Hollywood Software Launches www.TheatricalDistribution.com
Polestar Entertainment Group to Market the Feature Film 'Hobbs End' Through the Site
Hollywood Software Inc., the premier developer of innovative software solutions and services for the entertainment industry, today announced the launch of www.TheatricalDistribution.com, a business-to-business portal serving theatrical distributors and exhibitors.
The site will provide many original online film marketing and distribution services to the domestic feature film industry.
Hollywood Software also announced that it and Polestar Entertainment Group, a producer/distributor of high-quality independent film and television products and provider of talent and literary management services, have signed an agreement to market Polestar's films directly to exhibitors via TheatricalDistribution.com.
Exhibitors can view trailers using Microsoft's Windows Media Technology and sign up for the screenings to Polestar's films, including the soon-to-be-released thriller, "Hobbs End."
Many new and innovative features will soon be available to allow exhibitors to view distributor release schedules and marketing materials, negotiate theatrical bookings and interact with distributors and other industry providers directly through the Web site.
TheatricalDistribution.com will be the centralized meeting place for theatrical distributors and exhibitors to facilitate business and the transfer of essential market information.
"TheatricalDistribution.com provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to market our films directly to the exhibitors, which allows us to become pioneers in the field of independent production and distribution," said Anthony Scala, chief executive officer of Polestar Entertainment Group.
David Gajda, chief executive officer of Hollywood Software, indicated: "Our agreement with Polestar Entertainment marks an important new direction for Hollywood Software's theatrical distribution offerings."
"Major studios, as well as independent producers will now have an effective and cost-efficient vehicle to communicate and transact business with the domestic exhibition community. We're pleased to welcome Polestar as TheatricalDistribution.com's first client."
Site Will Provide Access to ASP Version of TDS2000
As more and more producers and independent distributors seek access to the theatrical marketplace, it will only become more difficult for exhibitors to connect with the increasing amount of commercially viable product. Conversely, as more product finds entry to the exhibition market, demand for Hollywood Software's distribution-support products and services also grows.
As a result, the company expects to announce within the next week its first client of the ASP (Application Service Provider) services to its flagship theatrical distribution software, TDS2000, which will be accessible through TheatricalDistribution.com site. TDS2000 ASP will allow newer producers and distributors access to a powerful theatrical distribution system at a low-cost entry point.
About Polestar Entertainment Group
Polestar Entertainment Group ("Polestar") is a dynamic entertainment company specializing in the production, acquisition and distribution of commercial films created on a cost-effective budget, and the management of new "up-and-coming" talent.
Based in Beverly Hills, Calif., and formed in 1997 by members of the entertainment and financial community, Polestar integrates four independent units: film production, television production, distribution/acquisition, and talent and literary management.
The integration of these various entertainment functions allows Polestar to carve its niche as a highly efficient and self-sufficient studio for the production and distribution of high-quality independent film and television productions.
About Hollywood Software
Hollywood Software specializes in business and strategic applications and services for the entertainment industry. The company's management team has extensive experience in management consulting, systems development and strategic planning for the entertainment industry.
The company's premier software product, TDS2000, is the only vendor-supported fully integrated client-server theatrical distribution system containing all key elements to manage film distribution.
Distributors using TDS2000 include such luminaries as 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Artisan Entertainment, Lion's Gate Entertainment, Trimark Pictures and Overseas Film Group/First Look Pictures.
In addition to theater booking, TDS2000 also includes features that manage theatrical prints and shipping, billing, settlements, cash receipts, comparative box office performance data, customer statements and financial reporting. TDS2000 is fully scalable from single user to several hundred users to meet the needs of both major and independent content producers.
The system interfaces with internal systems and external entities, such as Technicolor and ETS for print distribution, and EDI for theater gross information.
Hollywood Software recently showcased another software solution, RightsMart.com, at AFM and Cannes. RightsMart.com is a powerful, proactive tool that facilitates the acquisition, marketing and distribution of global media rights over the Internet.
Operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day in five different languages,
RightsMart.com is positioned to become the leading global Virtual Film Market. RightsMart.com provides buyers with the ability to search online for available features, shorts, direct-to-video products, TV movies, episodic series and specials.
Trailers, promos and one sheets can all be viewed online using Microsoft's Media Manager technology. Buyers can establish complex product searches that will automatically send notification of new products and availabilities that meet their pre-defined criteria. Producers can list product availabilities for narrowly defined media, territories and languages.
The company will also introduce RightsMart Back Office by the end of calendar 2000. RMS2000 will become the industry standard for licensing and administering property rights to all media including international theatrical sub-distribution, free and pay television.
RightsMart Back Office will manage contract administration, sales and receivables, availabilities reporting, and all other functions associated with rights administration, distribution and licensing. In addition, new digital requirements such as embedded e-commerce and micro-cent transaction capability will be fully integrated.
TDS2000, RightsMart.com and RightsMart Back Office are components of Hollywood Software's Digital Studio System (DSS), a fully integrated suite of applications that is being developed by Hollywood Software to strategically leverage and administer content in the emerging digital world. Look for other pieces of the architecture to be announced later this year.
For additional information, please contact Hollywood Software, Inc., 1604 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Suite 115, Hollywood, CA 90028. Phone: (323) 463-2144. FAX: (323) 463-1319. Email: info@hollywoodsoftware.com or david_gajda@hollywoodsoftware.com. Web sites: www.hollywoodsoftware.com, www.theatricaldistribution.com, and www.Rightsmart.com.
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