Image and Criterion

[Tribe]

Well, I certainly didn't consider the important human element in this thing. If things go to shit it would be a shame...HVE was one of my very favorite labels. I was as excited to find out their new releases each month as I was about Criterion releases.

Perhaps it's Criterion's lack of trust in Image's commitment that is also spurring the sister Eclipse label.

Tribe

[backstreetsbackalright]

Rocco and His Brothers

[Cinephrenic]

I hope we get these in special editions as Criterion:

La Terra Trema
Ossessione
Open City
Germany Year Zero
Rocco and His Brothers
Bicycle Thieves
Il Bidone
I Am Cuba

[Andre Jurieu]

Those 40 people are the brand.

I'm inclined to agree with that point. Losing 90% of your staff has to result in some substantial loss in expertise, and given Image's previous track-record, I have my doubts they can pick up the slack.

You don't buy a Micky Mantle game worn jersey and then wear it out to a barbeque kegger do you?

Crap. But it's OK to use DiMaggio's pants as long-johns, right?

[jcelwin]

Perhaps it's Criterion's lack of trust in Image's commitment that is also spurring the sister Eclipse label.
Tribe

Or, perhaps Criterion believe that this will bring them greater exposure and sales, so they can afford to create another label.

[dx23]

DVD has become the established format for consumers the same way CDs were back in the early 90's. Consumers are not going to repurchase films for a new format that is going to give a minimal advantage in comparison to the huge leap that was a DVD from a VHS quality wise. Laserdisc, even though it had better quality valued incentives, such as better audio and video than VHS and extras such as commentaries and documentaries, never replaced the VHS as the medium of choice for the Joe Sixpack, because of its incredibly high price. HD-DVD or Blu-Ray are going to be the Laserdiscs of this generations. Only film, audio and video buffs and rich people who could afford the new system and the replacement of the films for the new format are going to be the ones purchasing whatever format come victorious. If you don't believe me, then look at the "sucess" of the D-VHS.

I believe that DVD's will be replace when a format similar to the MP3 for films comes along. Some system that could play and storage the movies you like without losing the quality or the extras and that minimizes shelf space.

And by the way this has been discussed in this thread:
http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... php?t=1933

[davida2]

I do wonder what this will do to Criterion. Even as a seperately-owned, independent company, they now have less leverage against distributor pressure. I wonder if Image's self-proclaimed 'marketing muscle' arrives at a cost - that is, if Image's marketing programs would be charged back against Criterion profits.

In music distribution (I worked in acquisitions for an independent music distro for a few years, and it was a brutal work environment) it's close to standard to maximize your own profit by charging your 'vendors' for anything extra that your provide (beyond simply warehousing it all). Thus the pressure to enroll in in-house marketing programs, which are often dreamed up by sales reps, and not by the staff of the 'vendors' in question. In our case, this led to lots of niche/specialty releases being inapproriately placed on endcaps in suburban superstores chainwide, where they wouldn't sell, would be returned, the cost of which would be deducted from the check a vendor would get, which would lead to hellish faxes/e-mails/phone calls pouring into the accounts payable staff...

If a label/vendor has multiple distributors, you have room to move if one of your distributors tries to screw you, pressure you to spend money where it shouldn't be spent, or reduce quality control for quick financial reasons. You threaten to take your prestigious catalog somewhere else.

In my case, the distro's marketing was trageted to blowing a release out to the max number of stores, regardless of approriateness. Technically, they were someone else's releases, so if they didn't sell, it was less of a hit, and - thus - targeted marketing was an afterthought, considered to be something that would impinge upon a sales rep's ability to make calls to the buyer at Borders. And if this technique didn't generate sales, you rachet up the pressure on the vendor/client/label to buy into more specialized programs, or make other concessions (or else you make them a lower priority with your sales satff).

If Criterion is locked into a 5-year exclusive with Image, I'm absolutely certain that they will have some major issues with them by 2010.

[katjakassin]

I don't agree with you yurig. DVD has become the established format for consumers the same way CDs were back in the early 90's. Consumers are not going to repurchase films for a new format that is going to give a minimal advantage in comparison to the huge leap that was a DVD from a VHS quality wise. Laserdisc, even though it had better quality valued incentives, such as better audio and video than VHS and extras such as commentaries and documentaries, never replaced the VHS as the medium of choice for the Joe Sixpack, because of its incredibly high price. HD-DVD or Blu-Ray are going to be the Laserdiscs of this generations. Only film, audio and video buffs and rich people who could afford the new system and the replacement of the films for the new format are going to be the ones purchasing whatever format come victorious. If you don't believe me, then look at the "sucess" of the D-VHS.

I believe that DVD's will be replace when a format similar to the MP3 for films comes along. Some system that could play and storage the movies you like without losing the quality or the extras and that minimizes shelf space.

I agree with you 100%!

But moving on, I don't see this as being a bad thing for Criterion at all. All Image is doing here is being a distro for Criterion. I don't think Criterion is alittle company that can kind if be "Bullied" around or anything. They'll continue to do what they've been doing. And in the mean time, possibly have access to a ton of great titles. Films like Vampyr might actually get a Criterion release. The only change I see to Criterion in this deal is a moderatly sized Image logo on all their new releases, and maybe being allowed access to more Image titles.

As far as HVE goes, yeah, it sucks there. As stated before, it looks as though the HVE name is just going to be that now. Which is kind of weird seeing as how one can put the titles that HVE would release hand in hand with what Criterion releases (Title wise, for the most part).

Maybe in doing this Image will up their production value as well. It was stated by them in a recent VB News that they were in the market to buy labels as such to boost their profit margin and what not. But I think if they were really willing to continue to do what HVE did, they wouldn't have let basically their whole staff go. They would have kept them going as usual, while pumping some more money into them. But that's buisness I guess.

[Napoleon]

what does this mean for existing titles? Will they go oop and then image rerelease or something

Who's waiting to find out?

Last one to buy all the HVE catalogue with the potential of making a juicy profit on e-bay at the expense of HVE's laid of staff is a rotten egg.

[oldsheperd]

Why would you buy Yakuza Papers because its going oop? Just buy it because its an awesome series. Thats reason enough.

[Penny Dreadful]

I felt then that we were approaching- or passing- the half way point for dvd film. I feel now that we are nearing the end of dvd as we know it.

I don't agree with this either.

The growth rate of the DVD market is flattening because most consumers already own core collections of their favorite films. DVD is no longer the new and exciting format it used to be. That said, the industry is still growing, albeit as a slower pace. The market isn't in a slump, it has simply matured.

I did read a quote by a major studio exec who said something like, "The only way to avoid a slump is to start up a new format." (He was quoted in a video retailer trade mag I read at work... I can find the exact quote and source tomorrow if anyone is interested.) In my opinion, this would be a completely idiotic move. There's no way I'm going to re-buy all my favorite films in BluRay or HD or whatever, and neither is any other typical consumer. I'm happy with films on DVD in their OAR and will only be disappointed if some of my favorite films never make it to DVD before the format switch comes. I would give up on movie collecting altogether if we had to start all over again with Star Wars and The Godfather, gradually working our way to Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Pete & Pete, and Nightmare Alley 8 years later. Abandoning DVD for a new format would not help the studios over a slump, it would simply frustrate everyone. A jaded consumer will not re-buy his or her entire library just because the transfers are "enhanced." Basically, the studios will NOT see a repeat of the (profitable) excitement over DVD. If the only point in switching formats is to milk us and avoid a "slump" (which is really more like "people getting used to DVD"), we literally aren't going to buy it.

There's a lot of good news to counter-balance the impending switch. For instance, the new trend is to release multiple versions of the same film on the same day (like Alexander and the Wizard of Oz box sets), meaning fewer double-dips.

I've heard tell of this "DVD extras will decline in quality and quantity" business, but I don't put a lot of stock in it. Consumers have come to expect full packages of extras on their favorite discs. Directors often love to make their deleted scenes available, and studios can charge a couple extra bucks for "special editions." Everyone wins with special features.

In short, I'm not too pessimistic about the future. This is a good time to be a DVD collector.

[peerpee]

The revolt starts here folks! Let's resist the new format!

[Andre Jurieu]

so will the HVE catalogue go OOP?

I'm thinking the answer is no, especially considering someone mentioned that Image is moving all the HVe inventory. What would be the benefit to Image of taking the HVe catalogue OOP? Why not just keep selling all the titles you now own the revenue stream for? It would seem counter-productive to acquire a company only to take its product off the market.

[mbalson]

I'm really not sure how relevant this is to the Image/HVE thing, but you never know.
"This Old Cub" which is credited as an HVE release on theirs and Amazon's website, is listed as an Emerging Pictures release in THIS review.
I realise Emerging Pictures is probably just the company responsible for the original film production, but consider the following.

It's the first "HVE" release I've noticed that doesn't have the HVE logo on the front cover. That cover is ugly enough to look like something Image released 10 years ago.
The Digitally Obsessed review says that the release is non-anamorphic letterbox, which really doesn't seem in line with HVE's regular practices either. Maybe this Image thing is already showing up, maybe not.

[lull]

very strange, indeed.
and, yes, that's an ugly-ass cover. definitely not worthy of HVE.
looks like a small sports program someone hurriedly sent over to the dvd factory so that drugstores could sell them at the cash register for father's day.

[Buttery Jeb]

I wonder if this means we're going to start seeing Criterion UMDs hitting the market.

-BJ

[Faux Hulot]

HVE's now-laid-off design dept. had no foreknowledge of the takeover before Monday's announcement, so who knows where that ugly-ass Ron Santo thing came from.

[kieslowski_67]

I felt then that we were approaching- or passing- the half way point for dvd film. I feel now that we are nearing the end of dvd as we know it.

I don't agree with this either.

The growth rate of the DVD market is flattening because most consumers already own core collections of their favorite films. DVD is no longer the new and exciting format it used to be. That said, the industry is still growing, albeit as a slower pace. The market isn't in a slump, it has simply matured.

I did read a quote by a major studio exec who said something like, "The only way to avoid a slump is to start up a new format." (He was quoted in a video retailer trade mag I read at work... I can find the exact quote and source tomorrow if anyone is interested.) In my opinion, this would be a completely idiotic move. There's no way I'm going to re-buy all my favorite films in BluRay or HD or whatever, and neither is any other typical consumer. I'm happy with films on DVD in their OAR and will only be disappointed if some of my favorite films never make it to DVD before the format switch comes. I would give up on movie collecting altogether if we had to start all over again with Star Wars and The Godfather, gradually working our way to Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Pete & Pete, and Nightmare Alley 8 years later. Abandoning DVD for a new format would not help the studios over a slump, it would simply frustrate everyone. A jaded consumer will not re-buy his or her entire library just because the transfers are "enhanced." Basically, the studios will NOT see a repeat of the (profitable) excitement over DVD. If the only point in switching formats is to milk us and avoid a "slump" (which is really more like "people getting used to DVD"), we literally aren't going to buy it.

There's a lot of good news to counter-balance the impending switch. For instance, the new trend is to release multiple versions of the same film on the same day (like Alexander and the Wizard of Oz box sets), meaning fewer double-dips.

I've heard tell of this "DVD extras will decline in quality and quantity" business, but I don't put a lot of stock in it. Consumers have come to expect full packages of extras on their favorite discs. Directors often love to make their deleted scenes available, and studios can charge a couple extra bucks for "special editions." Everyone wins with special features.

In short, I'm not too pessimistic about the future. This is a good time to be a DVD collector.

I strongly second that. I am pretty happy with the image quality of MK2, Studio Canal, Warner, Criterion, Anchor Bay (to name a few) releases of the classics and won't replace my 4000+ DVD collections with Blue Ray or HD-DVD, or whatever in the near future. Actually had this discussion with several friends recently and our consensus is that we buy the release with best transfer available now (on DVD) and stay put, and maybe collect new movies in new format down the road.

[Narshty]

Since Image are now the exclusive distributors, what are the chances of them reducing Criterion's pricing? I was thinking of an implementation of $29.95 for all 1-disc releases inclusive.

[FilmFanSea]

Just curious: did anyone catch the Image investor conference call/webcast yesterday? Were any details revealed beyond what we already know?

[Faux Hulot]

I'd be surprised if anything much new came to light. The other day I heard from a friend who worked for HVE, and that person was told about as much of the story as has been reported here.

[The Invunche]

DAMMIT!!

This is why I'll never win the Richard Cranium award.

[dx23]

You all don't know shit.

HVE are scumbags. You think management gives a fuck about the people who work for them? Please. It's just business. They are worker bees, nothing more.

I feel for a few people there, but most of them are mediocre trash, and deserve what they got. I hope their families fucking starve.

Disgruntled former employee!!! Disgruntled former employee!!!! {|=

Seriously, it has been a week since the aquisition and we haven't heard anything new. I was expecting some form of press release or announcement of Image new and future plans with the HVE material they just bought to know exactly how are they going to bring that revenue which they much talk about in their last press release. This could be a warning about the way Image is going to handle things in the near future.

[Ashirg]

Image haven't even announced their October releases...

[Faux Hulot]

Disgruntled former employee!!! Disgruntled former employee!!!! {|=

Well, if you'd been laid off with exactly zero warning whatsoever, I seriously doubt you'd be particularly "gruntled" yourself. I know, it's just good ol' American "business as usual" in a lot of ways, but I feel for these folks.