Sonic opens Hollywood office

Sonic Solutions has announced the opening of a new facility in Burbank, California, at the heart of the movie industry.
The office has been established in response to the growing demand for Sonic DVD technology, including InterActual Technologies’ advanced web and bonus feature products for commercial DVD releases as well as Sonic’s new authoring developments for the emerging HD formats.
Strategically located close to major motion picture studios and high-end DVD production facilities, the Hollywood office will allow Sonic to provide its customers, channel partners, and the InterActual developer community with a convenient, state-of-the-art location where they can experience the latest trends and technologies destined to reshape the future of DVD.
“High-definition formats for next-generation DVD production are being developed at a rapid pace, and Sonic’s Hollywood operations will allow us to collaborate even more closely with key industry and technology partners as we deploy new solutions for the professional authoring market,” said Rolf Hartley, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic’s professional products division. “In addition, the new facilities will provide InterActual’s expanding developer community with even closer ties to engineering and the first-of-kind ROM technology required for today’s cutting-edge DVD releases.”
The new Sonic facility will serve as the InterActual business office under the direction of industry veteran Dick Sowa who will manage business development, marketing services and research, as well as programming projects for InterActual’s developer community and producers.
Mr. Sowa joined InterActual in April 2000, focusing on strategic business initiatives within the home entertainment and consumer electronics industry. Prior to joining InterActual, Mr. Sowa served as a senior executive in the entertainment and media industries, specializing in new technologies. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Sowa was executive vice president of Divx Entertainment, where he negotiated and managed all long-term license agreements with major motion picture studios and coordinated the business relationships with consumer electronic licensees.
Mr. Sowa also served as the chairman of the Entertainment and Media Division of the Japan America Society of Southern California.
(GB)