Amazon.com and Microsoft today announced the 1,000 HD DVD
IndiesProject, designed to lower the barriers to entry for
filmmakers to produce movies in the HD DVD format.
Jointly sponsored by Amazon and Microsoft, the project will
provide free authoring and setup services for up to 1,000
indie titles.
"This collaboration with Microsoft is a great opportunity
for independent filmmakers to reach Amazon customers with
their films via the HD DVD format," said Peter Faricy, vice
president of music and movies at Amazon.com. "By working
together with Microsoft and leveraging the proven CustomFlix
DVD on Demand model, we can lower the barriers to entry for
independent filmmakers and dramatically increase the
selection we offer our customers."
The project will be spearheaded by CustomFlix, which will
bring as many as 1,000 feature-length independent films to
Amazon customers using the CustomFlix DVD on Demand
technology, which produces and ships DVDs only as they are
ordered. This model improves the cost structure for
independent filmmakers by eliminating the need for costly
inventory.
Sundance Channel will be reviewing the high-definition
features for potential broadcast on the network as well as
making its own HD original eco-series, "Big Ideas for a
Small Planet," available for purchase through Amazon?s HD
DVD program.
"The use of Microsoft technology and authoring expertise
will ensure that all the HD DVD titles offered by Amazon
have impeccable quality, thanks to the VC-1 codec and
innovative interactive scenarios with HDi," said Amir
Majidimehr, corporate vice president for the Consumer Media
Technology Group at Microsoft.