Before Z
In an eccentric tour-de-force, performance artist Shannon Plumb plows through 26 Chaplainesqe silent movie vignettes, lending laughs to her lessons in the A.B.C's
                                                         - B.K., Parenting Magazine

A to Z
Somewhere between Charlie Chaplin and early "Sesame Street" sketches lies Before Z, (Fountainhead Films, $15.99), one of the more refreshing and original educational DVDs to come along in recent memory. In the tradition of a silent film, performance artist Shannon Plumb takes center stage in zany short skits devoted to each letter of the alphabet. Approximately 30 minutes in length, the series is recommended for ages 5 and up and contains an activity sheet and family viewing tips. Coming soon in the series, which is also available in video format: Here, There and Everywhere, an introduction to global geography; and After Zero, on counting and numbers. For further information, visit www.beforez.com.
                                                                           - Big Apple Parent

P is for "perfect"
Every parent has endured an unfair share of cloying abecedarian books and videos (TM) cavalcades of apples, bears and cats; parades of frogs and goldfish; the inevitable xylophones and zebras. The ABCs may be simple, but they don't have to be simple minded, as performance artist Shannon Plumb proves in her delightful, daring and sometimes dark enactment of the alphabet, Before Z. Plumb's medium is Super-8; she films herself performing antic sketches, assigning each letter four words, then linking them by acting them out in her trademark style (TM) an utterly inspired, inexplicable mix of Buster Keaton and Gloria Swanson. Angry and antenna, drip and Dracula, undress and umbrella all come together in a flood of meaning. Yes, there's xylophone. But kids also get an age-appropriate opportunity to ponder the meaning of X-rated. Fountainhead Films, $16, www.beforeZ.com                                                   - Sarah Goodyear, Time Out New York Kids

Before Z
A new film by Shannon Plumb, is now available on DVD and VHS. The half-hour Super 8 film includes 26 film sketches, one for each letter of the alphabet. The letters are Plumb's co-stars, whimsically appearing and disappearing throughout each of her performances. BEFORE Z will be distributed through the web site www.beforez.com. DVD includes coloring activity sheet, metallic stickers, viewing tips and creative suggestions.
                                                                            - Staten Island Parent

Before Z Press
"I just watched this DVD the other day, it's called Before Z, from a performance artist, her name is Shannon Plumb. And all the ABC videos, if you're a mom, they've got these adorable little ducks, these little apples and balls, this is the most hysterical, off beat, avant garde ABC video I have ever seen. She shoots it on Super 8 so you see this kind of crazy Super 8 quality on the screen and it's hilarious. It's very different; the words are very different. She's got words like anger and antennae and undress."- "It's perfect for the Manhattan kid."- "One thing about the video, you can only get it by going to BeforeZ.com, so don't look into all your video stores because you might not find it. So you have to go to the website. www.beforez.com"
                                                                       - Good Day New York