Blu-ray producers talk straight at Comic-Con

Question value of bonus features to consumers

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 7/25/2008

JULY 24 | SAN DIEGO—A Blu-ray Disc producers panel at Comic-Con 2008 here today drew dozens of consumers, who heard some promotion of the format and participated in a frank Q&A.

Sponsored by the Digital Entertainment Group, panel participants talked up such upcoming Blu-ray titles as The Hills Run Red, coming next year from Warner Home Video, and The Weinstein Company’s The Mist before quickly transitioning to a discussion of the format’s pros and cons with consumer attendees.

Attendees voiced some skepticism about Blu-ray, lamenting the lack of innovative bonus features and elite titles.

Producers, such as Robert Meyer Burnett (Shoot ’Em Up) generally agreed, explaining that from their standpoint, studios can be more interested in showing off technology muscle than meaningful content.

"It would be interesting if they wanted to do a Star Trek encyclopedia or a primer on the whole history of Warner Bros.," said Burnett. "I'm not sure if people really want games and trivia."

Moderator Bill Hunt of fan site The Digital Bits agreed, saying you can find better versions of current Blu-ray extras elsewhere.

"If you want a game, you can get a better game, and if you want a social experience, you can get a better social experience," Hunt said.

Blade Runner DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika chimed in, "What better social experience is there than going to see a movie in the theater?"

Burnett is skeptical that bonus features will ever prove a big selling point for Blu-ray, thinking the format’s best advantages are superior video and sound.

"The single-disc Superman Returns outsold the two-disc special edition eight to two," said Burnett. "The reality of the population is that 20% are collectors. There's not much money in producing special features."

Other audience members were dismayed that there weren't enough classics or A-list titles on Blu-ray.

Hunt assured them that many are on their way, including expected next year releases of The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind. He also anticipates that all four Indiana Jones films will be released shortly in the format.

As for bonus features, improvements will come as filmmakers themselves start using their creative expertise to advise studios on Blu-ray interactivity, said panelists.

"Everyone is still trying things out," Rambo DVD producer Cliff Stevenson said.

In a poll of the crowd, about half said they own Blu-ray players.