Movie same-time DVD releases
p2p news / p2pnet: “The proposal to simultaneously release movies in theaters and on DVD is the most pressing issue facing the exhibition industry today, with the discussion focusing on the need to increase studio revenues.”
That, and when to start using p2p to distribute movies online, although the Associated Press report from which the above statement comes doesn’t say so.
“Nobody has benefited more from DVD sales than me,” admits M. Night Shyamalan in the story. “I bought my house on DVD sales from ‘The Sixth Sense,’ “But take away my house. That’s not why I do what I do.”
But he says a move to eliminate the window between a film’s theatrical release and its debut on video would diminish the artistic integrity of moviemaking.
“If I can’t make movies for theaters, I don’t want to make movies,” he said in a Los Angeles Times interview quoted by AP. “I hope this is a very bad idea that goes away.”
In May, Mark Cuban said he and partners Todd Wagner and director Steven Soderberg were going to make ‘delivery agnostic’ digital movies for simultaneous release on tv, in cinemas and on DVD.
But the files would also be delivered online through p2p applications, Cuban told p2pnet.
Last month Bubble, their $1.6 million digital murder mystery movie, opened in Venice, Toronto, and New York and, “This is my response to certain trends in the entertainment industry,” said Soderbergh. “Everything changes and evolves and we’ve got to get with it, embrace it and find a way to make it work. The movies are not the way they used to be when I grew up. It’s 30 years later!”
Robert Iger, ceo-elect of the Walt Disney Co declared, “Consumers have a lot more authority these days and they know that by using technology [read p2p applications] they can gain access to content and they want to use the power that they have. We can’t stand in the way and we can’t allow tradition to stand in the way of where the consumer can go or wants to go [read ‘We’d better shape up, or ship out'].”
With all of the above in mind, we asked Cuban if Bubble would be released using p2p as a distribution vehicle.
“No,” he told p2pnet.
There didn’t seem to be much point in tracking Shyamalan down to see what he thought about online movies and p2p ;-P
Something you think we should know? tips[at]p2pnet.net
See:-
Associated Press – Shyamalan Opposes Quick DVD Releases, October 28, 2005
p2pnet – Cuban / Soderbergh p2p move, May 1, 2005
distribution vehicle – Movie business ‘out of whack’, September 26, 2005
October 30th, 2005 at 4:15 pm
So this guy feels dvds dont reflect his artistic integrity or something? If he only saw how poorly his and other movies are often presented in theaters he might refuse to make movies at all.
October 30th, 2005 at 4:19 pm
M Night Shyamalan should realize that the delivery vehicle of the video is not the important consideration. There are home theatre systems now that rival the experience of the theatres. Mr. Shyamalan can still make movies for the big screen and I think it would be a big big mistake for anyone in Hollywood to think that they should do otherwise.
October 30th, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Why should he release on DVD’s? The peer to peer networks are already handling that task for him.
October 31st, 2005 at 9:01 am
But he says a move to eliminate the window between a film’s theatrical release and its debut on video would diminish the artistic integrity of moviemaking.
“If I can’t make movies for theaters, I don’t want to make movies,” he said in a Los Angeles Times interview quoted by AP. “I hope this is a very bad idea that goes away.”
—
This is such a huge load of bull. The message is important, not the media. Any TRUE artist would know that. Anyone who is serious about their home theaters, and I’m sure Mr. Shyamalan is one of those folks considering the kind of money he has, will certainly know that even a half decent home theater system is easily a much better experience than the theater by far. For people like him, I guarentee it’s all about money and control, plain and simple. Getting rid of theaters would be getting rid of a source of revenue after all, since most people later buy the DVD as well. Artisic vision, don’t make me laugh.
Personally I like the idea of straight to DVD releases, and I’m sure most regular movie goers like myself do too. Who wouldn’t like the idea considering how much it costs to go to the theater these days? For relatively the same price as a ticket for the wife and I, I could instead own a DVD that the family and I can watch over and over as many times as we want. No bratty kids screaming or running around, no idiots talking through the entire movie, no cell phones going off, no theater employees shining flashlights at audience members in the middle of the movie, no expensive consession items to buy (can’t live without those!), no having to look over peoples heads, not having to share a single arm rest with the people on your left and right, no sticky floors, being able to pause the movie in order to go to the bathroom, no having to stnad up for others who need to come and go for whatever reason. I could go on and on why DVD is a far superior viewing experience. I’m sorry, but the theaters days are numbered, and nothing is ever going to change that. Get used to it Mr. Shyamalan, and if you’re really serious about having a tantrum by not making movies anymore, then good cause we certainly don’t need you as much as you need us. Move over and let the true artists that honestly care about their craft take over the reigns.
October 31st, 2005 at 9:05 am
Two more things I meant to add. Not having to find and pay for a babysitter, and not having to go through all the trouble to get to the theater in winter (getting the car started, scraping off the windows, etc). Also, don’t forget how expensive gas is getting, and will continue to get. Especially in winter, which is right around the corner (bah humbug).
October 31st, 2005 at 9:33 am
Mr. Shyamalan if you want to make movies for the cinema stop making stuff like The Village – it was a direct-to-video type movie… it had an intresting twist but nothing special.
Now Singns – thats more like it
October 31st, 2005 at 5:35 pm
Great post. Going to theatres is a poor, expensive delivery system, for what is oftern a poor and expensive product. Shyamalan probably only visits the theatre when it’s a gala premier and when he’s getting a freebie – not something the rest of us gets to experience.
Give us more choice in how we view the products we buy, not less.