SANTA MONICA, CA – Fresh off the release of C.S.A., Sorry, Haters and Manderlay, Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB: GNPI" GNPI) is set to release two emotionally charged titles on August 29, 2006, American Gun and Lonesome Jim. American Gun, the debut film for director Aric Avelino, is a dramatic thriller focusing on the growing epidemic of gun possession and violence in America. American Gun features compelling performances from an all-star cast including Donald Sutherland (Pride & Prejudice), Marcia Gay Harden (American Dreamz), Forest Whitaker (Panic Room), Linda Cardellini (Brokeback Mountain) and Tony Goldwyn (Romance & Cigarettes). On a lighter note, Lonesome Jim, winner of the 2005 Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival, is a comedy directed by Steve Buscemi about a man who strikes out in the “big city” and moves back home with his dysfunctional family setting off a chain reaction of trouble. Cast includes Casey Affleck (Ocean’s Eleven), Liv Tyler (The Lord of the Rings) and Mary Kay Place (Sweet Home Alabama). Both American Gun and Lonesome Jim will carry a suggested retail price of $24.95 and hit stores on August 29.

SYNOPSIS: American Gun

American Gun is a point-blank examination of how guns in America influence lives and reminds us that when a gun fires much more than silence is shattered. With moving performances by Donald Sutherland, Marcia Gay Harden and Forrest Whitaker, American Gun, directed by Aric Avelino, powerfully depicts people from all walks of life who are directly impacted by the richochet of consequences from acts of gun violence in the past and present.

BASICS
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Price: $24.95 SRP
Street Date: August 29, 2006
MPAA Rating: R
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Running time: 95 minutes
Catalog Number: 79543
UPC: 7 96019 79543 2
Format: 16x9 1.78; Widescreen
Closed Captioned SDH – Subtitled for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

SYNOPSIS: Lonesome Jim

27-year old Jim (Casey Affleck) returns to his small Indiana town after failing to become a writer in New York City. Depressed beyond comprehension, Jim must contend with his suicidal brother (Kevin Corrigan), and crazy relatives. Along with way, he meets a good natured nurse (Liv Tyler) and as time passes, he realizes that returning home might have been the worst mistake of all. Directed by Steve Buscemi, this comedy is loaded with laughs.

BASICS
----------
Price: $24.95 SRP
Street Date: August 29, 2006
MPAA Rating: R
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Running time: 95 minutes
Catalog Number: 79544
UPC: 7 96019 79544 9
Format: 16x9 1.78; Widescreen
Closed Captioned SDH Subtitled for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

Other IFC Films coming out on behalf of Genius Products, Inc. include I am a Sex Addict (September 12), Kill the Poor (September 12), Russian Dolls (September 26), Three Times (September 26), 12 and Holding (October 10), Land of Plenty (October 10) and Pizza (October 24).

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; 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.

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 anticipated number of releases, timing and financial performance of home video releases such as SCARY MOVIE 4, DERAILED, HOODWINKED, MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, WOLF CREEK, THE MATADOR, 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. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to access. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements 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.

About The Weinstein Company

The Weinstein Company was created by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films Corp. in 1979. TWC is a multi-media company that officially launched on October 1, 2005. Dimension Films, the genre label that was founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, is also included under TWC banner. The Weinstein’s are actively working on the production, development and acquisition of projects for TWC.

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Source: Genius Products, Inc. and Dan Klores Communications (dkcnews.com)