Home Media Magazine - May 25 - 31, 2008 - (Page 38)

NEWS www.homemediamagazine.com Rentailer’s Saga Told on DVD Library remove films they deemed obBy Thomas K. Arnold PRODUCT Next month, independent scene, from Blazing Saddles to Splash, Vanguard Cinema will ship to video the latter drawing their ire because retailers a film about a video retailer. they felt Tom Hanks making love to a If you’re thinking a Clerks clone, forget mermaid promoted bestiality. When Temptation was released on it. Heart of the Beholder, which is bevideo in 1989, Video Library ing released directly to video was the only video chain in June 24, tells the true story of St. Louis to offer it for rent. pioneering video retailer Ken The NFD picketed Video LiTipton, who lost the Video brary stores, and the Tiptons Library chain he had founded received death threats. The loand built after battling relical prosecuting attorney filed gious extremists in St. Louis, obscenity charges against the Mo., over his decision to carry Tipton retailers, and while they ultiMartin Scorsese’s The Last mately prevailed in court, the negative Temptation of Christ. The independent film, 12 years in publicity and legal fees bankrupted the making, was written and directed their business and led to the breakup by Tipton, who in 1981 pooled his of their family. Tipton was compelled to make a film savings and with his pregnant wife opened Video Library as the first video about his story after being approached rental store in St. Louis. The store was by a producer for a TV movie in 1993. an instant success and soon grew into The networks liked the idea but deemed a multimillion-dollar business, with it too controversial. Tipton persisted, six stores twice the size of the aver- ultimately teaming with television age Blockbuster and another six Movie standards and practices executive Darlene Lieblich, who optioned the story Machine video kiosks. But with success came attention from and raised $500,000 to make the film, the St. Louis chapter of the Rev. Donald which was shot in 18 days. Heart of the Wildmon’s National Federation for De- Beholder was screened at the 2005 St. cency (NFD). The NFD insisted Video Louis Filmmakers Showcase, where it was awarded the Critics Choice Award for best narrative feature film. Freyr Thor, president of Vanguard Cinema, heard of the film through an Internet article and contacted Tipton and his team — who, coincidentally, just submitted a copy to Vanguard. “The film is a perfect fit for us,” Thor said. “We have never shied away from controversy.” While the movie is a testament to his convictions, Tipton concedes if he had it to do all over again, he would have done things differently. “I would have removed The Last Temptation after the NFD demanded I do so,” he said. “It’s one thing to stand up for yourself, but my actions affected my family and my employees, many of whom went bankrupt, just as we did.” Tipton said he’s already planning a sequel to Heart of the Beholder that chronicles “all the strange things we went through to make [the movie].” Flexplay Discs at Staples Continued from page 1 Anchor Bay Entertainment, DreamWorks, New Line, Paramount, and Warner Bros., among others. The company is re-introducing time-limited DVDs despite the technology’s inauspicious start in 2003 when Walt Disney’s short-lived EZ-D releases failed to catch on with consumers. A principle complaint then regarded disposal and environmental issues, including the inability to recycle the used discs. As a result, Flexplay discs can now be recycled by the consumer, at the point-of-purchase or in postage-paid mailers requested from the company. The company targets consumers (such as business travelers and executives) who don’t buy or rent movies from traditional outlets due to schedules, late fees or mandatory trips to the video store, said Joe Fuller, EVP of marketing. He said the number of people who don’t rent moves is three to four times the number who do rent. Fuller said Flexplay is a way customers can watch movies when they want. “It is designed to focus on the consumer who is not in the traditional market,” Fuller said. “That’s always good news for the studios.” He cited the movie Rush Hour 3, which is available at Flexplay locations in airports. Fuller said the title was released on DVD last year, but a lot of people still haven’t seen it. “Now they can when they want,” he said. “We’re driving that convenience.” The company will hold a promotional “treasure hunt” contest for its service next month at the Electronic Merchants Association’s annual confab in Las Vegas. JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* Trans World Posts Q1 Loss Continued from page 1 under the Second Spin, Suncoast and f.y.e. brands, in addition to several related Web sites. The music category continued to be the fiscal culprit as same-store (stores open at least 12 months) sales dropped 23%, with music CD sales representing 37% of company revenue compared to 44% last year. The company is eyeing secondary and tertiary music categories as a way to offset packaged-music sales declines. “As the music industry declines, we’re committed to improving our market share in the secondary markets,” said Jim Litwak, president and COO, in an analyst call. Strong sales of catalog DVD titles and previously viewed product overcame a dearth of new releases as video sales represented 41% of company revenue, compared to 38% last year. “Our strength in catalog continues to drive this business as the studios recognize our ability to differentiate ourselves from the competition through expanded assortment and depth of product,” Litwak said. The COO said the elimination of the format war helped the company focus on Blu-ray and catalog titles, two areas he believes will drive video sales. “Strong promotion opportunities on the video side have enabled us to stake out growth in market share,” Litwak said. Same-store video game sales increased 11% and represented 8% of business, up from 7%. The category was primarily driven by the release of Grand Theft Auto IV in April. In addition, Trans World last September reduced the number of stores carrying video games to 400 from 600, based on the belief it could build the business through reduced stores and strengthening its game-selling culture. Litwak said the 400-store strategy increased video game business by 19% in the game category. “We are beginning to see a payoff from that change in strategic direction,” Litwak said. “Once we have established ourselves as a force in that category, we plan on expanding it to other stores.” Electronics, accessories and trends sales increased 17% and represented 14% of business, compared to 11% last year. Trans World expects a fiscal year sales decline of 17% and mid-single digit compstore sales decline. “We were encouraged by positive compstore sales in video, video games and our other categories, which include accessories, electronics and trend,” said founder, chairman and CEO Robert Higgins. Higgins recently withdrew his offer to acquire all outstanding stock and take Trans World private, citing the poor credit market. 21 STREET DATE Drillbit Taylor BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) Shutter TITLE PREBOOK GENRE PRICE 7/22 6/19 $81.2 Thriller DVD $28.96, BD $38.96 Sony Pictures. 2008. Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey. Based on the true story of a group of MIT students who won millions in Vegas by counting cards. Includes a commentary, several featurettes and more. Also available in a two-DVD set ($34.95) and UMD ($24.94). Drillbit Taylor 7/1 Now $32.1 Comedy DVD $29.99, BD $39.99 Paramount. 2008. Owen Wilson, Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile, David Dorfman. A group of children, tired of being harassed by the school bully, hire a private bodyguard for protection. Includes deleted and extended scenes, commentary, a gag reel and more. Shutter 7/15 6/18 $26 Horror DVD $29.98, BD $39.98 Fox. 2008. Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor. A newlywed New York couple moves to Japan for the photographer husband’s latest assignment and soon is haunted by a ghost from the past. Also available in an unrated edition. My Blueberry Nights 7/1 Now $0.7 Drama DVD $19.97 Genius/Weinstein. 2008. Norah Jones, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz. A heartbroken young woman takes a cross-country journey to discover herself and learn about love. Includes deleted scenes, a making-of featurette and a Q&A with director Wong Kar Wai. In the Line of Fire 7/1 6/13 Re-release Thriller BD $28.95 Sony Pictures. 1993. Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo, Dylan McDermott. A Secret Service agent plays a game of cat and mouse with a brilliant psychopath threatening to kill the president. Brutal Massacre: A Comedy 7/22 6/19 DTV Comedy DVD $26.97 Anchor Bay. 2008. David Naughton, Brian O’Halloran, Gerry Bednob, Gunnar Hansen, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly. A mockumentary about a former ‘A’-list horror director trying to film his comeback movie. Includes a behind-the-scenes featurette and more. Alice Upside Down 7/29 6/26 DTV Family DVD $19.97 Anchor Bay. 2008. Alyson Stoner, Lucas Grabeel, Luke Perry, Penny Marshall. Based on the bestselling “Alice McKinley” tween books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, an 11-year-old girl struggles with the loss of her mother, a new town and school, and the challenges of adolescence. * In order of box office, then prebook date Home Media Magazine May 25–31, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - May 25 - 31, 2008

Home Media Magazine - May 25 - 31, 2008 Contents News Hardware Commentary TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - May 25 - 31, 2008

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