rising son: the legend of skateboarder christian hosoi

I like films about skateboarding. I think skateboarding, film and rock music combined can make for some ripping high-energy entertainment. In the past I posted a review of "Lords of Dogtown", and mentioned that I would post a review of the documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" when I got around to it. In fact I did rent that DVD but never got around to posting a review, which is too bad because it really was a good film. I still plan to post a proper review of it later.

Both of those movies focused on the Venice Beach origins of modern skateboarding back in the early 70s, but now there is a documentary DVD out about 80's skateboarder Christian Hosoi called "Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi". The DVD was released a couple of weeks ago by Vision Films for Image Entertainment, Inc. The promotional company, M80, was kind enough to send me a copy of the DVD and the soundtrack for review, so check back for my reviews of both items in the near future. In the meantime, I leave you with the press release for the DVD and soundtrack:

Press Release

``Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi'' to Screen at Cannes Film Festival; Vision Films, Image Entertainment, QD3 Entertainment and Quiksilver Join Forces to Market and Sell Rights to Christian Hosoi Feature

Vision Films, an independent, worldwide distributor of youth-oriented and music-related feature films and documentaries, has just been awarded the exclusive sales agency rights to RISING SON: THE LEGEND OF SKATEBOARDER CHRISTIAN HOSOI by Image Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq:DISK), a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America.

"Rising Son" was produced by QD3 Entertainment in association with consumer lifestyle brand Quiksilver. The film was directed by Cesario "Block" Montano and is narrated by acclaimed actor Dennis Hopper.

"Rising Son" is the true story of skateboard superstar Christian Hosoi. The film chronicles Hosoi's beginnings as an athletic renegade to his fall-from-grace stint in Federal prison for drug trafficking and finally his rebirth and miraculous recovery that has inspired millions of young adults. Using never-before-seen home movies of Hosoi, from childhood through his release from prison in 2004, the film features interviews from friends and family, including Tony Hawk, Tony Alva, Jay Adams, Jason Lee and others.

Image will handle North American broadcast, theatrical, video and soundtrack rights, and Vision Films will handle foreign rights and distribution. The film will be available to be released on home video in the international market on October 3, 2006, day and date with Image's domestic release.

Vision Films will be screening "Rising Son" at the Cannes Film Festival on May 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. on both dates. Hosoi is expected to attend both screenings, as well as appear at the Quiksilver bus that will be located at the festival. Vision Films can be found at the Cannes Film Festival at the Palais Level 01, Stand 21.01.

"This film truly captures the spirit and determination of a person who has influenced millions of people to improve their lives," said Barry Gordon, senior vice president of worldwide programming of Image Entertainment. "We're pleased to be working with Christian, QD3, Quiksilver and Vision on this project, and are looking forward to a warm reception at Cannes ."

About Vision Films:
Founded in 1997, and based in Sherman Oaks, CA, Vision Films is an independent, worldwide distributor of Feature Films, Documentary Specials, Series, Music, and Reality Programming. Vision Films licenses all available television, video/DVD, and new media rights to both the international and domestic markets. Vision Films currently has a library of over 300 feature films, and over 300 documentaries. On the feature side, Vision represents top-of-the-line independent film and music producers and some prestigious Film Libraries such as The Kushner-Locke Company, World International Network, Xenon Pictures, CodeBlack Entertainment, Flashpoint UK Ltd., City Block Productions, EDI/Dastar, STS Media, Sinclair Institute and Istituto Geografico De Agostini. For more information of Vision Films, Inc., please go to www.visionfilms.net.

About Image Entertainment:

Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America , with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and over 200 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and approximately 300 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights and, through its subsidiary Egami Media, Inc., has digital download rights to more than 1,500 video programs and over 150 audio programs containing more than 2,000 tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth , California , and has a domestic distribution facility in Las Vegas , Nevada . The Company's subsidiary Image Entertainment (UK) maintains a content acquisition office in London , England . For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to, among other things, our goals, plans and projections regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, product development and business strategy. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "will," "may," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause action outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations.

These factors include, among other things, our inability to raise additional working capital, changes in debt and equity markets, increased competitive pressures, changes in our business plan, and changes in the retail DVD and entertainment industries. For further details and a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Unless otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Image Entertainment, Inc. Rising Son / The Soundtrack

The soundtrack for RISING SON, THE LEGEND OF SKATEBOARDER CHRISTIAN HOSOI, boasts music from such artists as Queens of the Stone Age, Gnarls Barkley, Murs and The Gossip. The soundtrack also includes several unreleased tracks, such as Dave Grohl's "Vile", Slightly Stoopid's "Still Be You", and Fishbone's " Cheyenne ". The powerful musical lineup helps the film chronicle the colorful life and career of CHRISTIAN HOSOI, one of skateboarding's most talented and adored superstars, whose meteoric rise to superstardom was matched only by his spiraling descent into a federal prison sentence for drug trafficking. To accompany a film that emphasizes high-energy action sequences and dramatic turns, 21 cutting-edge artists from the hip-hop and rock genres have been selected to make for a non-stop, feel-good compilation.

1. "Vile" - Dave Grohl
2. "Transitions Of A Rider" - Murs
3. "Sedated" - Lexicon
4. "Standing In The Way Of Control" - The Gossip
5. "One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven" - The Transplants
6. "The Place Where We Dwell" - Wajeed & Invincible
7. "Cheyenne" - Fishbone
8. "America's Most Blunted" - Maddvillian featuring MF Doom
9. "Tainted Love" - The Peakshow
10. "Pot Of Rain" - Optimus
11. "No More Weapons" - Steel Pulse & Damian Marley
12. "Little People" - The Procussions
13. "Kuruption" - Kurupt featuring Everlast
14. "Mexican Radio" - Charlie Early
15. "Mexicola" - Queens Of The Stone Age
16. "Just A Thought" - Gnarls Barkley
17. "Still Be You" - Slightly Stoopid
18. "Antaraxia" - Team Sleep featuring Chino of the Deftones
19. "Revolution" - Mark Bell
20. "Dr. Aura" - Brant Bork and the Bros
21. "No Family" - Second Coming featuring Jay Adams (of Sucidan Tendencies)