[Ulrich Kinbote]

I just saw a black comedy called The Big White on video. I really enjoyed it, and went to IMDB to read up. I was really surprised to learn it was released straight to DVD.

I don't know that it's the best movie of all time, but it's better than a lot of the shite I've seen on the big screen. Original script, great acting, cool soundtrack. And the cast includes Robin Williams, Holly Hunter. Giovanni Ribisi, Woody Harrelson, and Alison Lohman.

What's with that?

[lpkmckenna]

Every movie has it's own story.

Probably the most bizarre "straight to video" story I ever heard was involving "Prozac Nation." It was supposed to be released in 2001/2002, but the author of the book made some pretty thoughtless statements about 9/11 to the press. The film was shelved.

It was sad because it is a good movie, and it was Christina Ricci's pet project. (And, it has her only nude scene, which is all the more precious because she has since had her breasts reduced.)

News story: http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/...263749,00.html

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

"The Big White" did have a theatrical release. It probably just didn't do all that well at the box, and screens were cleared to make way for something else.

Very few movies get a shot at a true multi-week, mass audience, big ad campaign theatrical release. Many are only released in select markets. A lot of times the distributors simply don’t know what to do with a film that doesn’t fit a very narrow scope of what's considered marketable, or it’ll get bad pre-release reviews to the point studios pull it from consideration for theatrical and go straight to video. And of course, some movies are made to be “direct to video” from the outset.

[brassplayersrock²]

also, it depends on the people who make the film. it costs A LOT to get the movie "reeled up" so that it can be shown in theaters. sometimes people have just enough to make just the film, but not do the entire theater thing, so they put it straight to dvd.

[mitchell_pgh]

It's a complex formula based a bit on luck to what does and what does not go direct to video.

Many times, groups will make a movie in the hope that it will be purchased by a large studio. If the studios don't offer them anything, they end up going DTV.

[PB2K]

dvd rental stores have this section where they have the latest movies, usually half of them are really worthless b-movies, it doesn't matter to the person who rents 5+ movies a week, eventually he or she will rent the b-movies as well. easy money.

personally i hate dvd's. i hate regioncodes, i hate the disclaimer that i cant fastforward, i hate to 'set up' a movie so it has subtitles. and rentals are all scratchy.

[Ulrich Kinbote]

I think the reason Miramax has struggled is the fact that it [Prozac Nation] doesn't have a traditional dramatic structure, in terms of a clear, unqualified ending.

Some one on the IMDB suggested something like this: The Big White could have been released directly to DVD because there were are few narrative threads that weren't resolved (example: Holly Hunter's character who said she had Tourette's to explain her uncontrollable outbursts but --as her gay hostage takers repeatedly pointed out-- didn't show any of the related symptoms, like twitching and compulsively smelling things. The movie did not explicitly explain this). But holy crap! Now distributors are making decisions about what kind of narrative elements are and are not permissible on the big screen? That's fu*ked up.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally Posted by PB2K

personally i hate dvd's. i hate regioncodes, i hate the disclaimer that i cant fastforward, i hate to 'set up' a movie so it has subtitles. and rentals are all scratchy.

I prefer watching DVDs. My local blockbuster is great, and Netflix is great. I never have issues with region encoding... and have yet to received a DVD that is scratched beyond being playable. Setting up subtitles is a snap [just hit subtitle on the DVD remote]

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

(example: Holly Hunter's character who said she had Tourette's to explain her uncontrollable outbursts but --as her gay hostage takers repeatedly pointed out-- didn't show any of the related symptoms, like twitching and compulsively smelling things.)

WHAT?????

"compulsively smelling things" is NOT NOT NOT NOT a criterion for Tourette Syndrome. The filmmakers are smoking something.

[Ulrich Kinbote]

Originally Posted by Person Man

WHAT?????

"compulsively smelling things" is NOT NOT NOT NOT a criterion for Tourette Syndrome. The filmmakers are smoking something.

Just because a character is misinformed doesn't mean the scriptwriter is.

[Robert A.M. Stephens]

Have a little experience with this topic, so offer this that may be helpful. Movies that went to tape, CD, or DVD have funneled the distribution source into direct sales placement rather than media coverage via theater release then onto DVD.

Less money up front but return quicker at lower distribution costs.

[Robert A.M. Stephens]

Also wantd to add that sometimes the work can be canned, and then turned over to distribution like Miramax, Lorimar, etc, that underwrite distribution for a percentage of the overall take, including the work going to DVD eventually and its subsequent return through rentals and purchase.

[brassplayersrock²]

good job repeating what has had already been said here stephens. post when you learn to think for ones self and not reword from others.

[Robert A.M. Stephens]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock

good job repeating what has had already been said here stephens. post when you learn to think for ones self and not reword from others.

F*ck off, freak.

I am love

[analogika]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock

good job repeating what has had already been said here stephens. post when you learn to think for ones self and not reword from others.

Dude, he's in the film biz (though "love" he most definitely is not, judging by his posts in the P/L).


Who died and made you Head Asshole of this joint?

[brassplayersrock²]

i do believe that's MR Head Asshole to you young-in'

[analogika]

"young"?

[brassplayersrock²]

touché

[Tyler McAdams]

I seem to have this prefabbed fear of renting DVD's that never made it to the theater. I guess even though there are some good ones it just seems that more than likely it's waste of time.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

It was sad because it is a good movie, and it was Christina Ricci's pet project. (And, it has her only nude scene, which is all the more precious because she has since had her breasts reduced.)

Uncle Doof hates it when that happens.