Spare Parts Author Visits with Librarians at ALA

 

Spare Parts author, Joshua Davis, recently joined B&T at our booth at ALA to meet with librarians and sign copies of his book and the recently released DVD (out via Lionsgate Home Entertainment).

In the film, George Lopez leads a winning cast in this inspiring movie based on an amazing true story. When four wildly different Hispanic high schoolers team up to enter a robotics competition against the nation’s top universities, no one believes they have a chance—no one but Fredi (Lopez), their new substitute teacher. As Fredi challenges his students to be the best they can be, they show him the power of never giving up, in this unforgettable tale that shines with heart, humor, and hope.

Mr Davis  is a writer, film producer and co-founder of Epic Magazine. He's currently a contributing editor at Wired magazine. In 2003, he reported from Iraq for the magazine. He's also written about genetically modified cocaine in Colombia, attempts to engineer the apocalypse in Jerusalem, and the 2007 cyberwar between Estonia and Russia.  Davis' first book, The Underdog, was published by Random House in 2005. It chronicles Davis' entry into unusual competitions around the world, including the World Armwrestling Championship in Gdynia, Poland; the US Sumo Open in Los Angeles; the World Sauna Championship in Heinol, Finland; and the Golden Shrimp, a backwards running competition in Poviglio, Italy.

Spare Parts, Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream was published in 2014 by MacMillian.

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" on DVD !

“Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high...” is the opening to the instantly recognizable theme song for the iconic series READING RAINBOW. PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing four episodes from READING RAINBOW on the new DVD “IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE.” Since 1983, this beloved children’s television series has been bringing stories to life.

READING RAINBOW aired on PBS from 1983-2009. Hosted by LeVar Burton (“Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Perception”) for its entire 26-year run, the program encouraged a love of literature in millions of children and garnered more than 200 awards, including 26 Emmys and a Peabody Award.  

READING RAINBOW has helped children build lasting relationships with books at home and in the classroom. The four episodes and books, featured in this DVD are “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” read by Beth Howland, “Owen,” read by Matthew Broderick, “Two Old Potatoes and Me,” read by Jordan Puryear, and “Mr. George Baker,” read by Wayne Brady.

 “IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE” will be available on DVD May 12, 2015.
 The DVD run time is approximately 120 minutes and its SRP is $6.99. Additional details about the episodes included on this DVD are below.

"Just Before I Go" is Coming to DVD, Blu-ray

Anchor Bay Entertainment is proud to announce the home entertainment release of Courteney Cox’s directorial debut, JUST BEFORE I GO.

Courteney Cox gained overnight fame as she endeared herself to millions as the neurotic yet loveable Monica Gellar on NBC’s hit comedy “Friends”. Just ending her run on the Golden Globe nominated “Cougar Town”, Cox brings her comedic timing behind the camera with JUST BEFORE I GO —a quirky comedy, firmly grounded in the dramatic moments of real life. The story centers around Ted Morgan—a man who has been treading water for most of his life. After his wife leaves him, Ted realizes he has nothing left to live for. Summoning the courage for one last act, Ted decides to go home and face the people he feels are responsible for creating the shell of a person he has become. But life is tricky. The more determined Ted is to confront his demons, to get closure, and to withdraw from his family, the more Ted is yanked into the chaos of their lives. So, when Ted Morgan decides to kill himself, he finds a reason to live.

JUST BEFORE I GO features an ensemble cast of comedic actors lead by Seann William Scott (ROAD TRIP, AMERICAN PIE). His co-stars round out the film’s zany cast of characters and include Olivia Thirlby (JUNO, DREDD), Garret Dillahunt (“Raising Hope”, “Justified”), Kyle Gallner (“Veronica Mars”, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), Rob Riggle (21 JUMP STREET, LET’S BE COPS), Evan Ross (THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY), and Kate Walsh (“Grey’s Anatomy”, “Private Practice”). The screenplay was written by David Flebotte and the film was co-produced by Courteney Cox, Gabriel Cowan and Thea Mann.

Ryan Gosling's LOST RIVER Hits Home Entertainment on May 5

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced that Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut film, “Lost River,” will release on May 5 on DVD / Blu-ray.   The film had it's North American premiere as part of the SXSW Film Festival in March in Austin TX and had a limited theatrical run in NYC and L.A.

“Ryan is one of the most exciting actors of his generation and ‘Lost River’ reveals that he is also one of its most promising young directors,” said Kroll. “His debut film is a singular vision of stranded people finding connection in a broken world. We believe in this film and in Ryan as a director, and are delighted to be working with him in this new role. This is a great opportunity to give audiences the chance to discover this compelling, original work for themselves.” said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Added Fellman, “By capitalizing on the growing variety of film release opportunities, we can better target the right audience and give ‘Lost River’ a bigger and more focused voice than it would have if we put it exclusively in theaters. We are excited to see the result.”

Strange Magic

“Strange Magic,” a new animated film coming to DVD, on May 19 from Disney Entertainment is a fairy tale; but not your average fairy tale. This magical adventure features a host of colorful characters including a princess who has sworn off love, a dubious villain, a slightly nutty Sugar Plum Fairy, a tenacious elf, a mischievous imp, and a knight who is no Prince Charming. Bring home the enchanting tale the whole family can enjoy today! 

The film has the voice talents of Alan Cumming (CBS’ “The Good Wife,” Broadway’s “Cabaret”), Evan Rachel Wood (“The Ides of March”), Kristin Chenoweth (Broadway’s “Wicked”), Maya Rudolph (“Big Hero 6,” “Bridesmaids”), Sam Palladio (ABC’s “Nashville”), newcomer Meredith Anne Bull, Alfred Molina (“Chocolat”) and Elijah Kelley (“Hairspray,” “The Butler”) and was directed by Gary Rydstrom from a story by George Lucas .

 

Print the Legend, 3D Printing Doc Arrives on May 5

3D printing is changing the world – from printing guns and human organs, to dismantling the world’s industrial infrastructure by enabling home manufacturing. It’s “the next Industrial Revolution.” With unprecedented access to the visionaries building an industry, Print the Legend follows the people and companies racing to bring 3D printing to your desktop and into your life. For the winners, there are fortunes – and history – to be made. Print the Legend is both the definitive 3D Printing Documentary – capturing a technology in the midst of its “Macintosh Moment” – and a compelling tale about what it takes to live the American Dream in any field.  The doc arrives on DVD and Blu-ray for libraries on May 5, 2015.

Watch the film's trailer below;

"Map to the Stars" Finds it Way to Home Entertainment

Director David Cronenberg (Eastern Promises, A History of Violence) returns with a provocative satire about the Hollywood film industry and the demons of celebrity obsession in the Focus World release Maps to the Stars,  on Blu-ray with Digital HD and DVD on April 14, 2015 for retail sales and on May 12 per Uni public library holdback policy for libraries from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Academy Award winner Julianne Moore (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay) stars with Mia Wasikowska (The Kids Are All Right), Olivia Williams (Hyde Park on Hudson), John Cusack (Being John Malkovich), and Robert Pattinson (The Twilight Saga) in this unforgettable darkly comic thriller written by Bruce Wagner (I'm Losing You). Hollywood actress Havana Segrand (Moore) is unraveling as her career flounders. Her self-help psychotherapist (Cusack) and his wife (Williams) are busy managing the career of their child-star son. But when a mysterious young woman named Agatha (Wasikowska) befriends a limo driver and aspiring actor (Pattinson) all their lives get together, and nothing will ever be the same as they try to survive in a world of money, fame, ambition, envy, ghosts, and vice.

Ballet 422 Dances It's Way On To DVD & Blu-ray on May 26

From first rehearsal to world premiere, BALLET 422 takes us backstage at New York City Ballet as

Justin Peck, a young up-and-coming choreographer, crafts a new work. BALLET 422 illuminates the process behind the creation of a single ballet within the ongoing cycle of work at one of the world’s great ballet companies.  

 

New York City Ballet, under the artistic direction of Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins, boasts a roster of more than 90 dancers and a repertory of works by many of the greatest choreographers in the history of the art form. When 25-year-old NYCB dancer Justin Peck begins to emerge as a promising young choreographer, he is commissioned to create a new ballet for the Company’s 2013 Winter Season.

HISTORY's "Sons of Liberty" Arrives on DVD & Blu-ray

HISTORY^'s latest blockbuster miniseries Sons of Liberty is headed to Blu-ray and DVD May 26th from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. An action-packed, five-hour, scripted miniseries in the tradition of “The Vikings” and “Hatfields & McCoys,” and scripted by the writer of HBO’s “John Adams,” Sons of Liberty features an incredible ensemble cast, including Dean Norris (TV’s “Breaking Bad,” TV’s “Under the Dome”), Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia), Ryan Eggold (TV’s “The Blacklist”), Michael Raymond-James (TV’s “Once Upon a Time”), Rafe Spall (Prometheus), Henry Thomas (Gangs of New York), Marton Csokas (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), Jason O’Mara (TV’s “Terra Nova”) and Emily Berrington (TV’s “24: Live Another Day”), who come together to tell the dramatic interpretation of events that sparked a revolution. 

 

As riots consume the streets of Boston, a dangerous game plays out between a British governor and ringleader Sam Adams, which escalates to extreme measures—street brawls, black market dealings, espionage and murder. A sizzling, romantic affair percolates against a backdrop of rising civil unrest, the infamous Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere’s legendary ride. From the Battle of Lexington, a clash between the dedicated colonists and the superior British Army ensues, and the colonies join forces as a single, united country in the most epic revolution of our time. 

 

The Sons of Liberty Blu-ray and DVD include over 30 minutes of exclusive, behind-the-scenes special features and will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.99 and $26.98, respectively.

Cymbeline Arrives on Home Entertainment in May

The modernization of a Shakespeare classic, Cymbeline arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on May 19 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. A gritty story of a take-no-prisoners war between dirty cops and an outlaw biker gang, Cymbeline stars Academy Award nominees Ethan Hawke (Best Supporting Actor, Boyhood, 2014) and Ed Harris (Best Actor, Pollock, 2000) alongside a powerhouse cast including Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil franchise), John Leguizamo (John Wick), Penn Badgley (Margin Call), Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey) and Anton Yelchin (Star Trek franchise) with Bill Pullman (upcoming American Ultra) and Delroy Lindo (TV’s “Believe”).

 

When extortion, betrayal and fiery passions threaten his criminal empire, a drug kingpin (Harris) is driven to desperate measures in this explosive, modern retelling of Shakespeare’s timeless play.

 

Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette and extended interviews with cast and crew along with a Blu-ray and DVD exclusive audio commentary with director Michael Almereyda, actor Ethan Hawke and Shakespeare expert Anthony Holden. Cymbeline will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.99 and $19.98 respectively.

Orange is the New Black Seasons Two Arrives on DVD/BD

Nominated for 12 Primetime Emmys and four Golden Globes, the “smart, salty and outrageous” (The New Yorker) smash hit Orange Is the New Black – Season Two arrives on Blu-ray and DVD May 19, 2015 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Based on the best-selling memoir by Piper Kerman, the hugely popular dark comedy from “Weeds” creator Jenji Kohan is a groundbreaking show and winner of the Best Comedy Series at the Critics’ Choice Awards, as well as Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy at the 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Orange is the New Black – Season Two stars Taylor Schilling (Argo, The Lucky One), Uzo Aduba (TV’s “How to Live Like a Lady”), Danielle Brooks (upcoming Angry Birds), Michael J. Harney (Showtime’s “Weeds,” HBO’s “True Detective”), Natasha Lyonne (American Pie, G.B.F.), and Taryn Manning (TV’s “Sons of Anarchy”), with Kate Mulgrew (TV’s “Star Trek: Voyager”) and Jason Biggs (American Pie franchise), as well as guest stars Laverne Cox (Grandma), Matt McGorry (TV’s “How to Get Away with Murder”), Dascha Polanco (Gimme Shelter), Pablo Schreiber (TV's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Showtime's "Weeds"), Yael Stone (Me Myself I), Samira Wiley (The Sitter), Laura Prepon (TV’s “That ‘70s Show”), Maria Dizzia (While We’re Young),  and newest inmate Lorraine Toussaint (Selma).

Orange Is the New Black is a fierce and funny series that follows Piper Chapman (Schilling) when a crime she committed in her past sends her to an all-women’s prison with an unforgettable and irreverent group of fellow inmates. Shocking revelations and new arrivals shake up the lives and relationships of Litchfield's prisoners in this highly anticipated second season.