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!

 

[Sigill]

It would be great to see an exclusive Hi-Def Ninja.com Steelbook. I think there are lots of people here who would love to see that happen. I'm sure the Steelbook would sell well and be very successful. I would definatly purchase one and I know many other members here would too!

 

[Drum18]

A true HDN exclusive for The Hobbit would be a dream come true!!!

 

[Zero]

A HDN exclusive Steelbook would really be a dream come true! It would get a special place in my collection and i´d get it no matter how much it would cost!
I think Warner would be a perfect partner for HDN and i hope you can make this happen!!!!

 

[CaptainCoffee]

Logistics wise how would it work? We have members from hundreds of different locations, it wouldn't be fair if some members had to pay more dependent on shipping charges/ customs etc.

That being said I would absolutely love this to happen, would definitely pick up a copy of whatever it was! Lol.

 

[Drum18]

Logistics wise how would it work? We have members from hundreds of different locations, it wouldn't be fair if some members had to pay more dependent on shipping charges/ customs etc.

I understand your concern, but unfortunately, wherever the steel would be released, of course it cannot be the same price worldwide...

 

[CaptainCoffee]

It's a shame. But I still think this would be hugely sucessful. A 1000 quantity limited run, like BluFans exclusives? I would love to be a part of it.

 

[zerro0094]

I would love one! - From Australia

 

[Blayze17]

I'm in!!

 

[dirtyoak]

I would buy a HDN exclusive steelbook even if I HATED the movie being released!

 

[Steelknight47]

I like where this could lead to .

 

[Orekul]

very interested and have added my support to the op, thanks to all concerned.

 

[cjy152]

I would definitely be in on this. It would be wonderful to see an HDN release!

 

[apsmith21]

bump.

 

[karl01]

Its needs to be on par with what blu fans do and to be honest i don`t see that happening.

 

[Black Sunshine]

Im sure Wreck is Gunning for an HDN exclusive 'Book of Eli' as that is a Warner Bros. title. of course, I support this notion but I feel that it should be represented by titles that have yet to be released or by titles that have as of yet recieved a special edition, Digibook or Steelbook treatment previously all the double and triple dipping is getting out of hand. Just look at 'Lord of the Rings', 'Bladerunner' & The Matrix. Those cash cows get MILKED!! So, i would hope that this Exclusive Run would have titles that are deserving a great first release and not a fourth incarnation of self.

 

[Ricker]

This would be awesome, I would support any title even if it was 007 or a western. But would love to see an exclusive of Pink Floyd:The Wall

 

[surfury]

This would be awesome, I would support any title even if it was 007 or a western. But would love to see an exclusive of Pink Floyd:The Wall

Great choice but they could do even better (imo) with Pulse which has never made it to BD yet (sadly not Warners though). An epic DVD of a concert which was beyond compare. Best concert I ever went to and that was nearly 20 years ago !!

 

[apsmith21]

Its needs to be on par with what blu fans do and to be honest i don`t see that happening.

You mean months of delays and then production issues with the steel (paint chips, etc)?

If you're gonna hold us to that kind of standard Karl, then I'm not sure I'd want one.

 

[apsmith21]

Im sure Wreck is Gunning for an HDN exclusive 'Book of Eli' as that is a Warner Bros. title. of course, I support this notion but I feel that it should be represented by titles that have yet to be released or by titles that have as of yet recieved a special edition, Digibook or Steelbook treatment previously all the double and triple dipping is getting out of hand. Just look at 'Lord of the Rings', 'Bladerunner' & The Matrix. Those cash cows get MILKED!! So, i would hope that this Exclusive Run would have titles that are deserving a great first release and not a fourth incarnation of self.

This would be awesome, I would support any title even if it was 007 or a western. But would love to see an exclusive of Pink Floyd:The Wall

Great choice but they could do even better (imo) with Pulse which has never made it to BD yet (sadly not Warners though). An epic DVD of a concert which was beyond compare. Best concert I ever went to and that was nearly 20 years ago !!

If I could pick one it would be a classic.

Like Citizen Kane. They already have a great digi, I know.

But I would take that over The Hangover or something.