By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
It’s not exactly a expensive megafilm like Star Wars but it is a theatrical movie. Bubble is a low-budget film ($1.6 million), but it has Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh as director. It also has financial backing by former Broadcast.com execs Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner. And tonight it premieres at the Smoot Theater in Parkersburg, WV, where it was filmed, with local actors.
It’s really the start of a new era, though you could honestly say it’s not really a simultaneous release. The broadcast premiere (on HDNet) isn’t until January 27th, when the film goes into wide release, and the DVD isn’t released until January 31st. But really, it’s a bold experiment … and one that has, predictably, met with a great deal of criticism.
For example, big chains like AMC Entertainment, Cinemark Entertainment and National Amusements are refusing to carry the film. Fortunately, Cuban and Wagner’s production company 2929 Productions also owns Landmark Theaters, with 215 screens in 15 states, and the HDNet cable network.
We Say: I can see the pushback from chains for now, but realistically, this is something that’s being widely discussed and most likely (IMHO), will end up being the default way movies are released (sometime in the future). Theatre attendance is dropping (and no wonder, with wonderful experience one generally gets at a megaplex (insert sarcasm here)), and so are DVD sales.
One thing being done for Bubble is to make the early DVD releases more expensive, so that should help make up for any ticket sale losses. Additionally, 1% of DVD sales will be given to theatre owners who show the film. And, there is the hope that there will be a drop in piracy if retail DVDs are available on the day of movie release.
One thing though: they’re going to have to make adjustments to the Academy Award rules. If you recall The Last Seduction, it was deemed ineligible for nomination because it was shown on television first (HBO). I assume they either a) have to make sure the first theatrical showing is at least a minute before any broadcast showing or b) change the rule (safer). 
This is a great idea. A lot more people won’t go to the theatre because it’s becoming a rip-off. High ticket prices, outrageous snack prices, an insane amount of ads and of course the possibility of missing important dialog because of rude people making noise, talking on phones, babies crying, etc. Even if they waited one or two months and put it on DVD that would be great, as waiting as much as a year for some DVD releases (Polar Express) sucks.
2 tickets @ $10 each = 1 $20 DVD.
Didn’t the Olsen twins already prove this concept with their straight to DVD empire exceeding $150 Million?
Do you want to make money or win Oscars?
Cuban and Co. already have proven they are about making money.
I except them to exceed with this venture as well.
Cuban topped the music biz and the RIAA is still trying to turn the clock backward. The movie biz maintains similar antiquated standards and will also “miss the boat.”
On top of making the dvd available on day one, why not make the theater itself the sole retail outlet for the dvd for the first month or so? “Since I’m already at the theater, I might as well watch once on the bigscreen, then pick up the dvd on the way out”.
[...] Sources: CNet | RealTechNews | Spokesman Reveiw | USA Today | ars technica | The Ledger [...]