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Special Report
On Wednesday, March 24, 1999 we received a call from Ronnee Sass, head of promotions at Warner Home Video. Ronnee and I have spoken several times in the past, and when she realized that two or three key DVD players at Warner Home Video would be in her office this afternoon and amenable to a brief Q&A, she gave us a ring. Without much advance notice, we sent private e-mail to our VIP suscribers, asking them for input. Due to time constraints, we weren't able to ask everything we would have liked to, but we were able to ask some probing questions about topics that have been smoldering for a long time. We hope that you find the candid responses as interesting as we did. Joining us in conversation with Ms. Sass was Mike Finnegan, Warner Home Video VP Editorial and Programming Services, and Paul Hemstreet, Warner Home Video manager, Programming Services, DVD.
TBP: First off, I'd like to say that on behalf of The BIG Picture and our 50,000 or so daily readers, we're really delighted to have this opportunity to speak with you. On behalf of our readership, we would also like to thank you for your staunch support of the open DVD format, and your refusal to participate in the Divx rental model. By taking this position, you have elevated yourself to rock-star status among the early adopters.
Mike Finnegan: Wow!
Ronnee Sass: We'll take that as a complement and we thank you!
TBP: Well, you're welcome and its intended to be so. Can you tell us a little bit about YOU'VE GOT MAIL and explain to us 
why you're so excited about this title specifically? Why was this title chosen for this extra special treatment and what new ground is being broken?
Mike Finnegan: YOU'VE GOT MAIL is about romance on the Internet, so it seemed like a particularly auspicious title to enter the world of DVD ROM at the moment. The connection was natural, the content of the movie lent itself very much to it and having at least being able to tap into and observe the performance and the availability of our colleague label New Line Home Video, with their forays on LOST IN SPACE and BLADE, we were able to tap into their expertise and gain individual expertise of our own.
TBP: Who is doing the actual DVD authoring for you on this?
Paul Hemstreet: Our authoring was handled by California Video Center (CVC) and they handle all our worldwide authoring.
TBP: They've done a fabulous job so far...
Paul Hemstreet: Yes, this is a big step into DVD ROM web enablement and we're very pleased with how it's going.
TBP: It seems that the bar is being raised higher and higher by studios like New Line Cinema, MGM and Warner Bros. in particular, in terms of features and extras. What do you see as the next advancement for the DVD format? Are you complacent with where you are now, or are you constantly striving to top yourself with each new special edition release? What's next?
Mike Finnegan: Bigger and better.
Paul Hemstreet: Always bigger.
Mike Finnegan: When the title is right, and the content is there and the technology allows, we would do any and all appropriate programming and value added that we can realize.
TBP: Are you talking in terms of Internet connectivity -- or something else that we haven't even seen yet?
Mike Finnegan: I would just have to say right now that YOU'VE GOT MAIL is the first attempt at Internet connectivity. We'll 
start there, and then see where the next wave takes us.
TBP: We've been reading recently on the Internet about a company that's promising high-definition video, downloadable off the Internet. They claim that a typical feature length film can be downloaded using a 28.8 K. modem about 10 minutes and that they've secured the rights to distribute thousands of film titles this way... Is Warner Bros. participating in this type of technology presently, or in the foreseeable future, and if so, how will this effect the DVD market as we now know it?
Mike Finnegan: That's an interesting question. We are representatives of the home video division, and we probably shouldn't comment on behalf of Warner Bros., our parent.
TBP: Well it's difficult to know exactly who to ask what, sometimes.
Mike Finnegan: Right. Whatever video questions you have in your hopper for the video division we can try and handle.
TBP: All right, then here's one that perhaps you can answer, and I hope you can. All of us in the DVD community are always excited to hear about titles that are being planned for release. One of those titles is the SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. Now, we've never really heard an explanation as to why the original release date of December, 1997 was bumped. Can you tells the reasons behind the delay and can you confirm this April 6, 1999 street date that's been rumored? I know it would be of great interest to our readers if you could explain to us the shroud of secrecy that seems to envelop titles like SHAWSHANK and HEAT.
Mike Finnegan: (amidst exclamations) It's a conspiracy to frustrate you! (After our laughs subside) We have constantly wanted to involve the writer-director... in our DVD of the Shawshank Redemption and we have had several near-misses and encounters with him that have not enabled us to put it out the way we want to.
TBP: So are you saying then, that this has all been a simple matter of scheduling and timing between you and the director!?
Mike Finnegan: Exactly! This man has been working tirelessly on the new Warner Bros. feature film release THE GREEN MILE coming at Christmas and he is a filmmaker obsessed when he gets into a new project -- and we have connected and disconnected with him over the course of time and we wanted to hold out to give him the maximum possible options to participate in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. That's why the first December release from a year in a half ago didn't happen. Where April 6, 1999 originated, nobody here knows... we never promised that, never announced it -- it is very much in our schedule -- we won't commit to the date here and now... we're hoping for the year end of' 99.
TBP: Yeah, that was the last I heard from you on The Home Theater Form chat last month. You had mentioned then, that you were hoping for a fourth-quarter release this year.
Mike Finnegan: Exactly. So let's leave it at that. We're not trying to alienate the DVD audience at all, it's uppermost in our minds... (asking Paul Hemstreet) We've got a new transfer of it?
Paul Hemstreet: They're actually going through a new transfer that is hi-def.
Mike Finnegan: So it will even look better than it would have a year and a half ago.
TBP: So it will be worth the wait.
Mike Finnegan: There you go!
TBP: we receive email all the time from readers asking to know about the status of some other titles, so any light you could shed would certainly be appreciated --
Mike Finnegan: Any more questions about YOU'VE GOT MAIL? We're bristling to talk about that.
TBP: Why don't you tell us anything you'd like us to know about YOU'VE GOT MAIL?
Mike Finnegan: Well we just want to make sure that on Ronnee Sass's very well written and very thorough press release that you're noticing all the extra features. We'll be happy to answer any questions about how those extra features were arrived at, devised and how they are put on that disc, if you like.
TBP: All right... actually, I don't have the press release in front of me -- we posted an extensive article about the release and the special features a week or two back on our news page. Unfortunately, I don't have that in front of me either...
Mike Finnegan: We are just gathered about YOU'VE GOT MAIL because that's our signature release in the near term, and we've got lots of other things coming out on the market, but we want to make sure that we got any questions about YOU'VE GOT MAIL answered. If not then you could run through your list of what titles you want to see and we'll tell you whether they're in the hopper or not.
TBP: Well I'd appreciate that. PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE... last we've heard you were waiting for some participation from Paul Reubins. Any progress since then?
Mike Finnegan: No progress since then.
TBP: What about Stanley Kubrick films like THE SHINING and FULL METAL JACKET? Was there any opportunity for him to lay down any kind of commentary tracks before he passed away?
Mike Finnegan: We'll be preparing an announcement about how we will showcase his movies on VHS and DVD and that announcement will be coming out in April. And what we do in our promotions, we'll be tied around the Warner Bros. theatrical release of EYES WIDE SHUT around July 16th. Watch for an announcement next month.
TBP: How soon can we look forward to seeing ANALYZE THIS on DVD?
Mike Finnegan: When we have our street date definitely set, we'll send out a press release when we know when we'll have it on video. We'll have the DVD the same day we have the VHS.
TBP: Any plans to release BABYLON 5 on DVD?
Mike Finnegan: Yes!
TBP: Widescreen?
Mike Finnegan: To be decided.
TBP: Well, count this as a vote for Widescreen on behalf of our readers because I know that they're very interested in that... Any other questions I have probably have to do with marketing, so I will spare you those...
Mike Finnegan and Ronnee Sass: Throw them out if you want to, Jeff.
TBP: You want a try one? Well, OK... now I don't mean to bring up a sore subject, but it's become abundantly clear to us that the keepcase has emerged as the preferred storage medium for DVD's. Now, only a handful of studios, largely Warner Bros. distributed, are still using the snapper cases. Can you explain to us why Warner Bros. is reluctant to join the other studios in standardizing packaging that's clearly the preferred choice of DVD consumers? We've heard it rumored that Warner Bros. has a vested interest in snapper cases...
Mike Finnegan: Stop!
TBP: Can I just finish? It may make the question a little more palatable to you.
Mike Finnegan: OK!
TBP: It's my understanding that there is some sort of a vested interest in the snapper cases which creates some sort of an income for their use. If this is true and the use of snapper cases helps to subsidize the cost of your DVD product to consumers, then we can certainly understand your reluctance to part with them. So once and for all could you please address this issue for our readers and clear the air?
Mike Finnegan: Our management has favored the use of snapper cases to date and they continue to do so. When any appreciable and noticeable groundswell of support for the other cases changes their minds, they'll, you know...
TBP: How closely does your management follow the Internet?
Mike Finnegan: We have seen nothing compelling yet.
TBP: We have a few surveys on our own site that we created some time back, asking people what their preferences were and it's pretty significant (in favor of keepcases). My position personally has always been that if Warner Bros. is sticking with snapper cases because there's some sort of a financial incentive to do so -- that it's actually OK, because you guys have done such a fantastic job of keeping prices low and offering such tremendous value for your product -- as far as I'm concerned, at least, on a personal level, the snapper case is certainly a small inconvenience to put up with for all that you're doing for DVD.
Mike Finnegan: Yes, well that would be something that our marketing management would have to address.
TBP: Here's one more question for you and see if you want to handle this one -- I appreciate you taking that last question by the way... Warner Bros. established itself long ago as the real value leader in DVD. I think that's probably one of the most impressive achievements to date. Everyone notices it, consumers appreciate it and of course one of the things that set your studio part were the anamorphic Widescreen presentations, combined with the generous amount of extras -- all very reasonably priced. Some of our readers have wondered what the rationale was behind those $14.99 budget titles, since they are either pan and scan or full frame and therefore not enhanced for 16 x 9 viewing -- they contain no extras and are still often higher priced than their VHS counterparts... While everyone applauds Warner's efforts to provide lower-cost DVD's -- that's great -- those same people wonder if you have to do so at the expense of all the things that make DVD a unique and superior format to begin with, other than just the increase in resolution. And how is it decided which titles get the "budget gourmet" treatment and which ones get the royal carpet?
Mike Finnegan: It's very much a cooperative effort among management -- marketing and programming -- as to which titles get super-duper treatment... and usually it's a library title in conjunction with a VHS special event that the DVD incarnation of that can tie into. In terms of budget titles, so-called budget titles -- I guess that was your word, "budget" titles...
TBP: It was...
Mike Finnegan: The not so enhanced versions of movies, for instance (as opposed to) more enhanced versions -- it's a matter of trying to broaden the market with a lot of titles and trying to address the concerns of people that don't normally or always want to see theatrical aspect ratio black band movies. That's where we make our determinations.
TBP: By and large -- now this is a positive -- those less expensive titles are typically full frame as opposed to pan and scan, aren't they?
Mike Finnegan: Typically, but if a movie is in the scope aspect ratio we go with Widescreen. You'll see that in some of the March and the May releases coming up in the lower-priced category.
TBP: Oh good, so there will be some Widescreen.
Mike Finnegan: Correct
TBP: Great. Well I appreciate it. You guys have been very generous with your time and we're thrilled to have you participating on our WebSite.
Mike Finnegan: Well thank you... anytime. If there's anything more we can answer about YOU'VE GOT MAIL, please get back 
to Ronnie.
TBP: One more question about that, because I know you're anxious to talk about it. Were Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan participating actively in the production of the DVD?
Mike Finnegan: They were asked to. They declined because of prior commitments. Meg Ryan came close... but at the last minute she had another engagement. But the creators who do participate, the producer and co-writer/director ...really provide a lot of good stuff.
TBP: And once again, what are some of the features of YOU'VE GOT MAIL that set it apart specifically from other titles that have used DVD ROM and Internet connectivity?
Mike Finnegan: We'll let the maestro, Paul explain those.
Paul Hemstreet: I think it pushes the technologies further -- there is additional materials such as the ability to play each song on the DVD and go back to the interface on the PC side. I believe it's a little more fluid and seamless in its connection between the Internet the ROM pages and the material on the DVD. So I think it's taking it a step further and refining the technology that's out there.
TBP: Having just recently ventured boldly forth into the world of DVD ROM, we've always been using set-top components until just recently, is the PC Friendly interface playing a role in this?
Paul Hemstreet: Yeah, we're using the the PC Friendly interface. We developed this with Interactual, the holders of the PC Friendly software and they were intregal and our development of it. So it's using the same interface you may have already seen on LOST IN SPACE. It's refined, the software is better -- the bugs have been worked out of the system.
TBP: Are you surprised at how many people using DVD ROM to watch DVD movies?
Paul Hemstreet: Yeah! Well, they say 15 to 20 million by the end of the year -- DVD ROM drives installed at home. The 
market is really growing in that direction and the excitement towards DVD ROM has grown very much in the last few months.
TBP: Well, we look for to seeing what surprises you hit us with next.
Mike Finnegan: If we told you now they wouldn't be surprises, but believe me we have a few.
TBP: We're looking forward to finding them out in due time.
Mike Finnegan: And I want to to know that Paul's fingers -- since Paul is the one who typed all our responses on the online chat a month ago, are healing nicely... (laughter) He's doing quite well now.
TBP: Gosh, you know, you've got to get into voice-recognition technology.
Paul Hemstreet: Yes, I'll be able to type again -- but that would be good.
TBP: Well you know what? You guys really impressed a lot of people by doing that. I know that Home Theater Forum is read by a lot of people, including us. You wouldn't believe the thrill that it gives the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of DVD consumers when the studios directly participate with them. I think that's a wonderful thing and I hope that we see more of it.
Ronnee, thank you for the opportunity -- and Mike and Paul, thank you so much.
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