Second Sight Films (UK)

[dadaistnun]

Might just get the standard edition of Possession, because that is taking up a disproportionate amount of shelf space otherwise for the script.

My copy of the limited edition arrived today from Orbit and I was (sort of) amused that it is thicker that the Radical Japan set that was in the same shipment (and wee lil Une Femme Douce keeping an eye on them).

[Finch]

They're skipping January; The Ugly Stepsister is February's title.



An impressionable and idealistic young woman dreams of marrying the kingdom’s prince but her beautiful stepsister becomes her greatest rival. Increasingly desperate she resorts to extreme measures in a quest for the physical perfection she believes will win the prince’s heart.

Special Features

Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
New audio commentary with Director Emilie Blichfeldt and Filmmaker Patrik Syversen
New audio commentary by Meagan Navarro
This Is My Ball: a new interview with Emilie Blichfeldt
Generational Trauma: a new interview with Actor Lea Myren
Take Up Space: a new interview with Actor Thea Sofie Loch Næss
Character and Gore: a new interview with Effects Artist Thomas Foldberg
The Beauty of Ugly: The Effects of The Ugly Stepsister
A Cinderella Story: Kat Hughes on The Ugly Stepsister
Deleted Scene
Short Films: How Do You Like My Hair? and Sara’s Intimate Confessions

Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Ann Bembi
120-page book with Cinderella’s Stepsister by Emelie Blichfeldt, storyboard comparisons and new essays by BJ Colangelo, Michelle Kisner, Kimberly Leszak, Jolene Marie Richardson, Katie Rife and Amber T
6 collectors' art cards

[mfunk9786]

Is the Possession LE now OOP? Noticing messages that were once on both Second Sight’s website and OrbitDVD about more copies coming soon are now gone. Anyone know where to find one of these or am I just too late?

[Peacock]

I asked Second Sight if they would get any more in as their website said “Out of Stock” around Christmas. They said that meant they’d get a few more in early January. I don’t know if that has been and gone or not though as I haven’t been keeping an eye out. But it’s worth emailing them through the website; they replied quickly to me.

I can’t see Orbit getting more in, I ordered my copy from them in the end when they got a random extra batch delivered a few days ago but they sold out in less than a day.

[PfR73]

Is the Possession LE now OOP? Noticing messages that were once on both Second Sight’s website and OrbitDVD about more copies coming soon are now gone. Anyone know where to find one of these or am I just too late?

I was at a local retail store tonight and they have a couple copies; they are priced at $76.99. Let me know if you would like to reimburse me to get one and ship it to you.

[kekid]

How does the Second Sight "Possession" compare with Umbrella's version?

[Peacock]

How does the Second Sight "Possession" compare with Umbrella's version?

From what I understand the Umbrella is SDR, the SS is HDR. The SS limited edition includes the script.

There’s some controversy on Blu-ray.com’s thread on the Second Sight edition which suggests that a HDR grade was not approved by the Zulawski estate or something.

That’s all I can say; I’m sure others here can tell you more.

[tenia]

It's only a HDR grade from a SDR master anyway, something I keep wondering what the exact added value is since there only is so much latitude in doing this.

[MichaelB]

I wasn't the tiniest bit fazed by Curzon's Vigo set being in SDR. In fact, it took me some time before I even realised.

As you say, if the source is an existing SDR grade, as opposed an original neg scan, there's no real point except the possibility of being able to stick "HDR" in huge letters on the packaging.

[EddieLarkin]

It's only a HDR grade from a SDR master anyway, something I keep wondering what the exact added value is since there only is so much latitude in doing this.

I think the main benefit is maintaining the full P3 colour. Though you can actually have SDR+WCG many player/TV combos do not respond well to processing this as it's a very uncommon combo. This is why although Criterion stick with SDR only for their UHDs sourced from SDR masters, they sometimes break the rule and go for HDR anyway to maintain full colour (Virgin Suicides for example).

You then also of course get the option of tweaking the SDR master to be a bit more dynamic, something David M appears to support doing, but YMMV. I like it a lot when it's sensible enough, The BFI's Seventh Seal doesn't "look" HDR at all but does have a nice contrast improvement over the Criterion.

[tenia]

But is the original master P3 anyway ? My understanding is that labs grade SDR in Rec709 and pretty much never grade SDR in BT2020 or P3, so in this case, Possession would have been SDR Rec709 as a master supplied to Second Sight (which would then be visible in the UHD gamut-converted screencaps, that would show no info outside Rec709).

[EddieLarkin]

Good question. In the BR heatmaps thread, The Red Shoes (SDR master) predictably has no HDR despite being in HDR, but goes have P3 gamut usage.

This was one of Criterion's first UHDs. If releasing it today would they just keep it SDR only?

But yeah I've no idea what masters are typically graded in. I figured P3 since that has long been the standard for DIs, even in 2K.

[mfunk9786]

Possession LE up on Orbit. I'd hurry if I were you. They're saying this'll be their final restock.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Where did they say that? Email notifications about the restock didn't go out.

[mfunk9786]

Live stream late last week. He said to turn restock notifications on because there won’t be an announcement and once it’s done, it’s gone for good. FWIW, I didn’t get a notification either, but had set up a browser extension to alert me if the button changed from Sold Out to something else. Because I’m a cool guy.

[fdm]

Thanks cool guy. For once I just happened to be going through my email at the right time.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Wow, that's nuts. I caught the livestream at the beginning when he said they'd get more in a week or two but didn't know the notifications would be unreliable. Extra funny because I was checking Second Sight this morning to see if they'd restocked.

[mfunk9786]

My post was up for an hour or so (if not more) before sellout, sorry to anyone who missed! Guessing this will pop back up here and there on various sites.

[mfunk9786]

Possession LE up on Orbit. I'd hurry if I were you. They're saying this'll be their final restock.

Aaaaand my copy is damaged. Horrible timing for my first ever Orbit order issue, as who knows what they can do re: replacements on a limited item like this one. Seems like a poorly designed box by Second Sight, too heavy to be able to expect the outer box to hold up under even the best packed shipping process without seam splits and corner bulges.

[mfunk9786]

Possession LE up on Orbit. I'd hurry if I were you. They're saying this'll be their final restock.

Aaaaand my copy is damaged. Horrible timing for my first ever Orbit order issue, as who knows what they can do re: replacements on a limited item like this one. Seems like a poorly designed box by Second Sight, too heavy to be able to expect the outer box to hold up under even the best packed shipping process without seam splits and corner bulges.

For those curious about the status of this release more broadly: Orbit couldn't replace, said it's completely OOP

[domino harvey]

Bummer, sorry man

[mfunk9786]

Reaching out to Second Sight to see if they replace packaging. It isn't the end of the world. Orbit does everything the right way even when the resolution isn't ideal.

[Robin Davies]

I e-mailed Second Sight on 28th December to ask if they could put the missing page 158 of the script on their website.
If anyone else thinks this is a good idea perhaps they could also send them a message.

[j99]

Finally. December 8th

Special Features
A new Producer approved 4K restoration presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
Dual format 3 disc edition including 1 UHD and 2 Blu-rays with main feature and bonus features on both formats
The North American Re-edit: newly restored from an archive print
New Audio Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Alison Taylor
Audio Commentary by Director Andrzej Żuławski moderated by Daniel Bird
Audio Commentary by Frederic Tuten moderated by Daniel Bird
New Audio Commentary by Daniel Bird and Manuela Lazic (The North American Re-edit)
The Horror of Normality: Guillermo del Toro on Possession
The Shadow We Carry: Kat Ellinger on Possession
Repossessed: The Film’s UK and US Reception
Andrzej Żuławski: Director: archive documentary
A Divided City: The Berlin locations
The Sounds of Possession: an interview with Composer Andrzej Korzynski
Our Friend in the West: an interview with Producer Christian Ferry
Basha: a featurette on poster artist Barbara ‘Basha’ Baranowska
The Other Side of The Wall: The Making of Possession
Archive interview with Andrzej Żuławski
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailer

Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with Basha’s original theatrical artwork
220-page hardback book with new essays by Daniel Bird, Elena Lazic and Alison Taylor, ‘The Creature: Preliminary Sketches’, ‘Filming Possession’, ‘The Poster of Possession’, pressbook feature, archive articles and interviews and Behind the Scenes gallery
211-page original shooting script book with notes by Andrzej Żuławski and Frederic Tuten
6 collectors' art cards

Has anybody had difficulty in getting this in the UK? It doesn’t appear to be available anymore.

[Mark L.]

Finally. December 8th

Special Features
A new Producer approved 4K restoration presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
Dual format 3 disc edition including 1 UHD and 2 Blu-rays with main feature and bonus features on both formats
The North American Re-edit: newly restored from an archive print
New Audio Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Alison Taylor
Audio Commentary by Director Andrzej Żuławski moderated by Daniel Bird
Audio Commentary by Frederic Tuten moderated by Daniel Bird
New Audio Commentary by Daniel Bird and Manuela Lazic (The North American Re-edit)
The Horror of Normality: Guillermo del Toro on Possession
The Shadow We Carry: Kat Ellinger on Possession
Repossessed: The Film’s UK and US Reception
Andrzej Żuławski: Director: archive documentary
A Divided City: The Berlin locations
The Sounds of Possession: an interview with Composer Andrzej Korzynski
Our Friend in the West: an interview with Producer Christian Ferry
Basha: a featurette on poster artist Barbara ‘Basha’ Baranowska
The Other Side of The Wall: The Making of Possession
Archive interview with Andrzej Żuławski
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailer

Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with Basha’s original theatrical artwork
220-page hardback book with new essays by Daniel Bird, Elena Lazic and Alison Taylor, ‘The Creature: Preliminary Sketches’, ‘Filming Possession’, ‘The Poster of Possession’, pressbook feature, archive articles and interviews and Behind the Scenes gallery
211-page original shooting script book with notes by Andrzej Żuławski and Frederic Tuten
6 collectors' art cards

Has anybody had difficulty in getting this in the UK? It doesn’t appear to be available anymore.

I think they’ll go back up on their site at some point. It’s listed as “out of stock” not “out of print”, but I think even that restock will be a small amount.

Second Sight has historically not been the best about predicting demand. You have stuff like the Hitcher and the Cronenbergs sitting around for years and then you’ll have stuff like this and Blair Witch disappear without even being readily available. I mean barring a preorder or camping out on some of these sites for a restock, you’re out of luck!

There’s no specific number listed, why not do one more print run? You’d think they’d want to sell as many of the deluxe ones as possible. I know that they’re trying to avoid a Hitcher situation and have a bunch sitting around, but people are champing at the bit for these things. Some money is definitely being left on the table.