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Revamping the Movie Distribution Chain
ianscot writes "Steve Soderberg's latest film will be released in a manner that directly challenges the traditional Hollywood distribution chain. Soderberg's been influenced by Mark Cuban, the dot-com billionaire who owns the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and Todd Wagner, another dot-commer whose ideas about the movie business are radical departures. Wagner's financing this one. The movie, Bubble, is the first of six that Soderberg will film in HD video; all will be released simultaneously in theaters, as HDNet movies, and on DVDs." From the article: "As independents, Soderbergh and Wagner are willing to talk openly about subjects that are being hotly debated behind closed doors elsewhere in Hollywood. When Disney chief Robert Iger recently brought up the concept of shortening the window between theatrical release and DVD, he was fiercely criticised by the National Association of Theatre Owners."
In two years, it will read:
"all will be released simultaneously in theaters, as HDNet movies, on DVDs, and for download on iTunesVideo"
When Disney chief Robert Iger recently brought up the concept of shortening the window between theatrical release and DVD, he was fiercely criticised by the National Association of Theatre Owners.
:-)
The cycle is WAY shorter than it used to be. I remember back in the Bad Old Days(TM) when you would have to wait until a year after the movie left the theaters to see in on VHS. And that was only if the movie studio felt that the movie would do well resold on tape.
Now we barely have to wait 3-4 months after its initial release before it appears in stores on DVD! It's so quick anymore, that sometimes it feels like it's on DVD as soon as it's out of the theater. I realize that for some people that may seem slow, but for those of us who remember, that's one hell of a fast turnaround!
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he was fiercely criticised by the National Association of Theatre Owners.
:-P
You know, he should be really careful about pissing off NATO. Otherwise he may find a nuke landing square on his doorstep!
(Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all night. Wait, no I won't. I'm going to bed.)
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... is because generally it's higher resolution than DVDs and their sound system is usually better than what I have at home. Other reasons would be a social gathering or something. It's hardly ever the case that I go to watch movies because I can't wait for the DVDs to come out.
Having a home theater at home, the only reason I go to theaters is just so I can brag about seeing it before everyone else
Oh, so you're that guy.
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This would also be a very good opportunity to get rid of the irritating DVD release zones. I think these zones are ment to align the DVD releases in all countries with the movie releases, which are also shifted around the world (what's actually wrong with one world-wide release date?).
But what they actually do is just give you lots of trouble when anyone outside the US or Japan wants to order a DVD that's only available there (no matter how long ago it was released!), and then has to find a zone-free DVD-player, or heck their existing one, etc.
Just stop with this crap, and you'll have a world-wide market for all your DVD's! Doesn't that sound nice?
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Has the National Association of Theater Owners considered that they have pissed me off, and that's why I don't go to their theaters anymore?
If they don't listen to my criticisms, why should I give a damn about theirs?
KFG
> WONDERFULL! I'm sick of paying $7 + $5 for movie popcorn and a drink
> when I could buy (to own forever) the movie later for $20 (provided I don't get it
> through another means before then).
And not have to deal with a theater where two people bring kids in who whine in the movie or have to go pee ten times during the movie, a bunch of teenagers bring their cell phones in and text message each other with bright screens flashing around and they're the polite ones who don't leave their phone on and have it ring in the middle of the movie or the people who bring PDAs in yet another distraction.
I have not been to a theater release movie in the last five years where a cell phone has NOT gone off in the middle of it. Thankfully many people don't answer them but people still do sometimes.
> "When Disney chief Robert Iger recently brought up the concept of shortening the window between theatrical release and DVD, he was fiercely criticised by the National Association of Theatre Owners."
No shit. The National Association of Theatre Owners need their own fierce criticism for doing shit-all about making the cinema experience worthwhile. It feels more like a cattlerun where you're forced in then out and must deal with everything that happens inside no matter what.
At least people in the movie business are coming to grips with the reality that people have access to the movie via the internet as soon as it hits theaters anyway. At least this way they can make some money off of it.
The sooner these content producers realize that change in their distribution sceme (and copyright in general) is inevitable and is a Good Thing(R) the sooner we can start seeing more people making more stuff, and more money flowing.
I'm sure there were a few monks who weren't happy about the advent of the Luther bible, but they adapted and the bible is still a number one best seller. The film industry was terrified of the VCR, but now we see more movies getting made by more people and more money flowing. The Internet and "piracy" are just harbingers of another change in progress. Personally, I'm pretty excited for it to finally get here so I don't have to put up with being called a thief for downloading movies that I could legitimately get through my netflix subscription but don't feel like waiting for.
Steven Soderbergh's "3-pronged attack" is being watched closely by Hollywood. This Theater-Cable-DVD simultaneous release of a new movie to the public is actually one of the counter measures against privacy movie people have thought about but never really dared to try. So, give Mr. Soderbergh a chance, and maybe years down the line they might even use words like "pioneer" to describe him.
h tml).
"Bubble", shot for $1.6 million, may be a cheapo in Hollywood standard, but Soderbergh was serious enough to use the same high-definition camera George Lucas used for two "Star Wars" movies, as described in a New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/22/movies/22bubb.
Sun and Fun
Primarily because the Theatres only get a tiny fraction of any box office recipts when a movie first opens, then as the weeks pass, their percentage goes up. Sure, they make a ton of money off of popcorn and candy, But when you're paying 7 or 8 bucks to see a movie, 95 - 99 percent of that goes straight to the Movie Companies. So, if the Movie Companies continue to shorten the life of a first run movie, those Theatre owners are going to have to adapt or die.
So they're fighting to maintain some sort of status quo. It's not right or wrong, it's just why they will fight this so hard.
I suppose the next question is, At what point will major, non sucky, movies get released straight to DVD (or whatever media is in vogue)? Currently straight to video is a pretty strong indication that a movie is sucky. How much longer before that will not be true?
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I'm sick of paying $7 + $5 for movie popcorn and a drink
A much simpler alternative to revamping the movie distribution system is to merely wait a few months for it to be released on DVD. You know people, not getting what you want IMMEDIATELY isn't a bad thing.
Band routinely sell merchandise and CD's after concerts. You've seen the band and as a souvenir you can buy the album for usually less than retail prices.
For films something similar could be done: You have seen the movie, and you were -no doubt- very impressed. A very good mindset for the merchant that is offering the DVD right at the exit(at a less then retail price). Instead of complaining, theatre owners should grasp this golden opportunity.
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Have you ever considered that the problem might not be with Hollywood or movie theatres but with your fellow citizens' basic inability to act in what would be considered a civilised manner?
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Every time you breathe out, you're releasing carbon dioxide--a greenhouse gas--into our atmosphere. The more you breathe, the more carbon dioxide you produce, warming the environment and leading to changes in weather patterns, eliminating animal habitats and increasing the deadliness of hurricanes and tropical storms.
;)
And we all know sex involves heavy breathing.
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You know people, not getting what you want IMMEDIATELY isn't a bad thing.
Taken independantly, your sentiment is certainly valid. Taken in the context of the article, on Slashdot, again it's alright -- the slashdot crowd more than most other cliques can tend to wait (or pirate it, and face it, lots of slashdotters do).
But for most people, movies do need to be seen relatively soon as they come out. It's all about water cooler chitchat, and last years or last seasons movies don't cut it.
This should really be taken to heart too -- Slashdot is filled with guys that can't socialize (and hence, get dates). To some degree, that is affected by an inability to realize that if someone asks you about the latest movie; they're trying to start a conversation -- not looking to get preached to about the evil movie industry.
~Rebecca
Your falling into the classic "I need to know everything to be interesting" trap.
.. how was it?"
Watercooler chitchat does not requre shared experiances as much as you think. It can actually be about sharing experiances as well.
"Hey did you see the new movie?"
"no
And *blam*, you have a conversation. It's that easy.