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HP, DreamWorks Announce Strategic Alliance Aimed at Revolutionizing Animation Production
PALO ALTO and GLENDALE, Calif., Jan. 30 2002
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP) and DreamWorks SKG today
announced a three-year, multi-million dollar technology strategic
alliance aimed at revolutionizing animation production. HP will provide computing
infrastructure for DreamWorks' next-generation digital studio at its
main facility in Glendale, which will make it possible to create the
latest computer-generated animation more quickly, cost effectively and
with greater artistic quality than ever before. The alliance designates HP as DreamWorks' sole "preferred technology provider" for core technology purchases. HP
will supply technical workstations, servers, printers, networking and
Linux technologies as DreamWorks develops its newest animation
pipeline. HP also will receive certain rights for product and brand placement.
In addition, HP and
DreamWorks will explore technologies that could enable creative
collaboration by producers, directors, animators and others working
from remote locations. The two companies also have agreed to jointly
explore other technologies that may translate into new products,
process improvements or solutions. "This collaboration is a great example of how HP can put its inventive resources and systems solutions capabilities to work for customers," said Carly Fiorina, HP chairman and chief executive officer. "We believe that HP technology will help the creative minds at DreamWorks provide movie fans with enriched, more entertaining experiences."
"Technology has been pivotal to our success at DreamWorks," said
Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks co-founder. "Our goal is to remain on
the cutting edge, both creatively and technically, and that's why we're
excited about working with HP."
Relationship Began with "Shrek" Collaboration
The two companies established the alliance after HP
helped DreamWorks with the completion of "Shrek," an animated tale about
a lovable ogre, which became one of the highest grossing films of 2001.
Four months before the film was released, HP delivered more than 40 HP Netserver lp1000 systems that enabled the studio to meet the production schedule.
Subsequently, engineers from HP's
graphics labs developed enhancements to Linux software to help power
DreamWorks' proprietary animation software, ToonShooter. This tool was
essential to the production of DreamWorks' next animated film, "Spirit:
Stallion of the Cimarron," a tale about a wild mustang stallion and its
journey through the untamed American frontier. The film, which was
created on more than 200 Linux-based HP workstations and servers, will be released nationwide May 24.
HP will provide a broad
range of products, services and integration expertise to create the new
DreamWorks production facility at the Glendale campus. The facility
will include the addition of more than 200 high-end Linux-based
workstations, a 500-processor Linux renderfarm, 15 terabytes of storage
and a high-speed Ethernet-based infrastructure. About DreamWorks
DreamWorks SKG was formed in October 1994 by its three principal
partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen -- to
produce live-action motion pictures; animated feature films; television
programming; home video entertainment; records; books; toys; and
consumer products. About HP
Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of
computing and imaging solutions and services -- is focused on making
technology and its benefits accessible to all. HP had total revenue of $45.2 billion in its 2001 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they
never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of HP
and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements
other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be
deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of
earnings, revenues, or other financial items; any statements of the
plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations;
any statements concerning proposed new products, services, or
developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or
performance; statements of belief and any statement of assumptions
underlying any of the foregoing. The risks, uncertainties and
assumptions referred to above include employee management issues; the
timely development, production and acceptance of products and services
and their feature sets; the challenge of managing asset levels,
including inventory; the flow of products into third-party distribution
channels; the difficulty of keeping expense growth at modest levels
while increasing revenues; and other risks that are described from time
to time in HP's Securities and
Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended Oct. 31, 2000, and subsequently
filed reports. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
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