Microsoft Corp. and Sample Digital Inc. today announced that Sample Digital’s Digital Dailies application powered by Microsoft® Windows Media™ Video and Digital Rights Management was used for the first time on a major studio film production. "Sniper II," an upcoming release from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, used Sample Digital’s Digital Dailies solution to significantly streamline the film production process. By using Windows Media Video, Digital Dailies makes it quick, easy and inexpensive for film and television directors, producers, and studio executives to review and collaborate around the world on time-sensitive "dailies" — footage of the latest day’s shooting — via the Internet and other delivery options.

Earlier this year, "Sniper II" became the first major studio production to use Sample Digital’s Digital Dailies solution during production in Budapest, Hungary. Los Angeles-based executives viewed "Sniper II" Digital Dailies in Windows Media Video on PCs, streamlining the process of reviewing daily rushes review process by up to 75 percent, saving precious time and money for the filmmakers of "Sniper II."