Post by Jonel on Sept 6, 2002 8:48:43 GMT -5
Microsoft and BMW Bring BMW Films Digital Cinema Series to Theaters Across The United States, Powered by Windows Media 9 Series -- Digital Cinema Series to Open With Artisan Entertainment's 'Standing in The Shadows of Motown' and New bmwfilms.com Short Films From Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, John Woo and Joe Carnahan
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Story Filed: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 8:00 PM EST
LOS ANGELES, Sep 4, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and BMW of North America LLC today announced they are working together to create the BMW Films Digital Cinema Series. The series is a digital cinema program that will feature full-length independent films to be projected digitally in commercial theaters nationwide throughout the coming year. In addition, "The Hire," the highly anticipated second series of bmwfilms.com short films, will be exhibited in theaters in conjunction with the full-length film presentations. All the feature and short films will be screened in theaters using Microsoft(R) Windows Media(TM) Audio and Video 9 Series. This evening in Hollywood, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates unveiled the BMW Films Digital Cinema Series onstage at the beta launch of the Windows Media 9 Series platform.
(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
The BMW Films Digital Cinema Series begins Nov. 15, and its first feature-length film is Artisan Entertainment's "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." The inspiring music documentary tells the story of the Funk Brothers, the unheralded studio musicians who backed classic Motown artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Supremes. The series will be digitally projected in at least 25 theaters nationwide and will be paired with one of the new bmwfilms.com shorts in the critically acclaimed "The Hire" series.
"The BMW Films Digital Cinema Series will provide great independent films for theatergoers, and Windows Media 9 Series will deliver the high-quality video and surround sound that today's audiences demand in theaters," said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "This is a great example of how Windows Media 9 Series enables independent distributors and exhibitors to take advantage of the cost savings made possible with digital technologies."
"We are proud to be part of a program that will make accessible the work of emerging filmmakers who push boundaries, take risks and challenge us to see a subject in an entirely new light," said Jim McDowell, vice president of marketing for BMW of North America.
In association with Digital Cinema Solutions, which will facilitate the physical distribution and exhibition of the films, 25 theaters will be equipped with digital projection equipment. Microsoft and BMW will work with a range of companies, such as Artisan Entertainment, to select new films to be screened digitally in the participating venues. The features also may open in other conventional theaters in each market, in accordance with the distributor's general release plans for each movie.
More about BMW films:
www.bmwfilms.com
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Story Filed: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 8:00 PM EST
LOS ANGELES, Sep 4, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and BMW of North America LLC today announced they are working together to create the BMW Films Digital Cinema Series. The series is a digital cinema program that will feature full-length independent films to be projected digitally in commercial theaters nationwide throughout the coming year. In addition, "The Hire," the highly anticipated second series of bmwfilms.com short films, will be exhibited in theaters in conjunction with the full-length film presentations. All the feature and short films will be screened in theaters using Microsoft(R) Windows Media(TM) Audio and Video 9 Series. This evening in Hollywood, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates unveiled the BMW Films Digital Cinema Series onstage at the beta launch of the Windows Media 9 Series platform.
(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
The BMW Films Digital Cinema Series begins Nov. 15, and its first feature-length film is Artisan Entertainment's "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." The inspiring music documentary tells the story of the Funk Brothers, the unheralded studio musicians who backed classic Motown artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Supremes. The series will be digitally projected in at least 25 theaters nationwide and will be paired with one of the new bmwfilms.com shorts in the critically acclaimed "The Hire" series.
"The BMW Films Digital Cinema Series will provide great independent films for theatergoers, and Windows Media 9 Series will deliver the high-quality video and surround sound that today's audiences demand in theaters," said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "This is a great example of how Windows Media 9 Series enables independent distributors and exhibitors to take advantage of the cost savings made possible with digital technologies."
"We are proud to be part of a program that will make accessible the work of emerging filmmakers who push boundaries, take risks and challenge us to see a subject in an entirely new light," said Jim McDowell, vice president of marketing for BMW of North America.
In association with Digital Cinema Solutions, which will facilitate the physical distribution and exhibition of the films, 25 theaters will be equipped with digital projection equipment. Microsoft and BMW will work with a range of companies, such as Artisan Entertainment, to select new films to be screened digitally in the participating venues. The features also may open in other conventional theaters in each market, in accordance with the distributor's general release plans for each movie.
More about BMW films:
www.bmwfilms.com