Empire Japan Books Marco Tempest to Star in NHK Broadcast Television Special
Marco Tempest stars in NHK broadcast Japanese Television Special, "The Astounding World of Virtual Magic!" NHK, Japan's national broadcaster, was looking for outstanding content for a prime-time slot in their year-end schedule. They chose to partner with Empire Entertainment Japan to produce a unique television special starring Marco Tempest. Working together with NHK, Marco Tempest and Empire Entertainment developed a program packed with both Marco's world-renowned illusions customized for Japan and entirely original content. Marco Tempest filmed in the studio and on location in Tokyo for 4 days to produce the 70-minute show. Famous Japanese personalities, Jay Kabira, Riho Makise, Michiko Shimizu and the duo Napoleons, joined Marco in the studio, and were treated to an up-close and personal display of Virtual Magic. Locations such as a retail store in Akihabara – also known as Electric Town, a video arcade in Shibuya - the capital of Japanese youth fashion, and a pool & darts bar in Roppongi – the center of Tokyo's nightlife, provided a perfect background to Marco's original blend of hi-technology and illusions.
In one illusion in Electric Town Marco thrilled shoppers by changing part of the live picture on a random screen with just the touch of his finger. But the magic didn't stop there. Marco then pulled a small doll out of one TV in a bank of plasma screens airing the same show. The impromptu audience was shocked to discover that the doll, which had disappeared from the screen Marco plucked it from, was still pictured in all of the other TVs! The program was filmed and broadcast in ultra clear hi-definition, and aired for the first time during prime time on December 27. It earned an average rating of nearly 10 points, and was watched by almost 13 million people during its 70 minute broadcast. E-mails and phone calls received from viewers following the broadcast showed that many were left baffled, and Marco had single-handedly made people believe in magic again! NHK was delighted with the result, and are already in talks with Marco for new specials for 2006.
Marco continues to be a master at walking the line between the actual world we live in, and the virtual one that exists in our amazing technology and imaginations. As the creative force and production designer behind all of his work, Marco is a producer and event planner's dream. Empire Entertainment is pleased to have played a role in the development of Marco Tempest's NHK Special, and to continue to support an ever-growing field of original ventures in television and film. About NHK: The Nippon Hyoso Kyokai (NHK) dates from the early 1920s with establishment of a license fee-based national radio broadcaster. In contrast to many overseas public broadcasters, NHK is still one of the most watched channels in Japan, enjoying substantial market share across a wide demographic. The NHK group operates 54 stations throughout Japan and has 29 overseas bureaus. In 1953, after making Japan's first television broadcast, NHK introduced commercial broadcasting to Japan.
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