Where do all the Disc 2 DVDs go?
June 12, 2007 11:55 PM Subscribe
Where do all the special features discs go once they reach Blockbuster?
As I was unpacking my movies last night, I came across two copies of Harry Potter. One was a gift and the other was a previously purchased copy from Blockbuster. The disc was exactly the same but the Blockbuster box did not include the Special Features disc. Where do these discs go?
I imagine Blockbuster has a deal with distributors where they can buy in bulk but can they buy ONLY disc 1 in bulk? Is there a stack of Harry Potter blooper discs in some warehouse? Any stories from Blockbuster/distributors employees would be welcome.
As I was unpacking my movies last night, I came across two copies of Harry Potter. One was a gift and the other was a previously purchased copy from Blockbuster. The disc was exactly the same but the Blockbuster box did not include the Special Features disc. Where do these discs go?
I imagine Blockbuster has a deal with distributors where they can buy in bulk but can they buy ONLY disc 1 in bulk? Is there a stack of Harry Potter blooper discs in some warehouse? Any stories from Blockbuster/distributors employees would be welcome.
Which Harry Potter is it?
Because I know that Goblet of Fire (The fourth movie) Had two different versions released, the 'bare bones' DVD, which was just the movie, and then also the 'Special Edition,' which has the second disc. So, I think that's the solution to your specific anecdote.
As for the DVDs with a special features disc automatically included, I don't have your answer. (I imagine, however, they can, in the absurd bulk that they buy, ask for a different setup for the DVDs (ie: don't put in the second disc. Change the package to reflect this. That'll be One Million copies, yes. Thanks))
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 12:16 AM on June 13, 2007
Because I know that Goblet of Fire (The fourth movie) Had two different versions released, the 'bare bones' DVD, which was just the movie, and then also the 'Special Edition,' which has the second disc. So, I think that's the solution to your specific anecdote.
As for the DVDs with a special features disc automatically included, I don't have your answer. (I imagine, however, they can, in the absurd bulk that they buy, ask for a different setup for the DVDs (ie: don't put in the second disc. Change the package to reflect this. That'll be One Million copies, yes. Thanks))
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 12:16 AM on June 13, 2007
Many of the disks I get from Netflix (for example, the random disk of The Wire I have sitting here at my desk) say "Rental Only - Not For Resale". Apparently, this is known as the Netflix Gray Disk.
I would assume that Blockbuster could easily pull a similar deal.
posted by IvyMike at 12:25 AM on June 13, 2007
I would assume that Blockbuster could easily pull a similar deal.
posted by IvyMike at 12:25 AM on June 13, 2007
Response by poster: I forgot to explain why I compared the DVDs. Both have Disc 1 printed on them and I assume from the same set. I am not at home right now so I can't check if it is special edition or whatever.
The fact that both have Disc 1 on the disc label makes me believe that they used to belong to a set. I imagine that if a movie distributor knew it was going to produce a huge amount of discs for Blockbuster that they could print a unique label for the company.
I think I have seen this lately with Blockbuster 'exclusives' that they offer. The only movie that comes to mind is School for Scoundrels. I did not rent the movie but I looked at the cover and it had a specialized sleeve jacket. I couldn't bring myself to rent something 'starring' Billy Bob Thornton so I am not sure of what is inside. Anyone rent this particular DVD?
posted by bigcheesegump at 12:31 AM on June 13, 2007
The fact that both have Disc 1 on the disc label makes me believe that they used to belong to a set. I imagine that if a movie distributor knew it was going to produce a huge amount of discs for Blockbuster that they could print a unique label for the company.
I think I have seen this lately with Blockbuster 'exclusives' that they offer. The only movie that comes to mind is School for Scoundrels. I did not rent the movie but I looked at the cover and it had a specialized sleeve jacket. I couldn't bring myself to rent something 'starring' Billy Bob Thornton so I am not sure of what is inside. Anyone rent this particular DVD?
posted by bigcheesegump at 12:31 AM on June 13, 2007
I worked in a blockbuster subsidiary and we used to remove the second disc and keep them out back mainly because we found that people would return the dvd's with only 1 disc a lot of the time (invariably disc 2 as the film would still be in their DVD player). So I would imagine that there's a big stack of disc 2's in your local video store.
posted by TwoWordReview at 3:14 AM on June 13, 2007
posted by TwoWordReview at 3:14 AM on June 13, 2007
There may well not be a special features disc for the rental market.
The distributor will have in mind where they want their discs to go during disc pre-production - to which territories, to which markets etc. - so it's quite possible that the discs are created deliberately such that the special features disc is completely separate from the feature disc (and no text on the feature disc menus referring to the SF disc). Then when the discs go to replication, they could have a lower number of SF discs created and just ship the feature disc for rental, thus saving (not that much, but something) on replicating redundant SF discs. And there's no real need to change the printing (cost saving again) because the feature disc is still technically disc 1, whether there's a disc 2 or not. If you're doing this kind of thing a lot, the savings will eventually add up.
posted by forallmankind at 8:30 AM on June 13, 2007
The distributor will have in mind where they want their discs to go during disc pre-production - to which territories, to which markets etc. - so it's quite possible that the discs are created deliberately such that the special features disc is completely separate from the feature disc (and no text on the feature disc menus referring to the SF disc). Then when the discs go to replication, they could have a lower number of SF discs created and just ship the feature disc for rental, thus saving (not that much, but something) on replicating redundant SF discs. And there's no real need to change the printing (cost saving again) because the feature disc is still technically disc 1, whether there's a disc 2 or not. If you're doing this kind of thing a lot, the savings will eventually add up.
posted by forallmankind at 8:30 AM on June 13, 2007
I haven't been in a Blockbuster in many, many years, but I think I remember seeing them sell their used DVDs after the demand for new releases dies down. If so, then they might hold on to the discs for that purpose.
posted by puritycontrol at 10:07 AM on June 13, 2007
posted by puritycontrol at 10:07 AM on June 13, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by maxreax at 12:12 AM on June 13, 2007