Home Media Magazine - February 10-16, 2008 - (Page 30) NEWS ‘Hero’ Paints With Kids www.homemediamagazine.com Image Merger Is Called Off Continued from page 1 Image is requesting the $4.2 million fee be paid from $3 million BTP put into an escrow account as a condition of it extending the merger closure four times. The balance would be paid by R2D2 LLC and CT1 Holdings, both controlled by Bergstein. Santa Monica, Calif.-based BTP has sought a return of the $3 million it deposited in the escrow account. “Image Entertainment’s board has deter- mined that the company is best served by terminating the merger agreement and the constraints it imposes on Image,” a company spokesperson said. “We are very disappointed that despite Image’s willingness to close the merger and enormous patience, BTP was either unable or unwilling to finance the transaction.” Separately, the spokesperson said termination of the merger agreement does not affect the DVD and electronic sellthrough distribution agreement with ThinkFilm and Capital Films. Image is slated to release two ThinkFilm titles: Before the Devil Knows Your Dead (April 15), with Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and The Air I Breathe (May 8), with Forest Whitaker and Sarah Michelle Gellar, on DVD, Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. CT1 is parent company of both companies. “Image remains in full compliance with the distribution agreement and intends to fully enforce its rights under that agreement,” the spokesperson said. A BTP representative was not available for comment by press time. “Heroes” star Ali Larter (far right) turned up at Bethune Middle School in South Central Los Angeles Feb. 1 to help her fiancé Hayes MacArthur, star of Disney’s The Game Plan, paint murals. Pictured with Larter, (L-R): Marco Partida, Yukari Barrera and Christian Pallazoa. Redbox Expands at Wal-Mart Continued from page 1 Lionsgate Slates ‘Bella’ By Billy Gil INDIE Some movies are meant for an independent film audience, some are meant for Latin audiences, and some are meant for fans of inspirational or spiritual stories. Bella aims to hit all of these. Lionsgate will release the independent film on DVD May 6 (prebook April 9) at $27.98. Although subject to change, the special features are slated to include a commentary track with director Alejandro Monteverde, a behindthe-scenes featurette, a “behind the journey of distribution” featurette and music videos. “Overall there’s a strong Latin cast, a Latin director and a soundtrack by Alejandro Sanz, who’s won more Grammys than any other Latin artist, but it also shows a positive portrayal of Latinos in the film, which isn’t something you always see in films,” said Anne Parducci, EVP of marketing for Lionsgate. “On the faith-based side, it’s a family-friendly, faithbased but mainstream film, which is also something you don’t always see. “And the film centers around adoption. Pro-life advocates also feel this movie has an important message.” Lionsgate also is positioning the film as a conventional drama, marketing it toward a mainstream female audience. Parducci said it helped to have positive reviews from such diverse avenues as film critic Roger Ebert and singer Tony Bennett to RottenTomatoes.com, which awarded the film the users’ pick for best limited release in the 2007 Golden Tomato Awards. “It’s the people that are really driving this film,” Parducci said. “Over the last year, the producers have been able to garner enthusiasm of people not in the industry who enjoy movies and see this movie as important.” The film stars Eduardo Verástegui (Chasing Papi) as a former soccer star with a dark past who now works at his brother’s New York restaurant. Tammy Blanchard (The Good Shepherd) plays a beautiful waitress at the restaurant who finds she is pregnant. The two embark on a special journey that brings them together. Manny Perez (Illegal Tender), Ramon Rodriguez (“The Wire”) and Ali Landry (“Eve”) co-star. quarter and said it believes Redbox can help the company improve to start 2008. “We are very excited to expand our relationship with Wal-Mart,” said Coinstar CEO Dave Cole. “In teaming with Wal-Mart to develop concepts for resetting store entrances, we believe we create a win-win situation. “Wal-Mart enhances convenience at the front of the store while providing consumers with a positive experience, and for Coinstar, we have the opportunity to further our relationship with Wal-Mart and ex- tend our market leadership.” The kiosks are already in 800 WalMarts, and another 2,700 stores will get them this year and through the beginning of 2009. Wal-Mart is the No. 1 seller of DVDs among retailers. Redbox has been placing its kiosks in Wal-Marts since late 2006. Currently, there are more than 6,700 Redbox kiosks nationwide, primarily in McDonald’s restaurants. JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* I Am Legend Alvin and the Chipmunks STREET DATE BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep TITLE PREBOOK GENRE PRICE I Am Legend 3/18 Now $253.5 Sci-Fi DVD $28.98, BD $35.99 Warner. 2007. Will Smith, David Richardson, Salli Richardson, Alice Braga. A brilliant scientist is the only survivor of a man-made plague that has infected all of New York City and possibly the world. Also available on two-disc DVD ($34.99). A HD DVD/DVD combo ($35.99) will be available April 8. Alvin and the Chipmunks 4/1 3/5 $208 Family DVD $29.98, BD $39.98 Fox. 2007. Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Jason Lee, David Cross, Jane Lynch, Cameron Richardson. A struggling songwriter adopts a trio of singing chipmunks who become an overnight sensation, but their happiness is threatened by a greedy record producer. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep 4/8 2/21 $40.1 Fantasy DVD $28.96, BD $38.96 Sony Pictures. 2007. Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, Brian Cox. Based on the novel by Dick King-Smith, a lonely young boy befriends the fabled creature of Loch Ness. Includes deleted scenes and six featurettes. The 11th Hour 4/8 3/4 $0.7 Documentary DVD $4.99 Warner. 2007. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, the documentary discusses current global environmental issues and provides practical solutions for restoring Earth’s ecosystems. Steep 3/18 2/21 $0.2 Documentary DVD $26.96 Sony Pictures. 2007. A documentary chronicling the history of extreme skiing, told by modern extreme skiers, in the breathtaking and treacherous environments of the steepest runs. Includes commentary, interviews and photo montages. Also available on Blu-ray March 25 for $38.95. Music Within 4/8 3/12 $0.2 Drama DVD $27.98 Fox/MGM. 2007. Ron Livingston, Michael Sheen, Melissa George. Based on the true story of Richard Pimental, a Vietnam veteran who was deafened by a bomb blast returns home to help others with disabilities. Includes commentary and deleted scenes. The Business of Being Born 5/6 4/1 $0.06 Documentary DVD $27.95 New Line. 2007. Ricki Lake and director Abby Epstein join forces to provide expectant mothers with information about various birthing options. Includes a behind-the-scenes featurette and a follow-up featurette. * In order of box office, then prebook date 30 Home Media Magazine February 10–16, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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