You've got to love Kickstarter, the website that helps people raise money for unique projects via crowd funding. And while far too many seemingly great campaigns never come to fruition, lots of people have made sure this project isn't one of them.

Fans of "Veronica Mars," a UPN/CW TV show that aired from 2004 to 2007, have taken to the site to raise money for (drumroll...) a movie! According to the New York Times, "On Wednesday night fans and supporters of that show about a wisecracking young sleuth (played by Kristen Bell) pledged more than $2 million to produce a 'Veronica Mars' movie, less than 12 hours after the fundraising drive was announced on Kickstarter." Now that's some serious fandom.

Even better, both Rob Thomas (the show's creator and producer, not the one from Matchbox Twenty) and Bell are behind the project! It's even got Warner Brothers' seal of approval.

So at 7:55 p.m. yesterday evening, Thomas tweeted the following: "Hallelujah! It's a green light my friends. I love you all, but particularly the donors among you." That's right -- it's a go! Congratulations to all involved.

P.S. We heard you might be looking for some nice "thank you" gifts, Mr. Thomas. Our promotional consultants have a few ideas! (Wink.)

Over the last few years they say that more and more people have been trading in the local movie theater, for the personal living room. With the accessibility of Blu Ray players. HD televisions and On Demand movies the nearest movie theater doesn't seem so exciting anymore. Who can blame someone for giving up the theaters? Overpriced food and drink that you can get for 50% less anywhere else, sticky floors and uncomfortable seating, a lot of these seats are so bad you would need to bring a branded seat cushion with you to tolerate sitting in them for two hours.

While, no one has invented the floor that can't get sticky, one theater is trying to solve two of those complaints just a little bit. The AMC theater in Fresh Meadows, Queens (in NY) is one of the first theaters to revolutionize your viewing experience. They have outfitted every theater, and every seat, with red leather electronic recliners. Outfitted with a cup holder on each seat, there will be no more fighting over armrests in these chairs. Speaking of armrests if you are the theater viewing the most recent romantic comedy with your significant other no more squirming to get around a piece of hard plastic separating you, just put the armrest up and cuddle your hearts away. All this, WITHOUT raising ticket prices! Why? Well, speaking for myself personally I know I don't want to go to any other theater any time soon, plus I will be much happier to get to my seat early which means seeing more commericals.

One more thing, the soda. At AMC Fresh Meadows, they took a new spin on the old beverage. They have installed what is now known as the Coca Cola Freestyle. Every beverage in the Coca Cola line is available on this digitally controlled machine.  If that impresses you wait for the kicker, you make the flavor. Every beverage in their line can be customized with one of 4-5 flavors, such as Lime, Lemon, Orange, Vanilla and more. Orange Coke Zero? Got it. Peach Sprite? Got it.  Raspberry Lemonade? You guessed it. All with free refills, regardless of the size of your drink. So if you didn't like that Diet Cherry Sprite, go back and get some Vanilla Diet Coke. 

My Memorial Day weekends are simple: eat/drink, toss promotional frisbees and watch movies. 

Yes, the extended weekend not only gives me an opportunity to kick back from a hectic work-week and become one with nature, loved ones and fresh barbecue but to catch up with several movies. There's no better way to catch a movie than Netflix's Instant option. Hundreds of movies from all walks of life are at your disposal - all without getting out of your pajamas. 

If I had to nitpick about any cons, it would be that navigating through the Netflix Instant list only warrants some of the selection. Your choice is to either search for your favorite movie and pray that it is available or to carry on life wondering, "what if...?"

Luckily, the folks at Paste Magazine have a solution for the Netflix Queue Blues - A list entitled "The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Instant".

As if by fate, this list has come out just days shy of the lengthy weekend ahead. The list, comprised of classic gems like Good Will Hunting, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid includes other great films both heard and not heard, seen and not seen. It has certainly given me a handful of good ideas of what to catch this weekend.

To see the entire list, visit Paste Magazine. 

I spent much of my weekend as a shut-in, watching much of the streaming footage from this year's Coachella Music Festival. While I enjoyed watching full sets from such favorite artists as Radiohead, Real Estate, The Weeknd and Pulp, it was something that happened on the final day of the festival that was breathtaking and unexpected.

It happened during the Snoop Dogg/Dr. Dre headlining performance. The duo had just finished "California Love" when the stage went black. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, I saw Tupac rise out, command the stage and give one outstanding performance.

Yes, you read correctly. Tupac Shakur. The famous rapper notorious for being gunned down just at the height of his career in 1996. Thanks to the innovative visions of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and computer graphics company Digital Domain (works include Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tron: Legacy, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and X-Men: First Class) a realistic visual of Tupac Shakur was recreated and given the ability to perform "Hail Mary" solo and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" with the two living artists. The "holigram" (technically, it is a 2D visual, thus not called a holigram) cost $100,000 to make.

Now there are sources saying that a lengthy tour is in the works based on the Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg Coachella performance. Although not confirmed whether the other living guest stars will be a part of the tour (Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa and 50 Cent) the tour will at least include the Tupac visual/performance. 

Stay tuned for tour dates and other information. 

Saturday night I was driving with a friend when I got stuck behind a bus. Now typically this would be an annoying experience but this particular bus had the most original marketing poster I have seen all year. If you own a computer, radio or have been walking around town lately, you are sure to have seen the advertisments for Energy Sheets, the newest line of energy products. With a clever catch phrase, "I take a sheet..." featuring a pilot "taking a sheet in the cockpit" and a police officer "taking a sheet at a crime scene" it is hard to forget these promotional posters.

Celebs have also been seen sporting Energy Sheet promotional products such as custom t-shirts and promotional hats. Singer Pitbull is such a fan of Energy Sheets, that he is featured in several advertisments. There is no denying that whoever was behind this idea, is a marketing genius!

If history repeats itself, this week would be the 1980's for me.

I received an e-mail early this morning that appeared somewhat out of the ordinary. The e-mail was an invitation to an advanced screening of the Footloose remake. The advanced screening takes place tonight, one day before it debuts on screens nationwide. I'm very hesitant on liking the remake of this film - I consider the 1984 Footloose to be one of the finest pieces of cinema around, rivaled only by the original soundtrack that accompanies the album. But the promotional giveaway will certainly allow me to see the movie and judge once and for all whether a remake was truly warrented.

I also found out that I will be seeing famed 80's rockers Duran Duran at one of their biggest New York shows since they headlined the same theater in 1984. The band has more iconic 80's songs than one can fit on an 8-track and is sure to be full of Generation X'ers having fun. Maybe some people will bring their baggy custom imprinted shirts and leggings. 

As someone who has a great appreciation for the arts and pop-culture, it's rather strange that I've only attended two or three tradeshows - two of which involved the music industry and the last one being the ASI Show in New York. I've always longed to go to something where I can be around some of the brightest minds in film, television or even videogames. 

And that's why I am attending the 2011 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javits Center in October.

It all started when I got into a small (but public) debate with a friend on the importance of certain superheros. Before the debate got any more heated, I told him we would discuss it further at a later time. That time never came - but I bought 3-day passes for the tradeshow for his birthday. If there is any place to continue the debate on whether Superman is really as great as people deem him to be, it's at a Comic Convention.

Now, before I continue, a little bit about myself. I don't own a mint-condition copy of The Goon or dress like Thor at movie premiers. I don't spend my time LARPing on the weekend and anime is only a Japanese cartoon as far as I'm concerned. I do have an appreciation for the impact the pop-culture icons have on our society. But the New York Comic Con is more than just comics. As of a matter of fact, I look forward to seeing the exhibits, panels and special guests dedicated to video games, toys, movies and television above all else.

But one thing I will have in common with the other 100,000 fans expected to grace the Jacob Javits Center in October 13-16 is their love for tradeshow giveaways. I am sure there will be plenty of promotional pens on hand for the countless amount of signatures that could be collected over the course of four days as well as promotional incentives when buying comic books, posters and video games. I know that I will be bringing a promotional tote bag with me for all the things I might be interested in taking home with me. Maybe I will print Professor X or a Space Invader on it so I don't feel incredibly left out while people are dressed up. (and no, I won't be dressing up in costume)

My DVD collection is pathetic and I will be the first to admit this.

I have about 10 DVDs to my name, almost all of which are Live concert DVDs. None of these disks are in 3D or HD and I think only one is recent enough to include a digital copy with it. I am far behind when it comes to purchasing DVDs but because of the convenience of Netflix, Red Box, Blockbuster, and renting through the TV, I haven't found the need to purchase anything since The Dark Knight came out.

And then I met Rio.

I haven't seen Rio yet but it was certainly one of those fun-looking movie that just made it in-and-out of theatres before I had the time to make it.

And the makers of Ice Age really knew how to market Rio. Between the promotional game called "Angry Birds: Rio" as well as promotional mugs, promotional t-shirts and promotional tote bags that I've seen around in children's stores and online, the idea of Rio was imprinted in my mind. I look forward to breaking off the plastic casing and unwinding this weekend with birds that sound like Jemaine Clement, Anne Hathaway, Will.i.Am and Jesse Eisenberg.

Promotional products really do work...and, no, I am not saying that just because I sit behind a desk at Motivators and not because promotional products are my life-work at this very moment.

Companies are always trying to get your attention - that's why you'll see employees at supermarkets begging for you to have samples of specific foods while touting promotional signs, why you'll see beer and liquor street teams handing out promotional t-shirts and promotional hats at bars and dives and why banks give out custom imprinted pens and promotional calculators sporting their name.

Sponsorship is the best way to get a consumer's attention. Whether it's an event or a business, companies are always investing money in the form of their product and promotional giveaways.
For example, next time you're in a movie theater, try asking for a Pepsi. More than likely, you'll end up with a Coca-Cola. Theatre chains like AMC are sponsored by Coca Cola - you'll see their presence in the form of advertisements throughout the movie previews, promotional posters in the lobby of the theatre and promotional stadium cups with the famous Coca Cola logo. And when seeing these posters, cups and commercials, the desire for a cool, refreshing beverage is even greater.

What sponsors do you buy from?

Our local theatre is having a special tonite, FREE POPCORN w/ every ticket purchase.  They don't have alot of movies to select from.  They keep one movie for about 2 weeks and then on to the next classic but, who doesn't like popcorn with a Movie and Free popcorn is so much better. Food is always a great way to get your company or product all kinds of publicity.  We have all kinds of food items on our site to be branded for your next event; chocolate, cookies, snack bags.. So of course I will be checking out the local theatre to see what kind of movie I can get with my FREE Popcorn.