Amazon.com’s latest marketing tool: a five-installment short-movie series

Amazon.com Inc. today launched a five-installment series of short movies that customers can watch at Amazon.com. Featuring Hollywood directors and actors, the movies contain product placements of items available at Amazon, links to buy other movies by the same director or featuring the same actors, celebrities’ gift ideas and links to the actors’ favorite charities.

Credit card issuer Chase Card Services is the official sponsor of the Amazon films. Chase issues the Amazon co-branded card.

The first video, “Portrait,” debuted today and stars Minnie Driver and was directed by Jordan Scott. Videos will debut on the next four Tuesdays. They will be "Agent Orange," directed by Tony Scott, "Do Geese See God," starring Blair Underwood, "Tooth Fairy," with Chris Noth, and "Careful What You Wish For," with Daryl Hannah and Pras Michel.