Home Media Magazine - March 23-29, 2008 - (Page 22)

Grand Jury Prize Indianapolis Int’l Film Festival WINNER! Best Cinematography Woods Hole Film Festival WINNER! PIPELINE National Lampoon www.homemediamagazine.com “#### Part murder mystery, part family drama, part love story, Pearl Diver is an amazing moving drama. One of this years true gems.” – IndependentFilm.com Taking No Vacation Despite revenue dip, the studio moves forward to Web and DTV By Billy Gil The DVD features deleted scenes, ational Lampoon Inc.’s seccommentary with Melendez (who also ond-quarter (which ended Jan. wrote the film) and director Michael 31) revenue of $500,000 was DeLorenzo, interviews and a gag reel. half of the nearly $1 million for Q2 2007. To promote the DVD, Daniels said But the company is moving forward Melendez shot material for the National with a strong release slate of theatrical Lampoon College Network, as well as and niche direct-to-video titles. viral video for the company’s site, www. “We are delivering the film projects nationallampoon.com; its broadband that we have been so focused on, and Les Claypool of National Lampoon channel, TogaTV.com; and branded Presents Electric Apricot look forward to recognizing revenue channels on such Web video outlets as from these areas going forward,” said YouTube, AOL, Yahoo and Joost. Daniel Laikin, CEO of National Lampoon. Also on the plate: National Lampoon Presents Electric Laikin pointed to the company’s first original produc- Apricot, a jam band spoof from Les Claypool, bassist of tion, National Lampoon’s Bag Boy, hitting theaters March bands such as Primus and Oysterhead. The title is seeing 14 and DVD ($26.95) June 17, as a possible revenue a limited theatrical release to audiences that will get the source. The film follows a young grocery clerk (“Battle- joke — jam band havens such as Northern California. star Galactica’s” Paul Campbell) who enters the world Writer-director Claypool said the film is an endearing championship of competitive grocery bagging. It also look at the scene, as fictional jam band Electric Apricot stars Dennis Farina and Brooke Shields. gears up for a possible slot at the mecca of all jam festivals, Meanwhile National Lampoon continues to churn out Festeroo (a pun off jam festival Bonaroo). The fictional DTV titles (some have limited theatrical releases) with its band, made up of real musicians, has played shows, in“National Lampoon Presents” series, consisting of eight cluding at the South by Southwest festival earlier this to 12 acquired films released on DVD month. each year, according to Tom Daniels, “[Making movies] has been president of worldwide distribution the most difficult undertakfor National Lampoon. First out is ing of my life.,” Claypool One, Two, Many, coming April 15, said. “It’s like climbing at $26.95. The film stars John Everest in a speedo.” Melendez, a regular on “The The film also stars Matt Tonight Show With Jay Leno” Stone, Seth Green and Bob also known as “Stuttering Weir of The Grateful Dead. John” on “The Howard Stern The $26.95 DVD streets Show.” He plays a guy lookMay 13 (prebook April 8) and ing for the perfect girlfriend includes interviews with — in his eyes, this means Claypool in character as one who will have a ménage biofuel-loving drummer à trios with him. Lapland Miclovich, as National Lampoon Presents “It becomes more comwell as a commentary One, Two, Many plicated,” Daniels said. “It’s featuring a slightly amusing and heartfelt.” intoxicated Claypool. One night changed them forever. Twenty years later, a night will change them again. N DVD NATIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN includes: Today’s Christian Prebook date: 04/01/2008 Street date: 04/29/2008 PEARL DIVER / DVD Approx. 97 min./Color/Cat# 335032 UPC: 0 12233 35032 6 ISBN: 978-1-56994-422-6 $24.95/SRP FOR VIOLENT CONTENT “A Napoleon Dynamite” ine “A - -Dreamwatch Magaz funnier and meaner hilarious -www.GameFreak s365.com film” Gamers is a comedy about the lives of four slacker friends (and one obsessive interloper) living at home,working in the real world but playing in a fantasy world.The sacrifice, the obsession, the blind dedication… this is their hilarious true story. “Old School funny” -John Gaudiosi, AOL Games “funnier than Knocked Up “funnier than Knocked Up and Superbad combined” and combined” -Mike Smith, Indie Film Nation -Mike Smith, Indie Film Nation Lionsgate Launches Arthouse Brand By Thomas K. Arnold ARTHOUSE Having carved successful niches in the family, fitness and horror categories, the company now is taking aim at the arthouse market. The studio this spring is launching The Meridian Collection, a label for groundbreaking films from around the world. Lionsgate is planning to release two high-end DVDs every three months, drawing from its library, which includes more than 2,000 European films from Studio Canal. “Because of our relationship with Studio Canal and looking at our own library, we thought there was an opportunity to present discerning consumers with these acclaimed and in- TED TED UNRA RED UNRA RED SO NSO UNCEN OGETIC UNCE OGETIC L OL UNAPO UNAP TWISTED NATIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN includes: Prebook date: 04/01/2008 Street date: 05/06/2008 GAMERS / DVD / UNRATED 87 min./Color/Cat# 316312 UPC: 0 12233 16312 4 ISBN: 978-1-56994-657-2 $24.95/SRP fluential films,” said Anne Parducci, EVP of marketing for Lionsgate. The new label officially launches June 3 with the release of Diva and The Red Violin, both from France. The Diva is the stylish cult thriller with which director Jean Jacques Beineix launched the “Cinema Du Look” movement in 1981, a movement known for slick visuals and alienated characters. The Red Violin (1998), which won an Oscar for best original score, stars Samuel L. Jackson as an appraiser who traces the storied history of a prized violin across numerous countries and generations. Parducci said that Lionsgate is specifically targeting fans of arthouse films with The Meridian Collection. That’s why the extras tend to be focused on the making of the film, with little room for gimmicks, games or frills. “We’re taking what that film is known for and why it is considered influential, and then exploring that further through the special features,” Parducci said. The Diva, for example, is known for “how visually arresting it is,” she said, “so we are taking a deep dive into that style through interviews with the director, the director of photography and the set designer.” The Red Violin includes a musical feature with composer John Corigliano and a documentary on violins and violin auctions. 22 Home Media Magazine March 23–29, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://independentfilm.com http://www.nationallampoon.com http://www.nationallampoon.com http://TogaTV.com http://www.montereymedia.com

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Home Media Magazine - March 23-29, 2008 Contents News TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - March 23-29, 2008

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