YouTube Brings Sundance Films Out for Rental Until Jan 31st

YouTube Rentals is now live, and one of the offerings is a selection of films that screened at Sundance this year (and last). Dig it:

As you may have heard, we recently introduced YouTube Rentals. We’re very excited about this new offering as it will add to the great selection of movies already available on YouTube, including a group of independent films we’d like to tell you about now.

Until January 31st, you can rent five feature films from the 2009 and 2010 Sundance Film Festivals on YouTube. From last year’s documentary hit “The Cove” to selections from the brand new NEXT Category, there should be enough to keep you busy through the end of the Festival. The films available are:

“Children of Invention” explores the American Dream as seen through the eyes of a Chinese American family living in suburban Boston.

In “Homewrecker,” a prisoner on work release and a live-wire kook take a day-long ride in a seemingly stolen vehicle that neither of them will soon forget.

In “The Cove” an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers embark on a covert mission to penetrate a remote and hidden cove in Japan, and shine a light on a dark and deadly secret.

When humble Linas, kicked off of his friends couch and spurned by his lover, finds a forgotten van on a llama farm outside Seattle, he begins lurching east with nothing to lose in “Bass Ackwards”

In “One Too Many Mornings,” Fisher and Pete are two dudes with dude problems — one drinks too much and one just got cheated on by his girlfriend — and few prospects of helping each other out.

Head on over and check out the rentals. They’re 3.99 a piece looks like.

“Bass Ackwards” Film to Premiere on VOD February 1st

UPDATE: the film is currently available for rental on Youtube – Rent “Bass Ackwards” on YouTube for $3.99

“Bass Acwkards”, a new film recently screening at Sundance, is set to premiere in the US on VOD one day after the film fest comes to a close: Feb 1st, 2010. Check it out:

In an unprecedented distribution maneuver that will bypass theatrical and other traditional windows, the highly anticipated film, Bass Ackwards, which will have its World Premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, will be available nationwide one day after the festival closes. Through this unusual distribution deal with New York based New Video and Zipline Entertainment, Bass Ackwards will be available for purchase and download in tens of millions of homes via major digital retailers, cable VOD and DVD on demand beginning Monday, February 1, 2010. A full retail DVD release in the spring will include in-depth bonus material documenting the unique distribution strategy. This ground-breaking deal is a first of its kind for a feature-length film out of a premier festival like Sundance.

The film, executive produced by Sundance veteran Mark Duplass and marketing executive Marian Koltai-Levine, produced by Thomas Woodrow and directed by actor Linas Phillips, also stars Phillips as a man who embarks on a lyrical, strange and comedic cross-country journey in a modified VW bus after ending a disastrous affair with a married woman.

There’s also a short video from the film’s producer discussing why they’re going this route for distribution.

For more info, check out the Bass Ackwards website. Apparently they were trying to raise money for the premiere, though they have only met 10% of their goal. It is not clear whether or not that has impacted the release. Still, a step in the right direction if it happens.

Thanks Rotten Tomatoes.

Get Splattered: New Webseries “Splatter” to Debut on Netflix For Free

That’s right, the genius that brought you Gremlins is back with a new webseries called “Splatter“, starring your favorite Goonie Corey Feldman. The series, produced by B-movie legend Roger Corman, will debut for free on Netflix (no account required). The first episode will go up on October 29th, with a second following on November 6th, and then the finale on November 13th (a Friday too, nice). Here’s some more info:

Directed by Joe Dante, “Splatter” is about a musical genius who accumulated as many hit records as he did enemies while climbing up the fame ladder. Johnny Splatter’s sudden death, ruled a suicide, brings a small circle of professional parasites and hangers-on to his Hollywood Hills mansion for the reading of his last will and testament.  But as his “frenmies” come to pick the bones clean, Johnny has returned for a deadly encore long after what they thought was his final curtain.

The Splatter website already has a trailer and some nice bonus features. Go check it out! Thanks to Hacking Netflix again – Netflix To Present Free Webisodes of ‘Splatter’ Starting on October 29th.

Comcast to Expand Streaming VOD

Comcast looks to expand the streaming service out to PCs, as long as you’re getting your internet through them too. Dig it:

Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) On Demand Online will move from trial to reality later this year but not as the TV Everywhere wonderland all the hype might lead subscribers to expect: the streaming on demand will be limited to some cable shows and movies, access will be limited to in-home computers—and, at first, access will be possible only through Comcast’s own ISP, barring anyone who does not pay Comcast for video and broadband. But, as promised, the actual service will be free to cable subscribers; access will bethrough Comcast.net or the company;s video portal Fancast.

Sounds pretty weak. If you’re a Comcast subscriber, read the full story at PaidContent – Comcast Will Expand Streaming On Demand This Year; Not Quite TV Everywhere.

Day-and-Date for Disc Based Media and VOD Strategy is Working

Sure, maybe it is a bad example because it’s “Twilight”. It’s something you wouldn’t understand unless you’re a teenage girl. However, Summit Entertainment is reporting that their fears of digital copies taking precedence over the obsolete disc formats are still not yet a reality. Observe:

When Summit Entertainment released the vampire hit simultaneously on DVD and video-on-demand, it broke the oldest taboo in home entertainment: No other studio had released a pic grossing more than $100 million at the domestic B.O. that way, fearing VOD transactions would cannibalize disc sales.

As the entertainment biz inevitably moves toward a day when discs will give way to product delivered directly to TVs and computers, the business is poised somewhat uneasily on a tightrope. Summit and some majors like the day and date VOD and DVD release strategy; others are worried it will cut into DVD sales.

But that didn’t happen with “Twilight”: The March release became — and still is — the year’s top home entertainment title. Almost 8.5 million copies have been sold on disc or via download on sites such as iTunes, while rentals have exceeded 14 million transactions on all formats, with VOD accounting for a healthy portion of that.

Summit Home Entertainment prexy Steve Nickerson is convinced the release strategy paid off in greater overall coin.

The article goes on to explain more on the decline of DVD sales and where the market is at. It’s a good read, so check out the full article on Variety – The upside of a DVD and VOD day-and-date release.

“Stingray Sam” Premieres Tonight Online @ 7pm PST!

A new independent feature film entitled “Stingray Sam” is premiering tonight at 7:00 pm PST for FREE, following a live Q&A with the film’s creators. Imdb describes Stingray Sam as a “Musical/Sci-Fi/Western/Comedy” – sounds interesting enough to us! The film can also be purchased in a few different formats, including an iPod version and a HD quality file. Trailer after the jump.

… Continue Reading

Amazon Offering 7 Day Rentals for Indie VOD

Some Indie studio favorites such as Criterion Collection, Docurama, Magnolia Pictures, Strand Releasing, and Virgil Films are among the studios offering films with 7 day rental periods instead of Amazon’s typical rental. The details:

While Walt Disney Studios, Warner Home Video and Lionsgate have begun extending the viewing window for video-on-demand rentals through Comcast this summer, a number of indie suppliers have gone even further with Amazon Video On Demand.Criterion Collection, Docurama, Magnolia Pictures, Strand Releasing, Virgil Films and Entertainment and Zeitgeist Films are among those offering VOD rentals on Amazon with a seven-day viewing period. Films available include new releases such as Criterion’s Grey Gardens, Virgil’s Super Size Me and Magnolia’s Man on Wire.

First Look, meanwhile, is offering rentals with a three-day viewing period on Amazon.

Major studios and even indie suppliers have traditionally stuck to a 24-hour viewing period on VOD rentals. For downloads and streams, that means consumers have 24 hours to watch the film once they click play before the content is no longer viewable.

That’s longer than a lot of DVD rental places, so consider that next time you’re in the mood to rent a flick. No driving required, unelss you’re out of popcorn of course. Thanks VidBiz.

Stream Free Premium Quality Horror Shorts on YouTube

The latest in YouTube’s Screening Room showcase is a collection of short horror/black comedy films that have been featured in many film festivals over the past few years. Check out a quick run down:

Spider

In this shocking black comedy, it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye. “Spider” was an official selection of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Skeletons In the Closet

A woman and a man wake up on the floor in a musty flat, remembering nothing of who they are or why they are there. “Skeletons in the Closet” was an official selection of the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Beyond Words

In this thriller, a young, deaf woman finds herself being stalked by a mysterious man. “Beyond Words” was a 2009 Tropfest Finalist.

Morsure (Bitten)

Frightened and alone, Clara flees through a dark and sinister forest, pursued by a gun-toting man, bent on her destruction. Clara is taken in by a friendly farmer, but appearances can be deceiving. An official selection of the 2008 London Film Festival.

I’ve only watched two so far, but Spider is definintely pretty hilarious. Check ‘em out!

Nintendo Wii Gets Video Downloads, but Only in Japan (for now)

A new partnership between Fujisoft and Sonic Solutions will see video downloads now available for the console. Check it out:

Sonic Solutions’ Roxio CinemaNow announced today a partnership with Japan’s Fujisoft Inc. to deliver Hollywood movies through the Wii in the Japanese market. Instant-streaming downloads will be available through Fujisoft’s video-on-demand service “Minna no Theater Wii” (Everyone’s Theater Wii), which debuted earlier this year in Japan.

Sonic has signed Paramount Pictures as the first major studio to sell new release and catalog downloads through the service.

Sonic and Fujisoft said they plan to continue to work together to make more content available through the Wii, but didn’t give details on when or where.

That might give some of the people who criticize the Wii as a gimmick more than a console something to chew on. Thanks VidBiz.

[Update] – Also, NetFlix is currently polling their users as to how high demand for their video steaming is for the Nintendo console. Check it out:

A reader participated in one of Netflix’s many customer surveys, and one of the questions asked “…how likely would you or someone in your household be to a Netflix Instant Streaming Disc for the Nintendo Wii (available for free) in order to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on your TV?“

Thanks to HackingNetflix for that one.

Another Contender Joins the Fight: Osiris’ “WebMovieNow” On-Demand

As if there already weren’t too many to choose from, here’s Osiris with WebMovieNow (be warned, the site launches a video that might be interpreted in the wrong way if only heard). To their benefit, they seem to want to focus on independent films. Dig it:

Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Osiris distributes independent films on DVD, television and now the Internet. In April, Osiris acquired the rights to Westlake Entertainment’s library of 400-plus films, which it has since added to the WebMovieNow site, supplementing a library of horror, thrillers, action, documentary and other genre films. The company also has distribution deals with IFM, Shoreline and other suppliers and independent filmmakers.

Films available on the site include drama Against Time starring Craig T. Nelson from Second Image Studios, documentary Behind the Monsters and Tex Mex Film Co. action flick Blind Heat starring Maria Conchita Alonso. The site also offers a handful of blockbusters such as Charlie’s Angels available to buy on DVD through the mail.

Because WebMovieNow works mostly with smaller suppliers and independent filmmakers, the site is able to offer downloads in more ways than most other sites. Films can be rented for varying periods of time, downloaded to a computer, streamed to the TV or burned to DVD.

We’ll be working on updating the VOD guide soon enough, and this one will certainly be on it. Stay tuned! Thanks again to VidBiz.