Video: Warner Bros. Consumer Products and FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Kick-Off Special Anniversary Exhibition for The Wizard Of Oz With Star-Studded Gala

World-Famous Exhibition Gets a Hollywood Welcome to the West Coast with “Yellow Carpet” at FIDM Museum & Galleries in Downtown Los Angeles

Event Guests Among the First in Los Angeles to view The Ruby Slipper Collection, The Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition and the My Pretty Collection from Tarina Tarantino

Exhibition Features Sneak Peek of Renderings for The Wizard of Oz Collector’s Editions Coming to Blu-ray and DVD on September 29 from Warner Home Video

BURBANK, Calif., June 10 /PRNewswire/ – In continued celebration of the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz in 2009, Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) held a gala celebration tonight to unveil The Ruby Slipper Collection and The Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, now open to the public from June 10-21 in downtown Los Angeles. The Exhibition will also feature the My Pretty Collection from Tarina Tarantino. As part of the exclusive partnership, a design contest was also held to challenge FIDM students to create the best modern interpretation of Dorothy’s iconic Ruby Slippers, as well as develop a jewelry collection inspired by the timeless film. Renowned accessories designer Tarina Tarantino and famed FIDM alumnus Nick Verreos (“Project Runway”) mentored the FIDM students during the design competition.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/wizardofoz/38754/

To kick-off the exhibition, The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Collection was officially unveiled to celebrities and “fashionistas” at a private celebration on June 9 at FIDM. The “yellow carpet” event was attended by such notables as Kristin Cavallari, George Lopez, Debi Mazar, Nestor Carbonell and Shannon Kenny, Lisa Loeb, Ashley Eckstein, Linda Ramone, Amanda Geragos, Blanca Soto, and Jennifer Tisdale.

The Ruby Slipper Collection consists of modern interpretations of the classic Ruby Slippers, as created by noted names in designer footwear and fashion. Debuted in September 2008 at Saks Fifth Avenue to kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, designs from 19 of the fashion industry’s masterminds are featured in the Collection, including: A. Testoni, Abaete, Alberta Ferretti, Betsey Johnson, Botkier, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Lisa Pliner, Manolo Blahnik, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Roger Vivier, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Tibi and Tuleh. The FIDM student winner will join this esteemed roster to complete the Collection as the 20th designer. The Ruby Slipper Collection, in its entirety, will be auctioned off in September 2009 to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

The Inspirations of Oz collection of fine art features one-of-a-kind interpretive works from an acclaimed array of artisans including Angelo Aversa, Romero Britto, Phillip Graffham, Gris Grimly, Marcus Antonius Jansen, Johnny Johns, William Joyce, Joel Nakamura, Nelson De La Nuez, Glen Orbik, Ragnar, Alex Ross, Todd White and Yakovetic.

Additionally, the exhibition features a sneak peek of Warner Home Video’s upcoming limited-edition gift sets, works of art in their own right, that pay homage to the beloved film. The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Editions, restored in high definition on Blu-ray and DVD, will see the film looking more colorful and more magical than ever. Packed with treasured collectibles and all-new bonus content, the gift sets will be released on September 29, 2009. Warner Home Video launched a grand The Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon Tour that will travel across the United States, from Los Angeles to New York, visiting cities and balloon festivals all across the country to promote and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the film.

Working with three major FIDM design disciplines, including Footwear, Fashion and Accessories (jewelry), student designers were given limited time to submit their Wizard of Oz-inspired work for each category. A panel of fashion experts was tapped to judge the students’ footwear and jewelry and to select one lucky winner from each of these categories. The winning design in the Footwear category will be added to The Ruby Slipper Collection, and its creator, Kaddie Lam, will be flown to New York City for The Wizard of Oz Gala Event this fall. The winning student designer in the Accessories category, Francesca Keese, will also be flown to New York for the fall event. The Fashion component took place within FIDM’s SuperLab, a design hub within the school’s program, and four FIDM alumni were selected to create a piece based on characters from the film, including Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. These designs are being showcased at the FIDM Museum & Galleries during The Wizard of Oz Exhibition run.

The Ruby Slipper Collection and The Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition at FIDM Museum & Galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising consists of 2000 square feet of gallery space, and is located at 919 S. Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. The Exhibition is open to the general public and runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., June 10 – 21.

The Wizard of Oz merchandise and collectibles, including dolls, games, apparel, accessories, novelties and much more is available at specialty retailers. Select product information can be found at www.thewizardofozshop.com.

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved and iconic motion pictures of all time filled with timeless sentiments and values cherished by multiple generations. Originally released in 1939, more than one billion consumers have experienced the classic story of Dorothy and friends in the Land of Oz.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

FIDM Museum & Galleries at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

The FIDM Museum Foundation, located at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, was founded in 1978 in Los Angeles, California. It is non-profit, and located on the Los Angeles campus. It is comprised of multiple museum-gallery spaces and an impressive historical and contemporary costume collection.

The FIDM Museum & Galleries space is 10,000 square feet, and mounts two or three major exhibitions each year. Annually, the Museum plays host to the movie industry by presenting its highly anticipated exhibition, The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design. This exhibition salutes the work of motion picture costume designers from major films, including Academy Award winning and nominated designs. In 2005, the FIDM Museum & Galleries hosted the first exhibition of costumes from all six films in the Star Wars saga called Dressing A Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars.

FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

FIDM/ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private college for specialized professional education, accredited by WASC and NASAD, granting Associate of Arts degrees. In 2005, FIDM initiated its first Baccalaureate Program, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Over the last 35 years, FIDM has graduated more than 35,000 students, preparing them for careers in Fashion, Graphics, Interior Design and Entertainment.

The college is headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, with other campus locations in Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco; 7,500 full-time students.

Tarina Tarantino

Tarina Tarantino jewelry, handbag and lifestyle collections can be found in the best luxury fashion stores internationally as well as her trademark pink and green jewel box boutiques in Los Angeles, New York, Milan, Tokyo and Osaka and online at www.tarinatarantino.com.

Warner Home Video

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

The Wizard of Oz and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) Turner Entertainment Co.

(s09)

Contacts:

    Warner Bros. Consumer Products
    Rita Cooper
    Director, Worldwide Public Relations
    rita.cooper@warnerbros.com
    818/954-3821

    FIDM Museum & Galleries
    Shirley Wilson
    Public Relations
    SWilson@fidm.com
    213/624-1200 x 2625

    Warner Home Video
    Ronnee Sass
    VP, Publicity and Promotion
    818/977-6439
    or
    Marie Remelius or Karen Penhale
    Carl Samrock Public Relations
    E-mail requests for materials:
    marie@cs-pr.com karenpenhale@cs-pr.com
    818/260-0777

    Tarina Tarantino
    Melissa Rosenfield
    Public Relations
    melissa@tarinatarantino.com
    213/533-8070

SOURCE Warner Bros. Consumer Products