Warner Home Video Continues Internet Innovation With Second Virtual Theatre Screening & Simultaneous Online Chat With “The Matrix” Academy Award Nominees

(March 13, 2000 – Burbank, CA) - Poised to repeat their online “first” from late last year, Warner Home Video (WHV) has announced a second event featuring the web-enabled “The Matrix” DVD. This time it spotlights the Academy Award®-nominated special effects and technical wizards who helped mastermind the hit futuristic action- thriller which has become the # 1 best-selling DVD of all-time. On March 23, users all over the world will again share the unique opportunity of simultaneously watching “The Matrix” while chatting online with its creators -- as they did this past November with writer/directors Andy and Larry Wachowski. Now, three more filmmakers will participate Editor Zach Staenberg, Visual Effects supervisor John Gaeta and Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor Dane Davis. Having sold more than two million units, “The Matrix” is the highest-selling DVD of all time. It has sold two and one half times more units than the next highest selling disc. When “The Matrix” DVD debuted in September 1999, sales skyrocketed to 1 million in less than two weeks -- another record. Voted one of the “Top 10 DVDs of 1999” by Entertainment Weekly and StereoReview’s Sound & Vision Magazine, “The Matrix” DVD has won praise from magazine editors and reviewers throughout the world. Listed on more than 60 top 10 lists, “The Matrix” ranked # 5 at the U.S. box office in 1999 and to date has amassed worldwide revenues of more than a half billion dollars. In addition to the Academy-Award® nominations, “The Matrix” was singled out by the American Cinema Editors, who recently awarded Zach Staenberg this year’s “Eddie” for Best Editor on a Dramatic Feature Film, and by the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) which recognized the film’s technical achievements with nominations for Best Special Visual Effects, Editing, Sound, Production Design and Cinematography. “We are thrilled for the opportunity to pull this together again,” said Mark Horak WHV’s senior vice president, marketing. “The first event was an overwhelming success and, with the title being honored with four Academy Award® nominations, it’s a great way to bring ‘The Matrix’ fans and the creators of this extraordinary film together.” The event is scheduled for March 23 at 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST. Users can register by going to “Online Events” in their DVD-ROM’s menu or by accessing The Matrix web site at www.warnervideo.com/matrixevents. Adding to the excitement will be a Matrix trivia contest. Those participating in the screening/chat will be eligible to win free autographed DVDs and posters. To participate in the chat/screening, users need a computer equipped with a DVD-ROM drive, “The Matrix” DVD and an Internet connection. A cue will alert everyone’s computers to trigger the movie to begin at the same time. Users will then view the movie at DVD quality in a “virtual theatre” and will be able to ask questions of the filmmakers as everybody watches the movie together. Users without a DVD-ROM computer will be able to participate in the chat only. “The Matrix” DVD is enhanced for use on personal computers with DVD-ROM drives using software from InterActual. This patent-pending technology allows DVD creators to add special web content and conduct online events such as The Matrix Virtual Theater. Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Joe Pantoliano, “The Matrix” was produced by Joel Silver and written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers. The Executive Producers are Barrie Osborne, Andrew Mason, Andy & Larry Wachowski, Erwin Stoff and Bruce Berman. With operations in 78 international territories -- more than the video division of any other studio -- Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Company, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Video. # # #