Netflix Invites America to Sample Movie Classics on Web Video Hosted by Comedian Dana Carvey |
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By: Netflix, Inc. Posted: 2007-10-08 12:02:46 |
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Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world's largest online movie rental service, today announced that Emmy(R) Award-winning comedian Dana Carvey will host a celebration of some of the world's favorite classic movies on an Internet video available for free viewing this Friday and Saturday. The screening features film clips from and Mr. Carvey's comedic take on 11 classics, some of the thousands of movies and shows that can be watched instantly as part of a Netflix subscription.
The free screening, titled "Netflix Now Playing 'Down in Front with Dana Carvey,'" can be seen at http://www.netflix.com/netlfixnowplaying beginning at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday and running through midnight Pacific on Saturday. It features Mr. Carvey's comedic commentary on films that include "North by Northwest," "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Exorcist." For "The Exorcist," Mr. Carvey imagines how rocker Neil Young might have composed and performed a title song for the film called "Little Girl with the Spinnin' Head." "Everything was shot guerrilla-style over two days," related Mr. Carvey, "In the miniature TV studio that I set up in my spare bedroom." The full list of films used in the production includes Warner Brothers' "Gorillas in the Mist," "North by Northwest," "Singin' in the Rain," "Soylent Green," "The Exorcist," and "Rio Bravo"; Sony Pictures' "Five Easy Pieces" and "The Way We Were"; NBC Universal's "Harvey"; Paramount Pictures' "Jackass"; and 20th Century Fox's "True Lies." The full screening or any of its individual pieces will be available for viewing through real-time playback technology that allows video to be watched at virtually the same time it is being delivered to a user's computer. In that way, the viewing experience will differ from many current electronic delivery services that require often lengthy downloading of large video files. Users will be able to start watching the video in as little as 30 seconds or less, just as Netflix members have been able to do since the company's instant watching feature was introduced earlier this year as part of subscribers' monthly memberships. "We're thrilled to join forces with Dana to showcase, as only he can, the pleasure of watching high-quality video instantly over the Internet," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. "We're also thrilled that a number of our major studio partners have contributed clips of the movies, which help make the production a unique tribute to cinema's classics." "When Netflix asked me to host these great movies while poking a little fun at them, I was thrilled," said Mr. Carvey. "But I soon realized it wasn't going to be easy. How do you come up with something funny about 'Gorillas in the Mist'? Luckily, I had recently purchased an animatronic monkey head. I'm serious. "I had to stop renting movies because the late fees forced me to sell my summer home in Montana," Mr. Carvey added. "Netflix changed all that. I'm happy Netflix has asked me to help draw attention to their new instant watching feature with my take on these wonderful films, a number of which I've watched many, many times." Dana Carvey is among the elite comedic talents of his generation. From 1986 to 1992, he was a repertory member of NBC's "Saturday Night Live," where he created such enduring characters as Church Lady, Hans of the "Hans and Franz" body-building duo and Garth Algar of the iconic "Wayne's World" franchise. Mr. Carvey won an Emmy Award in 1993 for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program and has received six Emmy nominations in all. In 1992, he joined his "SNL" partner Mike Myers in bringing "Wayne's World" to the big screen, where it grossed more than $160 million. In 2002's family-oriented "Master of Disguise," the comedian played 36 distinct characters and spoke 14 languages as the hapless Pistachio Disguisey. He is renowned for a wide variety of impersonations, including President George W. Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Regis Philbin Adding to the experience is the netflix.com/netflixnowplaying Web site itself. Created by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, the national advertising agency used by Netflix, the site is designed to be both entertaining and functional. It features an interactive collage built around Mr. Carvey and many of the films incorporated into the piece. Scrolling over the images in the collage, users will find clues about the films. The production team on the video was headed by Paul Wright in collaboration with Michael Van Metre. About Netflix Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world's largest online movie rental service, providing more than six million subscribers access to more than 85,000 DVD titles plus a growing library of more than 5,000 choices that can be watched instantly on their PCs. The company offers nine subscription plans, starting at only $4.99 per month. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com. |
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