FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2012- Sand Castle Studios, LLC is pleased to announce that Hunger in Los Angeles, a virtual immersive journalism experience, will debut this week at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Written by artist Nonny de la Peña (who recorded the actual event) and commissioned by the USC’s Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism in conjunction with MxR Lab, Hunger in Los Angeles  virtually recreates an eyewitness account of an actual incident in a food bank line at the First Unitarian Church in Los Angeles, in order to call attention to the growing issue of hunger in the United States.

Sand Castle Studios modeled virtual replicas of the church and scene and used the Unity 3D development platform to to bring the project to life.  Premiering at Sundance, participants can suit up and use a head-mounted goggle display to walk around and interact with other characters in the fully immersive virtual reality simulation.  They will have the opportunity to experience a virtual reproduction, with audio from the actual incident, during which the Church’s available food runs out, provoking anguish and frustration among some of those gathered. Meanwhile, a man in line falls to the ground in a diabetic coma. An ambulance and two paramedics arrive to assist.

About Sand Castle Studios

Sand Castle Studios is a full service creative company dedicated to helping organizations maximize the full potential of virtual worlds and immersive media by creating interactive, social, and 3D experiences. Our strategic, creative, and technical teams are made up of some of the most experienced and talented minds in the world working to create unique and interactive user experiences.

For more information contact:

Kimberly Winnington (SL: Gianna Borgnine)

Sand Castle Studios, LLC

www.changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

kim@changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

1-302-559-5230

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2011- Sand Castle Studios, LLC is pleased to announce that The Virtual Mine has been nominated for an Emmy Award for New Approaches to News and Documentary Programming .

The Virtual Mine (SLURL) is an immersive, interactive, and educational 3D experience located in the virtual world of Second Life®. It was created to to educate, explore, and examine our nation’s struggle with mountain top removal coal mines, coal fired power production, and alternative energies in support of the documentary film, Deep Down, by filmmakers Jen Gilomen and Sally Rubin with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the Independent Television Service (ITVS), and the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC).

The Virtual Mine allows visitors to take a closer look at the challenges of balancing the environment, power demands, and economic interests by inviting them to take part in a story as it unfolds through a series of three games.  While it was created with educators and students in mind, the games can be played in groups or by individuals alike.

Deep Down and the Virtual Mine first debuted on the Emmy-award winning PBS series Independent Lens.

“We are so honored to be singled out in our industry and recognized for the Virtual Mine with this Emmy nomination,” said Kimberly Winnington (SL:Gianna Borgnine), Chief Executive Officer of Sand Castle Studios, LLC.  “This nomination is a proud achievement, and a testament to all of the incredible hard work put in by our very talented team including myself, William Reed Seal-Foss (Content Creation) and Karl Stiefvater (Software Engineer).  It also solidifies how powerful virtual worlds are as way to connect with others, examine problems, and participate in activities in order to learn more about them in a way that might not otherwise be possible.”

About Sand Castle Studios

Sand Castle Studios is a full service creative company dedicated to helping organizations maximize the full potential of virtual worlds and immersive media by creating interactive, social, and 3D experiences. Our strategic, creative, and technical teams are made up of some of the most experienced and talented minds in the world working to create unique and interactive user experiences.

For more information contact:

Kimberly Winnington (SL: Gianna Borgnine)

Sand Castle Studios, LLC

www.changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

kim@changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

302-559-5230

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Environmental Documentary Deep Down Launches Interactive Virtual Mine in Second Life for Communities and Educators to Take Action in Solving the Power Crisis

November 23, 2010 – Virtual worlds can provide a comprehensive environment for education, storytelling, collaboration, and problem solving relating to real world issues. Sand Castle Studios, LLC announced today the creation of a project to educate, explore, and examine our nation’s struggle with mountain top removal coal mines, coal fired power production, and alternative energies in support of the documentary film, Deep Down, by filmmakers Jen Gilomen and Sally Rubin with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the Independent Television Service (ITVS), and the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC).

“Virtual worlds are a powerful way to connect with others, examine real world problems, and participate in activities in order to learn more about them in a way that might not otherwise be possible,” said Kimberly Winnington (SL: Gianna Borgnine), Chief Executive Officer of Sand Castle Studios, LLC. “This project will establish new ways for communities and students to explore and examine the complex struggle many of our towns are facing as they experience the situations first hand while working to solve the problem of fueling our nation.”

Deep Down’s Virtual Mine project is an immersive, interactive, and educational 3D experience. Located in the virtual world of Second Life®, it will further explore the challenges of balancing the environment, power demands, and economic interests raised in the film by inviting players to take part in a story as it unfolds through a series of three games. Players will be asked to complete a series of tasks including clearing a section of land and blowing up mountains; going through the town to turn off as many electric items as possible and reduce the demand; building a sustainable grid with solar and wind power terminals; and ultimately trying to solve the power crisis in this virtual town. If successful in solving all three problems, participants will then be invited to a Community Jam, celebrating the culture and music of Appalachia complete with line dancing.

Resources for those new to Second Life are available to accompany the game. An Educators Guide outlines how the game can be used in the classroom, and includes tips for entering and participating in Second Life, short videos, discussion questions, suggested activities, and online resources for each of the games. However, while created with educators and students in mind, the games can be played in groups or by individuals alike.

The film Deep Down debuts tonight on the Emmy-award winning PBS series Independent Lens at 10pm EST (check local listings). In a first for PBS, the film will be followed by a short segment introducing viewers to Second Life and the Virtual Mine and inviting them to log in and explore it for themselves. The film will also be screened throughout the nation including a special virtual interactive screening and discussion hosted by the filmmakers on Ustream and in the Virtual Mine. The Virtual Mine will also continue to host events and provide a venue for town hall style meetings to discuss the impacts of mountain top coal removal.

For more information on Deep Down, The Virtual Mine, screenings and events, please see www.deepdownfilm.org

About Deep Down

Deep Down follows one small community in Eastern Kentucky as it is divided by a proposed mountaintop removal coal mine. Through this story of people connected deeply to the mountains and to each other, we learn about Appalachia’s complex contemporary struggle with the black rock that fuels our nation.

About Sand Castle Studios

Sand Castle Studios is a full service creative company dedicated to helping organizations maximize the full potential of virtual worlds and immersive media by creating interactive, social, and 3D experiences. Our strategic, creative, and technical teams are made up of some of the most experienced and talented minds in the world working to create unique and interactive user experiences.

For more information contact:

Kimberly Winnington (SL: Gianna Borgnine)

Sand Castle Studios, LLC

www.changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

kim@changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

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This morning, tech enthusiast, blogger, and social media superstar, Robert Scoble (aka the Scobleizer) sent the Second Life community and Twitter world into a frenzy with his post, “Is Second Life about to enter its ‘second life?’” He begins by rehashing the usual “failings” of Second Life.   Yet, even after all his experiences with Second Life, he still got why the initial flow of corporations left SL completely wrong.  However, what followed was more interesting… He announced that tomorrow everything is going to change.

Anyway, one thing happened that I find very interesting: it continued to grow in users, time spent on the site, and dollars spent in it.

On Friday I sat down with Mark to find out why.

First, the users remained very evangelistic. Second, corporations like IBM found other uses for its islands and kept investing (they now use these islands for training and replacements of expensive conferences). Third, the technology has been steadily improving. Fourth, the company has found new ways to bring new users in and make the experience easier to get into.

But he admitted that they had been pretty quiet and avoided doing more PR work until just recently.

Why is that changing this week? You’ll see why tomorrow morning at about 11 a.m. on building43.

But to tease a bit, I find that their new direction, the first part of which you’ll see tomorrow in the video I did with Mark, is interesting and represents a new life for Second Life and its host Linden Labs.

Of course there was an immediate reaction from the Second Life community across Twitter.

Much of the talk centered around whether Linden Lab CEO Mark Kingdon would be discussing the new Second Life viewer affectionately called “Viewer 2.0” by the community.

Regardless.. this is an announcement that you will not want to miss!

So tune in Tomorrow Tuesday February 22, 2010 at 11 a.m. on building43.

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Imperfect Angel Announces Grand Opening Celebration

Imperfect Angel, Second Life’s newest exclusive nightclub and entertainment venue, will celebrate its grand opening event this Thursday August 13, showcasing their venue, art, fashion, and a night packed with giveaways, contests, live music, and more.

Angelius, Second Life, Thursday August 13, 2009 – After many weeks of anticipation and planning, Sand Castle Studios is pleased to announce the Grand Opening event for Second Life’s newest exclusive nightclub and entertainment venue – Imperfect Angel. Join us this Thursday, August 13th, 2009 on the new Angelius SIM from 6:00pm-9:00pm PST/SLT for an evening of contests, giveaways, and some of the best live music Second Life has to offer.

Over three hours of live music is scheduled for the grand opening event. The night will kick off with the SL AMA winner for “Best Rock Musician” Allister Westland. Allister’s performance will be followed by his good friend, and fellow SL musician Edward Kyomoon. As a RL recording studio engineer Edward has worked on hundreds of indie and major label albums. He brings an amazing sound and is one of the rising stars of the SL music scene, with fantastic covers and original hits, his performance is a treat you won’t want to miss! The event won’t stop there though! Maximillion Kleene, one of Second Life’s most popular and beloved entertainers, will be headlining the event at 8:00 PM. Max has a vast repertoire of acoustic rock, alternative, classic and contemporary music. This talented performer from Niagra Falls, Canada puts on a magical show not to be missed. The Imperfect Angel dancers will also be there and looking heavenly in fabulously designed uniforms created by SL fashionista Solange Cerveau of Solange Designs.

The club’s attraction goes far beyond entertainment as well. “The thought process behind the Imperfect Angel was to create something unique, beautiful, and elegant amongst the stoic. We have really strived to provide the ultimate experience to all of your senses while promoting your need for fun and excitement,” says owner Mykael Sciavo

This beautifully designed new club features classic architecture and an elegantly sculpted angelic statue perfect for photography. It has a spacious dance floor where you can rock out to the best live music and DJ’s in Second Life. A gorgeous bar and seating area will allow you the perfect vantage point to sit, have a few drinks and chat while you overlook the dance floor. Or, if you feel like getting away from the crowds and nightlife, climb the spiral staircase to the roof. From there, you can enjoy a romantic and breathtaking view of the SIM while you relax by the pool or lounge in the hot tub.

Join us to experience it all!

This event will be held in the virtual world of Second Life at Angelius (106, 129, 22)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Angelius/106/129/22/

For Further Information Contact:

Gianna Borgnine, Chief Executive Officer
Sand Castle Studios
www.changingworldsbuildingdreams.com
gianna@changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

or

Nika Dreamscape, Brand Strategist
Sand Castle Studios
www.changingworldsbuildingdreams.com
nika@changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

About Imperfect Angel :
Imperfect Angel owner, Mykael Sciavo, realized that something was missing. He had a specific vision in mind for a club that would stand apart from the rest. Together with Amore Ferina and Prynze Decosta, he began to develop the plans for that special club that would be classy and elegant, with the theme of Angels embracing their imperfections. And thus, the plans for Imperfect Angel began to form. For the latest news and a calendar of upcoming events visit – http://theimperfectangels.blogspot.com/

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Total Bliss Garden Party, originally uploaded by Gianna Borgnine.

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOTAL BLISS Relaunches with Summer’s first Garden Party

Total Bliss, one of Second Life’s oldest established landscaping companies, will relaunch this weekend, showcasing their furniture, gifts, textures, and landscaping branches.

Total Bliss, Second Life, Tuesday May 5,^, 2009 – Total Bliss will celebrate their relaunch on their new SIM this weekend with the season’s first Garden Party. The Party will be held in the gardens, commencing at 1:30pm PST/SLT on Saturday May 9th.

The Garden Party will kick off with live streamed entertainment by well known Second Life performer Maximillion Kleene. Max has a vast repertoire of acoustic rock, alternative, classic and contemporary music. This talented performer from Niagra Falls, Canada puts on a magical show not to be missed.

After Max, stick around for more music from our DJ and enjoy one of the most beautiful backdrops in Second Life, perfect for photography. Explore the SIM and browse the high quality, luxury, furniture, garden & landscaping. Also take this opportunity to make your Mothers’ Day purchases from the gift, floral, or other lines. Don’t forget to grab a gift bag!

“With a new navigation system, and beautiful atmospheric surroundings, we aim to make Total Bliss not just another store, but a beautiful romantic place to hang out at.” – Leah Salome, Owner of Total Bliss

This event will be held in the virtual world of Second Life at Total Bliss (81, 128, 24)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Total%20Bliss/81/128/24

For Further Information Contact:

Gianna Borgnine, Chief Executive Officer, Sand Castle Studios
gianna@chaningworldsbuildingdreams.com

or

Arabella Steadham, Brand Strategist, Sand Castle Studios
arabella@changingworldsbuildingdreams.com

About Total Bliss:

Established since 2005, Total Bliss features high quality, luxury, furniture, gifts, landscaping and textures. They showcase thousands of stylish, unusual and contemporary designs for your dream home! As well as thousand of high quality full perm textures at the Texture Shop. http://leahsalome.wordpress.com/

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