DVD Release and Special San Francisco Screening on January 26 Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: VIZ Pictures Special Thanks to Evelyn Dubocq and Erik Jansen
VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, will release the newest volume of its ongoing NEW PEOPLE ARTIST SERIES – DAIDO MORIYAMA: STRAY DOG OF TOKYO (Near Equal Moriyama Daidou, 2001) on DVD January 26th. This intriguing documentary profiles the life and art of Japan’s foremost photographer and highlights his unorthodox style and technique. The DVD will carry an MSRP of $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN and will be distributed by VIZ Media. Daido Moriyama has been a major force in artistic photography since the late 60’s, but his true persona has been hidden behind a veil of mystery since he has refused any major media appearances - until now. This new documentary follows the charismatic Moriyama as he takes his first digital photos and displays his trademark photographic technique of taking quick snapshots without looking in the viewfinder. Often shot in black and white, out of focus and dramatically cropped or tilted, the themes of Moriyama`s images have been said to convey a sense of the disordered human condition and the conflicting realities of modern urban life. In celebration of this new release, VIZ Pictures has scheduled a special one night only theatrical screening of DAIDO MORIYAMA: STRAY DOG OF TOKYO on January 26th, starting at 7:30pm at VIZ Cinema, the nation’s only movie theatre dedicated to Japanese film. VIZ Cinema is located inside NEW PEOPLE, a newly opened entertainment destination in San Francisco devoted to Japanese pop culture. Tickets are $25.00, which includes a pass to the film screening, a copy of the DVD, a postcard and a NEW PEOPLE original pin button. $10.00 tickets are also available for regular admission. For more information about this event, please visit vizcinema.com or viz-pictures.com. “Daido Moriyama is an acclaimed photographer whose work has been exhibited in museums worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of VIZ Pictures and the founder of NEW PEOPLE. “We’re honored to release this new documentary and look forward to more people discovering this important and influential photographer.” NEW PEOPLE Artist Series is intriguing collection of documentaries introducing modern Japanese Pop artists to the American audience. All of the highlighted artists possess unique views and inspirations to create captivating works of art. For more information, visit newpeopleartistseries.com.
About VIZ Pictures, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. licenses and distributes selective Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, 20TH CENTURY BOYS, and TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO. VIZ Pictures is also the producer of NEW PEOPLE, a part of the J-Pop Center Project, a unique entertainment destination bringing Japanese pop culture through film, art, fashion, and retail products. For more information please visit VIZ Pictures.
About NEW PEOPLE
NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at NewPeopleWorld.com.
About VIZ Cinema
VIZ Cinema is the nation’s first movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX-certified sound system.