I quite agree. Netflix has been a bonanza of fine films for my family, few of them coming out of the Hollywood Cesspool. This weekend, we got to see Akira Kurosawa's "Madedayo," which was a beautiful reminder that Kurosawa knew how to tell stories, and those stories were not limited to samurai movies.
It's not the only, or even the first movie we've seen that is better than anything coming out from America's corporatized movie factories.
About the only way 28 days will ever really matter is if the studios find a way to release a virus that infests you with murderous rage unless you watch their crap within that time limit.
Amazon bought themselves a maulk-load of bad karma a while back by pulling books from publishers who were pushing them to raise prices on eBooks. They pulled the books, not just the eBooks, and hurt many people, some of whom I call friends. I haven't bought much from them since.
Some of the thinking behind this fight may be Amazon trying to undo some of the damage of that badly-thought-out action, which, at least for me, backfired on them.
What holds things up is too many companies are large monoliths run by committees of Boards of Directors/Lawyers/Accountants et. al. I seem to remember reading somewhere that nothing new ever came out of a committee. Certainly there is Heinlein's comment that "More than three people can't decide when to have lunch, much less when to strike."
So innovation and experimentation falls to the small or even one-man outfit.
Case in point: Baen Books. The late and sorely-missed Jim Baen started selling eBooks as "Webscriptions" in late 1999. They took off like a homesick angel, and it is my understanding that they have a: always made money and b: always increased sales of the paper books.
In mid-2000, Baen experimented even further and created the Free Library, downloadable books for free. Among other people, Eric Flint contributed his first novel, "Mother of Demons," which I, for one, had never heard of. It was NOT available on the site on a "for pay" basis. Eric has commented that that book is still in print and selling, long after it would normally have disappeared into the maw of the used book market.
But the experiment was possible because one man had the vision and the power to make it real. In a large, impersonal corptocracy, that's just not gonna happen.
I take it the publisher paid NO attention to Bloomsbury's arrogant handling of the demand for Harry Potter? It's instructive.
After the first three books had come out, with no eBook release, I noticed the following:
Book 4: on the net one month later.
Book 5: on the net one week later
Book 6: on the net the next day
Book 7: on sale in England, on the net before the stores opened in New York.
The publisher's response to the demand: "I should think they would understand that if we don't provide it, they can't have it."
My response: I'll get 'em from the library, if I ever bother.
This seems to have become the motto of just about every business on the planet, but it's particularly egregious in the case of the "content industries." DRM, paywalls, restrictive legislation bought with thinly-disguised bribes, Chinese-style censorship (ACTA), etc. etc.
And I'm not sure they understand that, unlike the banking/financials, there will be NO bailout, the money already having gone "404".
That line really needed a spewage warning. Movie prices are already high enough that it's about $30 for me, my wife, and my pact brother to go for one showing. When we went to see UP in 3D, they tacked on $3 per ticket for the glasses and asked us to return them after the show. That's one hell of a price for an hour-and-a-half rental.
Add in the cost of medication for the migraine I got from the 3D, and it seems to me they're stupid enough to charge more for even less, since there's no mention of quality script, quality acting, a *gasp* story you can get involved with?
I think I'll wait for Toy Story 3 to come out at RedBox.
The best response to this is to give them everything they want.
By the time all of this has taken effect and people see just what implementing it will mean, we can watch the entertainment industry sink slowly into the swamp, leaving just a trail of little bubbles, with no one to blame for their demise but themselves.
I think I'm going to put aside a bottle of champagne for that day.
See Poul Anderson's "Call Me Joe" in the April 1957 issue of "Astounding Science Fiction." Body transfer, the whole works, and yes, it's been asked whether Cameron ripped Poul off.
To which I reply "You can't copyright a story idea." And Poul's story is a lot better than the movie anyway, since it had a plot.
John Scalzi's incomprable "Whatever" (whatever.scalzi.com) blog seems to work very well for him and for others. He regularly has a "Big Idea" feature to publicize new books coming out, and comments/essays by the authors on just where this stuff came from. Also mentions of music, and, of course, movies he likes, his AMC columns, his wife, daughter, etc. etc.
But he does also do what he calls "self-pimping", but does so with much style and gusto, and has a very devoted readership.
I think it's called "connecting with fans", last I looked.
That rather assumes that other providers will accept associates from states with such laws and have to go to the expense and trouble of keeping track of bunchteen federal, state, and local tax regimes.
"Perhaps in a few years,..." Nah. They'll blame "piracy" for their mistakes and keep plugging the old model until the building collapses around them. I cite the movie and record industries as evidence.
On the post: DirecTV Pays Studios To Help Confuse Customers Further
Re:
It's not the only, or even the first movie we've seen that is better than anything coming out from America's corporatized movie factories.
About the only way 28 days will ever really matter is if the studios find a way to release a virus that infests you with murderous rage unless you watch their crap within that time limit.
On the post: North Carolina Demands Amazon Reveal Every Detail Of Purchases By NC Residents
Penance and Public Relations Gambit?
Some of the thinking behind this fight may be Amazon trying to undo some of the damage of that badly-thought-out action, which, at least for me, backfired on them.
On the post: One Reason Companies Don't Do 'Free': They're Scared Of Pissing Off Those Who Bought?
Short answer is: No
So innovation and experimentation falls to the small or even one-man outfit.
Case in point: Baen Books. The late and sorely-missed Jim Baen started selling eBooks as "Webscriptions" in late 1999. They took off like a homesick angel, and it is my understanding that they have a: always made money and b: always increased sales of the paper books.
In mid-2000, Baen experimented even further and created the Free Library, downloadable books for free. Among other people, Eric Flint contributed his first novel, "Mother of Demons," which I, for one, had never heard of. It was NOT available on the site on a "for pay" basis. Eric has commented that that book is still in print and selling, long after it would normally have disappeared into the maw of the used book market.
But the experiment was possible because one man had the vision and the power to make it real. In a large, impersonal corptocracy, that's just not gonna happen.
On the post: Publisher Warns Fans That Liking A Book Too Much May Be Illegal
Been there. Done that.
After the first three books had come out, with no eBook release, I noticed the following:
Book 4: on the net one month later.
Book 5: on the net one week later
Book 6: on the net the next day
Book 7: on sale in England, on the net before the stores opened in New York.
The publisher's response to the demand: "I should think they would understand that if we don't provide it, they can't have it."
My response: I'll get 'em from the library, if I ever bother.
On the post: Juliet vs. Juliet: Did Someone Forget To Tell Hollywood You Can't Copyright An Idea?
Contrary to popular opinion, this IS good.
On the post: Rupert Murdoch Doesn't Recognize That There's Competition Online
Gary North discusses the Newsosaurs
Came out yesterday. One of his key points: one man operating out of an apartment got a president impeached. The "New York Times" and the WSJ didn't.
On the post: Are Publishers Putting Too Much Stock In The iPad, Or Are They Just Doing It Wrong?
"We own our customers."
And I'm not sure they understand that, unlike the banking/financials, there will be NO bailout, the money already having gone "404".
On the post: Hollywood Seeks To Kill Off 3D Golden Goose With Much Higher Prices
3D is the industry's "highest quality product"?
Add in the cost of medication for the migraine I got from the 3D, and it seems to me they're stupid enough to charge more for even less, since there's no mention of quality script, quality acting, a *gasp* story you can get involved with?
I think I'll wait for Toy Story 3 to come out at RedBox.
On the post: Must Read: CCIA Sets US IP Czar Straight On Intellectual Property
The best response to this is to give them everything they want.
I think I'm going to put aside a bottle of champagne for that day.
On the post: MGMT Album Leaks... Band Wants To Give Official Version For Free, But Denied
Since it's Sony...
On the post: Too Little Too Late: Universal Music Finally Realizes That Maybe CDs Were Too Expensive
Granddad? What's a CD?
Yep, and they had to drive to stores. Uphill. Through the snow. Both ways.
On the post: Where's The Outrage Over The Gov't Brushing Mass Privacy Violations Under The Rug?
You still believe?
On the post: And Here Come The Lawsuits From People Who Claim James Cameron Ripped Them Off With Avatar
The basic idea is pretty old to begin with.
To which I reply "You can't copyright a story idea." And Poul's story is a lot better than the movie anyway, since it had a plot.
On the post: How Much Money Can You Make For Others, Rather Than Yourself?
Mixed approach may be better
But he does also do what he calls "self-pimping", but does so with much style and gusto, and has a very devoted readership.
I think it's called "connecting with fans", last I looked.
On the post: Amazon Shutting Down Colorado-Based Associates Over Sales Tax Issue
"jump ship"?
On the post: Judge Orders Satirical Site To Remove Joke Story About Fictional Giraffe Attack
Re:
On the post: Dear Macmillan, You Don't Embrace The New By Trying To Protect The Old
Re: Baen
On the post: Book Publishers Circulating 'Talking Points' To Counter Arguments That Ebook Prices Need To Go Lower
Re: get them for the same price as the print version...or less.
On the post: Calling 911? That'll Be $300
Re: More Information On This Is Available
http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/6376328/article-Council-chooses-paramedic-fee-colle ctor?instance=home_news_lead_story
On the post: Could Looking At London's 2012 Olympics Logo Land People In Prison?
OMFG
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