Interesting observations about the changing film biz in Salon.

While some distributors, including Zeitgeist (says Gerstman), remain committed to theatrical release as the core of their business, and the moviegoing experience isn't going to disappear this year or next, the way movies get delivered to eyeballs is clearly changing, and changing fast. "There's no distribution company in the business that's making money off theatrical release," says IFC's Werner. "It's all publicity for the DVD."

Sasha Berman echoes him, saying, "You use theatrical release as a platform, and just write it off as marketing dollars for the DVD release. You need those [review] quotes and some word of mouth, some awareness of the title." Releasing a movie straight to DVD, without the review quotes or the New York/L.A. word of mouth, she adds, is "throwing your money away." But over the long haul (possibly as long as seven to 10 years), the DVD release gives independent distributors a fighting chance to turn a hit into a cult phenomenon, and a flop into a break-even proposition.

Was it the Simpsons or King of The Hill that had somebody go into a Blockbuster and there was a sign out front that said "If your movie doesn't star Sandra Bullock, it's free."

"You use theatrical release as a platform, and just write it off as marketing dollars for the DVD release. You need those [review] quotes and some word of mouth, some awareness of the title."

Isn't it Soderbergh who's going to release his next film in theaters and on DVD the same day? The best idea, IMO, is to have the DVDs available for sale at the theater. You get the viewers while they're still riding high on the wave of excitement from the movie they just watched. It's an impulse buy.

Ick. I sound like a marketer. I feel dirty.

Isn't it Soderbergh who's going to release his next film in theaters and on DVD the same day?

Plus download. Threeway access.

I sound like a marketer. I feel dirty.

Bill Hicks hates you from the grave.

I sound like a marketer. I feel dirty.

Bill Hicks hates you from the grave.

I need to go pray, or agitate for a Free Tibet, or something. I spent my college years mocking and tormenting the business majors.

I wonder if a bit of anticipation time wouldn't help sales more than having the DVDs ready at the door. Serenity is the only movie I would have bought on my way out of the theater this year, and there was never any doubt about me getting a copy almost as soon as it went on sale.

It's fine, it's fine, people. I'm just back with the same old guy from forever ago. And I like the superhero movies! I just like the other stuff, too, which I'll never see if I only go to the movies with him.

Speaking of movies, that Good Night, and Good Luck was some good stuff. I was amazed by how much actual footage they used. At one point, I wasn't sure that it was, but sure enough, that was actually Bobby Kennedy off to the side of the frame, wasn't it?

All the McCarthy footage was actual McCarthy. I had the thought (as I'm sure many others have, like duh, the producers) that it was the only choice. You couldn't have found a better psychowhackoidiot portrayal than from the original man.

Funny part was that the audience in my theater often hissed when that footage was shown. It was largely seniors.

It was all the stuff after he left the one hearing that had me wondering, mostly just because it was so long. Amazing stuff, really.

I heard that some audience complained about that character being overacted.