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

[Oliver K]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Penton I think that Sony has done a very good job managing the pricing of their BD movies and DVDs. However, most of the studios have only themselves to blame for the "decline" is package media sales. For years customers were "educated" into buying a movie on the week of release, because that would be the cheapest price for a long time. Now we see things that just irritate customers and devalue their (studio's product). We see Blu-ray catalog prices fall within a couple of weeks after release...I have seen 50% reduction in price just a week after release. New releases are sold cheaper (Best Buy) on the second week of release?! What's happening is that customers become frustrated and decide to postpone their purchases since they will be able to buy the movie at half the price in a month or so. The focus on the short term is what's hurting package media sales more than anything else.

THIS

One almost has to feel stupid these days for buying packaged media on release day - prices go down so fast that it is much better to wait a bit and get the titles for less. Naturally this means that mainly new titles will have high sales numbers in the first weeks simply because people cannot wait - most will wait however for catalog.
If there was a transparent policy where one knows that the prices will stay up it would lead to bigger sales in the release week but instead everybody is waiting for the next coupon, price reduction, but 3 get one free etc....

So maybe an approach where the studios start out with a price of say 16$ street price and keep it that way would work much better than the usual approach where we start out at 20$ and then go down fast to not much more than 10$, could be hard though to reverse the current consumer mindset.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Blu2U

Yea I made her my screensaver and found out today she is quite famous in some parts. LARISSA RIQUELME

I prefer my "screensavers" to have less plastic in their bodies than my PC.

[Buddy Christ]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I prefer my "screensavers" to have less plastic in their bodies than my PC.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

The fact of the matter is that Blu-ray is steadily growing, but it is not enough to compensate for the decline in DVD sell-through and rentals. With on-demand (be it broadband, cable or satellite) studio execs envision lower physical costs and higher potential profit margins compared to packaged home media which, accept it or not, portends a significant challenge to our beloved Blu-ray software.

I find this disappointing, but I guess it's just a reality. Even looking at monthly sales, it's seems BD is always around that 15% mark of total discs sold. Two years ago I would have predicted it would have been much larger, but I cannot help but think the format war still played some kind of factor into why BD sales are not even higher today despite continued growth. Everything is timing too. Almost as soon as the format war ended, the economy collapsed. However, I cannot help but think if BD was the sole high definition format released in 2006 that sales wouldn't be higher today (although some would argue the format war made both sides release their formats sooner, so who knows).

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I prefer my "screensavers" to have less plastic in their bodies than my PC.

heh, I was just pleased she uses a Blackberry (my shares are deflating as badly as her fake boobs will in a couple years)

P, thanks for the insight, so that photo from Criterion does look like a cute little vignette, likely from their in-house final QC rather than where they'd do any serious mastering (received from the supplier of their master).

Fun stuff. It doesn't look any different than the waveforms I can call up in Premiere.

[garytma]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I received numerous e-mails about some link circulating around in regards to Steve Jobs making comments about Blu-ray and such.
The lack of support there is nothing new however it does bring up the undeniable challenge that ‘download purchases and VOD’ presents to high definition packaged media. This was recently frustratingly hinted at by Michael here…
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashio...2136751?page=2

The fact of the matter is that Blu-ray is steadily growing, but it is not enough to compensate for the decline in DVD sell-through and rentals. With on-demand (be it broadband, cable or satellite) studio execs envision lower physical costs and higher potential profit margins compared to packaged home media which, accept it or not, portends a significant challenge to our beloved Blu-ray software.

The BIG picture is that…at least for Dreamworks Animation, the net revenue from a successful 3D theatrical release is greater than the decline in the DVD revenue which is why all the majors are embracing this new source of revenue.

If folks really want to do the single most substantial thing they can do to support the Blu-ray format, encourage your friends and family to experience 3D at home…or at least, don’t openly dismiss or bash it on internet forums because you’re just cutting your own throats as the 3D revenue trickle down will eventually benefit 2D Blu-ray production more than what one might imagine.

With all due respect, I totally disagree on this.

Let 3D take care of itself- it will be whatever it will be, due to the quality the studios put into it, and the ultimate acceptance by consumers. The idea that we should embrace yet another new format to bolster sales in the other, is kinda self-serving on the part of studios. Then what will help 3D sales? Buying 4D media and equipment?

There are 2 main reasons why the Blu market share is slow to develop:

1. As pointed out in so many posts, the format has got to deliver great picture and sound "across the board", 100%, as promised by all of the ads that open so many Blu-ray discs. Discs, like the original Blu release of "The Fifth Element", or "Patton" should simply not be happening!; and

2. The HDTV market has to increase. I have friends and family who have not yet purchased an HD display. My brother, who has seen my home theater, and earns a 6 figure income, only just bought an HD display a few weeks ago.

I think folks are just not in a big hurry to trade in their still-functioning, analog sets. Especially since we have all learned, that products come to market long before they tend to be actually ready (how many of us are on a second, third, or fourth Blu-ray player because of issues with initially purchased players?). And on top of that, why rush anything- any delay in purchasing an item is likely to result in getting a better, more features-ladden, reasonably priced product.

I have been a long time supporter of video optical media. I have, and still watch, lots of laserdiscs. We have been loyal collectors of films on DVD. We love, and have embraced, Blu-ray. But I gotta tell you, I look forward to the day, that I can simply punch up a list of 55,000 HD, 1080p (+) films, and stream them to my display. Why? Because I have come to realise that out of the 700+ films we own on disc, there are only maybe 50 that we have the time, or desire to come back to and watch. Most new films we see are fine to view once (usually via Netfilx), and then we are done with it. Maybe one movie out of every 20 we see, we wish to purchase. Having all films at my fingertips, via streaming, is where I want to be in the future- if the quality gets there!

In the early days of LD, or DVD, we wanted to snap up anything, as it came out on disc. Today, there is reason to be more picky about what we buy.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Oliver K

Well I think he wanted to poke fun at us a bit

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I prefer my "screensavers" to have less plastic in their bodies than my PC.

Some of you guys have the same pretentious aversion to augmented breast prosthesis as you do to artificial grain or ‘unnatural colors’ after the secondary color correction.

Maybe some of you should see the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of some of these women, whose surgeries turned out rather well before you are so quick to judge.

Long live gummy bears!
http://www.gummybearbreastimplants.com/photo-gallery/

If I wasn’t married, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to date LARISSA.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Some of you guys have the same pretentious aversion to augmented breast prosthesis as you do to artificial grain or ‘unnatural colors’ after the secondary color correction.

Maybe some of you should see the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of some of these women, whose surgeries turned out rather well before you are so quick to judge.

Long live gummy bears!
http://www.gummybearbreastimplants.com/photo-gallery/

If I wasn’t married, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to date LARISSA.

Thanks Penton.. Wife just happened to walk up as I clicked on your link. FYI all, they ain't clothed! but it is a DR oriented site.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

P, thanks for the insight, so that photo from Criterion does look like a cute little vignette, likely from their in-house final QC rather than where they'd do any serious mastering (received from the supplier of their master).

I aspire to be a Criterion colorist like Gregg Garvin who can sharpen motion pictures like Days of Heaven to the point of demonstrating obvious edge enhancement that few (if any?) ‘experts’ on the internet can identify with assurance, because they are too enthralled with the content provider’s brand name.

Perhaps for 8½ the ‘dnr knob’ was only turned up to 4¼ instead of “10”, and the sharpening knob turned up to 4¼.

Funny thing is, I've never heard one of them speak/present here in the past ...
http://www.amianet.org/events/thereelthing/index.htm

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by garytma

With all due respect, I totally disagree on this.

Well, that’s nothing new around here. Have it your way then.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Slec

Thanks Penton.. Wife just happened to walk up as I clicked on your link. FYI all, they ain't clothed!

Sorry about that my friend.

However, it could be worse. I doubt I could ever make 'DVD Beaver' (or whatever the site is called) a short-cut on the desktop of my computer at home because my wife would think I was starting to surf the porno sites.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Some of you guys have the same pretentious aversion to augmented breast prosthesis as you do to artificial grain or ‘unnatural colors’ after the secondary color correction.

Maybe some of you should see the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of some of these women, whose surgeries turned out rather well before you are so quick to judge.

If I wasn’t married, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to date LARISSA.

I dunno, if unnatural ridges and lumps are your thing...

Women ruining their natural bodies is akin to DNR. Something their creator didn't intend.





I'll take these lovely natural ladies over any artificial soccer bimbo any time!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I dunno, if unnatural ridges and lumps are your thing...

Women ruining their natural bodies is akin to DNR. Something their creator didn't intend.

No my friend botox is akin to DNR.

And I'm not so sure "the creator" intended some people to tear their ACL's but, there are more than a few people running around with synthetic ACL's from the old days in order to play like weekend warriors in their senior years rather than doing something like playing golf!

Anyway, at least you’re demonstrating one of the only redeeming values of screenshots.

The ladies all look great to me too and I’m happy to assume that they didn’t need work. However, can you really absolutely rule out the fact that none of them have had a cheek or chin implant…
http://www.drsikorski.com/cosmetic-s...-implants.aspx

a little botox…
http://www.bevhills.com/gallery/botox/

or a lifting of dem eyebrows (with some residual super glue stuff left in)…
http://www.drsikorski.com/cosmetic-s.../browlift.aspx

or that they won’t (have work done) 20 years from now especially if they live in places like California, Florida or New York?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

I'll take these lovely natural ladies over any artificial soccer bimbo any time!

Sir!
They are not "bimbos"!

^ I missed that comment at the end of your post.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

...tools/sofware are being used here:

ATTENTION ON DECK – Kris Deering

Which of the panels shows the vectorscope? You should know, as you’ve seen at least one and a waveform monitor on a very expensive software solution while in L.A.

Bonus points if you can tell me which is the RGB parade display.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Some of you guys have the same pretentious aversion to augmented breast prosthesis as you do to artificial grain or ‘unnatural colors’ after the secondary color correction.

Maybe some of you should see the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of some of these women, whose surgeries turned out rather well before you are so quick to judge.

Long live gummy bears!
http://www.gummybearbreastimplants.com/photo-gallery/

If I wasn’t married, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to date LARISSA.

Methinks Penton's been in Cali too long... If you can't tell the difference between an aversion to artificial grain reduction (to the point of creating the much balyhooed "wax figure" look) and a preferred film source, well, I don't know what to say.

And if you don't prefer real boobs to fake, well, again, you're entitled to your opinion, but you're also (like those calling for their films to look like video games rather than scanned celluloid) wrong. Could it be that you're defending the fake boobs that surround you on a daily basis in the land of artifice and style-over-substance?

Meanwhile, my pool standing continues to disintegrate. So, you have that to make fun of me for.

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by peterthx

i dunno, if unnatural ridges and lumps are your thing...

Women ruining their natural bodies is akin to dnr. Something their creator didn't intend.





i'll take these lovely natural ladies over any artificial soccer bimbo any time!

+1

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

And if you don't prefer real boobs to fake, well...

Don’t twist my words. I didn’t say that I don’t normally prefer natural breasts to breast implants, I said that I don’t have a pretentious aversion to the later.

Did you examine some of those pre and post pics from that Surgeon’s website? If he hasn’t, perhaps he should post a pic of some patient that had druppers nearly down to her waist after nursing several children before she and her back were put out of their misery.

Yeah, those natural “boobs” (as you call them) can be a real hoot sometimes. Not to mention cases when one is "naturally" 30% or so smaller than the other, etc.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Meanwhile, my pool standing continues to disintegrate. So, you have that to make fun of me for.

Don’t say anything as I’m still at work. No sense in leaving early today because everyone is leaving early, i.e. freeways = parking lot

b.t.w., a belated Happy Canada Day