Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by phansson

To each their own. I am glad that they are going green. I try to do my part to the best I can. If they are going to save some plastic by doing the cut outs. More power to them.

Every little bit helps.....

Does it really help though? Or is it just a way to get to cut down on their costs which are not passed on to the consumer? We're not talking about bottled water where the bottle is immediately thrown away and re-enters the system. We're talking about a product that hopefully is kept for years and years.

Originally Posted by Slec

Aramis, is there a thread/poll where everyone can chime in to put all of this in one place? If not, care to make one?

Sure, I'll start one up.

*edit* Done- post your thoughts fellas. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=93239

[Jeff Kleist]

The recycled cases use something like 30% less plastic, they are less weight to ship around, less gas, less oil used to make them etc

No, no one likes them, and it's gone all the way up the PR depts when they first started hitting.

When it comes to cases, outside of expressing a preference for a certain kind, it's up to what the replicator has in stock

I think they'll stop using them when they get a lot of retailer returns for damaged artwork

But that will probably take 6 months at least. In the end they will probably come up with a way to take the plastic out without cutting holes in it, personally I wouldn't mind sacrificing that waste of space blu-ray bump, but I guess that's here to stay

[GaS]

In my case they are actually producing more waste. I will throw the cut out case in the trash can and replace it with a real one.

[neo_reloaded]

I've had it up to here with The Weinstein Company. I understand they have money problems, but it's tough to feel sorry for them when they keep arbitrarily delaying popular or promising titles and continue to release crappy direct-to-DVD sequels that no one is requesting. What took Fanboys so long? Where is The Road? Where is The Whole Bloody Affair?

The lack of BDs on recent titles, especially Fanboys if it truly comes to pass, is a sore spot. They were planning it at some point, considering all the insider information that leaked about various dates, so I can't imagine why they aren't going through with it now. I know pressing one BD title is more expensive than pressing multiple direct-to-DVD sequels, but I think they need to consider the ill-will they are creating among the few niches that these titles, and the majority of their catalogue, cater to. I've been wanting to see Fanboys for a long time, but I will not buy the DVD.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The recycled cases use something like 30% less plastic, they are less weight to ship around, less gas, less oil used to make them etc

No, no one likes them, and it's gone all the way up the PR depts when they first started hitting.

When it comes to cases, outside of expressing a preference for a certain kind, it's up to what the replicator has in stock

I think they'll stop using them when they get a lot of retailer returns for damaged artwork

But that will probably take 6 months at least. In the end they will probably come up with a way to take the plastic out without cutting holes in it, personally I wouldn't mind sacrificing that waste of space blu-ray bump, but I guess that's here to stay

Thanks for the response Jeff. While it's not what I want to hear, I do as always appreciate hearing from you guys that you think like we do.

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

I've had it up to here with The Weinstein Company. I understand they have money problems, but it's tough to feel sorry for them when they keep arbitrarily delaying popular or promising titles and continue to release crappy direct-to-DVD sequels that no one is requesting. What took Fanboys so long? Where is The Road? Where is The Whole Bloody Affair?

The lack of BDs on recent titles, especially Fanboys if it truly comes to pass, is a sore spot. They were planning it at some point, considering all the insider information that leaked about various dates, so I can't imagine why they aren't going through with it now. I know pressing one BD title is more expensive than pressing multiple direct-to-DVD sequels, but I think they need to consider the ill-will they are creating among the few niches that these titles, and the majority of their catalogue, cater to. I've been wanting to see Fanboys for a long time, but I will not buy the DVD.

Uhm, Bill just put some news up regarding "The Whole Bloody Affair" recently. While it's not confirmed it's a step in the right direction.

Finally, /film is reporting on a comment by director Quentin Tarantino at the recent Sundance Film Festival that his Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair is still planned for release at some point in the future. /film has posted a video clip in which he talks about a new animated sequence he produced for the cut with Production IG. Do check it out. The title will eventually be released by Genius and Weinstein, presumably on both DVD and Blu-ray. We haven't confirmed this particular bit of info, but as it comes from Tarantino himself, it's worth repeating here. Thanks to Bits reader Chris M. for the link.

As always, everything we've reported above from our sources should be considered unofficial and subject to change until the studios in question make actual announcements and issue the relevant press releases. Stay tuned...

[jd213]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

I've had it up to here with The Weinstein Company. I understand they have money problems, but it's tough to feel sorry for them when they keep arbitrarily delaying popular or promising titles and continue to release crappy direct-to-DVD sequels that no one is requesting. What took Fanboys so long? Where is The Road? Where is The Whole Bloody Affair?

The lack of BDs on recent titles, especially Fanboys if it truly comes to pass, is a sore spot. They were planning it at some point, considering all the insider information that leaked about various dates, so I can't imagine why they aren't going through with it now. I know pressing one BD title is more expensive than pressing multiple direct-to-DVD sequels, but I think they need to consider the ill-will they are creating among the few niches that these titles, and the majority of their catalogue, cater to. I've been wanting to see Fanboys for a long time, but I will not buy the DVD.

Yeah, Fanboys is a title that I was looking forward to seeing on Blu. And I probably won't ever watch it until it gets released on Blu, since it doesn't look like it will be released in theaters in Japan anytime soon, if ever. I guess I'm not the only one in that boat considering how few theaters it was shown in.

It's really a shame because it seems like the kind of title that would get a good percentage of its sales on Blu-ray, too.

[FourToedStatue]

Jeff, You said Ghostbusters 2 may have been delayed or shelved for a future promotional tie-in. Do you think this still holds true? To have to wait until Ghostbusters 3 (if that even happens) when we could have had the title last year really sucks.

[DenonCI]

Weren't there widescale playback issues with the BD of "Twilight?" I just installed a Panasonic BD player for a friend of mine and his girlfriend rented the BD of it from Blockbuster and it had numerous dropouts. I wonder how many were returned because of that reason, which could have affected sales? Did Nickerson not send out discs to be tested for compatibility?

[Jeff Kleist]

Ghostbusters 3 is shooting this fall if everything stays on course, and there's no reason to believe it won't at this time, so you should have Ghostbusters 2 in-hand within the next 18 months.

You need to update the firmware, that's where the glitching came from

Nickerson is not in charge of QC, or anything on the tech end, and most (95%+)discs are given compatibility testing before going out the door.

[thebluemax]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Jeff, Penton or anyone.

Why would Nickerson be trying to sabotage bluray now?

Whats it gain for him? Is his ego THAT damaged by getting fired from WB for trying to get them to HD-DVD exclusive after Paramount did way back when.

See todays "My Two Cents" for those who dont know what Im talking about.

Who would hire Nickerson, anyway, appears to be an *******.

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

You need to update the firmware, that's where the glitching came from

Jeff,

It is the latest firmware, and it happens with all Panasonic players and some other manufacturers as well. There's a big thread about it over at AVS regarding the issue. Panasonic is working on an update to fix the issue, but that doesn't help people who may have bought the disc and returned it. As Bill says, the BDA needs to do a better job of compatibility. J6P can't constantly update their player.

[Jeff Kleist]

Who would hire Nickerson, anyway, appears to be an *******

No one gets to that level in Hollywood without pissing a bunch of people off, some just put on the golf spikes on their way up the pile of bodies, or toady up to those who did

Sadly, corporate America is a lot like America in general, as long as you made people richer while doing it, all can often be forgiven, as long as you resigned and felt real bad about it.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

The lack of BDs on recent titles, especially Fanboys if it truly comes to pass, is a sore spot. They were planning it at some point, considering all the insider information that leaked about various dates, so I can't imagine why they aren't going through with it now. I know pressing one BD title is more expensive than pressing multiple direct-to-DVD sequels, but I think they need to consider the ill-will they are creating among the few niches that these titles, and the majority of their catalogue, cater to. I've been wanting to see Fanboys for a long time, but I will not buy the DVD.

Fanboys is still getting the Blu-Ray release according to Diamond Previews.

Which is a retailer catalog that services Comic Shops.

There's a 1-Disc, 2-Disc, and Blu-Ray release coming down the pipe.

[Jeff Kleist]

There was a Blu-ray planned, it's not coming any more as of right now. That may change in the future, but that's the way it is right now

No one is more dissapointed than I am

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I think we only need to look at the usual suspects, still sabotaging Blu-ray on forums, except the saddest part is the the vast majority of those left are no longer being thrown tidbits or a paycheck to do so.

In all honesty, I don't see it as direct malice toward Blu-ray as much as him not going out of his way to do it any favors. Remember he answers to different masters now, and if he fails to deliver they'll can him too.

The money paid by BB and Target probably more than made up for what would have been their cut of the sales from the other stores. There also may be included in the deal future cross-promotion opportunities that will prove valuable for all aspects of their business. Don't forget- those 2 retailers are very hot to trot on pushing Blu this year, and Twilight has major Wife/GF Acceptance Factor roll bonuses. He's not thinking about the future, he's thinking about this week, and this quarter. If he can achieve his profit goal while sticking it to the man, so much the better.

The damage he's probably done, especially with Wal-Mart (who unfortunately rules retail like Texas rules school textbooks) for Summit is that while Twilight 2: Bloodsucking Boogaloo won't have retailers turning up their nose, they just might not be able to find the budget to buy that many of their smaller releases, total shame and all. If the movie is really posting those kinds of numbers, then it's guaranteed they're hyper pissed and plotting some kind of payback

I want to emphasize that all of the above is strictly an interpretation of events based on what's known about the players involved, and should not be taken as fact, merely an educated guess

The mindset of having a preference for getting anti-competitive payoffs for not selling discs, as opposed to selling more discs without the payoff, is something that definitely recalls the timing of his departure from Warner.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by patrick99

The mindset of having a preference for getting anti-competitive payoffs for not selling discs, as opposed to selling more discs without the payoff, is something that definitely recalls the timing of his departure from Warner.

Well put!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Jeff, Penton or anyone.

Why would Nickerson be trying to sabotage bluray now?

Whats it gain for him? Is his ego THAT damaged by getting fired from WB for trying to get them to HD-DVD exclusive after Paramount did way back when.

See todays "My Two Cents" for those who dont know what Im talking about.

I think that the Director of the film is more interested in the Blu-ray edition than is Mr. Nickerson - I posted this early last Decemeber…………
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...es#post1376074

And I know for a fact that Mr. Nickerson is still none too happy with me nor Josh (ergo Blu-ray.com) for breaking the story about his termination of employment from WB hours before the mainstream press (Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, etc.) picked up on the news.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

And I know for a fact that Mr. Nickerson is still none too happy with me nor Josh (ergo Blu-ray.com) for breaking the story about his termination of employment from WB hours before the mainstream press (Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, etc.) picked up on the news.

I guess everyone in this industry likes to play "shoot the messenger"!

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

There was a Blu-ray planned, it's not coming any more as of right now. That may change in the future, but that's the way it is right now

No one is more dissapointed than I am

Well, it must have really been an 11th Hour Decision. Cause it was announced.

FANBOYS DVD:

From Genius Entertainment! It's 1998 and Star Wars fanboys across the globe eagerly await the release of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. But, for Eric (Sam Huntington), Linus (Chris Marquette), Hutch (Dan Fogler), and Windows (Jay Baruchel), the term "fanboy" is a badge of honor. Spurred by impatience and an undying loyalty to their cause, these former high school friends reunite to undertake the road trip of their fan-tasies. Traveling west across the country to visit their Mecca — George Lucas' Skywlaker Ranch — the plan is to break in, steal the film, and stake their claim as the first fanboys in history to watch it! But, to secure their place in the fanboy hall of fame, they'll have to contend with bizarre bikers, a crazy pimp, a deranged group of Trekkies, and the quiet intensity of William Shatner! Scheduled to ship in June 2009. (C: 0-1-4)

WIDESCREEN—DVD SRP: $19.99
SPECIAL EDITION—DVD SRP: $32.99
BLU-RAY—Blu-Ray SRP: $39.99

[STARSCREAM]

Originally Posted by Beast

Well, it must have really been an 11th Hour Decision. Cause it was announced.

FANBOYS DVD:

From Genius Entertainment! It's 1998 and Star Wars fanboys across the globe eagerly await the release of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. But, for Eric (Sam Huntington), Linus (Chris Marquette), Hutch (Dan Fogler), and Windows (Jay Baruchel), the term "fanboy" is a badge of honor. Spurred by impatience and an undying loyalty to their cause, these former high school friends reunite to undertake the road trip of their fan-tasies. Traveling west across the country to visit their Mecca — George Lucas' Skywlaker Ranch — the plan is to break in, steal the film, and stake their claim as the first fanboys in history to watch it! But, to secure their place in the fanboy hall of fame, they'll have to contend with bizarre bikers, a crazy pimp, a deranged group of Trekkies, and the quiet intensity of William Shatner! Scheduled to ship in June 2009. (C: 0-1-4)

WIDESCREEN—DVD SRP: $19.99
SPECIAL EDITION—DVD SRP: $32.99
BLU-RAY—Blu-Ray SRP: $39.99

Oh, I am so pissed right now!