Connect 7 Productions Launches in New York

CARLE PLACE, N.Y., March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A new production company set up to produce broadcast commercials, corporate videos and original programming made its official New York debut today. Connect 7 Productions (Connect 7), based in New York, will offer corporate and commercial clients as well as the general viewing public flawless, creative material produced with influential poignancy and entertaining style.

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Backed by the world-renowned floral and gift leader 1-800-FLOWERS.COM NASDAQ: FLWS, Connect 7 brings together talented veterans from the fields of advertising, public relations, web content, eCommerce, and television and film production. The company took its name from its parent's well-established tradition of finding innovative uses of technology to get closer to the people it serves and help them maker better connections between one another. The "7" was included as a symbol of luck and good fortune.

"We see this as a natural extension of our business," explained 1-800-FLOWERS.COM's president, Chris McCann. "Everyday, our technology affords us the opportunity to be more personal with our customers. Now, we have a new opportunity to use technology to help them connect with each other."

Connect 7's vice president and senior executive producer, Bob Nastasi, is an award-winning 25-year veteran of TV and film production. Mr. Nastasi started his career at ABC World News working on stories covering the Iranian hostage crisis, National Democratic Convention, and assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. He went on to work in network sports programs and promotions before shifting to advertising, where he produced business to business projects for Avon, Canon, the GAP, Hertz, Panasonic, Sony and other well-known brands. His work is marked by a commanding talent for program ideation, development, production and post-production.

Mr. Nastasi will be charged with creating and building relationships with national, regional and local brands and advertising agencies to establish the new company as a leading content producer.

"Bob is the perfect person to lead this company," said Mr. McCann. "With many years of experience and numerous awards to his credit, he can leverage his own connections to quickly establish a well-respected reputation among core audiences, similar to the reputation our other businesses enjoy in their respective fields."

Mr. Nastasi said the public's eager embracing of technological advancements makes now an ideal time to launch the new company.

He explained, "Due to the expansion of the Web and the widely accepted use of new media channels, the demand for content is huge. To answer that demand, we've compiled the expertise and resources to produce compelling original programs, commercials, and corporate messaging on almost any level, from 35mm film to High Definition formats."

Mr. Nastasi has assembled an A-list team, including: Associate Producer Jennifer Bourque, a former senior Web producer for two online retailers; Business Development Manager Dave Dobbins; and Producer/Director Bradley Gallo, an accomplished original programming developer and producer of broadcast content for Court TV, Spike TV, HBO and the TV Guide Network.

"Our production teams are highly skilled in the art of creating motion pictures," he said. "Our work has taken us around the world and across the street, giving us the skills and experience to handle any production challenge."

The company's portfolio of recent projects as well as additional background and contact information are available on the company's website, www.connect7productions.com, or by contacting Bob Nastasi at (516) 237-7782.