Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Bruce Morrison]

Jeff, through your contacts with Warner, do you know whether they are aware that, judging by comments elsewhere in this forum, there are significant numbers of BD adopters who dislike/hate the "digibook" packaging that they've used for selected titles in the US. Some people are even avoiding buying these titles or waiting until the movies are released in standard Blu-ray cases in other territories.

Reasons for this vary, but it's something that I don't think they should ignore. Are they considering offering the option of a regular Blu-ray case for future digibook titles? That would keep everyone happy.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

It's much more likely that Fox will simply not repeat the use of those hubs and go for a more traditional format next time, which I'm sure people will find new ways to complain about (slimpacks? The devil!)

Bolded the above as it's what I'm commenting on.

I personally don't have an issue with slim-packs if it's for a movie franchise that has ended. For instance, I would have been fine had they released "The Godfather" collection in slim-packs since I don't expect to see "The Godfather 4" come out in the next few years!

The POTA films would have been fine too since there's no chance of a sequel coming out any time soon. Same goes with the Batman anthology coming out next year as the franchise has already been rebooted, and I'd be fine with WB releasing a Superman collection with all four Reeves movies along with "Superman Returns" since the new film is planned to be a reboot.

However, slim-packs suck when you have an on-going franchise. If the studios would offer updated packaging for a small fee or shipping & handling (ala "Jurassic Park" franchise) when a sequel gets released, I doubt many people would complain... aside from those people who like to get box sets and sell the sequels they don't like on EBay... and I doubt the studios care too much about them!

~Alan

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

Jeff, through your contacts with Warner, do you know whether they are aware that, judging by comments elsewhere in this forum, there are significant numbers of BD adopters who dislike/hate the "digibook" packaging that they've used for selected titles in the US. ...

Evidently they think they have a winner judging by the Ad they have
on page 5, Home Media Magazine Special Edition.
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ques...1208/index.php

Or maybe they think the Ad will boost poor sales. At any rate I just
buy the few "must haves" from the UK. The "nice to have" titles I
forgo. I'm sure there are collectors that are interest just like with
steelbooks, but in the case of steelbooks regular packaging is also
offered.

[assur191]

Jeff -

I've been wondering for a while if there's any way to know which shows have a chance of being in HD, and which ones will always be SD. It would be helpful to know, so I can get the DVDs of the SD series, instead of holding out for blu-rays that will never come. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Jeff Kleist]

Jeff there were a few titles Warner released on HD DVD that never came to blu ray (like Caddyshack, smallville season 5, etc) You'd think they'd be easier to port over than a new catalog title, why do you think these have been put on the backburner?

Smallville 5 will likely not come out until a complete box does. TV titles are not selling in the big numbers necessary to justify catalog releases for the most part
Most of the rest of them are being spread out on the usual schedule for tie-ins.

Reasons for this vary, but it's something that I don't think they should ignore. Are they considering offering the option of a regular Blu-ray case for future digibook titles? That would keep everyone happy.

No. WB sees this as their premium line

I personally don't have an issue with slim-packs if it's for a movie franchise that has ended. For instance, I would have been fine had they released "The Godfather" collection in slim-packs since I don't expect to see "The Godfather 4" come out in the next few years!

I was just referencing the fact that any deviation from the standard keepcase always gets complaints

I personally don't have an issue with slim-packs if it's for a movie franchise that has ended. For instance, I would have been fine had they released "The Godfather" collection in slim-packs since I don't expect to see "The Godfather 4" come out in the next few years!

However, slim-packs suck when you have an on-going franchise. If the studios would offer updated packaging for a small fee or shipping & handling (ala "Jurassic Park" franchise) when a sequel gets released, I doubt many people would complain... aside from those people who like to get box sets and sell the sequels they don't like on EBay... and I doubt the studios care too much about them!

Again, stuff we've suggested over the years, but they never seem to want to go for it. Perhaps with the new print-on-demand services on the web something can be done, but I wouldn't hold my breath

I've been wondering for a while if there's any way to know which shows have a chance of being in HD, and which ones will always be SD. It would be helpful to know, so I can get the DVDs of the SD series, instead of holding out for blu-rays that will never come. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Anything pre-1983 or so will be film based with rare exception. Shows, mostly comedies shot on video are glaringly obvious if you just look at them. Doctor Who will never be on Blu-ray because it's all SD for example. It's a crapshoot if most shows will get the upgrade any time in the forseeable future. A lot of shows exist in HD, but like Firefly they don't look that great to the non-anal eye, so I forsee stuff like Alias waiting a few years till a $200 or so boxset is feasible.

You'd have to give me some examples, but as a general rule for catalog TV, order of priority is Action/Drama/Comedy,

[woodlandwolf]

For me I really like the didibooks, I just put all the blu cases together, then the small box sets, then the digiboks and then the big collector's box sets. I like how they look on the self.

So with some shows so on will only be in sd maybe dvd. Does this mean that within 5 years or so that everything that is on DVD wont be on Blu then?

And within the next yaer or so, could we see more basic non cgi animation coming out? I like cgi but I really like the classics like Anastsia, Titan AE, Ferngully, The Chipmunk Adventure, The Care Bears Movie.

And for the BIG Disney question, could we every see like the classic Disney shorts on Blu?

btw thanks for the great answers and have a great Happy 2009!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks,

Woodlandwolf

[FourToedStatue]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Anything pre-1983 or so will be film based with rare exception. Shows, mostly comedies shot on video are glaringly obvious if you just look at them. Doctor Who will never be on Blu-ray because it's all SD for example.

So to reiterate The most that can be done technology wise with these SD shows is upsscale them (like 28 days later)?

That's too bad.

[Jeff Kleist]

And within the next yaer or so, could we see more basic non cgi animation coming out? I like cgi but I really like the classics like Anastsia, Titan AE, Ferngully, The Chipmunk Adventure, The Care Bears Movie.

Titan AE is the only one of those likely to hit Blu any time soon

So to reiterate The most that can be done technology wise with these SD shows is upsscale them (like 28 days later)?

Yes, which for the most part is a waste of time on these.

I hope they'll start shooting Doctor Who in HD with the new guy, but BBC keeps claiming there's too many FX shots to finish in time. While I find their reasoning dubious, I'd say they're much more allergic to spending the money to upgrade the sets and other assets to look good in HD.

[lgans316]

Jeff,

Any idea whether Paramount will re-release Shooter, Mission Impossible Trilogy etc with lossless audio ?

Now that DreamWorks has split from Paramount, what are possibilities of their BDs being given DTS-HD MA treatment instead of Dolby TrueHD ?

[David Craig]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

Jeff, through your contacts with Warner, do you know whether they are aware that, judging by comments elsewhere in this forum, there are significant numbers of BD adopters who dislike/hate the "digibook" packaging that they've used for selected titles in the US. Some people are even avoiding buying these titles or waiting until the movies are released in standard Blu-ray cases in other territories.

Reasons for this vary, but it's something that I don't think they should ignore. Are they considering offering the option of a regular Blu-ray case for future digibook titles? That would keep everyone happy.

I too noticed that many don't like digibooks. I personally like them more than the normal packaging. Could it be that the silent majority like them?

[Jeff Kleist]

Any idea whether Paramount will re-release Shooter, Mission Impossible Trilogy etc with lossless audio ?

Now that DreamWorks has split from Paramount, what are possibilities of their BDs being given DTS-HD MA treatment instead of Dolby TrueHD

MI will probably get a reissue, we pray with new transfers whenever MI4 happens. Shooter who knows, but not any time soon

Dreamworks has their distributor do their authoring for them, since Universal has a contract with DTS, they'll use that. It really doesn't make a difference which one they use, lossless is lossless

I too noticed that many don't like digibooks. I personally like them more than the normal packaging. Could it be that the silent majority like them?

I'd say it's more a very vocal minority that doesn't like them, and the vast majority simply don't care. Warner values the shelf look more than anything else

[jag2007]

Hi Jeff
Any thoughts if we will see a great animated masterpiece "Iron Giant" on Blu anytime soon?

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

MI will probably get a reissue, we pray with new transfers whenever MI4 happens. Shooter who knows, but not any time soon

Dreamworks has their distributor do their authoring for them, since Universal has a contract with DTS, they'll use that. It really doesn't make a difference which one they use, lossless is lossless



I'd say it's more a very vocal minority that doesn't like them, and the vast majority simply don't care. Warner values the shelf look more than anything else

So if I understand what you are saying, Dreamworks will begin to use DTS-HD? If I did understand that correctly, then what are the odds that Gladiator will come with DTS-HD since Universal and Dreamworks are working on that.

[Jeff Kleist]

So if I understand what you are saying, Dreamworks will begin to use DTS-HD? If I did understand that correctly, then what are the odds that Gladiator will come with DTS-HD since Universal and Dreamworks are working on that.

DreamWorks, like MGM are at the mercy of their distributor, so whoever is distributing for them they will follow suit. For example if MGM were still at Sony they would use TrueHD. Universal, who will be distributing most of the DreamWorks catalog starting later this year (anything made during Paramount's tenure, or started/financed in that period remains with them as I understand it) has a contract with DTS to use their codec.

It doesn't make a difference what codec they use. Lossless is lossless and the only reasons why many studios are using DTS is because of various deals cut that save them some money over Dolby, not because of any benefit, perceived or real inherent in the codec. No matter which one is used you are getting top quality

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Universal, who will be distributing most of the DreamWorks catalog starting later this year (anything made during Paramount's tenure, or started/financed in that period remains with them as I understand it) has a contract with DTS to use their codec.

Jeff,

Are you sure that's the case re Universal? I know they used to distribute for Dreamworks back in the old days. However, when Dreamworks went over to Paramount, Paramount subsequently sold off the home video right to Soros/Dune Entertainment (see link).

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=18&cs=1

Now, the article says that Soros/Dune would distribute through Paramount. So maybe Soros/Dune still "owns" the Dreamworks library (in the background and transparent to us end consumers), and will now distribute through Uni as opposed to Paramount.

Also, is it safe to assume Braveheart will still make it in 2009, just not in January?

-Esox

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

It doesn't make a difference what codec they use. Lossless is lossless and the only reasons why many studios are using DTS is because of various deals cut that save them some money over Dolby, not because of any benefit, perceived or real inherent in the codec. No matter which one is used you are getting top quality

I know lossless is lossless, but in one case I just would not be able to "deal" with TrueHD. That is, Jurassic Park. It was the first theatrical DTS release and thankfully Universal went with DTS Master for all of its Blu-Ray releases (now and in the future for JP). I know, I know. It shouldn't make a difference , but Jurassic Park and Dolby TrueHD just doesn't seem right. Jurassic Park and DTS Master Audio should go together like peanut butter and jelly. Call me sentimental...

[Jeff Kleist]

Are you sure that's the case re Universal? I know they used to distribute for Dreamworks back in the old days. However, when Dreamworks went over to Paramount, Paramount subsequently sold off the home video right to Soros/Dune Entertainment (see link).

There's a buyback clause in that deal if I remember correctly, and they go where Dreamworks goes
It's like how Michael Jackson has/had Beatles rights where they all go together, and he collects a percent.

Long story short (I'm sure Max could elaborate). Paramount paid big bucks for DW, but really only wanted the name/titles in development/talent pool, so they sold off the catalog to Soros to get back a bunch of that cash, and in exchange they took a distribution fee (typically 10%).

There is no reason why Universal couldn't buy out Paramount's distribution contract, and I'd say it's quite likely they would. Universal also has international rights on Gladiator and many others in the DW catalog.

Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but that's how I see things going down.

I know lossless is lossless, but in one case I just would not be able to "deal" with TrueHD. That is, Jurassic Park. It was the first theatrical DTS release and thankfully Universal went with DTS Master for all of its Blu-Ray releases (now and in the future for JP). I know, I know. It shouldn't make a difference , but Jurassic Park and Dolby TrueHD just doesn't seem right. Jurassic Park and DTS Master Audio should go together like peanut butter and jelly. Call me sentimental...

Well, Spielberg has his thing for DTS, and since it's Universal I don't see where that would be a problem

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Esox50

I know lossless is lossless, but in one case I just would not be able to "deal" with TrueHD. That is, Jurassic Park. It was the first theatrical DTS release and thankfully Universal went with DTS Master for all of its Blu-Ray releases (now and in the future for JP). I know, I know. It shouldn't make a difference , but Jurassic Park and Dolby TrueHD just doesn't seem right. Jurassic Park and DTS Master Audio should go together like peanut butter and jelly. Call me sentimental...

Well you *do* know it was originally mixed for intention to be Dolby Digital, and was released that way overseas?

[HeavyHitter]

Hi Jeff,

Are we going to see as many new transfers with furture Blu-ray re-releases, or is it likely to be far and few between?

It seems we did see quite a few double-dips with new transfers. However, I'm thinking it may be more expensive to do with Blu-ray.

[mark antony]

Hi Jeff

As Once Upon a time in the West has been restored in both italian and english, is this likely to appear any time soon?

Thanks

GM