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!

 

[Xavier]

I admit it I forget about this.

I would love to see another smaller wave this year maybe around 10 movies.

 

[Shanester]

Very excited about their classic UK wave coming out next week

Hope to see more of these in the future since Warner have a huge collection of films from the 30's-50s in their vaults

 

[riddlesNrhymes]

I love this idea

 

[Researcher]

This is going to absolutely smashing if it does happen! Considering what we've just seen on the Jack Reacher Blufans release on this very forum, I can't imagine that if a HDN exclusive title were to be announced, we wouldn't be able to sell out a 1000 copies in a couple of days!

Andy, any update from WB in the new year thus far mate? I hope, pray and wait for the elusive day

 

[jaws finatic]

commenting on the original post, i agree there is nothing nicer than a well done steelbook, with imagery on the front, back and interior. extra packaging like posters, or loddy cards are extra sweet, and ensure sell outs.

there are millions of steelbook hungry fans. do them right, and you'll profit every time.

 

[apsmith21]

Andy, any update from WB in the new year thus far mate? I hope, pray and wait for the elusive day

WB has gone dark.

 

[berns]

An HDN exclusive would be a dream come true for most of us especially with the right title! Im quite fascinated by the whole process of bringing out a steelbook and im always soaking up every little bit of information guys (or should i say Gods) like Wreck bring out to the forum and with all the know-how and talent (amazing steel designers here!) this comunity has, i think we could produce one outstanding steelbook, if only they let us....

I have tremendous faith in this community thou and im sure sooner or later we will get a all exclusive HDN steelbook

 

[joswin93]

I think the green mile would be the best film for us to release

A film that truly deserves justice and a decent release

 

[Civer]

How cool would be a HDN-Exclusive steelbook!
If only we could decide which movie we all want ;-)
Nevertheless, it's a great idea and keep up your efforts. We want this!

 

[Researcher]

WB has gone dark.

Not the best news, but something can still happen, eh? They cannot ignore the awesome community we've got over here for long, can they?

All the best mate, I have faith we'll have our own exclusive steel soon enough

 

[BluSteel2012]

Did we not sort of do this already by voting for Play.com's Terminator artwork??

 

[CaptainCoffee]

They aren't close to the same thing mate. HDN has been the deciding factor for certain artwork in the past but to have an exclusive steelbook in our name (unique to the world) is something that is infinitely more collectible and just awesome really.