Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - (Page 38) NEWS Comic-Con a Hype Machine DEG Launches Blu-ray Push Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 www.homemediamagazine.com tronics and chair of the BDA promotion committee for the United States, said the promos underscore the importance of Blu-ray to the industry. “You have to come at people in many different directions,” Parsons said, adding that high-profile marketing represents another way to approach the consumer. “You aren’t really cool unless you have Blu-ray,” Parsons said. “You are trying to create buzz. These sorts of events are a great way to do that. tease their entertainment wares for the upcoming year to an enthusiastic crowd of bloggers and tastemakers who have a lot of influence in the ether,” said Steve Feldstein, SVP of marketing and corporate communications for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. What started as a simple comic book convention in 1970 now offers everything from previews of movies, TV shows and video games to a chance for fans to sample the latest technologies and interact with creators and stars. Organizers this year expect another capacity crowd of 125,000 people over the weekend, with passes selling out quickly. “I think of the fans who are there as the hardcore fans who are at the leading edge of what the fans are thinking,” said “Futurama” executive producer David X. Cohen. “These are the people who get onto the Internet and post stuff, and it has a snowball effect. I don’t know if you can calculate concrete numbers, but my guess is it has to have a positive impact.” Bill Hunt, editor of TheDigitalBits.com, calls Comic-Con “a geek vacation for the movie crowd and the DVD crowd.” As he has done for the past few years, Hunt is co-hosting the 2008 DVD Producers Panel (July 24, 3-4 p.m., Room 5AB), featuring a discussion of the latest DVD and Blu-ray Disc developments, and a look ahead at upcoming releases. This year’s Comic-Con might see an increased emphasis on Blu-ray Disc, Hunt said. The Sony Pictures booth will feature a demo of BD Live and its interactive functions. Several studios also are using the event to showcase new direct-tovideo tie-ins to popular franchises. Sony will promote Starship Troopers 3 and introduce a fourth “Resident Evil” movie, Warner will premiere Lost Boys: The Tribe, Universal is trotting out MMA champion Randy Couture to promote The Scorpion King 2, and Disney is using the Sunday Kids’ Day to show off The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning. “Hollywood has awakened to the fact that this is a core audience that has matured,” said Steve Sansweet, director of fan relations at Lucasfilm. “It’s a family audience, with spending money, who are early adopters who can spread the buzz.” This year, most of Lucasfilm’s focus will be on the Aug. 15 theatrical debut of the CG-animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie, which will lead into a new Cartoon Network series. The effort culminates with a panel hosted by Sansweet Friday, July 25 (4-5 p.m., Hall H). Since the mid 1990s, Fridays at Comic-Con have been dubbed “Star Wars Day.” Sansweet said Lucasfilm pioneered the trend of promoting films at Comic-Con by bringing Star Wars to the 1976 show. It wasn’t until the 1990s, however, that Hollywood began to exploit the marketing power of the convention. “Comic-Con used to be just about comic books and science-fiction. For better or worse Hollywood has discovered it,” Hunt said. “It’s basically the Hollywood hype machine.” Studios also use the venue to screen pilot episodes of some of their hot new shows. Series such as “Heroes” and “Reaper” got off to a good start by building audience enthusiasm with Comic-Con screenings to eager audiences. “The screening at Comic-Con was one of the best days of my professional life,” said James Middleton, consulting producer of “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” “The fans said they had grave concerns about it, but once they saw it they said it lived up to the franchise.” Such successes have prompted an increased television presence over the years. This year is no different, kicking off with a July 23 preview night screening of “Fringe,” an upcoming series from J.J. Abrams. “Comic-Con has become the place to talk about DVD releases of upcoming shows,” said Gord Lacey of TVShowsOnDVD.com. “We’ve even begun to see Comic-Con panels included on DVD sets.” Last year, in support of the DTV movie Bender’s Big Score, the “Futurama” cast read from a promotional comic book that was distributed to the crowd to celebrate the show’s return. The recording of that table reading ended up as an extra on the Bender’s Big Score DVD. “The fans of ‘Futurama’ saved our neck buying the DVDs,” “Futurama” executive producer David X. Cohen said. “I’d just like to go there and thank them and let them know we appreciate them.” Cohen this year will promote the second and third “Futurama” DTV movies on behalf of Fox. The second film, The Beast With a Billion Backs, will be shown at a theater screening for 200 fans, and the third film, Bender’s Game, due later this year, will be the focus of the “Futurama” panel July 26 (10-10:45 a.m., Ballroom 20). For the full 2008 Comic-Con programming lineup, visit ComicCon.org. Tony Gonzalez, Hugh Hefner, Julius Jones, Ray Lewis, Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, Shawne Merriman, Chris Paul, Donte Stallworth, and actor Michael Vartan. Separately, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM’s “MaliBlu Screening Room” is in full swing in the DKNY Beach House showcased on MTV. Visitors and VIPs are encouraged to watch Blu-ray releases Batman: The Movie, Juno and Live Free or Die Hard, among others, on a Panasonic 103-inch plasma HDTV. “The [screening room] presented a unique placement opportunity to show off the product and raise Bluray awareness among young, hip influencers and tastemakers that will [help] spread the word,” said Steve Feldstein, SVP, marketing and corporate communications, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Feldstein said Fox will roll out similar events heading into the fourth quarter. The DEG will be at Comic-Con July 24, where it will sponsor a Blu-ray producers panel together with TheDigitalBits.com Web site, featuring prominent producers discussing the latest developments on Blu-ray Disc. “We’re confident that consumers everywhere will come to understand that Blu-ray is the best way to experience movies at home, ever,” said Amy Jo Smith, DEG executive director. Andy Parsons, SVP of advanced product development at Pioneer Elec- 2008 MAJOR CATEGORY EMMY NOMINEES Comedy Series Curb Your Enthusiasm Entourage The Office 30 Rock Two and a Half Men Drama Series Boston Legal Damages Dexter House Lost Mad Men *Also on Blu-ray # Noms 4 5 8 17 7 # Noms 7 7 5 4 7 16 Recent DVD Season 6 Season 4 Season 4 Season 2 Season 4 Recent DVD Studio HBO Video HBO Video Universal Universal Warner Studio DVD Availability Now Aug. 26 Sept. 2 Oct. 7 (prebook Sept. 2) Sept. 23 (prebook Aug. 19) DVD Availability Sept. 23 Now Aug. 19 Aug. 19 Dec. 9 (prebook Oct. 28)* Now* Season 4 Fox Season 1 Sony Pictures Season 2 Paramount Season 4 Fox Season 4 Disney Season 1 Lionsgate JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* Made of Honor STREET DATE Speed Racer BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) Deception TITLE PREBOOK GENRE PRICE Made of Honor 9/16 8/14 $46.0 Comedy DVD $28.96, BD $38.96 Sony Pictures. 2008. Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Chris Messina. A man falls in love with his best friend while she’s in Scotland and plans to propose when she returns only to find that she is engaged to a Scotsman she met on her trip. Speed Racer 9/16 8/12 $43.6 Action DVD $28.98, BD $35.99 Warner. 2008. Emile Hirsh, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox. Speed Racer takes on competitors to save the family business and protect the sport he loves. Available in full-screen or widescreen versions or a three-disc Blu-ray set. Deception 9/23 8/13 $4.6 Thriller DVD $27.98, BD $39.98 Fox. 2008. Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams, Maggi Q. A lawyer becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance of a woman and a multi-million-dollar heist. Includes commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes. Chapter 27 9/30 8/26 $0.06 Drama DVD $19.95 Genius. 2008. Jared Leto, Lindsay Lohan, Judah Friedlander, Molly Griffith, Matthew Humphreys. A portrait of Mark David Chapman and the days leading up to the murder of ex-Beatle John Lennon. Includes a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film. An American in Paris 9/16 8/12 Re-Release Musical DVD $20.97 CORRECTION. Warner. 1951. Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant. A musical about a struggling American painter in Paris who falls in love with an engaged French girl. The restored and remastered two-DVD set includes a Gene Kelly documentary, a making-of documentary and performance outtakes. Buried Alive 9/30 8/28 DTV Horror DVD $24.96 Sony Pictures. 2007. Britt Morgan, Jeff Blum, Bram Hoover, Nikki, McKenzie. Five students are trapped underground in coffins, and it’s up to two siblings to solve the mystery and find the coffins before it’s too late. Includes commentary, bonus features and a making-of featurette. * In order of box office, then prebook date Home Media Magazine July 20–26, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://TheDigitalBits.com http://TVShowsOnDVD.com http://ComicCon.org http://ComicCon.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 Home Media Magazine - June 20-26, 2008 Contents News TV DVD Commentary Horror/Halloween Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - June 20-26, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - June 20-26, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - June 20-26, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - June 20-26, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - June 20-26, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - June 20-26, 2008 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Commentary (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Commentary (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Commentary (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Commentary (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Horror/Halloween (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Reviews (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Reviews (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Reviews (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Reviews (Page 29) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Reviews (Page 30) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Reviews (Page 31) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 32) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 33) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 34) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 35) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 36) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 37) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 38) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 39) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 40) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - July 20-26, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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