Amazon is letting two Golden Globe wins earlier this month get to its head. The online retailer’s Amazon Studios is now set to make its own films for both theatrical and online release.
Amazon Studios announced today that it will start making its own films and will move to acquire others for theatrical release. The projects will also be available online on Amazon Prime Instant Video exclusively for a short time. Each film will have a four to eight-week theatrical run before hitting Instant Video.
“We look forward to expanding our production efforts into feature films. Our goal is to create close to twelve movies a year with production starting later this year,” Roy Price, Vice President, Amazon Studios, said in a statement. “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 Original Movies will be headed by indie film producer Ted Hope, who is best known for Eat Drink Man Woman andCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Hope founded the Good Machine production company.
It will be interesting to see how theatrical exhibitors respond to this move. Netflix is already planning on a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel that will be available streaming online the same day it opens in IMAX. Sony also tested an early VOD release for The Interview, which certainly worked out for the studio. Smaller distributors also often make their movies available on VOD before a theatrical release.
Amazon won two Golden Globes for Transparent and just signed Woody Allen for his first ever TV project.