Warner Home Video Breaks New Ground With Online Event; Virtual Theatre & Simultaneous Filmmaker Chat On November 6
Special Web-Enabled ""The Matrix"" DVD Allows Users Throughout The World to Join A First-Of-Its Kind Online Experience Marking an online first, Warner Home Video (WHV) announced that owners of ""The Matrix"" DVD, the best-selling DVD of all time, will have the unique opportunity of simultaneously watching the movie while chatting online with writer/directors Andy and Larry Wachowski during the film's screening on November 6. ""This is the DVD event of the year,"" said Mark Horak, Vice President Worldwide Marketing, WHV. ""There's never been anything like it. It's as if we had a theatre housing an audience of thousands, all watching the movie at the same time with the chance to ask the film makers anything they want."" To participate in the special event, users need a computer equipped with a DVD-ROM drive, ""The Matrix"" DVD and an Internet connection. A cue will alert everyone's computers to trigger the movie to begin at the same time. Users will then view the movie at DVD quality in a ""virtual theater"" and will be able to ask questions of the filmmakers as everybody watches the movie together. Horak added, ""This event combines the quality of DVD video with the community elements of the Internet. This is the best example to date of how the unique interactive features of DVD can enhance the way people enjoy movies."" The event is scheduled for November 6 at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. Users can register by going to ""Online Events"" in their DVD-ROM's menu or by accessing ""The Matrix"" Web site at www.warnervideo.com/matrixevents. Adding to the excitement of the event will be a ""The Matrix"" sweepstakes. Those participating in the screening/chat will be eligible to win outstanding prizes. Prizes include: - Grand Prize: IBM Laptop, signed ""The Matrix"" DVD and 10 additional DVD movies - Three First Prizes: signed ""The Matrix"" DVD plus 10 additional DVD movies - Eight Third Prizes: signed ""The Matrix"" DVD plus 1 DVD movie. Two sets of winners will be chosen and will be announced on the site, once in late November and again in December. Since its release on September 21, ""The Matrix"" has shipped more than 1.5 million DVDs, making it the highest-selling DVD of all time. The success of ""The Matrix"" has solidified the breakthrough growth in public acceptance of DVD, which has revolutionized home entertainment. ""The Matrix"" DVD is enhanced for use on personal computers with DVD-ROM drives using software from InterActual. This patent-pending technology allows DVD creators to add special Web content and conduct online events such as ""The Matrix"" virtual theater. It took just two years from DVD's national launch in August 1997 for the format to ship 1 million units, compared with four years for compact discs and 11 years for VHS. In its first two years, DVD players have outsold the VCR by 13 to one and the CD player by four to one. More than 60 million discs have been shipped and nearly 3 million DVD players are currently in U.S. homes. More than 4,000 DVD titles are now available from every major studio for sale or rent at traditional retail outlets and through online services. For more information, contact Warner Home Video, Ronnee Sass, 818 954 6439.