Video stores, union reps rally against buck-a-night DVD kiosks ANNOTATED

Video stores, union reps rally against buck-a-night DVD kiosks

Tue Sep 8, 2009 11:42AM EDT

The $1 movie rentals available through DVD kiosks like Redbox could spell "disaster" for the film and video industries—or at least, that's the argument of representatives for video stores and Hollywood unions, who want movie lovers to dump Redbox and return to their corner "mom-and-pop" DVD rental outlets.

(Yeah... "Mom and Pop" places like Blockbuster and Family Video.)

Video Business reports that the Video Buyers Group, a trade organization for some 1,700 independent brick-and-mortar video stores, is prepping an ad campaign that'll paint Redbox as a threat to the film industry as we know it. Why? Because its $1-a-night rental rate is "generating less revenue" for Hollywood studios than the $3-$5/night prices charged by the average video store, according to Video Business.

(They are losing business due to pure capitalism, someone is offering the same product cheaper and a better convenience, so the Big Boxes and Unions cry GAY HAX!!!)

Indeed, the New York Times quotes Video Buyers Group president Ted Engen as saying that "those machines"—think Redbox and its ilk—"are to the video industry what the Internet was to the music business—disaster."

(It is going to get worse as Redbox is considering game rentals.)

Also on the attack against DVD kiosks: Gary Cook of UA Local 87, the union that represents movie studio plumbers: "It's going to kill the industry," Cook warned the Times.

Redbox is already waging war with Universal, 20th Centurty Fox, and Warner Brothers, all of which are seeking to keep their video distributors from selling their latest DVDs to Redbox until weeks after their discs hit video stores.

Redbox has files lawsuits against all three studios, while Sony, Lionsgate, and Paramount have each cut distribution deals—complete with new releases delivered on the day of their retail debuts—with the popular DVD kiosk company.

So, why all the fuss? Simple: Hollywood execs (who are already alarmed by sinking DVD sales) are furious that Redbox would dare rent the latest DVDs for just a buck a night, a price that is "grossly undervaluing" their hottest new movies, while struggling mom-and-pop video stores are fretting that DVD kiosks and their cheap rental policies are undercutting their own rental prices.

(As for the mom and pops, the only mom and pop video stores I see around here are still surviving because they offer videos of the "adult" variety.)

From what I've seen, people love the bright red Redbox kiosks: they're ubiquitous (in certain parts of the country, anyway), they're easy to use, they offer instant DVD gratification, and (yes) the rental price is right.

But as many of you have noted, just because you rent movies from Redbox doesn't mean you'll never go to the corner video store (or Netflix) again; after all, most DVD kiosks only hold a few hundred movies, so what you gain in terms of instant gratification you lose in terms of selection.

While I can understand how indie video stores might feel threatened by the buck-and-night DVD kiosk, I'm pretty sure there's room for everyone—after all, good luck finding a copy of "8-1/2" at the Redbox kiosk in McDonald's.

(most indie's.. like I said offer films that REDBOX even Blockbuster doesn't carry like Buttslammers 10, I recommend you see 1 through 9 first because I saw 10 at nothing made sense. I was totally confused at the climatic huge rubber donkey dong scene with the midgets covered in ranch dressing, I was told that #8 explains that entire part.)

And as for Redbox killing the film industry? Give me a break.

(Maybe Hollywood needs to do what the Big 3 Auto companies need, restore customer confidence in their products by stop making crap.)

A another new BSG.

It has gotten worse Hollywood's has really lost it's mind, remember the new remade Battlestar Galactica, the one that ended in march of this year. Well they are going to do a NEW MOVIE in theaters directed by Byran Singer.

Let's take that in for a moment they are going to reboot a reboot that was just finished. This is just destined for EPIC FAIL, because UNIVERSAL is pretty much creatively BANKRUPT. This is just after hearing about a LEGO movie.

Hollywood has lost it's mind part #145

Movies based on toys we GEN Xer's played with are the are the hottest thing right now.

Transformers was a smash hit, GI JOE has a strong opening so the folks Warner Brothers decided to jump on the bandwagon and green light a LEGO FILM. You read that right a LEGO movie. A movie about the same toy building blocks I made forts that my army men had battles in.

YES..First it was Monopoly with Ridley Scott, a announcing of a Candy Land film, Asteroids and now this. Studios are starting to make films on ideas that would have gotten a studio executive laughed out of Hollywood for just mentioning or were the just the stuff of parody on sketch comedy shows like Mad TV and Saturday Night Live.

Since she has a another film coming out, after having a album that no one cares about. Vanessa Hudgens has more NUDE pics out on the INTERNET. I suspect these are pics were taken during the same time as the last ones, and these ones are released strategically to create some sort of media buzz for her.

Here is a word of advice to Miss Vanessa on, Hollywood and nudity.

STOP THAT SHIT!

Nudity especially for females is like playing with gunpowder, nitro glycerin or any volatile susbstance. You do not screw around with it unless you REALLY know what you are doing.

Nudity can either make you a indie darling like Rosario Dawson, or end up in the Slut Swamp like Linday Lohan's nasty ass raping of Marylin Monroe's "Last Sitting" or Alyssa Milano's attempt to shed her teen image by getting topless and going LEZ in Embrace of the Vampire*.

Trying to use nudity to shed off a child friendly image, can backfire horribly. In the end nothing good really happens when people start taking their clothes off.

V you are playing with fire here, with a career already build on the shaky Disney Pop Tart foundation. Only thing keeping your friend Ashley Tisdale is her deep sense of professionalism. Like here at least you are not showing up to set late and intoxicated.


*Which is a very HOT movie by the way and I recommend it.

Jacko and Drugs

More I read about the circumstances of Michael Jackson's death, it is starting to sound like it was preventable. Sure his health was fading and this upcoming comeback tour took a lot out of him. But stories of Demerol and other powerful drugs such as Profonol which is a powerful anesthesia used to put people under for surgery and can be dangerous if not used by trained medical professionals. Then again this was Michael Jackson who was rumored to be stuffing tampons up his ass to block himself up because he ruined his butt with one too many enemas administered by people who are not trained medical professionals

ANKSENAMUN?

Sure Wacko Jacko kept some strange company but this?

First Crazy Claim in Jackson Case

Posted Jul 1st 2009 2:45PM by TMZ Staff

Michael JacksonMichael Jackson was married and his wife is demanding all of his property -- this according to a woman who just filed a petition in L.A. County Superior Court.

Nona Paris Lola Ankhesenamun Jackson, who lives in London, asks "that all my husband's properties, monies and assets must be transferred to me immediately" and "my husband's body must be returned to the coroner's body [sic] or the mortuary immediately."

Of course, there is no evidence this woman had any relationship whatsoever to Michael Jackson. She's had an active court case since December of last year, claiming she was married to the singer.

Nona also claims all of Michael's children are hers and that she didn't authorize them to live with Katherine Jackson.

She now claims, "Though he died to this earth he lives with my father [Satan the Devil] Khalid Lucifer."

The doc says "For any questions, I can be contacted at [email address removed] or leave my children


I will tell you think right now any one with a long-ass name is not all there in the head. But someone with the name Anksenamun or any egyptian name or any name that sounds like a mini-boss from some generic PC RPG game is truly batshit insane.

jacko custody and drugs

Michael Jackson has left a mess behind with his death, one will be the custody of his three children. reports now state that Katharine Jackson is trying to win custody of the kids from there "biological" mother Debbie Rowe.

Second issue is that he left behind a 400 million dollar debt, that his upcoming comeback tour was supposed to help pay off. Now after his autopsy there are reports that this may have been a preventable drug overdose as he was addicted to painkillers such as Demerol. The doctor that administered the drugs is still MIA and waiting to be found. The LAPD has announced that they have not spoken with the person who was the last to see him alive and made the 911 call.

When tragedy happens the jokes begin.

Like the death of JFK Jr or the Challenger Disaster people cope with humor, sometimes inappropriate humor.


Here is the jokes on MJ I have seen so far.

I think it's safe to say that he touched all of us as children, in his own way.

Apparently he had a heart attack after someone told him Boyz 2 men was'nt a home delivery service

Apparently in his will he has asked to be melted down and turned into an XBOX 360 so kids can still play with him.

Just think, in a couple of months, we can dig MJ up and he can perform "Thriller" for real.

Michael Jackson tickets are going cheap on Ebay, if anyone is interested...

All his upcoming dates have been cancelled now including tom (aged 9) and james (aged 11)

Some alleged theories include that the king of pop, Michael Jackson, might have perished due to food poisoning after having eaten 12-year old nuts, while other speculate it being a result of 8-year old weiners.