Home Media Magazine - September 16-22, 2007 - (Page 10)

NEWS www.homemediamagazine.com Shout Factory To Release Cobain Doc Bob Emmer. “After the breakup of The Beatles and the tragic deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin, there were few music icons left of their magnitude — until the meteoric success of Nirvana and their breakthrough Nevermind, and, subsequently, Kurt’s pointless death only three years later. “Kurt became the rock icon for the end of the 20th century, and he remains so for today’s youth.” Kurt Cobain About a Son was directed and edited by A.J. Schnack. The film is based on 25 hours of previously unreleased audio interviews conducted with Cobain by Michael Azerrad for his book, Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Azerrad is co-producer of the film. The visuals consist mostly of current shots of the three Washington state locations where Cobain lived. The film also includes black-and-white grunge scene photos by Charles Peterson and the music of Bad Brains, the Butthole Surfers, David Bowie, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, Leadbelly and others. Emmer said he screened the film dur- P E O P LE I BLOOMGARDEN NAMED EVP GLOBAL SALES AT DIC DIC Entertainment has named Kirk Bloomgarden EVP of global sales. Starting Jan. 1, 2008, he’ll oversee the company’s worldwide TV, home entertainment and consumer products divisions. Bloomgarden will work out of DIC’s headquarters in Burbank, Calif. Bloomgarden will work with executives from each division and third-party partners, rights holders and licensees to manage each of DIC’s brands, such as Strawberry Shortcake, McDonald’s, Dino Squad, Horseland, Cake, Mommy & Me and Madeline. – Billy Gil ‘Kurt Cobain About a Son’ has been screened at film festivals around the world By Thomas K. Arnold P R O D U C T Smells like teen spirit. Independent DVD supplier Shout Factory, known for its eclectic retro pop-culture offerings, has acquired home entertainment rights to Kurt Cobain About a Son, the impressionistic documentary about the late leader of Nirvana and de facto founder of the grunge-rock phenomenon of the early 1990s. The 2006 production, screened at film festivals around the world and nomi«NOT SINCE THE LATE 1960S nated for a 2007 Independent AND EARLY 1970S HAS THERE Spirit Award, consists entirely BEEN A MUSICAL ARTIST WHO of excerpts from interview SO COMPLETELY SPOKE FOR tapes Cobain made prior to AN ENTIRE GENERATION.» his April 1994 suicide. It will BOB EMMER be released on DVD in FebruCOO, SHOUT FACTORY ary 2008, timed to coincide with Cobain’s birthday. The documentary is slated to open theatrically across the United States in October. “Not since the late 1960s and early 1970s has there been a musical artist who so completely spoke for an entire generation,” said Shout Factory COO ing the South by Southwest Film Festival and “was mesmerized.” “I definitely wanted to be involved,” he said. “This film has a unique style and texture that provides great insight into this artist and rock icon. Unlike other docufeatures, this is Kurt Cobain’s story, narrated by Kurt in his own words.” In the film, Cobain recounts his own life, from his childhood (happy, until his parents divorced) to his struggles as an adolescent with everything from manic depression to chronic stomach pain. Cobain also talks about his own musical discovery, and lends a voice to the growth and development of the celebrated grunge movement that also spawned such bands as Pearl Jam. “The legacy of Kurt and the music of Nirvana is reminiscent of the legendary days of rock ‘n’ roll toward the close of the 1960s and into the ’70s,” Emmer said. “Interestingly enough, Kurt Cobain is one of the most ‘Googled’ rock icons today. His music is still so important to so many people. It’s hard to imagine the musical landscape without the contribution of Kurt Cobain.” I SIDAR NEW ACORN PRESIDENT Acorn Media Group, which specializes in British TV and specialty programming for domestic DVD, has a new president. Thomas Sidar replaces Miguel Penella, who was promoted to CEO. Sidar spent nearly 30 years with L.L. Bean in product strategy, development, brand positioning and catalog publishing, and was chief merchandising officer. Before joining Acorn, Sidar was responsible for merchandising and marketing for National Wildlife Direct. – Chris Tribbey MERCHANDISING TV Rules in Slow Week Best Buy Grey’s Anatomy: Season 3 Disney; SRP $59.99 Target $36.99 Wal-Mart $44.96 Circuit City $34.99 $10 w/purchase of iTunes card Amazon.com $36.99 $36.99 w/bonus DVD and $5 off soundtrack CD Two and a Half Men: Season 1 Warner; SRP $44.98 $24.99 $29.99 $34.96 $29.99 $28.99 Charmed: Season 8 Paramount SRP $49.99 $32.99 $32.99 $39.96 $32.99 $30.99 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee HBO; SRP $26.98 $19.99 $17.99 $19.96 $19.99 $18.89 By John Latchem ith no high-profile theatricals debuting on DVD Sept. 11, the newrelease week was sustained mostly by TV DVD releases timed for the upcoming season and the Emmy Awards. Also noticeably absent: any overt displays to commemorate Sept. 11. The big chains didn’t offer any major discount selections outside of their usual pattern. The Wal-Mart in Santa Ana, Calif., however, did have a “Best in Class” display, offering themed DVD two-packs for under $14. In addition to its “Grey’s Anatomy” promotion, Best Buy offered a free plush toy with the purchase of any two “Sesame Street” DVDs, a T-shirt with purchase of UFC: Liddell vs. Couture — The Trilogy, and a Simon & Garfunkel concert DVD with the 40th anniversary DVD of The Graduate. Circuit City had a free mouse pad for The Office: Season 3, out on DVD a week earlier, while Target had $5 gift cards with I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Fourth Season. W 10 Home Media Magazine September 16–22, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://Amazon.com

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Contents News Commentary TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Christian Entertainment Review

Home Media Magazine - September 16-22, 2007

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