Andre A Blay

Andre A. Blay, a pioneer in the home video industry who most recently headed Embassy Home Entertainment, said Tuesday that he and and film producer Elliott Kastner have acquired 60% of Cinema Group's film distribution and home video operation for undisclosed terms. The purpose of the investment, Blay said, is "to build it into a small studio." He added, however, that he and Kastner are not acquiring the 10-year-old company's film investment activities or theaters.

Andre A. Blay, a pioneer in the home video industry who most recently headed Embassy Home Entertainment, said Tuesday that he and and film producer Elliott Kastner have acquired 60% of Cinema Group's film distribution and home video operation for undisclosed terms. The purpose of the investment, Blay said, is "to build it into a small studio." He added, however, that he and Kastner are not acquiring the 10-year-old company's film investment activities or theaters.

A fascinating story struggles to get out of "Souvenir" (Showtime cable, 8 p.m. Sunday, then at different times on Nov. 3, 9, 14 and 22). It's about two survivors of a terrible World War II incident in a small town in France. One of the survivors was a German soldier; the other was a member of the Resistance.