Toronto's marblemedia set to begin production on unprecedented web/tv hybrid, deafplanet.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


marblemedia SECURES ½ MILLION IN FUNDING FOR deafplanet.com

21 August 2002

marblemedia is gearing up for production on deafplanet.com, a web and television series after receiving financing from the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund which brings the project's funding to date in excess of $500,000. The Bell Fund grant follows production contributions of over $150 000 from GE International Grants, as well as Ronald McDonald's Children's Charities' first ever donation to a new media property.

deafplanet.com will be the first web/television property to feature American Sign Language (ASL) as the main mode of communication, consisting of ten five minute television interstitials supported by an interactive web component.

While the TV program offers an adventure based narrative for both Deaf and hearing children that complements educational curriculum, the online version will feature additional scenes and learning games. Both properties will use ASL to teach Deaf children in what is, for many, their primary language.

"We're really delighted that deafplanet.com will be the first site to use ASL as the main means of communication with the user", says marblemedia producer, Mark Bishop. "There are certainly plenty of sites out there that have short video clips or glossaries of different ASL signs, but deafplanet will be the first to feature extensive video and animation to allow ASL users to play educational games in their native language."

TV Ontario has committed as the lead broadcaster of deafplanet.com Season One, following a development relationship with TVO Kids. ACCESS TV in Alberta has also pre-licensed the project. Other developmental partners included the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund (CIFVF), The Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, the Trillium Foundation, Toronto StarTV.com, and the Telefilm Canadian New Media Fund.

Continuing their partnership with marblemedia in the creation of deafplanet.com, is the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD).

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Prototype site: www.deafplanet.com


marblemedia:
Nominated for Most Promising New Company at the 2002 Canadian New Media Awards, marblemedia is a developer and producer of original content for television, internet, wireless, DVD, and interactive kiosk platforms.


For more information, contact:
Mark Bishop, Producer
mark@marblemedia.com
t. 416.646.2711
f. 416.646.0579




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