Powell's Books Announces Second Film: Halberstam to Follow McEwan September 5, 2007, Portland, OR —Powell's Books announced today that David Halberstam will be the subject of its next Out of the Book™ project. In November and December, nearly 75 cities will screen the 28-minute film tackling Halberstam's posthumous history, The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War. In June, Powell's launched the Out of the Book series (www.outofthebookfilms.com) with an atmospheric, engaging piece about Ian McEwan and his Booker Prize-nominated novel, On Chesil Beach. The debut played to rave reviews in 54 cities, from Pasadena, California, to Portland, Maine. Out of the Book's second installment will feature intriguing excerpts from The Coldest Winter, one of the fall's most anticipated titles, as well as incisive commentary from Joan Didion, Seymour Hersh, Robert Caro, and Bob Woodward, historical footage of the late author, a musical soundtrack, and more. The Coldest Winter will be published by Hyperion on September 25. In a starred review, Booklist called it "commanding and evocative," stating that "Halberstam's final work stands as the coda to his enduringly famous The Best and the Brightest." Mr. Woodward recently told the New York Times, "It carries an emotional power I didn't expect." "We're honored that Powell's has chosen David Halberstam's The Coldest Winter as the subject of their second Out of the Book film," said Hyperion president Robert Miller. "Not only will this pay tribute to one of the preeminent journalists of our time, it will bring attention to the Korean War — often called 'the forgotten war' — at a time when military and political judgment are once again in tragic conflict." New Yorkers will get an early peek on November 11, 2007, when McNally Robinson Booksellers hosts a special premiere at Two Boots Pioneer Theater. Between November 12 and December 15, the film will be shown in nearly 75 cities, where screenings will be sponsored by a local, independent bookseller. In each location, special guests, panel discussions, live music, and other customized entertainment will suit regional tastes and resources. "The Out of the Book film series looks like it's going to be the next best angle in wedging words into the hands of the reader," the Miami SunPost predicted after a screening of the first edition at Books & Books in Coral Gables. Bob Thompson assured Washington Post readers that "McEwan himself pronounced Powell's film 'very lightly and carefully done.'" Event coordinators at Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts, echoed the response of booksellers around the country, testifying, "People were really curious about who is coming next." Rebekah Rine of Watermark Books in Wichita, Kansas, confirmed, "People really liked the way the film was made: the cinematography, the soundtrack, the editing… They loved that it was kind of in its own genre — note quite a documentary, not quite a movie. Everyone is looking forward to the next film." Out of the Book's second edition will once again be produced by the series creator, Dave Weich. Hudson River Films, under the direction of founder Doug Biro, returns to bring the Portland, Oregon-based bookstore's project to the screen. Dave Weich, Creator and Producer Doug Biro, Executive Producer |
