Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Paul.R.S]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Try again Rock ...Body Double is not yet a sellout. Not available at SAE but still can be had at TCM for $5 more + more expensive shipping. I saw your "**" but it should not be considered a sellout when it clearly is not. Next thing, SAE will get 1/2 the stock and the other 1/2 goes to TCM to sell at an even higher premium ...at least for the higher demand titles, this could def happen .

Is it just random what TT titles TCM has been selling also?

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Paul.R.S

Is it just random what TT titles TCM has been selling also?

TT just started selling at TCM, but you can count that all new releases will be available there...at a higher premium. You can also bet on SAE "selling out" first and having to resort to purchasing at TCM.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Paul.R.S

The (purported absence of) royalty payments issue is a separate matter. I didn't make any comments in those regards. If you're referring to someone who argued that TT isn't paying royalties, well I agree that's silly (with the caveat that, technically speaking, they are remitting a licensing fee not a royalties payment).

I didn't say you did, but there was an argument a few pages back where someone claimed that by selling in only 3000 chunks, TT was avoiding having to pay royalty statements. This led to a fury of claims that TT were "slimy" for doing this. This Redman interview was perhaps the source of this belief, although it was clearly misinterpreted.

Originally Posted by Paul.R.S

So in your use of "quarterly" you're referring to an internal "quarterly statement" reflecting the studio's P&L? My reading was simply different of the way Redman used the term: I was thinking more of a BILL that is sent on a quarterly basis to a debtor reflecting the payment they owe for the current quarter.

Yes, that is what I was referring to and I believe Redman was as well. It would be more of a headache for the studios to spread payouts for royalties across several different quarterlies in comparison to a single payment up front.

[Paul.R.S]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

TT just started selling at TCM, but you can count that all new releases will be available there...at a higher premium. You can also bet on SAE "selling out" first and having to resort to purchasing at TCM.

Thanks. LOL re quotes around "selling out."

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

TT just started selling at TCM, but you can count that all new releases will be available there...at a higher premium. You can also bet on SAE "selling out" first and having to resort to purchasing at TCM.

So I take it TT just allocate a small chunk of the 3000 to TCM, and the extra $5 is TCM's margin on the sale (assuming that, under their business model, TT can't afford to wholesale their titles at a discount). What if TCM start selling out their allocation easily? Will be interesting to see what happens if they find targeted groups are willing to pay higher prices for these movies.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Try again Rock ...Body Double is not yet a sellout. Not available at SAE but still can be had at TCM for $5 more + more expensive shipping. I saw your "**" but it should not be considered a sellout when it clearly is not. Next thing, SAE will get 1/2 the stock and the other 1/2 goes to TCM to sell at an even higher premium ...at least for the higher demand titles, this could def happen .

I will factor that into future updates and adjust accordingly Blu Titan. I paid little attention to it with The Left Hand of God and Body Double, simply because TT's TCM connection is so new...once word gets around about that alternate source though, sellouts will naturally become more closely aligned in real time.

I doubt we'll ever see an equal 1/2 and 1/2 split though. TCM gets their stock from SAE not TT, so why would SAE want to give TCM the benefit of all those piggy-back sales from customers buying 2 or 3 other TT titles (or CDs) along with a particularly hot demand Blu-ray?

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

I will factor that into future updates and adjust accordingly Blu Titan. I paid little attention to it with The Left Hand of God and Body Double, simply because TT's TCM connection is so new...once word gets around about that alternate source though, sellouts will naturally become more closely aligned in real time.

I doubt we'll ever see an equal 1/2 and 1/2 split though. TCM gets their stock from SAE not TT, so why would SAE want to give TCM the benefit of all those piggy-back sales from customers buying 2 or 3 other TT titles (or CDs) along with a particularly hot demand Blu-ray?

I went to the TCM site just to check out the options. The only shipping option for a single title to Canada is $23.00! Eff that, total rip-off. Int'l customers would be better off buying from a scalper on E-Bay.

[Tns49]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

I will factor that into future updates and adjust accordingly Blu Titan. I paid little attention to it with The Left Hand of God and Body Double, simply because TT's TCM connection is so new...once word gets around about that alternate source though, sellouts will naturally become more closely aligned in real time.

I doubt we'll ever see an equal 1/2 and 1/2 split though. TCM gets their stock from SAE not TT, so why would SAE want to give TCM the benefit of all those piggy-back sales from customers buying 2 or 3 other TT titles (or CDs) along with a particularly hot demand Blu-ray?

Still important to know when each runs out. I thought I had more time to order Body Double (I try to get two or more titles at a time). Ended up having to go to TCM (was able to get 10% off as a new account) but still more then if I had ordered from SAE.

I guess I will have to order early, esp. for the two Sinbads.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Tns49

Still important to know when each runs out. I thought I had more time to order Body Double (I try to get two or more titles at a time). Ended up having to go to TCM (was able to get 10% off as a new account) but still more then if I had ordered from SAE.

I guess I will have to order early, esp. for the two Sinbads.

I am jumping on the Simbad movies as soon as they are available for pre-order. As a collector and movie lover these are two I cannot do without. I believe that if we pre-order from SAE day one, we should be "safe". TCM's higher premium will deter the scalpers from making a run there...meaning they will also try to nab the more in demand titles from SAE. We will see how this plays out.

[sminister]

Originally Posted by lemonski

So I take it TT just allocate a small chunk of the 3000 to TCM, and the extra $5 is TCM's margin on the sale (assuming that, under their business model, TT can't afford to wholesale their titles at a discount). What if TCM start selling out their allocation easily? Will be interesting to see what happens if they find targeted groups are willing to pay higher prices for these movies.

I was thinking about that too and I think part of it has to do with the fact that often times TCM offers 10-15% off orders during sales. For example, I placed a couple things in the cart to see what shipping would be and then left the site. The next day I got one of those "Forgot something? Come back and take 10% off" emails. So the $5 might be to cover some of the discounts.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Tns49

Still important to know when each runs out. I thought I had more time to order Body Double (I try to get two or more titles at a time). Ended up having to go to TCM (was able to get 10% off as a new account) but still more then if I had ordered from SAE.

And Body Double appears to be still available at TCM, winding down one at a time Tns49. I agree with baheidstu that TCM's shipping outside the U.S. makes SAE look like a registered charity, which has probably been limiting sales via that route. On the other hand, with completed sales in the $75.00 to $100.00 range on eBay, even that Int'l shipping hit still makes TCM the better deal as a 'Plan B' backup.

Originally Posted by Tns49

I guess I will have to order early, esp. for the two Sinbads.

Yeah, I won't be taking any chances with those either, especially so close to Christmas. I suspect TT held off doing them until Sony was ready with fresh remasters...otherwise, I think we would have seen them soon after Mysterious Island sold out last July.

[pedromc69]

Just received an email from twilight time they wont be releasing LaBamba im very dissapointed , it will probably never come to blu ray now.

[Twilight Time]

Originally Posted by pedromc69

Just received an email from twilight time they wont be releasing LaBamba im very dissapointed , it will probably never come to blu ray now.

Hi Pedro--we are sorry you are disappointed with the news regarding La Bamba, except it is absolutely not true. No-one from Twilight Time ever emailed you with that information, I can assure you of that. I suspect you mean SAE, and I want to remind everyone here again that SAE and Twilight
Time have nothing to do with each other whatsoever except that SAE is paid by Twilight Time to sell and fulfill the disc orders. That is it.

SAE has nothing to do with the studios, or with the production slate, or which titles to choose, nothing. They know only what we tell them on a strictly need to know basis. If you have trouble receiving an order, or want to know when something ships, SAE are your boys. Anything else with regard to TT's business, your enquiries are not worth the cyberpaper on which they are written.

[Twilight Time]

Originally Posted by pedromc69

Anything else with regard to TT's business, your enquiries are not worth the cyberpaper on which they are written.

Wow whats that suppose to mean i was actually looking forward to picking up some of your titles with that comment i'll pass.[/QUOTE]

What it means, Pedro, is that asking SAE (and you didn't confirm that's who you communicated with) ANY question other than "what's happening with my order, etc?" is not going to be answered correctly by them as they don't know anything other than shipping info. Not sure how we can make this any clearer...

[pedromc69]

Ok so theres a chance for Labamba the world is good again.

[Twilight Time]

Originally Posted by pedromc69

Ok so theres a chance for Labamba the world is good again.

Indeed.

[icy hot]

Bit on The Driver and Hard Times as my first Twilight Times.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by icy hot

Bit on The Driver and Hard Times as my first Twilight Times.

Walter Hill's first two films as a writer/director...well, you can't go wrong there icy_hot.

What I discovered (rediscovered) almost immediately was the understated power of that simpler era of American filmmakers and filmmaking. I mean, in the 70s these were not obscure art house projects; both featured A-list talent both in front of and behind the cameras, and yet played with the quirky style and clear-eyed conviction of our best International cinema. No digital post or CGI in those days either...if you imagined it, you had to find a way to actually shoot it and cut the damn thing together. So the immediacy of that 'real-for-reel' staging still has potency too.

It's just very gratifying to see a underrated talent like Hill given this kind of premium showcase 30 - 35 years later.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Imrahil2001

Shipping to Canada with tracking isn't cheap, and shipping without is a huge gamble that isn't worth it. If I want to track an item and have proof that it was delivered internationally, it has to go via priority mail. I ship mugs to Canada sometimes and it costs me $35 to do it. For a single mug.

I don't doubt that it costs you that much to send your mugs, but the last time I ordered 3 discs from TT it cost $9.90 total for shipping. I did not purchase the extra insurance option that the SAE website offers for international customers but I still got a tracking number because I was able to track the package's progress from Virginia to Canada. It also took about three days so it's not like they chose the cheapest, slowest option there was. Plus as many people have indicated, if you use either your credit card or Paypal for payment, they will insure the cost of your purchase if the item gets lost.

And shipping to Canada without tracking is not a "huge" gamble. Well, maybe if you are shipping to downtown Vancouver where you run the risk of your mailbox being broken into by a crackhead but I live in the burbs and know what the risk is and whether or not I want to take the gamble of purchasing the extra insurance.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

It's just very gratifying to see a underrated talent like Hill given this kind of premium showcase 30 - 35 years later.

You've convinced me, ROclockCK -- I'd better snap up Hard Times before it slips my mind. I haven't seen it, but I'm in love with Hill's work. I'd do terrible things to get Southern Comfort released.

Originally Posted by baheidstu

And shipping to Canada without tracking is not a "huge" gamble.

I've never had a problem. Granted, the first couple of times I ordered through TT I was a bit nervous, but I expect it's pretty unlikely that anything'd happen.