Ask questions to Shout Factory Insider Cliff

[SkynetTX]

The thread seems to be frozen. Let's warm it up a bit. A Legion blu-ray would also be good. (The TV movie from 1989 with Parker Stevenson.)

[tonylopez]

Didn't Cliff mention at one point getting or possibly getting additional Universal titles? I read a lot of speculation about Scream looking into this or that and it gets old fast. On the flip side of things, I'm kind of excited about a potential Amityville Horror box set coming out. Yeah, personally I would like to see several other titles but I'm just happy that Scream Factory is making great blurays and a box set is their moment to shine even brighter.

[Justtoview]

Since I see 'Cliff' here with various one liner comments from time to time, I was hoping that he would take a moment to respond to the pretty negative review given by this site on the Phantasm II release.

While it's clear the reviewer is not a fan of the film itself, I would like to know what Cliff has to say in response to the complaints of telecine wobble and digital enhancement to the video, as well as other technical aspects of the review that are unsettling to some fans of Scream Factory's releases.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by SkynetTX

The thread seems to be frozen. Let's warm it up a bit. A Legion blu-ray would also be good. (The TV movie from 1989 with Parker Stevenson.)

the only way this thread is going to "warm up" is if Cliff decides to come back and occasionally respond to SHOUT's potential customers....

[NoirFan]

Hell, this whole forum seems to be 'frozen'.

[SkynetTX]

So no one can confirm if the series "The Outer Limits" will be released on DVD? I would be really great to have one of the greatest sci-fi shows on DVD. But a remastered and uncut blu-ray pack (4 or 5 discs per season) of the 154 episodes would be even better.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by SkynetTX

So no one can confirm if the series "The Outer Limits" will be released on DVD? I would be really great to have one of the greatest sci-fi shows on DVD. ...

The Outer Limits has been available on DVD for years.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by SkynetTX

So no one can confirm if the series "The Outer Limits" will be released on DVD? I would be really great to have one of the greatest sci-fi shows on DVD. But a remastered and uncut blu-ray pack (4 or 5 discs per season) of the 154 episodes would be even better.

Originally Posted by cjamescook

The Outer Limits has been available on DVD for years.

It has and it hasn't. SkynetTX appears to be asking about the 1995-2002 version of the series based on the number of episodes. MGM only released the first season and some single disc collections and that was in 2005.

Alliance did release the full series in Canada, but their releases appear to have been the "edited for syndication" versions of the episodes.

[KINGDANGER]

Cliff,
What can you tell us about the upcoming Battle Creek Brawl/City Hunter Jackie Chan release?
Certainly, there is considerable conversation around the Shout offices about consumer reaction to the questionable quality of the Jackie Chan transfers from Fortune Star thus far.

[dvdmrp]

Hi Cliff,

I've suggested this on other forums and sites, but what is the feasibility of Shout doing a Kickstarter campaign to help allocate funds for future film transfers or licensing?
I know that Shout cannot remaster or release everything as there are costs involved and first and foremost you are in business and need to stay afloat.
This idea however seems like a great way to try and earn some money to make some of the less feasible ideas possible.

For example, you could try and raise money to create 16:9 dvd transfers for the MGM films that currently have 20 year old FF VHS masters. Some of those titles will not sell in the hundreds of thousands so of course Shout cannot justify the cost as there is that innate fear that the money will be lost. Sadly, this is what happened with the Corman sets. They were amazing and I was hoping that they could have continued. Also, perhaps we could do Kickstarter campaigns to get more Corman titles out there? Perhaps the Nurses collection?

Finally, with Shout getting some MGM titles, perhaps the MGM titles that were released in 3D could be a possibility? I know MGM has not converted those to 3D. The conversion to 3D Blu is costly...once again, a Kickstarter campaign might allow for an undertaking such as that to happen.

It is just an idea, but the great thing is, if the desired goal is not met, no ones money is taken. This prevents people from "losing" their money and removes the fear of the money not going to the project or the desired goal.

Also, it is a great way to gauge the demand. If the demand is not there, well then a title will not be released, or it wont be remastered and released as is etc.

I know it is a different idea and would need some tweaking..but I hope it is something that you and Shout will mull over. It may help both parties achieve what they want.
I know you love these movies just like all of us crazed fans, and if these endeavors were free you would do them in a heartbeat, well campaigns such as this can remove a great deal of the cost and risk that you and Shout would have to face.

Thanks again for your time and all that you do. I didn't want to sound like a crazed person, constantly asking and pleading for the widescreen versions of films. I just love these movies. No matter how "silly, dumb, or cheesy" some of them are, I love them all the same. I know some of these films masters are in tough shape and I commend you for even considering them for releases as no one else has. My goal however is to get them done so all future generations can see them and god forbid if anything happens to the neg/prints, at least an OAR master will be there, not some ancient vhs tape.

Dvd and blu-ray give us film lovers something 15 years ago we never had...the ability to see the films as close to or exactly as they were at the time of release. In some cases better.

Keep up the amazing work and ambition that you all have. Thanks again for all that you do. Just please don't ever compare yourself to Lionsgate..you are so much better than that!

-Mark

[hotandserious]

Hi Cliff!

Very excited to hear that Amityville 3D will be confirmed this summer!

Please rattle Wade Williams' cage and shake out Cat-Women Of The Moon 3D and Robot Monster 3D Blu-rays for us!

[tonylopez]

Originally Posted by KINGDANGER

Cliff,
What can you tell us about the upcoming Battle Creek Brawl/City Hunter Jackie Chan release?
Certainly, there is considerable conversation around the Shout offices about consumer reaction to the questionable quality of the Jackie Chan transfers from Fortune Star thus far.

Dated Asian films almost always have not great transfers. Not many people realize that many films are not really well preserved throughout Asian territories. The Dragon Dynasty series always got grief for horrible transfers but they can only clean up a film so much ( while on a strict budget). Another even better example is Criterion Collection. They released years back The Killer and Hard Boiled and the transfers were not good. Now if the great almighty CC can't clean these up, then Scream/Shout are in store for an uphill battle as far as polishing up these films. Plus, Scream is supplied with these HD transfers for many of these films and can physically only do so much. When it comes to the Jackie Chan films, the transfers will be probably the best they ever looked for the home market but they will not be great by any means at the same time.

[jah13]

Originally Posted by cmac

I don't know if its the same transfer used in the UK.
No to those three titles. Dramas don't do we'll on BD.

So SUMMER LOVERS gets turned down because it's a "drama," but the less-remembered--and deservedly so--drama THE IDOLMAKER, also co-starring Peter Gallagher, gets released?

THE IDOLMAKER features a pretty bad, anachronistic '80s-meets-'50s score by Jeff Barry. I'm guessing the film's low-budget wouldn't allow for the original tunes to be licensed.

[Sodslaw]

Hi Cliff,
I haven't read the entire thread but is there any chance of a House/House 2 the second story release on blu ray in the future?
I am aware that part 3 the horror show is coming out later in the year but think the first two deserve a release also.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by Sodslaw

I haven't read the entire thread but is there any chance of a House/House 2 the second story release on blu ray in the future?

House/House 2 are among the films Cliff has said no to. The full list of nixed titles is at the bottom of this first post in the general Scream thread.

[McCrutchy]

Worth a shot:

How about Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976), Cliff? The film is part of the Drive-In collection on DVD-R, but it might be nice to upgrade for Lynda Carter fans (of which there are many) because of all the recent Wonder Woman goings-on. I wonder (no pun intended) if you could even get Lynda Carter to sit down for an interview?

[dvdmrp]

Cliff, it seems that you have acquired a small handful of titles from the Taurus Entertainment Company..any chance you guys could get the rights to Black Eagle, the 1988 Eric Karson title starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sho Kosugi? This title needs a widescreen dvd release! It's quite a good movie!