Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[Brad1963]

I'm done, I've been through Laserdisc, then DVD, now Blu-ray. No interest in UHD or any other future format offerings, Blu-ray is as far as I will go.

Honestly, I think UHD will be a niche commodity and will not take off. Blu-ray has been around 10 years now and people are still confused about what it is.

[jw007]

They should have renamed the new resolution "Super Blu-ray" instead of UHD.

UHD/4k is technically the same format as blu-ray by the way, just having more storage space (100gb discs).

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

I'm sure that Sony will release some movies on UHD BD that have been released by TT. Several of them are already available as digital downloads from there 4K Unlimited store. As for TT itself, IMO it's not a question of if, but when they will release on UHD BD. After all, Shout already has launch titles announced. It's significant to note because no minor distributor on Blu-ray (nor HD DVD) were releasing on the format until many months after launch. I don't think the format is going to be as ultra-niche as many may think.

I'd actually be surprised if TT ever released anything on UHD. Not knocking them at all since I have a decent amount of their releases, but they struggle to sell 3000 copies of some titles, so why would they spend even more money to try to sell 3000 more on another format? Also, Shout's initial releases are all documentaries. Documentaries could very well be all they release. I'd be shocked if I ever saw Ginger Snaps on UHD (love the movie, btw).

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

I'd actually be surprised if TT ever released anything on UHD. Not knocking them at all since I have a decent amount of their releases, but they struggle to sell 3000 copies of some titles, so why would they spend even more money to try to sell 3000 more on another format? Also, Shout's initial releases are all documentaries. Documentaries could very well be all they release. I'd be shocked if I ever saw Ginger Snaps on UHD (love the movie, btw).

It looks like TT is at least considering UHD.

https://www.facebook.com/twilighttim...2649743087024/

Originally Posted by Paul Suarez‎

Nick Redman and/or Julie Kirgo:
Is it too early to comment on the likelihood (or lack thereof) of the studios licensing UHD BD releases to Twilight Time?

Originally Posted by Twilight Time DVD Label

It's early, but we have been sounding out some ideas.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Blu-ray has been around 10 years now and people are still confused about what it is.

Tell me about it!
I went to a store here with electronics/media/phones/TVs/movies etc. and I asked the female seller where do they have cases for Bluray discs.
her answer:

"Bluray? What is that?"

It's one thing for my parents to not know what a Bluray is, but a seller who works in a relevant store? Seriously???

[solovoyager]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Tell me about it!
I went to a store here with electronics/media/phones/TVs/movies etc. and I asked the female seller where do they have cases for Bluray discs.
her answer:

"Bluray? What is that?"

It's one thing for my parents to not know what a Bluray is, but a seller who works in a relevant store? Seriously???

Nearly everyone I know still only have DVD players and were not at all aware that they can play any DVD's they own on a Blu-ray player. And then I have a couple of friends who've done away with their DVD players for good as they are only interested in streaming going forward.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by solovoyager

Nearly everyone I know still only have DVD players and were not at all aware that they can play any DVD's they own on a Blu-ray player.

Yeah, I keep running into that. Nor do they know it can play CDs...

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

I'd actually be surprised if TT ever released anything on UHD. Not knocking them at all since I have a decent amount of their releases, but they struggle to sell 3000 copies of some titles, so why would they spend even more money to try to sell 3000 more on another format? Also, Shout's initial releases are all documentaries. Documentaries could very well be all they release. I'd be shocked if I ever saw Ginger Snaps on UHD (love the movie, btw).

Most catalogs from any distributor, even major studios, struggle to sell 3000 copies. Usually it's a lot less. But they still make money. There's no hard rule that TT can't make money with a lower print run on a new format. A 1000 or 2000 run will just make it more "limited" and thus attract more people to buy it. After all, the Limited Edition model is what keeps the motor running and how they can get a higher "street" price per unit than their competitors.

They could also release them as combos like the major studios or just make smaller print runs of each. One thing they won't do is sit on their hands while their competitors release on UHD. If it turns out that movies in UHD will be in exclusive domain of the major studios then fine but that's extremely unlikely to be the case.

DVD still gets most of the sales, but that doesn't mean Blu-ray was a failure. Same goes for UHD. The difference here is that studios are releasing the format as a combo from the start, and likely street prices will only be a few bucks more. So they are pushing for it to succeed. And even if one doesn't want a 4K TV they can still buy a player (which you'll probably be able to pick up for less than $200 during a sale this fall) and enjoy UHD BD in 1080p but with better compression.

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Twilight Time just put out what they're given. Sony are crazy cool cats and have scanned pretty much everything they own in new 4k masters. MGM? Not so much.

That's great news! Twilight Time say they're best masters come from Sony.

[klauswhereareyou]

My order with the free Baker Boys autographed promo just shipped.

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

Most catalogs from any distributor, even major studios, struggle to sell 3000 copies. Usually it's a lot less. But they still make money. There's no hard rule that TT can't make money with a lower print run on a new format. A 1000 or 2000 run will just make it more "limited" and thus attract more people to buy it. After all, the Limited Edition model is what keeps the motor running and how they can get a higher "street" price per unit than their competitors.

They could also release them as combos like the major studios or just make smaller print runs of each. One thing they won't do is sit on their hands while their competitors release on UHD. If it turns out that movies in UHD will be in exclusive domain of the major studios then fine but that's extremely unlikely to be the case.

DVD still gets most of the sales, but that doesn't mean Blu-ray was a failure. Same goes for UHD. The difference here is that studios are releasing the format as a combo from the start, and likely street prices will only be a few bucks more. So they are pushing for it to succeed. And even if one doesn't want a 4K TV they can still buy a player (which you'll probably be able to pick up for less than $200 during a sale this fall) and enjoy UHD BD in 1080p but with better compression.

I agree on all points, I would love to get some TT releases in UHD, I know it's not for everyone, and it may remain niche but I'm good with that. Of course not all titles will translate well to UHD because of poor masters but there are a few gems that would benefit from it.

[klauswhereareyou]

Probably would be an UHD release of Fright Night.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by JoeDeM

I agree on all points, I would love to get some TT releases in UHD, I know it's not for everyone, and it may remain niche but I'm good with that. Of course not all titles will translate well to UHD because of poor masters but there are a few gems that would benefit from it.

Same here. I just want the best version available. I know many say they won't buy UHD BD, but at the very least it's like superbit BD (when viewed on a 1080p TV). Don't see why anybody would not be interested in higher bit rates.

There's no guarantee that UHD BD will be a smashing success, but I can't see it being a failure either. Technology evolves and this is just the next step.

A couple reasons why I think TT will be on board is because Sony has a lot of movies mastered in 4K and they have a good relationship with them. Also I believe that Kino will definitely release on UHD at some point. So if TT stays with Blu-ray only and gets an exclusive three year license for a certain movie in Blu-ray, there is nothing to stop Kino in getting the UHD BD rights during the same period. I just can't see TT, releasing a movie on BD, only to see one of its competitors (probably Kino or Olive) release it a few months later on UHD BD. After all, Kino has released The Train on DVD during the exclusive 3 year window for the Blu-ray version. So I think these licenses may be format specific. And since UHD BD will probably have lower sales than Blu-ray, studios like Sony will be more willing to license out catalog rather than release it directly themselves. Of course, a 4K master needs to be available, which will limit the amount of candidates (movies), especially early on.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

My order with the free Baker Boys autographed promo just shipped.

Yesterday I saw a copy of the autographed promo selling on eBay for $50.00.

Just searched for it again ... yep, it's still there.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by solovoyager

Nearly everyone I know still only have DVD players and were not at all aware that they can play any DVD's they own on a Blu-ray player. And then I have a couple of friends who've done away with their DVD players for good as they are only interested in streaming going forward.

Yep. I was recently in the house of a massive horror movie fan. He had statues, signed pictures on all the walls, fan art hanging up, movie posters, the works. Place looked like a horror movie museum. His movie collection though? All DVD, and half of them are burned copies with label-maker spine titles. All my close friends switched to streaming exclusively.

No one gives a crap really but us weirdos.

[Ggould1975]

4K ultra cash grab hd bluray is What I call it. I don't think it will take off as well. DVD I knew would, I was excited when bluray was announced and thought it s done well for what it is. But this? No. This time around not at all.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Ggould1975

4K ultra cash grab hd bluray is What I call it. I don't think it will take off as well. DVD I knew would, I was excited when bluray was announced and thought it s done well for what it is. But this? No. This time around not at all.

I don't think you can call it a cash grab, considering the middling acceptance of the blu ray format. A niche within a niche is what it will be, but the studios will still release titles on UHD because they can and because some consumers want the best video quality their UHD televisions can display, and some of those customers will want to own the physical media.

The question of the moment is, if Sony were to give Twilight Time access to 4K masters in the future, would TT release those films on Blu Ray, UHD, or both?

[jw007]

I think 4k blu-ray is just an extension of blu-ray but doesn't necessarily replace blu-rays either. It's basically an enhanced blu-ray designed for 4k ultra high def TVs. 4k blu and blu are still the same format.

I'm not freaking out that they've announced U-HD blu, because I know most of the small independent movies I want will prob. never get released on it, as its all about big blockbusters and big studios making big money.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

My order with the free Baker Boys autographed promo just shipped.

Mine has shipped as well.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by in2video2

That's great news! Twilight Time say they're best masters come from Sony.

It's always immediately obvious (to me, at least) any time I buy a new TT Blu-ray that Sony puts in more of an effort into HD masters than MGM does. The MGM stuff is dirtier-looking, not to mention softer, on a consistent basis. I was under the impression TT did a bit of additional cleanup work on transfers but that has never been officially confirmed.