Tech Shout!

Here is another move that will come as a blow to the Blu-ray format discs. Amazon and Microsoft have announced a new project that has been designed to lower the entrance barriers for filmmakers to produce and distribute movies in the HD DVD format.

Jointly sponsored by Amazon and Microsoft, the “1,000 HD DVD indies Project” will provide free authoring as well as setup services for a maximum of 1000 selected indie titles.

According to Peter Faricy, vice president of music and movies at Amazon.com, “This collaboration with Microsoft is a great opportunity for independent filmmakers to reach Amazon customers with their films via the HD DVD format.”

The “1000 HD DVD Indies Project” will be driven by CustomFlix, which will bring in 1000 feature-length independent films to Amazon customers using the CustomFlix DVd on Demand technology, which produces and ships DVDs only as they are ordered.

“By working together with Microsoft and leveraging the proven CustomFlix DVD on Demand model, we can lower to barriers to entry for independent filmmakers and dramatically increase the selection we offer our customers,” he added.

Sundance Channel will be reviewing the high-definition features for potential broadcast on the network as well as making its own HD original eco-series, “”Big Ideas for a Small Planet”, available for purchase via Amazon’s HD DVD program.

According to Christian Vesper, senior vice president of programming, acquisitions and scheduling for Sundance Channel, “Programs like this one from Amazon lower barriers to entry for independent artists and provide audiences with increased access to high-quality, high-definition content.”

Filmmakers who are interested in submitting their HD DVD work for consideration as part of the “1000 HD DVD Indies Project” should visit this page.