NEWS: Soderbergh's revolution

CULTURE: Soderbergh's revolution

Steven Soderbergh - who directed "Sex, Lies and Videotape", "Ocean's Eleven", "Traffic" among other big hit movies - has signed a deal with the billionaire entrepreneurs Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner that heralds a potential revolution in the way films are released.

Soderbergh is no stranger to thinking outside the box.and is the ideal partner to begin this venture... But Steve, simultaneously in theatres, on DVD and television? What's the point?!

heres the point.


$.

coverage.

it will be extremely hard to miss... nevertheless, I think i'll try.

The point? Well, this is something Marc Cuban has been pushing for a long time. If a movie has been released, and you want to watch it at home instead of in the theater, why should you have to wait for another arbitrary commercial release date? Just pick up the DVD or grab it on pay-per-view.

So yeah, the point is $ -- Cuban thinks this will be a commercially viable way of releasing movies -- but it's sure as hell better for consumers, too.

straight to DVD carries less stigma than straight to video... also less chance for pirating by doing things that way, at least on release day... although it's a shoddy way to fight piracy...

From a Wired magazine interview:

I think for certain types of movie this could work...

Episode III will work best on the big screen. If it works.

But why go to see some rom com in the pictures if you can pick it up on DVD straight away?

this is not at all unexpected of him...although money may not be his main objective in making this kind of deal, it is certainly a positive side-effect.

two words: porn.

i think it's a pretty good idea. after all, when vcrs came out, people said movie theaters would die.

i saw 'hotel rwanda' in a theater when it was already available in the video stores; it's a different (better, imho) way to see a film.

I work at a video store in the US, and this would mean $$$ for our store, which usually does not make all that much due to the fact that most people have already seen the really good movies. So I am personally all for it. I will still see certain movies in the theaters because of the experience, but others I would rather not see in the theater, such as comedies and non-visually engrossing films. Sure, it might be different for me, working at both a video store and a theater(loews), but you have to admit it would be much more popular. Generally, 4-6 months, which is the usual lag time from theatrical to dvd release, makes people forget about certain movies. If you miss a movie in the theater, would you want to wait 6 months for it on dvd. I missed the incredibles, and i almost killed some people in anticipation/rage. Bottom line, it would be a much more consumer-friendly option, and it would probably also net the studios some extra cash as well.

Agreed. Sometimes it's just best to see it on the big screen. Wonder if this might get people to watch it first on DVD or pay-per-view, then see it in a theater? Sure someone's thinking of that.

It's a great idea. Not only for the above reasons (if you want to see it at home, why shouldn't you?), but also because it hurts dvd pirates.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

--yarharrr, from my cold, dead hands, PointBlank you scurvy dog!

it's all for convienience i guess. if you can't/won't go to the cinema then being able to see the film in your own home would probably mean that films rake in the cash more quickly since both are sold at once. it's a good way around piracy and to be honest, i've never understood why we have to wait 6 months for the DVD/Video to come out anyway.

What i do find bizarre is that film based computer games come out before the film. thus giving way the plot. that bothers me slightly.