Home Media Magazine - March 16-22, 2008 - (Page 22) COMING SOON! La Fábrica de Entretenimiento! PIPELINE www.homemediamagazine.com (L-R): George Lucas, Gary Leva and Carroll Ballard (The Black Stallion) at the premiere of Fog City Mavericks April 29, 2007, in San Francisco. Movies in 1 Fantastic Package 5 ‘Fog City Mavericks’ Explores San Fran Filmmakers Doc brings together huge directing talents from the Bay Area By Billy Gil If you’re a DVD aficionado, chances are you’ve seen writer-director Gary Leva’s work. He’s behind the making-of featurettes of such varied and esteemed DVD projects as Malcolm X, Ben-Hur and All the President’s Men. But Leva also directs documentaries. His latest, Fog City Mavericks, chronicles several prominent filmmakers from San Francisco. The film hits DVD April 8 ($19.97), from Anchor Bay Entertainment. “I was having a meeting with George Lucas on another project, and he expressed to me his desire that someday there be a record of [the] burgeoning film industry in San Francisco,” Leva explained. In addition to Lucas, the film includes interviews with and discussion of such directors as Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Philip Kaufman, animator John Lasseter, actor/producers Robin Williams and Michael Douglas, and producer Saul Zaentz. The group also includes George Lucas’ Lucasfilm, which DOCUMENTARY launched the Graphics Group in 1979 — a computer division that eventually became Pixar Animation Studios. “Any discussion of film in San Francisco in the current more-modern era would have to start with Francis Ford Coppola because it was Francis’s dream to create a filmmaking utopia outside of Hollywood,” Leva said. “He inspired George Lucas. He’s sort of the dean and leader for a lot of these guys.” Leva’s film starts with photographer Eadweard J. Muybridge, who developed the precursor to film, the zoopraxiscope, in the late 19th century and moves onto the great filmmakers who would eventually call San Francisco home. “That kind of innovation is something we see throughout San Francisco’s history,” Leva said. “I’d like people to walk away with an appreciation for this group of filmmakers and their ability to take their independent ideas, their unwillingness to make conventional films, and marvel at the idea that they’ve managed to become very successful by playing by their own rules.” Bayview Pumps Out Fitness DVDs for Kids Mill Creek Entertainment presents two Mexican feature film compilations that have been compiled from one of the most recognized and respected Mexican film libraries in the world - Venevision! These films, previously released as $14.98 singles through Ventura Distribution's "Studio Latino" line and have been repackaged to perfection! Designed to sell studioquality content from the golden age of Mexican Cinema at impulse price points, these exciting packs appeal to audiences of all ages, and represent the launch of a new series of products that will continue to grow. By Angelique Flores FITNESS Many health experts point to obesity as a major health problem for children. Bayview Entertainment is releasing three fitness titles that could address that epidemic: 65 Energy Blasts for Kids Fitness, Get Strong: 101 Fitness for Everyone and 6 Kids Fitness Workouts: Fit Kids. The titles street May 13 (prebook April 8) at $24.99 each. “These DVDs show kids that it’s time to learn how to do this as part of your everyday life,” he said. “They make it fun [to do].” 65 Energy Blasts targets kids ages 5 to 11 and features 65 easy dance moves based on hip-hop and Latin styles. Each segment is 75 seconds and helps improve coordination, balance, agility, strength and overall fitness. Physical education teacher Judy Howard leads the workouts. 6 Kids is designed for kids ages 8 to 13 and contains four five-minute and two 10-minute dance-based workouts. Get Strong is more intensive and educational, said Pete Apruzzese, Bayview’s director of marketing. This DVD contains 101 innovative strength and conditioning activities aimed at children ages 10 to 18. The DVD has five-, 10- and 15-minute workouts for small and large activity spaces. The workouts are adaptations of the same techniques used by athletes, but have been adapted by strength and conditioning expert Jon Bula for use in classrooms, the gym or at home. A “Fun and Games” chapter has seven “Get Strong” games that apply the strength-training techniques. “There are no complicated moves and no special equipment needed,” said Apruzzese, adding that the shortsegments are designed for kids with short attention spans. $ 14.98 MSRP GENIUS/WEINSTEIN RELEASES ‘I’M NOT THERE’ By Kyra Kudick G Available: 5/6/08 Call: (866) 410-9000 enius Products and The Weinstein Co. May 6 (prebook March 25) will release the acclaimed Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There (DVD $28.95). The film earned $4 million at the domestic box office and garnered attention when Cate Blanchette received a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role as one of the six Dylans in the film. I’m Not There explores various aspects of Dylan’s life and work, with such stars as Christian Bale, Richard Gere and the late Heath Ledger portraying the many facets of the music legend. The film’s musical soundtrack is a mix of Dylan’s own recordings as well as his music performed by a variety of other musicians. DVD special features include audio commentary with director Todd Haynes, making-of featurettes for the movie and the soundtrack, actor audition tapes, deleted scenes and more. 22 Home Media Magazine March 16–22, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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