SEP 14 , 2004

California Sea Lions-An Unforgettable Encounter wins the Audience Choice Award for best film at The Channel Islands Film Festival

A nature film doesn't often win a major award at a film festival, but it happened for Rio Films when its documentary, California Sea Lions-An Unforgettable Encounter won the Audience Choice Award at the Channel Islands Film Festival in Ventura.

"This means a great deal to me," says Alan De Herrera, the producer and director of the film. "Giving the public something they can enjoy is the primary reason why I went into film making. Knowing that the audience, those wonderful people sitting out there in the dark, think my movie was the best they saw at the festival is an awesome thrill. It makes me feel humble and proud at the same time."

The month of September has thus far been full of pleasant surprises for Rio Films and its founder. Earlier in the month, Mr. De Herrera received word that his second project, Channel Islands Adventure was chosen as a finalist for the Roy W. Dean Grant/Lost Angeles Film Grant. "The Roy W. Dean Grant is one of the most sought after awards in the industry with hundreds of applicants in competition for it," says De Herrera. "Just to be selected as one of the finalists is a tremendous honor. All of us at Rio Films are delighted by this consideration."

While the future currently looks very bright, Mr. De Herrera is not content to wait for it. "I'm going to make tomorrow happen. We are currently scheduling viewings of California Sea Lions at diving clubs, theaters, museums, and anywhere the public can come and enjoy this film. The response to date has been real positive. Everyone wants to see those "clowns of the sea" do their stunts. We are currently seeking distribution and plan to travel the country so everyone will get the chance to be entertained by the sea lions. I guarantee you that!"

Mr. De Herrera is available for interviews and can be reached at (714) 401-8610. For more information about Rio Films and its projects, please check the company website at http://www.rioflims.com

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Fullerton based Synapse Fx uses state-of-the-art engineering to develop specialized underwater film equipment for the Rio Films documentary California Sea Lions- An Unforgettable Encounter.

Orange County, CA – November 3rd, 2003 – Synapse Fx announces completion of a specially designed Underwater Camera Housing built for the local environmental film company Rio Films who’s project is sponsored by the Friends of the Sea Lion in Laguna Beach. “The director was in need of a one-of-a-kind housing to film underwater shots of sea lions at “Seal Rock,” a local hang-out for sea lions in Orange County,” says Joe Cornell – owner of Synapse Fx and the designer of the underwater equipment.

“The director called for a uniquely designed housing that would have full mechanical controls for their Canon XL- 1 Frame-Digital film camera. Working with nominal financing, we were able to fully design and fabricate this special piece of equipment using state-of-the-art computer design methods and machining,” says Joe.

Working on a very tight budget and unable to afford the retail price of a housing, long-time friend and director Alan De Herrera commissioned Joe at Synapse Fx to build a custom housing designed specifically for his digital camera. “The footage that’s been shot with the housing is phenomenal and we are both looking forward to screening this project at the local film festivals in Orange County next year,” says De Herrera.

Synapse Fx is an emerging special effects company dedicated to providing physical effects for the entertainment industry. Combining 10 years of special effects experience, Josh Foster and Joe Cornell established Synapse Fx in 1999. Synapse Fx has successfully completed make-up and pyro FX for a action/drama pilot entitled “The Black Hand”, four mechanical laser-gun props and pyro for a futuristic action pilot entitled “Central Enforcement”, pyrotechnics for a California State Fullerton University student film entitled “Concerning the Body Guard,” along with other projects in the works.

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