FWD: ***April 1997 Laser Scans***
Roland Janus
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Originally from : laserscans <laser...@aol.com>
Originally to ..: rjanus <rja...@nt.datacomm.ch>
Subject ........: ***April 1997 Laser Scans***
<<< This message is part 2 of a previous message >>>
IMAGE & PLAYBOY: Image Entertainment, the largest distributor of laserdiscs
in the U.S., has acquired exclusive DVD licensing rights to Playboy Home
Video progrmming, and expects to release some 30 Playboy titles on DVD per
year, beginning with the "1997 Playmate of the Year" title in May.
THE BIG DVD ROLLOUT: Warner, MGM/UA, New Line, PolyGram, LIVE, Image, and
Columbia TriStar have all announced DVD Video releases for the spring.
Meanwhile, Fox, Disney, Universal and Paramount have taken an official
"wait-and-see" position, until copyright protection issues surrounding the
all-digital disc are resolved to their satisfaction. Despite the promises
made in DVD publicity, only "Woodstock" among the first releases will feature
a "variable aspect ratio." Early titles will instead carry two editions of
the same film: a pan-scan ("standard") version on one side of the DVD disc,
and a widescreen version on the other side. We'll refer to the former as "S"
and the latter as "W." The discs will all feature Dolby Digital AC-3 audio as
one option. Prices are expected to be $24.98 for the Warner titles and $24-29
for most others. Warner, MGM/UA and New Line DVDs were set for a March 24th
launch in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Seattle and
Washington, D.C.
WARNER is set to bow "Batman" (S&W), "Blade Runner: The Director's Cut"
(S&W), "The Bodyguard" (S), "Bonnie and Clyde" (S), "The Bridges of Madison
County" (S), "The Color Purple" (W), "Eraser" (S&W), "The Exorcist" (S&W),
"The Fugitive" (S&W), "The Glimmer Man" (S&W), "Goodfellas" (W), "Interview
with the Vampire" (S&W), "JFK: Special Edition Director's Cut" (W), "Lethal
Weapon" (S&W), "Michael Collins" (W), "The Road Warrior" (S&W), "Sleepers"
(W), "Space Jam" (S), "A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Director's
Version" (S), "A Time to Kill" (W), "Twister" (THX, S&W), "Unforgiven" (S&W),
and "Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music, The Director's Cut" (W variable).
Several of the above DVDs will include production notes.
WARNER REPRISE: "Eric Clapton Unplugged" (S), "Madonna: Girlie Show Live Down
Under" (S), and "R.E.M. Road Movie" (S).
NEW LINE: "The Mask" (S&W), "Mortal Kombat" (S), and "Seven" (S&W).
MGM/UA: "The Birdcage" (S&W), "Get Shorty" (S&W), "GoldenEye" (S&W), "Rain
Man" (S&W), "Rocky" (S&W), "Singin' in the Rain" (S), "Species" (S&W), and
"The Wizard of Oz" (S).
COLUMBIA TRISTAR was set to launch four DVD titles nationally on April 29:
"Fly Away Home," "In the Line of Fire,""Jumanji" and "Legends of the Fall,"
followed by an additional four DVD titles every 4-6 weeks. Set for 1997: "Bad
Boys," "Desperado," "Matilda," and "Taxi Driver" (tentatively for early
summer); "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "First Knight," "A League of Their Own,"
and "Sleepless in Seattle" (late summer); and "The Cable Guy," "The Craft,"
"Little Women," and "Sense and Sensibility" (fall).
POLYGRAM VIDEO plans to bow these DVDs by late June, priced from $29.95 to
$39.95: "Dead Man Walking," "Fargo," "The Usual Suspects," "Four Weddings and
a Funeral," "Lord of the Dance," "Three Tenors," "U2 Live From Sydney,"
"Ghost in the Shell," and "Short Cinema." PolyGram has announced its
"Portrait of a Lady" DVD will carry a rental "price point" (probably about
$90).
LIVE Entertainment will have 12 DVDs this year, at $24.99 apiece: "Stargate,"
"The Arrival," and "Cutthroat Island" are due in May; "Reservoir Dogs,"
"Total Recall," and "The Substitute" in June; "The Doors," "Madonna: Truth or
Dare," and "Red Heat" in July; and "Dirty Dancing," "Terminator 2: Judgment
Day," and "Basic Instinct" in August.
LASERDISC ENTERTAINMENT (LDE) plans to release X-rated DVD titles in 1997,
according to spokesperson Mara Epstein.
OTHER LABELS: Laserdisc veterans Pioneer Entertainment, and Voyager Company
are either "actively experimenting" or "negotiating for DVD rights,"
according to spokespersons, but did not have titles to announce as we went to
press. Disney, Paramount, Universal and Fox are staying out of the
all-digital picture for now. "Fox's position is that we won't be involved
until we feel that our copyrights are protected. We see progress being made,
but until we see a viable system in place, we don't have a motive to have DVD
product in the marketplace," comments David Goldstein, Senior VP of
Administration and Operations for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. "We
want to protect ourselves against all possible output by playback devices,
and new issues keep cropping up." Goldstein believes that discussions about
copyright protection and legislation could "drag on." He adds that "It's very
likely you won't see Fox stuff on DVD until 1998. We're interested and we're
looking into it, but we're getting close to the deadline for bringing
anything out for the fourth quarter of this year."
DVD OBSTACLES: Consumers entering the DVD format will probably have a choice
of only 100-200 DVD programs by year's end, according to industry sources.
That's much less than the 9,000 laserdisc titles and an even greater
selection of VHS tapes currently available. But the picture quality up on the
screen should be the biggest factor determining DVD's acceptance, at least
among demanding videophiles. "I think people will take a look at DVD, and see
if it affords the kind of quantum entertainment differential that would make
it worthwhile for them to convert over to a new medium," says Goldstein. "It
won't take the public long to react one way or the other."
ADULT DVD--TRY VIDEO CD: There are no X-rated adult DVD titles that will be
hitting the market in the next few months, although LDE may have some ready
later in the year. But consumers have the option of playing X-rated Video CDs
on many DVD machines (some, but probably not all, will be compatible with
Video CDs, which use MPEG-1 video compression). We can confirm that the
Panasonic DVD-A300 player is compatible with Video CDs. Vivid Interactive,
based in Van Nuys, Calif., has released more than one hundred X-rated Video
CDs. Info: (800) 822-8339.
PHILIPS DVD PLAYER: Philips Electronics will launch a DVD Video player in the
U.S. this spring, priced at around $600. Jan Oosterveld, president of the
Philips Key Modules unit, expects the first buyers to be "home cinema
enthusiasts" and predicts that DVD will be a successful format in the future
with "expected sales of around 25 to 30 million in the year 2000." Pioneer,
Panasonic, and Toshiba all debuted DVD players in March, with Sony expected
to follow soon.
TOSHIBA HDTV DVD? Toshiba says that it has produced an experimental
high-definition digital video disc (DVD) system that offers better pictures
than current DVDs. The new disc's capacity is about 1.6 times that of
existing DVDs, said Toshiba in a Feb. 25 Reuters article. Toshiba claims the
combination of increased capacity and the latest image-processing technology
allows the system to store and play 133 minutes of high-definition images.
However, a Toshiba spokesman said that it would be several years at least
before the system could be commercialized.
DVD REACTIONS? If you own both a laserdisc player and a DVD machine, and have
had the chance to view the same movie on both LD and DVD, we'd like to hear
from you. Please send a brief email, identifying the title and the players,
and describing your reaction.
======================
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
======================
ETHNIC FOLK ART & TRIBAL ARTIFACTS: Come explore Culture Planet, a new West
L.A. store devoted to ethnic folk art and clothing, jewelry, masks, musical
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Ecuador, Columbia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Tibet, and Nepal. We're
located at 10850 W. Pico Blvd., #612 in the Westside Pavilion II, across
Westwood Blvd. from the main mall. Look for us above the Disney Store and
Tony Roma's, on the third floor.
Culture Planet also rents ethnic art and tribal artifacts to film and
television productions. Recently, our Amazonian headdresses were seen on the
big screen in the Paramount's "The Relic." Open daily. Info: (310) 441-9808
or CLTRP...@aol.com.
PASADENA'S LASER SUPERSTORE: Located at 714 E. Green St. in Pasadena, Calif.,
Laser Library has an awesome selection of 7,000 laserdisc titles for rent at
extremely low rates ($2 per night; $1 each following day; 2 discs/$3 M-W).
Take your pick: new movies, classics, foreign films, special editions, TV
series, pop music, opera, adult, karaoke, LaserActive, and more. We sell
laserdisc titles at 15-25% off list with cash and check purchases. Info:
(818) 577-7035, laserl...@earthlink.net, www.laserlibrary.com.
CD-ROM, DVD & VIDEO CD RENTALS IN L.A. Try before you buy! Laser Library has
1,500 rental CD-ROM titles (all formats: PC, Mac, PlayStation, 3DO, Saturn,
DVD, Video CD). At our extremely low multi-day rental rates, it's worth the
drive. All categories: games, sims, educational, language, nature, science,
sports, reference, adult. We will special order any CD-ROM for you. Laser
Libary is located at 714 E. Green St. in Pasadena, Calif. Open daily. Info:
(818) 577-7035, laserl...@earthlink.net, www.laserlibrary.com.
>>>For information on classified advertising, please email
Laser...@aol.com.
===========================================================
Laser Scans, edited and published by Chris McGowan, is now read in Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Denmark,
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Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.A.
===========================================================
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Roland Janus
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From System ....: datacomm.ch
From Conference : EMail
MessageID ......: <TCPSMTP.17.3.23.2.38...@bbs.datacomm.ch>
Originally from : laserscans <laser...@aol.com>
Originally to ..: rjanus <rja...@nt.datacomm.ch>
Subject ........: ***April 1997 Laser Scans***
LASER SCANS
<Laserdisc, DVD and Video CD News>
April 1997
======================================================
PIONEER CUTS CATALOG PRICES * TAI SENG: JACKIE CHAN!
DOORS SPECIAL EDITION * THE PRINCESS BRIDE * LDE DISCS
DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN * SURVIVING PICASSO
GET ON THE BUS * DAYLIGHT * RANSOM * SWINGERS
LUMIVISION: 1ST DVD TITLES! * IMAGE's PLAYBOY DVDs
THE BIG SPRING DVD SOFTWARE LINEUP * LASER IN 1997
ADULT DVDS: VIDEO CDs FOR NOW * TOSHIBA HDTV DVD?
======================================================
"Laser Scans" is a monthly newsletter distributed online and through
syndication. Email subscriptions are free. To subscribe or to inquire about
advertising or syndication rights, email us at Laser...@aol.com. All
contents: Copyright Chris McGowan 1997. Permission is granted to reprint this
newletter if full credit is given to "Laser Scans." Back issues:
www.videoexpress.com and (abridged) www.cybertheater.com.
===========
Laserdisc News
===========
IMAGE will bow Touchstone's "The Preacher's Wife" with Denzel Washington and
Whitney Houston (wide, DD, $39.99) on May 14; "Ransom," directed by Ron
Howard and starring Mel Gibson (wide, DD, THX, $39.99), with 18 minutes of
laser-exclusive extra footage, May 28; and Miramax's "Swingers" (wide,
$39.99) June 4.
UNIVERSAL offers Rob Cohen's "Daylight" with Sylvester Stallone (wide,
$39.98) on May 20, day-and-date with the VHS edition. Also due then is the
Encore Edition double-feature "Colossus: The Forbin Project" / "Silent
Running" (1970/1971, wide, $69.98) May 20. The Signature Collection release
of "Vertigo" ($79.98) has been changed to April 22.
COLUMBIA TRISTAR launches Spike Lee's "Get on the Bus" with Ossie Davis and
Charles Dutton (wide, $39.95) June 3, and Barbra Streisand's "The Mirror Has
Two Faces" with Jeff Bridges and Pierce Brosnan (wide, $39.95) June 24.
PIONEER CATALOG PRICE CUT: Laserdisc consumers will find bargain prices on
lots of great films this spring. Pioneer Entertainment has begun a program to
dramatically cut the prices of its catalog titles, in an effort to boost
flagging LD software sales. Pioneer will start by repricing 300 titles from
Paramount, LIVE, and other labels April 1. For example, "Forrest Gump" will
drop from $49.98 to $29.98, and "Cutthroat Island" will descend from $44.98
to $24.98. Pioneer's move is in response to a 24.9% overall decline in LD
sales. Some 6.3 million units were sold in 1996, as opposed to 7.9 million in
1995, according to the OVDA. Most industry analysts attribute this to a
decline in catalog business, due to DVD hype and expectation. Laser hardware
sales also dropped from 257,000 in 1995 to 155,000 in 1996, according to CEMA
statistics.
LASERDISC IN 1997: Although DVD has been having a negative effect on LD for
almost two years now, laserdisc fans still have plenty to look forward to in
1997. We
estimate that the overall output of laser releases in North America should
run at about 75-125 per month, similar to what it was in 1996.
A lot of changes are taking place right now in the laser world. Some
studios -- most notably Warner -- have cut down on their LD releases, either
because of reduced sales or to focus on DVD. Lumivision has cut way back on
its LD releases. And in the last 12 months, PolyGram and MGM/UA both signed
over their laserdisc distribution to Image Entertainment.
Meanwhile, Tai Seng, Animeigo, the Roan Group, and Elite have all increased
the number of their LD releases. Voyager Company is going full steam ahead
with its Criterion Collection releases and is picking up many exclusive film
releases from major film studios. And Image's many licensing and distribution
deals should ensure that a decent selection of laserdiscs will continue to be
released for many years to come -- whether the 12-inch market grows or
declines. Image has exclusive deals with Fox, Disney, PolyGram, MGM/UA, New
Line, Orion, Voyager, Playboy, Hallmark and others.
Image has substantially increased the number of MGM/UA movies released on
disc, and has begun releasing DTS and B-movie titles from MCA/Universal. The
LD giant typically releases 50-75 exclusive laserdisc titles per month, and
distributes additional non-exclusive titles. Image's Laserdisc Preview
publication usually lists 60-90 new titles per month. Image spokesman Garrett
Lee predicts that his company will secure other exclusive licensing deals
this year. "Of course we'll get other studios. This is a great time for us.
We are aggressively pursuing laserdisc licensing." He adds that laserdisc may
be a beneficiary "when the reality of DVD brushes the hype away."
LaserDisc Entertainment's North American sales of X-rated laserdiscs have
been up in 1997, according to Mara Epstein, who comments "it is my opinion
that more people will buy combiplayers [that play LD and DVD] and not be
afraid of the word "disc." And when they hear DVD, they'll think of laserdisc
as well. My laser business is adding new retail outlets, possibly because of
all the attention DVD is getting."
Fox's Dave Goldstein comments, "The best thing for laserdisc is to have DVD
come out and decide the issue. Until such time as the market has the
opportunity to test its feet in DVD, it will be rocky going for LD. Let's get
DVD out and get a read on it, and see if it will make a difference."
================
Laser Recent Releases
================
IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT's special edition of "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985,
wide, extras, $49.99), produced by Scot Campbell, showcases Susan Seidelman's
romantic comedy about a bored young New Jersey housewife (Rosanna Arquette)
who gets a little too curious about the personals and, after losing her
memory after an accident, assumes the identity of the mysterious Susan. The
cast includes Madonna, Aidan Quinn, and John Turturro, and the disc adds
audio commentary by Seidelman and the film's producers, deleted scenes, and
an extended ending. Susan has been located.
THE DOORS DELUXE: Pioneer's outstanding special editon of "The Doors" (1991,
wide, THX, DD, extras, $124.98) presents the Oliver Stone film with a new
transfer supervised by director Stone and DP Robert Richardson. The plethora
of extra material includes audio commentary by directory Stone, an original
making-of documentary ("The Road of Excess"), original music by Robby
Krieger, five additional scenes, footage of the Doors band members, and more.
VOYAGER'S "The Princess Bride" special edition (1987, wide, extras, $99.95),
directed by Rob Reiner, adds extra magic to the William Goldman post-modern
fairy tale, with an all-star supporting cast of Mandy Patinkin, Wallace
Shawn, Peter Falk, Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, and Carol Kane behind
stars Cary Elwes and the luminous Robin Wright. This Criterion Collection
edition includes audio commentary by Reiner, Goldman, Crystal, and Falk;
Reiner reading excerpts from the Goldman novel; behind-the-scenes footage; a
production scrapbook; and design sketches.
FIRST WIVES: Pioneer's "The First Wives Club" (wide, DD, $39.98) is
consistently entertaining as Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn get
fitting and funny revenge on their shameless ex-spouses.
WARNER'S "Surviving Picasso" (wide, $39.95) features yet another
extraordinary performance by Anthony Hopkins, this time as the legendary
Spanish cubist painter Pablo Picasso. The film has many interesting sequences
(especially the brief snippet of the landmark musical "Parade"), yet the
story suffers from a dull script, based on an inferior Picasso biography.
Warner also has also "The Glimmer Man" (wide, $34.98).
THE HILL: Image's "The Hill" with Sean Connery (1965, wide, $49.98) has long
been unavailable on VHS and here makes its laserdisc debut. Directed by
Sidney Lumet, this is a powerful drama set in a World War II military prison
camp in the African desert. The "hill," constructed by men out of rock and
sand, becomes a symbol of cruelty and inhumanity. Great performances are
delivered by Connery, Harry Andrews, Michael Redgrave, and Ossie Davis.
GRATEFUL DEAD: Pioneer's "Grateful Dead: Ticket to New Year's" (145 mins.,
$39.98) offers a 1987 concert by the Grateful Dead at the Oakland Coliseum
and includes "Bertha," "Uncle John's Band," "The Music Never Stopped,"
"Terrapin Station," "Wharf Rat," and many other tunes.
BIG DEAL: Voyager's "Big Deal on Madonna Street" (1960, $49.95) is Mario
Monicelli's excellent caper comedy with a neo-realist flavor, about a gang of
bumbling crooks whose attempted jewelry-store heist results in many
unexpected consequences. The cast includes Vittorio Gassman, Marcello
Mastroianni, and Claudia Cardinale.
AROUND THE WORLD: Image's "Around the World in 80 Days" (1989, 280 mins.,
boxed set, $89.99) is Buzz Kulik's uneven adaption of the Jules Verne
classic, with Pierce Brosnan as English aristocratic adventurer Phileas Fogg
and Eric Idle as his trustworthy manservant. Also starring are Peter Ustinov,
Lee Remick, Robert Wagner, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Jack Klugman,
Christopher Lee and Julia Nickson. The pace can be slow at times, but the
cast is top-notch and many scenes are well done.
JACKIE CHAN: Tai Seng Video has released "Heart of Dragon" (1985, wide,
Cantonese/English, $39.95), a heart-warming and action-packed adventure
starring Jackie Chan and directed by Sammo Hung ("Eastern Condors," "Prodigal
Son"). This was Chan's first "serious" role and he portrays a Hong Kong
policeman who must care for his mischievous, mentally retarded brother
(Hung), who is forever getting into trouble. Naturally, the acrobatic Chan
shows his stuff in a 20-minute finale of nonstop fighting.
SCARLETT: Image/Hallmark's "Scarlett" (1994, 351 mins., boxed set, $99.99) is
an epic sequel to "Gone With the Wind," based on the book by Alexandra Ripley
and directed by John Erman. Of course, this isn't as good as the original,
but it is entertaining (and four times the length!). This time around Joanne
Whalley-Kilmer stars as Scarlett O'Hara Butler, Timothy Dalton is Rhett
Butler, and Julie Harris, Annabeth Gish, Paul Winfield and Ann-Margaret fill
out the rest of the cast.
CAPRICORN ONE: Pioneer's "Capricorn One" (1978, wide, CLV/CAV, $49.98) gives
a deluxe presentation, with improved sound, to writer-director Peter Hyams'
action thriller, his version of that old conspiracy tale about faked space
missions. This time, it is a voyage to Mars that is simulated to keep the
space program alive, and James Brolin, Sam Waterston, and O.J. Simpson are
the astronauts destined to take the fall.
MCA/UNIVERSAL has released James Foley's "The Chamber" with Chris O'Donnell
and Gene Hackman (wide, $34.98). The John Grisham drama features a stellar
performance by Hackman as the racist grandfather from hell, and good work by
O'Donnell as a young lawyer who is his grandson and wants to save him from
the gas chamber.
Also out is "Firestarter" (1984, wide, $34.98), with Drew Barrymore as an
eight-year-old girl with the ability to start fires with just a glance, a
talent that interests a secret government agency. George C. Scott, Martin
Sheen, and Heather Locklear co-star.
MARTIN GUERRE IS BACK: Voyager's Criterion Collection edition of "The Return
of Martin Guerre" (1982, wide, $69.95) is a captivating medieval tale
directed by Daniel Vigne about a man, Martin Guerre (Gerard Depardieu), about
a husband who leaves his wife and their village and disappears for years. He
returns mysteriously to his wife and family, and appears to be a much
different man. But is it really him? Not to be missed.
COLUMBIA TRISTAR has "Foxfire" (wide, $34.95), a drama about female
friendship and rebellion based on a controversial novel by Joyce Carol Oates.
The cast includes hedy Burress, Angelina Jolie, and Jenny Lewis. Also out:
the android action tale "Solo" with Mario Van Peebles (wide, $34.95), "Fly
Away Home" with Jeff Daniels (wide, $34.95), and "Alaska" (wide, $34.95).
THE RAZOR: Animeigo's "The Razor" (wide, Japanese with English subtitles,
$39.95), directed by Misumi Kenji, includes nudity and extreme violence, and
takes place during the Tokugawa Era, when the shogun ruled Japan for 250
years. It's a familiar tale of an honest cop with a corrupt boss, only this
time the policeman has a quick sword to go with his deductive powers. The LD
includes an in-depth historical essay in its liner notes.
THE LIGHT BRIGADE: Image has released "The Charge of the Light Brigade"
(1968, wide, $49.98), directed by Tony Richardson and starring Trevor Howard,
Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, and David Hemmings. This film is beautifully
made, with stunning battle scenes, careful attention to authentic historical
detail, and a fascinating recreation of Victorian England. Not to be confused
with the 1936 "Charge of the Light Brigade," directed by Michael Curtiz and
starring Errol Flynn.
THE UNTOLD STORY: Tai Seng's "The Untold Story" with Anthony Wong (1993,
wide, Cantonese/Mandarin, English subtitles, $39.95) is not for the squeamish
and features extreme violence and graphic sex. Directed by Herman Yau, this
movie concerns the owner-chef (Wong) of the Eight Immortals Restaurant, where
the original owner and his family have mysteriously disappeared. Danny Lee
("The Killer") plays a cop who investigates. For this role, Wong won the 1993
Hong Kong Film Best Actor award.
LASERDISC ENTERTAINMENT has three new X-rated LDs (all side 2 CAV, $59.95).
Stuart Canterbury's "The Temple of Poon" (87 mins.) stars Kaitlyn Ashley,
Jill Kelly, Heather Lee, Sindee Coxx, Nancy Vee and Bridgette Monroe in an
erotic archaeological tale, in which anyone opening an ancient tomb is dombed
to be driven mad by ancient sexual fantasies. Scotty Fox's "Legend V" (76
mins.) is a look at the lighter side of the adult video business and features
Kaylan, Nicole, Kylie Ireland, Amanda Rae, Sindee Coxx, Jasmine Aoha, and
Yvonee. Jerry Dawson's "California Butts" (87 mins.) brings a new emphasis to
the game of baseball, and includes an all-star lineup of Julie Rage, Kim
Kitain, Kimberly Cummings, Golden Jade, and Louise Sherry.
==================
DVD News
==================
LUMIVISION WINS DVD RACE: Lumivision has become the first company to release
DVD-Video titles in the United States, beating Warner Home Video's rollout by
a week. DVD versions of "Africa the Serengeti," "Antarctica," "Tropical
Rainforest," and "Animation Greats" ($24.95 each) were officially released by
Denver-based Lumivision on March 19, although some stores report having
received the titles a day earlier. Three of the four offerings are IMAX
films. The DVDs were created with the help of AIX Entertainment, a multimedia
company in Los Angeles that has specialized in the creation of Enhanced CDs.
Lumivision hopes to have 20 DVD titles out in 1997, according to Steve
Coppel, director of sales and marketing for the firm.
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