Exhibit 99.1
Genius Products Inc. Announces Change in Board of Directors
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2003--Genius Products Inc.
(the "company") (OTCBB:GNPI) announced today the addition of its
newest board member, Carl Amari. Klaus Moeller, chief executive
officer and chairman of the board, said, "This year we expanded our
focus beyond audio and video products for babies and children. In
keeping with our expanding mission to become a leading provider of
quality family entertainment, we have been seeking candidates for our
board with experience in the entertainment industry." He continued,
"We welcome Carl to the board. He brings a lot of hands-on industry
talent to the company. All of us at Genius Products look forward to
working with Carl."
Amari stated, "I am very excited to join the board of Genius
Products Inc. I could not be more impressed with the talented people
running this company. I am extremely confident in this team and this
company's ability to take full advantage of the huge opportunities
that lie ahead."
Richard Bermingham and David Anderson have resigned from the
board. Moeller stated, "The board of directors and the senior
management team of Genius Products are grateful to Richard Bermingham
and David Anderson for their participation and support of the company.
We wish them the very best in their future endeavors." Moeller
continued, "We are continuing our discussions with candidates with
excellent qualifications and a background in the entertainment
industry to fill the vacancies." Bermingham was the chairman of the
Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. Anderson
was a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. He remains a
major shareholder of the company.
Born Aug. 20, 1963, Amari founded Radio Spirits Inc. in the
basement of his parent's home in 1985. A dedicated fan of classic
radio programming, Amari turned his hobby/passion into a thriving
business (today Radio Spirits Inc. is the largest licensor and
distributor of nostalgia radio content and maintains a library of
50,000 old-time radio programs with annual sales of $17 million). A
lifetime member of Who's Who Worldwide Business Leaders, Amari is
currently CEO, president and founder of Falcon Picture Group. He is
the creator of the award winning nationally syndicated radio series
"When Radio Was" hosted by Stan Freberg, "Radio Movie Classics" hosted
by Jeffrey Lyons and "Radio Super Heroes" hosted by Kris Erik Stevens.
Amari also served as producer of Walter Cronkite's syndicated radio
series "Walter Cronkite's 20th Century" and Leonard Maltin's radio
series "Leonard Maltin's Video Views."
His syndicated radio programs currently air on 500 commercial
radio stations nationally. Under Amari's leadership Radio Spirits,
Inc. has twice made INC. 500's fastest growing list of privately held
companies. Because Amari's company made the coveted INC. list two
years in a row, he was featured on the cover of INC. 500 Magazine in
1998. That same year Amari sold Radio Spirits Inc. to the public
company MediaBay.
In 2001, Amari founded Falcon Picture Group, a company that
specializes in the distribution of classic film and television
programming. Through its exclusive licensing venture with American
Movie Classics (AMC), Falcon has partnered with Genius Products to
produce and distribute a full line of classic movies and television
programs on DVD to more than 20,000 retail accounts, including
Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target. Falcon also produces the weekly
syndicated radio series "The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas" through an
exclusive licensing arrangement with CBS Enterprises and the Rod
Serling Estate. "The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas" are heard on more
than 100 U.S. radio stations, XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, the BBC
and AFRTS and is adapted from Rod Serling's Emmy-Award Winning TV
series, "The Twilight Zone."
Amari helped finance and executive produced the father/son
action/drama motion picture "Madison" starring Jim Caviezel, Jake
Lloyd, Mary McCormack, Bruce Dern, Paul Dooley and John Mellencamp
which will be released in theatres by MGM in early 2004. His business
accomplishments have been highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, INC.
500, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Associated Press,
The LA Times and The New York Post.
About Genius Products Inc.
Genius Products Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and
markets family entertainment products including videos, DVDs, CDs and
cassettes. The products are sold under the Baby Genius and Kid Genius
brand names and during 2003, the company introduced other brand name
products such as BOZO the Clown, Curious George, Guess How Much I Love
You(TM), and Rainbow Fish, plus many more. The company's award-winning
products are widely distributed at major retail stores nationwide
including Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, ShopKo,
Meijer, Borders and Best Buy. The company also licenses the Baby
Genius brand to third-party companies for a variety of products
including apparel, books, toys and infant care products. Promotional
partners include Kellogg's, The World Famous San Diego Zoo, Parenting
Magazine, Playtex, Fazoli's and Child Magazine.
Genius Products Inc. company and product information is available
on the company's Web site at www.geniusproducts.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters
discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements reflect
assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties, which may affect
Genius Products' business, forecasts, projections, prospects, and
cause results to differ from these forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include the company's ability to grow its
business and other matters, which are described in the company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Genius Products Inc., San Diego
Klaus Moeller, 858-793-8840
info@geniusproducts.com