The Envelope Returns, Now with Film Series

The Envelope returns at the LA Times, and it’s all gussied up. As we all know but are reminded by Rob Barrett:

The Envelope has made the Los Angeles Times the frontrunner for unique coverage of the race from the inside.

Right you are, if you think so.

John T. O’Loughlin, the SVP/Marketing, Planning & Development, sends the memo:

Our interactive colleagues have completely redesigned The Envelope’s homepage to bring yet more entertainment industry leaders and avid entertainment enthusiasts to the site–offer better usability, increased news coverage, and upgraded news features, including the new Contender Countdown. In addition to these enhancements, there are also new online editorial voices, including Todd Martens and Pete Hammond. The site is live, so check it out.

You had us at “interactive colleagues”.

On Wednesday, we’ll begin producing The Envelope print series once again. Now in its sophomore year, there are plans for 11 issues this season and this week’s debut issue will be a 40-page Award Season Preview, followed by the Best Actor issue the following week.

New for 2008, we’re extending The Envelope brand a step further by creating an experiential event program called The Envelope Screening Series. We’ve also secured Mercedes-Benz as the series’ presenting sponsor ensuring this new addition to the Envelope family is again capturing alternative and incremental revenue. Starting Wednesday and running through mid-December, this exclusive invite-only event will showcase some of the top films from this year’s awards season and will feature Q&A sessions moderated by editorial staffers from The Times and The Envelope, including John Horn, Pete Hammond, Kenneth Turan, and Patrick Goldstein.

So who’ll be invited to these events? Academy voters? And why Q & As with people who write about the movies, as opposed to those who make them? Call us when Tom O’Neil is on deck.