Hollywood Apocalypse: THE SHIFT

[JohnCrichton]

This is the podcast that kinda brought this to my attention. (http://www.hollywoodsaloon.com/podcastEP27.html)

That and Minnie Driver starring in a FX original.

Anyone else noticing this.. A-List stars and the rise of television entertainment to being equal with films and in some respects besting film?

That and how shows find success in DVD sales now.

Could shows survive on DVD sales alone? Could DVD's become the new "comic book?"

Like, if Joss were to get together and make straight to DVD releases of Firefly and you could purchase them month to month or bi-monthly or whatever.... would and could that work?

Not sure what all discussion can come from this, but there is a shift in entertainment and I wanted to see what you guys all thought.

[JustJack]

I actually kind of love that idea.

It's not uncommon in Japan for a TV series to be released 'straight to DVD'. In fact, many of the best anime series come from STD or OVA's. It gives the writers more creative freedom to say and do whatever they want for the sake of the show, and NOT for the sake of the censor board.

Also, most of the people I know are too busy to watch TV, but still want to watch. Now, thanks to DVD and a little patience, we get to watch these shows at our leisure. I've only just recently started watching Scrubs, and it's become a favorite of my friends and I. If we all have a night off, everyone comes over to watch the new Scrubs DVD I just got. Likewise, if a friend just got the latest season of 24, we all go over there to have mini-marathons. We don't have the time to catch every episode on tv...life's just too busy.

If Joss made a straight to DVD Firefly, I'd buy it every month without hesitation (even without Wash...*sigh*). There are also many writers/directors that I'd buy std-shows from without much more than blind faith.
I really do think this is a good idea, here.

[Noukon]

It's definitely possible. New episodes of Babylon 5, at least, are currently being produced for a direct-to-DVD release.

[JohnCrichton]

B5? Got a link to that news?

[Young Justice]

Anyone else noticing this.. A-List stars and the rise of television entertainment to being equal with films and in some respects besting film?

That and how shows find success in DVD sales now.

Could shows survive on DVD sales alone? Could DVD's become the new "comic book?"

I think the future is not the DVD per se, but some sort of digital entertainment on demand. The TV shows today lack one important thing that is the convenience. I want to watch my favorite shows when it's most convenient for me and not when it's on.

About this fact the DVD is useful, but I think the whole thing of a physical device be the container of a digital information doesn't have a very long life.

I see that the things can go generally like the iTunes Music Store is today. An entertainment center where people can purchase or at least rent the digital content to see, listen or watch when it would be most convenient for them.

[maczero]

Is there enough money in direct sales for creators to do this? I thought commercial ads paid for shows.

[Noukon]

B5? Got a link to that news?

It's been well-known for a while. Here's the official press release from last year:

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6602

JMS has said that it's slated for a July release.

[Noukon]

Is there enough money in direct sales for creators to do this? I thought commercial ads paid for shows.

Obviously it's possible, since it's being done. Shows are paid for in a lot of different ways, not just with ad sales during their firstrun broadcast.