[Rasczak]

Microsoft and Amazon have joined forces to bring upto 1000 independent films to the HD DVD format according to an article over at HighDefDigest. The promotion has been labelled "The 1000 HD DVD Indies Project" - Microsoft will provide free HD DVD authoring services and Amazon will then package for sale on its website.

The HD DVD program is the latest addition to Amazon's CustomFlix service which produces discs as ordered thus eliminating the need for large stocks. Dana LoPiccolo-Giles, co-founder and managing director of CustomFlix, stated that "from a technical standpoint, we found that the HD DVD format fits our business model perfectly."

[jrp023]

this sounds very very good but i wonder if they intend for a serious level of quality control as i have heard mixed reviews of some standard def customflix.

[Bald Monkey]

Cheers Rasczak,

Ignoring 'the war' for a minute... or two I'm really interested in this. It seems a great move by MS and HD-DVD and is really playing to their strengths and helping to combat one of their weaknesses... and besides all that there should be some really interesting titles available.. I hope as pointed out they are good quality, I presume they will be, and decent prices too!! Generally though this seems like a really good announcement for the independants and HD-DVD

Shame I'm not a big fan of Amazon... but I'm sure I can put my prejudices to one side in the interests of good movies!!

[Nic Rhodes]

Pretty significant development and these 1000 titles WILL be available before the year end! Lot's of interesting little films on small discs and cheap. It is a very significant boost to the poorly reported Blockbuster news which for me is much less important.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by jrp023

this sounds very very good but i wonder if they intend for a serious level of quality control as i have heard mixed reviews of some standard def customflix.

Hopefully quality will be foremost in their minds. If it was just Amazon providing a basic service then I would possibly be concerned - but the fact the Microsoft team, whom are largely responsible for many of the quality releases we have seen so far, are involved in authoring makes this potentially an excellent service.

[Pecker]

It was only yesterday that I was moaning (at myself) about some of the dross I'd bought on high def (both formats).

I wonder if these films will all be new, or if there'll be some classsic back catalogue indies due.

'Come And See', anyone?

Steve W

[dbs2]

I think this is very good news for the indi film makers, but i have a few queries with your statements Nic,

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

Pretty significant development and these 1000 titles WILL be available before the year end!

Microsoft say they will do upto 1000 titles within their budget, will there be 1000 aplicants, so how can you say the 100 titles WILL be available b4 y/end ??

Lot's of interesting little films on small discs and cheap.

Arn't the film makers setting their own prices acording to amazon, so how do you know they will be cheap ??

It is a very significant boost to the poorly reported Blockbuster news which for me is much less important.

I think this news is good, but in my opinion it will be a niche market within a niche market, where as i think the blockbuster releaser was to a mass market !!

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by dean1474

I think this news is good, but in my opinion it will be a niche market within a niche market, where as i think the blockbuster releaser was to a mass market !!

Indie films are a niche market.

High def is a niche market.

But I think they coincide through one shared interest; die-hard film lovers.

In other words, I'd imagine that the %age of high def owners who were fans of indie film to be larger that the %age of general DVD owners.

Steve W

[Nic Rhodes]

Originally Posted by dean1474

Microsoft say they will do upto 1000 titles within their budget, will there be 1000 aplicants, so how can you say the 100 titles WILL be available b4 y/end ??

Read Amirs stuff in the insider thread, I suspect he has been vocal.

Originally Posted by dean1474

Arn't the film makers setting their own prices acording to amazon, so how do you know they will be cheap ??

I don't but I cannot see in a million miles any indie film maker being able to charge the same prices as major studios especially when the film comes on DVD 9 and HD DVD 15s with limited 'extras'!! This is a project is to get these small films to a new market, people will try them at $15 -$20 ish but not $40. If it becomes a 'Blair witch' then they will make huge amounts of money but most of these guys will be happy for 'distribution'. Most film fans will be happy for access.

Originally Posted by dean1474

I think this news is good, but in my opinion it will be a niche market within a niche market, where as i think the blockbuster releaser was to a mass market !!

I don't think any will argue with you it is niche, that is the whole point!!. It is a new and interesting project that has caught most on the hop, especially the competition (DVD included). If you read my quote it says 'for me is much less important' then as I am not a Blockbuster customer, nor do I intend to rend any HD DVDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs then I think it a fair assumption that even looking at the offered films is a step forward. However my buying pattern (Criterion, old films etc) as opposed to big blockbusters makes this a breath of fresh air and I am likely to try quite a few .

Both high definition formats and Indie films are niche markets, however those niche market don't currently overlap from what I can see, they therfore make nice bed buddies. It is a smart move what ever way you look at it and will win the participants many friends.

[Pecker]

According to The Digital Bits there are just under 500 titles available on high def (both formats combined), so this is massive news.

And what has Bill had to say about it?

I'll give you two guesses and a clue. The answer isn't 'something'.

Steve W

[dbs2]

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

Read Amirs stuff in the insider thread, I suspect he has been vocal.

Who is Amirs, should i be listening to his point of view ??

I don't but I cannot see in a million miles any indie film maker being able to charge the same prices as major studios especially when the film comes on DVD 9 and HD DVD 15s with limited 'extras'!! This is a project is to get these small films to a new market, people will try them at $15 -$20 ish but not $40. If it becomes a 'Blair witch' then they will make huge amounts of money but most of these guys will be happy for 'distribution'. Most film fans will be happy for access.

Hopefully there will be some Stunning Contributions - We will have to see what price for what quality we get, Hopefully we will get some cheap crackers... (but then i will have to find someone close by with a HD-DVD player and the film to watch it)

I don't think any will argue with you it is niche, that is the whole point!!. It is a new and interesting project that has caught most on the hop, especially the competition (DVD included). If you read my quote it says 'for me is much less important' then as I am not a Blockbuster customer, nor do I intend to rend any HD DVDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs then I think it a fair assumption that even looking at the offered films is a step forward. However my buying pattern (Criterion, old films etc) as opposed to big blockbusters makes this a breath of fresh air and I am likely to try quite a few .

Hopefully

Both high definition formats and Indie films are niche markets, however those niche market don't currently overlap from what I can see, they therfore make nice bed buddies. It is a smart move what ever way you look at it and will win the participants many friends.

Couldn't agree with you more, It Depends on how many are many though, and what sort of Tie-In contract Microsoft, Amazon and HD-DVD have on these releases to see how or if they can flourish !!

[Nic Rhodes]

Amir is the Microsoft 'champion' for video codecs and HD DVD. He has allot of insider knowledge and I suspect was nvolved heavily on the interesting project.