February 17, 2022 - Entertainment Post

Mayor Michael Udine Grand Opening First NFT Metaverse Resort – Richy Rich Resort

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

Mayor Michael Udine of Broward County, the second largest county in Florida, is excited to be part of the grand opening of a groundbreaking NFT project called the Richy Rich Resort. Mayor Udine will be the only mayor to open a first of its kind resort in the metaverse. The Richy Rich Resort is a forward-thinking project that uses top of the line technology to foster one of a kind experiences for participants. This includes a casino where players can congregate to gamble and earn, shop at the metamall and watch live performances of their favorite recording artists in the metaverse! “I’m very excited to be the first mayor to open up an NFT metaverse resort. Looking forward to the Richy Rich Resort,” stated Mayor Udine.

The Richy Rich Resort is created by an innovative and creative team of expert developers. The Richy Rich team is coming together to revolutionize the way people experience and incorporate the metaverse into their lives. Their collective dream is to open the Las Vegas Strip of the metaverse where participants have a place to learn, build, earn and grow in an ecosystem beyond gaming.

Access to the Richy Rich Resort is granted through minting a Richy Rich Ape Club NFT. The Richy Rich Ape Club is a series of 10,000 unique digital collectibles living within the Ethereum blockchain. The NFT doubles as a membership access card to the resort where holders receive their very own apartment. The Richy Rich Resort will be like any real world resort with a casino, entertainment and shopping. The resort provides holders with an interactive experience equipped with exclusive networking and educational opportunities from the most influential players in the crypto and NFT space.

The Richy Rich team is excited and honored to have the mayor part of the grand opening. From being in charge of strategic planning and future direction in Broward County to planning and directing in the metaverse! Collaborating with the mayor will help to expose broader audiences to the metaverse’s massive potential and its place in the future. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Richy Rich Ape Club and the Richy Rich Resort, you don’t want to miss out on being a part of history!

How “Army of The Dead” Subverts Mainstream Zombie Films

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

When people hear of zombies in a movie or TV series, their existing knowledge instantly directs them to scary-looking characters that have returned from the dead to feast on living people’s brains. Looking at every other film about zombies, it starts from a single alpha zombie to a swarm of zombies, making them antagonists and obstacles to whatever the main character’s goals are. On the other hand, the movie “Army of The Dead” surprises viewers with unique details about zombies that the audience has never heard of but makes the movie just as interesting and exciting.

“Army of the Dead” is a 2021 zombie heist film directed and written by Zack Snyder, along with co-writers Shay Hatten and Joby Harold. The movie features an array of actors such as Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma Qureshi, and Garret Dillahunt. The main characters are a group of mercenaries who plan a heist in a famous casino in Las Vegas. The only problem is there is a zombie apocalypse in their way.

The movie had a $70-90 million budget and was filmed in New Jersey, New Mexico, Los Angeles, and Nevada. “Army of the Dead” was released in selected theaters in the United States on May 14th, 2021 and debuted on Netflix on May 21st. Along with other films that Snyder has directed, it presents heavy action, emotion, and the overall cinematography is on point. What makes this film different from the others is that it replicates the cliches with what people associate with zombies but also gives them new unique attributes that catch our attention and interest.

“Army of the Dead” successfully delivered expressing each character’s personality and intention in the story. The overall mood and theme that Zack Snyder is going for are perfectly executed. The setting is the city of Nevada, pretty much destroyed and turned into a barren wasteland of zombies where they made it their kingdom. The movie could not have been more perfectly shot, considering the accuracy of the setting and its intricate details. As well as the visual effects, it highly contributed to the tone and setting of the film. The storyline associates fast forward transitions where they show a stream of events with killer background music building up from scene to scene of important events to pay attention to.

Overall, the movie delivered suspense, a slight hint of humor, emotional backstories, and a lot of killing and action. The most surprising element of the film is how they entailed new aspects to how we would view a typical zombie in a movie. The movie’s ending is not how we would all expect it to be, given the last scene, with how everything did not fall into place. Indeed, there will be another upcoming movie to connect this film. Without a doubt, everyone will be on the lookout for what is next.

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Dead

How PewDiePie Became the First YouTuber to Hit the 100-Million Mark

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

Image source: Getty

The entrepreneurial and entertainment landscapes are known to have one of the most cutthroat environments worldwide. With how competitive these spaces have become, social media platforms have proven to be beneficial for those on the lookout for achieving success and gaining recognition. As a matter of fact, many aspirants have turned to YouTube as a way of showcasing their creative flairs and sharing their revolutionary ideas. Such is the case with YouTube sensation PewDiePie, the first-ever content creator to hit the 100-million subscriber mark.

Born on October 24, 1989, Felix Kjellberg, who is more prominently known as PewDiePie, quickly developed a passion for video games when he was only a kid. Because of this deeply rooted interest, he was able to kick off his career as a YouTuber by doing gaming walkthroughs and reviews. Determined to take things to the next level, he eventually expanded to more satirical commentary and meme roundups.

Felix Kjellberg attended the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and pursued a degree in industrial economics and technology management. However, his waning interest in his major prompted him to drop out in 2011. Thereafter, he took his chance and started a career with his YouTube channel, although the platform was not yet well-received and seen as a viable career path. Nevertheless, he went on with his venture and worked his way to the top.

Back when he was still in school, Felix Kjellberg registered a YouTube account under the name “PewDiePie,” a combination of some words, including the sound a shooting laser makes. Little did he know that this name would soon become the bedrock on which other YouTubers’ careers would rise. True enough, his success paved the way for aspirants and dreamers and encouraged them to use YouTube as an outlet for their passions.

Although PewDiePie’s decision to become a full-time YouTuber was risky, he embodied a mindset that many aspiring creatives should take note of. Much of his success can be attributed to the fact that he was determined to convey his message and was not afraid to present his genuine and quirky self on camera. It was because of this authenticity that he was able to establish a reputable standing on YouTube.

Over the years, PewDiePie has created a brand empire from the ground up by giving his audience members something they cannot get anywhere else. With a unique voice and an engaging approach, he delivers content that resonates with a diverse audience. On top of dominating YouTube, this multi-faceted personality is also known for his other creative outputs like his self-help parody book, This Book Loves You, which showcased his distinctive perspective.

Although brand managers and business experts believe that consistency is the only way to go, PewDiePie’s thundering success proves that one’s image and reputation do not always have to be predictable and steady. In fact, the YouTube star’s fans are impressed by the eagerness and random bursts of excitement he delivers in his videos. This is exactly the type of content that appeals to viewers who value engagement and relatability.

Resources:

https://www.businessinsider.com/pewdiepie-youtube-felix-kjellberg-life-career-controvery-2019-9#but-kjellbergs-parents-refused-to-support-him-financially-after-he-dropped-out-of-college-to-earn-money-for-his-youtube-passion-he-worked-at-a-hot-dog-stand-and-sold-his-artwork-5

Super Bowl Sunday: A Sacred Day for All American Football Fans

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

Image commercially licensed from: Unsplash

Super Bowl Sunday has evolved over the years into an unofficial national holiday for football fans. The day is usually filled with feasting, festivities, and pageantries that transcend beyond the stadium and host cities to every place where football fans and their families and friends get together to have fun. It is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) and has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966. In 2004, the date of the game was moved permanently to the first Sunday in February and has been held on that day since then. The team that wins the game is awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the coach who won the first two Super Bowl games.

Before the game kicks off in the early evening, football fans get to watch hours of programming showing the glories of past Super Bowl games, interviews of present and past NFL superstars, and detailed pre-game analysis. Towards the kick-off and at intervals during the game, fans at the stadium and viewers at home enjoy performances by some of the most well-known musical artists. They are also treated to the best of creative television advertisements. The Super Bowl game came to life as a merger agreement between the National Football League (NFL) and the rival association American Football League (AFL) to have the best teams in each of them compete for an overall championship trophy.

At its inception, it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game until 1969, when the moniker “Super Bowl” was adopted at the third game. Between 1967 and 1970, the four Super Bowl games were played before the merger, and AFL won two while NFL won the remaining two. In 1970, three NFL teams and ten AFL teams formed the American Football Conference (AFC), while 13 teams from the NFL formed the National Football Conference (NFC). Since Super Bowl V in 1971, all Super Bowl games have been played by the two best teams from each conference, and so far, the NFC has won 26 while the AFC has won 25.

The teams with the most Super Bowl titles are Pittsburg Steelers and New England Patriots, with six wins. The Denver Broncos and the Patriots have the most defeats, with five losses each. At the same time, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFC and Baltimore Ravens of the AFC are the only undefeated franchises in multiple Super Bowls with two wins each. The Super Bowl has an interesting history behind it as it has maintained its status as the most-watched sporting event in the world after the UEFA Champions League. Brands have also recognized the importance of the Super Bowl Sunday over the years and have always created their most expensive advertisements for the Super Bowl broadcast. Commercial airtime is the most expensive of the year; so, companies always put their best foot forward with their adverts. After Thanksgiving Day, the Super Bowl is the second-largest day for food consumption in the United States.

References

How Wrestlemania Revolutionized Professional Wrestling on Cable Television

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

Image commercially licensed from: Unsplash

In the 1980s, nearly every family in America had the luxury of owning a television with cable. Flipping through the channels, one of the most common programs that people encountered was professional wrestling. It was during the 80s that wrestling reached new heights. When Vincent K. McMahon took over his father’s company, he saw the commercial potential it had, leading to the development of the phenomenon known today as Wrestlemania.

The first Wrestlemania event took place in Madison Square Garden on March 31st, 1985. As professional wrestling started attracting more viewers, Wrestlemania was responsible for drawing in bigger crowds thanks to superstars like Roddy Piper, Mr. Wonderful, celebrity Mr. T., and the iconic Hulk Hogan. With a colorful roster, Wrestlemania generated over a million views, making it the largest pay-per-view in history at the time. Since the first show, McMahon has spawned over thirty-seven editions of Wrestlemania, transforming professional wrestling into today’s entertainment titan.

Over the past decades, the “showcase of the immortals,” as fans like to call it, has boosted an incredible number of attendees, reaching as far as a hundred thousand in attendance. Forbes has cited Wrestlemania as one of the world’s most valuable sports events. With its profitability, cities make large bids for the chance to host Wrestlemania.

The show has been touted as one of the grandest stages in professional wrestling, where storylines and rivalries are settled. The main event typically revolves around championships, namely the top prize WWE Championship. Matches for the championship have also helped cement superstars as top talents. Shawn Michaels, one of the most beloved performers to grace the squared circle, has been known for his ability to deliver high-quality matches. Even when he is on the losing side, the Heart Break Kid’s performance is unmatched as he made a name for himself as “Mr. Wrestlemania.”

In its thirty-seven-year run, Wrestlemania has delivered some of the most entertaining matches and rivalries. One of the most prominent examples is the eternal battle between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, who have met in the ring three times. Their most celebrated match came in the biggest stage of them all, Wrestlemania X-Seven. Wrestling fanatics often dubbed it as the greatest Wrestlemania of them all. X-Seven was the pinnacle of wrestling in the 90s as the fanfare slowly died down in the years that followed.

Despite the departure of old fans, new ones arrived quickly to watch the next generation of superstars like Rey Mysterio, Batista, Randy Orton, and John Cena. While the rivalries were no longer as heated as Austin and the Rock’s, Wrestlemania could thrive with new stipulations like the ladder marches, fatal fourways, and more. However, one of the highlights of Wrestlemania for the past years was the legendary undefeated streak of the legendary Undertaker, a professional wrestler and one of the most iconic personalities to ever step in the squared circle. For more than two decades, no one had ever broken the streak until the mid-2010s when Brock Lesnar came back and managed to do the impossible. While the world was shocked to see one of the longest records in wrestling history shattered, the show went on.

Even as the pandemic rolled in last year, Vince McMahon and the WWE were able to innovate and turn the typically one-night event into a two-night taping, yielding to the new guidelines to avoid spreading the virus among the crowd. The format proved to be successful. Earlier this year, there were plans to invite fans to attend Wrestlemania in California, but the event was relocated to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, instead where the regulations were not as strict.

Although the content of professional wrestling has drastically changed over the decades, the number of fans that continue to support WWE proves that Wrestlemania is one event that is here to stay for good.

References:

Source: tvline.com

The Evolution of One of the Oldest International Soccer Tournaments in the World, Copa America

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

Image commercially licensed from: Unsplash

Source: espn.com

While the world regards the FIFA World Cup as the grandest stage of football where countries can compete for glory and showcase their dominance, there are plenty of other tournaments where national teams can compete to come out on top. The Copa America is a tournament that allows the countries of South America to showcase their superiority in the sport.

Copa America has long been regarded as the oldest international soccer competition in the world. In 1910, trials were held before holding the first official tournament in 1916 to commemorate Argentina’s independence. Originally called Campeonato Sudamericano de Football, Argentina was joined by Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, making up the first participants of the tournament. The event lasted between July 2 to 17, culminating in Uruguay’s victory after being held on a tie.

The tournament’s success resulted in the establishment of CONMEBOL, South America’s governing body responsible for major international tournaments. They held another tournament a year later, with Uruguay once again defeating Argentina to retain the title. While there were plans to have a third tournament, Rio de Janeiro, the designated venue, was forced to cancel the tournament following a flu outbreak. However, they continued the next year, with Brazil finally overthrowing Uruguay to earn its first championship.

More South American countries started to join the tournament throughout the years, but a dispute arose that would cancel the tournament for a couple of years. Following the World Cup final in 1930, hostilities grew between Argentina and Uruguay, as the latter came out victorious in the competition. The event later returned and, for several years, entered into a limbo state where championships were held irregularly, and many many matches deemed unofficial. Throughout the years, the tournament was held every one to four years.

By 1975, Campeonato Sudamericano de Football officially changed its name to Copa America. The name was not the only change. The tournament replaced its point-by-point system to follow the FIFA World Cup format, including a qualifying phase, distribution of group selections, and qualifying rounds. In the following years, Copa America would invite national teams outside South America to participate with the United States and Mexico as the pioneering nations. Since the 90s, teams from Asia have also been invited to participate. Although none of the invited teams have been able to break through as victors, Mexico has been the only team to deliver the best results, coming in as runner-up in 1993 and 2001 and third place in 1997, 1999, and 2007.

Since changing its system to follow the World Cup format, Copa America has been held on a quadrennial basis. The tournament was last held in 2016 and 2019, with Chile and Brazil as their respective victors. While there were plans to host another tournament in 2020, the pandemic was forced to push Copa America to a later schedule.

Colombia was initially set to co-host this year’s tournament, but following security concerns was dethroned following riots. There have been plans to hold the events in the United States in June, marking the second time the country has hosted the Copa America after 2016.

References:

MozCon Promises Not to be the Typical Marketing Conference

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

The world of internet marketing continues to change rapidly, as technology pushes the bounds of innovation in business and advertising and more people flock to social platforms and other online channels. Accordingly, events like MozCon exist to help marketers make sense of the changing tides of the times, but the digital marketing event looks to deliver something fresh at every turn.

MozCon is an annual gathering of SEO experts and digital marketing professionals to learn about the latest industry best practices, network with other practitioners, and learn from some of the best in the industry. This year, it’s coming back in an online format as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict most movements and gatherings. Nonetheless, the event promises to deliver a jam-packed schedule of breakout seminars, networking opportunities, and many other virtual activities from July 12 to 14, 2021.

The marketing event brings together a long roster of speakers on one platform, including industry leaders like Amanda Milligan, Areej AbuAli, Brie Anderson, Britney Muller, Cyrus Shepard, Dana DiTomaso, Dr. Pete Meyers, Jackie Chu, Joy Hawkins, Joyce Collarde, Luke Carthy, Rob Ousbey, Noah Learner, Ross Simmonds, and many others. Topics that the resource speakers will touch on include agency marketers, SEO, B2B2C Marketing, women in technology, evergreen marketing, diversity, Google algorithms, reporting and analytics, business resilience, and remote work.

On top of listening to speakers, attendees will also get the chance to join what organizers call “Birds of a Feather” peer discussion groups. These open-floor online discussions will give MozCon participants the opportunity to engage, network, and discuss with people from all around the world, somewhat mimicking a face-to-face experience by giving people the chance to meet and mingle with other people in their industry. “Birds of a Feather at MozCon are purposeful yet unstructured discussion groups organized around topics that matter to today’s digital marketers,” shares the MozCon committee on the event website. “After all, a big part of the conference experience is meeting new connections and reconnecting with older ones.”

The conference is an effort by the SEO tools and resource company Moz. Founded by Rand Fishkin and Gillian Muessig in 2004, the site exists to help build an engaging community around search engine optimization and digital marketing while promoting openness, collaboration, and integrity in professional practice. Initially, the company was called SEOmoz, inspired by companies like Mozilla and DMOZ.

Today, Moz is one of the leading companies and resources for everything related to search marketing and digital strategies. It currently offers one of the most trusted website SEO services in the industry and provides various tools to help companies and agencies drive more traffic, get more leads, and increase sales through digital strategies.

The MozCon welcomes sponsors like Wix and Pages and will offer all kinds of insights on what tools marketers can use to improve their digital marketing strategies in 2021 and beyond. Also available on and before the event is a bundle of last year’s seminars and talks watchable on-demand at one’s convenience.

Event registration is now ongoing, with bundles and early bird rates still available to aspiring attendees. Learn more by visiting MozCon’s website.

Kathy Ireland Sponsors The Waltons’ Homecoming for Thanksgiving Holidays

Entertainment Post Staff on February 17, 2022

The holiday season is a great time for families to come together and have fun. Kathy Ireland, the founder and CEO of kathy ireland® Worldwide, understands this and is doing her part to give American families something to enjoy and keep them entertained. She has chosen to sponsor the airing of The Waltons’ Homecoming, a heartwarming film for families to set them in the mood for the holidays.

The film, executive produced by Sam Haskell, the Emmy Award winner and President and Chair of Magnolia Hill Productions at Warner Bros, is a grand gesture from the kathy ireland® Worldwide brand to remind Americans of some of the most important family values. Family, faith, love and inclusivity are some of the top values that the film highlights, and there is no better time for Americans to be reminded of those than a time like this. “There is no one better than Sam Haskell–whose accomplishments in television are legendary and iconic–to bring this message of hope to our homes this Thanksgiving,” Kathy Ireland shared.

Kathy Ireland is passionate about championing projects that positively impact Americans and send feel-good waves across families, which informed the decision to sponsor the film. Supporting a cause like this also lends credence to Kathy’s support for humanitarian projects, such as her support for children battling cancer.

Music for the film was created by seven-time Grammy Award winners Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo. The duo had already partnered with Kathy Ireland on their recent album release Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons, which got them back to the Billboard Charts after 35 years.

Choosing to be the sole sponsor of The Waltons’ Homecoming gives Kathy a sense of purpose and giving back to society. It also comes in the wake of kathy ireland® Worldwide enjoying a successful year. The company was named and recognized as the 15th most successful licensing brand in American history. Kathy Ireland also received awards from various bodies and organizations, such as the Icon Award from the International Home Furnishings Association and the Business International Religious Freedom Champion Award from the IRF. She also got inducted into the Licensing International’s Hall of Fame as the highest-ranked woman-owned licensing company in the United States of America.

The Waltons’ Homecoming features stars like Logan Shroyer, Ben Lawson, and Bellamy Young. The film is narrated by the original John Boy, Richard Thomas, and aired on The CW on November 28, with an encore showing on December 11. “For all who want to experience this film, please know that something wonderful is about to happen,” Kathy said.Learn more about the film airing and further updates from the website.