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IFL Ring Announcer, Tim Hughes, cast in MMA Movie, "Never Submit"

Press Release from Imperia Entertainment, Inc

Photos By Mike Renouard


   


\\BEVERLY HILLS, Calif./November 30,2006

SportWire/Imperia Entertainment, Inc. (Pink Sheets: IPEI) 

 

President James Hergott announced today that famed announcer for the

Olympic Games, Tim Hughes, has been cast as the ring announcer in the

mixed martial arts movie entitled "Never Submit" slated to begin filming March 2007.

"With a career spanning more than two decades, Tim Hughes is undeniably one

of the most well respected and seasoned veterans in the world of professional

 announcing and broadcasting" says "Never Submit" writer and director

James Hergott. "His ring credits include MMA events with the IFC, WFC and UCE

as well as the Sportfight promotion in Portland Oregon, owned and operated

by UFC veterans Randy "The Natural" Couture and Matt "The Law" Lindland.

Mr. Hughes has the kind of experience Imperia is looking for and I have no doubt

he will do a great job in this movie," adds Hergott.

 

According to "Never Submit" producer Cindy Ortiz, "Tim became the featured

ring voice for the International Fight League in the spring of 2006 and will continue

announcing their live events across the country as well as IFL programming

broadcast on Fox Sports Net when the 2007 season kicks off January 19th. He

came very highly recommended by Denaro Athletes sports agent Robert Roveta,

and after reviewing a multitude of his highlight reels and listening to some of his

voiceover tapes, we felt Tim Hughes would be a perfect fit."


Tim's voice was heard by an estimated 3.5 billion people around the world during

the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Notoriety ensued when Hughes

was selected to announce all of the medals, earning him the moniker "The Voice of

the Medals Plaza" in 2002 and paved the way to Athens, Greece for the 2004 Summer

Games. Tim was recently contacted by the Chinese Boxing Association and is

moving forward with plans to announce for them during the 2008 Summer Olympics

in Beijing China!


"With an impressive client list including NBC Olympics and NBC Sports, NEC Group,

CBS owned and operated KUTV, The Children's Miracle Network in the US

and Canada, and Sega Sports where he was the featured play-by-play voice

of "NCAA 2K3" football for Playstation, Xbox and GameCube games, Tim Hughes

has done it all and brings quite a bit to the table and we're glad to have him

on board," explains Hergott.


A cross country talent search kicked off November 19th at American

Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California and additional casting calls have

been announced for Chicago and Las Vegas in December and it is anticipated

the New Year will offer dates in Los Angeles/Orange County, Valencia, Manhattan,

Cincinnati, Toronto and possibly two cities in Texas. Updates will be available at

www.neversubmit.com.


Top MMA fighters including UFC light-heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell,

UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, UFC Hall of Fame veteran Ken Shamrock,

Pride FC welterweight contender Phil Baroni, The Ultimate Fighter-1 contract winner

and UFC fighter Forrest Griffin, The Ultimate Fighter-2 contract winner and UFC fighter

Rashad Evans, UFC middleweight title contender Mike "Quick" Swick,

UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck, IFC light-heavyweight champion Bobby Southworth,

IFL superfight contender Cole Escovedo, UFC heavyweight Christian Wellisch,

IKF and ISKA light-heavyweight world champion Cung Le,

Strikeforce competitor and former professional wrestler Dan Puder,

and former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski have either already

auditioned for Never Submit or have plans to do so in the coming months.

Pride Fighting Championships superstars Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua have already been cast.


"The outpouring of support for this project has been overwhelming. Top Hollywood

casting agents are submitting requests for private auditions for name talent having

graced the silver screen in recent years and a multitude of additional requests to 

host casting calls have been pouring in over the past two months," Hergott continues.

"Our staff is working overtime trying to keep up, but these are great problems to have."

Inquiries pertaining to fighters interested in auditioning for roles, potential sponsorship

opportunities available to companies/vendors and MMA media requests should be

made via e-mail to Never Submit Producer Cindy Ortiz at

cindy@imperiaentertainment.com.

Character descriptions and scripted scenes intended for audition preparation

purposes are now available for distribution and may be requested via e-mail @

cindy@imperiaentertainment.com
or downloaded directly from the movies website @
www.neversubmit.com.


ABOUT NEVER SUBMIT

Never Submit is an inspirational tale similar to Rocky, but the lead character is

an intelligent young man (as are most fighters competing in this sport) rather

than a beaten-down punch-drunk fighter. An amazing cast of characters will round

out this film; each from different walks of life; each with his own set of circumstances

and motivating factors driving him to be the best. For some, their best won't

be good enough.


Different roads bring them all to the same intersection where the human spirit is

put to the test. For these athletes, their hearts, physical skills and mental tenacity

decides the victor... and there can only be one. Never Submit takes movie goers

inside the methodical, fast paced, action packed, unpredictable and sometimes

controversial world of mixed martial arts, deemed by many to be the most

exciting sport on the planet.


James Hergott comments, "As a former Judo competitor, I have closely followed

this sport and have been a fan of MMA since its North American introduction in 1993.

Only during the past two years has mixed martial arts finally started to gain true

mainstream acceptance. Never Submit will appeal to the hardcore fans as well as

expose moviegoers to this emerging sport who may know very little, if anything,

about MMA when they enter the theater. My goal is to turn as many viewers into

MMA fans as possible by the closing credits."


"It is my intent as writer and director to portray the sport of MMA, the athletes

competing in it and the fans supporting it in a positive light. MMA isn't a barbaric

underground blood sport like it has been depicted in the past by other filmmakers.

It's a very intellectual sport; a physical chess match between men. Never Submit will

showcase the courage, integrity, commitment, athleticism and sportsmanship found

in these modern day gladiators and I'm looking forward to telling their stories. MMA

offers one of, if not the most diverse and talented pools of athletes found in any sport,

in any country, on any continent in the world and that's one of the things that

makes it so great," he adds.


Imperia Entertainment recently announced a partnership with TapouT Magazine

(www.tapoutmagazine.com) as part of a cross-country tour to promote the publication

as well as the movie. Stops at select dojos to hold auditions for Never Submit are

being finalized. TapouT Magazine readers can expect to see the mixed martial arts

movie prominently featured in the bi-monthly publication throughout the casting,

filming and theatrical release stages, as well as enjoy behind the scenes details from

Never Submit director James Hergott, one of TapouT Magazines newest contributors.


ABOUT IMPERIA ENTERTAINMENT

Imperia Entertainment, Inc. (
www.imperiaentertainment.com) is a company that

has emerged as a player in the area of independent film production and distribution,

once monopolized by the major film studios. In conjunction with its distribution

subsidiary, Imperia International Distribution, the company engages in investing in

and producing and distributing full-length feature films. Along with its equity interest

in "All That I Need" (www.allthatineed.net), released in theaters last December, and

now being marketed for DVD distribution, Imperia's film properties include its recently

completed feature film, "Say It in Russian (www.sayitinrussianmovie.com),"

starring Faye Dunaway and Agata Gotova, "Brothers," by Tarquin Gotch

("Home Alone"), "Never Submit," a feature film on the subject of mixed martial arts,

"Whiskers," a family film, made by Imperia's subsidiary, Muller Media, Inc.

(Pink Sheets:MUME), and the award-winning "Autograph" television series

(www.autograph.tv), which airs on the OlympuSAT system.


This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking

statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current

expectations of Imperia Entertainment, Inc. and members of its management as

well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective

investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees

of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results

may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements.

Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to

differ materially from those in forward-statements include fluctuation of operating

results, the ability to compete successfully and the ability to complete

before-mentioned transactions. The company undertakes no obligation to update

or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the

occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.


Source: Imperia Entertainment, Inc.


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