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14-Year-Old Wins Top Prize in Dippin' Dots Online Contest

Posted on: Thursday, 4 October 2007, 18:00 CDT

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Dippin' Dots(R) today announced the winners of its first-ever, user-generated online contest, the "Adventures of Packy Movie Mash-Up Challenge," awarding the top producers with a sweet treat -- cash and a personal supply of the famous beaded ice cream.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070524/CLTH063LOGO ) (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070524/CLTH063-A http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070629/CLF069 )

With more than 160 submissions received, the company's panel of judges determined the top five movies based on the site's visitor ratings and views, plus creativity and originality. Of the finalist submissions, "Pirate Plunderings" produced by Scott McKenzie, 14, from Boise, Idaho, was voted the Grand Prize winner by the contest community. McKenzie will receive $2,500 and Dippin' Dots for a year.

In the next phase of voting, dubbed the Wildcard Round, finalist movies were posted on YouTube, with the most-viewed entry determining the victor. Following two weeks of head-to-head competition among the finalists, James Matthew Walker, 15, from Douglasville, Ga., was crowned the winner with his entry aptly titled "King Dot" -- receiving more than 7,000 of the total 24,000 views. Walker will take home $1,000 and a six-month supply of Dippin' Dots ice cream.

"'Adventures of Packy' marked our introduction into the world of user- generated content and we're excited about the response it produced from the online community," said Dippin' Dots spokesman Terry Reeves. "Our goal was to offer an interactive contest that directly connected us to our young fans through technology. We received a number of creative entries that integrated the Dippin' Dots brand with playful storylines -- and our two winners skillfully meshed these elements to produce great entertainment."

In the Adventures of Packy Movie Mash-up Challenge, contestants were invited to create an animated movie online featuring the brand's mascot, Packy. Via an easy-to-use, web-based game tool, entrants produced 15-to 90- second movies using the all-in-one online director's tool. The program allowed them to select various background scenes, animations, props and soundtracks provided by Dippin' Dots, as well as add bubble-text dialogue, similar to a comic book.

Dippin' Dots partnered with branded entertainment firm matrixx of Santa Monica, Calif., to develop and promote the Adventures of Packy Challenge. The contest also included online marketing efforts and a text-based interactive mobile campaign, promoted both in-store and through its network of national accounts.

The contest was open to legal U.S. residents between the ages of 8 and 25 at the time of entry. All entries were submitted by Aug. 14, 2007. No purchase was necessary to win. A panel of judges selected the finalists and contest members were able to vote for their favorite entry once-per-day from Aug. 15 to Aug. 29, 2007. The wildcard round ran from Aug. 30 to Sept. 16, 2007.

Dippin' Dots are tiny, cryogenically frozen beads of ice cream, yogurt, sherbet and flavored ice. Invented in 1988 by microbiologist Curt Jones, Dippin' Dots offers more than two-dozen different flavors, plus seasonal flavors. The company's administrative and production headquarters are located in Paducah, Kentucky. Dippin' Dots are sold in 300 franchised retail locations and thousands of entertainment venues and special events nationwide.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070524/CLTH063LOGOhttp://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070524/CLTH063-Ahttp://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070629/CLF069AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Dippin' Dots(R)

CONTACT: Terry Reeves of Dippin' Dots, +1-270-415-3143,terree@dippindots.com

Web site: http://www.dippindots.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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