Direct-to-video
 |
A film that is released direct-to-video (also known as made-for-video, straight-to-video and, more recently, straight-to-DVD) is one which has been released to the public on home video formats (historically VHS) before or without being released in movie theaters or broadcast on television. The term is also at times used as a derogatory term for sequels of films that are not expected to have financial success.
Reasons for releasing direct-to-video
Direct-to-video releases can occur for several reasons. Often a production studio will develop a TV show or film which is not generally released for several possible reasons: poor quality, lack of support from a TV network, controversial nature, or a simple lack of general public interest. Studios, limited in the annual number of films they grant cinematic releases to, may choose to pull the completed film from the theatres, or never exhibit it in theatres at all. Studios then recoup some of their losses through video sales and rentals.[1]
In the case of a TV show, low ratings may cause a studio to cancel the show, possibly after having filmed an entire season and aired some episodes. If the show has a considerable fanbase, the studio may release un-aired episodes on video to recoup losses. Clerks: The Animated Series and Firefly are examples of canceled shows which were successful cult hits on DVD.[citation needed] Occasionally outstanding DVD sales may revive a canceled show, as in the case of Family Guy. Originally canceled in 2000, the series was revived in 2005 due partly to its excellent DVD sales. Family Guy remains on television to this day.
Direct-to-video releases have historically carried a stigma of lower technical or artistic quality than theatrical releases.[2] Some studio films released direct-to-video are films which have been completed but were never released. This delay often occurs when a studio doubts a film's commercial prospects would justify a full cinema release, or because its "release window" has closed. A release window refers to a timely trend or personality, and missing that window of opportunity means a film, possibly rushed into production, failed to release before the trend faded. In film industry slang such films are referred to as having been "vaulted."[3]
There is a positive side to Direct-to-video releases. They have become something of a lifeline for independent filmmakers and smaller companies.[4]
Direct-to-video releases can be done for films which cannot be shown theatrically due to controversial content, or because the cost involved in a theatrical release is beyond the releasing company.[5] Almost all pornographic films are released direct-to-video.
Animated sequels and movie-length episodes of animated series are also often released in this fashion.[5] The Walt Disney Company began making sequels of most of its animated films for video release beginning with The Return of Jafar (the sequel to Aladdin) in 1994. Universal Pictures also began their long line of The Land Before Time sequels that same year. In 2005, Fox released Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story for DVD and UMD.
Television spin-offs
Television spin-offs are animated or live action television series or made for TV movies which contain either characters or theme elements from an older series[citation needed] (Full Metal Panic Fumoffu), or movie (Clerks: The Animated Series, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures). While the most common examples of a television spin off are animated series there are also live action examples (Robocop: Prime Directive)[citation needed]
Some SpongeBob SquarePants DVD volumes contain episodes not yet aired on television.[citation needed] Some Disney Channel shows, such as That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Phil of the Future, and Lilo & Stitch: The Series have also had direct-to-video episodes.[citation needed]
The direct-to-DVD market
As the DVD format supplants the videocassette, companies have increasingly released movies in DVD format rather than VHS, causing the term "direct-to-DVD" to replace "direct-to-video" in some instances.[6] However, the word "video" does not necessarily refer to VHS cassettes. The new term used is DVDP ("DVD Premiere").[7] Such films can cost as much as $20 million[8] (about a third of the average cost of a Hollywood release[9]) and feature major actors like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal.[8] Salaries for such actors range from $2 to $4 million (Van Damme) to $4.5 to $10 million (Seagal).[8] According to Variety, American Pie: Band Camp sold a million copies in one week, despite retaining only two actors from the original trilogy.[10]
In recent years, DVD Premieres have become a substantial source of revenue for movie studios. DVDPs have collectively grossed over $3 billion over the last few years,[8] and have matured enough that DVDP divisions of studios now option their own films[citation needed]. Studios realized that DVDP movies can be shot on a smaller budget, thus allowing studios larger profits with the combined revenues of home video sales and rentals[citation needed], in addition to licensing movies for television and for distribution abroad (where some DVDP movies do see theatrical releases)[citation needed].
Distributing DVDPs is not a practice reserved solely for larger Hollywood studios. Several companies, such as The Asylum, MTI Home Video, and York Entertainment distribute DVDPs almost exclusively[citation needed]. The budgets for films distributed by these companies are even smaller than those of ones distributed by a larger studio, but these companies are still able to profit off their sales.[citation needed]
The V-Cinema and OVA markets in Japan
In Japan, the direct-to-video movement carries different connotations. Despite having lower budgets than features intended for theater release, Japanese direct-to-video productions are rarely marred by the poor storyline and lower quality production often associated with the DTV market in the US. So-called V-Cinema has more respect from the public, and affection from film directors for the greater creative freedoms the medium allows. DTV releases are subject to fewer content restrictions and less creative dictate than other formats.
In the case of anime, this is called Original Video Animation (OVA or OAV), and their production values usually fall between those of television series and movies. They are often used to tell stories too short to fill a full TV season, particularly in the early 1990s. Some OVAs garner enough interest in the fandom to justify a profitable full television series, like Tenchi Muyo!, One Piece, and El Hazard.
With the advent of the 13 episode season format, OVAs are less common now. The majority of OVAs released in today's market are usually continuations or reworkings of recently completed TV series.
See also
References
- ^ Barlow, Aaron (2005). The DVD Revolution: Movies, Culture, and Technology. Praeger/Greenwood. pp. p. 19. ISBN 0-275-983-870.
Films that flop in theaters or which are never theatrically released can prove profitable through longer-term video and DVD sales.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Goodale, Gloria (Oct. 23), "'Straight to Video' Picks up Steam", Christian Science Monitor
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ Bernstein, Adam (12/12/04). "Silent Films Speak Loudly for Hughes". The Washington Post. pp. TVWeek, Y06.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Lerman, Laurence (Sept. 17), "Independents' 'Bread and Butter'", Video Business, 21 (38): Section: Video Premieres
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ a b "More Films Jump Straight to DVD", USA Today, pp. Section: Life pg. 03d, Aug. 6
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) Cite error: The named reference "UsaToday" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Berardinelli, James. "DVD's Scarlet Letter". Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ For one example of many uses of the term, see "Paramount grows DVDP slate". Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ a b c d DVD Exclusive Online. "Stars, Money Migrate To DVDP (archived)". Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ Carl DiOrio (2004-03-23). "Average cost of a movie: $102.9 million". Video Business Online. Retrieved 2007-01-21. The figure cited in the title includes marketing costs; as of 2004 when the article was written, the average production cost was $63.8 million.
- ^
Variety.com. "Spending on DVDs up 10%".
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|acessdate=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)