Buena Vista on 'cusp' of Blu-ray revolution

At Pirates launch party, studio announces Narnia coming to format

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 5/15/2007

Buena Vista president Robert Chapek (r.) stands with Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer at the Blu-ray launch party.

MAY 15 | HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment drew format supporters from other studios and hardware makers and a broad contingent of press for its May 14 coming out party for the Blu-ray Disc versions of the first two Pirates of the Caribbean films, which include the studio’s most technologically advanced bonus features to date.

At the Highlands Nightclub in the Hollywood & Highland shopping and entertainment complex here, BVWHE president Robert Chapek declared, “The wind is at our backs with Blu-ray industry support. We are on the cusp of a revolution in the home entertainment business.”

Chapek also used the event to announce that the studio is starting Blu-ray production for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Buena Vista’s first two Pirates films, Curse of the Black Pearl and Dead Man’s Chest, are expected to be the most heavily stocked Blu-ray titles to date.

Chapek said the discs will fuel current sales trends, which have had Blu-ray software out-selling rival HD DVD by a margin of two-to-one or three-to-one in recent weeks.

BD Java interactivity

The Pirates titles represent the studio’s most comprehensive use of BD Java, Blu-ray’s interactivity software. BD Java-powered extras featured on the discs include “Scoundrels of the Sea” on Curse of the Black Pearl, an application that lets users create their own documentaries, and a game of “Liar’s Dice” on Dead Man’s Chest.

In each case, these extras are contained on a high-capacity 50GB disc with the feature film. Both titles include a second 25GB disc with extras that were part of the films’ standard-definition versions.

“We think these two Pirates films represent the next leap forward for Blu-ray, where we are really beginning to showcase the opportunities of BD Java,” said Gordon Ho, Buena Vista executive VP of worldwide marketing, creative content and business development. “Shipment figures are substantial. The demand for these titles is incredibly strong.”

Studio support high

Studios mixing at the Pirates launch party likewise bodes well for Blu-ray, added Ho.

“I think the industry is recognizing this is a superior format as a result of all of the great support that you are seeing here today,” he said.

Blu-ray supporting guests included Sony Pictures Home Entertainment execs David Bishop, president, and Lexine Wong, senior executive VP of worldwide marketing; Lori MacPherson, Buena Vista’s general manager for North America; 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment senior VP of marketing communications Steve Feldstein; Pioneer Electronics’ senior VP of advanced product development Andy Parsons; and Sony’s VP of Blu-ray Disc Group Victor Matsuda.

Revelers consumed tropical-themed eats and entertained themselves by trying the “Liar’s Dice” game set up in multiple locations around the nightclub.

Chapek joked during his presentation that guests should challenge Ho, the studio’s reigning “Liar’s Dice” champ, to a game.

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