Amazon has just announced it hopes to release ‘a dozen’ original movies in cinemas every single year.
The firm also promises that all of its movies that land in theatres will find themselves available on Prime Instant Video within 30 to 60 days of the initial premiere.
This is much quicker than typical theatre-to-streaming-service times, where wait times tend to run somewhere in the region of 39 to 52 weeks.
Roy Price, VP at Amazon Studios, said: “We’re looking forward to expanding our production efforts into feature films.
“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 already produces its own television shows – Transparent, Tumle Leaf, and Mozart in the Jungle, for example – but this marks its first foray into feature length productions.
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The Amazon Original Movies initiative will be creatively led by Ted Hope, a successful independent film producer who’s production company was behind Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
“Audiences already recognise 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,” said Hope.
“To help carry the torch into the feature film world for such an innovative company is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility.”
He added: “
Whether or not Amazon can stick to its tight schedule of 12 movie releases per year remains to be seen, but it will certainly be a tough ask.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
