DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '06 I => Topic started by: Charles_Ellis on February 22, 2006, 02:46:51 AM
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Please join the Warner Bros. Chat to get HODS and NODS on DVD ASAP, tonight from 8-11 PM EST!!!
hometheaterforum.com
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The link is:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/files/whvchat.html
and there are instructions etc. on it as well.
Goes for another 2+ hrs, so by all means...
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I went as soon as I got the message. I didn't get to ask any questions though because of the yo pecking order of things.
Yo.
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According to a thread on HTF, the two DS movies will be released as a double-feature disc next year.
See post #3
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=252149
Darren, dear, do you know anything about this?
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I've updated the site with this news item and an editorial, which I highly recommend reading.
home.earthlink.net/~moviemandg (http://home.earthlink.net/~moviemandg)
I need a drink. ???
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Here's a link to an announcement on Gord Lacey's TVShowsOnDVD.com:
http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5166
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Apparently Mr. Lambert doesn't realize that the announcement made at the chat may not be quite the good news that DS fans have been hoping for. Especially if, as Darren fears, WB could simply be planning to release the existing versions of both films on one DVD completely without any sort of extras. ::) No restoration - no deleted scenes - not much of anything but the previously released on VHS and laserdisk versions of the films themselves...
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I've updated the site with this news item and an editorial, which I highly recommend reading.
(URL)
I need a drink. ???
Hey Darren did you have that drink yet? Bitter sweet news possibly. Hopefully the powers that be on our side will have some input, although it sounds like the situation will be similar to that of MGM/Sony ignoring DCP and DS fans on the 91 series dvd release. At the very minimum, WB is finally waking up.
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I just stumbled onto the news while comparing prices on upcoming collections 23 & 24. I'm still in semi-shock that they may be going to DVD. I would really like to see the improvements happen before hand though.
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Apparently Mr. Lambert doesn't realize that the announcement made at the chat may not be quite the good news that DS fans have been hoping for. Especially if, as Darren fears, WB could simply be planning to release the existing versions of both films on one DVD completely without any sort of extras. ::) No restoration - no deleted scenes - not much of anything but the previously released on VHS and laserdisk versions of the films themselves...
Well, Mys, you know there just isn't an audience for these films, based on a little-known soap opera from the 1960s that no-one remembers. ::)
Sheesh, if the plan is to just slap two movies on a DVD in order to stack 'em deep and sell 'em cheap, those folks need a little retro pop culture refresher course. And some insights as to how many big fans several classic shows and movies have.
Fans buy stuff, and they're willing to pay more for restoration and extras.
But hey, if they want to shoot themselves in the foot underestimating the willing spending power of fans...their loss.
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But hey, if they want to shoot themselves in the foot underestimating the willing spending power of fans...their loss.
No, it's OUR loss. Who gives a damn if they cheat themselves out of additional profits?
We wanted the original work, the restored pieces, the corrected soundtrack, the interviews and the commentary. This group of fans has been waiting for decades, and loyalty deserves better than this.
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But hey, if they want to shoot themselves in the foot underestimating the willing spending power of fans...their loss.
No, it's OUR loss. Who gives a damn if they cheat themselves out of additional profits?
Well, they should, I would think.
We wanted the original work, the restored pieces, the corrected soundtrack, the interviews and the commentary. This group of fans has been waiting for decades, and loyalty deserves better than this.
Heck, don't get me wrong, if the movies came out separately, fully restored and with all the goodies, I'd buy them in a heartbeat.
But the fact of the matter is, in hard terms, fan loyalty is not an issue when it comes to business decisions. The bottom line is dollars and cents - namely, turning the biggest profit with the lowest investment possible. Sounds cold-hearted, but that's how it is.
Sure, all of us would love to have the DVDs with the whole shebang, but that would mean much more of an investment on the part of the company to do what needs to be done to get all those goodies. Before companies are ready to do that, they usually want to know what kind of return they'll get on their investment. And unless fan loyalty can be guaranteed into a decent profit for their investment, it's not going to be considered.
Obviously releasing HODS and NODS as two restored movies with goodies would raise the price of the individual DVDs beyond the price of what one double-sided DVD without restoration and extras would cost. No idea what they would cost individually, but are there any numbers as far as the dollars and cents angle of producing the DVDs versus at least a decent estimate of potential purchasers?
Because when it comes down to debating the issue with WB, it's going to have to be on the strength of dollars and cents. And if it really turns out the numbers are so great versus production investment that it's just a matter of we fans - and even folks who are just interested in collecting classic horror movies - encouraging them to do the math and guarantee their investment risk...well, who knows?
Looks like there's still a year to debate this with them if the numbers can be crunched in our favor.
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DAMN and BLAST.
Darren here's my hope that the WB suits decide to issue the restored version of NoDS on a separate disc. I'm sure there are extras for hoDS that could easily fill an entire DVD. If nothing else, I'd love a commentary with Dan Curtis and Sam Hall. It seems doubtful whether either of those gentlemen is going to be appearing at a festival, and would be very interesting to hear their reflections... and, of course, to see your restoration of the deleted scenes!
I'm lighting a candle in the wish it WILL happen. To quote Dr. Julia Hoffman... it MUST.
Best, Steve
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Heck, don't get me wrong, if the movies came out separately, fully restored and with all the goodies, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. Obviously releasing HODS and NODS as two restored movies with goodies would raise the price of the individual DVDs beyond the price of what one double-sided DVD without restoration and extras would cost. No idea what they would cost individually, but are there any numbers as far as the dollars and cents angle of producing the DVDs versus at least a decent estimate of potential purchasers?
They'll PROBABLY release BOTH the original HODS & NODS and then, *hopefully*, Darren's restored version at a later date. It's called 'double-dipping' folks and studios do it ALL the time to fleece us suckers out of our hard earned sheckles! And we buy both don't we? ;) If they think they'll get even MORE money out of us, they'd have rocks in their heads NOT to release a second version of NODS. My hope is that whatever WB does regarding the release of these 2 flicks on DVD, that once Darren has finished his restoration of NODS they will release that as well and call it the NODS Criterion version, or whatever. So long as we see the film the way it was SUPPOSED to be seen all those years ago, that's all I care about!! 8)
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What is possibly working in our favor is that WB is obviously well aware of Darren's restoration project so hopefully all of the restored footage will make it to the upcoming movies' DVD. I understand it is all about dollars and cents, but WB is financially able to absorb the costs of adding the restorations to the DVD. Just look at how the WB corporation threw away 6 million dollars without even blinking an eye on the failed 2004 Dark Shadows pilot. Adding the restoration footage to the DVD will cost a fraction of that I believe. Let's hope that Darren's hard work will be rewarded.
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What is possibly working in our favor is that WB is obviously well aware of Darren's restoration project so hopefully all of the restored footage will make it to the upcoming movies' DVD. I understand it is all about dollars and cents, but WB is financially able to absorb the costs of adding the restorations to the DVD. Just look at how the WB corporation threw away 6 million dollars without even blinking an eye on the failed 2004 Dark Shadows pilot.
Absolutely, and they will be able to make up for that cost by adding $10 to the 'sticker price'! I'm sure all fans would pay $30 for the UN-edited version as opposed to $20 for the original cut-up piece of confusing crap that was released originally to theaters! ;D
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Absolutely, and they will be able to make up for that cost by adding $10 to the 'sticker price'! I'm sure all fans would pay $30 for the UN-edited version as opposed to $20 for the original cut-up piece of confusing crap that was released originally to theaters! ;D
Buzz I hope you are right that most DS fans would pay the extra dollars to obtain the movies' original full length. I would also like to believe that WB has more professional integrity than MGM and Sony. Time will tell. It's a shame that we are all so helpless. I don't think WB is interested in what the fans have to say in this matter; MGM/Sony obviously did not.
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I don't think WB is interested in what the fans have to say in this matter
Basically true, unless they figure out they can *profit* more off of us by giving us exactly what we want, then of course they'd be interested because ultimately it fattens their coffers. 8)
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They'll PROBABLY release BOTH the original HODS & NODS and then, *hopefully*, Darren's restored version at a later date. It's called 'double-dipping' folks and studios do it ALL the time to fleece us suckers out of our hard earned sheckles! And we buy both don't we? ;) If they think they'll get even MORE money out of us, they'd have rocks in their heads NOT to release a second version of NODS. My hope is that whatever WB does regarding the release of these 2 flicks on DVD, that once Darren has finished his restoration of NODS they will release that as well and call it the NODS Criterion version, or whatever. So long as we see the film the way it was SUPPOSED to be seen all those years ago, that's all I care about!! 8)
I was thinking that the HODS / NODS double-sided DVD may be a "test run" to see just how many of us fans and / or retro horror lovers would pony up to begin with. And yeah, sure, I'll buy the double-sided DVD first if they feel compelled to play that game if that's the only way we can show our purchasing power.
But I surely understand and will support any action to try to get the fully-restored versions with extras to us first, if that can be managed. So whom do I need to browbeat? ;)
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What is possibly working in our favor is that WB is obviously well aware of Darren's restoration project so hopefully all of the restored footage will make it to the upcoming movies' DVD. I understand it is all about dollars and cents, but WB is financially able to absorb the costs of adding the restorations to the DVD. Just look at how the WB corporation threw away 6 million dollars without even blinking an eye on the failed 2004 Dark Shadows pilot. Adding the restoration footage to the DVD will cost a fraction of that I believe. Let's hope that Darren's hard work will be rewarded.
I hope so, too, I think it's just great how Darren has Mr. Curtis' blessing and everything.
Now, I've heard about that WB pilot in 2004 - if anyone here can flash me a link to a site that explains why that never materialized, I'll be happy to read it.
I know WB is a big ol' mega-studio and able to absorb costs, but their decision to shelf the 2004 series makes me wonder if something happened as far as indication of interest - or lack thereof - in the marketing field led them to make the decision to release a double-sided DVD of the old movies. (Of course, that still wouldn't explain why they decided to re-release the movies at all, if there is some kind of market lag on DS projects.)
You can tell I'm not very savvy on how these things work, please excuse. ::)
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Absolutely, and they will be able to make up for that cost by adding $10 to the 'sticker price'! I'm sure all fans would pay $30 for the UN-edited version as opposed to $20 for the original cut-up piece of confusing crap that was released originally to theaters! ;D
I know I would...I've never seen the unedited version of the movies.
In fact, I never even knew there were unedited versions of the movies. So if nothing else, the restoration project folks are educating fans who aren't quite as knowledgeable as others about what goes on or went on outside the realm of DS broadcasts or releases.
The trick is to find out how to give this info even broader scope. If enough fans knew about it, maybe some kind of letter-writing campaign is in order.
Or maybe we should form a union. Hehe!
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Now, I've heard about that WB pilot in 2004 - if anyone here can flash me a link to a site that explains why that never materialized, I'll be happy to read it.
You might want to click on the following link to this topic on the forum:
...
because it follows the full development of the pilot. It's 55 pages long, so it's certainly a long read - but it's also an informative one for anyone who might not have followed along originally. The posts concerning the pilot's ultimate fate begin around page 46.
Also, many other topics about the pilot were posted after this one, including one in which fans who were lucky enough to see the pilot at last year's LA Fest discuss it. Try browsing/searching the boards Current Talk '04 I, Current Talk '04 II, Current Talk '05 I, and Current Talk '05 II. :)
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Terrific...thanks muchly for the pointer, MB!
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I'm sure all fans would pay $30 for the UN-edited version as opposed to $20 for the original cut-up piece of confusing crap that was released originally to theaters! ;D
Ouch. A restoration would greatly enhance my enjoyment of the movie, but I think NoDS, as it is, is in no way crappy. Sure, the unfortunate cuts caused confusion, but it's still a wonderfully creepy horror tale and boasts some superb acting (Kate Jackson, David Selby, Johnny Karlen and others) and music that's both spooky and lovely.
But because I AM such a big fan of the movie, I didn't take this latest news well. At all. [love9]
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Might I suggest a well-orchestrated letter writing campaign? Calm, intelligent letters from a variety of people might help to get the two DS movies on DVD in the form that we most want.
A good format for the letters would be to start out by praising Warners for the terrific work they've done in recent years, in terms of DVD releases, and for being one of the few studios willing to participate in online chats. From there, mention a few Warner DVDs that you've bought, or plan to buy, and express how pleased you are with these discs. Then, discuss their plans for the DS movies and suggest that they restore NODS and release the films on separate discs.
I believe that expressing our wishes for these releases in terms of wanting them to be as good as other Warners releases, i.e. reflecting Warners's high standards, would be the most effective way to convince the studio to reconsider the double-feature disc. Companies always like to know that their work is appreciated and, honestly, Warners has been doing a great job with their DVD line. Also, by referencing other titles in our letters, we will demonstrate that the fans of the DS movies have diverse tastes and that the movies appeal to a wide range of film fans.
At the very least, it will confirm to the power that be that there is interest in these movies.