Spielberg on HD DVD?

[diogen]

Can somebody run by me the "Spielberg is devoted to BD" spiel again?
Universal Japan Touts Spielberg Titles in HD DVD Presentation | High-Def Digest

Diogen.

 

[JoeSp]

I don't know if Spielberg is devoted to BD but the first title of his in the US will be on BD. And I think this is because of Sony possibly owning the distribution rights. After that who knows. He is definately holding cards on HD production of his movies and he has yet to really play them.

This brings up again the question of who owns the rights to producing a title on HD. I think things are going to get tight over this issue in the coming months as multiple studios supporting both formats - esclusive and otherwise - will be pushing to see which format a movie will be made on. Especially those titles that multiple studios were involved in the production of. Then we go overseas and a totally differant game is played. Simply because differant studios have rights in their respective countries - regions to produce a title and if they support HD-DVD they can produce a BD movie from North America in HD-DVD in Asia or Europe.

In this instance my: to the HD-DVD crowd as this allows some BD content in North America that is BD exclusive to be made on HD-DVD in Europe or Asia. Thus being available to North America because of the non-region coding. Maybe this was a good idea?

 

[diogen]

I'm not a Spielberg fan but believe him being the second most "important" (after Lucas) movie maker that is capable of swinging the perception of the "winning format" for J6P. And I think he knows that, too. And so does Lucas. And this is exactly why they won't pick a side until there is a real "writing on the wall", not an imaginary one the BD gang discovers in their haluciogenic dreams with strong regularity.

Same applies to other "important players".
Wal-Mart sells 40% of DVDs, singlehandedly can impose a time window between DVD release and broadcasting of a movie (and studios comply!) - and at the moment has hardly any say in the HD/BD skirmish. Because they lost it? Because they don't care, I think.

So much noise about Target's endcaps and how it is another "final nail in the coffin" ("Everything is on Target". - Penton-Man), and they are the first to advertise the Chineese HD DVD player.

Point I'm trying to make: "important players" aren't playing yet because there is no money to be made. They ain't even warming up. And how good of a crystal ball we - stydying the specs and posting on forums - have, was cleared recently by the NPD report (Best Buy vs. the rest): we have no clue and whatever we consider logical is no better than guessing...

Diogen.

 

[JoeSp]

GAG -- I agree with -- I can't believe I'm going to say this -- with diogen! ARGH!!!

It might be fun to call out the Fat Lady but diogen is right, there are currently no big players posistioning on BD/HD-DVD because there really is no big money to be made yet. My guess is we are at least 2 to 3 years if ever from either format being in a position to be big money to retailers. Until that happens the War Zone is more like the Looney Zone and at times I am definately one of the inmates.

 

[mike123abc]

The big players are not showing up because they are the types that want to make a statement with a new format. Look at all the trouble Lucas went through to produce the DVD versions of Star Wars. It took forever. By the time they get around to having all the extras in HD and redone yet again to their liking a few years will go by and the format war would be a memory.

 

[vurbano]

Seems to me Transformers is coming out mid october on HD DVD. That is a new Speilberg movie and would indicate a preference.

 

[seminole2001]

Seems to me Transformers is coming out mid october on HD DVD. That is a new Speilberg movie and would indicate a preference.

Ahhh Spileberg was only a producer on Transformers....not a director. Dreamworks movies directed by Speilberg are controled by him. Not sure about Universal. Nice try tho.

 

[GaryPen]

Were Spielberg's movies not included in the Paramount/Dreamworks exclusivity deal?

 

[navychop]

I've read elsewhere that he retained certain rights. Not sure how true it is, but he did force a retraction when one of his movies was announced for release on HD DVD.

 

[CochiseGuy]

Were Spielberg's movies not included in the Paramount/Dreamworks exclusivity deal?

The exact wording in the Paramount HD DVD exclusivity Press Release was:

" Paramount Home Entertainment will issue new releases day and date as well as catalog titles exclusively on HD DVD. Today's announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format."

Only films personally Directed by Spielberg - such as "Saving Private Ryan" were not included. Films in which he may have had some role - such as one of the Executive Producers of "Transformers" - were included in the deal.

 

[GaryPen]

It will be interesting to see if he chooses an exclusive format for his films, or goes with both for now.

 

[seminole2001]

DENIED!

Spielberg Spokesperson: Universal Japan HD DVD Announcement was "A Mistake"
Posted October 8, 2007 by Ben

Marv Levy, spokesperson for Steven Spielberg, was kind enough to speak with us today regarding the recent surprise announcement from Universal Home Video Japan that Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park and Back to the Future would be released on HD DVD.

According to Mr. Levy, "There are no plans to release these titles on HD DVD. It was a mistake and someone inadvertently put those titles into a presentation"

Mr. Levy also mentioned that Universal will be making a public statement regarding this mistake in the coming days.

Blu-ray.com would like to thank Mr. Levy for again speaking with us regarding Mr. Speilberg's films and their future in the world of high definition media.

Blu-ray.com - Spielberg Spokesperson: Universal Japan HD DVD Announcement was "A Mistake"

 

[roachxp]

They are the only site to have that release once a more reliable site, thats trusted in the HDM community on even Spielberg has something on his site this in all FUD.