Boy George, Alessia Cara, Nikki Sixx, Julia Michaels, And Jennifer Nettles Join Shania Twain And Fergie On THE LAUNCH

Image via The Launch's Facebook Page

With a musical pedigree spanning across multiple genres and decades, CTV announced today an additional roster of celebrity mentors for THE LAUNCH: Culture Club alumnus and Grammy Award-winner Boy George; international pop sensation, Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara; rock icon and founding member of legendary rock band Mötley Crüe Nikki Sixx; sought-after songwriter with her own current hit single "Issues", Julia Michaels; and Grammy Award-winner and co-founder of country-pop duo Sugarland Jennifer Nettles. The artists join previously announced musical superstars Shania Twain, Fergie, and OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder as mentors on the inaugural season of the CTV original music series and international TV format THE LAUNCH.

Also joining previously announced song producers on THE LAUNCH, including world-renowned music mogul Scott Borchetta and OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder, are award-winning producers/songwriters busbee (P!nk, Shakira, Blake Shelton), Dann Huff (producer behind more than 50 #1 hit records ), Ian Kirkpatrick (behind multi-platinum hit songs from Jason Derulo and Selena Gomez), and Canada'sown Stephan Moccio, the music mastermind behind massive, inescapable hits like the quintuple-platinum "Wrecking Ball".

"We have assembled some of the most gifted and highly decorated talent in the music industry today to skyrocket THE LAUNCH into a new stratosphere of experience for both the emerging artists appearing on the series and for viewers across the country," said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. "We look forward to watching the emerging artists draw from the cumulative wealth of knowledge and experience that our mentors represent, and the sheer excitement of watching these musical industry powerhouses place their imprint on music's next big songs."

THE LAUNCH is an all-new, six-part music television series and international TV format delivers an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a new original song. The first season of the Canadian version of the program is currently shooting in Toronto, before the format is rolled-out internationally later this year.

A summary of music industry superstars currently announced to participate in THE LAUNCH include (In alphabetical order):

ALESSIA CARA
Award winning Canadian singer/songwriter and Def Jam Recordings artist Alessia Cara emerged onto the music scene in 2015 with the release of her iconic anthem "Here" which garnered more than 500,000 total streams in its first week, going on to become Spotify's Most Viral Song of 2015 selling more than 3 million copies. That same year she released her full-length certified platinum KNOW-IT-ALL. In summer 2016, Cara supported Coldplay on their European and North American tour before hitting the road to headline her 'KNOW-IT-ALL PT II' tour. Cara lent her voice to "How Far I'll Go," the official song for Disney's animated film Moana; and her multi-platinum #1 hit single "Scars to Your Beautiful" is Cara's gut-wrenching take on female identity. Her most recent #1 hit with Zedd, "Stay" has sold more than 2 million copies and has been called the "song of the summer". A JUNO award winner for 2016 Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Cara has also been nominated for an American Music Award for Best New Artist of the Year, People's Choice Award for Favourite Breakout Artist, Billboard Award for Best New Artist, BET Award for Best New Artist, BBC Awards for Song of The Year, and 5 MTV VMAs, to name a few. 

BOY GEORGE
Universally recognized as one of the music industry's most iconic artists, Boy George first appeared on TOP OF THE POPS with Culture Club in 1982, and has sold more than 100 million singles and 50 million albums worldwide. In 1984, Culture Club won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and BRIT Awards for Best British Group and Best British Single that same year. Culture Club became the first group since The Beatles to have three Top 10 hits in America from a debut album, and the first group in music history to have an album certified diamond in Canada.

busbee 
busbee is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer. He is based in Los Angeles and has worked extensively in Nashville, London, and numerous other territories. Many of his biggest hits as a songwriter have been 50/50 collaborations, including "Try" by P!nk, "My Church" by Maren Morris, "The Fighter" by Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood, and "Dark Side" by Kelly Clarkson. In addition, busbee was a cowriter on the recent crossover smash "H.O.L.Y." by Florida Georgia Line. Originally a classically trained jazz musician, busbee has collaborated with a wide range of artists as both a producer and songwriter, including Gwen Stefani, Lady Antebellum, Martin Garrix, Usher, Jon Bellion, Blake Shelton, Timbaland, and Kid Cudi.

DANN HUFF 
An award-winning session musician and record producer behind more than 50 #1 hit records since he started his career in L.A. and Nashville decades ago. Dann Huff has produced various artists including Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Hunter Hayes, Jewel, Megadeth, Martina McBride, and Lonestar, to name just a few. The three-time Country Music Association Awards (CMAs) Musician of the Year winner, the four-time Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) winner for Guitar Player of the Year, and the Country Producer of the Decade by Billboard Magazine in 2010, has played guitar on the albums of artists including Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Loggins, Reba McEntire, Celine Dion, Bob Seger, Shania Twain, Michael Bolton, Luther Vandross, Boz Scaggs, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Whitney Houston, and numerous more. 

FERGIE
Influencing a generation of stars to follow, Fergie remains pop's leading lady. On September 21, the eight-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum solo artist doubles down on her anxiously awaited visual experience and second full-length album, Double Dutchess — the first release from Dutchess Music, the label she founded in partnership with BMG in 2017. The album follows her 2006 debut solo release The Dutchess, which sold 7.2 million albums and 29 million tracks around the globe and yielded three #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits: "London Bridge," "Glamorous," and "Big Girls Don't Cry" and Top 5 smashes "Fergalicious" and "Clumsy." She also remains a driving force in The Black Eyed Peas whose legacy eclipses sales of 35 million records and 60 million tracks over the course of four multi-platinum offerings.

IAN KIRKPATRICK
A Grammy Award-nominated producer and songwriter, Ian Kirkpatrick has landed a dozen singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and is behind hits including Selena Gomez's critically acclaimed "Bad Liar" and Dua Lipa's #1 single on the U.K. singles chart "New Rules". Along with earning a Grammy® nomination for his work on Justin Bieber's multi-platinum album Purpose, he's also produced and written hit singles like Jason Derulo's #1 Top 40 single "Want to Want Me", Nick Jonas's certified single "Levels", and Andy Grammer's platinum hit "Fresh Eyes" and gold-certified "Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)."

JULIA MICHAELS
Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, performer, and 2017's biggest global breakout star, Julia Michaels' 2016 debut single "Issues" was certified RIAA double-platinum in the U.S., and crossed worldwide consumption of 6 million units in less than six months, becoming the best-selling song by a new artist and the highest on-demand audio streaming song by a new artist released in 2017 according to Nielsen Music. Michaels has also solidified herself as one of pop music's most in-demand songwriters, co-writing a string of Billboard Hot 100 hits alongside musician Justin Tranter, including smashes like Justin Bieber's "Sorry," Nick Jonas ft. Tove Lo's "Close," Selena Gomez's "Good for You" [feat. A$AP Rocky] and "Hands To Myself," and hits for many more top artists. The cumulative worldwide stream count for songs she has co-written exceeds 10 billion to date.

JENNIFER NETTLES
Country music star Jennifer Nettles is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and performer, and recipient of the prestigious Crystal Milestone Award as the first female artist to be the solo songwriter on an Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song of the Year winner since 1972. Nettles has been recognized with five awards by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) for her songwriting prowess, including the emotionally charged # 1 Platinum hit "Stay" which earned  Nettles a Grammy, an ACM, and Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. In 2015, Jennifer made her Broadway debut as Roxy Hart in the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking musical Chicago. A year later, she released two critically-acclaimed Big Machine Records' albums – Playing With Fire and To Celebrate Christmas.

NIKKI SIXX  
Celebrated international rock icon Nikki Sixx is the founding member of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M.; a three-time New York Times best-selling author, a philanthropist, and photographer whose first exhibition in partnership with Leica Camera is scheduled this fall. Sixx is also the host of two nationally syndicated radio shows through iHeartMedia, Sixx Sense and The Side Show Countdown.

RYAN TEDDER
Charismatic front man of the Grammy-nominated pop-rock group OneRepublic, Tedder is an in-demand hit songwriter, and Grammy award-winning record producer, behind OneRepublic's massive global smash hits "Counting Stars" and "Apologize", and 2007 hit song "Bleeding Love", which he co-wrote, that went on to become an international hit for Leona Lewis. Tedder also wrote and co-produced the #1 international hit "Halo" for Beyoncé, as well as "XO" from the singer's hit visual album BEYONCÉ; the smash "Rumour Has It" for Adele; and more recently, "Remedy" from Adele's album 25.

SHANIA TWAIN 
Recognized as the top-selling country artist of all-time, five-time Grammy Award-winner, Canadian-born, and internationally acclaimed musical artist Shania Twain has sold 90 million albums worldwide. The undisputed "Queen of Country Pop", Twain is the powerhouse voice behind a string of hits including "You're Still The One", "From This Moment On", and "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" to name only a few. A Canadian-born artist and author of the best-selling memoir From This Moment, Twain has achieved an unprecedented three Diamond-certified albums; headlined a show-stopping, two-year Las Vegas residency in 2012; and was recognized as the 2016 Billboard Women in Music Icon Award-winner. Shania NOW, Twain's fifth full-length album led by the declaratory first single "Life's About to Get Good", is slated for release on September 29.

STEPHAN MOCCIO 
Classically trained impresario, Oscar and Grammy-nominated artist Stephan Moccio is a Canadian producer, songwriter, composer, recording artist and musician behind some of music's most massive, inescapable hits. In 2013, Moccio co-penned the quintuple-platinum song "Wrecking Ball" for Miley Cyrus. Following the song's success, Moccio quickly became one of the industry's most sought-after and in-demand producers and songwriters, going on to co-write and co-produce the two end credit songs for the film Fifty Shades of Grey: the quintuple-platinum "Earned It" (The Weeknd) and "I Know You" (Skylar Grey), which appeared on the film's platinum selling soundtrack. Previously, Moccio co-wrote the Celine Dion hit "A New Day Has Come", which spent 21 weeks at #1 on the Billboard AC chart, and marked Celine Dion's record-breaking comeback in 2002. He also produced and co-wrote the quintuple-platinum song "I Believe" for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

CTV is giving viewers in the Greater Toronto Area an opportunity to experience the excitement first-hand by attending a taping of THE LAUNCH. The studio is located just east of downtown Toronto, and is accessible by TTC with free parking available within a five-minute walk from the studio. Participants interested in attending a taping can visit CTV.ca/TheLaunch for ticket information or RSVP by emailing LaunchAudience@InsightTV.com with subject line "THE LAUNCH Tickets". Note: include the number of guests, along with full names of everyone attending. All audience members must be at least 11 years of age and those under the age of 16-years-old must be accompanied by an adult.

Reinventing the music television series genre, THE LAUNCH debuts a new and unique format, documenting an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to break a new artist and bring a song to life. In each hour-long episode, a group of unsigned emerging artists are mentored in the creation of a new original song by a panel of internationally renowned hit makers and mentors – from discovery to stardom in just two days. THE LAUNCH takes viewers on a fresh journey every week, unveiling new talent and new songs in each episode.

Following in the successful footsteps of CANADIAN IDOL, THE IHEARTRADIO MMVAs, THE JUNO AWARDS, the MuchMusic and Coca-Cola Covers competition, and most recently, the launch of iHeartRadio Canada, THE LAUNCH was put into development in January 2016. The series was co-developed by and is produced in association with Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group, Paul Franklin of Eureka, and Bell Media, in partnership with John Brunton and Lindsay Cox of Insight Productions. The format is currently being readied for an upcoming international roll-out.

THE LAUNCH is executive produced by Scott Borchetta, Randy Lennox and John Brunton; Lindsay Coxand Paul Franklin are Showrunners and Executive Producers; Executive Producers for Bell Media are Robin Johnston and Corrie Coe who is also Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming, Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media.

SOURCE: CTV

Animated Film Made for Less Than $1,000 Selected for International Film Festival

The Blood Pope

Traditionally, only large studios with big budgets have been able to afford to create 3-D animated films. Today, an amateur with a home computer can create 3-D animated films engaging enough to be included in major film festivals.

As evidence of this "democratization" of 3D animation, consider that The Blood Pope www.TheBloodPope.com — a 3D animated short film created for less than $1,000 - has been selected for an international debut at The World Animation Celebration, which will be held in Los Angeles from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1.

The World Animation Celebration

The World Animation Celebration is the United States' first international animation festival and focuses on promoting the brightest, most innovative, emerging talent from all over the world, showcasing their films and achievements as original filmmakers. Hosted by Sony Pictures Animation, The World Animation Celebration is presented by Animation Libation Studios and Animation Magazine.

The Blood Pope is an original work of historical science-fiction based upon actual events in 1492, when an alchemist attempted to use transfusions to extend the life of Pope Innocent VIII. The Blood Pope was created on a home computer using iClone from Reallusion, a software package that does for 3D animated film-making what desktop publishing did for magazine and book production.

The writer and animator of The Blood Pope, Geoffrey James, is the author of numerous books, hundreds of feature articles, and an award-winning blog on Inc.com, where he is a Contributing Editor.

"Working in my spare time and with no formal training in animation, I was able to take my story idea from conception to completion without any studio involvement," says James. "I'm honored that the organizers of The World Animation Celebration believe that The Blood Pope is worthy of wider attention."

Previously, The Blood Pope won the Most Innovative Animated Film Award at The Something Wicked Film Festival and an Award of Recognition from The IndieFEST Film Awards. It was selected for Denver's Supernova Outdoor Festival of Digital Animation and Art.

The Trailer:

SOURCE: Geoffrey James

007 ELEMENTS: A new James Bond Cinematic Installation

007 ELEMENTS - Solden Exterior Render (PRNewsfoto/007 ELEMENTS)

007 ELEMENTS is a new James Bond cinematic installation opening this winter, built inside the summit of the Gaislachkogl Mountain in Sölden.

The name 007 ELEMENTS reflects the visitor's journey through a series of galleries, each distilling the craft of the signature elements that define a James Bond film. The installation will focus on Spectre , which was shot in Sölden and will feature other titles in the long-running 24 film Bond franchise.

The collaboration between the project's Creative Director, Neal Callow (Art Director on Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre) and Optimist Inc. Head of Design, Tino Schaedler and his team has resulted in an immersive, interactive and educational experience that places visitors inside the world of 007 while revealing how that world is made.

"Our aim with 007 ELEMENTS is to tell the story of the making of 007 films in an ultra-modern, emotive and engaging way," Callow explains. "We want to use this incredible location to place our guests into Bond's environment, and bring the stories to life in a unique and unforgettable way."

Located 3,050 meters above sea level, the 1,300 square meter building has been constructed within the mountain and is arranged over two levels. Blending seamlessly with its surroundings, the impressive structure reveals itself through a tunnel and unfolds into two main areas offering spectacular views of the Tyrolean valleys.

Combining state-of-the-art technology with stark contemporary architecture, 007 ELEMENTS creates a captivating experience with a dramatic cinematic soundscape set in nature's awe-inspiring surroundings.

The bespoke new building to house the installation was designed and is currently being constructed by Obermoser Architects. Tyrolean architect, Johann Obermoser and his team have been planning and realising award-winning commercial and residential buildings since 1983 including the spectacular ice Q restaurant on the summit of the Gaislachkogl and the Gaislachkogelbahn and Giggijochbahn cable car stations in Sölden.

007 ELEMENTS is a partnership between EON Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) who jointly own the rights to the James Bond films, and Cable Car Companies Sölden.

Architect Johann Obermoser’s concept drawing of the building located 3,050 meters above sea level in Sölden, Austria to house the new James Bond cinematic installation.

About EON Productions
EON Productions Limited and Danjaq LLC are wholly owned and controlled by the Wilson/Broccoli family. Danjaq is the US based company that co-owns, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, the copyright in the existing James Bond films and controls the right to produce future James Bond films. EON Productions, an affiliate of Danjaq, is the UK based production company that makes the James Bond films and together with Danjaq controls all worldwide merchandising. The 007 franchise has produced twenty-four films since 1962.

www.007.com

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world's deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network EPIX, which is available throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco and digital distributors. In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms and interactive ventures and is producing premium short-form content for distribution.

www.mgm.com

About Cable Car Companies Sölden
Cable Car Companies Sölden stands for innovation, excellence and state-of-the-art technology. One of the leading ski lift companies in the Alps, the company is proud of its architectural masterpieces in the Sölden ski resort. These include the BIG 3 (viewing platforms on three different 3000-meter-high mountains), the two most powerful cable cars in Europe, the Gaislachkogelbahn and the new Giggijochbahn, and the spectacular ICE Q restaurant on the summit of the Gaislachkogl. Sölden enjoys the second highest number of guest nights in Austria - second only to the capital city of Vienna.

www.soelden.com

About Obermoser Architects
Leading Austrian architect, Obermoser arch-omo zt gmbh has been creating and constructing award winning commercial and residential buildings since 1983. Tyrolean architect Johann Obermoser and his team are responsible for the Gaislachkoglbahn, ice Q restaurant and the impressive Giggijochbahn in Sölden.

www.arch-omo.at

About Optimist Inc.
Optimist Inc. is a creative agency that thrives on innovation and true firsts. They're founded on the simple belief that authenticity and passion reign supreme. Driven by the desire to create something truly unique, they seamlessly blend creative, strategy, design, content, and production talent to deliver one-of-a-kind solutions that are both real and socially viable.

www.optimistinc.com

007 Elements Solden Plaza Render - Featuring James Bond’s Family Crest (PRNewsfoto/007 ELEMENTS)

SOURCE: 007 ELEMENTS

Dierks Bentley And Bon Iver's S. Carey Team Up For "Hold The Light" From Upcoming Film 'Only The Brave'

Dierks Bently and Bon Iver's S. Carey Team Up for "Hold The Light" from Upcoming Film 'Only The Brave'

The distinctive vocals of multiplatinum singer/songwriter and Arizona native Dierks Bentley resonate throughout "Hold The Light," his first-ever song written and recorded for a motion picture. Also featuring Bon Iver's S. Carey, "Hold The Light" is featured in Columbia Pictures and Black Label Media's Only The Brave, in theaters nationwide October 20. The song was written by Bentley, Carey, Joe Trapanese and Jon Randall.

Bentley first took action in 2013 when he organized and hosted the Country Cares Concert in Arizona, which raised more than half a million dollars for the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The new song honors and embodies the spirit of the true heroism depicted in the film and is available now at all digital retailers and streaming partners, at strm.to/DB-HoldTheLight.

In composing the song, Bentley and Carey worked closely with Only The Brave composer Joe Trapanese. In the collaboration, the songwriters worked Trapanese's film theme into the music of the song, providing a seamless transition between song and score and resulting in a song that is integral to the film itself.

Bentley said, "This is at the top, if not the most meaningful experience I've ever been a part of. It hits me harder than any other song I've had a chance to be a part of. Over the last couple years I've met and gotten to know Brendan, the sole survivor, and my mom has met with some of the guys' families, and it's still unfathomable to put yourself in any of their shoes. But, our goal was to create a message of hope and love. I'm honored to have been a part of it."

Joseph Kosinski, the director of the film, added, "This story resonated deeply with Dierks from the beginning – he was one of the first to raise money to support the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and his commitment has been unwavering since then. The theme comes from the score and the lyrics come from the heart, so it was a natural fit for the film."

S. Carey said, "Working on this song with Joe, Dierks, and the whole crew was a true honor. My brother-in-law has been a wildlands fire fighter for the last several years so I had a somewhat personal starting point for the creative process. I'm extremely thankful to be able to honor these men, these true heroes, in the form of a song in a beautiful, powerful film."

To learn more about Only The Brave, see a testimonial video in which Bentley, Carey and survivor Brendan McDonough describe honoring the sacrifice of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, and find out how you can support the wildland firefighter communities through The Granite Mountain Fund, go to OnlyTheBrave-Movie.com.

Only The Brave - image via onlythebrave-movie.com

It's not what stands in front of you – it's who stands beside you. Only The Brave, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of one unit of local firefighters that through hope, determination, sacrifice, and the drive to protect families, communities, and our country become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the country. As most of us run from danger, they run toward it – they watch over our lives, our homes, everything we hold dear, as they forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with one fateful fire. 

The film stars Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, with Taylor Kitsch and Jennifer Connelly. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ken Nolanand Eric Warren Singer, based upon the GQ Article "No Exit" by Sean Flynn, the film is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Menchel, Erik Howsam, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Dawn Ostroff, and Jeremy Steckler.

Only The Brave - image via onlythebrave-movie.com

ABOUT DIERKS BENTLEY 
Current CMA "Male Vocalist of the Year" nominee Dierks Bentley has a "reputation as one of the hardest-working entertainers in country music" (Music Row) as "he sells out enormous tours, is a perennial favorite of format radio stations, and earns critical acclaim without compromising his artistic vision," (Entertainment Weekly). With 17 No. One hits and more than one billion digital streams he "continues to take risks that pay off," (USA Today) as his eighth studio album BLACK, has been hailed the "most fully-formed LP of his career," (TIME). 

After making its debut at the No. One position on Billboard's all-genre Top Albums Chart and Top Country Albums chart, BLACK has garnered nominations from the ACM, CMA, GRAMMY and Billboard Music Awards while earning three consecutive No. Ones; the gold-certified title track and the PLATINUM certified hits "Somewhere On A Beach" and "Different For Girls." "The bluegrass picker, the love  song singer and the stadium rocker all packaged together" (Associated Press) has been a Grand Ole Opry member for over a decade and has illustrated his depth and diversity as an artist with "ferocious live performances" (Fresno Bee) throughout his 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR, which claimed the top spot on Billboard's Hot Tours selling over 750 million tickets. 

For more information visit www.dierks.com.

The Trailer:

SOURCE: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Banksy Strikes Again: Basquiat, Graffiti, And The Issue Of Copyright Law

PA, CC BY-SA

By Enrico Bonadio, City, University of London

Banksy is back, in his own iconic style.

Two murals by the British street artist have been spotted on the walls of the Barbican Centre in London, which is hosting Boom for Real, a major exhibition dedicated to the genius of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The first mural represents a ferris wheel (with Basquiat-inspired crowns replacing the wheel’s passenger cars) with people queuing up at the ticket booth. It makes fun of the exhibition’s organisers, confirmed by Banksy’s Instagram post presenting the new artwork: “Major new Basquiat show opens at the Barbican – a place that is normally very keen to clean any graffiti from its walls.”

Basquiat himself started his career in the 1970s spraying artworks, messages and tags in the streets of New York City, often with his schoolmate and graffiti artist Al Diaz.

The second Barbican mural depicts a figure being frisked by two policemen, which bears more than just a likeness to Basquiat’s 1982 piece, Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump. Again, Banksy seems to mock the exhibition celebrating a former graffiti artist, highlighting how harshly street artists – who frequently face serious legal consequences including jail time – are treated by the police.

Saving valuable art?
Would it be possible to prevent the removal of Banksy’s new creations? It is difficult to foresee what the fate of these potentially very valuable murals will be. The walls belong to the City of London Corporation, which has not yet decided whether to keep them or even protect them. As has often happened in the past with Banksy’s street artworks, they may soon be cut from the wall, exhibited and then offered for sale for six-figure sums.

The elusive Bristol street artist has strongly disapproved of such removals. But he has never taken legal action to try to prevent removal by relying on copyright and moral rights laws.

This is probably due to the fact that Banksy often paints his murals illegally, namely without the authorisation of the owner of the wall, which exposes him to prosecution for defacement of property. Plus, he believes that copyright law is “for losers”.

But let’s imagine for a minute that Banksy changes his mind and wants to react in court against the removal and “indoor-isation” of his murals. Could he successfully invoke the so-called “integrity right”, which allows artists to oppose treatment of artworks that are prejudicial to their honour or reputation?

On the one hand, he could argue that his reputation is harmed by such treatment of his street artworks, as the public may think he has condoned it, which would tarnish his anti-establishment and anti-consumerist image.

On the other, the copyright statute does not expressly provide artists with the ability to oppose the exhibition, or in general publication, of their works in contexts different from those chosen by the artists themselves: which may represent an obstacle in any proceedings against someone who exhibits Banksy’s removed murals.

Could the Basquiat estate sue Banksy?
But could Banksy find himself embroiled in a legal fight for an alleged copyright infringement? We have seen how his own murals have incorporated an entire Basquiat work and the stylised crowns used and popularised by the American artist.

Jean Michel Basquiat was a street artist himself before he became the darling of a New York art scene dominated by Andy Warhol. epa, CC BY-SA

The first issue is related to Banksy’s anonymity. Should the Basquiat estate plan on going after the famous British artist, who should they sue? Despite various theories surrounding his identity, nobody outside his inner circle really knows who Banksy is. That may not be an insurmountable obstacle, though. A legal action could probably be started against the entity behind the banksy.co.uk website and the related Instagram account which are displaying pictures of the murals.

Also, far from just being an homage to Basquiat and a lawful use of a copyrighted work (for example, under the fair dealing exception for criticism or review), the two murals, especially the one depicting the figure frisked by two police officers, might be considered as unlawfully reproducing substantial parts of copyright-protected pieces of art. Canvases, prints, posters and even tea cups depicting Banksy’s murals can already be readily found on the internet, produced by people not linked to the street artist.

Most probably, such legal action will never get up much steam. The Basquiat estate will find it counter-productive to pick up a legal fight with the most appreciated urban artist in the world. They may be quite happy with the increased interest the murals have garnered for the current exhibition.

But street artists like Banksy who frequently incorporate in their murals copyrighted works of others may soon need to pay more attention if they want to avoid getting into legal troubles. The more graffiti artists enter the mainstream and increase their notoriety, the higher the chances they will receive complaints and be condemned if their works infringe others’ copyright.

Whatever happens to Banksy’s murals, I wonder what Basquiat, if he were around today, would make of all this. He might have been delighted about the clever murals, having started out himself as a graffiti artist. Or he might have thanked Banksy for creating a nice media-friendly buzz for his exhibition. But as an artist who later successfully entered the professional art market, and understood its driving forces, Basquiat might also think: “Hey Banksy, that’s my stuff. That’s not cool.”

About Today's Contributor:
Enrico Bonadio, Senior Lecturer in Law, City, University of London

This article was originally published on The Conversation. 

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Douglas Blackmon To Speak About His New Documentary "The Harvest"

Douglas Blackmon Author of “The Harvest”

September 28, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., Pulitzer Prize-winning author Douglas Blackmon and Rose Scott, WABE's host of "A Closer Look," will be at the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library to discuss Blackmon's new documentary, The Harvest.  

The film tells the story of the integration of public schools in one Mississippi Delta town, and how decades later, schools are once again segregating.  Through this local lens Blackmon explores a paradox of modern American life—how a society that so widely defeated legally mandated segregation, at the same time failed in building the diverse, interwoven, empathetic communities in which the vast majority of Americans say they want to live. 

Blackmon won the Pulitzer Prize, Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II. He is the host and executive producer of American Forum, a weekly public affairs program broadcasted on PBS. 

"We are honored to have Douglas Blackmon and Rose Scott at our library to talk about, The Harvest, and to engage the audience in discussion about the struggle for school integration and its impact on the quest for diversity today," said Library CEO Loretta Parham.

This program is co-sponsored by Georgia Humanities and The AUC Woodruff Library and will take place at the Library, 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30314. The event is free.

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Woodruff Library is a member of the nation's oldest and largest consortium of historically black colleges and universities, which includes Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College. 

The Library provides high level information resources and services in support of student and faculty success. The Library is winner of the 2016 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award from the Association of Collegiate and Research Libraries.  

Learn more at www.auctr.edu.

Georgia Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities serving the people of Georgia. In a spirit of collaboration, Georgia Humanities gathers, preserves, and shares the state's distinctive stories through a range of cultural and educational programs and resources. 

Its work nurtures Georgians' understanding of themselves and of their state's place in history and in the world, and it fosters thoughtful and engaged citizenship. 

For more information, visit GeorgiaHumanities.org.

SOURCE: Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library

$1 Million Donation Goes to Help 'The Grief Girl' Save Lives

R U OK? Teen Depression and Suicide

Kristi Hugstad, author of "What I Wish I'd Known: Finding Your Way Through the Tunnel of Grief" and "R U OK? Teen Depression and Suicide" recently received an incredible gift: an anonymous "angel" donated 100,000 copies of her book "R U OK? Teen Depression and Suicide" for distribution to schools and youth organizations around the country.

The donation, which is the retail equivalent to $1 million, will help Hugstad in her mission to open an important conversation with teens – one that seeks to dispel the stigma associated with depression and mental illness, and offers hope to teens considering self-harm or suicide.

"This donation is an amazing display of generosity and faith in my cause," Hugstad said. "I visit schools and talk to teens on a regular basis and I know that many are struggling without the resources they need to cope in a healthy manner. This book can help open up the conversations that save lives." 

Those conversations are happening, thanks to Hugstad's mission as a health educator, grief counselor, public speaker, blogger and host of her own podcast and radio show. Previously a health and fitness guru, Hugstad's career – and life – took a new trajectory four years ago when her husband, Bill, completed suicide by throwing himself in front of a train.

"It was an experience that no one should ever go through," Hugstad recalls. "But in dealing with it, I found my true mission in life – helping others who are going through what my husband went through."

That mission now includes distributing the 100,000 copies of "R U OK? Teen Depression and Suicide" where they are needed most. As part of this endeavor, Hugstad has asked for nominations for schools or organizations to receive copies of the book. 

To request books for a school or organization, please visit The Grief Girl. According to Hugstad, the lives of teens you love could depend on it.

"Teens today have so much to deal with, from depression to bullying to social media pressure to gender confusion to alcohol and drug abuse – and the list goes on," Hugstad said. "This book is my way of saying, 'hey, we understand what you're going through and we want you to know there's help out there.'"

Kristi Hugstad, The Grief Girl

About Kristi Hugstad

Kristi Hugstad is the author of "What I Wish I'd Known: Finding Your Way Through the Tunnel of Grief" and "R U OK? Teen Suicide and Depression." She is also a professional speaker, certified grief recovery specialist at South Coast Behavioral Health, grief and loss facilitator for Addicts in Recovery, and credentialed health educator. Hugstad hosts "The Grief Girl" Podcast and "The Grief Girl" OC Talk Radio Show, and is a longtime blogger for Huffington Post. 

For more information on Hugstad, visit www.thegriefgirl.com.

SOURCE: The Grief Girl