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AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY ON PROTECTING THE MOVIE-GOING EXPERIENCE

We are the artists and business professionals who help make the movie business great. We produce and direct movies. We work on the business deals that help get movies made. At the end of the day, we are also simply big movie fans.

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk by leaders at some major studios and cable companies about early-to-the-home “premium video-on-demand.” In this proposed distribution model, new movies can be shown in homes while these same films are still in their theatrical run.

In this scenario, those who own televisions with an HDMI input would be able to order a film through their cable system or an Internet provider as a digital rental. Terms and timing have yet to be made concrete, but there has been talk of windows of 60 days after theatrical release at a price of $30.

Currently, the average theatrical release window is over four months (132 days). The theatrical release window model has worked for years for everyone in the movie business. Current theatrical windows protect the exclusivity of new films showing in state-of-the-art theaters bolstered by the latest in digital projection, digital sound, and stadium seating.

As a crucial part of a business that last year grossed close to $32 billion in worldwide theatrical ticket sales, we in the creative community feel that now is the time for studios and cable companies to acknowledge that a release pattern for premium video-on-demand that invades the current theatrical window could irrevocably harm the financial model of our film industry.

Major studios are struggling to replace the revenue lost by the declining value of DVD transactions. Low-cost rentals and subscriptions are undermining higher priced DVD sales and rentals. But the problem of declining revenue in home video will not be solved by importing into the theatrical window a distribution model that cannibalizes theatrical ticket sales.

Make no mistake: History has shown that price points cannot be maintained in the home video window. What sells for $30-a-viewing today could be blown out for $9.99 within a few years. If wiser heads do not prevail, the cannibalization of theatrical revenue in favor of a faulty, premature home video window could lead to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. Some theaters will close. The competition for those screens that remain will become that much more intense, foreclosing all but the most commercial movies from theatrical release. Specialty films whose success depends on platform releases that slowly build in awareness would be severely threatened under this new model. Careers that are built on the risks that can be taken with lower budget films may never have the chance to blossom under this cut-throat new model.

Further, releasing a pristine, digital copy of new movies early to the home will only increase the piracy problem—not solve it.

As leaders in the creative community, we ask for a seat at the table. We want to hear the studios’ plans for how this new distribution model will affect the future of the industry that we love.

And until that happens, we ask that our studio partners do not rashly undermine the current – and successful – system of releasing films in a sequential distribution window that encourages movie lovers to see films in the optimum, and most profitable, exhibition arena: the movie theaters of America.

We encourage our colleagues in the creative community to join with us by calling or emailing NATO at 202-962-0054 or nato@natodc.com.

Sincerely,

Michael Bay
Kathryn Bigelow
James Cameron
Guillermo del Toro
Roland Emmerich
Antoine Fuqua
Todd Garner
Lawrence Gordon
Stephen Gyllenhaal
Gale Anne Hurd
Peter Jackson
Karyn Kusama
Jon Landau
Shawn Levy
Michael Mann
Bill Mechanic
Jamie Patricof
Todd Phillips
Brett Ratner
Robert Rodriguez
Adam Shankman
Gore Verbinski
Robert Zemeckis

Author:	Darkroland [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Home Premiere
So if you guys hadn't heard, on-demand is launching a service to watch films still in theaters 2 months after release at home for 30 bucks. Here's the filmmaker response: Quote: AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY ON PROTECTING THE MOVIE-GOING EXPERIENCE We are the artists and business professionals who help make the movie business great. We produce and direct movies. We work on the business deals that help get movies made. At the end of the day, we are also simply big movie fans. Lately, there’s been a lot of talk by leaders at some major studios and cable companies about early-to-the-home “premium video-on-demand.” In this proposed distribution model, new movies can be shown in homes while these same films are still in their theatrical run. In this scenario, those who own televisions with an HDMI input would be able to order a film through their cable system or an Internet provider as a digital rental. Terms and timing have yet to be made concrete, but there has been talk of windows of 60 days after theatrical release at a price of $30. Currently, the average theatrical release window is over four months (132 days). The theatrical release window model has worked for years for everyone in the movie business. Current theatrical windows protect the exclusivity of new films showing in state-of-the-art theaters bolstered by the latest in digital projection, digital sound, and stadium seating. As a crucial part of a business that last year grossed close to $32 billion in worldwide theatrical ticket sales, we in the creative community feel that now is the time for studios and cable companies to acknowledge that a release pattern for premium video-on-demand that invades the current theatrical window could irrevocably harm the financial model of our film industry. Major studios are struggling to replace the revenue lost by the declining value of DVD transactions. Low-cost rentals and subscriptions are undermining higher priced DVD sales and rentals. But the problem of declining revenue in home video will not be solved by importing into the theatrical window a distribution model that cannibalizes theatrical ticket sales. Make no mistake: History has shown that price points cannot be maintained in the home video window. What sells for $30-a-viewing today could be blown out for $9.99 within a few years. If wiser heads do not prevail, the cannibalization of theatrical revenue in favor of a faulty, premature home video window could lead to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. Some theaters will close. The competition for those screens that remain will become that much more intense, foreclosing all but the most commercial movies from theatrical release. Specialty films whose success depends on platform releases that slowly build in awareness would be severely threatened under this new model. Careers that are built on the risks that can be taken with lower budget films may never have the chance to blossom under this cut-throat new model. Further, releasing a pristine, digital copy of new movies early to the home will only increase the piracy problem—not solve it. As leaders in the creative community, we ask for a seat at the table. We want to hear the studios’ plans for how this new distribution model will affect the future of the industry that we love. And until that happens, we ask that our studio partners do not rashly undermine the current – and successful – system of releasing films in a sequential distribution window that encourages movie lovers to see films in the optimum, and most profitable, exhibition arena: the movie theaters of America. We encourage our colleagues in the creative community to join with us by calling or emailing NATO at 202-962-0054 or nato@natodc.com. Sincerely, Michael Bay Kathryn Bigelow James Cameron Guillermo del Toro Roland Emmerich Antoine Fuqua Todd Garner Lawrence Gordon Stephen Gyllenhaal Gale Anne Hurd Peter Jackson Karyn Kusama Jon Landau Shawn Levy Michael Mann Bill Mechanic Jamie Patricof Todd Phillips Brett Ratner Robert Rodriguez Adam Shankman Gore Verbinski Robert Zemeckis

Author:	Raltar [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:27 pm ]
Post subject:
Yeah, they can go **** themselves. Anything that lets me see a movie at home faster without having to go out and be around the unwashed masses at movie theaters has my stamp of approval.

Author:	FarSky [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Home Premiere
I support the response.

Author:	Midgen [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:34 pm ]
Post subject:
Am I reading that it's $30 per movie?

Author:	Talya [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re:
Midgen wrote: Am I reading that it's $30 per movie? That's still cheaper than taking a family of four to the theater. I'd never pay for it at home. The theater has its own appeal. I simply don't see how this would change anything. If I see a movie in the theater, it's because I want to see it in that environment, not because I couldn't get it at home. This whole thing (both the On-Demand service and the response) is really much ado about nothing.

The Glade 4.0 https://gladerebooted.net/

Home Premiere https://gladerebooted.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6049	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Darkroland [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re:
Midgen wrote: Am I reading that it's $30 per movie? Yep, 30 bucks for a movie that has been in theaters for 2 months. They suggest it is for "people who don't like attending the theater or the expensive prices for concessions, or large groups to have a viewing party." Personally if I wait 2 months to see a film, then I'm probably just waiting for DVD anyway, so why pay 30 bucks?

Author:	Midgen [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:19 pm ]
Post subject:
no way in hell...

Author:	Kaffis Mark V [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:26 pm ]
Post subject:
I'll be amused to see the terms of such a service. Considering the occasionally absurdly narrow definition of "private use" that some things use, it would be pretty amusing if the price point pretty much demands violating those terms.

Author:	darksiege [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:
you know... I support the people who make the films on this one... Strangely enough.

Author:	Müs [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:37 pm ]
Post subject:
30 bucks for what boils down to a rental. **** that. Its bad enough that DTV wants ~7 bucks for a PPV rental.

Author:	Caleria [ Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:45 pm ]
Post subject:
For $30, probably not. Maybe somewhere around $20, and I'd be on-board. As far as the film industry's response, screw that. I RARELY ever see a movie stick around for four months. Hell, most don't stick around 2, unless it's a really big blockbuster, or something. Maybe they should look at a 3 or 4 month model, but seriously, how many people go see a movie at the theater that's been out for 2 months, that they haven't already seen? I like the big screen experience, but I hate people, their horrible body odor, their screaming/coughing/crying kids, and their inability to remain silent or turn off their cell phones. I'd MUCH rather watch a movie in the comfort of my own home, around people that I CHOOSE to be around.

Author:	Timmit [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:18 am ]
Post subject:
I'm not going to rent a movie for nearly twice what it costs to buy it on bluray...

Author:	Rorinthas [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:43 am ]
Post subject:	Home Premiere
Die die in the face movie house monopoly. Free market choice is good for everyone. 30 bucks seems expensive on the outset. Let's assume you have a nice setup and can seat four of our friends comfortably and you split the cost. Let's not even talk about having access to a private auditorium and projector. If on demand does well I'd expect to see more competition and maybe the price and or window would change.

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