"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by NoQuestion

Penton,

Any vague timeline for when we might see the sony blu mega changer hit retail? I would love to pick up one of those.

Sorry, no but, I can tell you that one of the primary driving forces to offering an alternatively more economical device than what is currently available for sale, was that people from Sony Electronics saw the number of how many Blu-rays some of you guys have listed in your posting i.d. at the left of each post.

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Sorry, no but, I can tell you that one of the primary driving forces to offering an alternatively more economical device than what is currently available for sale, was that people from Sony Electronics saw the number of how many Blu-rays some of you guys have listed in your posting i.d. at the left of each post.

lol that's awesome.

[jangofett]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I guess my sarcasm was lost on you....and I even used 2 razz smilies

1. Sarcasm is frequently hard to understand over the internet.

2. Many people, have voiced concerns over the pricing of the movies, so it's certainly a legitimate issue but at the same time, one that I beleive will eventually be fixed.

[Anthony P]

The disks are $10.00 more the same reason that players are $250 more, b/c they really can't be sold at dvd prices profitably right now..... so give the brand time to grow, and for the engineers to put in smaller chips and devise new ways to trim costs. Also, when more units are produced the lower ( to an extent ) BD movie prices will be since the manufacturers will get to spread the fixed costs over more units. So, give it time and have some faith my padawan.

no

1) there are BD players that are under 200$ so unless someone is paying you to buy a DVD player that is not true. Yes BD players cost more to build, but your numbers are wrong

2) BD/DVD/CD price are not based on production cost. That is not how movies (or songs) work. A studio puts in a lot of money into making a movie, then the theatre distribution, DVD/BD distribution is always about making back that money and making a profit. The price of movies (BDS or DVDs) have nothing to do with replication or mastering and all to do with how much they think people will be willing to pay for the content, that is why a DVD starts up high and then eventually (same disk, same package and same replication cost) in the 5$ bin.

note 1: there are also some BDs that are retailing at less then 10$

for example HDScape Sampler 3.99
Blackbeard 9.99
actual most of the echo bridge single titles are around 10$ give or take 3$ and if you buy multi-packs they are even less (for example the 20 movie package for under 70$)

note 2: BD will always be priced higher then the equivalent DVD for as long as DVD exists, the same way that even though it cost a lot more to release on VHS then DVD the tape was priced lower then the DVD. BD is newer and a premium product, so it will always have a premium price, it might not always be 10$, it might be the same as DVD today (and DVD priced lower)

[Jeff Kleist]

Talk about production speed on VHS. Does anyone know how long it took the fast record mass production systems to run off a tape? No matter what, it had to be way longer than it takes to stamp a disc. Then add the size and weight of a VHS tape.

There was one small company I used to buy tapes from that would trumpet their better quality because their tapes were run off in real time.

A standard, single-disc Blu-ray release costs well under $5 to get out the door. But as Anthony said above, like with CD, you are paying for what's on it, not for the physical item in your hand.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Talk about production speed on VHS. Does anyone know how long it took the fast record mass production systems to run off a tape? No matter what, it had to be way longer than it takes to stamp a disc. Then add the size and weight of a VHS tape.

There was one small company I used to buy tapes from that would trumpet their better quality because their tapes were run off in real time.

A standard, single-disc Blu-ray release costs well under $5 to get out the door. But as Anthony said above, like with CD, you are paying for what's on it, not for the physical item in your hand.

Jeff,

Im glad you bought that up. How much did producing on VHS cost compare to what it does to make a film on bluray? Im asking just about disc manufacturiung here.

[Jeff Kleist]

I have no idea,a that's why I'm asking

Here's a chart for current pricing, but studios in the heyday probably were 30-40% lower easy

http://www.clarksvideogroup.com/vhs_...rice_table.htm

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

As for 3D, I do think it's overdue for a slasher genre film to be released in 3D. There's a number of other genre types (science fiction, certain action movies, etc.) that could do well with 3D. We need more than just CGI animated movies using the capability. The growth in live action 3D movies would also do more to encourage the development of 3D on Blu-ray.

Well, regarding 3D animation movies, if you haven’t heard yet, this is a heads-up to
pick-up your 3D glasses in time for a rudimentary 3D sneak peak of the commercial airing during the Super Bowl………………
http://www.monstersvsaliens.com/ (click on "Monstrous 3D event" in the left of frame).

I’m figurin once the Ravens kick Steeler butt next weekend , sports journalists will be dubbing the upcoming Super Bowl, the Bird Bowl – no matter who wins the Championship from that *other* conference.

Go Baltimore !

[Penton-Man]

O.K. all you folks that enjoy motion pictures and forecasting box office returns, here’s your chance to put your money where your mouth is (pending CFTC approval sometime early this year) and I’m talking real money, not fake money like with their already established ‘virtual’ exchange.

I figure you’ll probably be able to get in on this action for as little as $100 or less.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/video-sea...+Fitzgerald%22

^
Sidenote -despite Mr. Wing’s claim that this sort of exchange will aid in 'financing' films (extremely doubtful), these type of auctions could potentially put extra $$ in the pockets of all savvy armchair studio executives as well as undoubtedly putting bucks in the pockets of Cantor Entertainment if this thing flies.

[David Forbes]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m figurin once the Ravens kick Steeler butt next weekend , sports journalists will be dubbing the upcoming Super Bowl, the Bird Bowl – no matter who wins the Championship from that *other* conference.

Go Baltimore !

Well, I used to respect you!

Steelers for the win! (I'll send you a picture of my Terrible Towel once the Ravens have been roasted!)

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by David Forbes

Well, I used to respect you!

Steelers for the win! (I'll send you a picture of my Terrible Towel once the Ravens have been roasted!)

Better keep the sheep off the field ……………
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-going-on.html

Joke (with modifications)………
A guy from Nebraska, a guy from Baltimore, and a guy from Pittsburgh are out walking along Huntington Beach together one day. They come across a lantern and a Genie pops out of it.
"I will give you each one wish. That's three wishes total," says the Genie.

The guy from Nebraska says, "I am a farmer, my dad was a farmer, and my son will also farm. I want the land to be forever fertile in Nebraska."
With a blink of the Genie's eye - "Shaaa-Zam" - the land in Nebraska was forever made fertile for farming.

The guy from Pittsburgh was amazed, so he said…"I want a wall built around Pittsburgh, so that no Ravens fans can come into our precious city."
Again, with a blink of the Genie's eye - "Shaaa-Zam" - there was a huge wall around Pittsburgh.

The Ravens fan says….. "I'm curious. Please tell me more about this wall."
The Genie explains, "Well, it's about 150 feet high, 50 feet thick and nothing can get in or out."

The Ravens fan replies, "Fill it up with water."

[horseflesh]

Penton, Max signed off today (I like the way he did it actually, no fanfare).
Tell him I (we??) said thanks for everything, and good luck to the Spurs!! (even though I know you won't want to do that second bit, )

[dred]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

You, my friend have displayed such humor and thusly have successfully gained acceS to the inner sanctum; therefore, this upcoming week I shall pass on your ‘goo-ey concerns’ to the Sticker Decision Making Dept. (or SDMD, for short).

P.S.
So, please don’t call or e-mail the studio reps.

I've been meaning to say thanks for this, but I forgot! As far as the reps, why would I email them when I know I can voice my concerns and have them acted on in this forum? Small things like this really make this format king. Thanks for following up.

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

Penton, Max signed off today (I like the way he did it actually, no fanfare).

It looks like the downward gobal economy has taken another hit.
Sad, but hopefully people affected will do better in the long run.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by BluDomain

It looks like the downward gobal economy has taken another hit.
Sad, but hopefully people affected will do better in the long run.

If you are implying he got laid off that's not the case, he's just gone travelling and enjoying his youth but will be back (much) later

[Jeff Kleist]

Max is just over that hill....watching...waiting...until England and Blu-ray needs him once more

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by David Forbes

Well, I used to respect you!

Steelers for the win! (I'll send you a picture of my Terrible Towel once the Ravens have been roasted!)

In all honesty David, I’m just hoping that the Ravens don’t get blown out and it turns out to be an entertaining Championship game to the very end. I think it’s a tall order to beat the Steelers in the first place…………and in Pittsburg , that will be very, very difficult.

The Steelers are apparently favored by 5 points and that may even be a conservative line, if Terrell Suggs isn’t healthy and doesn’t play….. or has to play with something like a rotator cuff or labral tear of his shoulder.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

Penton, Max signed off today (I like the way he did it actually, no fanfare).
Tell him I (we??) said thanks for everything, and good luck to the Spurs!! (even though I know you won't want to do that second bit, )

Max went above and beyond the call of duty and wears a Blu ribbon on his chest for Distinguished Service.
He was……..and is, in every sense of the word “a Toccoa Man” , if you’ve watched the Blu-ray Band of Brothers – you’ll know what I mean.

Plus, like Ice and Jeff say, I don’t think he’s gone permanently anyway - he just doesn't want you guys filling up his Insider thread with questions and waiting for a response.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by dred

I've been meaning to say thanks for this, but I forgot! As far as the reps, why would I email them when I know I can voice my concerns and have them acted on in this forum? Small things like this really make this format king. Thanks for following up.

I just didn’t know if you were a relatively new member and weren’t aware of the fact that you truly have access here to people that can (in some circumstances) make a difference to improve the Blu-ray format with a solution that you will be personally happy with.
You apparently are well-informed.

With this particular issue, I can’t promise you anything about the outcome (like I did in my own whimsical way with folks getting a PS3 firmware upgrade for DTS-HD MA on tax day of last year) but, I can promise you that your concern will be addressed at a high level in the pecking order.

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by iceman

.... he's just gone travelling and enjoying his
youth .....

So sorry. Any how that certainly would have been cause for some fanfare.
You know Bon Voyage and all that.