Three Broadway understudies (Ben Crawford, Merwin Foard and Alena Watters) are profiled in Stephanie Riggs’ documentary THE STANDBYS (Sunchaser Entertainment – 76 minutes/NR). The DigiNext Films release, also featuring Broadway veterans and headliners Bebe Neuwirth and David Hyde Pierce, is available beginning today on Apple’s iTunes platform for HD/SD purchase or rental. Fans of the movie can also purchase the original music soundtrack via iTunes, including individual tracks.

THE STANDBYS – Synopsis

The unique and challenging lives of Broadway’s Understudies and Standbys are revealed in this evocative and original behind-the-scenes documentary. Never-before-heard stories from industry insiders and celebrities reveal the unimaginable struggles these under-appreciated performers endure, and when these Standbys are finally given the chance of a lifetime, anything can – and does – happen.

Actress Alena Watters perhaps sums it up best – “You get paid for the groan.” What she means is that when a standby is announced over the PA system before a Broadway performance, ticket holders typically groan because they paid to see the top stars on the marquee, not one of the understudies.

Movie Trailer and Link to THE STANDBYS Website - http://www.diginextfilms.com/prior-features/the-standbys.html

THE STANDBYS Director/Producer Stephanie Riggs commented, “After being selected as a 2014 New York Times Critics’ Pick and following our successful run in theaters across the country, I am thrilled that ‘THE STANDBYS’ will be now available to online audiences via iTunes through our relationship with the DigiNext team.”

DigiNext Co-Founder Larry Meistrich stated, “Stephanie Riggs’ THE STANDBYS is a prime example of DigiNext’s unique, worldwide direct-to-consumer (DtoC) platform in action. Our team sources the work of talented and passionate – yet undiscovered – directors and producers at leading film festivals. We hand-pick the best ‘movies that matter,’ book theatrical runs for appreciative audiences and arrange engaging live Q&As with cast and crew.

“After our movies leave the big screen they become part of an end-to-end, turnkey sales strategy that underscores DigiNext’s goal of maximizing the value of ancillary and downstream rights – targeting popular digital platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Netflix and others, ultimately reaching more than 70 countries. Our DtoC platform is truly a win-win-win for our filmmaker partners, global brands targeting pre-selected audiences and of course countless consumers who enjoy DigiNext’s curated ‘evergreen’ titles whether they watch at a local neighborhood theater, or digitally during extended post-theatrical downstream runs.”

Digiplex Founder, Chairman and CEO/DigiNext Co-Founder Bud Mayo added, “Carmike Cinemas’ pending Digiplex acquisition includes the DigiNext JV as a key component of the Alternative Programming (AP) package being purchased. The future possibilities for DigiNext and AP in general, with the support of Carmike’s forward-thinking senior management team, are truly exciting and limitless.

“As the nation’s fourth largest exhibitor with a footprint approaching 3000 screens, assuming all goes according to plan our AP team will collaborate with their customer-centric theater-level associates, helping train them to adopt best practices for executing grassroots, hyper-local and social media outreach within their respective local communities. The goal is to help boost capacity utilization – especially during non-prime Monday through Thursday show-times – capitalizing on this huge, untapped opportunity.”

About DigiNext

The future of film distribution, DigiNext has developed a comprehensive worldwide, direct-to-consumer (DtoC) turnkey movie release platform. The platform showcases the talents of today’s most talented and passionate directors and producers of independent features as well as issue-based documentaries, providing them with a unique and customized way to drive additional value and recognition of their work. DigiNext offers filmmakers a domestic theatrical release, plus a global, targeted reach to audiences in 70+ countries via electronic sell-through including digital downstream, DVD and other ancillary revenue opportunities. Brands and marketers also can reach pre-selected targeted audiences via DigiNext’s end-to-end platform.