Gary Dretzka
Leonard Klady
David Poland
Ray Pride

January 13, 2004

 

For Immediate Release

HAD TO BE MADE FILMS JUMPS ON BOARD AS FIRST INDIE COMPANY TO ENLIST THE FLEXPLAY 48-HOUR DVD

— 48-Hour Screeners of David Lynch Presents “I Don’t Know Jack” to be distributed via indieWIRE during 2004 Sundance Film Festival —

Los Angeles (January 13, 2004) — Had To Be Made Films (HTBMF) — the company responsible for the first nationwide film festival (www.hadtobemade.com) — announced today it will be the first indie entity to enlist Flexplay Technologies’ (www.flexplay.com) flexible play DVD. Had To Be Made Films and Next Step Studios will debut the David Lynch Presentation of “I Don’t Know Jack” on 48-hour screeners enabled by Flexplay technology during the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

A Flexplay DVD is similar to a conventional DVD, except that it has a pre-set viewing window that begins when the disc is removed from its packing. After this viewing window, the disc is no longer readable by the DVD player and can then be recycled.

Had To Be Made Films will distribute copies of “I Don’t Know Jack” on 48-hour screeners on January 17th as a bonus insertion in indieWIRE’s On the Scene Park City publication, the only daily news print publication devoted to the Sundance and other Park City festivals. Evatone, Inc. a Flexplay licensed replicator, will manufacture and package the discs.

“Although we are not affiliated with Sundance, we felt that this was an outstanding place and time to distribute screeners of ‘I Don’t Know Jack,’” said Mike Kyle, Executive Director of HTBMF. “By utilizing Flexplay’s 48 hour DVD technology, we have made the perfect screener available to the executives that make the decisions regarding distribution. After our successful release of the DVD Collector’s Edition of the film, we are seeking further avenues, such as television, cable and foreign, to take ‘Jack’ to an even wider audience.”

The award-winning “I Don't Know Jack” illuminates the mystery surrounding the life and unsolved homicide of the enigmatic character actor, Jack Nance, best known for his title role in Lynch's first film “Eraserhead,” as well as Lynch’s subsequent works, such as “Twin Peaks” and “Blue Velvet.”

“We are thrilled that Had To Be Made Films chose Flexplay technology to debut ‘I Don’t Know Jack’ to audiences in Park City,” said Alan Blaustein, CEO of Flexplay. “Flexplay’s limited viewing window provides filmmakers with the exclusivity of a private in-theater screening while allowing distributors the convenience of watching it whenever and wherever they choose.”

Kyle also hopes to help spread the word about the benefits of using this new technology. Because the Flexplay disc expires after 48-hours, it helps avoid “pass along” which helps limit the risk of piracy. He added, “Because this has been such a hot-button in the industry, Flexplay’s technology is emerging at an opportune time for independent filmmakers.”

About “I Don’t Know Jack”
“I Don't Know Jack” is a documentary directed by 26 year-old newcomer Chris Leavens. The David Lynch Presents film was produced by Richard Green’s Next Step Studios, a Los Angeles-based studio, producing TV spots, promos, music and features, including the recent theatrical release of “7 Year ZigZag.” “Jack” features intimate interviews with Nance’s family, friends and co-workers, illuminating Nance’s life, career and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death — an unsolved homicide outside a donut shop. With exclusive photos and footage, the film features writer/director David Lynch (“Mulholland Drive”, “Eraserhead”), Dennis Hopper (“Easy Rider,” “Blue Velvet”), Nance's first wife, Catherine Coulson (“Twin Peaks”), Charlotte Stewart (“Eraserhead” co-star), and theater director David Lindeman, among others. The film is the only other feature available for sale — next to the recently reissued “Eraserhead” — on Lynch’s own Website (www.davidlynch.com). The trailer can be previewed at www.jacknance.com.

About Had To Be Made Films
In February 2003, Had To Be Made Films (HTBMF) conceived the first nationwide film festival. Independent filmmaker Richard Green, film studio business consultant Mike Kyle and film producer Donna Du Bain identified a channel to bring independent films to a wider audience. The Had To Be Made Film Festival screens its program on DVD at independent video stores and is an opportunity for filmmakers to gain recognition and prove marketability throughout the country. HTBMF partners with Home Entertainment Events to orchestrate the annual Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) Filmmaker Program. Sponsors to date include Porsche Cars North America, DTS, Panavision, Production Hub, Evatone, M&K Sound and Withoutabox.com. For more information, please visit www.hadtobemade.com.

About Flexplay Technologies, Inc.

Flexplay Technologies, Inc. has pioneered the flexible play DVD. A Flexplay DVD is similar to a conventional DVD, except that it has a pre-set viewing window that begins when the disc is removed from its packaging. Flexplay DVDs play in all systems designed to accept standard DVDs and can be recycled. Flexplay DVDs can be used for a variety of applications including: movies, music, screeners, video games, television programming and promotions. Flexplay technology enables ez-D, the no return, no late fee movie rental introduced in test markets in 2003. For more information on Flexplay, please visit www.flexplay.com.

About Evatone, Inc.

Family-owned since 1925, Evatone, Inc. is a pioneer in print, audio, data and multimedia products, providing single-source, customized project solutions that help clients reach their business objectives. From its beginnings as a rubber-stamp manufacturer to the development of the famous Evatone SOUNDSHEET™, to printing, molding, new media alternatives, E-business and direct marketing, Evatone has prospered by repeatedly developing new media alternatives in anticipation of market trends. For more information please visit www.evatone.com.

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