Home Media Magazine - April 27 - May 3, 2008 - (Page 16) TV DVD Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com LIGHTING UP DVD By John Latchem f critical acclaim and awards haven’t got enough viewers buzzing about “Mad Men,” Lionsgate hopes its DVD release certainly will. The DVD version is packaged in a limited-edition metal case styled on a cigarette lighter, taking a cue from one of the show’s trademark images. Created by former “Sopranos” writer Matthew Weiner, “Mad Men” delves into the lives of those involved in the ruthless world of advertising in New York in 1960. “People would go to work, have a smoke, pour a drink, work for about 20 minutes and then go to lunch,” said Jenna Sonenshein, brand man- ‘Mad Men’ hits shelves July 1 in collectible packaging The look and feel of the show reflects the high style of the 1960s, and we wanted to carry that over to the DVD.” The pyro theme is not a first for Lionsgate, which in 2006 released a special edition of Reservoir Dogs in a tin case designed to look like a gas can, with the DVDs in a faux matchbook. The “Mad Men” Blu-ray release, which comes in standard packaging, continues Lionsgate’s trend of pricing the Blu-ray only a penny more than the DVD “as a way to grow our Blu-ray product,” Sonenshein said. She said the special DVD packaging eventually will subside in favor of a more-traditional design. Extras include audio commentary on all 13 episodes; a photo gallery with commentaries from the costume, hair and production designers; the featurette “Establishing Mad Men,” which looks at the world of the show; “Advertising the American Dream,” about the creative revolution in media in the 1960s; and an interview with composer David Carbonara. The DVD set also includes a “Mad Men” music sampler. I ager for Lionsgate. “They’d smoke like you wouldn’t believe.” Many viewers may not have heard about the show until this past awards season, when “Mad Men” won Golden Globes for best TV drama and best actor in a TV drama for Jon Hamm, and also was honored by the directors and writers guilds. The show airs on AMC, not exactly known for its original dramatic programming, and attracts a demographic of highincome viewers age 35 and older. “We’re looking to grow the audience and grow the ‘Mad Men’ brand,” said Sonenshein. “A lot of people are not familiar with the show. It was on AMC but didn’t get a lot of visibility.” Sonenshein expects that to change when the first season arrives on home video July 1 (prebook June 4). All 13 episodes will be available as a four-DVD set at $49.98 and a threedisc Blu-ray set at $49.99. “You are definitely going to see the ‘Mad Men’ DVD because of the packaging,” Sonenshein said. “It’s going to jump off shelves.” Lionsgate also hopes to capitalize on the interest surrounding the show’s second season, which premieres this summer. Sonenshein said Lionsgate chose the cigarette lighter because the studio was looking for an emblematic and iconic representation of the show and the era it depicts. “Matt Weiner says the characters smoke and drink to the point where he found it disgusting,” Sonenshein said. “But he’s trying to be true to the era. TALENT TALK A Chat With Young Indy By Craig Modderno he third and final volume of Lucasfilm’s “Adventures of Young Indiana Jones” DVD boxed sets streets April 29 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Subtitled “The Years of Change,” the 10-disc collection includes more than 15 hours of bonus material. In translating Harrison Ford’s famous character to the small screen for the 1990s TV series, Sean Patrick Flannery captured the adventurous spirit and sex appeal that helps define the eternal popularity of Indiana Jones. T I HM: How would you describe “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” to someone who had never seen the show? Flannery: An action-packed yet educational adventure, where the only fictitious character is Indiana Jones. I HM: How did your portrayal of Indiana Jones differ from Harrison Ford’s? Flannery: I brought a sense of naiveté and youth … I hope. I HM: What was the most difficult stunt you performed on the series? Flannery: Setting myself on fire. Actually, that wasn’t difficult, just dangerous. I HM: What can you tell us about George Lucas, the creator of your show, that people don’t know? Flannery: He’s a good-natured ladies man. I HM: What’s more important when playing Indiana Jones, his hat or his whip? Flannery: His hat, without question. I HM: What’s the most memorable response you’ve gotten from playing this popular character? Flannery: Holy crap! TOP 10 TV DVD TV DVD* 2008 First Quarter LABEL INDEX TITLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest Planet Earth: The Complete Series High School Musical 2 Hannah Montana: One in a Million Lost: The Complete Third Season Battlestar Galactica: Season 3 The Tudors: The Complete First Season NFL Super Bowl XLII Champions High School Musical Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! * Totals Include Blu-ray and HD DVD Fox BBC Video Disney Disney Disney Universal Paramount Warner Disney Warner 100.00 36.50 35.01 24.17 20.24 17.40 15.02 14.44 14.28 14.08 Source: Nielsen VideoScan 16 Home Media Magazine April 27–May 3, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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