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

[dialog_gvf]

How do you do it well without revealing the affiliations of Penton-Man and Max or the specific position of paidgeek?

Fictionalize the characters?

Gary

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

How do you do it well without revealing the affiliations of Penton-Man and Max or the specific position of paidgeek?

Fictionalize the characters?

Gary

do cartoon dramatizations???

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Patrick, read this post I made yesterday in case you missed it…………..

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=2196

Their voice (the FUDsters) is no longer being heard. They’re just speaking/posting within their own social circles with no effect on the outside world, now that the war is over. I have no concern over that energy. My concern is how any future unbiased consumers will react to possible future enhancements of the format…..not how those enhancements will be degraded on internet websites/forums by old anti-Blu-ray factions.

I try very hard not to miss any of your posts, Penton.

I think you are quite right in your analysis of the ineffectiveness of anti-BD rants on other websites.

Still, don't you think that probably the most effective part of the anti-BD campaign (both during the format war and now) is the part played by internet "journalists" including both those who may have been compensated for taking sides and those who just spread the anti-BD propaganda "innocently" after receiving "story ideas" from parties who have a stake in the anti-BD line?

[Josh]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

In regards to the upcoming film project on the format war that I spoke about previously,
would you still be inclined to purchase the disc, if you knew….. going in, that the filmmaker carried some……baggage?

Meaning, not that he personally was necessarily well known as a protagonist for one side of the war but, that he is strongly associated with one of the companies that was pro-HD DVD from the get-go.

Absolutely not.

I've had enough of watching a documentary only to find out that half of the stuff the person spoke about skewed. I'm all for a documentary about the format war - hell, I'll even contribute where possible. But I think it should be done a few years from now when cooler minds prevail and the scars of bad decisions are not so fresh.

[WickyWoo]

Yeah, it definately doesn't sound like a documentary now, more like a "How the evil Blu people martyred HD DVD: The Movie"

Then again, maybe those lawyers could get a nice warmup for Amir's book......

Aren't you in CA? That's a hell of a delivery requirement.

No, I'm in Philadelphia. I believe Penton has spent enough time here that he can fairly assess how it compares

[SpaceDog]

Originally Posted by Josh

Absolutely not.

I've had enough of watching a documentary only to find out that half of the stuff the person spoke about skewed. I'm all for a documentary about the format war - hell, I'll even contribute where possible. But I think it should be done a few years from now when cooler minds prevail and the scars of bad decisions are not so fresh.

...and the interest is waning. You really need to strike when the iron is hot for these kinds of things.

[Knight-Errant]

I would only be interested in the doc if he now accepted he was wrong all along. The writing was on the wall for those who cared to see it all along after all.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by patrick99

I try very hard not to miss any of your posts, Penton.

I think you are quite right in your analysis of the ineffectiveness of anti-BD rants on other websites.

Still, don't you think that probably the most effective part of the anti-BD campaign (both during the format war and now) is the part played by internet "journalists" including both those who may have been compensated for taking sides and those who just spread the anti-BD propaganda "innocently" after receiving "story ideas" from parties who have a stake in the anti-BD line?

In regards to now,
I don’t think that there is any “effective” anti-BD campaign going on now.
For that matter, neither do the powers that be, whom I know, from all the BD friendly companies. Whether they are willing to publicly admit it or not, their greatest underlying fear has become the economy and future discretionary spending by the consumer in regards to slowing the adoption rate and that is just something that everyone is all aspects of business might have to deal with.

The focus has now completely shifted to getting the mainstream folks onboard the format and without a format war, the anti-BD internet “journalists” have had their legs cut out from under them. I would say that the only “group” now that is being paid attention to in regards to promoting the adoption of Blu-ray are the Directors and Producers of the motion pictures, and I think that as time goes by you will see more and more of them offering insights either in public statements or included as *added value* in the supplements of some of their movies.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

That would be an understatement.

I think it is a great idea though and if done properly could be a great look at the format war and some of the drama that outsiders may not have seen.

I do find it ironic that he will be shooting with a camera whose name exemplifies the color of the losing format.
Life is filled full of funny coincidences.

[Kris Deering]

The fact that he is shooting with the "Red" camera is one of the reasons I would be even more curious to check it out. I've seen some test footage from this camera (Peter Jackson's work) that looked amazing.

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

In regards to now,
I don’t think that there is any “effective” anti-BD campaign going on now.
For that matter, neither do the powers that be, whom I know, from all the BD friendly companies. Whether they are willing to publicly admit it or not, their greatest underlying fear has become the economy and future discretionary spending by the consumer in regards to slowing the adoption rate and that is just something that everyone is all aspects of business might have to deal with.

The focus has now completely shifted to getting the mainstream folks onboard the format and without a format war, the anti-BD internet “journalists” have had their legs cut out from under them. I would say that the only “group” now that is being paid attention to in regards to promoting the adoption of Blu-ray are the Directors and Producers of the motion pictures, and I think that as time goes by you will see more and more of them offering insights either in public statements or included as *added value* in the supplements of some of their movies.

Thanks, Penton. Those are the types of insider insights that we value so much from you and our other great insider contributors here. Not that the economy is not a serious concern, for this and many other reasons, but at least that is a situation that can be seen, as opposed to the devious and dishonest maneuvers from the anti-BD camp that we experienced during the format war.

I very much look forward to hearing more from directors and producers along the lines you describe.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by coolmilo

As for movie studios and especially pro-HD DVD filmmakers...well I am willing to give them a second chance especially if their products are high quality on Blu-ray including lossless audio.

I think coolmilo hit the nail on the head... and maybe a mention that the documentary would have had to be "less thorough" in order to fit on a Red disc.

[frank_t]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Yeah, it definately doesn't sound like a documentary now, more like a "How the evil Blu people martyred HD DVD: The Movie"

Then again, maybe those lawyers could get a nice warmup for Amir's book......



No, I'm in Philadelphia. I believe Penton has spent enough time here that he can fairly assess how it compares

Philly, eh?

In my backyard then....

The internet makes it seem like such a small world.

[zed0118]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

In regards to the upcoming film project on the format war that I spoke about previously,
would you still be inclined to purchase the disc, if you knew….. going in, that the filmmaker carried some……baggage?

Meaning, not that he personally was necessarily well known as a protagonist for one side of the war but, that he is strongly associated with one of the companies that was pro-HD DVD from the get-go.

Actually, I'd be inclined to see a fair & balanced (thanks Fox) film regarding the format war ... even from a guy who carries some, er ... baggage. Provided that he can lay that baggage down and present things objectively. Definitely don't need or want any Michael Moore type "documentary".

This might be something worth keeping tabs on. Thanks P-man.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

The fact that he is shooting with the "Red" camera is one of the reasons I would be even more curious to check it out. I've seen some test footage from this camera (Peter Jackson's work) that looked amazing.

I too have heard great things.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by zed0118

Actually, I'd be inclined to see a fair & balanced (thanks Fox) film regarding the format war ... even from a guy who carries some, er ... baggage. Provided that he can lay that baggage down and present things objectively. This might be something worth keeping tabs on. Thanks P-man.

I'm sure it'll look great on blu-ray

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

The fact that he is shooting with the "Red" camera is one of the reasons I would be even more curious to check it out. I've seen some test footage from this camera (Peter Jackson's work) that looked amazing.

With any potentially revolutionary device, procedure, format, etc. such as the Red, I suspect/expect there will be missteps along the way until it is fully baked. Something that should be considered by serious aspiring filmmakers is that even after you purchase the camera (17K ?) that to optimally outfit it, esp. with prime lenses is going to approach or exceed the 6 figure mark……..or, so I’ve heard at the last HPA.

If they do become extremely successful, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else like Arri comes in to compete with them in that market.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

I don't trust any pizza that doesn't come out of Philly and New York (Chicago deep dish is heresy) personally, but next time I'm out there I will try your "joes" and pass judgement..............

I agree, pedigree (at least in food) does matter……………
http://www.yourla.com/#/video=573

^ ^
Hah!
After watching that video clip, let’s see how long you guys and gals can last that are about to throw a Blu-ray movie in their player and sit down to watch a flick……… before running to the frige or calling up your favorite pizza delivery service.

[Anthony P]

In regards to the upcoming film project on the format war that I spoke about previously,
would you still be inclined to purchase the disc, if you knew….. going in, that the filmmaker carried some……baggage?

Meaning, not that he personally was necessarily well known as a protagonist for one side of the war but, that he is strongly associated with one of the companies that was pro-HD DVD from the get-go.

I sill think it is best to wait, but it does make it interesting, will it be BS tripe or info in the deep dark secrets why some companies where willing to keep the HD DVD farse going longer.

[Anthony P]

In regards to now,
I don’t think that there is any “effective” anti-BD campaign going on now.
For that matter, neither do the powers that be, whom I know, from all the BD friendly companies. Whether they are willing to publicly admit it or not, their greatest underlying fear has become the economy and future discretionary spending by the consumer in regards to slowing the adoption rate and that is just something that everyone is all aspects of business might have to deal with.

I am no economist, but looking at people today (and I am sure history would show the same) that when people are depressed (happens more during a recession) people spend more (well at least % of income) on entertainment (be it music, movies or drinks) . Let's face it, you buy to celebrate and you buy when you feel down. I think big ticket items and CEs (big screens, receivers…) will be more hurt but studios and BD will fare well as people need to feal more in control and feel better about their life.