A multi-channel marketing campaign that included promotional television spots, postcards and posters, accompanied the contest's launch, driving traffic to the "Free to be Famous" microsite. Red Bricks Media designed www.freetobefamous.com to serve as the hub of the entire contest. On the site, short clips from hit CW network shows are available for viewing or downloading. Aspiring actors are invited to upload video auditions of themselves re-enacting the scene of their choice. Finalists will be selected by a combination of online votes from the general public and expert opinion from contest judges (including Academy of Art University faculty). Perhaps the most exciting element of the contest's architecture is that the first stage of voting will take place entirely online. The experts will score the finalists' tapes, and the lucky winner will appear in a walk-on role on a CW network program.

Entries will be available for viewing online starting June 8. First-round voting will begin July 1, finalists will be selected on August 11, and the winners will be announced on September 12.

"This contest is a great illustration of the new era of user participation and user-generated content," explains Ed Kim, CEO of Red Bricks Media. "A contest like this could not have been done 10 years ago. This campaign combines elements of traditional marketing, like TV commercials, with new and evolving Web 2.0 forms of media. We're excited to work with a strong brand like the Academy of Art University who understands the power of connecting with its audience and engaging the user community."

Rachel Lee, Executive Vice President of Marketing at the Academy of Art University, cites the local nature of the contest as a draw for viewers. "We think people will get excited about this campaign because it is local. We are not on a nationwide tour to find the next big star, because we think there is plenty of talent right here in the San Francisco Bay Area." According to Lee, "Free to Be Famous" serves as "an inspiration to today's performers to make their acting dreams come true."

The contest is open to anyone over 14 years old living in the San Francisco Bay Area. The contest winner will be announced on The CW Bay Area.

About Red Bricks Media:
Red Bricks Media is a full-service interactive marketing agency, providing Natural Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay Per Click Management Services (PPC), Buzz Marketing, Email Marketing, Creative Services, and Interactive Media Planning.

Red Bricks Media is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Hong Kong. The company's client list includes Adobe Systems, Hearst Magazines, Seagate, Computer Associates and Financial Times. Visit www.redbricksmedia.com for more information.

About the Academy of Art University, San Francisco:
With over 9,000 students, Academy of Art University is the nation's largest private art and design university. Established in 1929, the school offers accredited Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Master of Fine Arts degrees with over 13 areas of academic emphasis. Students can also enroll in flexible online programs to earn credits towards a degree. For more information visit www.academyart.edu or call 1.800.544.2787.

About the CW Bay Area:
KBCW is the San Francisco home of the CW network. Launched September 18th 2006, the CW Bay Area, 44 cable 12, is the home of first run network shows like Smallville, America's Next Top Model and Everybody Hates Chris.

The CW Bay Area is owned and operated by the CBS corporation and is part of a duopoly with CBS 5. For more information about us visit www.cwbayarea.com.

CBS 5/The CW Bay Area are part of the CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation (www.cbscorporation.com). CBS 5 began in 1948 as the first television station in Northern California. The CW Bay Area began in 1968 as the first UHF station in the Bay area. The two stations became a duopoly in 2002.