An Open Letter to Warner Brothers USA (for a catalog release in steelbook)

[apsmith21]

Hi fellow ninjas!

Many of our members have approached me publicly and privately about the potential of HiDefNinja.com getting it's own steelbook run.

Even though we have some great contacts with retailers across the globe and of course direct contacts with the marketing firm behind steelbooks, Scanavo, it has been maintained through a number of communications that we need studio support for any release.

I believe part of the success of the play.com releases has indeed been our membership here, in the fact that you all value a limited release with quality artwork (and thank you, as always to play.com for listening to the collectors on this forum).

I thought this might be a good opportunity to have our members voice their support of a potential limited minimum print run of a steelbook, up to 4,000 copies.

I think one studio with very good potential would be Warner Brothers USA - given their support of the steelbook packaging in the USA and their partnership with Best Buy USA in the past.

Our contacts at Warner have asked us to wait until things calm down after the new year to begin discussing this again. However, in advance of that discussion, I would like any member here to vote their support for a HDN limited run.

Note that HiDefNinja would like to publish a quality release...and we agree with you - a matte steelbook with no inside art...it's cheap and not representative of our favorite premium packaging.

Here is an excerpt of the original message sent to Warner Brothers in regards to catalog releases earlier this year.

In 2012, Warner Bros & Best Buy released the following steelbook exclusives in the blu-ray format.

New releases included (so far):

Wrath of the Titans
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Catalog releases included:

Clash of the Titans (Best Buy Exclusive)
Book of Eli (Best Buy Exclusive)
300 (Best Buy Exclusive)
Gran Torino (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Hangover (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Hangover Part II (Best Buy Exclusive)
Inception (Best Buy Exclusive)
Goodfellas (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Matrix (Best Buy Exclusive)
V For Vendetta (Best Buy Exclusive)
Green Lantern (Best Buy Exclusive)
Sherlock Holmes (Best Buy Exclusive)
Sucker Punch (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Dark Knight (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Last Samurai (Best Buy Exclusive)
Batman Begins (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Shawshank Redemption (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Rings (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Best Buy Exclusive)
The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Best Buy Exclusive)

I don't have actual numbers, but I do believe all of these titles sold quite well at Best Buy - one that stands out in the catalog releases above to me is The Hangover - it was the first time that the artwork in steelbook had been available and I believe this was probably one of the most popular titles of the wave above.

Here's a shining example of what has been very successful in the US market for steelbooks, the Sucker Punch limited edition that was available at the Gentle Giant booth in 2011 at the San Diego Comic Con. After the convention had ended, this steelbook was sold online via the Warner Brothers Store to USA customers. This edition of the steelbook sold out in a week or so after being listed on the Warner Brothers USA shop.

It is a fantastic design, and bravo to the person at Warner that was involved with this one. With "comic" art, artwork on the back, inside artwork and a high gloss finish, this is a release that has excited many collectors - in the USA and worldwide.

When a catalog title is released with unique artwork and is indeed a limited run (and if those numbers can be published) collectors
become very interested in a "special" release that can stand out among other items of their collection. These types of titles have sold out before their release if handled properly.

By comparison, this Sucker Punch edition was part of the recently (and I would imagine) very successful run of Warner Brothers steelbooks sold at Best Buy - especially during the Father's Day sale at a lower price.

However, the artwork pictured in this steelbook had been previously released by Future Shop in Canada and by certain retailers in Mexico.

But I'm using the two examples above to illustrate that there is a market for these items, not specifically at the resale level, but first at the retailer level. The more or limited the run, the more unique the release, the more desirable the collectible becomes.

This effort impacts all HiDefNinja members - so if you are a member from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, China, Canada, or any other locale that frequently visits this forum...let your voice be heard as well.

Finally, feel free to reply to this thread, and vote your support for this effort.

If you would purchase a limited edition blu-ray catalog release from Warner Brothers in steelbook, please THANK THIS POST.

Thank you and best wishes to all during this holiday season!

 

[blu-steel]

All I can say is I want numbered steelbooks. They can charge an extra $5 if they want. No recycled artwork either. Make the word "limited" actually mean something.

 

[Cymon H]

Count me in too, I think this is a great idea that could be the start of something brilliant

 

[KidKhaos]

The Hobbit exclusive would sell like hot pancakes.
I´d love some Iron Giant, tho

 

[shejon01]

I'd take whatever i could get to be honest. Just want it to happen. HDN sticker/logo on slip, original artwork = perfect.

 

[apsmith21]

bumpity bump

 

[Ricker]

Bond is not Warner Bros, so no worries there.

Trust me Andy, I never would have mentioned that franchise, if it had not been brought up. And we really don't need rehashes of DK . We need something new.

 

[apsmith21]

Trust me Andy, I never would have mentioned that franchise, if it had not been brought up. And we really don't need rehashes of DK . We need something new.

We'll see - I think getting a new release probably won't be attainable, just given the volume a retailer like Best Buy can move, but a well designed catalog release would probably be very interesting.

It might depend on WB - like they tell us - here are 4x titles you can choose from and that's it.

But showing our support ahead of time can only mean good things, IMO.

 

[Black Sunshine]

Now that Warner Bros. has taken on many catalog Titles from Paramount for Distribution, there is a much broader scale to the titles that can get a Steelbook (first Time) Release vs. Re-Hashed, Re-Release.

 

[RiX]

I wouldn't mind a DKR SB as I was really let down the initial wordwide release, especially compared to the first two. The book of Eli already has two or three decent releases.

Some people may think it is unfair that some members will have to pay more than others, but, there isn't a steelbook on the planet that is exception to this - just think how much a US customer would have dished out already on releases from Asia, Europe and even Canada just next door!

Maybe a joint EU/USA production could solve this? I don't think HDN have that any members from Asia (a shame really).

---------- Post added at 07:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 PM ----------

I nominate the following WB titles.

Contact
LA Confidental
The Green Mile
The Perfect Storm
Falling Down
Unforgiven
Lethal Weapon
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
The Iron Giant

Also, how did this go unnoticed?

 

[Jango]

falling down with some crazy michael douglas face on it would be awesome

 

[nkb32]

Im glad collectors are letting their voices be heard and contacting these studios for us in the community! I would love a US limited "Special Edition" steelbook release w/ everything premium and unique. And not just the US but anywhere!

 

[apsmith21]

Maybe a joint EU/USA production could solve this? I don't think HDN have that any members from Asia (a shame really)

It would be cheaper for HDN to source the quantity of steels from the USA factory, considering that to meet the minimum quantity requirements...the production has to be done in one spot.

Now that they can produce G2.

 

[Grifter2099]

I would love to see a Batman Returns steelbook from the WB...even Batman Forever
you can keep Batman and Robin .. i hear it makes great kindling for the fire place

 

[apsmith21]

bump!!!

 

[cyberef]

Come on people, get this the attention it deserves!

 

[leftfootdynamo]

Would be awesome if HDN could get an exclusive steel! I'm fairly new but would support this all the way!!

 

[Lonberg]

In order to get more users to notice this thread and get the attention it deserves, It would be a good idea, if possible, to make the thread stickey and move it to the main page of the Blu-ray Steelbook section...

I'll bet everyone would love to get a HDN Exclusive SB

 

[digitalbabe]

Hi All-the possibility of an HDN Exclusive Steelbook is always being discussed with various parties behind the scenes, based on immense community feedback, and within the rules of the entire process. Please keep chiming into this thread, and all feedback will continue to be shared. Thank you all for making your voices heard at HDN!

 

[Scarface]

yep great idea and there would be a lot of great movies to choose from, bring it on

 

[entreri]

Bumping the thread for more awareness!

Could I also suggest moving this thread to the main steelbook subforum for a short while? Perhaps for Ninja Week as it would possibly receive more attention there.