LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS --BEHIND THE SCENES AT VSDA(Video Software Dealers Assn) conference.......
Piracy Grabs Spotlight at Video Business Confab.....
"for every 10 DVDs sold by the studios, one is sold on the black market" according to VSDA President Bo Anderson. He urges the industry to attack piracy through public education.
Click on thumbnail (photography by Alain Blanc) The spot shows a young artist's drawing illegally reproduced taken to the streets,tacked up at construction sites and blowing hours of hard work into street gutters. It will be made available to video retailers and suppliers, and will run in conjunction with a separate anti-piracy comic strip in consumer publications.
FUNNYMAN JERRY LEWIS SERIOUS ABOUT PIRACY 
Lewis says: 'Pirating is going to hurt your business and the creative process According to a report in VARIETY, Lewis told a story about: how the unauthorized availability of his movies with Martin thwarted a deal he and his daughter were negotiating with Universal, which would have meant at least $8 million for his daughter's company.
LEWIS CLASSICS OUT ON DVD THIS FALL:
Last year, ten of the classic Jerry Lewis films were released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment. Lewis was involved in every aspect of their release -- from the films' restorations to the creation of the special material All ten are due to be released in a special edition boxed set in October 2005. Due for release in 2006 for the first time on DVD are a collection of movies that Lewis co-starred in with his partner Dean Martin.
VSDA TRIBUTES SUMMER OF DANCE 05
FROM CRUMP (SEE PHOTO HERE) to DIRTY DANCING STAR PATRICK SWAYZE --the VSDA Confab was cashing in on the popularity of Summer 05's Dance Craze. Swayze scored the Independent Career Award..
Start 'Crumpin' with Crump --
click on photo to see the group.
SWAYZE STILL MAKES 'EM SWOON....VSDA AWARD WINNER
Even more gorgeous than this photo -- Patrick Swayze can teach me to dance any day or night....He scored the Independent Career Award at VSDA
Swayze not available for lessons?
No sweat -- check out Xenon Pictures new DVD "Breakin' It Down with superstar choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson star of TV's "Making the Band" even Missy Elliott says its' AMAZING.....a two DVD set -- thanks for the preview edition Xenon.
FILMMAKER SERIES --Documentaries take center stage: VSDA inaugural GROUNDBREAKER AWARD winner producer/director Penelope Spheeris was charming and informative at the confarence's Documentary session. Best quote of that forum "IT'S HARDER TO MAKE A DOC THAN TO MAKE A B MOVIE" ....and one guy who can tell you more about that is 
Morlan Spurlock star and creator of the highly influential "SUPERSIZE ME" Here's a link to his own blog -- note he won the VSDA Best Doc award :Next Stop ... New York City Check out the educationally enhanced DVD of SSM (SUPERSIZE ME) more info at the link above. Spurlock just signed with Comedy Central...
GAMES SCORE BIG AT VSDA: Gamecube Game of the Year - Mario Party 6.PlayStation 2 Game of the Year – Gran Tourismo 4 and Xbox Game of the Year – Halo 2
Check out Zap2it's report on the major VSDA title winners
'Incredibles,' 'Saw' Chop up Video Competition
Heading into the VSDA hall of fame: ``Scarface''
2005 VSDA Retailer of the Year Award Winners Announced! 20 or more store retailer: Newbury Comics, Boston, MA 6-20 stores: DVD Station, Inc., San Francisco, CA Tim Hogan winner of VSDA Retailer of the Year awarad for category --6-20 stores: DVD Station, Inc. San Francisco. Here's the link to their websiteDVD Station Be sure to check out the DVD Station Blog and their online reservation system -- if you're in San Francisco you can see them at the Metreon building and at their new dvd station san francisco cafe at fillmore and filbert .... more on DVD station and the burgeoning DVD rental kiosk and download arena heating up across the country in a future blog. Other retailer award winners: George Atkinson Award (1-5 stores): Emerald City Video, Auburn, NY and Grocer/Mass Merchant: Giant Eagle, Pittsburgh, PA plus International Retailer: Tsutaya, Tokyo, Japan VSDA's Home Entertainment 2005 was held July 26*-28, 2005 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
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