As part of the Ultrabook™ Experience program, Intel Corporation and W Hotels today announced the global premiere of the winning films from "Four Stories," an innovative short film series judged by a panel of judges, including Roman Coppola and produced by The Directors Bureau. The films debut tonight at a private screening at W London – Leicester Square, followed by a premiere at W Los Angeles – Westwood on Dec. 4 and a premiere at W Hong Kong on Dec. 14. The films can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/fourstories.
Intel and W Hotels embarked upon "Four Stories" to support rising visionaries in filmmaking and showcase their work to a global audience. The four winning scripts, inspired by the intense energy of the global jet-setter and the mobility of the Intel Ultrabook, were chosen from nearly 1,000 submissions from aspiring filmmakers around the world and developed into 10-minute short films. Roman Coppola and his production company, The Directors Bureau, matched the four winning scripts with some of today's most talented young directors and actors to bring the screenwriters' visions to life. The resulting four original screenplays were filmed on location at W Hotels across the globe including W Washington D.C., W Doha Hotel & Residences, W Retreat & Spa Maldives, and W Mexico City, and feature the Intel-inspired Ultrabook.
"Intel is collaborating with innovators in travel, film, business, fashion and design to highlight amazing computing experiences created by the Ultrabook. Through the Four Stories collaboration with W Hotels, Intel is supporting and inspiring the next generation of artists and visionaries," said Johan Jervoe, Intel's vice president and director of Partner Marketing. "Each of the Four Stories films showcased the sleek mobility of the Ultrabook as inspiration for innovative filmmaking and storytelling, further merging creative art with technology."
Four Stories judge and executive producer Roman Coppola co-wrote and directed a fifth short film, "Die Again, Undead One," an intergalactic vampire tale, starring Jason Schwartzman and Margarita Kallas, which was shot on location at W Hollywood.
"Four Stories is about encouraging emerging talent in filmmaking," said Roman Coppola. "This collaboration supports a new generation of screenwriters, actors and directors showcase their work on a global level."
"As a global design powerhouse, W Hotels continues to identify and support rising visionaries in design, music, fashion and film," added Paul James, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection & W Hotels Worldwide. "Through our partnership with Intel, Four Stories seeks to celebrate the modern day jetsetter, the type of traveler who frequents W Hotels, while showcasing some of W's most glamorous award-winning properties around the globe."
After careful review from a panel of judges that included Coppola and other prominent industry leaders, the winning honors were awarded to:
Amy Jacobowitz from Los Angeles, whose screenplay was developed into "Modern/Love," filmed at W Doha with director Lee Toland Krieger and actors Robert Schwartzman and Naomi Scott.
Ben Saveg from Brooklyn, N.Y., whose screenplay was developed into "¡El Tonto!" filmed at W Mexico City with director Lake Bell and actor Kyle Mooney.
Adam Blampied from London, whose screenplay was developed into "Eugene" filmed at W Washington D.C. with director Spencer Susser and actors Michael Govier and Karolina Wydra.
Kahlil Joseph from Los Angeles, who wrote and directed "The Mirror Between Us," filmed at W Retreat & Spa Maldives with actors Nicole Beharie and Dan'ee Doty.
The "Four Stories" competition, launched globally in August, invited aspiring filmmakers to submit scripts with two criteria: films must be set at a W Hotel and feature the Intel-Inspired Ultrabook as a central plot component. Coppola, along with a panel of industry leaders, including actress Chloe Sevigny, actor Michael Pitt, actor PJ Ransone, W Hotels Global Music Director Michelangelo L'Acqua, Intel Chief Marketing Officer Deborah Conrad, VICE Executive Producer and Creative Director Eddy Moretti, screenwriter Jeff Baena, Vimeo Vice President of Creative Development Blake Whitman, and VICE Executive Creative Director Danny Gabai selected the winning scripts.
As part of the overall collaboration between Intel and W Hotels Worldwide, high-impact Ultrabook design installations by New York-based architects Gage/Clemenceau are being unveiled at W Hong Kong, W London – Leicester Square, W New York, W Paris – Opéra, W San Francisco and W Singapore, allowing both W guests and local residents to interact with the Ultrabook's innovative technology. Additionally, Ultrabook devices have been integrated in the "Whatever/Wherever" concierge experience at select W Hotels worldwide, further demonstrating the collaboration between technology and design to create impactful and beautiful experiences.