Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[Vixen of the Night]

Regarding 'Night of the Living Dead' public domain status and that being the excuse used for Scream/Shout to not acquire it. Couldn't they possibly copyright the transfer used for the film as a way of preventing people from using their master/print? I don't know how that works, but it was just a thought I had.

For example, it's never had a widescreen release despite being presented in 1.85:1 in theaters. So maybe that could be an incentive to issue their own release of the film, and somehow prevent anyone from using their master?

Also public domain has never stopped Criterion from issuing Carnival of Souls(among others) in restored prints, which as far as I'm aware have not turned up on the cheap public domain releases. So I think Scream/Shout should take a stab at it, or Criterion for that matter if Scream won't step up to the plate.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by Vixen of the Night

Regarding 'Night of the Living Dead' public domain status and that being the excuse used for Scream/Shout to not acquire it. Couldn't they possibly copyright the transfer used for the film as a way of preventing people from using their master/print? I don't know how that works, but it was just a thought I had.

For example, it's never had a widescreen release despite being presented in 1.85:1 in theaters. So maybe that could be an incentive to issue their own release of the film, and somehow prevent anyone from using their master?

Also public domain has never stopped Criterion from issuing Carnival of Souls(among others) in restored prints, which as far as I'm aware have not turned up on the cheap public domain releases. So I think Scream/Shout should take a stab at it, or Criterion for that matter if Scream won't step up to the plate.

I don't think transfers themselves can be copyrighted. Creative changes can, but I'm not sure if cropping the transfer for 1.85:1 would pass muster or not.

Carnival of Souls, if I remember correctly, either had it's copyright partially restored or had never completely fallen into the public domain.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by zbinks

I don't think transfers themselves can be copyrighted. Creative changes can, but I'm not sure if cropping the transfer for 1.85:1 would pass muster or not.

Carnival of Souls, if I remember correctly, either had it's copyright partially restored or had never completely fallen into the public domain.

Carnival of Souls, I believe was the director's cut or some other extended version.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by demonknight

Carnival of Souls, I believe was the director's cut or some other extended version.

Criterion included both the theatrical cut and a director's cut.

[MovieManiac82]

Originally Posted by Seymour

But when you think about it, most of the top tier slashers are already out on blu. What else is there? I'd say there are maybe four or five left from the "golden era" of slashers.

I don't really agree with that. While alot of great slasher's are getting released this year (I can't wait for House on Sorority Row, Stagefright, Tourist Trap and Graduation Day), there's still plenty of titles that I think are worthy of a Blu ray release.

Silent Night Deadly Night
Slaughter High
Killer Party
Welcome to Spring Break
April Fools Day
Alone in the Dark
Chopping Mall
Evil Laugh
Silent Madness

Final Exam is a much more traditional slasher than Death Valley.

[redrunner97]

And, for the first time ever on disc, Satan's Blade.

[Seymour]

Originally Posted by MovieManiac82

I don't really agree with that. While alot of great slasher's are getting released this year (I can't wait for House on Sorority Row, Stagefright, Tourist Trap and Graduation Day), there's still plenty of titles that I think are worthy of a Blu ray release.

Silent Night Deadly Night
Slaughter High
Killer Party
Welcome to Spring Break
April Fools Day
Alone in the Dark
Chopping Mall
Evil Laugh
Silent Madness

Yeah dude, I get it. We all want our favorites on BD, but these companies aren't runnin' charities. Titles like Evil Laugh and Silent Madness are not even close to being top tier slashers, and they aren't going to be best sellers.

Edit: Forgot to mention--most of those titles (at least six) aren't even available to Shout Factory.

[jthefrank]

Originally Posted by Seymour

Yeah dude, I get it. We all want our favorites on BD, but these companies aren't runnin' charities. Titles like Evil Laugh and Silent Madness are not even close to being top tier slashers, and they aren't going to be best sellers.

Edit: Forgot to mention--most of those titles (at least six) aren't even available to Shout Factory.

I think that's why you're going to see more and more limited editions. Code Red, VinSyn, and Slasher have all done the math, and figured out they can finish in the black if they price 1000 or so units at $20-30, sold through specialized vendors or their own website. And with the LE stamp, demand is ramped up because people don't want to miss a title, regardless of how obscure it is.

As one of the the Twilight Time guys recently stated in an interview, I think this will become the norm with the ultra-niche titles.

[Z0MBI3]

Yooo,

Does anyone happen to know why Q: The Winged Serpent got put out through Shout instead of Scream? I looked at my scream shelf last night and noticed it's the only title I have that says "Shout!" on the spine instead of Scream. Just curious.

[Camp_Crystal_Lake]

Originally Posted by jthefrank

I think that's why you're going to see more and more limited editions. Code Red, VinSyn, and Slasher have all done the math, and figured out they can finish in the black if they price 1000 or so units at $20-30. And with the LE stamp, demand is ramped up because people don't want to miss a title, regardless of how obscure it is.

As one of the the Twilight Time guy recently stated in an interview, I think this will become the norm with the ultra-niche titles.

If this means we can get some obscure gems on Blu, I'm all for it. I would love to see a limited edition run of obscure slashers.

[KenHurd]

Originally Posted by Z0MBI3

Yooo,

Does anyone happen to know why Q: The Winged Serpent got put out through Shout instead of Scream? I looked at my scream shelf last night and noticed it's the only title I have that says "Shout!" on the spine instead of Scream. Just curious.

It was a mistake.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by jthefrank

with the LE stamp, demand is ramped up because people don't want to miss a title, regardless of how obscure it is.

Yup, this strategy will definitely work and help move copies. I had very little interest in Dr. Jekyll and Hyde Portfolio but after hearing that 1) it was a proto-slasher and 2) old VHS copies were going for hundreds of $$ I decided to grab a copy. There's an aura of must-have ownership around Limited Editions that I think people really go nuts over regardless of whether or not they actually like the film. When they do like the film it's all the more sweeter. A fun idea for a thread would be people listing their inventory of Limited Editions of movies they don't care too much for. I know I have more than a few

[Z0MBI3]

Originally Posted by KenHurd

It was a mistake.

Thank you sir.

[Josh B]

The Fly 2 would make a good one for Scream imo.

[Sinep]

Originally Posted by Josh B

The Fly 2 would make a good one for Scream imo.

I think so *II* and it is possible since they've done deals with Fox..

[Kentai]

Originally Posted by Vixen of the Night

Regarding 'Night of the Living Dead' public domain status and that being the excuse used for Scream/Shout to not acquire it. Couldn't they possibly copyright the transfer used for the film as a way of preventing people from using their master/print? I don't know how that works, but it was just a thought I had.

You can copyright a master. Do a new 35mm telecine and then copyright it as "NOTLD: The Restored Edition" or whatever. You aren't claiming copyright of the film itself, but you are putting your stamp on the work that went into it, which is another matter entirely.

This, incidentally, is exactly what the Weinstein Company did several years back, hiring Don May Jr. to make a new 35mm master from the negative. The HD scan of said print (which was done by someone else) served as the basis of both the Weinstein Company's remastered DVD release, and some of the better Blu-ray releases available. It's got some slightly weird framing issues - gets real tight on certain reels for one reason or another - but is otherwise about as perfect as it's going to get.

Shout Factory could easily produce their own print/scan, but the mostly-perfect Weinstein Company master is already available on BD in various import editions, and you can (legally!) download 1080p versions of the film as it is. Can't imagine the sales for this one would be all that impressive these days...

[zbinks]

Who knows if film elements even exist for Evil Laugh. The DVD was roughly VHS quality, wasn't it?

I doubt Silent Madness will ever happen.

Originally Posted by cmac

I have tried to find the rights holder for SILENT MADNESS for many years, but no luck

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by Kentai

You can copyright a master. Do a new 35mm telecine and then copyright it as "NOTLD: The Restored Edition" or whatever. You aren't claiming copyright of the film itself, but you are putting your stamp on the work that went into it, which is another matter entirely.

This, incidentally, is exactly what the Weinstein Company did several years back, hiring Don May Jr. to make a new 35mm master from the negative. The HD scan of said print (which was done by someone else) served as the basis of both the Weinstein Company's remastered DVD release, and some of the better Blu-ray releases available. It's got some slightly weird framing issues - gets real tight on certain reels for one reason or another - but is otherwise about as perfect as it's going to get.

Shout Factory could easily produce their own print/scan, but the mostly-perfect Weinstein Company master is already available on BD in various import editions, and you can (legally!) download 1080p versions of the film as it is. Can't imagine the sales for this one would be all that impressive these days...

Man, if a film people have actually heard of, and is considered a classic, can't move copies, what the hell are half the films Scream releases going to do?

There's always room for films to he remastered and released with supplements and fluff packaging. Always. Especially the "of the Dead" trilogy.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by Kentai

You can copyright a master. Do a new 35mm telecine and then copyright it as "NOTLD: The Restored Edition" or whatever. You aren't claiming copyright of the film itself, but you are putting your stamp on the work that went into it, which is another matter entirely.

This, incidentally, is exactly what the Weinstein Company did several years back, hiring Don May Jr. to make a new 35mm master from the negative. The HD scan of said print (which was done by someone else) served as the basis of both the Weinstein Company's remastered DVD release, and some of the better Blu-ray releases available. It's got some slightly weird framing issues - gets real tight on certain reels for one reason or another - but is otherwise about as perfect as it's going to get.

Shout Factory could easily produce their own print/scan, but the mostly-perfect Weinstein Company master is already available on BD in various import editions, and you can (legally!) download 1080p versions of the film as it is. Can't imagine the sales for this one would be all that impressive these days...

I'm not sure if that copyright claim would actually hold up in court, if challenged, though I doubt anyone's actually had the balls or the finances to challenge it. The Weinstein Company's master has been used on multiple Blu-Rays throughout the world, and some of them may have been licensed from TWC, but I have my doubts whether all are officially licensed. A Blu-Ray rip has been up at archive.org for a long time, and the US Forgotten Films release still gets relisted from time to time on Amazon. If there's a valid copyright on that master, TWC doesn't seem to be taking much action to uphold it.

[jthefrank]

Originally Posted by Z0MBI3

Yooo,

Does anyone happen to know why Q: The Winged Serpent got put out through Shout instead of Scream? I looked at my scream shelf last night and noticed it's the only title I have that says "Shout!" on the spine instead of Scream. Just curious.

They did the same thing with TIMM. Since those titles (and Dark Angel and Ninja III) were all originally Shout titles, that were moved under the Scream umbrella to take advantage of its popularity, they probably just forgot to update some of the designs. You can also see this with Q's spine design, which has the same layout as other Shout titles.