The Experience Starts on the Web as Grouper Joins Forces With Columbia Pictures to Report Spider-Man 3 News to Spider-Man Movie Network Members

CULVER CITY, Calif., Feb. 15, 2007 -- Two World Wide Web-crawling Spider-Man enthusiasts will have the chance to report breaking Spider-Man 3 movie news as the winners of Columbia Pictures' "Face of the Fan" contest. Building on the success of Columbia's partnership with online user generated video portal Grouper, the "Face of the Fan" contest will provide at least 250,000 Spider-Man Movie Network members with the chance to become the official online correspondents for the network. The two winners (one male and one female) will be tasked with creating videos that will offer breaking Spider-Man news, information, and special promotions across the Web at least once a week leading up to the highly anticipated release of Spider-Man 3 on May 4, 2007.

Beginning immediately, aspiring Spider-Man 3 webcasters can find everything they need to enter the contest at spiderman.sonypictures.com/faceofthefan.

At the site, contest entrants can join the movie network, as well as find tools to help them tape, edit and submit their entry. Fans are encouraged to show their true colors in their screen tests. Entrants will be judged on the presentation of a pre-provided script as well as their enthusiasm and credibility, articulation, and ultimately, they will be selected on the quality of their overall submission. The contest is open to any U.S. resident who is at least 18 years-of-age or older unless otherwise indicated in the official rules. Entries must be submitted by February 23, 2007.

Commenting on the announcement, Dwight Caines, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Digital Marketing Strategy for the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group, said, "Since we launched the first Spider-Man film in 2002, we have used the internet in exciting and innovative ways to reach our core fans with news and information about the upcoming movies. With Spider-Man 3, we are taking our commitment to the online community to a whole new level. This is the largest digital campaign we've ever attempted and the Spider-Man Movie Network is its backbone. The "Face of the Fan" contest is just one part of a very aggressive interactive campaign that we will be rolling out in the coming weeks to support this franchise."

The studio has tapped Grouper to power the User-Generated Video submissions for Spider-Man fans vying to become the "Face of the Fan". Grouper will enable fans to upload any video of themselves or even record one instantly with Grouper's Webcam feature.

The winning fans will then take a leadership role for the highly enthusiastic Spider-Man fan community on the official Spider-Man website. The two winning correspondents will record and post additional videos on a regular basis, which will also be hosted and served by Grouper.

Commenting on his company's association with the campaign, Grouper president and co-founder Josh Felser said, "Grouper is making it possible for fans to display their creative acumen as passionate followers of Peter Parker and the continuing adventures of Spider-Man. With this contest we are demonstrating the power of engagement that user-generated video offers, while enhancing our mission to reward the best user-generated video on the Web."

Online, the Spider-Man fanbase has proven to be one of the most enthusiastic movie communities on the web. Since the first Spider-Man site was first launched in March 2001, there have been more than 100 million visits to the film's official site.

The Spider-Man Movie Network was first created in 2004 to support the launch of Spider-Man 2. By registering to the Network on the last film, avid fans of the franchise were granted special access to immersive special features including a fan art submission contest and they were also given the ability to post on the official Spider-Man Movie message board. In addition, members were issued a special card redeemable at 25 retail chains across the country entitling them to special discounts especially negotiated for Network members.

Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man™ 3 reunites the cast and filmmakers from the first two blockbuster adventures for a web of secrets, vengeance, love, and forgiveness that will transport worldwide audiences to thrilling new heights on May 4, 2007.

In Spider-Man™ 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter as well, bringing out the vengeful side of his personality that he is struggling to control. Under the influence of the suit, Peter becomes overconfident and starts to neglect the people who care about him most. Forced to choose between the seductive power of the new suit and the compassionate hero he used to be, Peter must overcome his personal demons as two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom, gather unparalleled power and a thirst for retribution to threaten Peter and everyone he loves.

Columbia Pictures presents a Marvel Studios/Laura Ziskin Production, Spider-Man® 3 starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, James Cromwell, Rosemary Harris, and J.K. Simmons. The film is directed by Sam Raimi. The screenplay is by two-time Oscar® winner Alvin Sargent and the screen story by Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi and based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The producers are Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Grant Curtis. The executive producers are Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, and Joseph M. Caracciolo.

About Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

About Grouper

Grouper Networks, which is located in Sausalito, California, enables its members to watch, share and create video on the Web, desktop and connected devices and continues to be the leading innovator in the user-generated video space. Visit Grouper's website at: www.grouper.com.