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DISNEY PARTNERS WITH SONY FOR NORTH AMERICA DEAL
DEAL MEANS DISNEY CONTINUES WITH PHYSICAL IN THE US
TRANSITION WILL TAKE “SEVERAL MONTHS”
SNAKES ALIVE AS LIONSGATE’S BALLAD RELEASED
MULTIPLE FORMATS TO SATISFY FRANCHISE FANS’ HUNGER
BFI DELIVERS CYMANDE’S MESSAGE…
…DIRECTOR PRAISES DISC: “YOU CAN HOLD IT, YOU CAN TOUCH IT”
SECOND RUN TURNS DETECTIVE
BLU-RAY FOR TWO FARTHINGS…
…AS STUDIOCANAL GETS MOBBED UP
…WITH EALING CLASSIC GETTING 4K TREATMENT
MERRY MAY FOR RADIANCE…
…AS INDICATOR TURNS TO NOIR AGAIN
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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It was a good week for…Disney fans will be able to get physical media releases in North America after Sony deal…
It was a bad week for… although not through its Disney Movie Club
We’ve been watching… After seeing the film three times on the big screen, we're feasting our eyes on the BFI's wonderful Cymande release…
We’ll begin with news about the ever-shifting market for physical media, this time from the US, where the market was, as noted on this newsletter, down more than 25 per cent in 2023. There has been much manoeuvring in recent weeks, we’d heard all kinds of rumours about Disney’s plans for DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray in the States, but now, it seems, its plans are firmed up. For the Mouse House has agreed a deal in North America with fellow studio Sony Pictures which will see the latter handling all releases for the former. Disney is essentially focusing on its Disney+ service and concentrating on streaming, leaving its physical business to Sony to look after, more than capable hands. It’s not entirely clear how the deal will work, although there is much online speculation and comment.
Some more detail on the deal came from The Digital Bits site, which broke the story and seems to have one of the best steers on what’s happening. The site noted in its first story: “Disney and Sony have just inked a major deal for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to take over all of Disney’s physical media production going forward. This means that Sony will handle and oversee the actual authoring and compression of discs, that they’ll work with the replicators and packaging vendors, and that they’ll oversee the titles as they go out to the distributors and on to retailers.” One interesting note – and one that’s backed up by a few things we’ve heard, is: “This deal makes sense for Disney for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Sony is far more efficient and cost effective at producing their discs, whereas Disney’s physical media operation has been subject to no small amount of internal/organisational turmoil recently. First, they were trimmed down in late 2019 and early 2020, after Disney’s infamous and year-long 4K Ultra HD catalog title blow-out, then they were subject to many of the cost-cutting pressures and personnel losses that all the majors suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. It hasn’t helped that the studio’s physical media operation—which is now almost an afterthought in the shadow of its Disney+ business and activities—has been organisationally tied to Disney’s digital and streaming operation ever since. Based on reporting from multiple sources, what this has meant in recent months is that virtually every decision about which catalog titles to release on disc, and which features to include on them, not to mention every technical decision that naturally arises during the course of the production of those titles, requires scores of people to be involved at Disney. And the people who are actually working on the discs don’t have decision-making power about anything—they have to kick decisions upstairs to their bosses, who have to kick it upstairs to their bosses, and so on. Multiple levels of management are involved, which means that decisions that should take two people five minutes instead take thirty people a week or more. It would be pretty tough for anyone to make money on physical media doing it like that. What’s more, with Disney’s constant cost-cutting measures, and the fact that the studio has wildly overspent on its streaming operation, everyone involved is naturally afraid for their jobs. So few people at Disney are willing to stick their necks out to make a decision, for fear of getting fired. Unfortunately, that includes the very people who know how to do physical media best.”
Sticking with this story and The Digital Bits later updated with more information, noting: “As part of this deal, Sony will market, sell, and distribute new Disney releases plus catalogue titles on physical media (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, etc.) to consumers through retailers and distributors in the US and Canada. This shift is consistent with other strategies that Disney is working to implement company-wide, as exemplified by the company’s recent transitions in other markets. Per usual, Disney regularly evaluates their approach to the physical media market as the home entertainment business and industry at large continue to rapidly evolve alongside consumer behaviour. This agreement will allow Disney to continue offering its films and TV shows via physical media retailers and distributors, and most importantly to disc consumers more efficiently. The transition for Disney handing over its physical media operations to Sony has recently commenced and will probably take several month to complete. The first Disney title that will be managed by Sony on physical media will be The First Omen (20th Century Studios), which releases theatrically on 4/5/24 (digital and physical street dates are TBD will be announced in the coming months).”
One immediate effect of the deal is news that Disney will be closing its online subscription Disney Movie Club, which operates similar to the old Britannia Music Club method – subscribers got a certain amount films for a dollar and then had to take a specified amount at full price over a time period. It had 10 million users and offered physical media exclusives, often being the only way to score some Disney products on physical formats including Blu-ray and 4K. A statement said: “Thank you for being part of the magic. After 23 magical years, it’s time to say goodbye. After serving over 10 million valued Club Members, we have made the difficult decision to close the Disney Movie Club. We will miss the opportunity to be part of the lives of so many Disney fans, including yours. Members, we’re piling on the perks, so log in today to complete your best forever movie collection.” More on this story and other movements in the international home entertainment and physical media markets in the coming week or two. Worth noting that over here, of course, Elevation Sales looks after both Disney `AND Sony releases for the respective studios…
Back in the UK and the big release this week, out Monday February 26 is, of course, the latest instalment in Lionsgate’s $3 billion box office blockbusting The Hunger Games franchise and the first in a series of prequels to the original films, following hot on the heels of its $338 million plus global haul, some £18 million or so of which came from UK cinemas. The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes, to give it its full title. arrives on home entertainment formats, including Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray, as well as DVD and a Steelbook, and has already set things up nicely for the prequel series, both in commercial and artistic terms. As Variety noted: “[It] feels like a natural extension of the saga, balancing blood sport, endangered young love and a heightened level of political commentary that respects the intelligence of young audiences as only Collins can. Her message is less about resisting fascism than recognising how systems use entertainment to distract and manipulate the masses.” While the Radio Times said: “the film is compelling and dark, and benefits from an impressive cast including Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage, plus evocative production design and some gut-wrenching twists. And Wendy Ide in the Observer said: “It certainly looks terrific. This prequel to the Hunger Games series, which explores the early life of president-to-be Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), is an undeniably striking work, unfolding against imposing fascist-classical architecture and boasting a glorious array of costumes.” And we also liked Vanity Fair’s “Songbirds is a gloomy sit, but it is also confident entertainment, a studio cash-in that justifies its making through thoughtful applications of tone and texture. It is possible, the movie suggests, to do something as cynical as a franchise prequel with care and insight, to further expand on intellectual property in ways that actually enrich the original product.”
Comment on the release itself came from Lionsgate’s Sophie Fawcett who said: “On Monday 26th February we release The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and Steelbook. We have had a great reaction to the film, with audiences turning out in their droves to drive a continually growing box office of over £18M and converting a whole new generation of fans, adding to the longevity and love of this magnificent franchise.”
Also out on Monday is what we are calling the feelgood hit of the year, the joyful music documentary Getting It Back: The Story Of Cymande, which charts the life and tomes of legendary British funksters, aka “the best band you’ve never heard of”. The film arrives on Blu-ray – and on the BFI Player – on the back of its high profile theatrical release, another triumph in press and PR terms from the BFI, with acres of coverage earned by the doc which follows the band who hit big in the US but were largely ignored in their home of the UK in the 1970s, before falling off the map only to be rediscovered thanks to their adoption by hip-hop samplers and house and disco freaks too. Commenting on the release, the BFI’s Phil Roberts said: “Getting It Back: The story of Cymande has finally shone a light on this brilliant group of musicians. We've been blown away by the press and broadcast support across National TV, radio and online, and the live Q&As have been some of the most electrifying events we've ever attended in a cinema. We've got great hopes that thousands more people will discover Cymande when the film is released on Blu-ray and streaming.”
We interviewed the director of Getting It Back, Tim MacKenzie-Smith, for a forthcoming feature for Faith Fanzine about the film and the band’s legacy; he spoke to The Raygun’s Tim Murray about the importance of getting a physical release for a director. He said: “You can hold it. You can touch it. It’s got a booklet. [Legendary DJ] Greg Wilson’s done an essay for it, we’ve got that brilliant thing [Cymande members] Steve and Patrick wrote for me back in the day [about the racism they experienced growing up in London in the 60s and 70s], pictures… A lot of what this film is about is the pageantry of finding records and the physical nature of it that’s missing in life. I’m not expecting to sell loads, a lot of people don’t have Blu-ray players, but it’s just the fact I can hold it and say look, this is an actual thing we did.”
Second Run has a new release out this week too, with, after its success with Dawson City: Frozen Time, another outing into the world of artist filmmaker Bill Morrison. Comment on the new release, The Village Detective: A Song Cycle, the company’s Chris Barwick said: “Following the great response and success of Dawson City: Frozen Time, we’re delighted to bring Bill Morrison’s The Village Detective: A Song Cycle UK audiences. Morrison has created another unique and mesmerising document, reflecting how film, life, history, and art intersect. We’re also grateful to Bill Morrison to allow us to include a selection of his earlier film works, including Beyond Zero: 1914-1918 (2014) and The Unchanging Sea (2018).
Also out in stores on Monday February 26 is another from the ever-busy team at Studiocanal, with the release of a classic slice of British film and a welcome addition to its ever-growing Vintage Classics imprint. The title is A Kid For Two Farthings and it’s been given the full treatment by the company. Comment on the release came from the company’s Alison Arber, who said: “On Monday we add another fine Vintage Classic to the collection in the shape of the whimsical family film, A Kid For Two Farthings directed by the great Carol Reed starring a plethora of great British talent including Celia Johnson and Diana Dors. This beautiful new restoration of the film has fantastic new artwork and a host of new extras including the Academy Award winning short film The Bespoke Overcoat (1955 short film by Jack Clayton.”
Sticking with Studiocanal and the past seven days saw another major announcement from the company as it unveiled another major restoration package for one of the jewels in its vast catalogue. For Ealing classic The Lavender Hill Mob is is getting spruced up and given the full 4K treatment, with a theatrical re-release from this classic dark British comedy due at the end of March followed by a 4K UHD physical and digital release on April 22. The 4K UHD includes both ultra high definition and Blu-ray discs. The same day also sees a first 4K UHD for another classic Ealing comedy in the form of Kind Hearts And Coronets. On the Lavender Hill Mob, the official announcement from Studiocanal noted: “[It] was restored in 4K using a 35mm duplicating positive as the original negative was unavailable. Thanks to the latest film scanning technology and restoration tools, we were able to achieve a high standard image from the positive that was used. Silver Salt Restoration restored and colour graded the film producing a new 4K DCP, HDR Dolby Vision and HD master.”
In terms of special features, The Lavender Hill Mob boasts a wealth of extras, some from previous iterations, but two new elements with The Perfect Heist: Benedict Morrison, senior lecturer in film and literature at Exeter university on The Lavender Hill Mob and a London Comedy Film Festival Q&A with Paul Merton. The package comes with a lengthy booklet, poster and art cards. Comment came from Studiocanal’s Alison Arber who said: “Once more with Ealing! The Ealing comedies are very much the cornerstone of our vast catalogue and following on from the successful release of The Lady Killers on 4K, this year we are releasing another much-loved Ealing comedy classic - The Lavender Hill Mob in equally exquisite 4K.Starring the inimitable Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway, this is a much-needed classic British comedy of yesteryear to lift the spirits! As well as theatrical screenings on March 29th through to Easter, we will be releasing a marvellous 4K UHD collector’s edition on April 22.”
Product announcements and a slew of titles on the way from Radiance Films, with the independent operation unveiling its May titles, taking in everything from ninjas to, er, space vampires and also releasing the relatively new label’s most recent film to date. Here’s company founder Fran Simeoni on its slate. He said: “Following the amazing reaction to our Bounty Hunter collection we are pleased to follow up with another classic slice of Japanese action, this time epoch-making Shinobi no mono. First time on Blu-ray outside of Japan, these newly restored features come in deluxe packaging with a host of new extras. Alongside it we are pleased to present Mario Bava's influential sci-fi, the best ever made in Italy, Planet of the Vampires. Loaded with extras including an 80-page book, postcards and new documentary this collection is already breaking Radiance records. Fans of Alien will notice a great many similarities to the Italian film and we look forward to seeing many make this discovery. Finally our newest film in the Radiance collection is Laura Citarella's masterpiece Trenque Lauquen. A two-part epic of mystery that has been compared to Twin Peaks, the film was voted the best film of the year by Cahiers du Cinema and featured heavily in other international best of 2023 lists. The film comes fresh off its theatrical release by Bulldog last December and we are delighted to be working closely with them on this partnership.”
And there’s more too, as the May release from Powerhouse’s Indicator series has also been announced. It’s just one title, but what a goodie, as it sees the welcome return of the Columbia Noir imprint, with a collection of eight movies known as the Whistler films, a noiresque series made by Columbia in the 1940s. Here’s the company’s Sam Dunn on the series, he said: "As our series of Columbia Noir and William Castle box sets will attest, we're huge fans of the gritty crime dramas produced by the major studios during the classic Hollywood era, as well as of the gimmick-laden horrors of shock-maestro Castle. That's why we're so excited to finally be realising our long-held ambition to release the complete collection of Whistler films. These dark, discomforting tales of wrong-doing and retribution, made during the 1940s by Columbia Pictures, were directed by some of the hardest-working 'B'-movie filmmakers of their time, with no fewer than half of the eight-film series directed by none other than Castle. Creepy, unsettling and iconic, these fabulous films will appeal to fans of film noir, William Castle and The Twilight Zone, and I'm delighted to say that pre-orders are already racking up nicely!"
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Great teaser and due on the UK…
Guy’s a gentleman…
Real buzz on this one…
Jack’s back…
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