Media Catalogue
The Artists’ Specials
Degas and the Dancer ALA Notable Children’s Video Editors’ Choice, Booklist Top 5 Video of the Year, KidsFirst! Winner of the Humanitas Prize
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A struggling Degas finds inspiration for his art in Marie, a young ballerina. Degas helps Marie tap into the talent she doesn’t believe she has while she convinces Degas to persevere despite criticism from the art establishment. As artist and model, they become friends and find in each other what they need to follow their dreams.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-47-9 UPC: 699359 20012 6 Cat. #: DVD92001
Cassatt: American Impressionist Starring Amy Brenneman of TV’s “Judging Amy” • 2 Emmy Nominations • Emmy Award Winner •
Cassatt’s Parisian solitude is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of her brother’s three kids, but she soon finds herself inspired and uses the children as models. Meanwhile, Cassatt’s teenage niece plays cupid between Cassatt and the great painter Degas. Romance does not blossom but Degas invites Cassatt to join the Impressionists.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-49-5 UPC: 699359 20022 5 Cat. #: DVD92002
Monet: Shadow & light Top 5 Video of the Year, KidsFirst! •
Monet’s glorious summer of painting ends abruptly with harsh attacks from his father and art critics. He intends to abandon everything, but is convinced otherwise by aspiring young artist Daniel. Having been abandoned by his own father, Daniel refuses to let Monet do the same to his son. As Monet shows Daniel a new way of seeing the world through art, Daniel helps Monet see the importance of family.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-61-4 UPC: 699359 20032 4 Cat. #: DVD92003
as seen on
“The Artists’ Specials, a new series from Toronto-based Devine Entertainment, takes up where its excellent series devoted to composers and inventors left off, providing whimsically entertaining and richly human mini-dramas that serve as inspiring introductions to great artists for children and their families.” — Hollywood Reporter
Goya: Awakened in a Dream Writers Guild of Canada Top Ten Award •
At 73, Spanish painter Goya abandons the royal court. Painting alone at his country villa, he finds that his housekeeper’s daughter, Rosarita, has a talent for drawing. They become friends and Goya teaches her how to “see” as an artist. Rosarita witnesses the creation of Goya’s masterpiece, The Black Paintings, and helps foil the Inquisition’s attempt to suppress the creation.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-62-2 UPC: 699359 20042 3 Cat. #: DVD92004
Rembrandt: Fathers & Sons All Star Rating from KidsFirst! • Coalition for Quality Children’s Media Best Youth Video, Today’s Librarian •
At the height of Rembrandt’s success as a portrait artist in 1630s Amsterdam, he takes on a young Jewish studio apprentice, Samuel. The boy’s struggle to break free of his family’s rigid expectations lead the painter to wrestle with his own complacency, ending in his defiance of artistic convention with his daring masterpiece “The Night Watch,” and a lifelong pursuit of his own vision.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-48-7 UPC: 699359 20052 2 Cat. #: DVD92005
Homer: American Original ALA Notable Children’s Video • Top 5 Video of the Year, KidsFirst! •
American artist Winslow Homer leaves his post as Civil War illustrator and seeks solitude at a friend’s farm. There he meets two teenagers who seem intent on disrupting his peace. It turns out that like him, the teens are haunted by the aftermath of the war. By facing the truth, they free themselves of the ghosts, and give Homer new inspiration for his art.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-63-0 UPC: 699359 20062 1 Cat. #: DVD92006
The Composers’ Specials Bizet’s Dream
Best Children’s Video of the Year, Parenting Magazine • Winner, Alliance For Children & Television’s Award - Best Drama • Monitor Award - Best Director • A 12-year-old Parisian girl grudgingly takes piano lessons from composer Georges Bizet. Although he is anguishing over his life and his work, Michelle soon becomes captivated by his story of the gypsy Carmen as told through his new opera. Set in 1875, Bizet’s Dream tells the compelling and bittersweet story of a special friendship.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-64-9 UPC: 699359 30012 3 Cat. #: DVD93001
Bach’s Fight for Freedom
Oppenheim Gold Seal Best Video Award • Parent Magazine pick as one of The Best Videos of the Year • Kid’s First! Award from The Coalition for Quality Children’s Video • An independent young boy is worried about working as the assistant to composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Tensions are relieved when the temperamental composer finds a kindred soul in the young Frederick. Set in 1717, Bach’s Fight for Freedom passionately argues that the only master you can serve faithfully is your own heart.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-44-4 UPC: 699359 30022 2 Cat. #: DVD93002
Strauss
The King of Three Quarter Time
Family Channel Seal of Quality • Johann Strauss Jr. is the darling of waltzing Vienna, but he is haunted by constant pressure to outdo himself with each new composition. When Strauss meets Nicholas, a humble young stableboy, they realize they have much in common. The composer and the boy share the healing bond of trust and embark on a collaboration that will be music to the world’s ears.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-45-2 UPC: 699359 30032 1 Cat. #: DVD93003
“All the dramas are thoughtfully conceived and meticulously executed… The creators pay respect both to the musicians they portray and the fortunate young viewers of these exceptional productions.” — American Library Association’s Booklist
Liszt’s Rhapsody
Family Channel Seal of Quality • Kid’s First! Award from The Coalition for Quality Children’s Video • The dashing Franz Liszt appears to have it all — talent, success, wealth and adoring fans. Yet when the great pianist takes on a young street musician as a violin student, he finds his own work transformed by the experience. A simple wager turns into a mighty struggle of wills: a conflict of freedom vs. discipline, heart vs. brain, and passion vs. technique.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-65-7 UPC: 699359 30042 0 Cat. #: DVD93004
Handel’s Last Chance
Oppenheim Gold Seal Best Video Award • Gemini Award Winner - Best Movie •
A Dublin street kid is selected as a choirboy for Handel’s first performance of The Messiah. In the process, Jamie becomes friends with the renowned composer, who is suffering from a temporary lack of self esteem. When Jamie is falsely accused of wrongdoing, Handel comes to his aid. The Messiah’s premiere brings Handel glory and restores him to his rightful place in the musical world.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-46-0 UPC: 699359 30052 9 Cat. #: DVD93005
Rossini’s Ghost Oppenheim Gold Seal Best Video Award • Nine-year old Reliana witnesses Rossini’s efforts to salvage his seemingly cursed new opera. Set in 1816, the year The Barber of Seville had its disastrous premiere, Rossini’s Ghost is the story of three women who learn that friendship, like opera, requires nurturing, patience, and time.
ISBN 1-894449-66-5 UPC: 699359 30062 8 Cat. #: DVD93006
The Inventors’ Specials Leonardo: A Dream of Flight Starring Tony Award-winner Brent Carver • Winner, Canada’s Gemini Award • Leonardo da Vinci finds it difficult to pursue his own dreams while serving as the Duke’s court artist, but young Roberto takes risks to convince the Master not to give up on his dreams. In this moving tory of friendship, the Renaissance genius invents a flying machine and helps Roberto reach new heights.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-58-4 UPC: 699359 10012 9 Cat. #: DVD91001
Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants Starring actor Michael Moriarty from TV’s “Law and Order” • 4 Emmy Nominations • 2 Emmy Awards •
In the early 17th century, astronomer Galileo is uncovering the biggest mysteries in the universe. However, he is thwarted by a lack of money, a lazy brother and a jealous rival. Luckily, Galileo finds support from his student, Prince Cosimo, the pampered son of the powerful Medici family. Cosimo champions his tutor’s belief that the Earth revolves around the sun and further assists to invent the telescope.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-24-X UPC: 699359 10022 8 Cat. #: DVD91002
Newton: A Tale of Two Isaacs Parenting Magazine Video Magic Award • As Newton devotes himself to the difficult and solitary path of challenging the existing view of the universe and proving his own theories on celestial movement and gravity, his young scribe Humphrey wavers between pursuing science or following his heart.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-59-2 UPC: 699359 10032 7 Cat. #: DVD91003
“Elegant production design, scrupulous attention to period detail, careful scripting, and intelligent direction draw young people into these fanciful yet highly instructive tales…[Mediacan has] created inventive and dynamic productions that are preeminent contributions to children’s video, whether in the classroom, public library, or family home.” — American Library Association’s Booklist journal
Marie Curie: More than Meets the Eye ALA Notable Children’s Video • During World War I, the young Boudreau sisters decide to aid the war effort by catching spies. The strange activities of Nobel-Prize winning scientist Marie Curie make her a prime suspect. When the girls follow Curie to the battlefront, they witness her fight to use science and her X-ray machine to save the lives of the wounded, including their father.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-60-6 UPC: 699359 10042 6 Cat. #: DVD91004
Edison: The Wizard of Light 5 Emmy Nominations • Emmy Award Winner • Escaping from the orphanage, young Jack Maloney stumbles into the lab of the world’s greatest inventor, Thomas Edison, and is mesmerized by the magical new creations. Edison takes the boy on as an apprentice and together, despite some ups and downs, they create the first motion pictures.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-28-2 UPC: 699359 10052 5 Cat. #: DVD91005
Einstein: Light to the Power of 2 Award of Excellence - The Alliance for Children and Television • Best Short Film - Chicago International Children’s Film Festival • An unlikely meeting of minds occurs in the 1950s when professor Albert Einstein befriends an African-American girl. Nine-year-old Lannie is unmotivated and struggling at school because of a racist teacher. Reminded of his own intellectual and political challenges, Einstein steps in and sparks a love of learning in Lannie, who comes to realize her full potential.
DVD: ISBN 1-894449-27-4 UPC: 699359 20062 4 Cat. #: DVD91006
Marsalis on Music
“Marsalis On Music is a thrilling, four-part seminar of music appreciation...Comparisons to Leonard Bernstein’s famed Young People’s Concerts are appropriate.” – USA Today
PEABODY AWARD WINNING SERIES NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD! Four disc DVD boxed set includes the following four, 52-minute episodes: • Why Toes Tap – Marsalis On Rhythm • Listening For Clues – Marsalis On Form • Sousa To Satchmo – Marsalis On The Jazz Band • Tackling The Monster – Marsalis on Practice Wynton Marsalis is a strong and respected voice in music education. A 16 time Grammy Award winner, Mr. Marsalis is universally recognized as the world’s leading jazz and classical trumpeter. The new, DVD format will include full chaptering, allowing for quick and accurate use in a classroom environment. A detailed series chapter summary booklet is included, with a DVD-ROM function that allows the booklet to be reprinted as needed. The DVD’s are close-captioned for the hearing challenged. Marsalis On Music is cleared for private home use as well as use in classrooms, churches and places of study, noadmission public performances in libraries, and for no-charge circulation through library systems.
Featured performers include The Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, which is made up of high achieving student musicians from across America, the famed conductor Seiji Ozawa and master cellist YoYo Ma.
Catalog Number: DMM 95001 • UPC Code: 69935 95001 2 7 • ISBN # 1-894449-74-6
All MediaCan titles are available in Spanish, French and English. Composers, Artists and Inventors series are available as a 6 pack DVD box set. Teacher’s Guides are available while supplies last. MediaCan Sales Number: (416) 849-1925, ext 170 | Fax: (416) 364-1440 Visit us online at www.mediacaninternational.com Email us at sales@mediacaninternational.com Mailing address: 4936 Yonge Street, Suite 220 Toronto, Ontario M2N 6S3