FOX, new transfers for BUFFY USA release, please (1 Viewer)

[Roy Batty]

Having just read the lively Peter Staddon chat transcript, I'm sorry he could not give us a more definite date and specs for the legally burdensome BUFFY TV series release. But I was even more sorry to learn that FOX is planning to release identical boxsets to the already existing UK counterparts. I really hope that, whenever they finally arrive, they will not be that much identical, at least transferwise.
I know this has been subject to a lot of debate, due to the 16 mm nature of the original source that it's bound to translate into a "grainy" picture, but that can not justify the poor, poor image offered by the two seasons released up to date. For me, this has been like one of those "how to" guides that shows you the right way next to the wrong way. There were a lot of digital bugs I was aware only through reviews of this or that DVD, but the BUFFY DVDs boxsets have been a "close encounter of the third kind", so to speak. For one, now I know for sure what "inconsistent flesh tones" means. And let's not get started on how people faces get all messed up when on movement (like simply walking) in close up shots.
On the other hand, it would be unfair to let it pass without comment the obvious care FOX has put into this release as far as the whole presentation is concerned. And yes, there is a REAL problem with the Second Season boxset in taking the discs out of their sleeves, but the package is gorgeous and quite unique. They could have gone the easy way with a simple multiple digipak, but they took the extra effort to bring us BUFFY fans something special. Not to forget the featurettes -not great, but good enough- and the animated menus.
So, a BEAUTIFUL presentation for a GREAT TV series, sadly marred by a somewhat botched-up job in the transfer department.

 

[Matt A]

I second that! Buffy is one of my favorite television shows out there and I'm hoping the DVDs are of high quality like FOX has been doing so well for the past couple of years. Although I wish they'd close caption their extra features. (HINT, HINT, FOX)

 

[PhilipG]

I wouldn't be surprised if the US discs had already been made at the end of last year, before the plug was pulled on an early US release date. That's why we won't get any more features.

Frankly, I don't think the PAL discs looked too bad, considering the source material.
Oh, and welcome to the forum, Jose!

 

[Christopher Carr]

Yeah, I was the one who asked the question to Peter if it was to be identical. What sucks is, the disks will be identical...the box set won't be though. so we won't get the nifty cross shaped box set. We will get a new box set (I have no idea what it will look like though) but with the same disks.
I think that the Region 1 will be good because in an interview with Marti Noxon, she said that all the episodes got a new transfer. I don't know whether transferring them into PAL format ruined the quality of the episodes? Whatever I am just glad they are even releasing them to DVD because you know, they don't HAVE to.
"They're going to be great," Noxon said in an interview. "They're all remastered. And they have running commentary from a bunch of different people, the writer of that episode, comments on it, as well as [creator] Joss [Whedon]. It's a real fan thing." ~ Noxon on the DVDs for Seasons 1, 2 and 3
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[Mikel_Cooperman]

Why werent they able to give an answer as to the release date and where can I find the transcript that you spoke of?
I wish they would hurry and release them.

 

[Matt A]

Quote:

Simply put: syndication problems. The show was about to go into syndication, and from what I can guess, FOX wanted to make sure the show got enough money and/or that whoever received the rights to syndicate Buffy understood that the full seasons were coming out on DVD. I think now that the syndication deals have been settled (F/X has the rights), we will be seeing the DVD set released soon. My guess: By Christmas.
As for the transcript, it should be on the main page on the top that says "Chat Transcripts." Hope this helped.
Matt
Close Caption extras!

 

[Roy Batty]

Just click on the "Chat Transcripts" button at the top of this page, and you will find it there along with many other transcripts.
And hey, Phillip from England, thanks for your welcoming!

 

[Adam Tyner]

The fX deal is not syndication. Buffy will be airing in syndication on weekends and on fX on weekdays.
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[Matt A]

The fX deal is not syndication. Buffy will be airing in syndication on weekends and on fX on weekdays.

Well, what IS syndication then? Thought f/X's deal was part of the show going into syndication. I.E., the show is being rerunned, but f/X doesn't have the right to air new episodes.

 

[Adam Tyner]

Syndication doesn't have to do with whether or not a show has been aired in some form before -- it's the selling of a series on a station-by-station, market-by-market basis. Syndication can involve reruns of a series like "Buffy" or first-run series like "The Lost World" or "Baywatch". Cable airings are treated differently in the industry than syndication, and the price structure for episodes tends to be different as well.
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[Jeff Kleist]

If Mr. Staddon can't give us a date, there's probably a darn good reason (i.e. legal). He is totally open and honest with members of this forum, and he tells us whatever he can w/o risking his job.
I am shaking I need these DVDs so badly, the UK discs are a terrible, terrible temptation, but I promised Mr. Staddon that if he gave me R1 Buffy DVDs I would wait. It's the least I can do to show my appriciation to doing TV right on DVD
Jose, I can't speak for the PAL transfers, but there very well may be those fleshtone problems in the original show. The first season was shot on a SHOESTRING, and it's quite possible that that's just how the masters are. Either that, or the PAL technicians messed up.
Jeff Kleist

 

[Roy Batty]

quote:
If Mr. Staddon can't give us a date, there's probably a darn good reason (i.e. legal). He is totally open and honest with members of this forum, and he tells us whatever he can w/o risking his job.
I was not implying by any means that Mr. Staddon was holding back on us. If he didn't gave a date when asked for BUFFY details, I'm pretty sure it was simply because they dont have one yet. And even if he were keeping information, well, that would always be his prerrogative as head of department, so no complaints there. I can give my opinion about what I want or don't on my DVDs, but I'm not one of those people that go around telling others how to run their business, more so when I've got no training or knowledge at all to do so.
I was just saying that it's too bad that, even after all this time, BUFFY remains unreleased in the USA with no clear date on sight. Anyway, I did buy Seasons One and Two from an UK retailer, and I've got the Third on preorder already, so I'm not that much in a hurry as you guys there in the USA. But I can state here that I would have no problem buying the forthcoming USA releases, provided that they offer a better picture than their UK counterparts. More extra features won't convince me maybe, but a higher quality for the feature itself would do the trick for me (hint, hint, FOX crew).
In any case, if sometimes I veer on the obtuse, please excuse me and bear with me. Have in mind that english is not my first language, so I'm not as fluent as I would like to.
Cheers,
JMM

 

[Mikel_Cooperman]

Since they are available other places in different region codes, mass audiences cant buy it but people can still get ahold of it. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot if you ask me.
I have been tempted myself to go get a non region machine and order them.
Knowing other regions have them and we dont doesnt make it any easier to wait.

 

[DeborahK]

If it is any comfort to people here, I think that Mr. Staddon basically agrees with what Mikel said. And he made no secret of how pissed he was last year when the planned region 1 BUFFY DVDs got pulled because of syndication issues. He clearly felt blind sided by that turn of events. Believe me, if he had his way, we would have long since had what other regions currently have and probably had it sooner.
Despite the fact that he cannot give us firm release dates or change the overall paradigm for selling shows into syndication, I have the feeling that he has been working hard behind the scenes to try to change some of the thinking about this situation at Fox. If any of you participated in or read the recent HTF on-line chat with Mr. Staddon, you know that he made a special point of saying that he was hoping that the time from broadcast to release on DVD for lots of Fox shows could be speeded up and that he hoped to have "good news'" for us about a number of shows (BUFFY and ANGEL included) in the near future. He also made a special point of noting how many of the questions/requests during this particular chat were about/for popular, unreleased Fox television shows.
I think we have his attention on this topic and he seemed, to me at least, to be obliquely indicating that he is trying very hard to make the same points made in this thread to the Fox Powers That Be.
Deborah
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