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>I agree that it is a shame that Joanna wasn't able to >participate, but also recognize that it all comes down >to economics. > >Studios/rights holders/production companies do not >throw a lot of money at DVD releases unless it is some ><b>major</b> title. > >I worked on the MGM James Bond dvds and the budgets >aren't big even on those - so I can't imagine how >small BCI's were. > >You have to take off your fan hat and look at it from >the bean counter perspective. > >How many units will this DVD sell? > >How much (if at all) will supplementary >material/commentary affect a purchase decision? > >The answer on the later is sadly very little, from >what I've heard and have witnessed personally. > >Had Isis been available on VHS/laserdisc whatever - >they would have had to make more of an effort to get >people to rebuy content they already owned on another >format. > >I think it is crazy that a writer and even someone who >composed a song that gets played in the background of >a show will get compensated while the main actors >won't. > >But I also know that it is a mistake to associate >people who produce DVD supplementary material as the >same people who make a boatload of cash off >rights/merchandising/etc. > >The people who produce the material are given a >limited amount of money and they are subcontracted >from the rights holders - so while Andy would have >loved to have gotten Joanna's commentary, he didn't >have the budget to just fly off to Hawaii and >subcontract a filming crew there. > >I remember when my collection was being filmed for the >Bond DVDs, some friends were asking what sort of money >I was getting. I was paid for my flight out to >Hollywood and that was it - everything else - the 14 >hours of collectibles footage, rare behind the scenes >16mm footage, help on audio commentary - I didn't get >paid for. > >I think it is a shame when actors see DVDs as just >another way the studios are screwing over the working >actor. But holding to their principals also means >their story doesn't get told. As others have pointed >out - once that ship has sailed, it has sailed. > >Anyway, enough rambling. I would ask that people look >at from the DVD producer's side. He was given a >limited budget and a very short production schedule. > >I'm pleased with the results.

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