Ryan Wright
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2000
- Messages
- 1,875
The other thread has gotten huge and I've noticed many posters say they don't have time to read it all. Here's a quick recap and a call to action:
The problem
John Q. Movierenter does not care about OAR. He has a 25" TV and, let's face it, widescreen is basically unwatchable on such a small set - especially for John. Education is ineffective; John doesn't care that he is losing 30% or more of his movie as long as it fills his screen. The Johns of the world have filed enough complaints with major retailers that they are placing pressure on studios to stop releasing OAR material.
The solution
The solution to this problem must take a tiered approach. No single action is going to be fully effective. We must combat this as follows:
1. Appeal to the studios. No director wants his work chopped up. The problem is, we're dealing with marketing people here, and they want to sell as much product as they can. They've heard enough complaints about widescreen material that they're beginning to cave. We need to educate them not on the benefits of OAR, but on how to keep all of their customers happy. This equals more sales and that appeals to them.
A. Begin a campaign to utilize software based pan & scan. It's in the DVD spec, saves all sorts of space on the disc, and consumers (and studios) get things both ways. Everyone is happy.
B. Education of John Q. Movierenter through aspect ratio selection. This would be quick & easy to implement, and necessary on a software based P&S solution: After inserting the disc, the user is prompted to select Widescreen or Pan & Scan, with Widescreen being the default selection. Include static pictures beside each selection showing how each option fills the TV. If the user selects Pan & Scan, prompt a warning and explain the drawbacks of this selection in as few words as possible. Force the user to confirm this selection with an "Are you sure?" dialog box.
This necessitates slightly more work on the part of the studios, so it needs to be presented to them as an incentive to make all of their customers happy, thus increasing sales.
C. Make it clear in no uncertain terms: NO OAR = NO SALE. Include a large list of signatures. Ask the studios, "Do you want to alienate these people?"[/list]Lastly, I want to add that I see no reason to petition studios who have no (or very little) history of releasing P&S titles. Due in part to the latest Mummy release shipping such large numbers of P&S titles, I think Universal would be a great first candidate here. (Yes, I realize everyone here hated this movie, but the content of the film is not the point: Once P&S sales go through the roof, they will gladly release future discs in this format, including some that you do want to watch.)
2. Appeal to the retail & rental outlets. I would be willing to draft a nice fact sheet on aspect ratios and post it on a public web site. How many of you would be willing to make a thousand copies and speak to the managers of your local stores? Undoubtably, the managers have had their fill of complaints regarding widescreen DVDs. Perhaps if we presented these managers with a stack of fact sheets, they would be willing to hand them out to customers who complain? They might even be willing to hand them out to every customer who rents or purchases a DVD. This should be presented to the manager as way to educate their customers and eliminate complaints. Give them the fact sheets for free and a phone number where they can call you if they run out. I bet we'd get a lot of takers.
I am willing to tackle development of this, but I need your help - especially with step 1. How does one go about getting in touch with studio executives? Is there someone who would be willing to setup a meeting with some to discuss this matter? Petitions and letters work well, but nothing beats a handshake and a verbal discussion. Perhaps someone can take one of these guys to dinner?
Let's keep the discussion of this thread strictly related to organization of these steps. I'd rather not branch out into another version of the other thread, where we all want to complain but aren't getting a whole lot accomplished. Let's accomplish something right here, right now. Who's with me?
------------------
-Ryan (http://www.ryanwright.com )
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes.
The problem
John Q. Movierenter does not care about OAR. He has a 25" TV and, let's face it, widescreen is basically unwatchable on such a small set - especially for John. Education is ineffective; John doesn't care that he is losing 30% or more of his movie as long as it fills his screen. The Johns of the world have filed enough complaints with major retailers that they are placing pressure on studios to stop releasing OAR material.
The solution
The solution to this problem must take a tiered approach. No single action is going to be fully effective. We must combat this as follows:
1. Appeal to the studios. No director wants his work chopped up. The problem is, we're dealing with marketing people here, and they want to sell as much product as they can. They've heard enough complaints about widescreen material that they're beginning to cave. We need to educate them not on the benefits of OAR, but on how to keep all of their customers happy. This equals more sales and that appeals to them.
A. Begin a campaign to utilize software based pan & scan. It's in the DVD spec, saves all sorts of space on the disc, and consumers (and studios) get things both ways. Everyone is happy.
B. Education of John Q. Movierenter through aspect ratio selection. This would be quick & easy to implement, and necessary on a software based P&S solution: After inserting the disc, the user is prompted to select Widescreen or Pan & Scan, with Widescreen being the default selection. Include static pictures beside each selection showing how each option fills the TV. If the user selects Pan & Scan, prompt a warning and explain the drawbacks of this selection in as few words as possible. Force the user to confirm this selection with an "Are you sure?" dialog box.
This necessitates slightly more work on the part of the studios, so it needs to be presented to them as an incentive to make all of their customers happy, thus increasing sales.
C. Make it clear in no uncertain terms: NO OAR = NO SALE. Include a large list of signatures. Ask the studios, "Do you want to alienate these people?"[/list]Lastly, I want to add that I see no reason to petition studios who have no (or very little) history of releasing P&S titles. Due in part to the latest Mummy release shipping such large numbers of P&S titles, I think Universal would be a great first candidate here. (Yes, I realize everyone here hated this movie, but the content of the film is not the point: Once P&S sales go through the roof, they will gladly release future discs in this format, including some that you do want to watch.)
2. Appeal to the retail & rental outlets. I would be willing to draft a nice fact sheet on aspect ratios and post it on a public web site. How many of you would be willing to make a thousand copies and speak to the managers of your local stores? Undoubtably, the managers have had their fill of complaints regarding widescreen DVDs. Perhaps if we presented these managers with a stack of fact sheets, they would be willing to hand them out to customers who complain? They might even be willing to hand them out to every customer who rents or purchases a DVD. This should be presented to the manager as way to educate their customers and eliminate complaints. Give them the fact sheets for free and a phone number where they can call you if they run out. I bet we'd get a lot of takers.
I am willing to tackle development of this, but I need your help - especially with step 1. How does one go about getting in touch with studio executives? Is there someone who would be willing to setup a meeting with some to discuss this matter? Petitions and letters work well, but nothing beats a handshake and a verbal discussion. Perhaps someone can take one of these guys to dinner?
Let's keep the discussion of this thread strictly related to organization of these steps. I'd rather not branch out into another version of the other thread, where we all want to complain but aren't getting a whole lot accomplished. Let's accomplish something right here, right now. Who's with me?
------------------
-Ryan (http://www.ryanwright.com )
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes.
