Thunderbird Releasing (née Soda Pictures)
- TMDaines
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
- Location: Stretford, Manchester
Re: Soda Pictures
I was going to ask for a reversible cover for Toni Erdmann. One of the great modern posters has been vandalised by stars and adjectives.
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Soda Pictures
Late reply to this as I was on holiday for most of last week...
Gents, I'm totally sympathetic to what you're saying, but the ever-ubiquitous stars and quotes are here to stay I'm afraid. Nothing to do with lack of confidence in our films - they're proven to work and give ever-more-distracted audiences the extra push to commit to paying for the films, as well as convincing retail partners like HMV/Fopp and supermarkets buying in as many units of them as we can convince them to carry. Paterson and Toni Erdmann are both already Soda's highest-grossing films ever at the box office (sailing past the previous record set by Wadjda in 2013), and it wouldn't have happened without the big critical endorsement. I'm not saying I disagree that the stars/quotes can be an eyesore, but market forces clearly and I think understandably win out over aesthetics in this case. Reverse artwork isn't really worth the effort in most cases either I'm afraid, it's all extra costs that however negligible still cut into our ever-decreasing margins. Hopefully what's on the disc makes up for it!
Gents, I'm totally sympathetic to what you're saying, but the ever-ubiquitous stars and quotes are here to stay I'm afraid. Nothing to do with lack of confidence in our films - they're proven to work and give ever-more-distracted audiences the extra push to commit to paying for the films, as well as convincing retail partners like HMV/Fopp and supermarkets buying in as many units of them as we can convince them to carry. Paterson and Toni Erdmann are both already Soda's highest-grossing films ever at the box office (sailing past the previous record set by Wadjda in 2013), and it wouldn't have happened without the big critical endorsement. I'm not saying I disagree that the stars/quotes can be an eyesore, but market forces clearly and I think understandably win out over aesthetics in this case. Reverse artwork isn't really worth the effort in most cases either I'm afraid, it's all extra costs that however negligible still cut into our ever-decreasing margins. Hopefully what's on the disc makes up for it!
- Aunt Peg
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:30 am
Re: Soda Pictures
James, Will Toni Erdmann be given a Blu Ray release?
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Soda Pictures
It will indeed and is already up for pre-order. Won't have confirmed info on bonus features for a while yet but needless to say we're aiming to include as many as we can!Aunt Peg wrote:James, Will Toni Erdmann be given a Blu Ray release?
- rapta
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
- Location: Hants, UK
Re: Soda Pictures
I understand this is the case for many independent distributors, not just yourselves. Besides, like you say it's the disc itself that counts more, and I'm very happy with every disc of yours I've picked up to date. Without you guys many of these films might end up on a barebones DVD with dodgy encoding, so I for one am grateful that's not the case.JamesF wrote:Late reply to this as I was on holiday for most of last week...
Gents, I'm totally sympathetic to what you're saying, but the ever-ubiquitous stars and quotes are here to stay I'm afraid. Nothing to do with lack of confidence in our films - they're proven to work and give ever-more-distracted audiences the extra push to commit to paying for the films, as well as convincing retail partners like HMV/Fopp and supermarkets buying in as many units of them as we can convince them to carry. Paterson and Toni Erdmann are both already Soda's highest-grossing films ever at the box office (sailing past the previous record set by Wadjda in 2013), and it wouldn't have happened without the big critical endorsement. I'm not saying I disagree that the stars/quotes can be an eyesore, but market forces clearly and I think understandably win out over aesthetics in this case. Reverse artwork isn't really worth the effort in most cases either I'm afraid, it's all extra costs that however negligible still cut into our ever-decreasing margins. Hopefully what's on the disc makes up for it!
- Aunt Peg
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:30 am
Re: Soda Pictures
Thanks so much James! Really looking forward to Toni Erdmann's release (ditto Paterson). I was also impressed with Soda release of The Childhood of a Leader.JamesF wrote:It will indeed and is already up for pre-order. Won't have confirmed info on bonus features for a while yet but needless to say we're aiming to include as many as we can!Aunt Peg wrote:James, Will Toni Erdmann be given a Blu Ray release?
- repeat
- Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:04 am
- Location: high in the Custerdome
Re: Soda Pictures
James, I noticed you're distributing Bellocchio's Sweet Dreams theatrically - can you say if there's any chance of a home video release at some point..? (Hopefully so!)
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Soda Pictures
Yep, we're definitely releasing it on DVD (no Blu I'm afraid) and digital HD in June. Early word of warning that it'll likely be a pretty no-frills disc though.repeat wrote:James, I noticed you're distributing Bellocchio's Sweet Dreams theatrically - can you say if there's any chance of a home video release at some point..? (Hopefully so!)
- repeat
- Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:04 am
- Location: high in the Custerdome
Re: Soda Pictures
Excellent! No matter about frills - just glad to hear I'll get to see it some form or another, as all the festivals near me seem to have slept on it
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Soda Pictures
In the meantime, go to our website to find out where to see Sweet Dreams at a cinema near you from tomorrow
- What A Disgrace
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: Soda Pictures
Any word on the specs for Paterson and Toni Erdmann? The former was released almost two weeks ago...
Davies's Quiet Passion is being released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 14.
Davies's Quiet Passion is being released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 14.
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: Soda Pictures
http://criterionforum.org/forum/viewtop ... 15#p573015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;What A Disgrace wrote:Any word on the specs for Paterson and Toni Erdmann? The former was released almost two weeks ago...
The disc is a BD-50 (well used), with DTS HD MA 5.1 and 2.0, SDH subs, audio description in DD 2.0, and the Q+A with Driver.
- What A Disgrace
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: Soda Pictures
That's what I get for not reading.
I'm curious about Toni Erdmann. The US Blu-ray release is going to be a BD-R, which suggests to me that it will perhaps be properly released by Criterion. But I'm not sure I want to wait that long. I also hope Quiet Passion will at least get a word or two from Davies in supplements!
I'm curious about Toni Erdmann. The US Blu-ray release is going to be a BD-R, which suggests to me that it will perhaps be properly released by Criterion. But I'm not sure I want to wait that long. I also hope Quiet Passion will at least get a word or two from Davies in supplements!
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Soda Pictures
Hi all,
Hope you don't mind me largely copy-and-pasting something I wrote for the other forum... I was holding off until the official press release had been issued, but since I don't want rumours to start in a vacuum - as those of you who follow us on social media may have noticed, as of last week Soda Pictures has officially changed its name to Thunderbird Releasing.
For those of you who don't know, in late-2014, Soda were acquired by a Canadian multiplatform entertainment company named Thunderbird Entertainment, who do a lot of work in television (including co-producing Amazon's The Man In The High Castle) and wanted to branch out into film distribution in Canada (which is why we have released various titles there over the last two years) and the UK. There's no need for concern and nothing is really changing for the company other than the name and branding. It's an exciting time for us to be part of that umbrella, not least because Thunderbird are one of the producers of the upcoming Blade Runner sequel. (If only we could get the UK rights to that one; curse you again, Sony!) The last DVD/Blu-Ray release of ours that will be going out under the Soda branding is Toni Erdmann; everything from Age Of Shadows onwards will have the Thunderbird logo on it. I'll update with the link to the press release once it's finally issued.
The extras for Toni Erdmann are as follows:
And yes, we will be releasing both Kim Jee-Woon's The Age Of Shadows and Terence Davies' A Quiet Passion on Blu-Ray in July. Too early to list specs on these yet, but I'll post back here when I know more.
Hope you don't mind me largely copy-and-pasting something I wrote for the other forum... I was holding off until the official press release had been issued, but since I don't want rumours to start in a vacuum - as those of you who follow us on social media may have noticed, as of last week Soda Pictures has officially changed its name to Thunderbird Releasing.
For those of you who don't know, in late-2014, Soda were acquired by a Canadian multiplatform entertainment company named Thunderbird Entertainment, who do a lot of work in television (including co-producing Amazon's The Man In The High Castle) and wanted to branch out into film distribution in Canada (which is why we have released various titles there over the last two years) and the UK. There's no need for concern and nothing is really changing for the company other than the name and branding. It's an exciting time for us to be part of that umbrella, not least because Thunderbird are one of the producers of the upcoming Blade Runner sequel. (If only we could get the UK rights to that one; curse you again, Sony!) The last DVD/Blu-Ray release of ours that will be going out under the Soda branding is Toni Erdmann; everything from Age Of Shadows onwards will have the Thunderbird logo on it. I'll update with the link to the press release once it's finally issued.
The extras for Toni Erdmann are as follows:
- Interviews with Maren Ade, Sandra Huller and Peter Simonischek
Outtakes and Bloopers
Kukeri in Bucharest and Cannes
Theatrical Trailer
And yes, we will be releasing both Kim Jee-Woon's The Age Of Shadows and Terence Davies' A Quiet Passion on Blu-Ray in July. Too early to list specs on these yet, but I'll post back here when I know more.
- TMDaines
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:01 pm
- Location: Stretford, Manchester
Re: Soda Pictures
Thanks for the explanations regarding branding and Toni Erdmann disc content.
Pretty sure I'll be buying your disc!
Pretty sure I'll be buying your disc!
- tenia
- Ask Me About My Bassoon
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:13 am
Re: Soda Pictures
I already bought the French Toni Erdmann disc so won't be buying the UK one, but this has me very interested ! :
JamesF wrote:And yes, we will be releasing both Kim Jee-Woon's The Age Of Shadows and Terence Davies' A Quiet Passion on Blu-Ray in July.
- Michael Kerpan
- Spelling Bee Champeen
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:20 pm
- Location: New England
- Contact:
Re: Soda Pictures
What is the region coding for Soda/Thunderbird Blu-Ray releases (since this is a Canadian operation do they do RA+B?)
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Soda Pictures
Predominantly our British releases are Region 2/B-locked, as we often only have the rights for UK/Ireland and the contracts we have with producers and sales agents usually dictate region locking as essential. There are a few random exceptions over the last few years like our Kelly Reichardt boxset, or The Face Of An Angel which was a dual-territory release with Canada, but they're the exception rather than the rule. Similarly, our few Canada-only releases, like Slow West and High Rise, are Region A-locked. (Speaking of the Reichardt set, this is likely to go out of print soon as our rights on Old Joy and Meek's Cutoff are expiring, so anyone who hasn't picked it up yet, don't hesitate!)Michael Kerpan wrote:What is the region coding for Soda/Thunderbird Blu-Ray releases (since this is a Canadian operation do they do RA+B?)
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Soda Pictures
Here's the final specs for both releases:JamesF wrote:And yes, we will be releasing both Kim Jee-Woon's The Age Of Shadows and Terence Davies' A Quiet Passion on Blu-Ray in July. Too early to list specs on these yet, but I'll post back here when I know more.
- The Age Of Shadows is out on July 10th, and features both standard English and English SDH subtitles. Unfortunately we could not license the bonus features from the US edition (not for lack of trying though!), so the only extra here is a trailer. However, if it sways anyone at all, this release features the original Korean-language opening credits, which have been replaced with subtitle credits on the US version.
- Happily, I can confirm however that A Quiet Passion, which is out on July 17th, will be a different story. As well as SDH subtitles, it will feature a commentary track by Terence Davies, a deleted scene, a short featurette (featuring interviews with Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Ehle and Terence Davies), an excerpt from the documentary My Letter To The World (produced in tandem with A Quiet Passion) and trailers.
Other forthcoming Blu-Ray releases from us this year include Michael O'Shea's indie-horror The Transfiguration and Claude Barras' Oscar-nominated My Life As A Courgette - specs on both to be confirmed soon.
Also, for those who didn't see the announcement, at Cannes we acquired Michel Hazanavicius' Redoubtable for cinema release in the UK and Ireland.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: Thunderbird Releasing (née Soda Pictures)
The Kelly Reichardt Collection is now OOP, since as James said upthread, they lost the rights to Old Joy and Meek's Cutoff
- JamesF
- Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Re: Thunderbird Releasing (née Soda Pictures)
Confirmed bonus features for The Transfiguration, which as far as I'm aware is the only Blu-Ray release announced anywhere for the film (it's going out DVD-only in the US):
- - Commentary by director Michael O'Shea and producer Susan Leber
- The Making Of The Transfiguration, including interviews with cast and crew (10 mins)
- Deleted and extended scenes with director introductions
- Trailer
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: Thunderbird Releasing (née Soda Pictures)
It is so weird that that's what you call zucchinis over there
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: Thunderbird Releasing (née Soda Pictures)
Blame the French like with everything else wrong with England.
- zedz
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm
Re: Thunderbird Releasing (née Soda Pictures)
It could have been worse: baby squash (the notorious, now-banned Olympic event) or baby marrow (famed black market delicacy).domino harvey wrote:It is so weird that that's what you call zucchinis over there
- rapta
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
- Location: Hants, UK
Re: Thunderbird Releasing (née Soda Pictures)
It is so weird what you call aubergines and swedes over there...domino harvey wrote:It is so weird that that's what you call zucchinis over there
PS: don't wanna be 'that guy' but isn't zucchini the plural form? I.e. no need to add an 's'