PLANIT LAUNCHES CONVERGENCE MEDIA DIVISION

-- Agency Debuts Forward Thinking Division with Seven New Projects Approaching $4.5 Million in New Billings -- -- Seasoned Broadcast and Interactive Producer Joins Firm -- -- Agency Acquires Animation Shop --

Baltimore, Md. - May 14, 2003 - Planit, an integrated brand communications agency, today announced the creation of its convergence media division, a combination of broadcast, interactive and animation services. Building upon the agencys existing broadcast (television and radio) media production, planning, and buying services and interactive department, the new convergence media division was established in anticipation of client needs, particularly with interactive television in its early stage of development. The new division has already spawned seven new projects with agency fees approaching $4.5 million. Clients served include a global provider of intelligent optical networking systems, a large financial services institution, one of the nations top childrens hospitals, a human factors engineering firm, and a Washington, DC television station.

The development of a convergence media strategy is a natural next step in our progression as an agency. It enhances our existing advertising, direct response, public relations, and interactive capabilities," commented Matt Doud, president and co-founder of Planit. Convergence media will be a household name in the communications industry before we know it. We are happy to be ahead of the curve in this market," continued Doud.

Convergence media is, by definition, the synthesis of all forms of media. Planits convergence media division includes the following services: script-to-screen television production; radio advertising; commercial and public service announcement (PSA) creative services and production; broadcast programming; media planning and buying; 3D animation and motion graphics; games and advergames; corporate and educational DVD production; online advertising and advanced web development.

Planit has hired Steven Kostant as senior creative strategist to oversee the new division. Carlson Bull will serve as director of animation. Bulls firm, Eeltail Interactive, was absorbed by Planit, a deal which included three additional animators. Joel Fisher, who joined the Planit team in early 2002, complements the team as director of interactive services.

Steven Kostant, Senior Creative Strategist
Steven Kostant is a twenty-year veteran of production, communicating story through traditional and digital media. His award-winning work as a television, film and interactive producer has benefited a wide range of clients, including AOLTimeWarner, BBC, Children's Television Workshop, DuPont, ESPN, First USA, GE, Harrods, Six Flags Theme Parks, and most recently with PBS as a consulting producer for the series World Talk" on WETA Washington, D.C. His broadcast work has aired nationally on NBC, PBS, MTV, and The Learning Channel, and internationally though numerous media outlets.

Most recently, Kostant served as vice president of content and programming for StarBand Communications, the worlds first satellite-delivered broadband company. Prior to StarBand, he was vice president of creative strategy at iXL, a strategic Internet services company, where he created an online presence for Fortune 500 companies that was in keeping with each organizations brand.

Kostant has earned various media industry awards, including Clio, Monitor, Telly, CableACE, and SBIR honors. Additionally, he has been awarded production grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. He holds a BFA from New York University and an MS in Visual Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Carlson Bull, Director of Animation
Carlson Bull comes to Planit from Eeltail Interactive, a high-end 3D design and visualization services shop, where he served as principal and founder. His animation portfolio includes game development, broadcast graphics, industrial design, and Flash movies. His fluency in Maya® 3D animation software has led to high profile assignments from clients such as Firaxis Games, BMW, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.    

Prior to Eeltail, Bull was an art director at Boeing Autometric, a unit of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, in Springfield, VA. In this role, he was responsible for developing a virtual reality game for commercial use. He holds a BS in Visual Communication Design from Skidmore College. He also attended the MFA program at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.

About Planit
Planit (www.planitagency.com) is a Baltimore-based integrated brand communications agency that combines advertising, design, direct, interactive and public relations to build and strengthen client brands. Established in 1994, the agency has received numerous awards and honors from organizations such as American Corporate Identity, American Advertising Federation, Baltimore Business Journal, Card Marketing Magazine, and the Web Marketing Association. Planits client roster includes Advancis Pharmaceuticals, CitiFinancial, Lexus, The Cordish Company, CIENA, Cal Ripken Baseball, Nutrition21, Universal Records, and the University of Maryland.

Contact:
Amanda Manos
410.962.8500 ext. 138
avm@planitagency.com

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