If you liked “Band of Brothers”, then you owe it to yourself to check out “The Pacfic” over on HBO.com. The first episode of the 10-part series premiered on Sunday night, but you can catch the new episode for free on HBO.com right now. Check it out.
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.
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.
Foreigners rejoice! No more VPN tunneling and proxy hacks. If Netflix streaming is your bag, you might see it expand to your country in the second half of 2010. Here’s the word:
CEO Reed Hastings unveiled the company’s plans to take its business international next year—albeit streaming-only, not mail-order rentals. “We’re looking to the second half of 2010 to make our streaming offering international,” he said, during the company’s Q309 earnings call. “The plan is to start small in one market, prove out our model, and expand into other countries.”
The article also features some interesting statistics that Netflix has gathered about their customers. Netflix also estimates that postal costs for their operation will weigh in around $600 MILLION. Unreal. Read the full article at PaidContent – Netflix To Take Its Streaming Business International Next Year.
Well, the rumors were true. NBC/Universal just couldn’t stand watching those imaginary dollars slide on by, so they plan on charging for a service that has been free since it’s inception. It is sure to be a move that will annoy many, and probably nudge them to start looking for alternatives (legal or not). The deal:
“It’s time to start getting paid for broadcast content online,” he said. Carey said that while everyone cites the infamous Jeff Zucker quip that “We’re exchanging analogue dollars for digital dimes,” the industry continues to do exactly that. The strategy needs to be more than just fighting piracy and Google, he says.“I think a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content. I think what we need to do is deliver that content to consumers in a way where they will appreciate the value,” Carey said. “Hulu concurs with that, it needs to evolve to have a meaningful subscription model as part of its business.”
AdVerse had a quick chat with Carey too and posed the question, when exactly does Hulu start charging then? Carey, who says he’s only been to one Hulu board meeting since arriving at News Corp., suggests there is still no timeline but supposes it’s at least in 2010. Carey says that while throwing up a pay-wall around all content is not the answer, it doesn’t mean there wont be fees for some specially-created content and TV previews. Windows are just around the corner. American Idol audition previews anyone? Mobile Hulu is another potential way of making money.
Aren’t the ads supposed to be there for this reason? I’d wager that with Hulu around people are appreciating the value of the content by not pirating it.
Still, a subscription model does seem inevitable as more content shifts towards being showcased online. We’ll be waiting for pricing and structure announcements next year. Read the full article at B&C: Chase Carey: Hulu to Charge in 2010.
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.
FedFlix is a new initiative by the “National Technical Information Service (NTIS), a bureau within the Department of Commerce that operates on a self-sustaining basis without annual appropriations, and Public.Resource.Org, Inc.” The site allows you to peruse “588 Fine Federal Films” for your enjoyment. Some of the interesting ones include some pretty unintentionally hilarious docu-dramas called The US Postal Inspectors. There’s plenty of stuff to watch, so if you’re bored then headover to FedFlix.
Thanks to Hacking Netflix for the tip.
With the launch of Windows 7 only two days away, many happy Netflix campers will be relieved to know that the media center featured in the operating system has the bases covered. Engadget reports:
Those already upgraded to Windows 7 ahead of Thursday’s launch events (no, we’re not coming to your party) should find a Netflix button parked under the Movies section in Media Center starting today.
[...]
Not seeing it yet? Go to the Tasks –>Settings–>General–>Automatic Download Options and manually start an update there, the new tiles should arrive shortly.
Grab the popcorn and mute your IM account. Read the full article at Engadget, complete with pretty pictures – Windows 7 Media Center’s upgraded Netflix Watch Instantly interface now available.
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.
Sorry about that title. This Sunday the Irish rockers U2 will perform a show in California that will stream live on YouTube. From the BBC:
Fans in 16 countries, including the UK, the US, Australia and India, will be able to watch the show at 0330 GMT.
It will be the band’s penultimate concert of the year.
YouTube said it would place adverts around the video “in the normal manner”, and that clips from the concert would be available on the site after the gig ends.
The site will also offer viewers the ability to chat to one another using Twitter, or to give money to Bono’s RED charity via a “donate now” button, while they watch the show.
If U2 is your bag, enjoy the stream on Sunday. Read the full article on the BBC – U2 gig to be streamed on YouTube.
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