Home Media Magazine - December 2-8, 2007 - (Page 32) NEWS Continued from page 10 www.homemediamagazine.com New Line Sues Koch Over ‘Compass’ Palm Pictures Looking to Grow the big-budget film adaptation of Pullman’s “Utilizing the latest CG animation and book.” And Bill Schwartz of Schwartz & Comrare archival footage, Beyond The Golden pany Inc. (the company that produced the Compass: The Magic of Philip Pullman also Koch film and is also named in the lawsuit) includes revealing interviews with histori- wrote in an e-mail included in court docuans and experts as well as ments: “All artwork from «IF THE PUBLIC WERE TO BE Koch is available to ride an exclusive talk with the CONFUSED BY THESE LOWauthor himself,” Koch’s the ‘coattails’ of New Line’s QUALITY FILMED ‘REENACT- $180 million [film].” description reads. MENTS, AND ASSUME THEY Yet some of the reenactKoch insists its video is a ments included in the Koch ARE CLIPS FROM OUR MAJOR nonfiction program, and inMOTION PICTURE, I WOULD cludes the disclaimer on the video are damaging to New Line’s film, according to EXPECT THIS TO DAMAGE THE DVD: “This production was GOODWILL FOR OUR FILM.» not authorized, prepared, New Line Cinema marCHRISTOPHER CARLISLE, keting head Christopher approved, licensed or enNEW LINE CINEMA Carlisle. He wrote in the dorsed by Philip Pullman, lawsuit: “If the public were New Line Cinema, or any to be confused by these low-quality filmed ‘re- other individual or entity associated with the enactments,’ and assume they are clips from His Dark Materials books or any movies based our major motion picture, I would expect this on those books.” to damage the goodwill for our film.” Pullman’s trilogy of fantasy books, first Koch has made no secret of the piggybacking released in the United Kingdom beginning strategy: Koch advertises on its Web site that in 1995, has sold 14 million copies worldthe DVD “has been released to coincide with wide. By Erik Gruenwedel movies theatrically and upwards of 12 DVDs SUPPLIER Veteran film producers Jan Körbe- in 2008, up from about five DVDs this year. lin and Marina Grasic have joined indepen“Even though the DVD market is a mature dent distributor Palm Pictures as managing market, it is becoming more and more a partners. question of differentiation in the market,” Körbelin and Grasic were Körbelin said. “We’ve seen executive producers of the in the independent mar2005 Oscar-winning movie kets where a lot of interCrash and separately next esting films … can work year’s Smart People (with very well in niche [markets] Dennis Quaid and Sarah and some break out of the Jessica Parker) and The niche as say, March of the Crash Great Buck Howard with Penguins.” Tom Hanks, among other titles. He said Crash was originally intended for Palm founder and record executive Chris an urban market and quickly evolved to a Blackwell, who will assume a more involved greater audience. role in the company as chairman, hired the Körbelin eyes Palm competing with Lionstwo, according to a spokesperson. gate and ThinkFilm, which he says do a good Körbelin, a former executive with ProS- job producing content for an underserved ieben Television in Germany, said Palm consumer market seeking content beyond hopes to evolve beyond a purveyor of largely the major studios and independents. eclectic fare and establish itself theatrically, “There really hasn’t been a break out comelectronically and on DVD as a major second- pany that on one side is very artist friendly tier player. and on the other understands the audience’s Palm plans to release about eight to nine tastes,” he said. CLASSIFIED SHOWCASE BUSINESS SERVICES DI STR I B UTOR IMAGE, BTP EXTEND CLOSING DATE — AGAIN By Erik Gruenwedel CO M P U T E R S O F T WA R E Ongoing merger negotiations between Image Entertainment and BTP Acquisitions Co. LLC remain on track even though the two companies have again extended the closing date, this time from Nov. 28 to Dec. 3. Chatsworth, Calif.-based Image, in a regulatory filing, said it would entertain further closure delays provided BTP deposited $2 million in trust by Dec. 3. Image recently agreed to extend the closing date from Nov. 15 to Nov. 28 in order to provide investor group BTP additional time to finalize its financing for the $130 million deal. Film financier and producer David Bergstein spearSUPPLIER heads BTP’s interest in the deal, which includes $95 million in cash, assumption of a $9 million replication advance from Sonopress LLC and the repayment of about $24 million of Image debt. The March-announced transaction was originally expected to close Sept. 30 upon shareholder approval. Image reported a first-quarter (ended Sept. 30) loss of $3.6 million on revenue of $21.6 million. “The deal is not in jeopardy,” said Image COO David Borshell. “It’s just that $130 million acquisitions often take extra time.” A representative from BTP was not immediately available for comment. STORE FIXTURES P E O P LE I ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING GROUP NAMES PROMOTIONS VP Santa Monica-based Entertainment Marketing Group (EMG) has tapped Petra Luna as VP, promotions. She will aid in promotional campaigns on radio, TV, the Internet and in print. EMG has worked with entertainment companies such as Universal Music, NBC Universal, Viz Media, Shout! Factory and Funimation. I NEW ACCOUNT MANAGER FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIGITAL MOTION National Geographic Digital Motion, National Geographic’s digital film archive, has appointed Paul Johnson as an account manager. He will be based in London. Johnson, together with recent London hire Dan Pierce, will handle Digital Motion’s advertising, entertainment and corporate accounts as well as oversee expansion of the client base in Europe. He previously served as a sales director at Extreme Entertainment. U S E D TA P E S & D V D S I ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS CREATES NEW SALES POSITION Entertainment Studios Inc., a Los Angeles-based multimedia content provider, has promoted Ericka Butler to VP, sales and strategic planning, for Entertainment Studios Home Entertainment (ESHE). She will report to ESHE president Deborah Mitchell. Butler will manage the company’s Wal-Mart USA account and work with senior management on sales strategies for new releases and catalog product. She joined the company as director, category management, in 2005 and previously served at MGM Home Entertainment. I FORMER VDI VP LAUNCHES SPY FILMZ Sheldon Brigman, former VP of acquisitions and development at VDI Entertainment/MediaLINK, has launched Spy Filmz. The company will provide acquisitions and new business development consultation to distributors. Clients include Slamdance Management Group, National Lampoon and VDI Entertainment. — Billy Gil TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT: Kurt Wohlman (714) 338-6749 kwohlman@questex.com www.homemediamagazine.com 32 Home Media Magazine December 2–8, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.corporate.com http://www.jdprinc.com http://www.rapidrental.com http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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