Fisher-Price PXL 2000 Toy Camcorder, Invented by James Wickstead Design Associates, Continues to Delight Film World

Fisher-Price PXL 2000 Toy Camcorder, Invented by James Wickstead Design Associates, Continues to Delight Film World

CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 20 years after its development, the PXL 2000 toy camera - invented by James Wickstead Design Associates (JWDA) and sold by Fisher-Price from 1987-1989 - continues to delight the visionary child in filmmakers and movie buffs. PXL THIS 19 - one of the longest running film festivals in the entertainment world - featuring films made with the Fisher-Price PXL 2000 toy camcorder - will be held at Echo Park Film Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. PT.

The annual festival draws "Pixelators" from across the globe to the entertainment capital of the world to view the recent body of work achieved with this unique plastic video camcorder, which records sound and images directly onto audiocassettes. Designed by JWDA, incorporating numerous patents, and licensed to Fisher-Price, the PXL 2000 was - in its day -- the lightest, least expensive and easiest to use camcorder on the market. It retailed for under $100 and more than 400,000 units were sold. While the toy camcorder eventually became obsolete with its 10 to 16-year-old targeted consumers, the PXL 2000 empowered independent artists with its grainy but appealing quality, evocative of films from the legendary Swedish film maker, Ingmar Bergman. It has been used by contemporary filmmakers, such as Michael Almereyda (Hamlet; Nadja; Another Girl, Another Planet) and Orson Welles, who commented that it was "a train crash in the playpen. Yet, in the hands of visionary video-makers, it has become an essential tool of cutting-edge creativity."

"We try to develop products that have longevity," said James C. Wickstead, whose 40-year-old company, James Wickstead Design Associates, is well-known for its innovative approach to product design and development. "Products such as the PXL 2000, the Black & Decker vegetable steamer, and Idexx Laboratories' Vettest blood chemistry analyzer for veterinarians were all designed to withstand the test of time."

JWDA is a multi-disciplined product design company that blends innovative engineering, software and design into a seamless development service. The company has generated over 40 patents and product licenses on behalf of clients in the medical, telecom, commercial and consumer markets - from Fortune 200 companies to start-ups - throughout the world. Capabilities include turn-key product development; consulting; or the revitalization, enhancement or cost-reduction of existing products facing market obsolescence.

For more information about PXL THIS 19, visit http://www.laughtears.com/ and http://pxlthis.ning.com/.

For more information about James Wickstead Design Associates, Inc., visit http://www.wicksteaddesign.com/.

Source: James Wickstead Design Associates, Inc.

CONTACT: Renae C. Biale, Corporate Communications Manager,
+1-908-781-5336, rbiale@aol.com, or James Wickstead, +1-973-267-2007

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

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