with her, Deloris finds her calling working with the choir, and breathes new life into the dusty convent while discovering a sisterhood she’s never had before.
What Is Sister Act Like?
The show-stopping Deloris is the heart and soul of this feel-good musical. Her glamorous lifestyle and general fabulousness keep everyone rooting for her through her journey to the convent, her run-ins with the dour Mother Superior and her inspirational choir numbers, all while evading her boyfriend and the trio of singing gangsters hot on her tail. Modern Broadway ballads make way for rousing all-cast production numbers in the infectious score from eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken. Who wouldn’t love nuns in sequins, unlikely friendships, the solidarity of Sisterhood and a happy ending?
World Liberty TV was on hand while Raven-Symoné and the cast of Sister Act did a live performance at The Made in NY Awards at Gracie Mansion, NY.
Natalie Maria Cole is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of Nat King Cole, Cole rose to musical success in the mid-1970s as a R&B artist with the hits “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”, “Inseparable” and “Our Love”. After a period of failing sales and performances due to a heavy drug addiction, Cole reemerged as a pop artist with the 1987 album, Everlasting, and her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac”. In the 1990s, she re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable…with Love, which sold over seven million copies and also won Cole numerous Grammy Awards. She has sold over 30 million records worldwide.
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Cole has received nine awards from twenty-one nominations.
Rachel’s first job in fashion was at a Contempo Casuals clothing outlet in her hometown at age 14. After college, she came to New York City, where she worked as a stylist for magazines and music videos. She became an intern at the urban fashion line Rocawear, where she rose to become creative director of the women’s and children’s divisions and also met her future husband, Damon Dash. In 2005 she launched her own eponymous fashion collection.
In June 2008, Jones Apparel Group formed a joint venture with the Rachel Roy brand.
In August 2009, Roy launched The RACHEL Rachel Roy collection, an affordable diffusion line of sportswear, shoes and accessories. The label “RACHEL Rachel Roy” is available exclusively at Macy’s in the United States and at the Bay in Canada.
In summer 2009, Rachel Roy and Grammy-Award winning British pop-singer Estelle announced their collaboration on a jewelry line for the Spring 2010 RACHEL Rachel Roy collection via Roy’s Twitter feed. Roy designed a capsule collection in partnership with model Jessica Stam, for Macy’s stores and RachelRoy.com in Fall 2010.
The Rachel Roy collections are available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Shoewoo, and Nordstrom.
The World Liberty TV Fashion team was on hand for the debut of Rachel Roy Designs, at Lincoln Center’s Mercedes Benz Fashion week with honored guest Kim Kardashian in attendance.
WNET President-Emeritus Bill Baker hosted the 9th annual Giants of Broadcasting ceremony on October 14th. The ceremony paid homage to thirteen “media giants” who transformed the broadcasting industry over a span of seven decades. The luncheon was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where guests wined and dined while enjoying celebratory montages and acceptance speeches.
Honorees included Brian Williams, Christiane Amanpour, Fred Pierce, Charles Kralt, Robert Northshield, Charles Osgood, Rand Morrison, John Dille III, Brian Lamb, Frances Preston, James Arness, Rick Buckley, and Dawson ‘Tack’ Nail.
While most honorees spoke of their past achievements, current ABC international correspondent Christiane Amanpour discussed her hopes for the future of broadcasting. “I do hope in the future that we see many more women on the screen, and that there is a balance between men and women,” she said. “I would like to see the day where women were not judged by the amount of highlights in their hair, not judged by the shortness of their hemlines or deeply plunging cleavages, but [judged] for their professionalism, competence, and the quality of their work.”
The ceremony acknowledged that broadcasting is still relevant. The awards honored media entrepreneurs of the past alongside broadcasting icons of the present. The late James Arness and Dawson ‘Tack’ Nail were commemorated for paving the way for twenty-first century journalism. Meanwhile, CBS anchor Charles Osgood and NBC correspondent Brian Williams continue to make waves in modern day broadcasting.
The ceremony was sponsored by the Library of American Broadcasting, which acts to preserve historical records from past television and radio broadcasts. Their ultimate goal is to “make records available to a wide audience of academia, industry, and the public, while simultaneously keeping a weather eye on the future”. The luncheon is the Library’s biggest fundraising event of the year.
Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment Commissioner Katherine Oliver presented the seventh annual “Made in NY” Awards, honoring individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the City’s entertainment and digital media industries. The 2012 “Made in NY” honorees include: Academy Award-winning actor, director, producer Robert De Niro; Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep; Academy Award, Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner Whoopi Goldberg; Emmy-winning actress and television host Kelly Ripa; award-winning media company radical.media, which develops, produces and distributes innovative content across all forms of media; and New York City-based Kickstarter, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects.
This year’s “Made in NY” Mayor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to actors and legendary husband-and-wife comedy team Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. The Mayor made the announcement at Gracie Mansion, where Raven-Symoné and the cast of the Broadway musical Sister Act performed. The musical, which received five Tony Award nominations, features an original score by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater and is currently playing at the Broadway Theatre.
“This has been a remarkable and record-breaking year for New York City’s entertainment and digital media industries, which are vital parts of our economic diversification strategy,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “More New Yorkers than ever before are taking advantages of the opportunities within these growing industries. Congratulations to all of the honorees, who are proof positive that when you’re Made in NY, you can make it anywhere.”
“Our City is home to some of the most talented people in the world, who are part of a creative community that continually amaze and impress us all,” said Commissioner Oliver. “It’s an honor to recognize these individuals and organizations tonight for all of their achievements as we celebrate the seventh annual ‘Made in NY’ Awards.”
Video profiles featuring intimate conversations with each of the honorees have been produced and are available to watch online at facebook.com/NYCMINY. The videos were created with the support of various guilds and studios, and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment wishes to thank the guilds, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Television and SOFA Entertainment for their assistance.
Made in NY” Mayor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement: Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller.
As “Stiller & Meara,” Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller gained nationwide fame as a comedy team on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” They have performed together in nightclubs and theatres across the county and have made countless appearances on television and radio. As Frank Costanza on “Seinfeld,” Stiller received an Emmy Award nomination, won the American Comedy Award for “Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a Television Show” and was honored by the Paley Center for Media as ‘TV’s All Time Funniest Relative.’ Following “Seinfeld,” Jerry enjoyed a nine-year run as Arthur Spooner on the hit CBS series, “King of Queens.” He has also appeared in numerous films, including The Taking of Pelham One-Two-Three, The Ritz, Hairspray, and Zoolander (with son, Ben Stiller).
Television appearances include “Seize the Day,” “Murder She Wrote,” “In the Heat of the Night,” ‘The Good Wife” and many others. Meara is remembered for her film work, including Fame, Boys from Brazil and Awakenings. On television Meara played Peggy Moody in “All My Children,” starred in the series “Kate McShane,” and had recurring roles on “Rhoda,” “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “Alf,” “Sex in the City” and “King of Queens.” She has received five Emmy nominations for her television work. Anne’s script After-Play was produced by Manhattan Theatre Club then moved Off-Broadway to Theatre Four.
Meara won the Outer Critic’s Circle John Gassner Award for playwriting for After-Play. Meara and Stiller have also both appeared on Broadway. Meara’s credits include Eastern Standard and Anna Christie, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Stiller has appeared in various shows, including Hurlyburly, Three Men on a Horse and What’s Wrong with this Picture. Most recently, Stiller has appeared in commercials for Capital One Bank, and the couple has hosted their own web series, StillerandMeara.com. They are currently appearing in a Public Service Announcement for Mayor Bloomberg’s Million Tree Initiative.
Robert De Niro
In 1974, Robert De Niro won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather, Part II, and in 1980, he won his second Oscar, as Best Actor, for his portrayal of Jake La Motta in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull. He has also earned four other Academy Award nominations.
De Niro appeared in and made his directorial debut with A Bronx Tale and later directed and appeared in The Good Shepherd; both films shot in New York City. In 2009, he received the Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime contribution to film and was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2011 Golden Globes.
In 2001, De Niro co-founded the Tribeca Film Festival with Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff as a response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. The festival was conceived to foster the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music and culture.
Matt Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the drama film Good Will Hunting (1997) from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend and actor Ben Affleck. The pair won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay for their work. For his performance in the film, Damon received nominations for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Satellite Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.
Damon has since starred in commercially successful films such as Saving Private Ryan (1998), the Ocean’s trilogy, and the first three films in the Bourne series, while also gaining critical acclaim for his performances in dramas such as Syriana (2005), The Good Shepherd (2006), and The Departed (2006). He garnered a Golden Globe nomination for portraying the title character in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Francois Pienaar in Invictus (2009).
He is one of the top-40 highest-grossing actors of all time. In 2007, Damon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was named Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. Damon has been actively involved in charitable work, including the ONE Campaign, H2O Africa Foundation, and Water.org.
