SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon Studios, the original film and TV production arm of Amazon.com, today announced that it plans to shoot all 2014 full original series, including comedies and dramas, in 4K Ultra HD. 4K is the latest and most advanced in high definition video, utilizing displays with an aspect ratio of at least 16:9 and capable of showcasing video at a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels or 8.3 million pixels—that’s four times the number of pixels as standard full HD. 4K means customers can enjoy their favorite movies and TV shows with unprecedented picture clarity—details are sharper with smoother lines so that even up-close images seem clearer and more realistic.
"As a premium original content creator, we’re excited about 4K and the future of Ultra HD technology, particularly as we move into drama series next year,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “All of the pilots and series we produce next year will be shot in 4K. That includes our first ever drama series that we will greenlight next year—we think customers are going to love watching these series in the highest resolution ever available to consumers and we can’t wait to deliver it."
Amazon Studios announced earlier this year that it will debut five new comedy and drama pilots in 2014. Customers will be invited to watch, provide feedback and help determine which of the pilots should be produced as series to air exclusively on Prime Instant Video and Amazon’s LOVEFiLM in the UK. This round of comedy and drama pilots from Amazon will include The After, from Emmy-nominee Chris Carter (The X-Files), Bosch, based on the best-selling Harry Bosch book series by Michael Connelly, Mozart in the Jungle, from Academy Award-nominee Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited), Jason Schwartzman (Moonrise Kingdom, Rushmore) and Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher), The Rebels from Kevin Iwashina, Jeremy Garelick, Constance Schwartz, Matt Alvarez and Michael Strahan (former New York Giants football player and host of Live with Kelly and Michael), and Transparent from Emmy-nominee Jill Soloway (Six Feet Under). The shows that are then selected to move into full series, along with additional pilots filmed in 2014, will all be filmed in 4K.
Amazon has also introduced a 4K Ultra HDTV Guide at www.amazon.com/4K. Customers will find helpful information about the differences between 4K and regular high definition, an HD pixel comparison chart, a graph that illustrates the various jumps in resolution from standard definition all the way to 4K, factors that impact picture quality, and a guide on relevant terminology. Customers will also find Amazon’s selection of the latest models of 4K TVs and 4K compatible receivers and Blu-ray players.
About Amazon Studios
Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series—one that's open to great ideas from creators and audiences around the world. Anyone can upload a script and will then be notified within 45 days if that script is optioned. Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions and those who choose to make their projects public will also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community.
Most recently, Amazon Studios debuted its first two comedy series, Alpha House and Betas. The company will release its first three kids series, Annebots, Creative Galaxy and Tumbleaf, early next year.
In addition, eleven new pilots will debut in early 2014, including kids’ pilots—Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, Grid Smasher, The Maker Shack Agency and Wishenpoof!, and adult comedy and drama pilots—The After, Bosch, Mozart in the Jungle, The Rebels and Transparent. They will be available exclusively on Amazon Instant Video and LOVEFiLM in the UK for all customers to watch and provide feedback.
Since launch, more than 18,000 movie scripts and 4,000 series projects have been submitted to Amazon Studios. Amazon Studios continues to invite series creators to upload their proposals for comedy and children’s programming at http://studios.amazon.com/getting-started/series or submit them privately via Amazon Studios.
Comprehensive cast and crew information, including bios and filmographies, is available on Amazon's IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.
About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the world’s best-selling and most advanced e-reader. It features new display technology with higher contrast, the next generation built-in light, a faster processor, the latest touch technology, and exclusive new features designed from the ground up for readers. Kindle, the lightest and smallest Kindle, features improved fonts and faster page turns. The new Kindle Fire HDX features a stunning exclusive 7” or 8.9” HDX display, a quad-core 2.2 GHz processor, 2x more memory, and 11 hours of battery life, as well as exclusive new features of Fire OS 3.0 including X-Ray for Music, Second Screen, Prime Instant Video downloads, and the revolutionary new Mayday button. The all-new Kindle Fire HD includes an HD display, high-performance processor and dual speakers at a breakthrough price.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, www.amazon.es, www.amazon.com.br, www.amazon.in, www.amazon.com.mx, and www.amazon.com.au. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
