Blue Ray Technologies brings high-def discs within reach of indie films, music vids
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/15/07 – Independent film companies, record labels and artists can now distribute their wares in high-definition Blu-ray discs, formerly the realm of major studios and labels.
Spokane, WA-based Blue Ray Technologies has completed a $12 million plant that will not only do shorter runs that indie and specialty firms and talent may require, but can facilitate distribution, according to the company.
Blue Ray Technologies Inc. says its new environmentally friendly plant is now the first U.S.-owned-and-operated producer of Blu-ray discs. The plant will run nonstop and will eventually surpass 100,000 discs a day.
The development is considered significant because the major studios, led by Blu-ray creator Sony, control most of the world’s production of Blue-ray discs – mainly in Asian plants. Meanwhile indie studios, TV companies and record labels would have to stand in line and pay high costs to get Blu-ray product out for the rapidly-growing market, according to the company.
The production facility is part of a recently unveiled co-venture by Blue Ray and award-winning producer John Daly’s (“The Terminator,” Platoon”) own indie film production/distribution company Film and Music Entertainment Inc., of Los Angeles, to offer independent filmmakers and others a way to distribute their work on the new format.
“New technology will provide the next boon to film and music companies large and small as it did when VHS and later, DVDs came to market and created new revenue streams,” said DVD pioneer and BRT chairman Erick Hansen. “Driven by the HD TV boom in U.S. households, a growing number of consumers will steadily replace their DVDs with high definition discs.”
He noted that Nielsen says 70 percent of U.S. homes will have large screen HD TVs by 2010. “The DVD market is already flat and starting to slide,” Hansen said. “Independents have to follow the majors in providing their content in next-gen formats. Plus, Blu-ray lets producers sell their content all over again.”
Hansen is so sure of that future, he wants to be a major buyer of catalogs and new release rights in HD formats. “Blue Ray Technologies is here buying content for worldwide release to create a new and deeper penetration for the Blu-ray market.”
Blu-ray (the generic name) has a rival format, HD-DVD, which BRT will buy as well. Though Hansen says, “The competition is over. Blu-ray won, with more than a million players in the U.S. market and growing.”
Hansen has an edge over other would-be Hi-Def moguls as BRT has its own plant being finished out in Spokane, Washington. “We have our own building and we have the latest replication technology.”
The plant is open to producers who would rather not sell HD rights, but want to have discs manufactured and release their own titles in Blu-ray. “Either way, the indies will benefit by being able to sell and promote their films just like Disney and Sony do at the end of their commercials when they say ‘Now available on DVD and Blu-ray.’”
“The Spokane location will be our flagship – the main plant,” said Bobby McGee, executive vice president of worldwide sales for Blue Ray.
Further information: www,blueraytechnologies.com