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

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

They're re-releasing, the entire idea is that they can put both on one disc

They better be careful on choosing to bump up the price.

Nevertheless, it seems doubtful that studios will invest the time and money to convert old catalog films to 3D.

[Jeff Kleist]

Prices will come down around the same time sets are affordable to the mainstream and the production process is streamlined

Please realize that they finally got Blu-ray encoding up to a good speed in the last year, MVC encoding is HUGELY time consuming, it's super exponentially more complicated than the straight up, and their potential customers are pretty limited right now.

I fully expect that Tron Legacy will ship like Xmas Carol, with the 3-disc containing the 3D version.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Prices will come down around the same time sets are affordable to the mainstream and the production process is streamlined

Please realize that they finally got Blu-ray encoding up to a good speed in the last year, MVC encoding is HUGELY time consuming, it's super exponentially more complicated than the straight up, and their potential customers are pretty limited right now.

I fully expect that Tron Legacy will ship like Xmas Carol, with the 3-disc containing the 3D version.

3D will need content, too. Like I said I don't expect many studios to invest $$$ into converting catalog titles into 3D when they won't have the same "pop" that a real 3D film will have.

On another note, who is following this ridiculous freakshow called NBA freeagency?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I fully expect that Tron Legacy will ship like Xmas Carol, with the 3-disc containing the 3D version.

So with them sticking the 3D version on its own disc pretty much negates the "feature" of 3D being transparent and backwards compatible to the existing 2D user base.

Reminds me of the "P&S - Letterbox" setting on DVD. DVD had the capability to present *everything* widescreen and panning & scanning on the fly for the foolscreen audience. As far as I can recall, not one single title took advantage of that feature and dual sided or separate releases ruled the day.

[garyrc]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Well, that's going to be the reality until there's enough volume to justify Amazon lowering that price.

Amazon's prices maybe, but the amount Amazon pays could be lower, as could the largely fictional MSRPs, because not everything needs to pay for itself right away. Some things can ride on the coattails of others. Formats they want to be adopted in great numbers (3D, or ordinary Blu-ray itself, for that matter) might be adopted faster, in greater numbers, in a financially stimulating way, if the prices were lower.

On a slightly different subject, a good number of film classics that are now known to nearly everyone, and owned, often in multiple formats, by many, failed to make money the first time around. Pinocchio is a famous example, and I believe Fantasia and Citizen Kane fit the category. A casualty of the belief that things need to pay for themselves right away was the film by Orson Wells with John Huston playing a film director. The money was cut off during production by people who wanted to make their money back immediately. I think the film was The Other Side of the Wind, or some similar working title.

[Jeff Kleist]

So with them sticking the 3D version on its own disc pretty much negates the "feature" of 3D being transparent and backwards compatible to the existing 2D user base.

It is transparent and backwards compatible to the existing user base. 3 disc= combo w/DVD and digital copy like Alice in Wonderland. Probably 4-disc, since they'll undoubtedly wnat to have a lot of bonus material

Reminds me of the "P&S - Letterbox" setting on DVD. DVD had the capability to present *everything* widescreen and panning & scanning on the fly for the foolscreen audience. As far as I can recall, not one single title took advantage of that feature and dual sided or separate releases ruled the day.

Most of the players, especially the cheap chinese garbage players didn't have the processing power to pull it off properly. In addition, programming all of the moves into the DVD was more expensive as supporting a seperate P&S encode.

In reality, virtually EVERY DVD used this feature for menus on 4:3 TVs

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I don't get the point you are trying to make.

MRSP has an even playing field. Let me ask you this would you expect to pay the same price for a film on day one and 6 months later? Amazon charges more because people want and are buying the 3D version because it just came out. The 2D has been on the shelf for months and no one is interested in it any more (especialy since there is a better 3D version that just came out

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

MRSP has an even playing field. Let me ask you this would you expect to pay the same price for a film on day one and 6 months later? Amazon charges more because people want and are buying the 3D version because it just came out. The 2D has been on the shelf for months and no one is interested in it any more (especialy since there is a better 3D version that just came out

You made my point. The 3D version costs more. Thanks.

Im not saying they aren't justifying charging more. I'm just saying I don't like it and I expect a lot of people to be put off by it too. I don't really know what Hollywood's expectations of 3D actually is, but IF they expect it to go mainstream it can't have a premium price. But Im not sure if their goal is for it to be mainstream since they can't release anywhere near the amount of content in 3D as they can with regular bluray and 3D (at best) will be limited to recent films, since I would imagine that converting older films to 3D will be very expensive.

[Jeff Kleist]

You made my point. The 3D version costs more. Thanks.

No , they cost the same. Amazon is not the only retailer out there.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

No , they cost the same. Amazon is not the only retailer out there.

Best Buy is also selling the 3D version for $34.99 and the regular for $29.99.

For me where I live those are my only options. Of course, none of it really matters to me at this time cuz I don't have a 3D TV or a 3D player and I do have a desire to get one for the sake of saying I have those things, but am smart enough to know they will rarely (if ever) get used.

To me 3D will be all well and good if the studios market it as a bonus feature to the current benefits we get from bluray. One that doesn't jack up the cost of current bluray discs which are at a price point that Im ok with. I now rarely pay more then $20 for new bluray releases.

I do think 3D will be irrelevant if the studios start putting out only the 3D (w/ the option to watch 2D of course) versions of films at higher prices.

I AM curious if there is a difference in video quality of watching the plain 2D disc of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and watching 2D from the 3D disc, since they (if I understand correctly) would have to encoded differently. I am curious if 2D quality could potentially have to be sacrificed to fit all the extra 3D information needed.

Bottom line: As long as 3D doesn't mess up current pricing of bluray discs and doesn't give the studios an excuse to charge more on films that get a 3D only release I'll be fine.

[Jeff Kleist]

As I said before, their SRPs are identical, they cost the same

There simply isn't the volume on 3D title,s considering there is ONE right now on shelves yet to justify it. You're comparing a disc that came out 3 weeks ago with one that's been out of the better part of a year

I AM curious if there is a difference in video quality of watching the plain 2D disc of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and watching 2D from the 3D disc, since they (if I understand correctly) would have to encoded differently. I am curious if 2D quality could potentially have to be sacrificed to fit all the extra 3D information needed.

With a CG movie there shouldn't be an issue. With the bandwidth bump, it really depends on the movie whether or not it'll affect anything. Only for long movies (2.5 hours+) do I even see there even beginning to be an issue

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

With a CG movie there shouldn't be an issue. With the bandwidth bump, it really depends on the movie whether or not it'll affect anything. Only for long movies (2.5 hours+) do I even see there even beginning to be an issue

Like say....Avatar?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

As I said before, their SRPs are identical, they cost the same

There simply isn't the volume on 3D title,s considering there is ONE right now on shelves yet to justify it. You're comparing a disc that came out 3 weeks ago with one that's been out of the better part of a year

So my question is if all costs are the same would you agree with me that it would probably be best to advertise 3D as a special feature that would give consumers more incentive to jump on the bluray bandwagon which would have consumers asking the questions when considering a movie purchase:

1. "Hmmm do I choose between a $15 dvd, a $22 bluray or a $30 3D bluray?"

or

2. "Do I choose between a $15 dvd or a $22 bluray that also gives me the 3D version at no additional cost to non 3D blurays?"

If consumers are able to ask question 2. I think 3D bluray has more than a chance to succeed and has the potential to pick up even more bluray customers and expand the market further. It may not lead to more 3D TV sales, but eventually when consumers DO take the 3D plunge they could already have several titles in their library.

I am trying to guage which way studios are leaning. I recognize that CWaCoM is really the only example right now, but it suggests the first option is the way things are leaning.

[MerrickG]

At the end of the day, I don't care what happens with 3D as long as it doesn't force me to pay more for a bluray that I will only watch in 2D.

[Jeff Kleist]

So my question is if all costs are the same would you agree with me that it would probably be best to advertise 3D as a special feature that would give consumers more incentive to jump on the bluray bandwagon which would have consumers asking the questions when considering a movie purchase:

The people who are buying 3D right now have lots and lots of disposible income. Ever wonder why some iPhone apps are $30? Because they're targeted to the same demo. The same thing went for Blu-ray at this stage

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by merrick97

So my question is if all costs are the same would you agree with me that it would probably be best to advertise 3D as a special feature that would give consumers more incentive to jump on the bluray bandwagon which would have consumers asking the questions when considering a movie purchase:

1. "Hmmm do I choose between a $15 dvd, a $22 bluray or a $30 3D bluray?"

or

2. "Do I choose between a $15 dvd or a $22 bluray that also gives me the 3D version at no additional cost to non 3D blurays?"

If consumers are able to ask question 2. I think 3D bluray has more than a chance to succeed and has the potential to pick up even more bluray customers and expand the market further. It may not lead to more 3D TV sales, but eventually when consumers DO take the 3D plunge they could already have several titles in their library.

I am trying to guage which way studios are leaning. I recognize that CWaCoM is really the only example right now, but it suggests the first option is the way things are leaning.

Since the studios charge more for theatrical 3D, I would expect them to do the same for BD's.

What is the incentive for studios to spend extra money and effort making a 3D BD if they can't charge more? Other than Sony, none of the major content producers will benefit from sales of 3D monitors or BD players.

There are also marketing issues. If a new release was released in a 3D (2D compatible) format only, the overwhelming majority of purchasers would NOT be able to watch the 3D version. How many uninformed purchasers would return their disks to the stores, rant on the web, and swamp the switchboards of the studios. "It says 3D but it looks 2D ... and it doesn't come with glasses!" It would take a major education/marketing effort to inform less tech-savvy BD users about the technology.

[Riff Magnum]

When the Gold Boxset of Twin Peaks was released back in '07, was a HD master made from the original 35mm prints?
Basically, can we expect Twin Peaks on BD?

[Bill Hunt]

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to check in here and say hello. Seems as if there was a bit of an "inside" Insider kerfuffle around here recently. Nice to see things finally (mostly) back to normal here after such silliness. I'm reminded of a line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail about Camelot...

Anyway, I'll try to check in here a little more often... as long as we can keep the "When is this film or that film coming out on Blu-ray?" questions down to a minimum.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to check in here and say hello. Seems as if there was a bit of an "inside" Insider kerfuffle around here recently. Nice to see things finally (mostly) back to normal here after such silliness. I'm reminded of a line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail about Camelot...

Anyway, I'll try to check in here a little more often... as long as we can keep the "When is this film or that film coming out on Blu-ray?" questions down to a minimum.

Bill I dedicate my new avatar to you!

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to check in here and say hello. Seems as if there was a bit of an "inside" Insider kerfuffle around here recently. Nice to see things finally (mostly) back to normal here after such silliness. I'm reminded of a line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail about Camelot...

Anyway, I'll try to check in here a little more often... as long as we can keep the "When is this film or that film coming out on Blu-ray?" questions down to a minimum.

Well Bill (or Jeff), since you can't answer about specific titles, but can you tell us if we , IN YOUR OPINION, can expect good things for bluray out comic-con?

We know that Sir Lucas likes to announce things at comic-con, but I won't get greedy and ask about specifics.