TRIMARK ACQUIRES “JESUS.”
COMPANY TO LAUNCH ONE OF ITS LARGEST HOME VIDEO AD CAMPAIGNS EVER

April 24, 2000, MARINA DEL REY, CA.
Trimark Pictures announced today that it has acquired home video rights from International Program Consultants, Inc. to the critically and religiously acclaimed epic, “Jesus,” starring Jeremy Sisto (“Without Limits,” “Suicide Kings,” “Clueless”), Debra Messing (TV’s “Will & Grace” “Celebrity,”), Armin Mueller-Stahl (“Mission To Mars,” “Jakob the Liar,” “The X-Files”), Jacqueline Bisset (“Joan of Arc,” “The Deep,” “Class,”) and Gary Oldman (“Lost In Space,” “Air Force One,” “The Fifth Element”).

The announcement was made by the Company’s Executive Vice President, Peter Block. “Jesus,” which was presented this past November to Pope John Paul II at a Vatican audience including cast members Sisto and Bisset, is slated to air as a Spring sweeps event on CBS this May. Accompanying the film will be two soundtracks from Capitol, Angel & Sparrow Records featuring songs from LeAnn Rimes, 98?, Hootie & the Blowfish, Edwin McCain, Sarah Brightman, Steven Curtis Chapman and others. In addition to nationwide advertising from both CBS and Sparrow/Capitol, the Company will support the acquisition with one of its largest ad campaigns ever for a home video release. Included in the media plan are national TV and radio buys as well as nationwide print campaigns.

“Jesus” will enter the home video market at a sell-thru price on both VHS and DVD and is slated to street on July 25th. This is another strategic move in a series of acquisitions made by Trimark, adding high-profile titles to its sell-thru catalog. “The national recognition the film will receive through CBS and Sparrow/Capitol’s advertising coupled with our marketing and sales efforts should help in making ‘Jesus’ one of our best-selling titles,” said Block. “Trimark has one of the best reputations for distribution of event television product, and I think IPC took that in to account when selecting us as their distributor.” Trimark’s Senior Vice President of Home Video, Ron Schwartz added, “The producers did an excellent job of accurately re-creating the story of Jesus. It is a thrill for us to be attached to a film so beautiful and with such high production value." In addition to its ad campaign, the Company will also focus its efforts on a grassroots marketing campaign as well as the additional features it is currently planning for the day and date DVD release. The home video and DVD releases will also be supported by Sparrow Records, who will distribute and market the soundtrack at Christian retail stores throughout the U.S. As part of the deal,

Trimark also acquired pictures “Solomon (Vivica A. Fox, David Suchet, G.W. Bailey, Maria Grazia Cucinotta),” “Esther (Louise Lombard, F. Murray Abraham, Jurgen Prochnow),” “Jeremiah (Oliver Reed, Klaus Maria Brandauer)” and “Genesis,” which are also centered around biblical tales. Each is slated for a tentative sell-thru release date of September 26, 2000. The deal was brokered on Trimark’s behalf by Peter Block and Vice President of Acquisitions, Guy Stodel. Saul Melnick negotiated the deal on behalf of producers Russell Kagan and Lorenzo Minoli of Five Mile River Films. “Jesus,” “Solomon,” “Esther,” “Jeremiah” and “Genesis” were produced by Five Mile River Films Ltd., Lux Vide Spa and Beta Film Gmbh. The DVD order date for “Jesus” is June 26th and the VHS order date is July 3rd.

To purchase your JESUS VHS from Amazon.com ($20.99) click here.

To purchase your JESUS DVD from Amazon.com ($20.99) click here.

THE CBS JESUS
VIEWERS LOVED IT,
VIEWERS HATED IT!
Check out the responses

Jesus Epic Mini Series:
PAGE 1 -Review and photos
PAGE 2 -Review and photos
PAGE 3 -Review and photos
PAGE 4 -Letters and comments
PAGE 5 -Letters and comments
PAGE 6 -Letters and comments
SPECIAL PAGE -Interview with Lorenzo Minoli
To comment on this film click here

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