New Release - The Other Mexico

Choices is pleased to announce the release of our latest film, The Other Mexico which explores the growing political unrest in that country.

The Other Mexico focuses on that nation's poor and indigenous citizens who have no voice in the political system. Many of them have gravitated to the growing Zapatista movement led by its leader "Subcomandante Marcos". Some feel Marcos is a true folk hero while others view him as an opportunist seeking personal fame. Leading journalists and scholars debate the pros and cons of the movement as it tries to organize the country's disaffected before the 2006 Presidential election.

With gripping footage of police violence and in-depth interviews, The Other Mexico explores the growing political and socioeconomic crisis which will have far reaching effects for both Latin America and beyond.

The DVD will be released on July 1st, 2008 and will be priced at $99.95 (w/PPR rights). To learn more about this film and watch a clip, click here.

Haagen Dazs Campaign to Save the Bees

Haagen-Dazs recently started a new public awareness campaign about the recent decline in honeybees called "Help the Honey Bees." In addition to donating money to several university programs that study bees, the campaign has also launched an educational site http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/ where you can learn more about their efforts.

Also, National Pollination Week is coming up June 22nd - 28th raise awareness about the importance of pollination for both crops and plants. You can learn more about the many activities planned by visiting www.pollinator.org

And don't forget our own DVD "City of Bees" which explores the life of a honeybees from a child's point of view. A clip of the film can be seen here.

Choices to Attend Silverdocs 2008

Choices Inc. will be attending Silverdocs in Silver Spring MD this June. The documentary festival and conference is one of the largest in the world focusing on non-fiction work.

Erik Gudris will be the attending representative. If you would like to meet with him regarding your film or company, please contact him at egudris at dslextreme.com

To learn more about the festival, please visit www.silverdocs.com

Celebrate Bloomsday with Sale on "Joyce to the World"

To celebrate Bloomsday (June 16th) and all things Joycean, Choices is having a sale on its popular DVD "Joyce to the World".

What makes James Joyce's Ulysses so compelling that it continues to attract devoted readers one hundred years after its publication? Joyce to the World explores the global phenomenon known as 'Bloomsday' celebrated every year on June 16th, the day the novel takes place.

Celebrate the 100-year anniversary of this amazing tradition when Joyceans around the world open a book, raise a pint, and dress in costume in homage to their fictional heroes. Die-hard fans and those just beginning their exploration of this acclaimed artist will find Joyce to the World a treasured resource for years to come.

The DVD will be $24.95 with coupon code "Bloomsday" when ordering at our website www.choicesvideo.net or by phone.

Whole Child, Whole Planet Expo This Weekend

Dr. Jay Gordon will participate on a vaccinations panel at the Whole Child, Whole Planet Expo on Sunday, May 18, at 11:50 AM at the Waldorf School in Northridge, California. He will be available to sign copies of his informative DVD, “Vaccinations?: Assessing the Risks and Benefits,” from 1-2:00 PM. For information about the expo, go to www.wcwpexpo.com.

New Release - Prayer of Peace

Choices is pleased to announce our new release, Prayer of Peace: Relief and Resistance in Burma's War Zones.

In Prayer of Peace: Relief and Resistance in Burma's War Zones, filmmaker Matt Blauer sheds new light on the Karen people and their struggle for survival in Burma. Although many in the outside world condemn the country's military government, few are aware that over one million Karen villagers fight to stay alive inside the country's borders.

Blauer illegally crosses the border several times to help local relief workers bring medicine and material aid to those displaced by the Burmese Army. In his journeys, he meets a nurse devoted to assisting escapees following the death of her parents and a pastor/cameraman who documents human rights abuses. With candid interviews and stunning footage of recent events, the film brings a fresh awareness to an often ignored but important issue in this troubled nation.

Official Selection - Amnesty International Film Festival

Prayer of Peace will retail for $99.95 and will be released on May 5th. To learn more and to view a clip please visit www.choicesvideo.net

Dr. Jay Gordon on Fox LA Tonight - 10:00p.m.

Dr. Jay Gordon and Jenny McCarthy will be featured on Fox 11 News in Los Angeles, discussing vaccinations, autism, and keeping America’s children healthy tonight during the 10 o’clock news. Thereafter, Dr. Jay will participate in a live online chat to discuss these controversial topics and other pressing health questions after the program at 11:00 PM. To participate in the live chat, go to www.fox11.com.

Spring Fling Sale - Save 50%

Now that spring is here, we are having a sale! Save up to 50% off the following titles:

Letters From Iran
Awakening: Empowering Women Through Microloans
The Concrete Revolution
Panihari: The Water Women of India
Through My Eyes

To redeem, simply enter the code "Spring" at checkout on our website on reference it when ordering by phone.

The sale is good until 6/30/08.

Enjoy!

Dr. Jay Gordon on Larry King Live - Autism

Dr. Jay Gordon will appear as a guest on CNN’s Larry King Live on Wednesday, April 2nd. The show will discuss autism as part of the network’s day-long coverage of Autism Awareness Day.

Check your local listings for airtimes or click here.

And learn more about the Vaccinations? DVD here at www.vaccinationsdvd.com

The Perfect Life - Screenings in New York City

The Perfect Life will have several screenings in New York City in the month of April. This will be part of the film's ongoing educational outreach. Details of a public screening is listed below.

A public screening of director Sam Lee’s acclaimed documentary “The Perfect Life” will take place at the New York Public Library Donnell Media Center on April 17th, 2:30pm.

Hailed by Variety as “…an involving study of academic apathy, the challenges of inner city life and the pain of hopes and dreams unrealized”, The Perfect Life takes a hard look at the challenges of growing up in America's inner cities. In 1992, filmmaker Sam Lee moved from England to teach second grade at a unique school in Harlem aimed at helping disadvantaged youth. Ten years later, she decided to revisit her former students, now seniors in high school, and find out what had become of their dreams, their families, and their lives.

As part of the film’s outreach mission to educate and empower those in the New York City educational community on how to best assist at-risk youth, several additional screenings and workshops will take place throughout April, both for the NYC Dept. of Youth and Community Development and Bank Street College.

"The goal of The Perfect Life Outreach Initiative is to host screenings of the film that will reach inner city neighborhoods and those concerned with challenges of urban youth and education in America. We seek collaboration with organizations, schools, agencies, and individuals who will use the film as a tool for promoting their own programs as well as a catalyst for dialogue and action,” said Tonya Gayle, Associate Producer for The Perfect Life.

The screening at the New York Public Library is part of the 5th Annual Yip Harburg Foundation political documentary collection screening series. A Q&A session with the film’s production crew will take place at 4 p.m. The screening is free and open to the public.

For more info, contact library at 212-621-0609 or 1-888-570-5400. More information about the film can be found at its website www.theperfectlife.net

The Perfect Life is distributed by Choices, Inc., a documentary and educational media distribution company based in Los Angeles. The DVD of the film can be purchased at www.choicesvideo.net

Vaccinations? - New Release

Choices is pleased to announce the release of our new DVD - Vaccinations?

In Vaccinations?, author and nationally recognized pediatrician Dr. Jay Gordon gives a lively and thought-provoking seminar on the pros and cons of vaccinating newborn babies and children. Dr. Gordon provides an alternative viewpoint on the use of vaccinations and discusses the risks and benefits of each of the commonly known vaccines used today.

The seminar touches on such issues as the "myths" of vaccinations, how the pharmaceutical industry promotes the overuse of its products, and the current debate on autism.

In addition, this engaging program provides viewers with easy to understand explanations on how the body's immune system works, why breastfeeding is important, natural ways to prevent childhood illness and more.

With up-to-date information and statistics, Vaccinations? will be an important resource for parents, caregivers and anyone interested in the health and well being of children.

The DVD will sell for $24.95 and will be available February 19th.

For more information about the title, click here.

Rumi Turning Ecstatic - Screenings in California

Tina Petrova, director of "Rumi: Turning Ecstatic" is now in the middle of her west coast tour. Through the month of March, she will be appearing at various events and screenings.

To learn more about upcoming screenings in your area, please click here.

New Release - The Poetry Lounge 2 and 3 on DVD

Choices is pleased to announce the release of two new additions to the acclaimed "The Poetry Lounge" series.

Based on the weekly performances of 'Da Poetry Lounge, the largest weekly open mic event in the country, the new DVDs focus on specific aspects of spoken word writing and performance.

In The Poetry Lounge 2 - The Power of Poetics, spoken word artists discuss various poetic techniques they use while creating their works. The Poetry Lounge 3 - The Power of Performance covers how the artists prepare and perform their work in front of an audience.

Each DVD includes performances and interviews from such noted spoken word artists as Sekou the Misfit, Brutha Gimel, Gina Loring, In-Q, Paul Mabon, Poetri and more. The artists discuss topics ranging from personal faith to dealing with the loss of a loved one and inner-city issues.

Filmed before a live audience and produced in collaboration with educational advisors including Alexs Pate, Award Winning Novelist Assistant Professor of Afro-American and African Studies at the University of Minnesota and Dr. Paula Wolfe, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Literacy Studies, the new titles seek to engage and inform audiences of all ages on the power of the spoken word.

When asked about his ongoing involvement with The Poetry Lounge series, Pierson Blaetz, Artistic Director of the Greenway Court Theatre said, "Looking for inspiration...I've found all I need from these leaders of the spoken word movement. You can't turn away from this potent mix of talent and wisdom."

Special Features will include a Photo Gallery, Poetry Booklet, 'Da Poetry Lounge History and a Lesson Plan written by Dr. Paula Wolfe.

SRP is $49.95 each. To learn more about Poetry Lounge 2 visit here and for Poetry Lounge 3 visit here.

The Poetry Lounge 2 and 3 are distribuuted by Choices - www.choicesvideo.net

Filmmaker Residency Program - Deadline Approaching

Working Films is once again sponsoring their Content + Intent Documentary Institute, which allows filmmakers a chance to develop outreach plans for their projects.

(Wilmington, NC. December 18, 2007) – It’s that time of year again! Working Films is accepting applications for its five-day residency for documentary filmmakers at MASS MoCA. The residency, which is called the Content + Intent Documentary Institute, willtake place March 12-16, 2008 in North Adams, MA. The application deadline is January 25, 2008.

Ensuring that a film’s release has an impact is as important as its production. The Content + Intent Documentary Institute will guide approximately ten filmmakers and advanced film students through the development of outreach plans for their film projects. Linking the documentaries-in-progress to organizations committed to progressive social change will be a key component of the Institute. Participants will create an audience engagement plan for their films, identify community partners, and develop support materials, including effective timelines, budgets, and implementation strategies. Working Films will offer insight on the development of web sites, fundraising tactics and press strategies.

Working Films will announce accepted applicants on February 7, 2008.


Working Films

602 South Fifth Avenue

Wilmington, NC 28401

(910) 342-9000

Fax: (910) 342-9003

www.workingfilms.org


Working Films advances social, economic, environmental and racial justice by linking independent non-fiction media to activism.


To learn more visit their website here.

Choices at IDFA

Choices will be attending the IDFA festival and market in Amsterdam from November 22nd to November 27th.

For more information about the IDFA, please visit www.idfa.nl.

Choices at National Media Market

Choices will be attending the National Media Market next week in Mesa, AZ. This annual event brings together film and video distributor with library and educational professional who focus on media. Workshops and screenings of new titles take place for four days.

Choices will be represented by Erik Gudris in Room #602. If you plan to attend, please stop by and say hello.

To learn more visit the event's website here.

New Release - Rumi: Turning Ecstatic

Choices is pleased to announce our latest release, "Rumi: Turning Ecstatic" which follows one woman's personal journey with the Sufi master and poet - Rumi.

Mevlana Jelalludin Rumi was a 13th C. mystic and poet whose writing and teachings still inspire millions around the world today. Filmmaker Tina Petrova shares her extraordinary personal journey with the Sufi master in Rumi: Turning Ecstatic.

Journey deep into the heart of Sufi mysticism, with thought provoking discussion, featuring interviews with Coleman Barks, the world's most popular translator of Rumi, and other noted experts. Also included are numerous readings of Rumi's poetry, historical background and a haunting soundtrack of ecstatic music making Rumi: Turning Ecstatic a treasured resource of knowledge and inspiration.

The DVD will sell for $24.95 and will be released on September 18th. For more information, please visit here.

The Perfect Life - New York Premiere

We pleased to announce that the New York City premiere of "The Perfect Life" will take place on Sunday, September 9th at 4:30pm at the Pioneer Theater at E. 3rd St. btwn Ave A & B.

The screening is FREE. Admission is on a first come, first served basis. A Q&A with the director, Sam Lee, will take place after the show.

Screening of "A School of Their Own"

"A School of Their Own" will screen at the Charlotte Film Festival on Sunday, September 9th at 3:40 pm. For more information and to get tickets, visit the festival's website here.

Our Feathered Friends

Choices is pleased to announce the release of our newest title, Our Feathered Friends.

Spend a year on a farm with the chickens!

From the producers of the acclaimed City of Bees comes a new film exploring the fascinating and complex world of chickens from a child's point of view. The story is set in the countryside, where two brothers spend time with their grandma on her farm. There they learn that chickens live both in the coop and in the trees. Young roosters battle to oust the old ruler and hens confront pheasants and hawks trying to enter the nest.

The youngsters watch new chicks emerge in the spring and follow their progress while learning all about the bird’s origins, what they eat, and how they develop. With up-close photography, vibrant music and even an interactive "chicken dance", viewers of all ages will be enchanted and informed by Our Feathered Friends.

The DVD will be available on August 21st. Price is $24.95.