JOANNE FERRARO NAMED TO CHAIR THE 2004 AICP SHOW

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 24, 2003 - The Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) has announced that Joanne Ferraro, managing director of bi-coastal production company Coppos Films, will serve as chairperson for the 13th Annual AICP Show, The Art & Technique of the American Television Commercial. The Show premieres Monday, June 14th, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Established in 1992, in cooperation with The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the AICP Show recognizes excellence in commercial filmmaking, focusing on technical expertise and the artistic application of that expertise. The honored commercials are made part of the permanent archives of the museum's Department of Film and Media. While reconstruction is under way at MoMA, the Show will premiere at The Met. The Show is expected to return to MoMA in 2005.

"It is a great honor to be selected by the Board of Governors of the AICP to be chairperson for the 2004 Show and Lecture Series," Ferraro said. "I'm excited to collaborate with my peers and the staff of the AICP to find the best work in our industry and to recognize those creative talents behind it. We will also seek out innovative creative companies in our community to contribute to the 2004 Show with editorial, graphics and music."

A commercial production veteran, Joanne Ferraro has dedicated her career to developing new and established directorial talent. In her current position as managing director of Coppos, she collaborates closely with owner/executive producer Michael Appel on the day-to-day running of the production company, overseeing the national and international sales force, and managing the East Coast office of Coppos in Manhattan.

She began her production career at what was then Giraldi Productions, where she helped launch the career of, among others, director Jeffrey Mayo, with whom she joined forces when he opened his own company, Ulick/Mayo Productions. In 1984, Ferraro moved to The Artists Company, working her way up to senior vice president, and managing the company's national sales force. She left in 1997 to link up with the Stoney Road family of companies at Nitro Films and M-80, where she took on the role of executive producer, before accepting an offer from Coppos in 1999 to become managing director, sharing the operations of the company with Appel. She has served on the AICP Show & Lecture Series Committee for 12 years.

"I look forward to working together to create an incredibly unique and compelling showcase for 2004, and to having fun at the same time," she said.

As chairperson of the 13th Annual AICP Show, Ms. Ferraro assumes a post that is a job as well as an honor. She leads a 34-person Show Committee and is responsible for recommending policies and speakers, reviewing marketing materials, and promoting the event. She also serves on the Show's Board of Governors, which is the final arbiter, charged with ensuring the quality of the Show and adherence to its rules.

Members of the Show Committee serving with Ms. Ferraro include: Pia Alexander, Human; Sally Antonacchio, The Artists Company; Tara Averill, Anonymous Content; Meredith Bergman, Tool of North America; Jeremy Besser, Directorz; Jacqueline Kelman Bisbee, Park Pictures; Denise Blate, The Artists Company; Roe Bressan, the Whitehouse; Jennifer Burak, Getty Images; Maddi Carlton, HSI Productions; Carol Case, Playroom; Maxine Cherlin, Broadway Video; John Crossley, Getty Images; Stephen Dickstein, Partizan Entertainment; Michael DiGirolamo, Anonymous Content; Bob Fisher, Celsius Films; Nancy Early, eo productions; Mary Eiff, The Artists Company; Tara Ford, @radical.media; John Johnston, Eastman Kodak Company, Entertainment Imaging; Gisela Knijnenburg, Anonymous Content; Rick Lopes, The Lopes Picture Company; Diane McArter, Omaha Pictures; Charlie McBrearty, Shortlist; Melanie McEvoy, HSI Productions; Phil McIntyre, Click 3X; Tom Mooney, Headquarters; Jill Reehl, Get Reehl; Dawn Schiffman, CaseGiraldi Media; Karen Stewart, Broadway Video; Jennifer Warren, Park Pictures; Steve Wax, Chelsea Pictures; Christy Van House, Hest & Kramer Music; and Ann Zagaroli, Sacred Noise.

The Show's Call for Entries will be available in January, at www.aicp.com/show; the deadline for entries is February 13th.

Following its debut at the Met next June, the AICP Show will be exhibited in MoMA's scheduled film rotation and thereafter will go on tour. In addition to New York, the Show regularly tours ten American cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, San Francisco and Winston-Salem, NC) and travels to cultural venues in Europe and the Pacific Rim.

Further information is available at 212-929-3000 or www.aicp.com.

Founded in 1972, the AICP represents, exclusively, the interests of United States companies that specialize in producing commercials in various mediaÛfilm, video, computerÛfor advertisers and agencies. The association, with national offices in New York and Los Angeles as well as eight regional chapters, serves as a strong collective voice for this $5-plus billion industry, disseminating information; representing the production industry within the advertising community, in business circles, in labor negotiations and before governmental officials; developing industry standards and tools; providing professional development; and marketing American production.

Ed. Note: Photo of Ms. Ferraro available on request.