Licensing is Full Speed Ahead for DOROTHY OF OZ

LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Licensing is full speed ahead for DOROTHY OF OZ as more than a dozen licensees have already agreed to create merchandise for the upcoming feature film. The 3D CG-animated musical starring the voice and musical talents of Lea Michele as the beloved Dorothy Gale is produced by Summertime Entertainment, which is founded by the Carroll Brothers, the multi-media production company set on revitalizing the beloved Oz franchise.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110615/LA20278LOGO)

Travis J. Rutherford, C.E.O of Travis James, LLC, who is spearheading the global licensing and retail development efforts on the DOROTHY OF OZ franchise for Summertime Entertainment, has confirmed that several major retailers will support the brand with a myriad of licensed products next year.

The film, an independently financed and produced project geared for a late summer 2012 release, has already acquired numerous licensees in categories such as: toys, apparel, accessories, back to school, paper goods, costumes and novelties, early in the film's production process – with Bandai America Incorporated, as the global master toy partner, as its most recent announced deal.

Rutherford aims to capture additional licensing partners to round out the product assortments in social expression, party goods, cosmetics, childrens electronics, candy and confections, publishing, bedding and home decor at the Licensing International Expo.

"We already have a very robust licensing program established," Rutherford said. "My goal at the Licensing Show is to meet with additional domestic and international licensing partners to fill the various open categories, assign the international agent representation rights, and present the franchise to the other major retailers who have not yet seen the outstanding animation and great merchandisable characters from the film."

"We are very pleased with the traction and feedback from the retail and licensing community thus far – especially with the film still being early in the production process.  With many tier-one licensing partners along with the assistance of Travis James LLC, will be delivering a meaningful and comprehensive licensing and promotional program for the film opening next year," said Roland Carroll, President of Summertime Entertainment.

Recently, Summertime Entertainment signed and announced a Master Worldwide Toy License Agreement with Bandai America Incorporated. It will feature dolls, play sets, plush, role-play, trading cards and more.

Other licensees participating the program geared toward girls ages 4–8 include:

• The Awake division of Jem Sportswear will create a line of girls T-shirts and fashion tops.
• SG Footwear will handle footwear and SGI Apparel has been licensed for girls sleepwear, both a division of the SG Companies.
• Hypnotic will provide hosiery.
• A.D. Sutton & Sons will create a diverse line of bags, backpacks and lunch bags.
• IDW Publishing is doing a 4 title comic book series and graphic novel.
• Trends International will create posters and bookmarks with the possibility of adding calendars and stickers to the assortment.
• Culturenik Publishing will provide novelty paper goods.
• Just Play will do cut & sew role-play / dress up items, along with some novelty products in the HBA category.
• Madame Alexander is producing a beautiful collection of high-end collectible dolls.
• Attraction Media & Entertainment is producing a 3-D/4-D theme park attraction, which will incorporate footage from the film.

DOROTHY OF OZ is a 3D CG animated musical feature that stars Lea Michele ("Dorothy"), Martin Short ("The Jester"), Jim Belushi ("The Cowardly Lion"), Dan Aykroyd ("Scarecrow"), Kelsey Grammer ("The Tin Man"), Megan Hilty ("China Princess"), Hugh Dancy ("Marshall Mallow"), Oliver Platt ("Wiser the Owl"), and Patrick Stewart ("Tugg"). The film is based on one of the world's most popular and beloved fairy tales, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, and the further adventure books written by his great-grandson, Roger Stanton Baum.

For more information, visit www.dorothyofoz.com

For more information, visit www.summertimemedia.com

About Summertime Entertainment:

Founded by the Carroll Brothers, Summertime Entertainment is a multi-media company specializing in family-friendly entertainment for film, television, digital, mobile, and other trans-media platforms. Currently, Summertime Entertainment is in production on a new franchise of epic proportions — the re-vitalization of the indelible and beloved Oz world originally created by L. Frank Baum and carried on through the creative minds of his descendants. Through various forms of digital worlds, online communities and a brand new stereoscopic, 3D-animated feature film, Oz will soon be brought back to life in literally new dimensions, for a whole new generation to love and cherish.

SOURCE Summertime Entertainment