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!

 

[Jason Bourne]

Call me the nasty hangover you get after a night of drinking in this thread but Warner Studio's is the last studio I want doing any kind of so called "exclusive" or "limited" or "collectible" for HDN. No Thank You. Any other studio to parter with HDN and I would be all in.

Of course Im also going to end being that hypocrite when this actually ends up happening with Warner and I end up buying a copy, LOL.

I just wish we were trying to parter with any other studio but Warner. I get it that were looking for a studio that will entertain to the USA crowd... how about Sony Pictures instead?

They did give USA there first "true" blu-ray steelbook exclusive in the form of The Amazing Spider-Man. And they have been releasing nice steelbooks in USA. Glossy finish, inside/back art, etc. Why not give a studio credit that has actually given the USA market proper steelbooks (albeit limited amount) instead of lazy re-re-re-hashes with sub-par quality, finishing and artwork.

I know I wont win any popularity contests with this post but I just think studio's that cater to the wants of the customer better should be the ones HDN partner's with instead of a studio that pumps out steelbooks like dollar bill's.

Imagine a "James Bond: Skyfall" HDN exclusive from Sony Pictures? Yes Please

 

[apsmith21]

Just FYI to all you ninjas out there - we've been communicating with different studios off and on for a while.

Unfortunately, most studios are only interested in conversing with BIG retailers and have no real interest in conversing with HDN directly in regards to this subject.

We're still working on a bunch of different angles with this idea - but it's tough going.

Obviously we have some contacts, because we get screeners and things like that from studios.

However, the only studio that's even seemed somewhat willing to discuss this has been Warner Bros.

So take it for what you will.

 

[Jason Bourne]

Just FYI to all you ninjas out there - we've been communicating with different studios off and on for a while.

Unfortunately, most studios are only interested in conversing with BIG retailers and have no real interest in conversing with HDN directly in regards to this subject.

We're still working on a bunch of different angles with this idea - but it's tough going.

Obviously we have some contacts, because we get screeners and things like that from studios.

However, the only studio that's even seemed somewhat willing to discuss this has been Warner Bros.

So take it for what you will.

That surely changes things if none of them are interested and Warner's the only one showing some small level of interest. Given this information and considering there the only one's showing any interest I think I have to support them and this project.

Thanks for the info APSmith.

I think this is a very relevant piece of info that should be added to the original post. IMO it puts things into perspective why were seeking out Warner as a partner.

 

[policenauts]

An important thing but I think it's obvious, no movie poster on front artwork, and original artwork from photography director or something else.
you aim to an embossed release?

 

[aufdringlich]

HDN exclusive? Count me in!! That would be awesome.

 

[movieknight]

Yes, I would be interested but as stated before by some, even if it is an exclusive it should be a title that has general appeal.

 

[Apom]

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

 

[blu-steel]

Over the Edge
Excalibur
Outland
Chariots of Fire
Riskey Business
Vacation
Grandview U.S.A.
The Lost Boys
A.I.
Swordfish
Rock Star
Cradle 2 the Grave
Terminator 3
The Island

 

[Lonberg]

What about our OWN white TDKR :-O
We at HDN also can send our Designer Power to them (Berns, KAW and Zesty just to name a few...)
Then i take 3...

I love that idea! Would be awsome

 

[Che]

Honestly I'd love to see an exclusive Dark Knight Rises or Dark Knight Trilogy steelbook?

 

[adrenaline78]

With a remastered BB that they did for the IMAX!! I'd be all over it!

 

[Kuzco]

It would be awesome to have an HDN exclusive, why not a Mars Attacks one?...

 

[HUBMUSWELL]

I'm with Che, Dark Knight Rises or Dark Knight Trilogy steelbook

Production costs could be higher because of the amount of colours to be used but I reckon this will sell very quickly especially with HDN behind it!

 

[Necroscope]

I can't believe I only just stumbled across this thread. What a great idea! I lend my support fully to this idea. I would hate for the movie to be one that I don't care for, but, that being said, you're never going to satify everyone, and, frankly, it still won't stop me from buying one! Movies that would be awesome in Steelbook (IMO):

Singles
Lethal Weapon
Any Given Sunday
House On Haunted Hill (not a great movie, but the artwork would be awesome)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (one of my all time favorites!)
Empire Records
The NeverEnding Story
The Goonies

 

[Ricker]

Call me the nasty hangover you get after a night of drinking in this thread but Warner Studio's is the last studio I want doing any kind of so called "exclusive" or "limited" or "collectible" for HDN. No Thank You. Any other studio to parter with HDN and I would be all in.

Of course Im also going to end being that hypocrite when this actually ends up happening with Warner and I end up buying a copy, LOL.

I just wish we were trying to parter with any other studio but Warner. I get it that were looking for a studio that will entertain to the USA crowd... how about Sony Pictures instead?

They did give USA there first "true" blu-ray steelbook exclusive in the form of The Amazing Spider-Man. And they have been releasing nice steelbooks in USA. Glossy finish, inside/back art, etc. Why not give a studio credit that has actually given the USA market proper steelbooks (albeit limited amount) instead of lazy re-re-re-hashes with sub-par quality, finishing and artwork.

I know I wont win any popularity contests with this post but I just think studio's that cater to the wants of the customer better should be the ones HDN partner's with instead of a studio that pumps out steelbooks like dollar bill's.

Imagine a "James Bond: Skyfall" HDN exclusive from Sony Pictures? Yes Please

NO BOND!!! Please. No DKR. I would like a title that has not been released that everybody would want. James Bond is not that popular. IMO

 

[Ush]

Count me in! Would definitely love to get my hands on one.

 

[apsmith21]

bump. let's get to 100 thanks in the OP - come on folks, make your thoughts known.

 

[apsmith21]

NO BOND!!! Please. No DKR. I would like a title that has not been released that everybody would want. James Bond is not that popular. IMO

Bond is not Warner Bros, so no worries there.

 

[funkydamo]

well, i love warners. mostly due to them being almost 100% region free.
Also as they have a decent number of steels around.
My vote would be for butterly effect, or maybe sleepers.

 

[HUBMUSWELL]

I would vote for TDR...In white, wurple or as the FR G1 release. A nice 1/4 slip with matching artwork with a HDN logo. A couple of stickers as well please.