Warner Brothers News
August 7
Warner Home Video Breaks Another High Definition Record with ``300,'' the Fastest Selling Title with More Than 250K Copies Sold in Its First Full Week
Today Warner Home Video (WHV) announced that it has the fastest and highest-selling high definition title in the market with the epic action-adventure, "300." Since July 31, 2007, "300" has sold more than 250,000 copies to consumers on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
"300" provides another high definition milestone for Warner Home Video which was the first studio to break the 100K sold mark with "The Departed." Overall WHV has six of the top 10 selling high definition titles with "300," "The Departed," "Superman Returns," "Planet Earth - The Complete Collection," "Batman Begins," and "Happy Feet." Warner also has the highest grossing high definition title with the dual-format release of "Planet Earth."
"'300' is an amazing film, and the high definition sales we are seeing underscores the positive business benefits of supporting both HD DVD and Blu-ray," said Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video. "This phenomenal response to '300' is the latest proof that our approach makes the most sense in today's market and has enabled Warner Home Video to continue to lead the market in high definition sales."
As a result of its dual format strategy, WHV has more than 30% market share of DVD sales in the high definition market, selling more high definition product and releasing more titles than any other studio. Because of two competing high definition formats in the market, it is widely recognized that hardware prices for both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD have fallen faster than would normally be expected at this stage in the product cycle. However, research organizations, such as ABI Research(a), predict that further price reductions of hardware are needed to fuel mass adoption of high definition formats.
Based on the stylized graphic novel from icon Frank Miller ("Sin City"), "300" is an epic action-adventure about the 300 Spartan warriors led by the heroic King Leonidas who challenged Xerxes and his massive Persian army at the ancient Battle of Thermopylae. Leveraging the capabilities that the high definition formats enable, "300" on HD DVD incorporates exclusives interactive features. Any HD DVD player connected to the internet can take advantage of the web enabled features, which include the ability for viewers to pick their favorite scenes to assemble montages and share them with friends. Users can also rate scenes within the Warner connected community as well as purchase and collect wall paper and ring tones for mobile phones. Both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats include additional bonus material.
Warner Home Video HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The new formats also provide a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu-bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, 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, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.
(a) ABI Research, January 2007, "There will be downward pressure on prices for players of all types: ABI Research believes that prices will have to drop below $200 before true mass adoption takes off."
July 27
A Backstage Look at the Raw Beginnings of Hip Hop's Biggest Event: Rock the Bells
Featuring Performances By The Wu-Tang Clan, Redman, Dilated Peoples, MC Supernatural, Sage Francis, Eyedea + Abilities, Chali 2na and DJ NuMark Available on DVD July 31, 2007
Jul. 27, 2007 Warner Home Video presents Rock the Bells on DVD, a riveting documentary account of the 2004 Rock the Bells Hip Hop festival in San Bernardino, California. Entrepreneur Chang Weisberg and his Guerilla Union production team put together an unforgettable roster of hip hop stars for this first annual, history making mega-concert event. Featuring a who's who of Hip Hop royalty including Redman, Dilated Peoples, MC Supernatural, Sage Francis, Eyedea + Abilities, Chali 2na and DJ NuMark, this double-sided DVD offers an exhilarating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the real world of Hip Hop, plus more than three hours of enhanced content including filmmaker commentary, artist profiles, backstage interviews and a special tribute to late Wu-Tang Clan founding member ODB. Rock the Bells will sell for $19.98 SRP.
When Weisberg achieves his seemingly impossible dream of reuniting the legendary Wu-Tang Clan for the first time in six years, the drama is just beginning. As the Clan members begin to arrive separately, there is no sign of the infamously unreliable rapper ODB. Weisberg and his team are putting everything on the line for the most notorious no-show in Hip Hop history. The production team freestyles its way through 100-plus degree heat, faulty equipment and capricious talent to deliver the history-making show they have promised to thousands of impatient fans - by any means necessary. When ODB miraculously shows up and the Wu-Tang Clan is reunited on stage, it's magic from beginning to end. Sadly, this monumental concert also marks the last performance of the legendary group. Troubled superstar ODB would die just four months later.
"If this event had been run by a large corporation, a disaster would have occurred," say the filmmakers. "The split-second decision making and grace under pressure exhibited by the promotion team are innately human traits. It is this kind of interpersonal, organic touch that corporations will never be capable of, and it is the reason we must fight to support the independent spirit in the arts, whether it's found in a group like the Wu-Tang Clan or a business like Guerilla Union."
Rock the Bells opened in limited theatrical release beginning in April 2007. This theatrical run helped to support the 2007 Rock the Bells Festival by generating awareness. This year's 16-city tour, headlined by Wu-Tang Clan and Rage Against the Machine, kicks off on July 26 in Boston and continues through August 11, with dates in New York City, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto and San Bernardino, California. The five-week long hip-hop extravaganza, hosted by freestyle legend Supernatural and Rahzel, "The Godfather of Noyze," will also include performances by Cypress Hill, UGK, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, David Banner, Immortal Technique and Jedi Mind Tricks. The DVD release is supported by an extensive online, print, trailer and radio marketing campaign.
An official selection at more than a dozen film festivals including Slamdance and Tribeca, Rock the Bells is directed, produced and edited by Open Road Films' Casey Suchan and Denis Henry Hennelly, the team behind the Hip Hop documentary hits Beef, Beef 2, Thug Angel and The Freshest Kids. Rock the Bells is a presentation of Mayfly Films, Civilian Pictures and Guerilla Union.
According to Eva Davis, Warner Home Video Vice President, Targeted Marketing & Acquisitions, "Casey Suchan and Denis Henry Hennelly have once again captured the spirit and energy of Hip Hop with Rock the Bells. Warner Home Video is proud to bring to home entertainment consumers this thrilling documentary which tells the true story of the private passion behind this amazing public event. It is a must-own DVD for every fan of contemporary music and documentary fans alike."
Rock the Bells DVD Special Features include more than three hours of enhanced content including:
-- Who is Wu Tang?
-- ODB R.I.P.
-- Dirty's Last Days
-- Alternate Opening
-- Extended interviews with Jarred Weisfeld, Jerome Baldwin and Cherry Jones
-- Commentary with filmmakers Casey Suchan and Denis Henry Hennelly
-- Commentary with Guerilla Union
-- Artist profiles including Redman, Eyedea + Abilities, Sage Francis, Dilated People, Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killah, Method Man, RZA, Buddha Monk and Silkski
-- Deleted scenes -0-
Rock the Bells (2006)
Street Date: July 31, 2007
$19.98 SRP/ No MAP
Rating: (Not rated)
Run Time: 227 Minutes.
English Dolby Digital 5.1
ABOUT WARNER HOME VIDEO
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, 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, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.
BazanPR
