June 29, 2017: Judge May Settle Comic Con Naming Dispute, Oscar Board Announces 774 New Members in Latest Diversity Push, Snapchat Makes it Easier to Create Custom Filters

1. JUDGE MAY SETTLE COMIC CON NAMING DISPUTE: A federal judge may have to resolve a long-running name dispute between the organizers of Comic-Con International in San Diego and Salt Lake City’s Comic-Con. The San Diego Union-Tribune: “Both sides have now asked a federal judge in San Diego to make a ruling in the conflict over naming rights for the two pop culture conventions. Organizers of the Salt Lake event, scheduled for late September, say they have so far spent nearly $1 million in legal fees. San Diego Comic-Con, which has accused the much smaller, although rapidly growing, Salt Lake convention of trademark infringement, has declined comment on the case but has said the position taken by organizers of the Utah convention is ‘without merit.’ Comic-Con International, which is due to get under way in San Diego later next month, is the city’s largest convention and each year draws more than 130,000 attendees. The very first iteration of the popular arts event dates back to 1970 when there were just 100 attendees. In its original suit, organizers maintained that Salt Lake’s use of the name tries to capitalize on San Diego Comic-Con’s ‘ingenuity and hard work.’ Comic-Con International claims a number of registered trademarks, including ‘Comic-Con,’ ‘Comic Con International,’ and ‘Anaheim Comic-Con,’ according to the suit. There are, however, a number of similar comic book conventions around the country that also use the Comic Con moniker—without the hyphen. Salt Lake maintains that the comic con name did not even originate with the San Diego event and asserts that it was in use long before its debut here.” http://bit.ly/2snCj6X

2. OSCAR BOARD ANNOUNCES 774 NEW MEMBERS IN LATEST DIVERSITY PUSH: In its latest move to diversify the Oscar voting board, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced 774 new members on Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter: "That number is more than the record 683 invitations that were issued in 2016 and well above the 322 invites that went out in 2015 as the Academy has made a concerted effort to diversify its membership ranks by bringing in more women, people of color and filmmakers from around the world. The invitees to the acting branch alone — which numbered a whopping 105 — reflect the diversity the Academy has been pursuing. They include Avengers headliners like Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, Star Wars stalwarts like Adam Driver, Riz Ahmed, Domhnall Gleeson and Warwick David, boxoffice stars like Dwayne Johnson. Kristen Stewart and the newly-crowned Wonder Woman Gal Gadot; Guardians of the Galaxy's Chris Pratt, comic performers like Leslie Jones, Keegan-Michael Key and Wanda Sykes, recent Oscar nominees like Viggo Mortensen, Naomie Harris and Ruth Negga and even veteran show biz legend Betty White, who, at 95, is the oldest of the new invitees. The youngest invitee is Elle Fanning, at the age of 19. The Academy reported that the new list, which represents talent from 57 countries, is 39 percent female aned 30 percent people of color. Seven of the Academy branches—actors, casting directors, costume designers, documentary, executives and film editors—invited more women then men." http://bit.ly/2sSE0gh

3. SNAPCHAT MAKES IT EASIER TO CREATE CUSTOM FILTERS: For Snapchat users looking to create a custom geofilter for their next event, the process just got a lot easier. The company now lets users create custom filters directly in the app, rather than having to design them in a separate website. TechCrunch: "The mobile creative studio is now located in settings, under a menu item called “On-Demand Geofilters,” and it allows you to pick from a list of pre-set occasions, select a template and edit to customize using text, Bitmojis, and Snapchat’s Sticker library, too. You specify the time and the location where you want it to be available, defining the area on a map, and then submit the design for Snapchat approval. Payment for the filter feature is also run entirely in-app, once the review process is complete (which typically takes about a day) on both iOS and Android. You’ll get a push notification on your device once the filter goes live. Price for custom geofilters kicks off at $5.99, and runs up from there depending on different factors like how large the area it covers is, and how long a period you want it to run for. Snap says this feature is designed for everyday Snapchatters, and that businesses that want to get the most out of custom geofilters should continue to use the web-based studio option. But the company also says that 'tens of thousands' of custom filters are being made every day using their existing tool, so they’re clearly hoping that number grows even larger with easier access to the creation tool." http://tcrn.ch/2uiieAp


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

The 30th edition of ILEA Live, the International Live Events Association’s flagship event, will take place August 10-12 in Calgary, Canada.

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Gusts will launch a new global master-class series that will offer personal and interactive learning experiences hosted by experts. Events in the series include N.B.A. skills-training with Dwyane Wade at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami; a two-day golf clinic with Annika Sörenstam at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe; and an underwater conservation tutorial taught by Jean-Michel Cousteau at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Hawaii. 

LAS VEGAS:  Minus5 Ice Experience will debut its third location on July 16 at the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian and the Palazzo Las Vegas. 

LONDON:  American Express Global Business Travel has signed an agreement to acquire Banks Sadler, an international event management agency headquartered in London.

LOS ANGELES:  The Grammy Awards will return to Los Angeles starting in 2019. On Wednesday, the Recording Academy signed a four-year agreement with AEG for the Staples Center to host the awards show. The 2018 Grammys—the show's 60th anniversary—will be held in New York in January. 

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series will return to the Hollywood Bowl, with a screening of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets July 6 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban July 7-8. The Los Angeles Philharmonic will perform the score by John Williams during the screenings. 

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

NEW YORK:  Millenium Hilton is celebrating its celebrating its 25th anniversary this week, with events and giveaways for hotel guests. Twenty-five guests staying at the hotel today will receive 2,500 Hilton Honors Points. 

Vegetarian Vision, a nonprofit that encourages people to embrace vegetarianism, will host the International Vegetarian Convention September 9-10 at Penn Plaza Pavilion. The event marks the organization’s 25th anniversary. 

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  L.B.A. Hospitality is slated to open TownePlace Suites by Marriott Orlando at SeaWorld and Holiday Inn Express and Suites Orlando at SeaWorld this summer. TownePlace Suites will have 188 guest rooms and Holiday Inn Express will have 181 rooms and meeting space. 

PHILADELPHIA:  Walnut Street Café, a new restaurant from B.D.P. Hospitality, has opened at FMC Tower. Designed by Parts & Labor, the 90-seat restaurant offers an American menu helmed by chef Daniel Eddy, a pastry program from pastry chef Melissa Weller, and a wine program curated by Patrick Cappiello. 

SAN FRANCISCO:  Treasure Island Music Festival won’t take place this year, and will return in 2018 at a new location. SFGate: http://bit.ly/2s3cYzT

ST. LOUIS:  GateHouse Media will expand its live event program with the inaugural Flavored Nation, taking place October 27-29 at America’s Center. The event will feature an iconic dish from each of the 50 states, along with the chefs and restaurateurs that prepare them. Richard Gore, former president of live events at Food Network, will serve as Flavored Nation’s executive producer. 

TAMPA:  The 137-room Epicurean Hotel has named Kevin Scott general manager; he had previously been general manager of the Hotel Max in Seattle. The previous general manager of the Epicurean, Tom Haines, has been promoted to vice president of operations for parent company Mainsail Lodging & Development. 

TORONTO:  The eighth annual OVO Fest will take place August 7 at Budweiser Stage. Headliners include Drake, Majid Jordan, and PartyNextDoor.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will hold its second biennial American Portrait Gala November 19, honoring five individuals, whose portraits reside in the museum, for achievements in their respective fields. The 2017 recipients are former Secretary of State Dr. Madeleine K. Albright; Taiwanese American medical doctor and H.I.V./AIDS researcher Dr. David D. Ho; artistic director, choreographer and dancer Bill T. Jones; film director, producer, writer, and actor Spike Lee; and actress Rita Moreno.

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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Rayna Katz, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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