DVD, Blu-Ray, Download or Streaming?
"In what’s become the new “Paper or plastic” question, producers are asking, “Blu-Ray or DVD?”
When DVD replaced VHS, it was an obvious move and choice for us. Better overall quality, more durable, and the players had trays for the DVDs that wouldn’t hold peanut butter sandwiches. But now there’s a new kid in town: Blu-Ray. OK – it’s not new, but it hasn’t become as widely adopted by consumers yet.
Why? I think there are a few reasons: price point of the players, price point of the discs, and the fact that you have to have an HD television in order view the Blu-Ray means you have to buy a new television if you don’t have an HD one. (That would be me. I admit it – I still have a TV that doesn’t hang on a wall, is deeper than 3 inches, and is not HD unless I buy some of those glasses “as seen on TV.”)
That’s the cost-analysis side. Let’s look at the technology side.
Many movies can be downloaded from iTunes now. My family is here for a visit and my nephew has an iPod Touch. He loves watching movies and television on that. He was disappointed when a DVD of some older films he bought didn’t have a digital version he could download from iTunes. If you want to capture the younger generation, it may be time to think all-digital.
I don’t know for sure what the viewing future is for Christian film, but producers have to think about all of these options when they’re getting ready to release a film. Making movies just got a little more complicated.
What’s your viewing choice? Are you HD, Blu-Ray, DVD, streaming, downloading, or still wondering what happened to Beta-Max?" ~Article by Christian Cinema
3 Comments
Reader Comments (3)
As a consumer, I'm still a DVD guy. I'd probably stream movies more, if it weren't for our less-than-stellar internet connection. We got an HDTV as a wedding gift, but the cost of the Blu-ray players and discs keeps us from going to that level.
As a filmmaker, again, I'm still a DVD guy because of the aforementioned cost issues with Blu-ray. I do recognize the up-and-coming-ness of streaming movies, though I've yet to find a good distribution model with it that will recoup the costs of a feature-length film. These are definitely interesting times for us indy filmmakers!
I think the future is digital Streaming\download. Most computer screens are at least 720p, you don't need an HD tv to enjoy superior clarity.
This is a great article. I haven't really considered Blu-ray (I don't think our TV could handle it ;-). Though not a new idea, 3D is another option to consider.
Thanks for posting, John Clay.
Shad Eash
http://GodHonoringMovies.com