Life After the NeverEnding Story

[lisadowns]

Hi everyone! You may have seen posts about two of my previous feature docs on here, "Life After Flash" & "Life After the Navigator" (thank you to everyone who bought them, commented on them, reviewed them....!)

I wanted to share that the third in my series, "Life After the NeverEnding Story" is pretty much complete! I'm just working on the BluRay release now, so have launched a small Kickstarter to help with final costs for that

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...erending-story

The ETA of the BluRay (region free, professionally pressed, lots of bonus features and collectors booklet) is around March / April with a successful crowdfund, so please do support it if you love indie film, The NeverEnding Story, the 80s, or even puppets

[lisadowns]

Hi everyone!

I wondered what everyone looks for on/in a BluRay, in terms of not only bonus material / extras but features such as subtitles etc.

Are there things that are often overlooked but really valuable? Or things that are appreciated as a buyer?

I do my own BluRay releases (although professionally authored / pressed) and I'm about to release my third "Life After" documentary - LIFE AFTER THE NEVERENDING STORY (the previous were "Life After Flash" and "Life After the Navigator")

I love putting at least an hour of bonus material on there, and plan to put German and hopefully English subtitles on there, pending the cost. I also include an 8 page collectors booklet on the inside, and discs come with a collectors patch, but I'm always looking for fun and new ideas.

I would love to know if there is anything that physical media collectors appreciate so I can make a plan.

Also mini plug, I've got a Kickstarter running for my latest doc where you can also pick up my other BluRays too if anyone is interested!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...erending-story

Thanks so much!
Lisa

[trobrianders]

Not sure if this is the right section for this topic.

I'd imagine fans of documentary would appreciate a healthy 40-100 page booklet. They accompany many releases these days. Can you commission good essayists? Also fill your booklets with lots of informative visual material. And be interesting and original in what you include. That is the first thing that springs to mind.

[The Apocalypse]

Very cool documentaries . Physical bonuses? A SteelBook is always nice as a limited edition, but again as above, booklets, especially being documentaries, information which accompanies or complements the the actual film, maybe stuff about the subject of the documentary, outtakes, bonus footage etc.

[DisneyDreamer2023]

I love nice big booklets to read
Extras wise I enjoy commentaries, interviews with cast and crew,
making ofs/documentaries, deleted scenes, photo galleries etc

[Billz]

Preservation of bonus content.

I'd rather have a definitive release of something with everything available for it instead of having that piece of media on several different formats just for the bonus content.

[Al_The_Strange]

Some things that entice me the most when looking over Blu-Ray specs:

• CD soundtracks included
• Remastered video/audio (for re-released films, I'd hope new productions max out the specs as-is)
• A whole feature-length HD movie as a bonus feature (such as when Buried came with The Contestant, or the new Criterion release of The Last Picture Show includes Texasville)
• Short films (HD preferred)
• Funny content, like gag reels, the parody compilation in Star Wars, or the parody skit for The Matrix Reloaded--would be interested in funny commentaries (like Ben Affleck's Armageddon track) or certain gag content (like the Galaxy Quest Thermian language track) as well
• Isolated music scores, and maybe even isolated SFX tracks
• Certain packaging--steelbooks or thick chipboard slipboxes are my favorites, but the VS magnetic clap boxes are really top tier

[lisadowns]

Originally Posted by Billz

Preservation of bonus content.

I'd rather have a definitive release of something with everything available for it instead of having that piece of media on several different formats just for the bonus content.

great comment thank you!

[lisadowns]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Some things that entice me the most when looking over Blu-Ray specs:

• CD soundtracks included
• Remastered video/audio (for re-released films, I'd hope new productions max out the specs as-is)
• A whole feature-length HD movie as a bonus feature (such as when Buried came with The Contestant, or the new Criterion release of The Last Picture Show includes Texasville)
• Short films (HD preferred)
• Funny content, like gag reels, the parody compilation in Star Wars, or the parody skit for The Matrix Reloaded--would be interested in funny commentaries (like Ben Affleck's Armageddon track) or certain gag content (like the Galaxy Quest Thermian language track) as well
• Isolated music scores, and maybe even isolated SFX tracks
• Certain packaging--steelbooks or thick chipboard slipboxes are my favorites, but the VS magnetic clap boxes are really top tier

really helpful thank you!!

[Ste7en]

A hyphen. No hyphen, no purchase

A feature - best possible presentation of the most complete cut, or inclusive of variants, original audio option.

Documentaries - new and exclusive content, fresh retrospectives, archive sections (nice, but not essential).

I now want to watch your previous features

[Pochacco]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

I now want to watch your previous features

I've signed up to Lisa's Kickstarter to get the previous ones after watching the trailers for those.

In the interim, Lisa's YouTube channel has a lot of content there too that focuses on other movies

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

A feature - best possible presentation of the most complete cut, or inclusive of variants, original audio option.

That reminds me, I also prefer releases that have all available cuts available (or at least the ones that matter the most). Alternatively, if there's a release for only an inferior cut of the movie and the theatrical version is missing, it will make me think twice (such as the studio release of The Warriors--thank goodness Imprint and Arrow put out both cuts in their releases).

I used to care a lot of about deleted scenes too, but I haven't really been excited about them in a long time. I think I'd prefer to see alternate cuts of the movie with the scenes reinserted and SFX finished wherever possible (like with the LOTR extended editions).

[side__on]

original artwork(cinema poster/vhs cover)
original audio
Commentaries
all legacy special features
cd soundtrack
isolated score

[nekromantik]

i find the £35 plus shipping cost for crowd funded disc to be too much tbh
wish there was a standard option with just the disc for like £20

[lisadowns]

Originally Posted by nekromantik

i find the £35 plus shipping cost for crowd funded disc to be too much tbh
wish there was a standard option with just the disc for like £20

Sorry to hear that. I tried to balance the cost of the past 4 years by setting a price that felt reasonable but also by adding extras like the postcard set, the patch, the handwritten note, adding features and making it as worthwhile as possible
If it helps in about 12 months I’ll reduce the price, so please keep an eye out!
On the plus side, I’m in the UK too so the postage will be cheaper than most releases for you I’d hope as I’m not shipping from the US ��
#supportindiefilm

[lisadowns]

Originally Posted by Pochacco

I've signed up to Lisa's Kickstarter to get the previous ones after watching the trailers for those.

In the interim, Lisa's YouTube channel has a lot of content there too that focuses on other movies

Yay thank you!!

[nekromantik]

Originally Posted by lisadowns

Sorry to hear that. I tried to balance the cost of the past 4 years by setting a price that felt reasonable but also by adding extras like the postcard set, the patch, the handwritten note, adding features and making it as worthwhile as possible
If it helps in about 12 months I’ll reduce the price, so please keep an eye out!
On the plus side, I’m in the UK too so the postage will be cheaper than most releases for you I’d hope as I’m not shipping from the US ��
#supportindiefilm

yeah with current situation in uk and speding too much over in the US for discs we will never get here means I dont have much spare cash after saving for xmas gifts! haha
good to know you will be reducing in a year.
if you do sell it after release i may think about buying it in spring time

[mep]

Originally Posted by lisadowns

Hi everyone!

I wondered what everyone looks for on/in a BluRay, in terms of not only bonus material / extras but features such as subtitles

Hi Lisa,

great to see that your Kickstarter Campaign already almost reached its initial goal! I already have your great Life After Flash Documentary in my collection (via the German 4K Steelbook release from StudioCanal). But I now also took the chance and supported your campaign today via the Ultimate BD Combo offer.

It’s clear that you take great personal effort and thoughts into your BD releases! I especially like the striking cover design, the inclusion of a booklet and thought out special features.

If I could add something that in my opinion most physical media collectors would like, I would love to see your releases getting a bit more collectible cases (like clear cases or scanavo cases) and maybe a Slipcover. Those are often used by boutique labels, to get a certain premium feel.

But I‘m not sure, if those additions would be financially feasible for your independent releases.

Regarding Special Features I always love to get an AudioCommentary. If I get only one feature, I would always chose a Commentary over anything else. In my mind, one could include almost every other feature within a well done Commentary. Also I always like to hear people‘s opinion, that were directly involved or deeply educated with the material.

Hope your other forthcoming Life After Documentaries are also processing well, good luck to your current Kickstarter Campaign and Greetings from Germany! Chris

[pferreira]

Would be great if you got Barrett Oliver involved in this. All three movies have been poorly served on home media. The second movie isn't even on blu-ray!

[Faustus]

Originally Posted by pferreira

The second movie isn't even on blu-ray!

The US edition is listed as Region Free.