Zhura Collaborates with Funny or Die UK to Pull Writers into UGC

Zhura Collaborates with Funny or Die UK to Pull Writers into UGC

Funny or Die UK partners with online writing site Zhura to reinvent user-generated entertainment.

BOSTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhura, the market leader in online screenwriting and Funny or Die UK, Europe's fastest growing video comedy site, today announced an initiative redefining the phenomenon of User Generated Entertainment. Going beyond simply soliciting video content for its online video library, Funny or Die UK will tap Zhura's global pool of aspiring writers for sketch comedy content.

Zhura combines professional-grade performance writing tools and a powerful online editor with a diverse writing community. Funny or Die UK, like its sister site in the US, invites aspiring comedians and sketch writers to upload video clips that are viewed by the site's community who vote: "Funny" or "Die". Now, through a partnership between the two companies, aspiring comedy writers can submit written sketches for production consideration by arguably the fastest growing comedy brand.

"We're very excited to partner with Funny or Die UK," says Zhura CEO Eric MacDonald. "After the United States, the UK represents our largest membership base and we're thrilled not only to host written submissions for what's destined to be a hugely popular site, but also to provide our aspiring writer-members with another reason to write."

The team at Funny or Die UK will monitor the sketches being created online at Zhura and will produce any sketches they feel would be a popular addition to their site. They will also encourage amateur production teams to scour Zhura for sketches they can produce and upload to the UK website.

"Since Zhura launched earlier this year, I've been a devoted user and unofficial promoter of the site," says James Serafinowicz, Creative Director, Funny or Die UK. "I'm so excited about this partnership. Zhura's brilliant writing software coupled with Funny or Die UK's production expertise will hopefully give aspiring comedy writers a helping hand in securing work in the industry."

   The Devil's in the Detail    --  Interested writers should register on Zhura where the basic membership       is Free.   --  To be considered for production, members must write their sketches in       Zhura's Public Group Folder titled "Funny or Die UK".   --  All material considered by the head writers at FOD UK must be licensed       under the Creative Commons "BY-SA" license, which allows FOD UK, or       any other production crew, the ability to produce the script.   --  This is currently an open-ended writing event at Zhura, which will       likely continue as long as FOD UK continues to find new, funny and       "useable" material.   --  View the video-message from FOD UK head writers for additional insight       as to what they're looking for.    About Zhura   

Zhura was founded in 2007 to develop the next generation in performance writing tools. As the first company to combine advanced editing technology with valuable community, collaboration, and social networking features, Zhura is a thought leader in the Performance Writing Industry. For more information about Zhura's applications and online writing community, visit www.zhura.com.

About Funny or Die UK

Funny or Die is the world's No. 1 comedy portal with over nine million unique viewers in July, 2008 in the USA alone. The Brand was founded by US comedy superstars Will Ferrell and Adam McKay in California in 2007. The Funny or Die UK site launched in September 2008, combining the very best of the stateside content with a growing library of homegrown clips, including exclusive new sketches and a weekly blog from Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Funny or Die UK is responsible for commissioning and creating comedy clips using both established and emerging UK talent. Visit www.funnyordie.co.uk for more information.

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Source: Zhura

CONTACT: Kelly Farmer of Zhura, +1-888-750-4442 ext. 101,
kelly.farmer@zhura.com

Web Site: http://www.zhura.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment