Warner is in the initial stages of investigating the possibility of BD-R MOD releases

[Akijama]

Lol,i didn't know what to do with this info,where to post it,so hey -make a damn thread about it

From The Digital Bits:

What's more, Warner is in the initial stages of investigating the possibility of BD-R MOD releases in high-def, although many obstacles remain as the current BD-R spec isn't universally supported.

This news is coming from the this year Comic-Con and it was revealed by George Feltenstein.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

What is "BD-R MOD?"

More importantly, why should I care?

[zafisher94]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

What is "BD-R MOD?"

Blu-ray Movie on Demand

[MifuneFan]

BD-R = A burned BD disc with minimal or no artwork
MOD = Made on Demand

Warner does this with niche DVD titles so I expect it'll be the same kind of stuff that they make MOD and not anything major.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

What is "BD-R MOD?"

More importantly, why should I care?

MOD = Manufacture on Demand

As for why it's interesting or relevant, Warner has a hell of a deep catalog and they don't like to license. Right now Warner either does full direct releases or nothing.

Some sort of middle ground would be nice.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Obviously I knew what "BD-R" stood for. I was asking more about the concept of the entire designation.

So, is this Warner saying that they will have some system setup whereby the consumer somehow decides that they want a film on Blu-ray, pay for the respective digital file and are forced to create their own disc?

That's the impression that I am getting.

[Adam4Rizzel]

It will be exactly like Warner Archive, but instead of DVD its will be Blu-Ray.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Obviously I knew what "BD-R" stood for. I was asking more about the concept of the entire designation.

So, is this Warner saying that they will have some system setup whereby the consumer somehow decides that they want a film on Blu-ray, pay for the respective digital file and are forced to create their own disc?

That's the impression that I am getting.

No....The discs are made by Warner still and shipped to you with a case and artwork and everything (albeit still pretty barebones). Take a look at the Warner Archive collection, they've done this for years on DVD:

http://www.wbshop.com/category/wbsho...ion.do?nType=2

[Seymour]

I guess even WB is coming to the end of the line with legit catalog releases, albeit not until next year at the earliest.

[Vw Driver]

So they would remaster a film just for me?

Otherwise, that's what the online stores are for.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

This is exciting news, finally movies that, are very obscure and would have never had any sort of blu release will be able to find an audience.
I am a big fan of WB's current DVD MOD releases. its great that they realize there is an audience for these more obscure films, and unlike companies like Twilight Time, WB makes their DVD MOD titles availble in places like amazon and other online retailers.

Hope this comes to fruition.
those of you reading into this as meaning they are reaching the end of wide catalog releases obviously arent familar with what the warner archives collection actually is. This will not have any bearing on regular catalog titles, its the lesser known more obscure titles that majority of the public might not be aware of that will finally get a BD release. like the other poster above said WB has a very deep catalog of titles that have never seen the light of day on any home video format,because WB doesnt like to license even their lesser known films out.

[Seymour]

They're basically glorified bootlegs. It'll be the movie in HD, plus maybe the trailer as the sole extra. The worst part, they'll probably run like $30.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Originally Posted by Seymour

They're basically glorified bootlegs. It'll be the movie in HD, plus maybe the trailer as the sole extra. The worst part, they'll probably run like $30.

How is releasing something YOU own the intellectual rights to, "Basically a glorified bootleg". These are WB movies, they just are so deep in the catalog that the average consumer, might not have even known they were ever made.

I have no problem paying 25 or 30 bucks(which by the way since other retailers sell them as well, they can set the prices they want unlike TT which is only avaible through one retailer) for very obscure titles that would never in a million years get a release otherwise.

again your not going to see catalog titles like Beyond Poseidon Adventure or Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome, or Kiss Me Kate, or Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf get these types of release. it will be titles like what are in the current DVD on demand library and other more obscure titles. again these are titles that would otherwise not see a release. its not like paying 30 bucks for As good As it Gets.

[DarknessBDJM]

As long as the prices are decent I'll jump at the chance to get films like Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, John Alton noirs like The Black Book, and Don't Go to Sleep in hd.

[Seymour]

Originally Posted by WJWS Channel 13:Amity

How is releasing something YOU own the intellectual rights to, "Basically a glorified bootleg". These are WB movies, they just are so deep in the catalog that the average consumer, might not have even known they were ever made.

I have no problem paying 25 or 30 bucks(which by the way since other retailers sell them as well, they can set the prices they want unlike TT which is only avaible through one retailer) for very obscure titles that would never in a million years get a release otherwise.

again your not going to see catalog titles like Beyond Poseidon Adventure or Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome, or Kiss Me Kate, or Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf get these types of release. it will be titles like what are in the current DVD on demand library and other more obscure titles. again these are titles that would otherwise not see a release. its not like paying 30 bucks for As good As it Gets.

Well, I disagree. I'd rather pay $30 for a legit BD compared to $30 for a BD-R. Also, when WB started up the MOD dvd program in 2009, it basically meant they were done releasing regular catalog dvds.

[Dex Robinson]

This is bad news and let's hope it's doesn't pan out.

WB uses this an an excuse to produced very expensive, questionable quality burned DVDs of movies that should otherwise be on real DVDs.

In some cases, real DVDs have been allowed to go out of production to be replaced by these burned MOD DVDs. First title that comes to my mind is THE 7 FACES OF DR. LAO which was sold as a nice anamorphic dvd over a decade ago. Now, it's sold as a Warner Archives MOD DVD...and the real DVD is commanding collector prices.

This will give Warner an easy "out" and they would certainly take the same route with BD that they have taken with DVD. If this happens, expect to see WB catalogue dry up and existing titles movie to lower quality BD MOD at higher prices.

Let's all hope that the technical difficulties prevent this catalogue calamity from happening.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

What is "BD-R MOD?"

In Warner's case, the Archive, only now on Blu-ray.

More importantly, why should I care?

Because over the next few years, if anything pre-1975 catalogue comes out from the studio, that's where you're going to find it!

(Even though there's talk of restoration, I just KNOW "Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" is going to be exiled to the Archive sooner or later right next to Dr. Lao, so might as well be on Blu. )

[Kristian Idol]

It would be wonderful if WB does this. You know how some good films are just too small or obscure or cultish or out of style that they don't even have a DVD? Well, Warners created their Archive Collection so you could finally get it.

I bought Wisdom, a guilty pleasure written/directed/acted in by Emilio Estevez. Previously, I had a horrendous, full frame VHS copy off of broadcast TV, now I finally own a widescreen DVD version. No extras, no trailer, no slipcover (yes professional 4-color art), but I can watch what's actually become a somewhat prescient movie (Emilio destroys foreclosure records to help farmers, ala Robin Hood).

Transferring the program to Blu-ray is a great idea.

[silverlakephil]

I bought Urgh! A Music War at Amoeba Records.It was one of those Warner Archive MOD DVDs, so I'd be stoked if it's again available as a MOD blu-ray.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Originally Posted by Kristian Idol

It would be wonderful if WB does this. You know how some good films are just too small or obscure or cultish or out of style that they don't even have a DVD? Well, Warners created their Archive Collection so you could finally get it.

I bought Wisdom, a guilty pleasure written/directed/acted in by Emilio Estevez. Previously, I had a horrendous, full frame VHS copy off of broadcast TV, now I finally own a widescreen DVD version. No extras, no trailer, no slipcover (yes professional 4-color art), but I can watch what's actually become a somewhat prescient movie (Emilio destroys foreclosure records to help farmers, ala Robin Hood).

Transferring the program to Blu-ray is a great idea.

Exactly! movies that would otherwise never see the light of blu, because the audience is so small and miniscule