May 14, 1999

Starlight Runner Entertainment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WRITER/DIRECTOR JEFF GOMEZ RETURNS HOME TO HOST TEEN EVENT, READ FROM HIS NEVER SURRENDER & SCREEN RED LIGHT AUGUST AT LOWER EAST SIDE FEST

It will be a certain kind of homecoming for writer/film director Jeff Gomez on Saturday, May 30, when he returns to the streets of his youth to participate in the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts at the Theater for the New City. Gomez, who spent most of his childhood in the Baruch Projects on Houston Street and the East River Drive, will be joining celebrities such as Jimmy Breslin, Arthur Miller, Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara, Quentin Crisp, Lanford Wilson, and Edward Albee, in celebrating the artistry, diversity and potential of the people of the colorful Manhattan neighborhood.

Recognized by festival organizers as having achieved remarkable success in the interactive medium Gomez has been invited to emcee the festival’s “Plays By Kids 4 Kids” event on Saturday from 2 PM to 4:30 PM. Gomez’s job will be to keep the event flowing, and to converse with his teen audience using concepts culled from his new book-in-progress, Never Surrender. According to Gomez, the book will be a guide for teens who might be wrestling with loneliness, anxiety and isolation in an age where it’s easier to chat on your computer than talk to the person sitting at the desk beside you.

Additionally, Jeff Gomez’s short film, Red Light August, has been selected to close the Lower East Side Festival’s Film & Video Program on Saturday at 8 PM in the Theater for the New City’s Cabaret auditorium, 155 First Avenue. The story of a friendship between two youths haunted by addiction and sexual obsession, the 35mm film is an intensely personal work shot in Spanish Harlem and on the streets of the Lower East Side. Produced by Jonathan Gray, the film features a driving techno score, and cinematography by Hong Kong action shooter, Derek Wan. The film’s debut at the SlamDunk ‘99 Film Festival in Park City this past January helped to sign Gomez with Artists Management Group, a firm founded by Michael Ovitz with Rick Yorn and Julie Silverman Yorn. AMG also represents Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorcese, Cameron Diaz, and Robin Williams.

Gomez, who is of Puerto Rican and Jewish heritage, has earned a name for himself in the world of science fiction and fantasy entertainment. His Tolkien-influenced “Land of Corondor” stories have become a part of the universe of the phenomenally popular Magic: The Gathering trading card game. His Magic comic book series have sold nearly 2 million copies, and have been translated into five languages. He wrote and associate produced the Magic: The Gathering—BattleMage video game for the PC and Sony PlayStation, based on his characters and concepts. Jeff has gone on to write interactive story material for the Turok: Dinosaur Hunter video game for Nintendo 64, which has grossed over $100 million. His even more elaborate storyline for Turok 2: Seeds of Evil helped make it one of the most eagerly awaited sequels in video game history. The second Turok game shipped 1.4 million copies, and grossed over $90 million since it’s December ‘98 release. Gomez is now developing feature films, animation, and a major web based interactive project.

To demonstrate the creative explosion of the Lower East Side and the area’s importance to culture and tourism for New York City, a score of stars and over 100 performing arts organizations, independent artists, poets, politicians and film makers will join forces in the Lower East Side’s fourth annual Festival of the Arts, in and around Theater for the New City at First Avenue and East Tenth Street, Friday, May 28 through Sunday, May 30. This three-day indoor and outdoor festival is organized by TNC and a coalition of civic, cultural and business leaders and is free to all New Yorkers.

For press reservations and info, please contact Jonathan Slaff, (212) 924-0496.