The following press release was provided by Cabin Fever Entertainment....

GREENWICH, CT, JUNE 19, 1996 -- Freebird... The Movie, slated for theatrical release this summer, features incredible never-before-seen footage and interviews that were resurrected from personal libraries of friends and the families of Lynyrd Skynyrd. A large portion of the film's interviews and earlier concert footage would have been deemed unsuable had it not been for the recent advanced technology that enhances sound and visual quality.

Through several unique processes, Cabin Fever Entertainment will finally give Skynyrd fans what they have wanted for nearly twenty years. After searching the country for concert footage of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cabin Fever amassed a treasure trove of materials never before released. With the help of digital technology and the AMPEX, DTS and Vidipax corporations, Cabin Fever was able to restore hours of classic Skynyrd footage for this long overdue concert film.

Video and audio tape retains the images and sound recorded on it by magnetic particles. If the tape sits in an unregulated enviroment for an extended period of time, it begins to oxidize. This creates a loss of magnetization on the tape surface and the particles that make up the recorded information begin to fall off. A process called "baking" developed by the AMPEX Corporation can teporarily restore those lost images and sounds to playable conditionAMPEX, as a courtesy to the audio and visual industry, 'bakes' tape gratis. Baking the footage will literally heat the magnetic molecular particles causing them to reattach for a very short time thus restoring some or all of the picture and sound. Immediately after baking, the footage must be transferred to another medium. Usually this is to a digital format. Cabin Fever elected to utilize a D-2 video since this precludes any further generational loss in quality of picture or sound.

Freebird... The Movie utilized the baking process to restore three key pieces of footage exhibited in the film:. The title song, "Freebird", from Skynyrd’s 1977 ‘Day On The Green’ performance in Oakland; an interview with lead singer Ronnie VanZant and guitarist Gary Rossington; and from the 1976 concert at San Francisco's Winterland Arena, 'Gimme Back My Bullets' and 'Cry For The Bad Man'. The footage from these performaces was provided by Bill Graham Presents.

Two songs performed at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey, 'What's Your Name?' and 'That Smell' were recorded in black and white on half-inch reel to reel video in 1977. Due to this antiquated technology, Cabin Fever had to search for one of tehse machines. Finally, the Vidipax Corporations, which owns one of the only working machines in existence, made the appropriate transfer to videotape. This footage from Asbury Park was provided by John Scher of Metropolitan Entertainment.

In addition to baking, two songs from the Asbury Park footage required Skynyrd bassist, Leon Wilkeson, to return to the studio. The oxidation of the film had caused serious deterioration to the bass line which baking was not able to restore. A very emotional Leon overdubbed parts of Skynyrd classics, "What’s Your Name?" and "That Smell". He broke down in tears after the recording session.

To further enhance the overall quality of Freebird... The Movie, Tom Dowd, legendary producer of Skynyrd’s classic One More From The Road, remixed the original audio portion of the film’s main concert footage from the 1976 Knebworth Fair in England where Lynyrd Skynyrd performed with the Rolling Stones. Such all-time hits as 'Gimme Three Steps', 'Sweet Home Alabama', and 'Saturday Night Special' highlight the soundtrack.

With the use of digital technology, the soundtrack to the film was expanded from two tracks to six channels. Cabin Fever approached the DTS Corporation who developed the DTS surround sound process for the hit movie Jurassic Park. Through DTS, the two track master is digitally expanded to six channels. The audio portion was then stored on a CD-ROM for maximum dynamic range. The film is projected in synchronization with the CD resulting in the unparalleled concert sound and feel of this extraordinary film. Freebird... The Movie is the first-ever rock n' roll concert film to employ this process. Most films typically have the audio portioned directly on the actual film.

The final use of technology involved the most spine tingling footage from the movie. Craig Reed, a longtime roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd, filmed the band extensively during the last 1977 tours with a small Super-8 camera. This footage depicts the members of the band with their families and friends joking around at the airport and on the plane just prior to the fateful October flight. Reed, along with the footage, survived the crash. This footage remained in Craig’s private possession until recently contacted during the search for materials for Freebird... The Movie.

Executive producers of Freebird... The Movie are Tom Molito, executive vice president of Cabin Fever, and Judy VanZant Jenness, widow of Skynyrd founder and lead singer, Ronnie VanZant, in association with Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle, Teresa Gaines Rapp and Larkin Collins, Sr. Freebird... The Movie is directed and produced by Jeff Waxman, with associate producers Sanford Santacroce, Tony Grazia and Edward Molito.

Following its premiere at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio on August 14, the film will be seen in select markets across the country including New York, Jacksonville, FL., Nashville, Dallas, Raleigh and more.

Cabin Fever Entertainment Inc. develops, produces and markets film, video and television programming. Based in Greenwich, Conneticut, Cabin Fever is an indirect subsidiary of UST, Inc.