 |
New from the Team Behind Secrets of Angels, Demons & Masons:
KOCH Vision Presents
DAN BURSTEIN’S
SECRETS OF MARY MAGDALENE
Port Washington, NY (July 14, 2006) – This September, KOCH Vision will bring to home viewing audiences Secrets of Mary Magdalene, a revealing two-program DVD from Hidden Treasures Productions, providing the most up-to-date information on one of the world’s most controversial religious figures. Secrets of Mary Magdalene is timed to hit stores simultaneously with the non-fiction book of the same title, by Dan Burstein and Arne de Keijzer, who have been responsible for the enormously popular New York Times best-sellers Secrets of the Code and Secrets of Angels & Demons.
Secrets of Mary Magdalene takes an all-encompassing look at the woman who lies at the heart of the controversy surrounding Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Kathleen McGowan’s highly-anticipated upcoming novel The Expected One. Shot at many historic locations around the world and also featuring a special Mary Magdalene Roundtable, which brings together many of the leading experts to discuss and debate the issues, Secrets of Mary Magdalene will be available on DVD September 5, 2006 for a suggested retail price of $19.98.
Mary Magdalene – a sinner and prostitute, or the secret wife of Jesus and leader of his church? Program One of the DVD, Secrets of Mary Magdalene, strips away the veils of history to reveal the flesh and blood woman who served as Jesus' foremost apostle and possibly the love of his life. This stunning documentary special, shot in Hi-Def and based on Dan Burstein and Arne de Keijzer upcoming non-fiction book, examines Mary Magdalene's role in early Christianity and how her significance may have been deliberately suppressed, and her image tarnished, to serve the purposes of an evolving Church. It goes on to explore the recent discovery of the Gnostic Gospels and their revelations as well as examining how for many modern women, Mary Magdalene has become a symbol of the sacred feminine.
Mary Magdalene's place in the story of Christianity is a topic that invites interpretation and inspires debate for believers and non-believers alike. Program Two of the DVD, A Mary Magdalene Roundtable: The Experts Speak, brings together six leading experts to discuss thought-provoking issues surrounding this remarkable woman. Together they debate the tradition of Mary Magdalene as fallen woman and how she is emerging from that legacy to become a spiritual and philosophical role model for the 21st century. Participants include lecturer and writer Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, adjunct professor in the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding; Lesa Bellevie, founder of Magdalene.org and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Mary Magdalene; Deidre Good, professor at the General Theological Seminary and publisher of Mariam, the Magdalen, and the Mother; Susan Haskins, art and cultural historian and author of Mary Magdalen: Myth & Metaphor; Elaine Pagels, Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University and author of The Gnostic Gospels; and Dr. Jane Schaberg, professor of Religious Studies and Women’s Studies and researcher on traditions and legends associated with the figure of Mary Magdalene. The roundtable is moderated by Dr. Katherine Kurs of The New School for Social Research.
In addition to the original trailer, the DVD bonus features for Secrets of Mary Magdalene include More Secrets of Mary Magdalene – 30 minutes of additional interview footage that further explores topics from the documentary. Experts discuss Magdalene’s possible founding role in early Christianity, her position as a new role model for the female priesthood, the early Gnostic view of Adam and Eve, The Song of Songs as well as the depiction of Mary Magdalene in renaissance art.
Secrets of Mary Magdalene was directed by award-winning filmmaker Rob Fruchtman and narrated by Marisa Berenson. The film was produced by Hidden Treasures Productions, Inc. and Stuart B. Rekant served as Executive Producer.
CDS Book's upcoming release Secrets of Mary Magdalene is the newest addition to the Secrets series, including the New York Times bestseller Secrets of the Code, created and edited by Dan Burstein and Arne J. de Keijzer. It brings together world class experts from different faiths, backgrounds, and perspectives, to discuss the most thought-provoking new ideas and original thinking about Mary Magdalene. The contributors include Elaine Pagels and Susan Haskins who are also featured in the DVD, Secrets of Mary Magdalene. Never before has such a wide range of fascinating ideas and new scholarship about Mary Magdalene been collected in one book that is as timely and accessible.
About Hidden Treasures Productions, Inc.
Hidden Treasures Productions is an award-winning non fiction production and marketing company. It began its collaboration with Dan Burstein and Arne de Keijzer, on Secrets of Angels, Demons & Masons, the documentary special based on their best-selling book, Secrets of Angels & Demons, which deals with the provocative issues raised in Dan Brown’s novel. Hidden Treasure’s credits also include the feature documentary “Trust Me” which premiered on Showtime. This inspirational film won the 2004 Wilbur Award for excellence in communication of religious themes in secular media, the Vision Award at the 2003 RiverRun International Film Festival, and a Parents’ Choice Award.
About KOCH Vision
KOCH Vision is the spearhead of KOCH Entertainment's initiatives into the home video market. A leading independent supplier of a broad range of product genres, KOCH Vision boasts a library of feature films, award-winning children’s and fitness programs, documentaries, music, British mini-series and more. It is the home of such notable properties as SELF Fitness, Antone’s: Home of the Blues, Popular Mechanics for Kids, Wire in the Blood, P.D. James, Soundstage, Dan Burstein’s Secrets of Angels, Demons & Masons, Yoga Zone and more. Visit KOCH Vision online at www.kochvision.com.
# # #
Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Pre-Book Date: August 8, 2006
Street Date: September 5, 2006
SRP: $19.98
Item #: KOC-DV-6422
UPC: 7-41952-64229-9
ISBN: 1-4172-2946-2
Language: English
Running Time: 96 minutes, plus 30 minutes bonus
Audio: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 16:9