Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 24, 2010. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Film director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau have presented the fan programme for the international Blu-ray and DVD launch of “AVATAR” to the press in Los Angeles: “The Avatar Program” allows fans to immerse themselves virtually in the world of Pandora online through several websites and innovative features. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is also launching a reforestation campaign together with the international environmental organisation Earth Day Network. One million trees are to be planted worldwide by the end of the year.
Three-time Oscar winner “AVATAR” will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in the USA on the 40th international Earth Day, April 22. In Germany, the greatest film of all time will go on sale one day later, April 23, on DVD and on Blu-ray as the ultimate high-definition experience.
For “AVATAR”, FOX is using the entire storage capacity of a Blu-ray Disc or DVD so audiences can experience the greatest film of all time with the best possible picture and sound. “It was important to us to show audiences AVATAR in the best quality ever,” said AVATAR producer Jon Landau at the press conference in L.A. “The April launch allows fans to return to Pandora again and again right now.” James Cameron also announced a special edition for the autumn with extensive bonus material on several discs.
The Avatar Program: Immersing Yourself in a New World
The interactive online programme for the home-entertainment launch of “AVATAR” opens up additional ways for fans to explore Pandora intensively. Using an individual code, purchasers of the Blu-ray and DVD can access exclusive bonus material, great specials, promotions and much more on the official film website, http://www.avatar-derfilm.de. They can also exclusively sponsor one of the 1,000,000 saplings in the worldwide Avatar tree-planting campaign by FOX and Earth Day Network.
Further digital offers relating to “AVATAR”:
Pandorama: Using a webcam on their own computer, fans can immerse themselves in the fantastic world of Pandora on this site. They visit various locations on the planet and interact virtually with elements of the environment. A great twist: visitors can take “holiday photos” of themselves on Pandora and send them to friends. (www.pandorama.avatarmovie.com)
Pandorapedia: The official guide to Pandora and James Cameron’s “AVATAR” contains all the facts and background information on the fascinating film world (www.pandorapedia.com; a German website is also planned).
Real-Trailer: The first interactive trailer provides information on characters, locations and other interesting details at the click of a mouse. Picture-in-picture functions allow viewers to examine the world of Pandora in detail (www.avatar-derfilm.de).
Interactive desktop wallpaper: The tool provides access to all AVATAR functions from the internet; news feeds, videos, social-network updates and exclusive offers are automatically downloaded to the computer (www.avatar-derfilm.de).
The Blue World of Pandora Goes Green
In intoxicating images, AVATAR vividly depicts how the human invasion almost destroyed the fragile balance of nature on the planet Pandora. “Bringing the message of AVATAR together with the 40th anniversary of International Earth Day and Earth Day Network fills me with great pride,” James Cameron said in Los Angeles. The independent environmental organisation Earth Day Network is coordinating the global reforestation programme in 15 countries. “AVATAR makes us all aware of how important it is to protect our planet and ourselves,” emphasises Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network. “We hope that Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s commitment to planting one million trees will encourage many people to take active steps against global climate change on Earth Day.”
