VOD.... Should AICN Cover it? I'll let you people decide!

Hey folks, Harry here with an issue that I've seen an awful lot of passion about here at Fantastic Fest this year. For an awfully long time, VOD was strictly the domain of purely the top 15 video releases a week, but as Cable companies, Internet companies and Media Companies get more on board VOD (Video on Demand) - we're seeing the market place change. Now, I've never been a fan of the VOD world, because for so long it was a $15 charge for a single viewing or one night's worth of watching of a single film. That's still the rather unfortunate case in Hotels, but at least in my household - I have the capability to watch say... anything from features on TCM & HBO & SHOWTIME, etc.... to Television shows in HD on Demand as part of my existing Digital Cable package. Then there's the ol Netflix Instant function of my Blu Ray player - which I signed up for $8 a month - and has all manner of releases - everything from vintage films to a lot of IFC and MAGNOLIA titles. This year at FANTASTIC FEST - Matt Dentler - a guru for VOD - held a luncheon for a lot of us press types - where I had my first Bloody Mary. I gave it 3 sips, each followed by a nasty horrid face - and decided that Matt really has terrible taste in drinks. That said - his video-on-demand channel, FilmBuff, has become an emerging power in the VOD operations. They have over a hundred feature films available through cable and online providers like iTunes, Hulu and so forth. Specifically at this luncheon, he was announcing the following Press Release:

Since summer 2008, FilmBuff launched as a video-on-demand channel that delivers both new releases and classic films each month, to cable and broadband providers. With over 100 feature films on sites such as iTunes and Hulu, as well cable VOD operators nationwide, FilmBuff is dedicated to bringing quality movies to audiences around the globe. Some current highlights recently launched on FilmBuff’s cable VOD channel: SMITHEREENS – Susan Seidelman’s 1982 New York indie classic, which features a score by The Feelies and a supporting performance by Richard Hell. One of the first American independent films to screen in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, this film would be the blueprint for future Seidelman productions, including Desperately Seeking Susan and the pilot episode for Sex and the City. WE ARE WIZARDS – A hit at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival, this documentary by Josh Koury is a loving portrait of Harry Potter fans around the United States. From “wizard rock” musicians to bloggers, this is the definitive glimpse at what it means to be a fan of the popular book series. Coming soon to FilmBuff’s cable VOD channel: DEMONLOVER – Olivier Assayas’ acclaimed psychological thriller, starring Chloe Sevigny and Gina Gershon. (On VOD, starting October 13) THE INGLORIOUS BASTARDS – The 1978 cult classic, starring Fred Williamson and Bo Svenson; a source of inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s recent hit Inglourious Basterds. BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS – Legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog directs Nicolas Cage in this absorbing portrayal of a trouble detective working the streets of New Orleans. The film, which recently screened at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, also features Val Kilmer and Eva Mendes and will open theatrically later this year. (On VOD, date TBD) Coming soon to the iTunes Movie Store, courtesy of FilmBuff: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE – The influential 1974 original, made available on broadband VOD for the first time ever (in conjunction with MPI and Dark Sky Films) HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER – John McNaughton’s 1986 classic thriller, made available on broadband VOD for the first time ever (in conjunction with MPI and Dark Sky Films).

Now - each of those titles are titles worth every bit of your time to check out - Some of which you can run do right now online - along with hundreds of other titles from other outlets. As DVD and BLU RAY sinks - would you dear readers appreciate or desire information on VOD releases? If so - what would you like to know about? Vintage titles, concurrent to theatrical releases, exclusive VOD releases? The reason I'm asking is as the VOD catalogues become larger and larger - cheaper & cheaper - you may wish to have some guidance with the ever expanding and possibly endless supply of titles you could check out now. For example - on my Netflix Queue - right now I have 9 DVD titles, but 65 INSTANT titles - which play in quality ranging from standard DVD to 1080i. I love that I have every KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER episode a click of the remote away. Or vintage titles like THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, the original GET CARTER, the brilliant Peckinpah CONVOY, THE CHINA SYNDROME, George Pal's TIME MACHINE, THE INNOCENTS, KRULL, THE DOMINO PRINCIPLE, LADYHAWKE, FITZCARRALDO, GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, KLUTE, THE GAY DIVORCEE, DREAMSCAPE, BIG MAN JAPAN, SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGEANCE, LADY VENGEANCE, THE MACHINE GIRL, 8 1/2, MILLER'S CROSSING, Z CHANNEL: A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION, BREATHLESS, PIERROT LE FOU, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, THE THIRD MAN, NIAGARA, BANDOLERO! FROM DUSK TILL DAWN or CAT BALLOU. Now... I can instantly click on any one of those titles and have it streaming instantly through my 1080p projector on a pristine screen and watch the title 9' by 12'. No searching through my vast DVD room, I can browse the titles through the screen and about a minute after I click... it's playing... without interuption, smoothly and sometimes breathtakingly... It is an emerging medium, but like any medium that brings you theatrical entertainment, AICN wants to be there so you can get pissed at us recommending things that you simply do not yet understand and will hurl insults at us, or that perhaps are EXACTLY UP YOUR ALLEY and makes your life splendidly awesome. So what do you say? How would YOU like us to cover this - and should we invent a new section for it and appoint a specific editor to covering it? Let me know, Harry