Every summer, video distributors, retailers and studios converge upon Las Vegas for the Video Software Dealers Association trade show. There’s a lot of deal making and schmoozing going on, but there’s also the occasional celebrity on hand to shake hands and sign autographs. One year, I saw Fred Ward there and thought maybe I could get a picture taken with him. But then I thought better of this idea as it didn’t looked like he was very enthused being there. Hey, I didn’t want to get bitten.
This year, the VSDA went down on July 16-18 at the Rio Suites Hotel and Casino. An award celebration event took place during the show which saw Home Entertainment Awards handed out in 18 categories that were voted on by retailers and distributors who are VSDA members. To be eligible for nomination, videos must have been released between December 1, 2000 and March 31, 2002. The 2002 award categories were determined by a blue-ribbon member committee of retailers, distributors and trade journalists, who then selected 84 nominees in the 18 award categories.
So, here are some of the winners –
RENTAL TITLE OF THE YEAR BY A MAJOR STUDIO – The Fast and the Furious (Universal Studios Entertainment)
RENTAL TITLE OF THE YEAR BY AN INDEPENDENT STUDIO – Traffic (USA Home Entertainment)
SELL-THROUGH TITLE OF THE YEAR BY A MAJOR STUDIO – Shrek (DreamWorks Home Entertainment)
SELL-THROUGH TITLE OF THE YEAR BY AN INDEPENDENT STUDIO – The Sopranos: First and Second Season (HBO Home Video)
DIRECT-TO-VIDEO/LIMITED RELEASE BY A MAJOR STUDIO – “Lady & the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure” (Walt Disney/Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
DIRECT-TO-VIDEO/LIMITED RELEASE BY AN INDEPENDENT STUDIO – “Replicant” (Artisan Home Entertainment)
SLEEPER OF THE YEAR – Almost Famous (DreamWorks Entertainment) and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Touchstone/Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR – Crouching Tiger, Sleeping Dragon (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)
BEST ADULT TITLE OF THE YEAR – “Fade to Black” (Vivid Entertainment Group)
SPECIAL EDITION DVD OF THE YEAR – Almost Famous:Bootleg Cut (DreamWorks Entertainment) and The Godfather DVD Collection (Paramount Home Entertainment)
BEST VHS PACKAGING – Pearl Harbor (Touchstone/Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
BEST DVD PACKAGING – The Godfather DVD Collection (Paramount Home Entertainment) and Pearl Harbor (Touchstone/Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
BEST GAMECUBE VIDEOGAME OF THE YEAR – “Luigi’s Mansion” (Nintendo of America)
BEST PLAYSTATION 2 VIDEOGAME OF THE YEAR – “Grand Theft Auto 2” (Take 2 Interactive)
BEST XBOX VIDEOGAME OF THE YEAR – “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3” (Activision)
