at what point is too much? What do people like - full bonus scenes, photo gallery, interviews, out-takes & bloopers, etc?
The reason behind the questions is I just went through over 3 hours of DVD extras while doing a review on a recent release. I found much of the behind-the-scenes footage to be a nice addition, but much of it was somewhat repititious from the previous menu option. I also noticed that the "deleted" sex scenes only amounted to an additional 1-2 minutes of running time. Why not just add this to the regular movie?
at what point is too much? What do people like - full bonus scenes, photo gallery, interviews, out-takes & bloopers, etc?
--- give me all the extras you can fit on the disc , as long as it doesnt push the price through the roof.
I also noticed that the "deleted" sex scenes only amounted to an additional 1-2 minutes of running time. Why not just add this to the regular movie?
--- this depends on the disc. sometimes its just a gimic so the number of features stand out even if there isnt much to them. i think the movies are made for video, so the feature is cut the run within the allowed time (2hrs , 20mins seems to be the limit ).
An easily usable menu system with a logical setup - specifically,
have the DVD auto-start with all the legal mumbo jumbo but let me bypass it by pressing the MENU button.
have the initial menu list's first item be the title feature and have it auto-start after about a 30 second delay.
have the feature return to the main menu after it completes, again auto-starting after the 30-second delay.
have the menu list's second item be the chapters selection.
have first selection on the chapters sub-menu begin with the initial titles of the feature.
have subsequent selections of the chapters sub-menu correspond logically to scene breaks in the feature.
have the last selection of the chapters sub-menu be the closing credits of the feature.
have these breaks correspond to the title/chapter nomenclature of the DVD structure (i.e., if there are initial titles, five scenes and closing credits, there should be SEVEN chapter entries in both the chapters sub-menu and in the DVD title/chapter structure).
have menu sections for other extras be similarly logical.
A slide show or picture album that gives me something useful - specifically,
have the pictures fill the screen if at all possible.
combine the function of the slide show with that of a biography of the characters in the feature.
include the name(s) of the individual(s) in each of the images.
include a filmography of the individual (with a hot-link to a trailer for that specific video if there is one included on the DVD)
have the images auto-advance at a rate of about 12 seconds per image but let me pause or advance (or reverse) manually using the buttons on the remote
include a commentary (if there is one) about the feature with the slide show and stills from the feature (I assure you I am NOT interested in hearing a commentary while I am watching the porno, itself)
duplicate the pictures contained in the slide show as JPEGs (in 64 hex 480, 1024x768 & 128 hex 960 resolutions) that can be used as screen backgrounds on my computer.
Interviews, bloopers, bonus scenes, extra footage not used in the original release (on videotape), & trailers are nice extra features; but, please, do NOT cut scenes from the original videotape release.
Please do NOT give me multiple angles unless they are directly related to the scene on which the alternate angle is overlaid - bonus scenes can be included as a menu item - unrelated material overlaid on scene as a multiple angle is just basically annoying.
I realize that some of the costs associated with creating DVDs can be offset with advertising for telephone & computer sex services - fine, make them a menu item - but do NOT force me to watch them or I simply will not rent or buy your brand of DVD (at least not the second time).
Include contact information in the form of a mailing address and voice (& facsimile) telephone numbers as well as links for email and your web site.
All links to the internet should be at my option - none should be automatic.
And, finally, special features and extras are nice, but if production dollars are tight, I'd much rather have a better quality feature with the image & sound quality of which DVD is capable and have few extras (& a lower retail price) than have a long list of extras and a feature with video & sound quality compromised (& a higher retail price).
I agree with GaySatyr for the most part, but not here:I've only seen a commentary during the slideshow once, with Kristen Bjorn's Thick as Theives, and quite frankly, I felt cheated. The few full feature length commentaries I've heard have been really interesting. Besides, Kristen has a really sexy voice, and I would have loved hearing him give us the play by play during all those hot orgies.
I agree with you that I would have loved to have had more of a commentary from KB for Thick as Thieves. However, it is very likely to be an extremely cold day in hell when I am in the mood to pay any kind of attention to anyone giving me a commentary on the action while I'm watching a video with the intensity and chemistry contained in Thick as Thieves. For lesser videos, maybe, but if they are 'lesser' enough for me to be interested in commentary, then they aren't doing the job in the first place. What I really would have liked to have had with TaT is a slide show in two parts, Part One introducing the characters with 4 or 5 images (& personal data - ethnic origin, age, height, weight, cock size, position preference, etc - with filmography) and KB's comments for each of them; and then, Part Two, consisting of three or four dozen action stills from the video itself (and maybe a couple of short video clips for emphasis), along with KB's commentary.
I've been accused of having an over-active imagination and of getting totally lost in whatever I happen to be doing. I don't see either trait as being negative. When I'm watching a movie, any movie, mainstream or porno, if it is good enough to keep my attention, I meld into it, becoming both voyeur and emotional participant. I might start out listening to Kristen describing the action & events associated with capturing the opening DP scene on tape, but five minutes into the action, I'll have tuned him out completely. My brain can parallel-process just fine: in fact, in that scene, it's quintuple processing - on all five participants! There is just not enough brain power left over in my tiny cranium to pay attention to Kristen as well.
I personally would be very interested in a feature-length commentary on adult films.
Cast biographies and filmographies would be great.
Previews of other films featuring the same actor/actress would be interesting, especially with a Nina Hartley or other with a long career and could help sell discs.
In my opinion, you can never have too many extra's. Here's a couple of comments on various extra's: 1) photogalleries are generally lame. I wouldn't care if I never saw one again for the most part. 2) I love audio commentaries even though some are better than others. Learning about the insider stuff or funny anecdotes is sometimes better than the movie. 3) deleted scenes were deleted for a reason but it's sometimes cool to see what was cut, even if it amounts to only a few minutes per scene. 4) Interviews and behind the scenes are also cool ways to learn more about what happened on the set. 5) trailers are okay extra's but it'd be nice if companies put the newest ones on or worked on a theme like Rab said. 6) biographies are often stupid or weak so better ones are always appreciated-especially when they include filmographies and direct to a scene feature. 7) bloopers can be very amusing. 8) CREDITS! (even though they shouldn't be an extra)
What I don't consider an "extra": 1) an unedited feature 2) a good dvd transfer 3) a crisp, clear picture with good sound and appropriate music 4) a dvd case that doesn't require my nearly breaking the dvd to get it off the spindle 5) chapter stops and cast list as well as a list of titles 6) spam, especially forced spam
