Up to date information about children's entertainment – film, TV, DVD and more…. from founder and president of KIDS FIRST! Ranny Levy

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and RedBox Announce a Multi-Year Distribution Agreement

February 16th, 2010
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and redbox today announced a new multi-year distribution agreement that will make Warner Bros. new release DVD and Blu-ray titles available to redbox customers after a 28-day window. The agreement also marks the end of the lawsuit that redbox filed against Warner Home Video in August 2009.

“We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to sit down with redbox and negotiate an arrangement that benefits both parties and allows us to continue making our films available to redbox customers,” said Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. “The 28-day window enables us to get the most from the sales potential of our titles and maximize VOD usage.”

The new arrangement provides redbox with reduced product costs, sufficient quantities of product and optimal stock levels four weeks after street date as well as extends redbox’s access to Blu-ray titles, which redbox is currently testing in select markets. The agreement also provides Warner Bros. the opportunity to maximize the sales of new release titles as well as video on demand and other forms of digital distribution.

“This agreement enables redbox to fulfill our commitment to providing consumers affordable and convenient home entertainment,” said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox. “By agreeing to a delayed release date, redbox can now acquire Warner Home Video titles at a reduced product cost, preserving value for our consumers and increasing customer access to Warner titles at redbox locations nationwide.”

Warner Home Video and redbox will be implementing delayed availability during the month of March and will reach a four-week window by March 23 with the release of The Blind Side. The new agreement will run through January 31, 2012. Redbox has also agreed to destroy Warner Home Video content following its lifespan in kiosks.

“The 28-day window for redbox balances the economics of our relationship while continuing to offer great value to their customers,” said Ron Sanders, president, Warner Home Video. “This accord establishes a mutually beneficial relationship that will foster an ongoing and productive partnership.”

Warner Bros. is currently a leader in many home video categories including total video (DVD and Blu-ray combined), Theatrical Catalog video, TV on DVD, and Blu-ray and will ensure the DVD rental company access to sufficient quantities of Warner Home Video titles including The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Box, The Informant!, Where the Wild Things Are, The Blind Side, and Sherlock Holmes.

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Heartland Film Festival Announces High School Film Competition

February 16th, 2010
Heartland Truly Moving Pictures is proud to announce its first annual High School Film Competition!

The Heartland High School Film Competition was established to encourage tomorrow’s filmmakers to create films that explore the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for positive values of life and educate them about Heartland’s mission.

The competition is open to all currently enrolled high school students who have not yet graduated. Film submissions will be judged on criteria similar to that of the Heartland Film Festival, including artistic excellence, technical merit and representation of Heartland’s organizational values.

The 2010 High School Film Competition’s theme is “hope.”
Submissions are being accepted now until May 15.

Four finalists and one Grand Prize winner will be awarded. Winners receive a cash prize, Heartland Film Festival tickets, recognition and much more!

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Congrats to Kids’ CBC Wonderworld – Winner of iParenting 2010 Award for Best Software

February 15th, 2010
Kids’ CBC Wonderworld, an online channel featuring games and on-demand video for preschoolers has won the iParenting Media 2010 Award for best software. This prestigious prize, awarded annually by iParenting.com, a Disney Internet Group media property, honors the best products and service for children and families. The jury is made up of parents, experts and educational professionals. The winning products are selected for their quality, innovation and educational value.

Kids’ CBC Wonder World is a totally secure, colourful online environment where kids aged three to six years old learn through fun and games. The various activities are tied to themes and specific learning objectives and are supported by a proprietary technology platform that adapts and recommends learning content based on the progress of the child. Full parental control is a key feature of the platform, with simple tools giving parents the opportunity to monitor their child’s online activity and skill development.

“Kids’ CBC is all about providing learning tools for parents and their children,” said Kim Wilson, creative head, childrens and youth programming, CBC Television. “This generation of children learn in a variety of different ways, including online, so we have created an integrated approach to learning. On the air, you will see the ‘Kids’ CBC Word Power Hour,’ with a focus on literacy that works beautifully with that aspect of Wonderworld—not only to promote early language skills, but also to introduce media literacy.”

The various games and activities in Kids’ CBC Wonderworld are brought to life by characters from popular children’s television programming that airs on the CBC, including Poko, Animal Mechanicals, Mighty Jungle, Bo on the Go !, and Super WHY.

Produced by Tribal Nova and DHX Media, Kids’ CBC Wonderworld is distributed in Canada by the CBC at www.kidscbcwonderworld.ca by paid subscription, after a free 15 day trial. Kids’ CBC Wonderworld was produced with funding from the Bell Fund, Fonds Quebecor, Telefilm Canada and the Canadian Television Fund.
For more information on the iParenting Media Awards, please visit www.iparentingmediaawards.com

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2010 remake of the classic, “Ice Castles” comes out on DVD February 9.

February 7th, 2010
Experience the power and joy of true love…on and off the ice as two-time Academy Award® nominated director Donald Wrye returns to direct his classic tale of a young skater with Olympic dreams who is blinded in an accident and attempts to overcome the tragedy with the help of her loving boyfriend. Popular recording artist Britt Nicole re-records the Oscar® nominated (Ice Castles, 1978) theme song “Through the Eyes of Love.”
Ice Castles stars American figure skater Taylor Firth, who makes her film debut opposite Rob Mayes (Brooklyn to Manhattan). In addition, there are cameo appearances by Olympic Medalist Michelle Kwan, NBC News Olympics Correspondent Andrea Joyce, and U.S. figure skater Molly Oberstar. The bonus materials include deleted scenes and a behind-the-scenes featurette, including an interview with Lynn-Holly Johnson, star of the original film.
Young, beautiful, talented Alexis Winston comes from nowhere to become a figure skating superstar. But her rise to stardom isn’t easy. She has to push herself, reinvent herself, and most painfully of all, leave her hometown boyfriend behind. When a tragic fall leaves her blind, she needs someone to believe in her, to love her; someone to convince her she has the strength to skate and dream again.

This heartwarming, inspirational, emotional remake of the 1978 Oscar® nominated romantic film (Best Original Song, “Through the Eyes of Love”) stars American figure skater Taylor Firth and features skating stars Molly Oberstar, NBC News Olympics Correspondent Andrea Joyce and Olympic Medalist Michelle Kwan.

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Congrats to Oscar Nominees, particularly Animated Feature Category!

February 2nd, 2010
Congratulations to the nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards which were announced this morning, particularly to the children’s films in the Animated Feature Film category. Nominees for this category include:

“Coraline” Henry Selick

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson

“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements

“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore

“Up” Pete Docter

“Avatar” received 9 nominations, including:  “Best Picture” to “Best Art Direction,” Best Cinematography,” “Directing,” “Film Editing,” “Music,” “Sound Editing,” “Film Editing” and “Visual Effects.”
 
For a complete list of nominees, go to http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html

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Great Films for Black History Month

January 28th, 2010

A terrific collection of films for Black History Month comes from Scholastic, “March On! … and more stories about African American History.” It includes four stories on one DVD celebrating Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and other people who have helped shaped African American history. The title tale (March On: The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World), based on the book by Dr. Christine King Ferris, sister of Martin Luther King, is a wonderful story about partnership and equality. The collection of actual photographs and illustrations makes for an interesting way to view the story. Younger kids may get bored with all the still photographs but, they illustrate important events in the history of our country. The March in Washington D.C. was based on love and peace. That is what is made clear in this film. It definitely gives viewers things to think about. The background of Martin Luther King Jr. from his sister’s point of view is interesting. I would recommend this DVD for kids age eight and older. This is a show that makes everyone think about how we treat others. It shows how people in the 60s worked towards equality and peace. The basis of Martin Luther King Jr’s speech is still true today. We cannot move forward unless we consider everyone equal. We must have hope and move ahead with our own dreams. We must work together and speak up for what is right.

Also coming out in February from Scholastic is the DVD, “So You Want To Be President? … and more stories to celebrate American history.” This DVD collects four storises about American political history. The title tale is based on the Caldecott Medal award winning book by Judith St. George, and features narration by Stockard Channing. Another tale is My Senator and Me: A Dog’s Eye View of Washington, D.C., written and narrated by Senator Edward M. Kennedy. DVD extras include an inervewi with author Lane Smith

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