Controversial Music Industry Documentary ``Welcome To Death Row'' To Be Released Sept. 25.

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2001

A controversial film, "Welcome To Death Row" documenting the dizzying rise and equally dramatic fall of Death Row Records, the label that effectively launched the "gangsta rap" music genre, will be made available directly to the public through video stores nationwide on Sept. 25, 2001.

Xenon Pictures Inc., a Santa Monica-based independent film distributor, produced "Welcome to Death Row." The feature-length documentary takes an unblinking look at Death Row Records. The CEO of Death Row Records, a 315 pound ex-bodyguard named Marion "Suge" Knight, was released from an Oregon federal prison on Aug. 7 after serving five years for probation following a series of assault convictions.

"Welcome to Death Row" director Leigh Savidge, who is also CEO and founder of Xenon Pictures, acknowledged that the film's content would be controversial within the entertainment industry. But after advance screenings earlier this year in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco drew an enthusiastic response, Savidge realized the film already had an audience.

Savidge invested three years of his own time and resources to produce the film, but said he felt the story was too compelling and too disturbing to walk away from it.

"Telling the story of the rise and fall of Death Row Records presented many unique challenges for anyone with the temerity to try," he said. "The people close to this story generally fall into one of two categories: those that made out like bandits, aren't talking and want the story to simply fade away; and those who were misused, threatened and are simply relieved to have survived the experience."

Xenon Pictures Inc., is the first film distributor to really commit to licensing and distributing films produced by and for predominantly Black, Hispanic and Asian audiences. As one of the last independent distributors in the country, Xenon's 350 title library includes films from such legendary filmmakers as Melvin Van Peebles, Rudy Ray Moore and Jamma Fanaka.

For additional information, call ESP Public Relations at 310/827-9727 or [e-mail].

For additional press photos go online to xenonpictures.com/press the password is PressOK and the user name is PressPass. These pictures are high resolution TIF images.