Sony Pictures is to become the first Hollywood studio group to release its titles on DVD titles in Vietnam.
Move follows a deal between its Sony Pictures Home Entertainment unit and Galaxy Studio, the country's leading private sector film group.
First titles into the market will be a package of 15, including "Casino Royale," "Surf's Up" and the "Spider-Man" franchise, that go on sale Friday. After that some 5-10 titles per month will be released. Blu-Ray high definition discs will follow later.
"This deal underscores SPHE's commitment to growing our business around the globe and represents the industry's first major step in developing this untapped market." T Paul Miller, SPHE's senior VP, int'l, said.
"We strongly believe that such a partnership will bring great benefits to Vietnam's growing home entertainment market as well as to our two companies," Tran Vu Hoai, Galaxy prexy said.
After years of neglect and under-investment the theatrical film industry in Vietnam shrank to almost nothing with pirate disc distribution replacing much of the legitimate market. Film, TV and home entertainment sectors, as well as local movie production, now appear to be recovering, albeit from a very small base.
In 2006 another Sony division Sony Pictures Television Intl. acquired Asian TV rights to Galaxy's hit movie "Long-Legged Beauty." The tale of teen rebellion about a girl who breaks from family traditions to pursue a modeling career was understood to be the first time a Vietnamese picture was distribbed by a Hollywood studio.
Form : http://www.variety.com/
Move follows a deal between its Sony Pictures Home Entertainment unit and Galaxy Studio, the country's leading private sector film group.
First titles into the market will be a package of 15, including "Casino Royale," "Surf's Up" and the "Spider-Man" franchise, that go on sale Friday. After that some 5-10 titles per month will be released. Blu-Ray high definition discs will follow later.
"This deal underscores SPHE's commitment to growing our business around the globe and represents the industry's first major step in developing this untapped market." T Paul Miller, SPHE's senior VP, int'l, said.
"We strongly believe that such a partnership will bring great benefits to Vietnam's growing home entertainment market as well as to our two companies," Tran Vu Hoai, Galaxy prexy said.
After years of neglect and under-investment the theatrical film industry in Vietnam shrank to almost nothing with pirate disc distribution replacing much of the legitimate market. Film, TV and home entertainment sectors, as well as local movie production, now appear to be recovering, albeit from a very small base.
In 2006 another Sony division Sony Pictures Television Intl. acquired Asian TV rights to Galaxy's hit movie "Long-Legged Beauty." The tale of teen rebellion about a girl who breaks from family traditions to pursue a modeling career was understood to be the first time a Vietnamese picture was distribbed by a Hollywood studio.
Form : http://www.variety.com/
