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'The Odessa File' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Ronald Neame's 1974 film starring Jon Voight and Maximilian Schell is in the works for a May Blu-ray release. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment has revealed 'The Odessa File' for Blu-ray on May 15. The year is 1963. The place: Hamburg, Germany. An elderly Jewish man commits suicide, leaving a diary which falls into the hands of a freelance newspaperman, Peter Miller (Voight). The diary documents the unspeakable crimes of cruelty, torture and mass murder perpetrated by SS Captain Eduard Roschmann (Schell), commandant of the notorious wartime deathcamp at Riga, Latvia. Miller launches a personal manhunt to track down Roschmann, an investigation that leads him into the very heart of Odessa, a powerful secret organization formed by the SS to protect and re-establish its fugitive members throughout the world. When Miller finds Roschmann, he learns that the former Nazi is now the leader of a weaponry complex of international, strategic consequence. Specs and supplements are still unknown, but suggested list price is $17.97. You can find the latest specs for 'The Odessa File' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 15.Posted Mon Feb 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Panasonic Will Restructure in Wake of $9.2 Billion Quarterly Loss[teaser]Part of the loss is fallout from this year's earthquake in Japan, but steep sales decreases caused the rest. [/teaser] Panasonic may make some impressive TVs but there's one thing they're not making - a profit. The company is down $9.2 billion in the last business quarter, though there are some factors that make that number seem bigger than it is. One of those factors is the Great East Japan Earthquake, which affected Panasonic and essentially all other manufacturers located in Japan. On top of that, the flooding in Thailand hurt not only the global economy but Panasonic plants as well. Of course, these tragedies can't account for all of Panasonic's losses this quarter. Sales in all sunk by 14%. The component of Panasonic that takes care of TVs lost 16% in sales due to declines in flat panels and mobile phones. The decrease would have been higher were it not for favorable PC sales. Source: EngadgetPosted Mon Feb 6, 2012 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Young Adult' Blu-ray Gets New Date and Details[teaser]The latest comedy from 'Juno' director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody is now coming a month earlier in March. [/teaser] As previously reported, Paramount was working on 'Young Adult' for a high-definition bow on April 24, but now the new date looks to be March 13. Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron stars as Mavis Gary, a 37-year-old former prom queen, and current writer of young adult novels, who returns home to relive her glory days and win back her now-married high school sweetheart. When she finds her homecoming more challenging than expected, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate and both must face the harsh realities of growing up in this brilliant and bittersweet story critics are hailing as a “one-of-a kind comedy”* and “quirky, funny, heartfelt.”** *Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly ** Manny, DeLa Rose, NBC TV. The Blu-ray/UV Digital Copy will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary by director Jason Reitman, director of photography Eric Steelberg, and first assistant director/associate producer Jason A. Blumenfeld; Misery Loves Company: The Making of Young Adult; The Awful Truth: Deconstructing a Scene; Q&A featuring critic Janet Maslin and Jason reitman at the Jacob Burns Film Center; and deleted scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Young Adult' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 13.Posted Mon Feb 6, 2012 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
'Tony Bennett: Duets II - The Great Performances' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Tony Bennett sings with some of today's greatest artists on Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony Music is prepping 'Tony Bennett: Duets II - The Great Performances' for a high-definition release on March 6. 'Duets II: The Great Performances' is a visually stunning video companion to Tony Bennett's history-making #1 album, Duets II. The Blu-Ray features the full song performances from Tony and today's greatest artists as they were recorded live in the studio. The musical segments are enhanced by insights on the process from Tony and the duet partners, providing an inside look at this landmark album in an unprecedented career. 'Duets II: The Great Performances' is a testament to the artistry and dedication of Tony Bennett, beloved by the performers who sing with him and audiences around the world. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Tony Bennett: Duets II - The Great Performances' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 6.Posted Mon Feb 6, 2012 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'The Sound of Music: Limited Edition Collector's Set' Blu-ray Set is $28.99 at Amazon[teaser]Amazon's Gold Box deal of the week is the limited edition version of the classic musical on Blu-ray! [/teaser] The online retailer is selling 'The Sound of Music: Limited Edition Collector's Set' for $28.99 (68% off suggested list price). Share the magical, heartwarming true-life story that has become the most popular family film of all time - Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, the spirited young woman who leaves the convent to become governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp, an autocratic widower whose strict household rules leave no room for music or entertainment. The 3-disc set (2 Blu-rays and a DVD) features 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and loads of supplements including audio commentaries; Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration — all-new immersive viewing experience with behind-the-scenes images, on-screen lyrics, trivia track and location quiz; Music Machine Sing-Along; Musical Stages: Creating The Sound of Music — all-new interactive "backlot tour" with in-depth featurettes on the songs, the stage show & movie, the film and sound restoration and the real-life von Trapp family; and more! This individually numbered Limited Edition Collector's Set also includes the 45th Anniversary soundtrack; 100-Page "My Favorite Things" scrapbook; Snapshots from Salzburg; Reproduction of the original 1965 Souvenir program; and an exclusive "My Favorite Things" Music Box with letter of authenticity. Click here to order this definitive edition of the 1965 classic today and this offer is valid now through February 12.Posted Sun Feb 5, 2012 at 07:39 AM PST by: -
Bonus View Digest - February 3, 2012[teaser]This has been one of the busiest weeks in Bonus View history! Aaron and Luke did nine straight days of the Sundance Film Festival. Aaron saw a grand total of 25 movies in that time period and Luke saw around 20. It was a crazy time, and we have a plethora of Sundance review posts to prove it.[/teaser] Along with the special Sundance coverage, we also stayed true to bringing you the very best in commentary, news and features that you've come to expect from our little blog community here at High-Def Digest. There have been quite a few posts this week that have sparked long, in-depth conversations from readers. So, here's your chance to find out what you missed and make your opinion heard. Sundance News This week has been filled to the brim with capsule reviews from most of the films Aaron and Luke saw at the festival. Check out reviews for some of the festival favorites like 'The Surrogate,' 'Smashed,' and the Grand Jury Prize winner 'Beasts of the Southern Wild.' These are all movies that you should see once they find their way to wide releases. Also, you can check out reviews for documentaries like 'Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap,' 'The Ambassador,' and 'The Queen of Versailles.' Ice-T's rap documentary is a must-see even if you aren't a hardcore hip-hop fan. Still there are plenty more Sundance reviews to go around. Check out reviews for 'John Dies at the End,' 'Black Rock,' 'Young and Wild,' 'Price Check,' 'For Ellen,' 'Shadow Dancer,' 'Red Lights,' 'Lay the Favorite,' 'Celeste and Jesse Forever,' and 'Robot & Frank.' Oh and you definitely can't forget to check out the Indonesian action film 'The Raid.' This is the action movie everyone will be talking about once it hits a wide release. I guarantee it. Blu-ray News Josh gave us the news that the corrected 'West Side Story' Blu-ray is unfortunately still not correct. In our Blu-ray Highlights article a lengthy discussion was sparked by the release of a few sampler episodes of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' on Blu-ray. Are you looking forward to the seasons of 'TNG' on Blu-ray? Let us know. Finally, in the Blu-ray News section, Tom covered the release of 'King of New York' collectible Steelbook in his regular column Full Metal Jackets. Theatrical News This week Luke saw and reviewed the few big openings that will be releasing this Friday. Check out how Daniel Radcliffe does in a non-Harry Potter role as he takes on 'The Woman in Black.' Save the whales in 'Big Miracle.' Finally, another found footage film, but this time using the unique filming technique to tell the stories of three kids who inexplicably get super powers in 'Chronicle.' Josh also covered the Oscar nomination that were recently released. What do you think about the Best Picture nominees? Who do you think got robbed? Join the discussion. Special Features This week we asked what your favorite video game of 2011 was in the Mid-Week Poll. In the Weekend Roundtable we took a look at some of the most underrated movies of 2011. Movies like 'Contagion,' 'Tucker and Dale vs. Evil,' and 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' made the list. What made your list? We'll continue to space out our Sundance coverage over the next week so stay tuned to find out what movies you should keep a look out for!Posted Fri Feb 3, 2012 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Sundance 2012 Interviews: Paul Dano and Jon Heder of 'For Ellen'by Luke Hickman So Yong Kim's 'For Ellen' stars Paul Dano as a one-hit-wonder rock star whose 15 minutes of fame are just about up. Along with the loss of his dream, he's about to lose his wife and daughter in a nasty divorce. Trying to aid him on this rough road is his inexperienced lawyer played by Jon Heder, who not only does everything he can to help him with the legal matters, but shows his compassion by trying to help him out in his personal life too. [teaser]Paul Dano and Jon Heder teamed up to talk with me about their film right after the second screening of 'For Ellen' at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival last week.[/teaser] HDD – Luke Hickman: Hey, guys. How's it going? Paul Dano: It's been great. We've had a couple of really good screenings and today things are finally getting to slow down a bit. We get to hang out and chat with our friends about the film. HDD: Have you gotten to or will you get to go out and see any films? Paul Dano: I haven't gotten out to see anything, but hope to start seeing some tonight now that my press duties are finishing up. HDD: What about you, Jon? Jon Heder: I'm leaving today – but I saw 'Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie.' It was fun. Interesting to see at Sundance because it's not what you typically see here – but that's what's fun about the festival, you can see all sorts of different stuff. HDD: You haven't been here in a long time, have you? Jon Heder: It's been eight years. HDD: Paul, you were here - Paul Dano: It's been a couple years, but I've now been here two or three times. HDD: 'For Ellen' – great movie. Paul Dano: Thanks! HDD: What drew you to it? Paul Dano: I knew So [Yong Kim], the director, a little bit and she sent me the script to read more as a friend. She said, "I wrote this character," gave [the script] to me, and I thought, 'Wow. This is an amazing part.' I immediately saw the character and what he looked like – the clothes and everything – I thought, 'I'd really like to do that. It feels like something that I know I can do – I'm not 100 percent sure that I can do – but I think I can.' It just felt like a different role for me, so I talked to her and we decided to do it together. It was such a delicious part. He's got a lot going on, an interesting guy. So it was great, a lot of fun. HDD: What challenged you? You say that you weren't 100 percent sure you could - Paul Dano: I just think that he's a lot different from me. I'm not a guy who wear a red leather jacket and tight pants who curses people out. He's sort of aggressive and agitated. He drinks a lot, smokes a lot, and is really a hard rock kinda guy – not me, but it felt like somebody that I should play. HDD: I truly loved your drunken lonely rock star moment in the bar. That was my favorite sequence in the whole film because it said everything without saying anything. Paul Dano: Yeah yeah yeah. My favorite sequence in the film is when I go to Butler - or Jon's character's house - for dinner and then go to the bar. Our sort of strange dynamic see-saws. There's a bit of levity, then all of a sudden – "Ooh. That was mean." HDD: Jon, what drew you into this dramatic role? Jon Heder: I loved the script, thought it was a chance to play a great role that was certainly a departure for a lot of roles that I've played. It was a chance to work with a director like So. After having read the script and watching some of her past films and knowing that Paul was attached, I thought, 'This would be a great project to work on – great people and the opportunity to return to independent filmmaking.' I'd done other independent films, but nothing of this caliber. I was excited to get to do this sort of project. HDD: Paul, you've worked with younger kids before. Was it any different this time around? The scenes between your character Joby and Ellen are awesome. Paul Dano: Thanks. That's great. You know, it always seems like it's going to be a little bit of a pain or something, but then you realize that they just keep you honest. You are kind of caring for them in the scene. Like if we're walking down the street, you're paying attention to them in a way that is the character, but you're also thinking, 'I gotta make sure this kid doesn't run out into the street.' It helps you lose self-consciousness and you forget that you're acting. You're taking care of a kid at the same time, so I actually really enjoy it. And [Shaylena Mandigo] did a great job. She's a local girl in the city of New York where we filmed. We went to the school where she goes and observed kids in kindergarten, first grade and second grade, talked to some girls and asked Shaylena to do it. We started hanging out in front of the camera just talking – and those are our scenes. HDD: Jon, was there anything that challenged you with the role? Jon Heder: I certainly felt the pressure of trying to create a character that's not trying to make people laugh – which is what I'm used to doing – but at the same time, what I felt was most challenging was learning to trust my instincts. Because of So's filmmaking style, she would just let the camera roll. She wouldn't give you tons of direction, but she'd talk with you a lot about the character. For a scene, it would contain skeleton dialog and she'd say, "Let's just get this together," and it very much required me to jump into character and work my way – we didn't have any marks or anything. We didn't really have any hardcore studio direction, if that makes any sense. That was a challenge, but it was very rewarding and refreshing to do it. HDD: Did this process change the movie at all from script to screen? Paul Dano: The script was great. I don't think So needed to do anything. In fact, when I first saw it, I said, "You can take some of that [improvised] stuff out. Your script is good." The film did change from script to final cut - a little bit – but not a ton. Jon Heder: It was very much how I pictured it. HDD: Is it hard as an actor to trust in your director, that what you read and what you envision is what you're going to see in the end? Paul Dano: That's the most important thing and the hardest thing about being an actor. You step away from the film and it goes on and has this other life in the editing room. Sometimes you see it and you're really proud of who you worked with, other times you see it and you're like, "Oh, that different than I thought it would be." But that's what you try and work with people whose films you like. I liked [So's film] 'Treeless Mountain' a lot. I thought it was an interesting film with a very good script, so you trust that and choose to go for it. You can't worry about that on-set. Jon Heder: It's true. I just trust them and put it in their hands. I do my part and trust in whatever happens – especially with this project because it is so different from projects I've done in the past. With some, it's a little easier to predict what it's going to be like. So, she doesn't do a lot of cut-aways. She lets the camera keep rolling. It's interesting to see the film and see what she used – hearing my voice but not seeing myself. She made some really cool and interesting choices. You've really just got to trust. For me, I shot it and didn't see any of them for a long time. I was really excited to see the film. HDD: What's up next for you guys? Paul Dano: I have a film coming out in March called 'Being Flynn.' It's me and De Niro, based off a memoir called "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City" – another fantastic work. The film is really good. Focus Features is releasing it in March. Hopefully they'll get it out there a little bit and people will see it. For De Niro, it's his best work in a while. He's great in it. HDD: I've really liked Focus' film slate recently. Look forward to seeing it. What about you, Jon? Jon Heder: I'm still in the middle of promoting the 'Napoleon Dynamite' animated series for Fox, which has been great. HDD: How has it been revisiting your iconic character? Jon Heder: It's been really fun. It was nice to have a seven year break, then revisit it. It's like a reunion being back together again with the other cast members and the writer and director. It's really fun because it's a totally different process to do an animated show. So there's that and another independent film that I'll be shooting this summer called 'Alive and Well.' HDD: Can you talk about 'Alive and Well?' Jon Heder: I can't because we're still trying to secure the rest of the cast. Rob Rugan, first-time director and commercial director, is great. I've met with him several times and I'm excited to work with him and really look forward to it. HDD: Are you shooting to bring it here next year? Jon Heder: I don't know what his plans are with it, but it would be great. It would be awesome. It's really fun to come here with a film.Posted Fri Feb 3, 2012 at 11:30 AM PST by: -
Sundance 2012 Interviews: 'For Ellen' Director So Yong Kimby Luke Hickman Sundance veteran So Yong Kim has returned for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival after a several-year break with her latest film, 'For Ellen.' 'For Ellen' stars Paul Dano as an aspiring rock star named Joby whose had a taste of success, but his fifteen minutes of fame are almost up. Pouring salt on the wound is his soon-to-be ex-wife. While losing his dream career, Joby is about to lose his wife and daughter, Ellen, also. 'For Ellen' takes you through a few heartbreaking days of Joby's life as he says goodbye to his career and his family. [teaser]So Yong Kim took a few minutes out of her hectic Sundance schedule to tell me about her film, her inspirations, and how she landed Paul Dano for the key role.[/teaser] HDD – Luke Hickman: How has the festival been for you so far? So Yong Kim: Good. HDD: This isn't your first time here, right? So Yong Kim: It's my second time. I believe I was here in 2006. HDD: What were you doing in the interim? So Yong Kim: Let's see. I made my second film, produced my husband's film, and had two babies. HDD: That will surely strip you of some time. So Yong Kim: (laughs) Oh, yeah. HDD: I really enjoyed 'For Ellen' and I'm curious to find out how much of it came from your own life. Or did you simply just write it all fictitiously? So Yong Kim: No. I'm not like that. (laughs) I find writing so difficult. I started with this memory I have of meeting my father for the first time. Because my parents divorced when I was very young, like a baby or something. I don't know what made me do it because I don't ever think about him, but at the specific time in my life [when I wrote it], I was going through a little crisis about being a parent. We'd had our first daughter and I kept feeling like I wasn't a good enough parent. Then I started feeling insecure about being a filmmaker. I used that memory as a starting point and put a lot of my own insecurities and anxieties and bad habits into the character. It's a very personal film for me because whenever I see the film, there all these habits and narcissism that Joby has that I must have too. It kinda triggers something within myself. HDD: And I think that's what makes it so good. It's natural and real. One of my favorite scenes is Joby's drunken jukebox rock star moment. From me to you, thanks for keeping the uncut moment in there. It's powerful. So Yong Kim: Thanks! He's up there by himself, it's sad, he's in a small town. HDD: It's an unforgettable scene – and Paul Dano pulls it off. How and why did you cast him? So Yong Kim: I was really lucky and fortunate that we have some personal friend connections. I worked with his girlfriend Zoe [Kazan] on his second film and I felt comfortable enough. It was really nerve-wracking to ask him, "Hey, would you read this?" He really responded to the script and we started talking about the character. It seems like, upon reflection, it was organic. HDD: This is the second film I've seen in two days where a child actor gives an amazing performance. So Yong Kim: Great! Was the other one 'Beasts of the Southern Wild?' HDD: No, but I hear the same thing about that one. The other one was 'The End of Love' by Mark Webber. So Yong Kim: I hear that it's amazing. HDD: The footage between him and his son is brilliant. And I have to say the same about the material with Joby and Ellen in 'For Ellen.' Was it hard to get a great performance out of Shaylena Mandigo? So Yong Kim: My second feature was working with two young ladies. They were four and seven when I was working with them. I found that working with children is just such an enlightening experience. Luckily, I had that experience before working on this film. We knew that we were going to shoot a lot of footage because there was a kid on set, so basically we tried to roll camera as much as we could on-set and set up situations where she felt very comfortable, where she could feel like herself. HDD: Is it difficult shooting with children? So Yong Kim: No. Actually, no. There are challenges, but they're different challenges compared to working with [adults]. I wouldn't call it difficult. You have to be more playful and be on your toes a lot. If it's not working, then you have to switch to some other tactic - but I think that's also the same for adult actors. HDD: How quickly did you shoot the film? So Yong Kim: It was 18 days. HDD: Wow! So Yong Kim: Yeah, we had to shoot a lot each day. HDD: Where did you shoot? Because it looks blistering cold. So Yong Kim: New York. It was a lot colder than [Park City, Utah]. I was nervous about screening it here because the audiences are coming in from the freezing cold and seeing this frozen landscape that makes then feel colder than they did outside. I don't know if it's working for the film or against it. HDD: If you were trying give it a frigid mood, then I think you served your purpose. You nailed it! So Yong Kim: (laughs) Great! HDD: So what's up next for you? So Yong Kim: I'm working on another film about family, but it's more of an ensemble of characters. It's about this mother and her relationship with her two sons and daughter. It's about her and her connections with them. HDD: I'm noticing a reoccurring theme involving family. Has parenthood changed you? So Yong Kim: Yeah – but you know what it does? Parenthood makes me more focused on what I really want to do and what kind of stories I want to tell. I'm really thankful because I feel like I'm learning so much from them and I hope it comes through in my films. HDD: Where are you at in the process with your next film? Are you working hard on it? Or will it be a while before we get to see it? So Yong Kim: Probably not. For me, the script tells me, "Ok. I'm ready." So, it's kinda getting close to that, but not quite yet. HDD: The reception of 'For Ellen' seems to be going strong right now. The fact that your Q&A before our meeting today went long is a testament of that. So Yong Kim: (laughs) Yeah. The theater staff literally had to push us out. (laughs) So far, both screenings have been fun. The questions have been fantastic, insightful and thoughtful – not the generic usual. It's been quite good. HDD: I'm embarrassed for the filmmakers when riffraff audience members ask silly questions. So Yong Kim: Yeah, but it's a good starting point. I'm terrible at asking questions. When I'm on the other side, I get so nervous. "Excuse me. So, uh, how did you work with the actors?" (laughs) HDD: I'm the same way. I don't ask questions in public Q&As. I save them for the settings like this – conversation. I could chat with filmmakers like you all day long. So Yong Kim: Me too. I prefer this to a lot of people with their eyes on you.Posted Fri Feb 3, 2012 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Director Tomas Alfredson's adaptation of John le Carré's best-selling novel is planned for Blu-ray in March. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is working on 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' for Blu-ray on March 20. The star-studded thriller stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, and John Hurt. The Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy will feature a 1080p video transfer, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Feature commentary with Tomas Alfredson and Gary Oldman; behind-the-scenes featurette; Interviews with Tomas Alfredson, Peter Straughan, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, and author John le Carré; and deleted scenes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 20.Posted Fri Feb 3, 2012 at 10:45 AM PST by: -
Sundance 2012 Interviews: CEO Logan Mulvey of GoDigitalby Luke Hickman As we all know, digital media and on-demand content are changing the way we watch movies and television. A major player in this technical transition is GoDigital, one of the growing companies that's making VOD (video on demand) content available today. Leading GoDigital is Logan Mulvey. In the past, Sundance films deemed unworthy of acquisition and theatrical distribution never saw the light of day after closing night of the festival, but now that it's so easy to stream digital video content, those films – as well as the bigger mainstream ones – are finding a home on the internet. GoDigital is actively pursuing becoming the digital distributor of these titles. [teaser]In a search for new content, GoDigital has been present at Sundance, and CEO Logan Mulvey took some time to tell me about his company, the future of the medium and the battle against piracy.[/teaser] HDD – Luke Hickman: Logan, you're 27 and at head of one of the fastest growing digital media companies right now. Logan Mulvey: (laughs) No. No. There's people out there much smarter than I am. HDD: But looking at what your company is doing – and in such a short period of time – it's impressive. You have over 1,000 titles now, right? Logan Mulvey: Right. We have a library of over 1,000 titles now. Two weeks ago we acquired Might Entertainment, that's where we got 750 of our 1,000 titles – from the Kino Lorber library. HDD: I reviewed one of their Blu-rays recently – 'Rapt.' Logan Mulvey: Yeah! We put that one out. We do all their video – digital and on-demand. And we also just got a Lionsgate output deal for all of their home videos, so if we wanted to utilize the Lionsgate machine, we can put movies out through them as well now. Our deal will allow us to give them our product occasionally. They are looking to us to supply some video-on-demand content. HDD: That's a great partnership! Logan Mulvey: Yeah, the Might [Entertainment] guys were really smart at locking in that deal. Before we acquired them, we were much more focused on the technology side and the workflow side because we wanted to get to the place where we could sell and actually deal with 1,000 titles in a cost-effective manner, so we built a software program called Content Bridge which manages all of the movie assets – the actual physical digital media, the compressed mezzanine file – and we built the cloud, manage the asset and deliver to all of the partners from that single pane of glass. Point, click, deliver. It does all of the transcoding in the back end and delivers right into iTunes. HDD: Awesome. With everything going digital, where do you foresee the future of the medium? Logan Mulvey: I think TVs are going to continue to get bigger and cheaper and high-speed internet is going to become more and more prevalent – everybody is going to have it at some point – and there's going to be four or five platforms where people consume everything. I'm thinking the big boys – Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Sony – will be trying to fill that entertainment gap. HDD: With piracy being such a major issue right now, I've got to ask you how you plan to combat it. There are open source programs out there that only require the touch of a button to record anything that appears on your screen. How do you fight that? Logan Mulvey: For us, the shutting down of the peer-to-peer networks is a huge win. That is the start of the snowball that needs to effect the change. I think it's a generational gap where people under 20 years old don't even feel like sharing a file on the internet is stealing because that's just been commonplace since they were on the internet, their tablets, or whatever. HDD: They've never had to buy the albums or the DVDs. Logan Mulvey: Exactly! They've never had to pay the $17.99 for a CD that had one good song on it. We need to start educating the youngest and make sure that they understand that it's intellectual property and that it costs you money. HDD: Since GoDigital has been around, have you noticed the effects of piracy in your own business? Logan Mulvey: We try not to think about it. HDD: Sorry for bringing it up. Logan Mulvey: It's ok. It's everywhere right now with SOPA and PIPA. Business would surely be up if this wasn't a current issue. We just need to focus on supplying high quality content to the platforms that are legal, that cost money to purchase. This way we can give money back to the filmmakers and they can continue to make films for us to enjoy. HDD: What are some of the companies that you are currently working with? Logan Mulvey: Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon, X-Box, PlayStation, Time-Warner, Cox, Comcast, and so on. HDD: Since the merger, what's new? What's in development? Logan Mulvey: We're going to be acquiring movies here at Sundance and at the rest of the festivals. We're going to continue to monetize the 1,000-title catalog. And we're going to continue to deliver high quality cinema. I think right now it's about 100 million homes that we're getting into. HDD: So you have folks here [at Sundance] right now attending screenings and looking for new content to purchase? Logan Mulvey: Yeah. There are three or four people doing acquisitions as we speak. I haven't seen one movie and probably won't get to. HDD: You won't? Logan Mulvey: No! It's so lame. HDD: You'll own a bunch in no time so you'll see them soon anyways. Have you acquired anything here so far? Logan Mulvey: We've lobbed up some offers, but we haven't locked anything in yet. We're trying to stay competitive, so we'll continue to make offers on things that we like. HDD: Is there a certain genre of content that you're interested in? During the Press & Industry screenings, there are often walk-outs by industry acquisition folks when a movie takes a turn in a direction that studio doesn't usually want to represent. Is there anything is specific that you're looking for? Logan Mulvey: We're looking for anything. I know this sounds broad, but we are literally looking for anything good. We give everything a chance. We have foreign, horror, documentaries – we really run the gamut.Posted Fri Feb 3, 2012 at 10:30 AM PST by:
