The Word is Out! Just in Time for the Holidays, Genius Products, Inc. Set to Release the Critically Acclaimed Film 'Wordplay' on DVD on November 7th

Source: Yahoo! Finance
Date: September 12, 2006
Byline: Press Release

The Word is Out! Just in Time for the Holidays, Genius Products, Inc. Set to Release the Critically Acclaimed Film 'Wordplay' on DVD on November 7th

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2006--Genius Products, Inc.:

Incredible Added Value Including Over 85 minutes of Bonus Footage and an exclusive Limited Edition Puzzle Book of the 'Five Greatest Puzzles Ever Made' from The New York Times!
"What's an eight letter word for a non-fiction feature that is witty, wise and wonderful?" - Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
"'Wordplay' captures the exhilaration that comes from navigating the ins and outs of complex puzzles. It also celebrates the English language in a way that is stimulating and immensely entertaining." - Claudia Puig, USA Today

Genius Products, Inc. is proud to present "Wordplay," the critically acclaimed documentary, on DVD for the first time on November 7, 2006. "Wordplay" is an artfully constructed film that provides an in-depth behind the scenes view of the New York Times crossword puzzle and the current and historical creative forces that drive its production. Director Patrick Creadon treats this ordinary form of self-amusement as a spectator sport filled with rugged down-and-acrossers in hot pursuit of attaching words to terse definitions.

"Wordplay" focuses on the man most associated with crossword puzzles, The New York Times puzzle editor and NPR Puzzle master Will Shortz. Throughout the film, audiences become spectators of this passionate hero's adventures as he explores the minds of his brilliant and amiable contributors including syndicated puzzle creator Merl Reagle. Along the way, the film presents interviews with celebrity puzzlers such as Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Jon Stewart, Ken Burns, Mike Mussina and the Indigo Girls, who reveal their process, insight and allure to the game. The dialogue culminates with the crossword tournament of champions, the 28th American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, where puzzlers put their minds to the test by competing for the coveted title of "Crossword Champ."

"Wordplay" the DVD delivers an experience; it is loaded with over 85 minutes of special features including:

Deleted scenes
The 'Five Greatest Puzzles Ever Made' Featurette: An inside look into creating puzzles and the tricks of the trade
"Every Word," a music video by Gary Louris
Waiting for The New York Times - a short film by Patricia Erens
Wordplay goes to Sundance
Feature commentary with Director Patrick Creadon, New York Times Puzzle Editor, Will Shortz and Crossword Constructor Merle Reagle
Interview gallery 8) Wordplay photo gallery

The bonus disc will be CD-ROM enabled so puzzles can be printed by consumers in a larger format.

SYNOPSIS: Wordplay

Director Patrick Creadon introduces us to Will Shortz, NY Times Editor and NPR Puzzle Master and the inner workings of his brilliant and often hilarious contributors. In addition to deconstructing this uniquely American institution, Wordplay takes us through the 28th annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament where almost five hundred competitors battled it out for the title "Crossword Champ" and showed their true colors along the way.

BASICS

Price:	$24.95 SRP
Street Date:	November 7, 2006
MPAA Rating:	PG
Languages:	English
Subtitles:	English, Spanish SDH - Subtitled for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Running time:	87 minutes
Catalog Number:	79615
UPC:	79615 / 796019 79615 6
Format:	1.66

Other IFC Films coming out on behalf of Genius Products, Inc. include Russian Dolls (September 26), Three Times (September 26), 12 and Holding (October 10), Land of Plenty (October 10) and Pizza (October 24).

ABOUT GENIUS PRODUCTS, INC.

Genius Products, LLC is a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces, licenses, and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout the U.S. Genius handles the distribution, marketing and sales for such brands as Asia Extreme(TM), Baby Genius®, Dragon Dynasty(TM), ESPN®, IFC®, NBC News®, Sundance Channel Home Entertainment®, Wellspring(TM) and The Weinstein Company®.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect Genius Products' business, forecasts, projections and prospects, and cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the anticipated number of releases, timing and financial performance of home video releases such as SCARY MOVIE 4, DERAILED, HOODWINKED, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, WOLF CREEK, THE MATADOR, THE LIBERTINE, LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN, a sequel to SIN CITY, SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS, CLERKS II, BOBBY, and any other statements relating to such new or potential releases that are not historical statements of fact. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to access. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements for many reasons, including but not limited to, the unpredictability of audience demand, the effect of technological change and the availability of alternative forms of entertainment. Other such risks and uncertainties include the matters described in Genius Products' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Genius Products assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

About The Weinstein Company

The Weinstein Company was created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films Corp. in 1979. TWC is a multi-media company that officially launched on October 1, 2005. Dimension Films, the genre label that was founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, is also included under TWC banner. The Weinstein's are actively working on the production, development and acquisition of projects for TWC.