DVDizzy Forum

JeanGreyForever wrote:I don't remember when Artemis Fowl was announced as Disney+ only in comparison to the article

Before.

JeanGreyForever wrote:but I'm sure the article was referring to low-budget films that were never expected to yield much of a profit and hadn't developed much of a hype online. Disney's Noelle, which came out in late 2019 was relegated to Disney+ as well so that's another prime example of the type of film Disney would make and would feel wouldn't net much of a profit in theaters as compared to streaming.

Yeah sure.. we ALL know here what kind of projects are aimed to Disney+ in normal times... Timmy Failure, Togo, Star Girl, etc. But here we have a first reaction of the company to the health crisis and one of the first short interviews since Bob Iger came back to the rescue. Was he thinking of other movies planned for theaters? Was he not? Maybe he was.. or wasn't. The statement and article allowed speculations, and you know what? No one knows for sure. I personally have little doubt the idea crossed their mind at least. But anyway, to put, as you say, more “low-budget films” (Artemis Fowl by the way isn't: 125 millions ^^) then they have first to produce more of them, and we know that right now they can't.

As for 'Soul' (and actually other projects ready for exploitation: “Mulan”, “Black Widow”) there's still a possibility Disney will change his mind throughout the year, and release them directly for digital purchase. We recently learned they actually don't hope that. YET with what happened with the recent success of “Trolls World Tour” they might reconsider it.. who knows for sure.. (with all the general insecurity, I think a lot of things could happen.)

JeanGreyForever wrote:All of this was discussed in the Onwards thread. To find what you were looking for, please go back to that thread and read the pages before the film's release because it was a heavy topic of speculation and there were never any official sources or anything like that, if that's what you're looking for. It was just what some of us felt about the matter so don't expect anything concrete which I think is what you really want to see in which case, you will be disappointed.

Loool, well thank you for that hilarious recommendation but if you can't justify your point because you deliberately know is based on fan speculation more than it is on working procedures and the way projects are handled within a studio, just avoid to mention it as the holy grail of reliability post ...after post ...after post. And NO need to bring that back every time. Is that enriching? Yet (that's sincere) thank you for finally clarifying it is what it is I think you can also rest assured the studio gave the same amount of attention to each of their projects.

PS: It's 'Onward'.

JeanGreyForever wrote:Wasn't Moana promoted as an epic adventure? One where a lone girl was sailing the oceans to save her people from a magical curse of sorts? If not the trailers, because Disney marketing in North America always caters more towards the humor, but from the concept art and early release information and stuff?

To be fair, that's how it was promoted. I thought you were speaking of the movie itself.
Promotion aside: that's another debate for another topic.

JeanGreyForever wrote:I don't see Raya as being very different in that regard and I'm not sure you can prejudge based on what very little we've seen.

Well.. since you're speaking of it.. Yes, I can, and I can't too I can because I did have the chance to see more about the movie than what was presented at the D23 Expo (which I also attended by the way) thanks to some privilege that was granted to me last year, which I am NOT allowed to talk about. Not until everybody knows as much as I saw. I can't tell what doesn't come out of the studio. Here's my single truthful ultimate statement: I'm pretty confident for 'Raya'.

JeanGreyForever wrote:I disagree that it isn't a tradition for a Disney animated film every year.

Except in 2002, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017.

JeanGreyForever wrote:A Thanksgiving Disney tradition isn't something I've ever heard of especially because that's only been a pattern for the past few years and hardly even that. The 2000s Disney films I remember were released in spring or summer until maybe after Meet the Robinsons.

Are fifteen years not enough to get people accustomed though ??

And yes indeed, over the past fifteen years:
- Number of WDAS features released in November/December: 11 ! (that's more theatrical films than Lucasfilm produced with Star Wars over the 30 last years or something.)
- Number of WDAS features released some other time in the year: 3 (including 'Meet the Robinsons' and 'Winnie the Pooh' that general audiences won't necessarily judge as the most memorable. Which leaves 'Zootopia' as the only exception).

So.. yeah.

JeanGreyForever wrote:It must depend on the circles we hang out in because online, I always hear people associate December or May with Star Wars and Marvel especially with those summer months.

Since you wish to bring Star Wars in that debate:
Original trilogy + Prequel trilogy: released in May (6 films) / Sequel trilogy: released in December (3 films).
And people usually gets extremely nostalgic when it comes to the Star Wars legacy.
So I don't see where the idea of Star Wars film for Christmas (more than a WDAS film at least) comes from, unless you're a recent SW fan and you are specifically referring to the recent SW trilogy only made since Disney acquired Lucasfilm.

(And yes I also noticed your intention to bring Marvel into that lol but there's NO way I'm going through that with you! we all know by now that Marvel movies can go out anytime of the year: February, March, April, May, June, July, October, November!.. There are absolutely no rule.. and I mean that in the best way!)

Clindor wrote:there's still a possibility Disney will change his mind throughout the year, and release them directly for digital purchase. We recently learned they actually don't hope that. YET with what happened with the recent success of “Trolls World Tour” they might reconsider it.. who knows for sure.. (with all the general insecurity, I think a lot of things could happen.)

Didn't Onward go on digital sale for at least a couple weeks before it went to Disney+? If so, I wonder how those sales were...with Trolls World Tour, though, the streaming (when/where) info probably hasn't been released, so maybe people are more likely to (is it for sale, or just rental?) buy it digitally than Onward, since that was announced as going to Disney+?

blackcauldron85 wrote:

Clindor wrote:there's still a possibility Disney will change his mind throughout the year, and release them directly for digital purchase. We recently learned they actually don't hope that. YET with what happened with the recent success of “Trolls World Tour” they might reconsider it.. who knows for sure.. (with all the general insecurity, I think a lot of things could happen.)

Didn't Onward go on digital sale for at least a couple weeks before it went to Disney+? If so, I wonder how those sales were...with Trolls World Tour, though, the streaming (when/where) info probably hasn't been released, so maybe people are more likely to (is it for sale, or just rental?) buy it digitally than Onward, since that was announced as going to Disney+?

Onward only did $103.2 million on the two weeks it was in theaters and that's a rather low number for a two week run. So maybe Disney thought people will be reluctant to buy it on digital anyway, though I think they should have allowed it more weeks to be on digital before putting it on Disney Plus, but then they really want D+ to succeed.

blackcauldron85 wrote:

Clindor wrote:there's still a possibility Disney will change his mind throughout the year, and release them directly for digital purchase. We recently learned they actually don't hope that. YET with what happened with the recent success of “Trolls World Tour” they might reconsider it.. who knows for sure.. (with all the general insecurity, I think a lot of things could happen.)

Didn't Onward go on digital sale for at least a couple weeks before it went to Disney+? If so, I wonder how those sales were...

It did.

I haven't found any figures so far regarding the digital sales for 'Onward' and that's also probably because studios don't share too much their figures when it comes to digital sales ...usually. But Trolls World Tour did so well Universal shared theirs on "opening weekend". But if we get to know these for 'Onward' it certainly wouldn't as relevant only because 'Onward' has partially had a theatrical exploitation and partially a very early digital release exploitation.. it's kind of a mixed bag.
And why did they put it so early on Disney+: I'm unsure ...because Disney+ is not generating any money for now. But surely it's for the same reason why they put Frozen II that early on the platform. With such a mega hit as Frozen II, there's no doubt they could have more money by releasing it on Disney+ a bit later than a few weeks/one month after its Blu-ray/digital release.

blackcauldron85 wrote:with Trolls World Tour, though, the streaming (when/where) info probably hasn't been released, so maybe people are more likely to (is it for sale, or just rental?) buy it digitally than Onward, since that was announced as going to Disney+?

Yes surely. One thing is sure: "Soul", "Mulan", "Black Widow" are not "directly" going to Disney+ for now, but digital release? that sounds like a potentially good alternative.
Especially after what happened.

^ Thanks you guys! DreamWorks has a Netflix deal, right? Maybe I should stop trying to compare Onward and Trolls...trying to put my thoughts into words: Onward/Frozen II might be the kick in the butt to get someone to sign up for Disney+; some of those people will probably cancel after a month, but a lot will keep the service, so if they're a member even for a year, they're spending a little more $ than they would from only buying Onward + Frozen II on DVD or Blu. But would Trolls be enough for someone to sign up for Netflix...am I making sense?!

But Clindor, you make a good point that Onward was in theaters, then digital, then D+, while Trolls only has digital. I wonder how Frozen II and Onward's DVD/Blu/digital sales are being affected compared to if they weren't on D+...

French Dispatch, Soul announced as part of Cannes Film Festival 2020 lineup
https://ew.com/movies/film-festivals/ca ... 20-lineup/

Though the prestigious festival's 2020 event was previously postponed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Cannes announced Wednesday a list of 56 films that would have shown at this year's festival if it had continued as planned. All titles will be permitted to bear Cannes' highly regarded label on promotional materials as they continue to other festivals in the future.

This movie is going to probably do so much better given the current unfortunate state of things right now in the US. As well as it can given the pandemic I mean.

Kyle wrote:This movie is going to probably do so much better given the current unfortunate state of things right now in the US. As well as it can given the pandemic I mean.

Honestly everything is so shaky right now that I can't really predict what will happen in November. I also keep hearing that AMC is in financial troubles and might bankrupt, so that might also affect things. I'm predicting that in the near future cinemas and theaters will be a thing of the past and everything will go straight to digital/streaming.

Things are crazy, I get it. But I dont see that happening at all. Movies cannot make their money back going straight to digital. The industry relies on theaters to justify their budgets. Without them you'll end up with nothing but content on the level of the live action lady and the tramp. say goodbye to tentpole movies from pixar, marvel movies, etc.

Actually studios have a potential to make more cause they won't have to pay for theaters and distribution and they'll have complete control over their films. Also there are numerous TV shows that are not cheaply made, even with high quality visual effects and high paid actors, and they are doing just fine. I don't know, I just don't think Cinemas will be such a loss in my opinion. It seems radical to think about a world without them, but the world changes constantly, we used to have Blockbuster and physical media was at its prime 20 years ago and that's over. That's just how this things work and companies need to adapt otherwise they'll disappear.

farerb wrote:Actually studios have a potential to make more cause they won't have to pay for theaters and distribution and they'll have complete control over their films. Also there are numerous TV shows that are not cheaply made, even with high quality visual effects and high paid actors, and they are doing just fine. I don't know, I just don't think Cinemas will be such a loss in my opinion. It seems radical to think about a world without them, but the world changes constantly, we used to have Blockbuster and physical media was at its prime 20 years ago and that's over. That's just how this things work and companies need to adapt otherwise they'll disappear.

I think it's a little bit more complicated than that. Sure, they don't have to share the receipts of a movie/series if they release it on their own streaming service, but they also aren't getting anything exactly because of it. People are already paying for Disney+, Soul there or not. And the service isn't out in most of the world for them to release such a big title, I think.


Also, I don't think cinemas are going anywhere for the time being. It's one of the few commonplace shared experiences we have as a society. We might see a decline, but people will miss them soon enough.

Yeah, I think theaters will be fine long-term. I was reading the other day that Drive-In Theaters are seeing a comeback because of the virus requiring everyone to be separated.

I hope with all my heart that the theater going experience never goes away. It's funny, I just had a dream earlier yesterday that I was watching the Monstro sequence in a movie theater, and seeing it so big was scary as hell. But in my dream, Monstro and some of the water was kinda coming out of the screen and onto the two walls on the sides, lol.

Disney Duster wrote:I hope with all my heart that the theater going experience never goes away. It's funny, I just had a dream earlier yesterday that I was watching the Monstro sequence in a movie theater, and seeing it so big was scary as hell. But in my dream, Monstro and some of the water was kinda coming out of the screen and onto the two walls on the sides, lol.

I think we can all rest assured this won't be the case (for theaters to go away I mean) and once a vaccine will be found, unless outbursts of new pandemics become the new norm in this world.. people will go back to cinemas and cinemas will really be back in business as soon as everyone feels safe. Like others already did, Disney might indeed use the Premium Video on Demand system, because like other companies, they will need to continue to generate revenues. And that's a good substitute for the time being from a customer perspective. But as you imply, you cannot replace the experience of going to the cinemas and sharing the discovery of a film on a bigger screen with dozens of people with you in the room.. That's rather unique!.. as rodrigo_ca said it's one of the "commonplace shared experiences we have as a society". Personally I think cimenas will get crowded again, similarly to what was before, no doubt, it might just take some time.. (for now, according to public polls, people trusts in "going out" are very low ^^)

rodrigo_ca wrote:Sure, they don't have to share the receipts of a movie/series if they release it on their own streaming service, but they also aren't getting anything exactly because of it. People are already paying for Disney+, Soul there or not. And the service isn't out in most of the world for them to release such a big title, I think.

Oh yeah, for sure!! What happened with "Artemis Fowl" was a one time thing. None of the Disney theatrical movies that were scheduled for this year will go straight to Disney+ without us having to pay for it during a reasonable window of time (not even "The One and Only Ivan" I think..)

farerb wrote:Actually studios have a potential to make more cause they won't have to pay for theaters and distribution

Well, if I had to be veeery nitpicking.. Studios also have to pay for their movies to be available for digital purchases on the usual platforms (iTunes, Amazon..) What I mean is they won't get back 100% of the streaming money. For comparison, Universal retained about 80% of the digital rental or purchase fee for “Trolls World Tour.” Yet on the principle.. yes! Their fees are considerably less important than if the film was about to open theatrically.. And that potentially counts. So they have indeed the potential to make more this way, we can all agree with that.

Kyle wrote:This movie is going to probably do so much better given the current unfortunate state of things right now in the US. As well as it can given the pandemic I mean.

I was thinking for myself something silimar the other day.. While they might get tempted to keep certain movies for later by going on pushing them back (like "Mulan" but honestly tbc), I think it's safe to say "Soul" will get its release this year whether it's digital or theatrical.

Theatrical releases is not going anywhere. For the filmmakers, it's a matter of prestige to have a movie shown at the theatres. Just as it feels better for an author to see the book published as hardcover than just seeing it as Kindle, or maybe just as an online text file.

Second it does make more money if it's a hit than if it's only released on streaming (and later DVD and TV). It's a matter of how long the window should be. Once a movie has peaked at the theatres and the ticket sales starts to decline, Hollywood want it on streaming as fast as possible. That's where the main conflict between the theatres and studios are.

Streaming and video have one thing in common; you can see it home (or on some portable device), alone or with friends and family. You can only watch theatres released at the theatre.

My only problem with the theatre is that sometimes, but luckily rarely, there are some moviegoers who don't respect the others and talk loud during the movie, or disturb otherwise, like checking their inbox on the smartphone.

Rumpelstiltskin wrote: My only problem with the theatre is that sometimes, but luckily rarely, there are some moviegoers who don't respect the others and talk loud during the movie, or disturb otherwise, like checking their inbox on the smartphone.

Yeah, I don't enjoy watching movies with other people. So the benefit of seeing a film more quickly (rather than waiting for it to come to Netflix or air on TV) and on a huge screen is nearly cancelled out by being around noisy people and their children.

‘Soul’ Producer Murray Reflects on Cannes-Selected Animated Feature
https://variety.com/2020/film/spotlight ... 234646745/

I'm super hyped for this !

(June 27th), Essence Festival of Culture is hosting a virtual conversation with the team behind Soul. We’ll even be given an exclusive sneak peek at the film.

https://pixarplanet.com/blog/catch-a-sn ... -tomorrow/

You need to RSVP and the Soul portion is 4 minutes in and lasts 10 minutes.

New trailer for Soul: https://youtu.be/qNYcwbEL-pg

Looks so beautiful. Notably, the trailer only shows scenes with humans, none of those chewed up spearmint gum wads in sight.