Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Razzy

Question for Max.

I'm not 100% sure but I think it was you who mentioned Warner would be releasing the Matrix movies around Xmas '08 on Blu. Any idea why we have to wait so long? Is Warner waiting for a bigger install base?

Maybe (hopefully!) they're taking the time to do a Blu-ray optimised encode. Hit bitrates and lossless audio FTW!

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Xmas is a good time to release a major catalogue titlem it always has been as there is always more money to be made when people are in a merry mood.

Plus, yes they do have install base concerns, the HD DVD version of the Matrix boxsets had dismal sales, and they would prefer not to repeat that performance.

Understood Max. Thanks.

I'd buy 'em today if I could.

[Blu Titan]

With the tid bits posted by Max and all of the "news" that is out there...everyone will be glued to this forum this week. Hopefully Penton will post once of his cryptic messages.

[spicynacho]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

With the tid bits posted by Max and all of the "news" that is out there...everyone will be glued to this forum this week. Hopefully Penton will post once of his cryptic messages.

You don't think P-man is busy shining Jeffery Katzenberg's head?

[RickD]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Xmas is a good time to release a major catalogue titlem it always has been as there is always more money to be made when people are in a merry mood.

Plus, yes they do have install base concerns, the HD DVD version of the Matrix boxsets had dismal sales, and they would prefer not to repeat that performance.

Of course it had dismal sales, it wasn't released on Blu-Ray.

I would love for them to revisit the encodes and optimize them for Blu-Ray.

Rick

[The Don]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

With the tid bits posted by Max and all of the "news" that is out there...everyone will be glued to this forum this week. Hopefully Penton will post once of his cryptic messages.

hopefully he won't need to post anymore cryptic messages

[Mukha]

Originally Posted by Grubert

I assumed any corporations wanting to switch would wait until the booths have been dismantled. That would be cruel.

Well considering they are only next door to each other any relevant bits (cardboad cut-outs, props, posters, scotch-tape, blu-tak) wouldn't even have to be dismantled , and I'm sure somebody could find them some correctly coloured clothing.

Question for insiders: I was just reading about Technicolors FACTory advanced content. This is much closer to the sort of thing I'm looking for in next-gen content, content that is persistent across titles. Is there anything like this with more of a social bent? An online playground that all movies could use for example? Also, would this be implemented through discs and studios licensing it or by the CE manufactures having it as a download?

[Neo65]

Originally Posted by RickD

Of course it had dismal sales, it wasn't released on Blu-Ray.

I would love for them to revisit the encodes and optimize them for Blu-Ray.

Rick

Problem is : even if it sold 2X (which it might on BD), it would still be dismal numbers - given the effort and the importance of that title to WB. But from then to now, a lot of players have sold, so the numbers could be better.

The next two months should still be pretty bleak for selling movies, just because pst-xmas hardly anyone is in a mood for toys (maybe except post xmas laggard buyers of HDTV : superbowl, but that event itself takes away a chunk of movie watchers)

In hindsight, it seems even cult titles with extreme loyal followings all did badly on HD DVD. Even when the DVD-only releases were taken out, forcing the HD DVD as the only option, ST box bombed so throughly, everyone associated with that plan pretended to have never been part of that decision.
-----

For insiders who can control the manner of how movies are released. For sets or sequels in a series, when it's not a box set, individual boxes should have spines that when put together correctly shows some meaningful graphics. These titles should look good on a shelf, and that makes a big difference when you open your cabinet to admire your collection.

hint : LotR, Alien, Star Wars, IndyJones.

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Xmas is a good time to release a major catalogue titlem it always has been as there is always more money to be made when people are in a merry mood.

Max, I just read that Warner is working on the Matrix and would be releasing it "soon". Do you think it'll be sooner than Xmas 2008 or is "soon" to Warner another 11 months.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ming_Soon/1340

[SDG]

Max, you don't mess around with your statements. People like me can understand you. Penton, I think you wrote the script for National Treasure.
I loved National Treasure.

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by Neo65

Problem is : even if it sold 2X (which it might on BD), it would still be dismal numbers - given the effort and the importance of that title to WB. But from then to now, a lot of players have sold, so the numbers could be better.

If they want good numbers on the Matrix Blu-ray, they need to offer it as individual disks and as a trilogy with extras. The reason it bombed on HD DVD was because it was a very expensive box set. I loved the first Matrix film, but really didn't enjoy the other two. I won't pay $75 just to have the first on Blu-ray.

[kjack]

Warner's comment about the format war in INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY:

http://www.investors.com/editorial/I...issue=20080108

One question now is whether retailers will continue to carry HD DVD hardware and software.

"Retailers are going to see the inevitable," said Ron Sanders, president of Warner Home Entertainment. "Once the retailers go, the other studios will follow."

[Tok]

Originally Posted by ra1024

I would have to think the window has already closed. Is there actually a chance they will give Universal or Paramount anything to jump ship at this point? I think Universal totally blew it's chance and let Warner come out as the hero.

Exactly, I think WHV wanted Blu to succeed especially after Nickerson and his HD DVD gang fell out of favor, but I don't think they wanted to be the ones to tick off their loyal HD DVD buyers. After Paramount left for cash I think at that point it became more apparent if the war was going to end Warner would have to make the bold move. Universal's Ken Grafeo's head was so far up Gate's ... they were not going to change soon and Paramount took the cash was contractually obliged for 18m if nothing changed.

Even as early as last spring I think HD DVD knew their best chance was market coexistance and they knew they could not outright win. Hence they threw money at Paramount so they would have a few summer blockbuster exclusives. They banked that BD supporters would go neutral. It totally backfired.

I am sure after the Paramount offer occurred and Nickerson left because Warner did not take the bait, Warner started the ball rolling at that moment for going BD exclusive. Two months after the Paramount deal, the Warner exec made some very pro-Blu comments at the BD festival and then about a month after that the Newsweek article.

HD DVD during this whole was trying to wage a war of FUD, but they kept changing their measures for success. It was always "Well, just wait till $99 player happens." no HD DVD software spike. "Oh just wait until after all those are opened on Christmas" No HD DVD SW sales spike...

What amazed me was how many news outlets thought the $99 would swing the war. Nothing changes the fact that the $99 player was a single one day closeout sale of last year's model. The media was acting like $99 was the everyday price.

Did anyone really think that HD DVD was going to win when they resorted to giving up to 12 titles away with some players sold. It was desperation. What is going to be interesting now is if retailers force HD DVD out even if Paramount and Universal stay exclusive out of spite.

If I was retailer I would be packing up all my HD DVD players and sending them back to Toshiba. I would not want to dupe potential customers of buying into HD DVD.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

With the tid bits posted by Max and all of the "news" that is out there...everyone will be glued to this forum this week. Hopefully Penton will post once of his cryptic messages.

No cryptic message in this particular post but, I’ve got to tell you guys/gals a funny story regarding the recent WB announcement.
Back in December I was in an office with some people that implored me not to leak anything about the WB decision before hand like I did with the Paramount pay-off several months ago.

So, one *big Whig* says………..
“Penton, don’t tell them anything about the exact date, give K.T. and Barry the honors.”
So, I say,
“I won’t give them any exact date and not even any hints except to say that it will be an “expedited” decision/announcement.”

So, this rather shrewd attorney in the office (who thinks he is more sly than I) squints at me and says………….
“And that includes no hints to your coyotes.”

I say………..
“What the hell are you talking about, they don’t speak English anyway?”

Shrewd attorney says………..
“Knowing you Penton, there is somebody on that blu-ray.com forum with the screen name of coyote1 or coyote2 and you will hint it to them and then, afterwards tell us some nonsense like you didn’t leak anything regarding a date to *humans*.

I say……….
“Well, I don’t know if anyone on the forum has those screen names but regardless,
I won’t tell anybody or even hint to anybody verbally an exact date for the WB announcement.”

Shrewd attorney, squints back as he is thinking but, remains silent.

So what could I do?
I gave you guys a countdown, or in this case, a count-up to the WB announcement – establishing the day with my 1,000th post.

Flash forward to present day.
Shrewd attorney got out-foxed by Penton.

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I will try and get a straight answer, but as you can imagine WB are pretty busy atm.

Thanks Max, that would be awesome.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Thing is I was getting all of this before any official announcement was made about WB going Blu, so they may have accelerated plans for the Matrix if their internal research has shown the adoption of Blu will support a title like that.

I will try and get a straight answer, but as you can imagine WB are pretty busy atm.

It also represents closure. Releasing it soon would make a strong statement (actions are louder than words) into the marketplace that Warner is now solidly behind Blu, even as they release their remaining HD DVD committment.

Gary

[mike_schultz]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

No cryptic message in this particular post but, I’ve got to tell you guys/gals a funny story regarding the recent WB announcement.
Back in December I was in an office with some people that implored me not to leak anything about the WB decision before hand like I did with the Paramount pay-off several months ago.

So, one *big Whig* says………..
“Penton, don’t tell them anything about the exact date, give K.T. and Barry the honors.”
So, I say,
“I won’t give them any exact date and not even any hints except to say that it will be an “expedited” decision/announcement.”

So, this rather shrewd attorney in the office (who thinks he is more sly than I) squints at me and says………….
“And that includes no hints to your coyotes.”

I say………..
“What the hell are you talking about, they don’t speak English anyway?”

Shrewd attorney says………..
“Knowing you Penton, there is somebody on that blu-ray.com forum with the screen name of coyote1 or coyote2 and you will hint it to them and then, afterwards tell us some nonsense like you didn’t leak anything regarding a date to *humans*.

I say……….
“Well, I don’t know if anyone on the forum has those screen names but regardless,
I won’t tell anybody or even hint to anybody verbally an exact date for the WB announcement.”

Shrewd attorney, squints back as he is thinking but, remains silent.

So what could I do?
I gave you guys a countdown, or in this case, a count-up to the WB announcement – establishing the day with my 1,000th post.

Flash forward to present day.
Shrewd attorney got out-foxed by Penton.

Penton:

You should change your name to Ari Gold.

[PaulGo]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

So what could I do?
I gave you guys a countdown, or in this case, a count-up to the WB announcement – establishing the day with my 1,000th post.

Flash forward to present day.
Shrewd attorney got out-foxed by Penton.

I wonder what would have done if you were at post 801 when you got the news. You would have pretty sore fingers doing all those post to get to 999.

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

No cryptic message in this particular post but, I’ve got to tell you guys/gals a funny story regarding the recent WB announcement.
Back in December I was in an office with some people that implored me not to leak anything about the WB decision before hand like I did with the Paramount pay-off several months ago.

So, one *big Whig* says………..
“Penton, don’t tell them anything about the exact date, give K.T. and Barry the honors.”
So, I say,
“I won’t give them any exact date and not even any hints except to say that it will be an “expedited” decision/announcement.”

So, this rather shrewd attorney in the office (who thinks he is more sly than I) squints at me and says………….
“And that includes no hints to your coyotes.”

I say………..
“What the hell are you talking about, they don’t speak English anyway?”

Shrewd attorney says………..
“Knowing you Penton, there is somebody on that blu-ray.com forum with the screen name of coyote1 or coyote2 and you will hint it to them and then, afterwards tell us some nonsense like you didn’t leak anything regarding a date to *humans*.

I say……….
“Well, I don’t know if anyone on the forum has those screen names but regardless,
I won’t tell anybody or even hint to anybody verbally an exact date for the WB announcement.”

Shrewd attorney, squints back as he is thinking but, remains silent.

So what could I do?
I gave you guys a countdown, or in this case, a count-up to the WB announcement – establishing the day with my 1,000th post.

Flash forward to present day.
Shrewd attorney got out-foxed by Penton.

\

You da man.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

It also represents closure. Releasing it soon would make a strong statement (action louder that words) into the marketplace that Warner is now solidly behind Blu, even as they release their remaining HD DVD committment.

Gary

I agree. Why wait til Christmas. This title will sell on BD.