BW0160 MAR 13,2000 5:32 PACIFIC 08:32 EASTERN
( EW)(CA-WARNER-VIDEO/MATRIX) Welcome To The Future! Warner Home Video
Continues Internet Innovation With Second Virtual Theater Screening &
Simultaneous Online Chat With `The Matrix' Academy Award(R)
Nominees
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Entertainment
Editors
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BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 13,
2000--
All-Time Best-Selling, Web-Enabled DVD
Invites Worldwide Users To
Screen Film Together and
Query Movie's Technical Wizards March 23
Poised
to repeat its online "first" from late last year, Warner Home Video (WHV) has
announced a second event featuring the Web-enabled "The Matrix"
DVD.
This time it spotlights the Academy
Award(R)-nominated special effects and technical wizards who helped mastermind
the hit futuristic action-thriller, which has become the No. 1 best-selling DVD
of all-time.
On March 23, users all over the world
will again share the unique opportunity of simultaneously watching "The Matrix"
while chatting online with its creators -- as they did this past November with
writer/directors Andy and Larry Wachowski. Now, three more filmmakers will
participate: Editor Zach Staenberg, Visual Effects supervisor John Gaeta and
Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor Dane
Davis.
Having sold more than two million units, "The
Matrix" is the highest-selling DVD of all time. It has sold two and one half
times more units than the next highest selling disc. When "The Matrix" DVD
debuted in September 1999, sales skyrocketed to 1 million in less than two weeks
-- another record. Voted one of the "Top 10 DVDs of 1999" by Entertainment
Weekly and StereoReview's Sound & Vision Magazine, "The Matrix" DVD has won
praise from magazine editors and reviewers throughout the
world.
Listed on more than 60 top 10 lists, "The
Matrix" ranked No. 5 at the U.S. box office in 1999 and to date has amassed
worldwide revenues of more than a half billion
dollars.
In addition to the Academy-Award(R)
nominations, "The Matrix" was singled out by the American Cinema Editors, who
recently awarded Zach Staenberg this year's "Eddie" for Best Editor on a
Dramatic Feature Film, and by the British Academy of Film and Television Awards
(BAFTA) which recognized the film's technical achievements with nominations for
Best Special Visual Effects, Editing, Sound, Production Design and
Cinematography.
"We are thrilled for the opportunity
to pull this together again," said Mark Horak WHV's senior vice president,
marketing. "The first event was an overwhelming success and, with the title
being honored with four Academy Award(R) nominations, it's a great way to bring
`The Matrix' fans and the creators of this extraordinary film
together."
The event is scheduled for March 23 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 will be a "Matrix" trivia contest. Those participating
in the screening/chat will be eligible to win free autographed DVDs and
posters.
To participate in the chat/screening, 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. Users without a DVD-ROM computer will be able to
participate in the chat only.
"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.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne,
Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Joe Pantoliano, "The Matrix" was produced by
Joel Silver and written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers. The Executive
Producers are Barrie Osborne, Andrew Mason, Andy & Larry Wachowski, Erwin
Stoff and Bruce Berman.
With operations in 78
international territories -- more than the video division of any other studio --
Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global
video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any
studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of
Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Company, Castle Rock Entertainment,
HBO Home Video and New Line Home Video.
Note: A
Photo is available at URL: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.031300/bb8
--30--jap/la wja/la
CONTACT: Warner Home Video, Burbank
Ronnee Sass, 818/954-6439
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ELECTRONIC GAMES/MULTIMEDIA INTERNET
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