A. Docurama is an independent video label from New Video, dedicated exclusively to bringing cutting-edge and critically acclaimed documentaries to DVD and VHS.

A. A dozen years ago, independent films burst into theaters and audiences were thrilled with the opportunity to see something other than standard Hollywood fare. Today, the “independents” have become mainstream as the film companies producing them are offshoots of the major studios. In our view, documentary films are the new independents. The filmmakers are risk-takers, creating edgy films that provoke in a way that only reality can. The perspectives are fresh; the stories engaging – and their budgets, well, they often fit on a credit card.

A. For years, we attended the Sundance Film Festival and other major events and heard the same thing from critics - that the really good stuff was happening at the documentary screenings. We already loved the films ourselves so the choice to focus on docs was easy.

A. Historically, documentaries have always had a reputation for being medicine – a thing that’s good for you but maybe not all that easy, or enjoyable, to swallow. With Docurama we hope to lighten the load a bit, communicating to people how thrilling and entertaining documentaries can be. When we we launched Docurama, we had all these meetings with documentary filmmakers. Albert Maysles (of Gimme Shelter and Salesman fame) came by our office one day and during our discussions he told us how he looked up the word “entertainment” in the dictionary and found two definitions for the ubiquitous noun: “diversion” and “engagement”. Maysles’ point was that the good documentaries are entertainment by definition. Our goal for Docurama is to successfully bring compelling and entertaining documentaries to the best bunch of customers out there.

A. We believe that the best way to tackle doumentaries is to go both forward and backwards at the same time. We continue to meet with filmmakers like Barbara Sonneborn (Regret to Inform) and Edet Belzberg (Children Underground) after screening their films at Sundance. At the same time we seek out documentaries from long established filmmakers like Bob Drew and DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

A. New Video is an entertainment, sales and marketing company specializing in bringing high-quality, original television programming and documentary films into the home video marketplace. Our success as a company is reflected through our partners (including A&E, The History Channel, Scholastic, IFC and others) and the high caliber programs we currently distribute on the Docurama label.

A. Lots! We recently signed a pretty extensive distribution deal with the Independent Film Channel (IFC) and we’ll be releasing a full-slate of IFC branded theatrically-released documentaries and art house films over the next several years. Among the films launched on DVD and video since September 2002 are the Sundance favorite Go Tigers!, about the tension-filled 1999 high school football season in Massillon, Ohio, the critically acclaimed Keep the River on Your Right, and the 2003 theatrical hit, Lost in La Mancha.

A. We think that docs will be the independent films of the new millennium. As we say over and over, documentaries tell great stories in fresh ways. The technology for both image collection (filming and videotaping) and editing is opening up new possibilities of storytelling that are extremely powerful. We anticipate the day when two college kids will head out to the mall on a Saturday night and every once in a while buy a ticket to see a theatrical doc. We see docs as being the next big thing. If we’re right, then we were in the right place at the right time. If we’re wrong, at least we’ve put out lots of great films!

A. That’s not a fair question. We love all of our children equally. With that said, a particularly proud moment for us has been the release of D A Pennebaker’s Dont Look Back. Working with Pennebaker has been both an honor and a treat. The guy, along with a handful of peers, just about invented cinéma vérité in the 1960s. And at 75 he’s as creative and productive as ever. He sat down with Dylan’s road manager at the time, Bob Neurwirth, and created a running commentary for the DVD that alone is worth the price of the DVD. It was great to be around while that release came together. It’s also selling very well which makes us feel like we’re on the right track.

A. Of course, you can always purchase Docurama titles on our website, however many of our titles are available for purchase online at sites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as mass retailers such as Borders and Best Buy. A lot of our titles are also available for rental in Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, as well as smaller independent rental stores, and now online with Netflix. Not all stores carry all titles, but we do get our stuff out there. By the way, if you know of a good store that should but doesn’t carry Docurama titles, please email us and let us know at info@docurama.com.