BitPass, 'Blair Witch Project' Creator to Demonstrate Future of Filmmaking at NAB 2005

BitPass, 'Blair Witch Project' Creator to Demonstrate Future of Filmmaking at NAB 2005

Daniel Myrick's Newest Project, 'The Strand,' Shines Light on Technology to Manage Licenses, Payments and Promotion of Content Online

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- BitPass, Inc., a leading Internet payments company for digital content and services, and Daniel Myrick, creator and co-director of "The Blair Witch Project," will demonstrate the future of filmmaking at NAB 2005 in Las Vegas by showing how Myrick's latest project, "The Strand," can be distributed using on-demand streaming, peer-to- peer technology, and high-bandwidth direct downloads, all supported by BitPass' technology. Myrick and BitPass executives will be on hand for this technology showcase at BitPass' NAB exhibitor booth (Booth SL3671) at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 19th.

Flexible Infrastructure Supports Multiple Modes of Online Distribution

The showcase highlights BitPass' flexible infrastructure, which enables filmmakers to utilize the Internet in a variety of ways for distribution while protecting their content with technology that manages licenses, payments and promotions of digital content.

-- Streaming -- With content owners using streaming media more and more, stream security and theft is a pressing issue. BitPass' patent-pending StreamLock(TM) technology grants license holders access to only one secure stream at any given time, virtually eliminating unauthorized distribution of content and ensuring profitable revenue streams. A stream of the first webisode of "The Strand" is available now for Windows and Macintosh users at http://strandvenice.bitpass.com/. -- Peer-to-Peer Systems -- As peer-to-peer systems like BitTorrent gain momentum beyond music and account for a growing share of video distribution, BitPass helps content owners tap into this channel. A high-resolution version of the first webisode is now available for download using BitTorrent at http://strandvenice.bitpass.com/. -- Download -- BitPass enables content publishers to capitalize on the growth in downloading of rich media amidst the mounting penetration of broadband Internet access among consumers. A high-resolution version of the first webisode will soon be available for direct download at http://strandvenice.bitpass.com/.

About "The Strand"

"The Strand" is the first live-action, independently produced, narrative episodic intended specifically for the web, hence the term "webisodic." This landmark production by Gearhead Pictures (Myrick's production company) marks a series of firsts for filmmaking, digital content and e-commerce. The first webisode premieres at http://www.strandvenice.com/ and is free of charge. Audiences will be asked to pay $0.99 for each of the subsequent webisodes.

About Gearhead Pictures

Established in 2001, Gearhead Pictures was formed by Daniel Myrick to help facilitate various solo projects, ranging from feature films to Internet content. For more information and press inquiries, email info@gearheadpictures.com or phone Julia Fair at Gearhead Pictures' main line, 626-395-7674.

About BitPass

BitPass was founded in December 2002 to address the growing demand for digital content (videos, music, photos, news, patents, etc.) and the need for publishers to efficiently monetize their online offerings through a-la-carte and subscription-based payment models. Since the company's production release of its service in December 2003, BitPass has signed more than 2,500 vendors. The company has received venture funding from Worldview Technology Partners, Steamboat Ventures, RRE Ventures, First Data Corp., Garage Technology Ventures, Cardinal Venture Capital, Amicus Capital and others. For more information, visit www.bitpass.com.

Source: BitPass, Inc.

CONTACT: Johnny Wong of BitPass, +1-650-291-2440 or johnny@bitpass.com

Web site: http://www.bitpass.com/

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