Eclipse Entertainment Group Inc. Expands Board of Directors to Include Top Entertainment and Investment Professionals
Actor/Producer Franco Columbu Named CEO and David Gideon Thomson Named Chairman of the Board
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 1999-- Eclipse Entertainment Group Inc. (OTC BB:ECLE) has named Dr. Franco Columbu chief executive officer and David Gideon Thomson chairman of the board, announced Art Birzneck, president of Eclipse Entertainment Group.
The two executives also join John G. Smith as newly appointed members to Eclipse's board of directors, bringing the total to five directors. The chairman and CEO titles are new to the organization.
Columbu is a well-known film producer, actor, bodybuilder and author. His recent films and documentaries include ''Beretta's Island,'' ''Taken Alive,'' ''Doublecross'' and ''Mystic Warriors'' -- and several new major film projects are in the pipeline.
Columbu is the author of a dozen books on bodybuilding and health, is a Doctor of Chiropractic with a doctorate in nutrition, and holds Mr. Olympia, Mr. World and Mr. Universe titles. He has appeared as an actor in a variety of theatrical, documentary and TV programs, including ''Conan the Barbarian,'' ''Terminator,'' ''Pumping Iron'' and ''Getting Physical.''
Gideon Thomson is a seasoned British entertainment consultant, executive and producer. Over a distinguished career, he has held top management positions including managing director of Polytel (Polygram's film and TV division), deputy chairman of the Robert Stigwood Organisation (R.S.O.), and chairman of Charisma Records and Films.
During his tenure at Polytel and R.S.O., Gideon Thomson was involved with many award-winning films and television programs, including such films as ''Saturday Night Fever'' and ''Grease''; the stage production of ''Evita''; ''McVicar'' and the acclaimed film ''Too Far to Go'' for NBC New York. He was also the executive producer of the feature film ''Quadrophenia.''
He has been an advisor to many U.S., U.K. and other European film and TV production and distribution companies.
Smith is a Cambridge, England-educated lawyer who has practiced corporate and commercial law in Western Canada for more than 30 years, with a specialization in entertainment and communications law.
He is a principal, co-owner and corporate counsel of The Beacon Group of Companies that manages the production, marketing, distribution and financing of motion pictures, studio projects and entertainment software.
He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of British Columbia; and was previously a governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation and a director of the BC Motion Picture Foundation, as well as a variety of performing arts organizations.
Eclipse Entertainment Group is a publicly traded entertainment company producing and distributing feature films, and television and radio programming. Eclipse has offices in Los Angeles, Bellevue, New York and a production office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The company's shares are also listed on the Berlin Stock Exchange. More information about Eclipse Entertainment Group can be obtained from its Web site at www.ecle.com.
Certain information included in this communication contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the entertainment industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planning capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth and potential contracts. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated.
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Contact:
Eclipse Entertainment Group Inc., Bellevue
Alec Rossa, 888/822-ECLE (3253) (Investors)
or
Rogers & Cowan Inc., Los Angeles
Keith Rowan, 310/201-8888 |
