MGM Pictures Blazes New Trail In High- Definition Video Arena

In a pioneering move that places MGM at the forefront of developing technology and cost-efficient filmmaking, MGM Pictures, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (NYSE: MGM), has become the first major Hollywood film studio to successfully utilize High-Definition Video for the post production and preview process on its latest high-profile project, ""Return To Me,"" the engaging dramatic comedy which stars David Duchovny and Minnie Driver.Slated for a spring 2000 release, the movie received exceptional results when test-screened in High-Definition Video before two separate audiences as well as for editorial press. The screenings generated overwhelmingly high scores with the viewers, who could not detect any differences between film and High-Definition video.MGM's Bruce Markoe, Vice President of Feature Post Production, explains, ""I believe that having a film score such high numbers while using Hi Def demonstrates that this process has no negative effect on the audiences' appreciation of the movie. This process actually presents a movie which looks and feels more like a finished film, compared to a film workprint that is often dirty, jumps around on the screen on every splice, and features temporary opticals and visual effects.""""I also believe that we can save as much as $200,000 or more on every film that is posted using this format,"" he continued. This process will only improve over time as the capabilities of equipment and facilities continue to evolve. Having a film negative, however, still provides us with archival medium that we know will last beyond our lifetime.""""Return To Me"" is an endearing romantic drama infused with real life humor. Life can change in an instant, and it does for our two lead characters. A lonely Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) is embraced by Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver), who is surrounded by a coterie of substitute mothers including her Irish grandfather, who with his Italian brother-in-law run a Chicago restaurant. Although Bob and Grace are strangers at the start of our story, their lives are soon forever intertwined by fate. The impressive supporting cast includes Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia, James Belushi, Joely Richardson, David Alan Grier and Bonnie Hunt, who directs. The film is written by Ms. Hunt and Don Lake and produced by Jennie Lew Tugend.The movie was shot on 35 millimeter film and the original negative was transferred to the Sony HD CAM High Definition Video format at The Post Group's Hollywood facility. All dailies were viewed in High Definition on location and at the studio using Electorhome Vistagraphic 2500 projectors. After completing the director's cut, the High-Definition dailies were then on-lined with all opticals, visual effects, and titles done in the High-Definition format. This Hi-Def master version of the movie was then utilized for the traditional audience research previews. The previews were held in a regular 350-seat theater with a 38-foot screen size using the Electrohome Roadie projector playing back from the Sony HD Cam video.About MGMMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution ofentertainment product, including motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, licensed merchandise, a library of more than 4,100 theatrically released films, and a significant television library. The Company's operating units include MGM Pictures, United Artists Pictures, Orion Pictures, United Artists Ltd., MGM Television Entertainment, MGM Networks, MGM Distribution Co., MGM Home Entertainment and Consumer Products Group, MGM Music, and MGM.com, among others.

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