What I'm worried about are the economic aspects of recranking for new technologies...Listen, if the leap hasn't even been made over DVD-R for most indie doc distributors, what would happen if Blu-Ray swallowed the world?
gary > Gary, > > Sort of disagree here but I might be prejudiced. As mentioned, I think > (most) documentaries will be hit less by the quality issue when streaming > becomes the norm, especially those shot on video. And as we (Kino, New > Yorker, Milestone, etc.) represent a lot of foreign producers including > Mosfilm, there might be less rights to be had. > > Dennis > > On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 12:55 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I'm glad to report that Godot (with monkeywrench) has come and gone (at >> $100 hr.) >> >> It's not the Milestones and Flicker Alleys that I'm worried about, >> Dennis. >> It's the Bullfrogs and Icaruses and WMMs... >> >> gary >> >> >> >> > Dear Gary, >> > >> > First of all, no one waits for the plumber here in Jersey. Godot will >> come >> > first. Leave the door open and hope the vandals are good with a monkey >> > wrench. >> > >> > Agreed on everything else but here's the thing. The indies are indeed >> > moving >> > over to Blu-ray (Milestone and Flicker Alley will have their first >> > releases >> > while Kino and Criterion are already heavily into it) but I suspect >> it's >> > only because DVD sales suck so much. It might only be a five years of >> time >> > since streaming is the tidal wave of the future, but right now most of >> > that >> > is VHS quality. So, yes, you are probably buying into a dying medium >> but >> > it >> > might be far superior than what you get in a few years. And streaming >> > might >> > not have bonus features -- some of those are as important to the >> classroom >> > as the films themselves. I really do feel that at $25 a pop, the best >> > machines (the Oppo) are under $500, and HD projection not much more, >> then >> > it's worth the investment for film studies. I, of course, agree with >> my >> > pal >> > Oksana whose main interest is providing optimal quality for her >> students. >> > And I assume she is paying a lot more for the discs (they have to have >> > PPR) >> > while their students are paying cheaper tuition since Canada tends to >> be >> > less in fees. So my conclusion (which I know she would laugh at if she >> > wasn't crying) is that Concordia gives her more support for her work. >> > >> > As a father with a freshman in high school, I have to save a LOT of >> money >> > for the undergraduate degree (and more yet for the doctorate) and I'm >> > hoping >> > that his college will provide him with a maximum experience for his >> > education. Since it'll be physics, I suspect this will be true. For >> film >> > studies, it probably depends on the college. You're lucky, of course, >> to >> > have the PFA on campus so your students *do* have the 35mm experience >> in >> > the >> > best possible fashion. >> > >> > >> > >> > Best, >> > Dennis Doros >> > Milestone Film & Video/Milliarium Zero >> > Harrington Park, NJ 07640 >> > email: [email protected] >> > www.milestonefilms.com >> > www.ontheboweryfilm.com >> > www.arayafilm.com >> > www.exilesfilm.com >> > www.wordisoutmovie.com >> > www.killerofsheep.com >> > <http://www.killerofsheep.com> >> > AMIA Austin 2011: www.amianet.org >> > Join "Milestone Film" on Facebook! >> > >> > Follow Milestone on Twitter! <http://twitter.com/#!/MilestoneFilms> >> > >> > On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 11:34 AM, <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > >> >> If this were utopia 1) Deadwood would have run ten more seasons 2) >> world >> >> peace would have reigned 3) all classrooms on all campuses would be >> >> tricked out with Blu-ray and Dolby sound. (OK, OK, Dennis, 35mm and >> THX) >> >> >> >> Unfortnately... >> >> >> >> As far as media center viewing goes, most of us have under 17" >> monitors >> >> for individual viewing (as has been pointed out), and it simply >> doesn't >> >> make sense to go hi def in a low def viewing situation... Most >> >> classrooms >> >> have less than hi def projection, if that. Since classrooms are >> often >> >> controlled and maintained by units outside of the library, the >> chances >> >> of >> >> a wholesale swing to Blu-ray is fairly unlikely (at Berkeley it's >> more >> >> than unlikely). >> >> >> >> And I have to raise the question: outside of film studies and other >> >> visual studies that scrutinize film for film sake, what's the real >> need? >> >> >> >> And, lastly, if some form of hi def supplants garden variety DVD in >> the >> >> consumer marketplace, what happens to all of our friends, the indie >> >> distributors? You guys all gonna swing over? Since downward >> >> compatibility isn't always in the best interests of the consumer >> >> electronics industry, I don't think that it's out of the realm of >> >> possibility that current DVD/DVD-R are aced out completely (that is, >> if >> >> the market supports the long-term survival of Blu-ray) Then what? >> >> >> >> Gary (waiting at home for the plumber to come) Handman >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > Wow. That's a bit harsh. For every prof. who tells you your >> >> 'throwing >> >> > money away' on standard def., I'm willing to bet you could find at >> >> least >> >> > 5 who can't even tell the difference or don't care (*especially* on >> >> such >> >> > small screens). Good luck! -- Meghann >> >> > >> >> > On 5/3/2011 9:29 AM, Mandel, Debra wrote: >> >> >> Our library's monitor's are only 10", and I have to find out about >> >> our >> >> >> classroom projectors being HD ready. I am simply responding to a >> >> >> cinema studies faculty member who told me I was throwing money >> away >> >> >> on regular DVDs. >> >> >> >> >> >> Debra >> >> >> >> >> >> From: Meghann Matwichuk <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >> >> >> Reply-To: "[email protected] >> >> >> <mailto:[email protected]>" <[email protected] >> >> >> <mailto:[email protected]>> >> >> >> Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 09:10:14 -0400 >> >> >> To: "[email protected] >> >> <mailto:[email protected]>" >> >> >> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >> >> >> Subject: Re: [Videolib] Blu-ray >> >> >> >> >> >> Despite my lukewarm assessment of HD for feature films in my >> previous >> >> >> email, I feel like I need to hedge a bit after reading Dennis's >> email >> >> >> and say, "it depends on the screen". On a large screen, yes, the >> >> >> difference is appreciable. However, our viewing carrels are >> equipped >> >> >> with 18" monitors, at which point there isn't a remarkable >> difference >> >> >> for most titles. And of course, in a campus environment, the >> >> >> investment needed in terms of players and projection upgrades >> becomes >> >> >> a bit more complicated. >> >> >> >> >> >> ************************* >> >> >> Meghann Matwichuk, M.S. >> >> >> Associate Librarian >> >> >> Instructional Media Collection Department >> >> >> Morris Library, University of Delaware >> >> >> 181 S. College Ave. >> >> >> Newark, DE 19717 >> >> >> (302) 831-1475 >> >> >> http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/instructionalmedia/ >> >> >> >> >> >> On 5/3/2011 8:59 AM, Dennis Doros wrote: >> >> >>> Dear Debra, >> >> >>> >> >> >>> Just a quick note that regular DVDs do indeed play in Blu-ray >> >> players >> >> >>> and there are several now that can play all regions of both. And >> in >> >> >>> terms of feature films, there is no comparison in quality. >> Blu-rays >> >> >>> look significantly better. So if you're playing a talking-head >> >> >>> documentary on a monitor, that's no big deal. But if you want to >> >> >>> project Terence Malick's DAYS OF HEAVEN on to a screen, the >> >> >>> investment is fairly small in terms of players and discs relative >> to >> >> >>> the increased experience. >> >> >>> >> >> >>> Best, >> >> >>> Dennis Doros >> >> >>> Milestone Film & Video/Milliarium Zero >> >> >>> Harrington Park, NJ 07640 >> >> >>> email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> >> >>> www.milestonefilms.com <http://www.milestonefilms.com> >> >> >>> www.ontheboweryfilm.com <http://www.ontheboweryfilm.com> >> >> >>> www.arayafilm.com <http://www.arayafilm.com> >> >> >>> www.exilesfilm.com <http://www.exilesfilm.com> >> >> >>> www.wordisoutmovie.com <http://www.wordisoutmovie.com> >> >> >>> www.killerofsheep.com <http://www.killerofsheep.com> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> AMIA Austin 2011: www.amianet.org <http://www.amianet.org> >> >> >>> Join "Milestone Film" on Facebook! >> >> >>> >> >> >>> Follow Milestone on Twitter! >> >> <http://twitter.com/#%21/MilestoneFilms> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 8:35 AM, Mandel, Debra <[email protected] >> >> >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> >>> >> >> >>> Hi- >> >> >>> >> >> >>> What is the current theory on whether it pays to be adding >> >> >>> Blu-ray feature films, even when Blu-ray isn't a campus wide >> >> >>> standard, or where there are not classrooms dedicated for >> >> cinema >> >> >>> studies viewing. (Northeastern has at least four Blu-Ray >> >> players >> >> >>> available for reservation). Also we have no Blu-ray players >> in >> >> >>> the library yet. I'd appreciate hearing about what folks are >> >> >>> doing with this conundrum. I am sure there have been >> >> >>> conversations about this before, but I wasn't paying >> attention. >> >> >>> Unfortunately Blu-Ray players do not play regular DVDs, a >> major >> >> >>> issue. >> >> >>> >> >> >>> I'd love to hear from you! >> >> >>> >> >> >>> Debra >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> Debra H. Mandel, >> >> >>> Head, Digital Media Design Studio >> >> >>> Northeastern University Libraries >> >> >>> 200 Snell Library >> >> >>> 360 Huntington Ave. >> >> >>> Boston, MA 02115 >> >> >>> 617.373.4902 <tel:617.373.4902> >> >> >>> 617.373.5409 <tel:617.373.5409> fax >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively >> >> discussion >> >> >>> of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, >> >> >>> acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of >> >> >>> current and evolving video formats in libraries and related >> >> >>> institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an >> >> >>> effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a >> >> channel >> >> >>> of communication between libraries,educational institutions, >> and >> >> >>> video producers and distributors. >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> -- >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion >> of >> >> >>> issues relating to the selection, evaluation, >> >> acquisition,bibliographic >> >> >>> control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video >> formats >> >> in >> >> >>> libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list >> will >> >> >>> serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well >> as >> >> a >> >> >>> channel of communication between libraries,educational >> institutions, >> >> >>> and video producers and distributors. >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion >> of >> >> >> issues relating to the selection, evaluation, >> >> acquisition,bibliographic >> >> >> control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video >> formats >> >> in >> >> >> libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will >> >> serve >> >> >> as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a >> >> channel >> >> >> of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and >> >> video >> >> >> producers and distributors. >> >> >> >> >> > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion >> of >> >> > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, >> >> acquisition,bibliographic >> >> > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video >> formats >> >> in >> >> > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will >> >> serve >> >> > as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a >> >> channel >> >> of >> >> > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video >> >> > producers and distributors. >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Gary Handman >> >> Director >> >> Media Resources Center >> >> Moffitt Library >> >> UC Berkeley >> >> >> >> 510-643-8566 >> >> [email protected] >> >> http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC >> >> >> >> "I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself." >> >> --Francois Truffaut >> >> >> >> >> >> VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of >> >> issues >> >> relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic >> >> control, >> >> preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in >> libraries >> >> and >> >> related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an >> >> effective >> >> working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of >> communication >> >> between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and >> >> distributors. >> >> >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of >> > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, >> acquisition,bibliographic >> > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats >> in >> > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will >> serve >> > as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a >> channel >> of >> > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video >> > producers and distributors. >> > >> >> >> Gary Handman >> Director >> Media Resources Center >> Moffitt Library >> UC Berkeley >> >> 510-643-8566 >> [email protected] >> http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC >> >> "I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself." >> --Francois Truffaut >> >> >> VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of >> issues >> relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic >> control, >> preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries >> and >> related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an >> effective >> working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication >> between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and >> distributors. >> > > > > -- > Best, > Dennis Doros > Milestone Film & Video/Milliarium Zero > PO Box 128 > Harrington Park, NJ 07640 > Phone: 201-767-3117 > Fax: 201-767-3035 > email: [email protected] > www.milestonefilms.com > www.ontheboweryfilm.com > www.arayafilm.com > www.exilesfilm.com > www.wordisoutmovie.com > www.killerofsheep.com > <http://www.killerofsheep.com> > AMIA Austin 2011: www.amianet.org > Join "Milestone Film" on Facebook! > > Follow Milestone on Twitter! <http://twitter.com/#!/MilestoneFilms> > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve > as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. > Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 [email protected] http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC "I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself." --Francois Truffaut VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
