FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MAKEDA SMITH

AUGUST 31, 2000

COMEDIAN A.J. JAMAL DEVELOPS “THE TOONIES” FOR BET’S “COMIC VIEW”

Comedian Turned Filmmaker Turns Animator,

Launches Green Machine Films

Comedian turned filmmaker A.J. Jamal is the creative force behind “The Toonies” a series of animated shorts which will debut September 11 on the newly revamped “Comic View” on Black Entertainment Television (BET). With creator, writer, producer and voice-over credits under his belt, Jamal’s “The Toonies” becomes the second secured deal from his newly launched animation company, Green Machine Films in the last several months. He is also the creator, writer, producer and star of both “Pookie Poo” and “Siskel & Ripple,” two web-based animated shows featured on www.urbanentertaiment.com.

“The Toonies” will run during the airing of “Comic View” as animated vignettes. An urban-stylized, hip-hop flavored series, characters include Ricky Mac, “a very creative African American in his mid-twenties from Inglewood, CA,” his first cousin, Auther Mac from Chicago, Remie and Martin, two critics from South Central, CA, and Dream, the host of the live television talk show, “Sex in the New Millennium.”

Afonso Amey is the animator for Green Machine Films, chosen for his fresh cutting edge style, while Jamal’s longtime partner in crime, comedian Yul Spenser, provides creative input as well as voice-over duties in the company’s animated productions.

Jamal made the transition from comedy to film after writing, producing and starring in the independent feature, The Cheapest Movie Ever Made. Although animation seems a natural segue for a comedian, Jamal is taken aback by his current job description. “Cartoons used to scare me as a child,” he recollects. “There was something about a duck, a dog and a rooster talking that seemed pretty unnatural when I was five years old! To now be creating animation is a milestone for me,” he concludes. “I applaud BET for sharing my vision.”

Upcoming projects in development at Green Machine Films include “A.J. and Rusty” an animated series and “Let My People Go,” a full length animation movie. For additional information call (818) 890-2428.