The Weinstein Company and Genius Products Bring Lassie Home From the Tribeca Film Festival

SANTA MONICA -- (May 26, 2006) -- Lassie comes home to the big (and little) screen! Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the new critically acclaimed feature film, “LASSIE” in theaters on September 1. The Weinstein Company and Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI) acquired the rights at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival to distribute “Lassie” on DVD and television. The joint announcement was made by Classic Media’s CEO, Eric Ellenbogen, Howard Cohen, Co-President, Roadside Attractions and Meyer Gottlieb, President, Samuel Goldwyn Films along with The Weinstein Company Co-chairman, Harvey Weinstein, and Genius Products President and CEO, Trevor Drinkwater.

Written and directed by BAFTA Award-winner, Charles Sturridge (Fairytale, Longitude, Shackelton), “LASSIE” has been heralded as “a new classic” by the BBC. Legendary actor Peter O’Toole, a seven-time Academy Award nominee, and recipient of the 2003 Honorary Oscar, stars as the Duke of Rudling. Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton (Sweet and Lowdown, Minority Report) stars as Sarah Carraclough and independent film favorite Peter Dinklage (Elf, The Station Agent) stars as Rowlie. Additional cast members include, Steve Pemberton, John Lynch, Jemma Redgrave and Jonathon Mason as Lassie’s young owner, Joe Carraclough.

“This is a beautiful and moving new version of the classic tale that emphasizes virtues like loyalty, honesty and respect for animals,” said Roadside Attractions’ Howard Cohen. “It's the kind of film that parents and children can be excited about seeing together.”

Drinkwater stated, “I have always been a big fan of Classic Media, whose rich portfolio of timeless brands continues to entertain children and families from generation to generation. We are proud to be distributing this classic rendition of Lassie, one of Classic Media’s most revered properties.”

Glen Basner stated, "We are so excited to have bought another gem at the Tribeca Film Festival and to be in business with Classic Media."

Eric Ellenbogen, added, “Lassie is one of entertainment’s most enduring and successful properties. Classic Media is thrilled to have such outstanding partners to distribute her eleventh feature film.”

Based on Eric Knight’s best-selling book, “Lassie Come-Home,” the film is set on the eve of WWII in a Yorkshire mining town. The Carraclough family is forced to sell Lassie to the Duke of Rudling when the family falls on hard times. When Lassie finds herself transported five hundred miles away to live in the Duke’s remote castle in northern Scotland, she is determined to defy the odds and return to her home and the boy she loves. So begins an incredible adventure, set against a stunning series of British landscapes that sees Lassie facing dangers natural and human and finding help in unexpected places as she makes her way across the country, to reach home in time for Christmas.

Cohen negotiated the theatrical deal on behalf of Roadside and Goldwyn. Drinkwater negotiated the deal on behalf of Genius, and Glen Basner, president, international for The Weinstein Company, and Genna Terranova, acquisitions executive, negotiated the deal on behalf of TWC.

ABOUT LASSIE

Lassie is one of entertainment’s most successful franchises with eleven feature films and more than 691 half-hour TV episodes to her credit. The original Lassie movie was followed by a series of sequels with Hollywood legends Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, Roddy McDowell and Jimmy Stewart. Lassie’s two-time Emmy Award–winning TV series is one of the longest running programmes in television history and has been seen in more than 50 countries around the world. This June, “The World’s Most Famous Dog” embarks on a five month national tour to promote her latest feature film and new pet food line, Lassie Natural Way.

ABOUT GENIUS PRODUCTS, INC.

Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI) produces and distributes an ever-expanding library of home entertainment products, including DVDs and CDs. Sold in retail outlets nationwide under such well-known brands as Wellspring, Sundance Channel Home Entertainment™, NBC News, and Baby Genius®, the company’s products are distributed through the Genius Products Branded Distribution Network, an extensive distribution network that extends throughout the U.S. to mass, drugstore, supermarket and specialty retailers. Genius Products recently released on home video The Weinstein Company smash hits HOODWINKED, the animated family comedy which ranked #1 in consumer sales in its debut week; DERAILED, starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen, which ranked #1 in rentals in its debut week; WOLF CREEK, an Australian horror film; and the Oscar nominated film, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.

Genius Products boasts a premiere management team comprised of seasoned executives, formerly with major Hollywood studios, who have steered the company into the forefront of the industry through their landmark distribution deal with The Weinstein Company.

Upcoming films planned for release by Genius Products include films by The Weinstein Company such as THE MATADOR, starring Pierce Brosnan; DOOGAL, a comical animated adventure with the voices of Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg and William H. Macy; TRANSAMERICA, starring Felicity Huffman; David Zucker’s hilarious new sequel, SCARY MOVIE 4; THE LIBERTINE, starring Johnny Depp; and LUCKY NUMBER SLEVEN, a Weinstein Company presentation released theatrically by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis and Lucy Liu. Potential new releases include a sequel to SIN CITY, SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS, CLERKS II and the highly anticipated film, BOBBY.

ABOUT ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Roadside Attractions is an independent film distribution company committed to championing films that entertain, delight, and enlighten audiences of all kinds. The company works with filmmakers to devise innovative marketing strategies that encourage audiences to see films that are not typical studio fare. Previous theatrical releases include the hilarious comedy film SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS IS MAGIC, the Oscar nominated SUPER SIZE ME, Richard E. Grant’s WAH-WAH and upcoming releases include the controversial THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO and Bobcat Goldthwait’s STAY with Samuel Goldwyn Films.

ABOUT SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS

Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company. The company develops, produces, and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries, working with world renowned and emerging writers and filmmakers. Goldwyn is consistently committed to filmed entertainment offering original voices in uniquely told stories.

Upcoming theatrical releases include the Sundance favorite STAY, directed by Bob Goldthwait. Recent releases include the Acadmey Award nominated THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, Eytan Fox’s WALK ON WATER, which has become the highest grossing Israeli film in the United States, as well as the Oscar nominated SUPER SIZE ME, directed by Morgan Spurlock with Roadside Attractions.

The company earned 11 Academy Award nominations for MASTER AND COMMANDER, 5 Independent Spirit Awards for RAISING VICTOR VARGAS and numerous other festival prizes.

ABOUT CLASSIC MEDIA

Classic Media manages some of the world’s most recognizable family properties across all media including feature films, television, home video and consumer products. The company’s extensive library features a diverse collection of popular animated and live-action characters such as: Lassie, Casper the Friendly Ghost, The Lone Ranger, Underdog and Rocky & Bullwinkle.

Classic Media is currently in production on a live-action/CGI Underdog feature film with Spyglass Entertainment and Disney, an animated Sherman & Peabody project with Sproketdyne Entertainment and a live-action The Lone Ranger movie with Columbia Pictures and Academy Award-winning producers Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher (Gladiator, Stuart Little) through their Sony-based Red Wagon Productions.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect Genius Products’ business, forecasts, projections and prospects, and cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the timing and financial performance of home video releases such as LASSIE, DERAILED, HOODWINKED, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, WOLF CREEK, TRANSAMERICA, THE MATADOR, DOOGAL, SCARY MOVIE 4, THE LIBERTINE, LUCKY NUMBER SLEVEN, a sequel to SIN CITY, SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS, CLERKS II, BOBBY, and any other statements relating to such new or potential releases that are not historical statements of fact. Actual results could vary for many reasons, including but not limited to, the unpredictability of audience demand, the effect of technological change and the availability of alternative forms of entertainment. Other such risks and uncertainties include the matters described in Genius Products’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Genius Products assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

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