Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[JohnAV]

Variety penned this piece with seems to be more about changing the first-run cinematic business model from the three-month exclusivity window to simultaneous first-run availability in-theater and in-home. Its represents a contradiction of an earlier study that said earlier that 70% of people would return to theaters when safe.

Study Shows 70% of Consumers Would Rather Watch New Movies at Home (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety - 5/20/20

For weeks now, as COVID-19 restrictions across the country begin to ease (or, in some cases, even where they haven’t), national and local news outlets have relentlessly reported on a seeming torrent of people streaming into public spaces. The coverage points to a common sense understanding: Spending two months sheltering in place with little-to-no human contact has produced an overpowering need for people to gather together outside their homes.

According to an exclusive new study, however, that media coverage belies a deeper truth: Anxiety over health and safety in public spaces still greatly outweighs the desire to leave home, and that disparity has only gotten larger as the pandemic has unfolded. The results — from a survey of roughly 1,000 people in mid-May by sports and events analytics firm Performance Research, in partnership with Full Circle Research Co. — point to just how steep a climb the entertainment industry has in front of it to win back public perception that it’s safe to attend, and spend money on, public events again.

“Just as the country begins to open up there has been a swing toward increasing caution, with a majority of Americans clearly saying ‘not yet’ when it comes to attending large public events,” says Jed Pearsall, president of Performance Research.

The top-line findings — especially in comparison with a similar Performance Research study conducted in mid-March — are equally stark. Even after the CDC and local governments say it’s safe to do so, 52% of respondents say they will attend fewer large public events, up from 44% in March, just days after the CDC declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic. Even more striking: This month, 60% of respondents say the idea of attending a big public event “will scare me for a long time,” up from 47% in March.

Across just about every major industry sector, respondents have grown more fearful about stepping into public spaces: 39% say they’ll attend major indoor concerts less often, up from 33% in March; 36% say they’ll attend theme parks less often, up from 26%; and 33% say they’ll attend theater and performing arts venues less often, up from 29%.

For Broadway productions, a new line of inquiry in the May study, the news is especially worrying: 51% of respondents say it will take a few months before they will attend a Broadway show in New York even after it’s deemed safe to do so, and 16% say they may never go again.

Depending on where the survey was taken this data might be really skewed.

[Steedeel]

Best to ignore surveys. Proof will be in the pudding come July/August.

[JohnAV]

Another poor article

Should You Install a Home Theater? - Motley Fool - 5/17/20

"If you love planning movie nights or enjoy binge-watching TV shows, then you might have thought about installing a home theater. Of course, now that social distancing has made us rethink all things entertainment, home theaters might become as necessary as an extra bathroom."

The pros and cons of a home theater
Pro: Your movies, your space
Con: You can't use your home theater for much else
Pro: The sound and picture quality is amazing
Con: The sound and picture quality might be too much
Pro: You'll save money on trips to the movies
Con: You'll waste money on technology that will be outdated soon

Now if one looks at the authors background its kinda easy to see the obvisious bias, still should never have been authored without doing any reseach.

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer and social media strategist from Staten Island, NY.

Anyway a total garbage article that might amuse some. But seriously lady your clueless!

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Another poor article

Should You Install a Home Theater? - Motley Fool - 5/17/20



The pros and cons of a home theater
Pro: Your movies, your space
Con: You can't use your home theater for much else
Pro: The sound and picture quality is amazing
Con: The sound and picture quality might be too much
Pro: You'll save money on trips to the movies
Con: You'll waste money on technology that will be outdated soon

Now if one looks at the authors background its kinda easy to see the obvisious bias, still should never have been authored without doing any reseach.



Anyway a total garbage article that might amuse some. But seriously lady your clueless!

I would totally build a dedicated home theater.

If I didn't already do that years ago.

I'm really enjoying it more than ever now. I have to stay home? With my Pool and my Home Theater and all my other stuff... Ok, I actually kind of like being home. Yay.


-Brian

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Oculus Quest seems to be where all the action is these days. I’m hoping the next gen PSVR has a higher resolution (it’s virtually guaranteed, no pun intended) that would allow Bluray quality playback plus PSVR can playback 3D Blu-ray. I. Hoping for the version after that to be self contained.

Depending on your age, the renewable energy issue may not concern you. I’m 45 so it will certainly affect me unless I kick the bucket early (waits for a Vilya one liner! )

Oh, and don’t be putting the word smartphone in the same sentence as HT, it triggers me!

I have no "one liner" for you, but I do wonder why your post has an Italian flag at the top of it? This happens to your posts from time to time; I have never noticed it occurring with anyone else's comments. You're doing something special.

I am interested in renewable energy, but I am not "concerned" because I am convinced that it will meet our needs. Where you have anxiety, I have confidence.

I would never want to trigger you by mentioning smartphones in the same sentence with home theaters. You have enough stress without combining the topics of home theaters and smartphones. Such portable devices as smartphones are a personal anathema for you when discussed in the context of home theaters.

Perhaps using the video casting function of your smartphone while simultaneously using your home theater would give you a new found appreciation for smartphones and their ability to compliment your home theater streaming experience? I suggest using your smartphone in this manner with your home theater gradually until you slowly become comfortable with both your smartphone and your home theater operating in tandem. The two, smartphones and home theaters, can coexist and enhance one another if you give them the chance. If you would like to continue this discussion about how you can make peace with your smartphone and your home theater, just let me know. Until then I will absolutely respect your wishes and I will try to avoid using the words "smartphone" and "home theater" in the same sentence.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

[Show spoiler]Another poor article

Should You Install a Home Theater? - Motley Fool - 5/17/20



The pros and cons of a home theater
Pro: Your movies, your space
Con: You can't use your home theater for much else
Pro: The sound and picture quality is amazing
Con: The sound and picture quality might be too much
Pro: You'll save money on trips to the movies
Con: You'll waste money on technology that will be outdated soon

Now if one looks at the authors background its kinda easy to see the obvisious bias, still should never have been authored without doing any reseach.

Anyway a total garbage article that might amuse some. But seriously lady your clueless!

Clueless people would be more amusing if not for the fact that their numbers are legion. Thanks to the internet, these dolts have an audience that they never had as just their local village idiot.

[Vilya]

While risking my life shopping at Walmart last night, I found two more blu-rays to buy and then I ordered a super silly movie from Amazon bringing my spending spree to 64 titles.

This is the silly movie that I bought:



https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Kaiju...lu-ray/204027/

I think it will make a great companion piece to my copy of:



https://www.amazon.com/Calamari-Wres...inkCode=xm2&m=

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have no "one liner" for you, but I do wonder why your post has an Italian flag at the top of it? This happens to your posts from time to time; I have never noticed it occurring with anyone else's comments. You're doing something special.

I am interested in renewable energy, but I am not "concerned" because I am convinced that it will meet our needs. Where you have anxiety, I have confidence.

I would never want to trigger you by mentioning smartphones in the same sentence with home theaters. You have enough stress without combining the topics of home theaters and smartphones. Such portable devices as smartphones are a personal anathema for you when discussed in the context of home theaters.

Perhaps using the video casting function of your smartphone while simultaneously using your home theater would give you a new found appreciation for smartphones and their ability to compliment your home theater streaming experience? I suggest using your smartphone in this manner with your home theater gradually until you slowly become comfortable with both your smartphone and your home theater operating in tandem. The two, smartphones and home theaters, can coexist and enhance one another if you give them the chance. If you would like to continue this discussion about how you can make peace with your smartphone and your home theater, just let me know. Until then I will absolutely respect your wishes and I will try to avoid using the words "smartphone" and "home theater" in the same sentence.

Oh, I’m very special!

Yeah, I don’t know how I end up with flags from different countries. I sometimes type too fast, maybe I’m catching one of the icons below?

I don't mind though, it’s nice to fly the flag of several nations!

[JohnAV]

The rise and fall of movie theaters — and how the coronavirus pandemic might change them - Business Week - 5/22/20

"Everybody's hurting, but there is money for the taking," Bock said. "Hopefully, they can figure something out that appeases both studios and theaters."

• Movie theaters as we know them have been around for more than a century.
• However, the coronavirus pandemic has forced movie theaters nationwide to close or drastically change their policies in order to adhere to social distancing and public health and safety measures.
• Hope still remains for Hollywood, though, as many of the summer's biggest blockbusters have yet to be postponed and drive-ins are seeing a surprising resurgence in popularity.

Early movie theaters, or electric theaters, were housed in tents.



I anticipate that early on theaters will be a lot more divided up/separated for operation. Those chains with 12 small theater rooms might be more successful as they can host private parties and limited reservation based showings. As mentioned before the 500 drive ins still operational can handily work as we move forward for some areas. Perhaps some temporary drive ins can be utilized.

[JohnAV]

Heres a interesting example using the ball park stadium screen to act as a outdoor movie theater. So even if the fans can't watch a team play the stadium has other uses.

It's opening night at Milky Way Drive-In movie theater - YouTube

[JohnAV]

Demand for Drive-in Movie Theaters Surge in Texas, New Jersey - BREITBART - 5/21/20

Demand for drive-in movie theaters is surging in several states, as more people seek out entertainment from the comfort of their vehicles in the wake of the deadly Chinese coronavirus

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by Vilya

This is the silly movie that I bought:



https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Kaiju...lu-ray/204027/

Ha! I didn’t know the great wrestler Kota Ibushi was in a movie!

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

How can a daytime movie experience be met when I (and many millions) work most of the time it’s sunny? The only chance I get for films is nighttime and Saturday.

I know what people think of some of my posts but this is based in fact. We either go 100% renewable and sacrifice everything we enjoy or we keep fossil fuels and hurt the planet.
It’s not possible imo to go renewable AND continue with our energy usage. Not going to happen. We will need to make huge sacrifices, which personally I’m not prepared to make.

Like you say, there are renewable options but only two are cost effective. Wind and Solar. Both are intermittent sources and NEED storage or they simply won’t provide us what we need. If we do find a storage solution, we STILL need to cut our energy use by an estimated 55% by 2030. How do we do that?

Quoted this one because I did not want to quote everything from every one (plus it covered a few things I wanted to go over).

1) electricity is too vital not to have a 24/7 grid. Imagine if people in hospitals on ventilators or other critical equipment would just get powered down. Worst case scenario there can be differential pricing (something that exists today in many parts of the world) based on circumstances.

2) With hydro Quebec if you want to hook up a new installation you need to pay for the infrastructure needed (i.e wire, posts, … from the nearest junction point). For this one guy I know those costs would have been too high for his cottage in the middle of no where so he decided to go with solar instead. In the winter his house has electricity 24/7 to run the heating when it is colder then -30 outside and the days are 4h long. Why does it work? because he has enough solar cells and batteries. I know you will say that it is not a macro solution. But why do you even really need one? If you are worried you will only have electricity during day light and for you it is important to have electricity during the night (or night electricity is too expensive...) you can add batteries to your home and charge them during the day and use the electricity at night.

3) Hydroquebec has a few distant communities where the electricity is generated by fossil fuel for those communities, for my electricity only the Bécancour generating station uses fossil fuel and it is used as needed. 2019's report showed that it was not. So 100% of my electricity came from "renewable" sources. And Quebec is not the only place where it is almost all renewable. I know it is not true for many out there and for most of the world, but there are a lot of places where almost 100% comes from "renewable" sources. Quebec is over 99% so is Manitoba, BC is over 98% and NL is over 95% just to name a few provinces here. and no one had to sacrifice anything

4) you are wrong, if feasible (no use building a damn where there is no water, solar in the arctic circle for a year round community...) any generation from none consumable sources is cost effective. Yes , for example, back in the 70's/80's Quebec spent a lot of money re-routing rivers, building roads to no where, "temporary" housing bringing material to no where ... to build the James bay project. But if you make electricity from coal you need to constantly buy coal, if it is petroleum you need to constantly buy petroleum, if it is natural gaz you need to constantly buy natural gaz.... that is why over time electricity from none consumable sources always becomes cost effective. If those huge investments in hydro electricity were not cost effective I would not be paying 6.08¢/kWh (which I see as a reasonable price)

[JohnAV]

Companies with large parking areas are now making use of these areas with city permission for drive In movies,

Wethersfield restaurant owner plans to build drive-in movie theatre - YouTube

[JohnAV]

They are doing the same in France, only using a large field with the display and van with gear shown for FM casts of audio.

Vendée : cinéma façon drive-in avec le week-end Déconciné - YouTube

Going to the cinema is possible in this month of May 2020 provided you go there by car and especially to stay in your car.
Le Déconciné was born in Les Herbiers, in Vendée, but only for the Ascension weekend.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

Quoted this one because I did not want to quote everything from every one (plus it covered a few things I wanted to go over).

1) electricity is too vital not to have a 24/7 grid. Imagine if people in hospitals on ventilators or other critical equipment would just get powered down. Worst case scenario there can be differential pricing (something that exists today in many parts of the world) based on circumstances.

2) With hydro Quebec if you want to hook up a new installation you need to pay for the infrastructure needed (i.e wire, posts, … from the nearest junction point). For this one guy I know those costs would have been too high for his cottage in the middle of no where so he decided to go with solar instead. In the winter his house has electricity 24/7 to run the heating when it is colder then -30 outside and the days are 4h long. Why does it work? because he has enough solar cells and batteries. I know you will say that it is not a macro solution. But why do you even really need one? If you are worried you will only have electricity during day light and for you it is important to have electricity during the night (or night electricity is too expensive...) you can add batteries to your home and charge them during the day and use the electricity at night.

3) Hydroquebec has a few distant communities where the electricity is generated by fossil fuel for those communities, for my electricity only the Bécancour generating station uses fossil fuel and it is used as needed. 2019's report showed that it was not. So 100% of my electricity came from "renewable" sources. And Quebec is not the only place where it is almost all renewable. I know it is not true for many out there and for most of the world, but there are a lot of places where almost 100% comes from "renewable" sources. Quebec is over 99% so is Manitoba, BC is over 98% and NL is over 95% just to name a few provinces here. and no one had to sacrifice anything

4) you are wrong, if feasible (no use building a damn where there is no water, solar in the arctic circle for a year round community...) any generation from none consumable sources is cost effective. Yes , for example, back in the 70's/80's Quebec spent a lot of money re-routing rivers, building roads to no where, "temporary" housing bringing material to no where ... to build the James bay project. But if you make electricity from coal you need to constantly buy coal, if it is petroleum you need to constantly buy petroleum, if it is natural gaz you need to constantly buy natural gaz.... that is why over time electricity from none consumable sources always becomes cost effective. If those huge investments in hydro electricity were not cost effective I would not be paying 6.08¢/kWh (which I see as a reasonable price)

Thanks. So you feel battery packs in the home with solar and going off the grid is a viable option?

[JohnAV]

The Writer of Back to the Future: Part II Blames Universal for Netflix's Weirdly Censored Version of the Film - Gizmoto. 5/23/20

If you watched Back to the Future: Part II when it first hit Netflix, you might have noticed a little something was missing. According to the writer of the series, it wasn’t exactly Netflix’s fault.

As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Bob Gale, the writer of the film, has commented on the weird, small bit of censorship that crept into the version of Back to the Future: Part II that originally showed up on Netflix. The change is minimal: an early cut concealing the (scandalous, I guess?) cover of the Oh La La magazine Marty finds within the dust cover of a sports almanac. But some fans definitely noticed, and, as is understandable, considering it appeared to be arbitrary censorship, were upset.

“The blame is on Universal who somehow furnished Netflix an edited version of the movie,” Bob Gale explained. “I learned about it some ten days ago from an eagle-eyed fan, and had the studio rectify the error. The version now running is the uncensored, unedited, original version.”

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Thanks. So you feel battery packs in the home with solar and going off the grid is a viable option?

[JohnAV]

^ Thats the same ugly setup of the house I was discussing before from Tesla. The roof runs about $60,000. Its not walkable, they had to be very careful in the installation. The battery on the side will maintain some continued operation. But none of this does anything with commercial power grid taking down all internet access or even cell towers after so much time.

During an outage, these services may stop working when commercial power is shut off even if there is a household generator powering your home.

The roof is flat and looks like plastic closer up, its IMHO rather not attractive at all. see spoiler

[Show spoiler]

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

The pros and cons of a home theater
1)Pro: Your movies, your space
2)Con: You can't use your home theater for much else
3)Pro: The sound and picture quality is amazing
4)Con: The sound and picture quality might be too much
5)Pro: You'll save money on trips to the movies
6)Con: You'll waste money on technology that will be outdated soon

Now if one looks at the authors background ...Anyway a total garbage article that might amuse some.

I agree with 1 & 3 but completely disagree with the rest and find them laughable

for this discussion and IMHO proper use of the term HT means minimally a really big (projected) screen, all seats pointed towards the screen, with tiered seating if there is more than one row and speakers in front of you and behind you.... aka proper surround)

2)In my home kids have put on shows on my proscenium (kind of like a stage), perfect place for kids slumber parties (when reclined my seats are very comfortable to sleep on). An HT will have a lot of spare space between the first row and the screen and the last row and the back of the room. There is nothing stopping those two spaces from being used for other stuff that don't normally interfere with enjoying a film some people use a hide-a-bed for their first row or a murphy bed on the wall between the first row and the screen so that it can be used as a guest room, in the back space a desk means it can be used as an office a foosball table as a game room....

yes I don't cook or pee in my HT, but I also don't cook in any other room then my kitchen and I only pee in my bathrooms.

4) I am not even sure what "too much" even means in this discussion.

5) yes going to theaters is expensive. but in #6 You'll waste money on technology that will be outdated soon and that can be very expensive as well. I am guessing it could be more expensive (and even that is doubtful) if every time a person (or persons) watches a film I was paying instead for a full movie experience outside, but it is a false equivalence. I would never go to theatres anywhere near as often. For the first hand the time is not the same (go downstairs, watch a 2h film) total time 2h 5-2h 15 minutes (if I make more then one batch of popcorn). Change clothes, drive to theatre, find parking, walk to theatre, buy tickets, wait in line at the concession stand go to the room early to get a good seat, wait through the ads, watch the film, drive home (and this is if we don't assume it is a night out with a restaurant....) for the same 2h film it will be 3:30h-4h. I don't think I am really saving money, it is just better spent

6) I agree that technology evolves relatively fast, and I like keeping up with it, but in the end it is all about personal preferences. There is nothing forcing the guy who is happy watching his 30 year old VHS tapes on that antiquated CRT projector from upgrading. so I don't see how it is a con.