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Disney Will Make All The Blu-ray Money It Can![teaser]The company sees a move to a digital marketplace as inevitable, according to the company's CFO.[/teaser] There's a lot of nay saying when it comes to retail sales of media. CDs are disappearing from stores and PC games are all but gone thanks to digital distribution. The unsure footing of retail isn't going to stop Disney from continuing to rock out Blu-rays while there's a market. Jay Rasulo, the CFO of Disney, says that the company is going to keep pushing out Blu-rays along with DVD and digital copies of the movie. Disney has one of the best conversion rates in the industry - that's the ratio of physical copies sold compared to box office performance - so they're not about to leave all that money behind. Rasulo says that there's no question that the retail media market is disappearing, but says that there's no telling yet just how fast. "We are maximizing Blu-ray for whatever it is," he says, "But clearly, over time, this is a market that is moving over to digital." Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Fri Sep 23, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Cream: Royal Albert Hall London 2005' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The 2005 reunion concert goes high-def next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Eagle Rock Entertainment is prepping 'Cream: Royal Albert Hall London 2005' for a high-definition release on October 11. This epic 19-song high-definition reunion concert of guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker—who hadn’t played together in nearly 40 years—comes complete with an additional three bonus tracks: alternate versions of “Sleepy Time Time,” “We’re Going Wrong” and “Sunshine Of Your Love.” Interviews with all three legends make up the remainder of this historic two-hour and 47-minute classic. Cream’s four studio albums – Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels Of Fire, and Goodbye – were all successful, and yielded numerous hit singles. Still, it was their incendiary and revolutionary approach to live performance that made them stand out head and shoulders above their peers. This very special chemistry can be felt on 'Cream: Royal Albert Hall London 2005.' Despite being together originally from only 1966 to 1968, these three not only set the standard for power trios but became god-like to their fans in their virtuosity and intricate bombastic jamming. The interplay between the three of them—all three soloing simultaneously!—was like nothing that had ever came before. To even the surprise and delight of the musicians themselves, that bond did not break through the decades. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Cream: Royal Albert Hall London 2005' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 11.Posted Fri Sep 23, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Terri' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The quirky coming-of-age tale is coming to Blu-ray in October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox has slated 'Terri' for Blu-ray on October 11. From the producers of 'Blue Valentine' and 'Half Nelson' comes the extraordinary original and loveable comedy 'Terri.' An official selection at Sundance Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival, the critically-acclaimed cast includes Academy Award®-nominee John C. Reilly ('Chicago,' 'Cyrus'), Creed Bratton (“The Office”) and newcomer Jacob Wysocki (“Huge”) in a bittersweet coming-of-age story that will leave you cheering. An overweight social misfit, Terri Thompson (Wysocki), is the lone caretaker and guardian for his elderly Uncle James (Bratton). While struggling to find acceptance in school, Terri finds refuge in the company of his shy but pretty classmate Heather (Olivia Crocicchia, “Rescue Me”). In an effort to bring Terri out of his awkward pajama-wearing shell, his off-beat high school principal, Mr. Fitzgerland (Reilly) takes Terri under his wing to distract himself from his own painful divorce. What emerges is a lesson on growing pains for both of them, and learning to find a reason to spread their wings and fly. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: A Look Inside Terri and Deleted Scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Terri' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 11.Posted Fri Sep 23, 2011 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Facebook Will Introduce New Media Sharing Integration[teaser]Spotify, Netflix and more will be linkable and playable directly through Facebook. [/teaser] One of the really nice things about Facebook is the way it plays so friendly with YouTube. Just copy and paste the address of the YouTube video and bam - you've got an embedded video that any of your friends can look at and play. The newest update to Facebook is going to make it possible to do that same thing with Spotify, Netflix, Dailymotion, Blockbuster and other media services in addition to cooking sites, exercise sites and more. Check out the video from Facebook for a quick overview and the video from Spotify for a slightly more in depth take on what's going on. On a disappointing note, Netflix is still up in the air for customers in the US, since there's a bit of confusion on the legality. Source:Posted Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 04:05 PM PDT by: -
HDD Interviews the Cast and Crew of 'Jurassic Park'by Michael S. Palmer [teaser]With the 'Jurassic Park Trilogy' coming to Blu-ray next month, Universal Studios Home Entertainment graciously invited High-Def Digest to sit down four members of the blockbuster film's cast and crew.[/teaser] On the crew side, we met Dennis Murren (the Godfather of CGI who cut his teeth on 'Star Wars' and 'Close Encounters'), Phil Tippet (a stop motion animator who also worked on 'Star Wars' and 'Temple of Doom'. He was original hired to do the dinosaurs for 'Jurassic Park' until the decision was made to go digital; he later designed the creatures for 'Starship Troopers' and runs a VFX studio), and John Rosengrant (who worked with Stan Winston until he passed away in 2008; his credits include everything from 'The Terminator' through 'Iron Man' and the last two 'Twilight' films). After talking to these guys, we then sat down with Ariana Richards, who played Lex in 'Jurassic Park' and 'The Lost World.' Dennis Murren, Phil Tippet, and John Rosengrant are effects wizards any film geek could follow around for days (or weeks), picking their brains and finding out how they did this or that. Sadly, we were only given a few minutes to speak with all three. It definitely wasn't enough time to get anything in depth, so for that I apologize in advance. Here's what they had to say: IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO MEET ALL OF YOU. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME. DO YOU GUYS HAVE HOME CINEMAS? [Phil and John shake their heads, no.] Dennis: No, but I have a 65-inch big screen TV. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE DEMO DISCS? Dennis: All of them… '2001', 'The Shining', 'Black Narcissus', 'Citizen Kane'… John: I just watched 'Bullit' the other day and thought it was fantastic. 'JURASSIC PARK' IS ONE OF THE FIRST INSTANCES OF A PHOTO-REALISTIC CGI CHARACTER OR CREATURE, YET WHY DOES IT LOOK BETTER THAN MANY, MORE MODERN USES OF CGI? Dennis: Well, we had been working on the technology for that for at least a year or two, just to see if it was ready. And Phil had been studying animals for decades. And Stan's group had been studying animal sculpting for decades. So the basis of the look and the motion is in reality. I think what's going on now, and it's been going on for the last ten years, is that people are copying movies instead of copying reality. So if you see a dinosaur film that was made ten years ago, they were probably looking at 'Jurassic Park,' but those of us who made 'Jurassic Park' were looking at wild animals like rhinos and giraffes. We were looking at the real thing. I think that's so important to be able to make this stuff look real. Phil: You use your observational skills. John: There's this video game mentality too. You know, there's no gravity and it should be flying at 150mph. And with these animals, it was 'Oh, what could these animals really run at? How would he really move?' Phil: There's also an economic aspect to it too, which is off-shoring stuff. Sending it taxed based places where the studios get back millions of dollars, but the talent pool isn't there. So they save a bunch of money, but they get crap work. John: And if it does well at the box office that enables them to keep doing it. Because they're not looking at it from an artistic point of view. It's a bean counter's point of view. WHAT WAS EACH OF YOUR LOWEST POINTS DURING THE PRODUCTION, AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Phil: I did fail! I thought I was going to get fired, but they kept me on. [editor's note: Phil was originally hired to use his go-motion stop animation to create the dinosaur effects before the decision was made to have digital dinosaurs. Spielberg kept him on the crew to help supervise Dinosaur movements and animation. One way he did this was by creating a stop-motion puppet with digital sensors; imagine an early version of motion-capture.] John: You switched tools; you got a new wrench. Dennis: I think every day could have been a failure, and I'm serious about that, but the dailies the next day were so exciting you just kept on moving and saying this is amazing stuff. But every day there were serious problems. John: It's hard work, but a labor of love. We were really excited about doing this so long hours or whatever it was taking to create a 9,000 pound T-Rex, we waded through it because it was so exciting to see that thing move. ARE THE T-REXS AND SPINOSAURUS THE BIGGEST CHARACTERS YOU'VE EVER CREATED? John: Yes. Absolutely, the Spinosaurus was enormous. It was 24,000 pounds, a thousand horsepower with the accumulators all moving. That thing was like a small plane. PHIL, DID YOU EVER IMAGINE YOU'D BE WORKING WITH DIGITAL EFFECTS IN YOUR CAREER? Phil: There were no digital effects when I started my career, so how could I possibly imagine it! It snuck up and bit me on the thigh. [he turns to John] What did you guys do with the T-Rexs. John: I think they were all dismantled. THEY'RE KICKING ME OUT. THANKS, GUYS. [THE STERN-LOOKING FOLKS OFF TO THE SIDE KICK ME OUT. I THEN RUSHED OVER TO ANOTHER ROOM TO MEET ARIANA, WHERE WE HAD A FULL FIVE MINTUES.] HI, ARIANA. I CHECKED OUT YOUR ART, AND IT'S FANTASTIC. REALLY IMPRESSIVE. Ariana: You did? Thank you so much. FIRST, HDD PRIMARILY REVIEWS BLU-RAY. DO YOU HAVE A HOME CINEMA OR ANY FAVORITE BLU-RAYS? Ariana: Of course, and how could I not care about seeing Jurassic on Blu-ray. I'm excited to see what they do with the HD for sure. HAVE YOU SEEN IT YET? Ariana: No, I actually haven't gotten to see it on Blu-ray yet, but it is coming very soon. IS THERE A QUESTION NO ONE EVER ASKS IN THESE PRESS JUNKETS THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO ANSWER (OR A SUBJECT YOU'VE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT)? Ariana: That's a very good question. Do you have something in mind? NO, I FIGURE YOU'RE HEARING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SO I WAS TRYING TO SPARE YOU THAT. Ariana: That's really nice of you, but I don't know. I'd like you to surprise me. OKAY, IN YOUR ART/PAINTINGS. HAS WORKING WITH A VISUAL MAESTRO LIKE STEVEN SPIELBERG, BEING ON SET AND WORKING WITH HIM, HAS THAT INSPIRED OR INFLUENCED YOUR WORK? Ariana: That is actually a really good question and thank you so much for that. Absolutely, working with Steven was so impactful for me. Watching the way he would work and visually compose scenes. He would walk around and do this [Ariana makes the universal director hand-framing a shot gesture] and frame up an image. That was very common for me to see, and I did. I embraced that and brought it into my work along with wanting to express the essence. When you play a character, you want the emotion to come through. So I'm doing that when I paint these portraits of people and express that magic of bringing them to life. Really, in a sense, becoming my own director. WHAT WAS THE CASTING PROCESS LIKE? I IMAGINE IT WAS MONTHS AND MONTHS. Ariana: The casting process was not months and months, actually. It was very fast. Steven had seen me in some other projects I had done prior to Jurassic and liked my work. And he wanted me to come in and audition screaming and be put on tape just screaming. I didn't even really know anything about the project at that time; I hadn't read the script for anything. So I screamed and then he, apparently, watched the tape of all the girls screaming that day. He was sitting at home on the couch next to his wife, Kate, who was sleeping. He went through a couple screamers, and there I was. As soon I started screaming, she leapt up off the couch and started running into the hallway to see if her kids were okay. So, shortly after that, Steven invited me to come into his office and meet him. This was on my way to Disneyland, so I decided it was okay to take a detour -- HA. Ariana: And after a few minutes, Steven asked me 'So, Ariana, are you busy this summer?' Of course I said no, and that was the beginning. And I have to say, maybe he did this on purpose, but when I first walked into his office, he got up and bumped his head on the chandelier, which put me at ease right away. So I think maybe he did that on purpose. WHAT'S IT LIKE ACTING AGAINST NOTHING (FOR THE CGI) VS. ACTING AGAINST ANIMATRONIC DINOSAURS? Ariana: Acting with the dinosaurs was so remarkable because they were so incredibly realistic, the level of detail that Stan Winston and Phil Tippet and Dennis Muren put into these dinosaurs. There was so much for me to draw from. I stepped into that world and really felt like I was in Jurassic Park. There were only very few times when there wasn't a dinosaur there, and in that case I would remember what it was like to work with them. AT THE TIME YOU'D BEEN ACTING SINCE A YOUNG AGE, BUT WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BECOME WORLD FAMOUS AS A TEENAGER? Ariana: That's an interesting question too. I went through Jurassic and it was so exciting. I had no idea it was going to be so huge afterwards. Then it hit and everybody was so excited about it. As an example, I couldn't eat lunch without a line of people wanting to talk to me and ask for my autograph. It was really intense, but at the same time, a lot of people were so positive about it, so excited. I never had anyone be difficult; they were always really appreciative of it, and excited to meet me. I have to say there were times when it got a little overwhelming. LAST QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE BLU-RAY'S NEW DOCUMENTARIES THAT ONE OF THE REASONS YOU LOVED YOUR CHARACTER WAS THAT SHE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO YOUNG GIRLS IN TERMS OF COMPUTERS AND SCIENCE [editor's note: remember, this is 1993 folks and home computers were not quite as ubiquitous], DID YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO MEET ANY OF THOSE FANS? Ariana: I did. Actually, I was really happy when I got a chance to talk to people who said, 'You know what, Ariana, after all these years, I wanted to let you know how much your work in Jurassic affected me, how much the story affected me and inspired me to take this direction in my life and learn these skills. And I want you to know how much you meant to me. And that is really been rewarding to me. EXCELLENT, THANKS VERY MUCH. AND THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE AT UNIVERSAL HOME ENTERTAINMENT. I WISH WE COULD HAVE SPENT MORE TIME WITH THE VFX WIZARDS, BUT IF YOUI CHECK OUT THE BLU-RAY ON OCTOBER 25TH, IT HAS A NEW SIX-PART DOCUMENTARY WHERE YOU GET TO KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SCENE OR EFFECT IN 'JURASSIC PARK'? AND HOW WOULD YOU RANK THE TRIOLOGY IN TERMS OF QUALITY? HIT UP THE FORUM LINK BELOW. CHEERS!Posted Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Hangover: Part II' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The poorly-received sequel to the hit Todd Phillips comedy will sober up Blu-ray this holiday season. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers says 'The Hangover: Part II' is coming to high-definition on December 6. It seems what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas, as this time the Wolfpack (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galfianakis) find themselves in a similar situation in Bangkok, Thailand. The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack with 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Comedy Rhythm of Todd Phillips, Not Your Everyday Monkey, Bangkok Tour with Mr. Chow, Action Mash-Up, Hangover 2 Laugh Track, and Gag Reel. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Hangover: Part II' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 6.Posted Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Hulu Plus Now Available on Nine More Android Devices[teaser]Many Android owners have a new option available for video streaming on their phones. [/teaser] Android is incredibly customizable. The downside is that Android devices aren't all built to the same standard, which leaves developers having to make adjustments for individual products. Hulu has been hard at work on getting more Android devices up and running and has now released the Hulu Plus app to nine new devices, including the HTC Flyer tablet and eight smartphones. Newly Supported Devices: HTC Incredible 2 HTC Evo 3D HTC Sensation Motorola Droid 3 Motorola Bionic Motorola X2 LG Revolution LG G2X HTC Flyer (tablet) Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Ultimate Gift' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The 2006 family drama based on the bestselling Jim Stovall novel is planned for Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox says 'The Ultimate Gift' is coming to high-definition on November 15. The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, Leave a Legacy, Live the Ultimate Gift, "Something Changed" Music Video, and "Legacy" Music Video. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Ultimate Gift' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 15.Posted Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Adobe Flash Player 11 Brings 3D Graphics Into the Mix[teaser]Also new to the player are 3D hardware acceleration and faster performance. [/teaser] Adobe's Flash Player gets a lot of hate from folks, but Flash Player 11 looks like it might be changing some minds. The newest version of Flash - ready to launch next month - brings a whole new level of quality. Adobe boast "console quality" games on the new platform. Based on the videos, they may be misleading a bit, but most of the titles look at least the quality of the original Xbox, some veering into XBLA and PSN territory. Still very impressive for Flash. Also new to Flash is the ability to display full frame HD video with 7.1 channel surround sound. Not too shabby, especially paired with support for rentals and subscription based viewing. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'The Birth of a Nation' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]D.W. Griffith's controversial 1915 silent classic is coming to Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Kino Video says 'The Birth of a Nation' will hit Blu-ray on November 22. Nearly 100 years after its initial release, 'The Birth of a Nation' remains one of the most controversial films ever made and a landmark achievement in film history that continues to fascinate and enrage audiences. It is the epic story of two families, one northern and one southern, during and after the Civil War. D. W. Griffith's masterful direction combines brilliant battle scenes and tender romance with a vicious portrayal of African-Americans. It was the greatest feature-length blockbuster yet to be produced in the United States and the first to be shown in the White House. After seeing it, President Woodrow Wilson remarked it was "like writing history with lightning!” [DISC 2 - DVD]: Is a DVD copy of Kino's ''Griffith Masterworks'' edition of the film restored by David Shepard of Film Preservation Associates in 1993. It contains an orchestral score adapted in 1993 from the original score by Joseph Carl Breil in 2.0 Stereo and ''The Making of The Birth of a Nation'' (24 min.) Produced by David Shepard and compiled and written by Russell Merritt. [DISC 3 - DVD]: SPECIAL FEATURES: (also on DVD ported over from Kino's ''Griffith Masterworks'' edition) that includes a filmed prologue to The Birth of a Nation (1930. 6 mins. Featuring D. W. Griffith and Walter Huston), Civil War Shorts directed by D. W. Griffith: In the Border States (1910. 16 mins.) The House with the Closed Shutters (1910. 17 mins.) The Fugitive (1910. 17 mins.) His Trust (1910. 14 mins. -- courtesy David Shepard. Music by Robert Israel, performed by the Biograph Quartet) His Trust Fulfilled (1910. 11 mins.) Swords and Hearts (1911. 16 mins.) The Battle (1911. 17 mins.), New York vs. The Birth of a Nation -- an archive of information documenting the battles over the film's 1922 re-release, including protests by the NAACP, transcripts of meetings, legal documents, newspaper articles, and a montage of scenes ordered cut by the New York Censor Board. Excerpts from a The Birth of a Nation souvenir book (1915) and several original programs. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'The Birth of a Nation' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 22.Posted Thu Sep 22, 2011 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
