Industry Vet Launches New DVD Production, Distribution Outfit

LOS ANGELES, December 10: North American Motion
Pictures (NAMP), a new DVD production and distribution company set up by Barry
Barnholtz, will specialize in theatrical and direct-to-video feature-length
genre films.

NAMP will focus on westerns, horror,
action-adventure and comedy. The company's debut release, Redemption, is
slated for February 10. To support the film, NAMP is offering a special
promotion: buy three SD DVDs of Redemption and receive a free Blu-ray
disc.

Before launching NAMP, Barnholtz was at the head of
Barnholtz Entertainment, Inc. (BEI), a DVD production/distribution company
founded in 1996 and distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment for the past eight
years. Barnholtz will continue to produce under the BEI banner. He was also a
co-founder of Vidmark Entertainment, which subsequently became Trimark
Pictures. There, Barnholtz supervised acquisitions for the company, purchasing
or greenlighting production of more than 400 films, helping take the start-up
company to gross revenues in excess of $100 million.

Barnholtz serves as the CEO of NAMP, and joining
him as executive VP is Tom Sykes, the founder of New Light
Entertainment and, prior to that, the VP of sales at Showtime
Network. Sykes has also held positions at Embassy
Pictures, Vestron, Turner
Entertainment, WEA and PM
Entertainment.

Barnholtz
commented: "We pride ourselves on picking films that are money makers,
reacting quickly to what we see performing successfully in the marketplace and
not following in the 'one size fits all' footsteps of many independents.
Looking past the blockbuster studio films on the shelves, there is a need for
quality movies that appeal to consumers, have sustainability as rental titles
and are profitable for retailers. Titles often classified as 'secondary titles'
do not need to be secondary in production values, cast, packaging or,
ultimately, profitability.

"Our
lengthy relationship with Lionsgate is hugely successful. We appreciate the
expertise and commitment to our partnership shown by Steve Beeks and the
Lionsgate team. However, as the industry continues to rapidly evolve and DVD
titles require ever more individualized attention to perform in the marketplace,
the time is right to grow our company as a separate entity."

Sykes
added: "The strength of the titles we produce or acquire, superior
packaging and the innovative sales and marketing campaigns we will continue to
implement are aimed at supporting retailers and setting North American Motion
Pictures apart as an independent supplier that truly understands today's
marketplace."

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski