*Morgan Freeman’s new film "10 Items or Less" snuck into movie theaters over the weekend with little promotion or fanfare.
In fact, much of the talk surrounding the project is centered on its upcoming release on digital download in just two weeks. The short turnaround from theater to home video is due to a new partnership between digital entertainment company Clickstar, Freeman’s production shingle and Intel to get small films to the folks who live far from boutique cinemas.
“I'm just a firm believer that things continue to grow, get better," Morgan, 69, told the Associated Press.
Directed by Brad Silberling, the 82-minute film stars Freeman as an actor who has been off the scene for four years. He’s considering signing onto "a little independent thing" for a comeback, and researches the prospective role by following a grocery store clerk (Paz Vega). The two quickly forge a friendship and spend a pivotal day together.
While filmmakers often prefer that audiences see their work in a traditional movie theater, Freeman says a personal computer screen offers a reasonable alternative to such a small movie. Also, many rural areas in the country lack multiplexes that run independent films.
"Where I live, in my town, there's no movie house," Freeman says of his Charleston, Mississippi home. "There are many, many, many, many people who don't have access."