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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRST STOCK FOOTAGE LIBRARY DEDICATED TO HIGH DEFINITION IMAGES OPENS IN LOS ANGELES
Industry PioneerPaula Lumbard Re-enters Stock Footage Market with New Company: FootageBank

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 2, 2002 – With more than 17 years experience in the stock footage industry, Paula Lumbard today announces her newest venture -FootageBank, a boutique stock footage agency dedicated to High Definition (HD) entertainment. With FootageBank, Lumbard aims to fulfill the rapidly growing demand for high definition images nationally and internationally.

"The world of HDTV is on the brink of an explosion," said Lumbard. “The FCC recently mandated that networks provide digital programming during at least half of their prime-time schedule and there has been a tremendous boom of directors and producers working in HD – from the much anticipated Star Wars Episode II, to television programming such as ‘Just Shoot Me,’ ‘Reba,’ and ‘The Education of Max Bickford’. In addition, the Discovery Channel will launch the ‘Discovery HD Theater’ cable network in June.

“Clearly HD is here to stay and I am thrilled to be at the forefront of offering clients a HD library of footage,” continued Lumbard.  “FootageBank is the first agency to gather the collections of HD innovators into one place to serve this new need for digital content. And, we are co-producing content with select HD companies which provides fresh 24P images custom shot for our client base.”

FootageBank is committed to more than just its bottom line.  The company is interested in growing the world of HD, educating clients about digital entertainment and developing relationships that will benefit the future of HD entertainment.  Lumbard’s extensive network of relationships in the film industry will help her achieve these goals. For example, Lumbard is participating in producing a 24P aerial shoot over Washington D.C., a zone long off limits to photographers, and will co-produce shoots with Randall Dark of HDvision Studios.

In addition to representing HD footage around the world, FootageBank has assumed responsibility for educating clients about the technology and versatility of the medium.  The company is installing an HD screening room at its headquarters in Los Angeles so that its clients can see the richness and power of the HD image.  FootageBank will also co-host seminars on HD technology at HDvision Studios, newly opened by Randall Dark. 

• HDvision Studios – FootageBank will co-produce24P HD footage for the library as well as represent HDvision Studios’ founder Randall Dark’s collection. An undisputed pioneer in the HDTV industry, Dark is the creative and marketing force behind HDvision Studios. As a writer, director, and producer with over 350 HDTV productions to his credit, Dark is able to offer an artist's point of view while demonstrating the technological advantages of HD.  Dark’s library includes images from the worlds of sports, animals, lifestyles and technology.

• The Jim Pattison Group – The Jim Pattison Group is the third largest privately held company in Canada and is committed to exploring the world of HD. FootageBank represents special collections from the Jim Pattison Group including "Over Canada”, an aerial trip across Canada shot in 24P featuring cities, farming, coastlines, wilderness and industry.  The company brings FootageBank exclusive access to Canadian HD producers and content providers.

• Howard Hall Productions – FootageBank represents Howard Hall Productions’ unique collection of HD underwater footage. Howard Hall and Michele Hall are natural history film producers specializing in marine wildlife films.  The production company has won numerous awards, including seven Emmys.

• Slam! DigitalWorks – FootageBank represents this Nashville-based multimedia company, a forerunner in bringing HD to Midwest productions. Clients of Slam! DigitalWorks include Lucent Technologies, Covad Communications, Singer Sewing Machines, Jack Daniels Distilleries, The Tennessee Film & Music Commission, and Murray of Ohio.  Slam! DigitalWorks was recently invited to display work at the Smithsonian New Media Fair and is the first company in Tennessee to do television spots in HD from shoot to master.

About Paula Lumbard
After a career of producing special effects for feature films, Lumbard opened her first stock footage company, Film Bank, in 1985. Over the span of 13 years, Film Bank became a leading stock footage company serving the entertainment industry.  Lumbard sold Film Bank in 1998 and became VP of Content Development within Sekani, pioneering their new Royalty Free division out of the New York office.

About FootageBank
FootageBank is a privately held company based in Los Angeles, California founded by industry icon Paula Lumbard. Lumbard anticipated the coming demand for High Definition (HD) Motion Content in 2002 when she opened her second footage company. FootageBank continues to be the only footage house specializing in HD native content and is dedicated to shooting and aggregating collections of HD images to service the rapidly growing demand for HD content in the film and television marketplace. For more information, please visit www.footagebank.com.