Archived: Insiders Thread

[Alan Gordon]

Paidgeek, I was hoping you could read these posts below.

Standardized Packaging?

I'm not sure enough people care, but it's something I feel strongly about...

Thanks!
~Alan

[MrVorhees]

Originally Posted by phloyd

Welcome.

The best part about this place is that for the most part you can speak freely without threads getting crapped to death.

Have Fun!

amen! to that!

WELCOME The Lion !!!

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Can any Insider comment on whether Blu-ray discs produced for Blockbuster stores are edited (by studios?) as they are for DVD? If these are the same ones as in the retail chain, how does the average consumer determine which ones are edited and which are not?

Background: A few years ago, a web columnist (on cnet?) said that Blockbuster requires DVDs be edited for language and/or content for their stores. The writer said that single column generated the most email of all the columns that year. Strangely, the email was almost evenly divided between those expressing outrage for censorship and those expressing thanks (Moms?) for editing out "what they would have eliminated themselves" (or something like that).

Thanks in advance,
-Jim
(disclaimer: No, I am not trolling for FUD.)

That is false as far as I know. As a buyer for a Blockbuster Franchise I can assure you that Blockbuster buys the same versions you see on the shelf of a retailer.

Now what you might be experiencing is sometimes they will choose the rated version of a DVD over the unrated. It depends just how grahpic that unrated version is. Any NC-17 movies would never be released in any Blockbuster which is what the original "Showgirls" was years ago. That is the only case I think where the stuido actually went back and edited the movie to be rated R and then Blockbuster picked it up. However I think most retailers/rentailers refused to stock it as it was NC-17.

[Uxi]

Originally Posted by scott1256ca

Do companies that offer replication services, like Pacificdisc
http://www.pacificdisc.com
or proaction media
http://www.proactionmedia.com
actually own the equipment they replicate on, or do they outsource the actual replication to someone else? In other words, do they just create the master and send it out for replication?

Not an insider, but Sean from Pacific Disc openly said in the AVS Insider Thread that Pacific Disc was a broker and not an actual replicator themselves.

Originally Posted by pacificdisc

S2N,

You ask as if "broker" were a dirty word, or somehow a dishonest activity. Yes, PacificDisc is an HD & BD broker and sells other company's services - there are only a handful of places in the US that make HD or BD discs after all. But because we cater to the indie markets (little guys like you and me), we can send some serious volume at those handful of companies and offer some pretty decent pricing to the market ~ which is pretty rare.

Here's an exercise for you. Try calling Deluxe, SONY or Cinram tomorrow and see if they will give you a quote for 1000 bulk BD discs on a 10-day turnaround and assistance with the authoring/mastering/AACS encryption.

If it weren't for some of us lowly brokers, the number of titles available to this fledgling market would be greatly reduced.

- Sean

[eat_me_cool]

Originally Posted by scott1256ca

Speculation has been that Sony is (or at least was) capping the production costs for BD studios in order to make pricing competitive with HD DVD, which is why movie pricing on the end product is similar.

By speculation, do you mean MS propagated FUD, based on nothing more than wishful thinking?

Paidgeek has already said that yield is not an issue and a figure of over 80% was reported over a year ago. But again, who cares, as it is a non-issue to the customers and studio's.

You'd think HD-DVD would be more concerned with its lack of capacity, bandwidth, sales and studio support making it certain candidate for the Pit of Doom.

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by TheLion

Hello Blu-Ray.com!

This is my very first post over here so please let me state a few things I have on my mind.

After more than three years with 1620 posts I am ready and relieved to finally put the AVSforum behind me (although I will still attend a few sub-forum areas like my beloved Digital High-end projectors, the Subwoofer/Speaker/Amp and above all the Ultra High-end HT gear forums).

First of all let me say how nice it is to see a few familiar and much valued names around here. My Best Regards to Rob Tomlin, Supermans, benes, Maxpower1987, Dave Mack, patrick99, darinp2, Penton-Man and of course paidgeek. (among many others I sure should have mentioned here...)

Looks more and more like a AVS refugee camp to me.

It's about time you made it over here! Welcome!

One thing though - I sure didn't come here to hold hands with fellow Blu-Ray/AV enthusiasts and sing Kumbaya all day long in the light of Blu-Ray's greatness.

Being supportive and intrigued by Blu-Ray's capabilities and potential shouldn't make us closed-minded -

NO - not everything is good or even acceptable with Blu-Ray as a format (yet).

YES - there are some things HD-DVD is (still) better at and we all can and should learn our lessons here!


Let us strive to make Blu-Ray live up to it's potential and let's make it the format WE want it to be. What better opportunity can there be than having such supportive insider's as paidgeek listening to us.


Let us make sure that just for once the technologically more advanced and much more ambitious format ends up on top against the bean counter's dream of a super (cost-)efficient, "good enough" approach that is HD-DVD!

For the sake of our passion.

I completely agree. And as you previously stated above, SPE has already listened to some of our criticism and has responded accordingly!

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

If you are talking about the framing issue, I don't know what happened there. I'll see what I can find out, but it might take a while before I run in to the right person at Disney to answer.

I will also check to see If I can get some answers myself.

[WickyWoo]

By speculation, do you mean MS propagated FUD, based on nothing more that wishful thinking?

Paidgeek has already said that yield is not an issue and figure of over 80% were report over a year ago. But again, who cares, as it is a non-issue to the customers and studio's.

I dug up a press release from Sony DADC about a year ago that said BD-50 is "not far behind" BD-25's 80%+ yield

That was a year ago.

They've got to be somewhere in the 90s at this point. If they were willing to go on record in a press release, that's money in the bank right there.

[katharsis]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's an urban legend

Blockbuster simply will not buy a title if they deem the content objectionable. It stems from their refusal to carry NC-17

I've heard about this before as well, it just seems odd that they had a "cut" r-rated version of an x-rated movie in 2 stores here.
Private's "Pirates"... supposedly one of the most expensive adult movies ever made.
I think they would be renting a whole lot more if they decided to carry NC-17 (maybe put those in an extra room or something similar...)

[McBain]

Originally Posted by scott1256ca

Speculation has been that Sony is (or at least was) capping the production costs for BD studios in order to make pricing competitive with HD DVD, which is why movie pricing on the end product is similar.

Would one of the insiders be able to answer a question for me?

Do companies that offer replication services, like Pacificdisc
http://www.pacificdisc.com
or proaction media
http://www.proactionmedia.com
actually own the equipment they replicate on, or do they outsource the actual replication to someone else? In other words, do they just create the master and send it out for replication?

These companies are brokers and do not manufacture discs. Here is the latest rundown of BD replicators:

http://www.emedialive.com/articles/r...leid=11425#ixl

[Jack Torrance]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well its official then!

Maxpower1987 "Blu-ray Insider"!

Awesome!

Before anybody asks, I work in an essential support industry for Hollywood and we have recently become embroiled in the Blu-ray/HD DVD war.

A lot of stuff I post, I have to get clearance for in case I breach confidence etc... but generally we see a lot of the politics side of the war.

Congrats MaxPower!

Arsenal still rule though.

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well its official then!

Maxpower1987 "Blu-ray Insider"!

Awesome!

Before anybody asks, I work in an essential support industry for Hollywood and we have recently become embroiled in the Blu-ray/HD DVD war.

A lot of stuff I post, I have to get clearance for in case I breach confidence etc... but generally we see a lot of the politics side of the war.

Congrats to you man!

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well its official then!

Maxpower1987 "Blu-ray Insider"!

Awesome!

Before anybody asks, I work in an essential support industry for Hollywood and we have recently become embroiled in the Blu-ray/HD DVD war.

A lot of stuff I post, I have to get clearance for in case I breach confidence etc... but generally we see a lot of the politics side of the war.

YOU Surprise us ,Anyway well done and good luck

[David Forbes]

Yes, congrats. Now spill everything you know!

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well its official then!

Maxpower1987 "Blu-ray Insider"!

Awesome!

Before anybody asks, I work in an essential support industry for Hollywood and we have recently become embroiled in the Blu-ray/HD DVD war.

A lot of stuff I post, I have to get clearance for in case I breach confidence etc... but generally we see a lot of the politics side of the war.

At this rate, by the end of the week AVMS will have to flag their insiders forum with "Please refer all Blu-Ray questions to blu-ray.com"

Congrats

[Bombthroat]

Paidgeek,

I'm not trying to bring up a dead issue but I happened to look at my copy of The Prestige yesterday and noticed the spotting that was the hot topic of conversation for a while. Do you know if there is an exchange program in effect so I can get a new copy without the spotting?

Sorry for bringing this up.

BTW - Just so everyone understands, I have had this movie since it was originally released and watched it at that time. I never went back until yesterday to see if it had the spotting issue. Please do not try to spin this as an ongoing issue on another board. *cough* AVM$ *cough*

[aygie]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Paidgeek, I was hoping you could read these posts below.

Standardized Packaging?

I'm not sure enough people care, but it's something I feel strongly about...

Thanks!
~Alan

Im with you on that, seems to be Europe and US packaging are different. Paid can you confirm?

[phloyd]

I saw one BD for sale in New Zealand and it also had the 'fat' packaging - it was the first time I saw one.

[WickyWoo]

I've heard about this before as well, it just seems odd that they had a "cut" r-rated version of an x-rated movie in 2 stores here.
Private's "Pirates"... supposedly one of the most expensive adult movies ever made.
I think they would be renting a whole lot more if they decided to carry NC-17 (maybe put those in an extra room or something similar...)

If memory serves, Blockbuster was originally owned by a prominent member of the Christian right, and large multinational corporations like to be seen as "family friendly" anyway

Bottom line is that they don't need the business

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well its official then!

Maxpower1987 "Blu-ray Insider"!

Awesome!

Before anybody asks, I work in an essential support industry for Hollywood and we have recently become embroiled in the Blu-ray/HD DVD war.

A lot of stuff I post, I have to get clearance for in case I breach confidence etc... but generally we see a lot of the politics side of the war.

Congrats.
If you hang out anywhere around 25 Golden Square
London, W1F 9LU then PM me and I’ll see what I can do to get you tickets for any future theatrical screenings (non-transferable).

P.S.
Isn't the Arsenal top of the table now ?