On April 9, The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced that Justin Bieber continues to lend his support to the fight against bullying with use of his song “Born To Be Somebody” in BULLY’s newest TV spot.

The spot premiered on Fandango Monday, April 9, just days before the film is released wide with a PG-13 rating in cities all over the country, and will begin airing on TV as well: http://bit.ly/IbqeJE

“My fans are always up for supporting a great cause. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of as an entertainer,” said Bieber. “I hope they see BULLY with their friends and help start the conversation so we can end bullying.”

“We’re honored that Justin has decided to support this film and the movement that surrounds it,” said TWC President of Marketing Stephen Bruno.

Bieber joins a long list of celebrities who have graciously supported the film’s mission and was one of the dozens of stars who helped #BullyMovie trend on Twitter recently raising further awareness as the film approached its release in theaters.

Other celebrities have stepped out in their own ways to help get the word out including: Ellen DeGeneres featuring the families from the film on her show; Meryl Streep and attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson hosting an NYC screening; Victoria Justice, Giuliana Rancic and Joel McHale hosting the LA premiere; Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa hosting an NYC screening;Anderson Cooper hosting a town hall special on CNN to discuss bullying with Dr. Phil, Kelly Ripa and BULLY director Lee Hirsch; Tommy Hilfiger designing t-shirts; and many other supporters shooting PSAs.

Companies including Bing and Twitter have partnered to help in the quest to reach as many parents, teachers and children as possible. And, in a move that inspired and rallied hundreds of thousands of supporters, Michigan high school student Katy Butler garnered more than half a million signatures on her petition to the MPAA on Change.org to lower BULLY’s R rating, which subsequently happened last week.

Efforts to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act are also in the works after TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein’s recent meeting with Senator Bob Casey. This bill will amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to address and take action to prevent bullying and harassment of students.

BULLY leads all non-fiction films so far for 2012 with its strong opening weekend attendance.

Image Courtesy of  Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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The Golden Globe nominated music from Madonna’s upcoming film W.E. composed, orchestrated and produced by Abel Korzeniowski, which also includes Madonna’s Golden Globe award winning song “Masterpiece”, is scheduled to be released digitally on Interscope Records on January 31st, it was announced recently.

W.E. which was directed, co-written and produced by Madonna and distributed by The Weinstein Company is scheduled to be released in February. The score was recorded in April 2011 at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London with a 60-piece orchestra conducted by Terry Davies including piano, violin and viola solos.

The Polish born Los Angeles based Korzeniowski previously wrote the original score for the Tom Ford film A Single Man for which he also received a Golden Globe nomination.

“The prevailing sense of obsession was what inspired me in W.E. — the irrational compulsion to sacrifice everything and anything for love – a love that could easily be just an illusion. In my music, I wanted to reflect those powerful and conflicting emotions through a web of melodic themes, which relentlessly repeat and constantly swing between despair and sorrow, and hope and joy,” commented Korzeniowski.

“W.E.” tells the story of American divorcee Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) and England’s King Edward (James D’Arcy) who abdicated his throne to be with the woman he loved. It is considered one of the greatest love stories of the 20th century.

The story is told through the eyes of a modern day New Yorker Wally Winthrop (Abby Cornish). Composer Korzeniowski masterfully and seamlessly bridged the two unique worlds of Europe in the 30′s and 40′s and the contemporary Manhattan environment of a woman lost in her dreams of the perfect love.

In addition to Korzeniowski’s magnificent score, the soundtrack includes the original song ”Masterpiece” composed by Madonna, Julie Frost and Jimmy Harry and sung by Madonna which is played during the end credits of the film. It will also be included on Madonna’s upcoming solo album for Interscope, MDNA,which is scheduled for release this spring.

photoproject.eu / Shutterstock.com

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“Marco Polo,” the legendary pioneer and explorer from the 13th century, will have his tale told in an epic new scripted original series, as announced jointly by Starz, President and CEO Chris Albrecht, The Weinstein Company’s Co-Chairman, Harvey Weinstein, and Electus Chairman and Founder, Ben Silverman.

“Marco Polo” is written and created by John Fusco (Hidalgo, Young Guns, Thunderheart, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay). It will be executive produced by Harvey and Bob Weinstein (The Weinstein Company); Ben Silverman (Electus), as well as Fusco.

“Marco Polo” is Fusco’s fantastical martial arts epic, chronicling the famous adventurer’s early years in the court of Kublai Khan. Acting as the ruler’s spy, ambassador and explorer, Marco treks across the Far East and returns with tales of his journeys. In a court filled with political betrayal and forbidden relationships, Marco must use his martial arts training to survive, but it is his ability to enchant Khan with imaginative tales of his kingdom that is often his best tool to stay alive.

Starz Entertainment will own the exclusive license to the domestic premium pay TV rights and certain digital rights to the series for its flagship STARZ network, while Starz’s Anchor Bay arm will distribute the property in the United States in home video. The Weinstein Company and Electus’ global distribution arm Electus International control all remaining rights.

Albrecht commented on the latest addition to the Starz Original series lineup that “Marco Polo has captivated imaginations for centuries, and John’s script brings this fantastical story to life.  In addition to a remarkable story, we share a joint creative vision with our partners at The Weinstein Company and Electus to deliver a larger than life cinematic adventure for audiences in the United States and around the world.”

“The stories and adventures of Marco Polo are timeless and we couldn’t be more excited to work with Starz and Electus on this project,” said Weinstein. “We look forward to beginning production next year on what is sure to be a fascinating, martial-arts filled telling of one of history’s greatest explorers.”

“We are thrilled to be able to work with an exceptional creative team to tell this amazing story in an updated and unique way,” said Ben Silverman, Chairman and Founder of Electus. “Starz has been a tremendous partner in allowing us maximum creative freedom to bring audiences a fresh perspective on history and John Fusco, who lives and breathes this material, is uniquely qualified to bring this story to life.”

Weinstein originally developed the idea and brought John Fusco on to write the script. It was then brought to Electus and together they delivered the project to Starz. John Fusco is represented by UTA and Anonymous Content.

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PRNewswire – There’s no better way to start off the New Year than with ‘the family.’ “Mob Wives” is back and the drama has gone to a whole new level. The highly-anticipated second season premiere of VH1′s hit reality television series premieres on Sunday, January 1.

Viewers will also be introduced to a new group of ‘Syndicate Sisters’ with the debut of the franchise’s first spin-off Mob Wives: Chicago this Spring, where the legendary home of Al Capone will serve as the backdrop. Both shows are produced by TWC, Electus, Left/Right and JustJenn Productions.

The second season of “Mob Wives” picks up where the first left off – with each cast member dealing with major personal life issues. The rift between Karen and Drita is far from over – will they ever be able to ‘bury the hatchet’? Renee goes under the knife for major plastic surgery that may have some unexpected consequences, while also contemplating her future with her ex-husband Junior.

Drita is considering her options when it comes to leaving her husband Lee – while Carla’s relationship with her estranged husband Joe may take an unexpected twist. And, of course, everyone wants to know what’s in Karen’s soon-to-be-released book – the one she moved back to New York to write!

Last season, “Mob Wives” gave viewers an unfiltered look into the closed-door society of Renee, Karen, Carla and Drita, four struggling “allegedly” associated women who have to pick up the pieces and carry on while their husbands or fathers do time for Mob-related activities.

United by a bond which few understand, the women are all struggling with their identities and their futures as they raise their kids as single parents in the New York City area. The franchise expands as VH1 announced the pickup of “Mob Wives: Chicago.”

A spin-off from the original east coast-based series, “Mob Wives: Chicago” will introduce a new cast of women suffering the stronzi and agita of their Mafiosi connections. The series will air in Spring 2012.

“Our viewers connected so strongly with our New York cast that we were skeptical about trying to repeat that success,” said Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President, Original Programming & Production. ”But once we met these ladies from Chicago and heard their truly unbelievable stories, we knew that viewers would become just as captivated as we did.

These women’s life experiences may be far different from our own, but their current struggles to stand on their own two feet are relatable to everyone.”

“After a terrific first season, Electus is incredibly proud to partner once again with The Weinstein Company, JustJenn Productions and VH1 to bring the second season of Mob Wives to air so that audiences can see how the ladies’ compelling stories progress,” said Jimmy Fox, Executive Producer and Head of Creative Development for Electus.

“We are equally thrilled that Mob Wives will be coming toChicago, a town that was once home to some of the mob’s most notorious gangsters. Audiences will be blown away by the larger-than-life characters with their own unique stories to tell.” ”The first season of ‘Mob Wives’ pulled back the curtain on a much-discussed yet mysterious world inhabited by four fascinating and strong-willed women,” stated Meryl Poster, TWC’s President of Television.

“The viewer response to the genuine and gripping storylines that unfolded on the show was immediate and passionate, and we are grateful to these extraordinary ladies for inviting the cameras back into their lives for season two. We know that the viewing audience will feel a similar connection to the cast of ‘Mob Wives Chicago’ and look forward to bringing their remarkable stories to the small screen this spring.”

“The furs, the money, the parties, the respect – it’s all part of the intrigue of the world I grew up in,” said series Creator and Executive Producer Jennifer Graziano of JustJenn Productions. “But at any time, the other shoe can drop and these women find themselves going on prison visits.

I have long thought that this was a story that needed to be told, and am so thankful that we can continue this journey with the original ‘Mob Wives’ – as well as expanding the franchise to Chicago. I have always heard the legends about Al Capone and Chicago, but it wasn’t until I actually went to the city that I became enamored with the rich mob history there. These women’s lives are right off the pages of a storybook!”

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