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Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
George Feltenstein of Warner Home Video talks about future releases and why it takes so long to bring Golden Age gems to Blu-ray:
Link An excerpt: As an industry executive, however, he understands all too well the studios' quandary over whether to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on a per title basis to remaster classic films – and that's what it costs if you need to start from "scratch" – when demographic research shows "typical" buyers could care less about the classic genre. And, Feltenstein adds, "The fact that we are in a recession-slash-depression and the world's economy is going to hell in a hand-basket doesn't help things." |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
This isn't surprising, since the US market seemingly lives and dies by whatever is newest, flashy and exciting. People just want whatever was in the multiplex a two months ago, no matter how terrible it was, as long as they can show off their big TV to friends. I have to shake my head whenever I see someone mention that they won't buy anything but Blu-ray now -- there's so, so, so much more to film than a gleaming, high-definition transfer. At least UK and French distribs are doing a better job at releasing older and classic movies. Now we only need to do something about region-coding once and for all. :)
Also, High Def Digest could use a refresher course in grammar: "typical" buyers could care less about the classic genre. |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
That trio, however, is just a warm-up for what Feltenstein calls a "murderer's row" of classic releases later this year that will include such AFI 100 masterpieces as 'Gone With the Wind,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' and 'North By Northwest.' Hitchcock's thriller underwent a $1 million restoration ... |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
I'll definitely buy several classic titles if they put them out on Blu Ray.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Very good read. Nice to know there are some executives out there who actually care about quality. I'd love to see more pre-80's films released on BD, and the studios aren't pumping them out at the rate I'd like.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Well that does not explain the DNR/EE added to releases to several mono tracks getting the lossless treatment (Being There)
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Cosmic Bus
(Post 9273870)
This isn't surprising, since the US market seemingly lives and dies by whatever is newest, flashy and exciting. People just want whatever was in the multiplex a two months ago, no matter how terrible it was, as long as they can show off their big TV to friends. I have to shake my head whenever I see someone mention that they won't buy anything but Blu-ray now -- there's so, so, so much more to film than a gleaming, high-definition transfer. At least UK and French distribs are doing a better job at releasing older and classic movies. Now we only need to do something about region-coding once and for all. :)
Also, High Def Digest could use a refresher course in grammar: -ohbfrank- |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
but they haven't even ported over the HD-DVD titles onto bluray:
Mutiny on the Bounty Grand Prix Forbidden Planet come on... |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Giles
(Post 9274772)
but they haven't even ported over the HD-DVD titles onto bluray:
Mutiny on the Bounty Grand Prix Forbidden Planet come on... |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
(Post 9274878)
Because HD DVD owners didn't buy those titles. I can see why they're slow to release them on BD.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Just curious, but how many years did HD DVD exist to where we could buy them? But I don't get it either how Grand Prix hit HD yet they don't release it on BD. Can't they just use the same transfer?
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by trespoochies
(Post 9275104)
Just curious, but how many years did HD DVD exist to where we could buy them? But I don't get it either how Grand Prix hit HD yet they don't release it on BD. Can't they just use the same transfer?
you'd think, considering that the Grand Prix HD-DVD edition got high marks/reviews. |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by trespoochies
(Post 9275104)
Just curious, but how many years did HD DVD exist to where we could buy them? But I don't get it either how Grand Prix hit HD yet they don't release it on BD. Can't they just use the same transfer?
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Okay, so i guess I got Grand Prix about a year into HD DVD sales. Damn was their life and death a quick one. Doesn't seem that long ago we were all hot and bothered over the format war. I guess this is a good way to keep HD DVD cycling for a while, by not releasing what's already been released in the HD DVD format.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
I'm surprised Forbidden Planet didn't sell well on HD-DVD. You'd think it would be a no brainer, at least for genre buffs/early adopters/techie types (i.e., DVD Talkers). I guess there aren't enough of us to make a dent in sales. (P.S. I've already broken an antenna off my mini-Robby :( )
Originally Posted by Cosmic Bus
(Post 9273870)
Also, High Def Digest could use a refresher course in grammar:
"typical" buyers could care less about the classic genre. "typical" buyers couldn't care less about the classic genre. |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
The <i>Forbidden Planet</i> collector's tin sold in the low <em>hundreds</em>, didn't it? (I bought one! :)) It's no surprise that studios are proceeding cautiously. Frankly, it's fine for me—I don't even have time to watch the films I buy as it is. If they started releasing a lot of classic films I would fall even further behind.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls
(Post 9275800)
The <i>Forbidden Planet</i> collector's tin sold in the low <em>hundreds</em>, didn't it? (I bought one! :)) It's no surprise that studios are proceeding cautiously. Frankly, it's fine for me—I don't even have time to watch the films I buy as it is. If they started releasing a lot of classic films I would fall even further behind.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Found this over on the BR forum. Looks like these will be the films WB pushes next Holiday season.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by DthRdrX
(Post 9275821)
Found this over on the BR forum. Looks like these will be the films WB pushes next Holiday season.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls
(Post 9275800)
The <i>Forbidden Planet</i> collector's tin sold in the low <em>hundreds</em>, didn't it? (I bought one! :)) It's no surprise that studios are proceeding cautiously. Frankly, it's fine for me—I don't even have time to watch the films I buy as it is. If they started releasing a lot of classic films I would fall even further behind.
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls
(Post 9275800)
The <i>Forbidden Planet</i> collector's tin sold in the low <em>hundreds</em>, didn't it? (I bought one! :))
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Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
I think that classic films may see a lag time in reaching decent sales figures simply because the older people that are responsible for a significant percentage of those titles' overall sales numbers may be adopting Blu Ray more slowly. A lot of them think DVD is still kind of new(ish) and aren't ready to make yet another switch.
Give them another year or two and some more significant price decreases and many of them will get on board with Blu Ray and buy those classic titles. As it is now the big name classic titles should sell fairly well, but a title like Forbidden Planet won't see decent sales until 2010 or 2011. |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Walker Boh
(Post 9274033)
That's awesome ... I just watched North by Northwest on DVD again yesterday, and was thinking it would be nice to have on Blu-ray. I hope they do it justice.
Don't count on it and I wouldn't get too excited. It is WB we're talking about here. |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by Daytripper
(Post 9276371)
Don't count on it and I wouldn't get too excited. It is WB we're talking about here.
The fact that it IS WB that we're talking about is what makes me get excited. They have done a consistently great job with their classic releases over the last 7 or 8 years. |
Re: Warner VP discusses "slow release of classics" on Blu-ray
Originally Posted by B5Erik
(Post 9276775)
Hmmm...
The fact that it IS WB that we're talking about is what makes me get excited. They have done a consistently great job with their classic releases over the last 7 or 8 years. |
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