MGM Goes Online With DVD

To coincide with the release of John Frankenheimer's thriller Ronin, MGM is to launch an online multimedia event, proving to the world that the DVD experience can indeed go beyond the mere navigation through an array of bonus materials. For those adept at exploring the seemingly endless boundaries of home video technology, the presentation will no doubt delight. However, questions could be raised as to the exhaustive lengths dollar-driven studios will go to in order to sell a movie on video. Of course, to take part in the event which takes place on March 14 at 5 p.m., you'll have to have a DVD-ROM drive in your computer - and of course, an Internet connection. Consumers will also need to pre-register for the event, since MGM will be using both the Net and each viewer's DVD-ROM for the presentation. As for the presentation itself, there will first be a 25-minute multimedia tour of the making of the film, using storyboards, sound clips and actual footage. This will then be followed by a 30-minute live chat with Frankenheimer himself. If you're unfortunate enough to either miss the event, you'll be able to watch its finished version after March 14, but you'll still have both an Internet connection and DVD-ROM drive.