Amazon Announces Plans to Produce Original Movies for Theaters

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 20 Jan 2015

Amazon recently announced that it will offer its customers a dozen original, prestige movies each year. Starting with 2015, Amazon will produce original movies and will acquire original movies that will be released in theaters. Four to eight weeks later, these movies will premiere on Prime Instant Video in the US.

“We look forward to expanding our production efforts into feature films. Our goal is to create close to twelve movies a year with production starting later this year,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Amazon Studios. “Not only will we bring Prime Instant Video customers exciting, unique, and exclusive films soon after a movie’s theatrical run, but we hope this program will also benefit filmmakers, who too often struggle to mount fresh and daring stories that deserve an audience.”

Amazon Studios are well-known for producing successful television series, like the multi-Golden Globe winner Transparent and the Annie-nominated Tumble Leaf, to name but a couple.

Building on the success of its television series, Amazon announced that it plans to go into feature films as well. The company recently introduced Amazon Original Movies, an initiative that can be summed up like this:

Amazon Original Movies
  • Amazon will produce and acquire original movies.
  • The movies will be released in theaters across the US.
  • 4 to 8 weeks after the theatrical debut, the movies will be released on Prime Instant Video
  • The movies will focus on unique stories, voices, and characters from top and up-and-coming creators.
  • Amazon plans to release a dozen movies per year.
  • Independent film visionary Ted Hope will lead the Amazon Original Movies creative development.
“Audiences already recognize that Amazon has raised the bar with productions in the episodic realm, tackling bold material in unique ways and collaborating with top talent, both established and emerging. To help carry the torch into the feature film world for such an innovative company is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility,” said Ted Hope, the new Head of Production for Amazon Original Movies. “Amazon Original Movies will be synonymous with films that amaze, excite, and move our fans, wherever customers watch. I am incredibly thrilled to be part of this.”

In related news, you may want to know that Amazon signed a deal with critically-acclaimed director Woody Allen for a half-hour show that will premier sometime next year. This is the first-ever TV series written and directed by Woody Allen.

“Woody Allen is a visionary creator who has made some of the greatest films of all-time, and it’s an honor to be working with him on his first television series,” said Roy Price, Vice President of Amazon Studios. “From Annie Hall to Blue Jasmine, Woody has been at the creative forefront of American cinema and we couldn’t be more excited to premiere his first TV series exclusively on Prime Instant Video next year.”

“I don’t know how I got into this. I have no ideas and I’m not sure where to begin. My guess is that Roy Price will regret this,” said Woody Allen.



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