Amazon to Begin Making Films for Theatrical Release
Amazon Studios will begin to make movies, with a plan for both theatrical and Amazon Prime distribution.
19 JAN 2015 BY STEVE WATTS
Amazon Studios is expanding its business to the big screen.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Amazon is set to begin producing and acquiring its own original films, putting them out for theatrical release followed by release on Amazon Prime four to six weeks later. Amazon is planning to put out about a dozen movies per year.
"We look forward to expanding our production efforts into feature films. Our goal is to create close to 12 movies a year, with production starting later this year," Amazon Studios vice president Roy Price said. "We hope this program will also benefit filmmakers, who too often struggle to mount fresh and daring stories that deserve an audience."
Amazon Studios' TV series Transparent recently won two Golden Globe awards.
Netflix has similar production plans, including a four-movie deal with Adam Sandler, which will only stream on its own service with no theatrical run. Netflix ran into some conflict when it was announced that they would debut the upcoming sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on Netflix the same day it will debut in IMAX theaters. This announcement received push-back from theater companies, many of whom refuse to run Crouching Tiger, feeling the simultaneous release undercuts the film's box office potential. Amazon seems to be working to avoid that pitfall by putting the films out on Prime a few weeks later instead
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/19/amazon-to-begin-making-films-for-theatrical-release
