Home Release Project Update

Hello there

A very happy Monday morning to you, and let’s get right out of the traps for this week with some news about the home release version of the movie.

Some news about the content that is, not the actual production of it.  That’s a job for February when I’ve done my tax and see what sort of state my credit card is in. I’ve one or two business outgoings to sort first (just some new recording equipment because I’ve had enough of waiting for the Tascam to suddenly die), and then I shall have a proper look at what is realistic/recoupable.  I am yet to be convinced it is a sound business idea, but as long as it’s not a stupid loss then I think I would be happy to have the proper home release version as a concluding bit of merchandise.

So, on to business. I looked over all the responses to my post in December about the proposed release (thank you), and what you’d like to see on it.

The only thing I’ve not considered is a “bonus podcast”, cos I think that’s a whole separate beast and it puts a huge amount of pressure on a recording.  Like, it would have to be the best ParaPod ever to not be seen as an afterthought/padding, and how would you go about selecting content for a one-off?  What fairy story would take priority for that? If we hadn’t already done podcasts about the key locations in the movie, then it would be more understandable, but wasn’t East Drive the first episode (as well as the specials)? Ancient Ram we definitely did in a live show, and Pluckley had an audio taxi tour long before the filmed one. Which leaves only the school and Codnor, and there’s nothing really to say about them that wasn’t in the film/deleted scenes. In a nutshell, a new podcast would definitely be filler, and an anomaly on a Blu-Ray release as it would be just audio and there’s nowt worse than just audio on a visual medium.  The original radio dramas of Twilight Zone included in their Blu-Rays prove that.  A great thing to have in a set, but utterly impractical because that’s not how people listen to stuff.

When the day comes that I finally decide I’m not paying that Soundcloud subscription any more, and take all the original episodes down (as I always seem to do!), then it’s an option for any subsequent “full collection” audio release, just not on the Blu-Ray of the movie.

However, I did think there was something in having a featurette on the original podcast and how it started etc etc, which I hadn’t even considered and quite a few people mentioned.  So that’s made this stage of the cut. Given how much I’ve already shared with you fine folk, there’s also, naturally, some stuff that has appeared in this here Patreon, but it’ll be recut (things like the location revisits etc – I don’t think paying the publishing rights on “Jump In The Line” is a wise use of budget, and may exceed the entire budget anyway), and the commentary I did for a patreon exclusive will be re-recorded with me “not poorly” and more “prepped”.  I still like that one, but did say at the time that it was a casual commentary.  There’s also a proposed Paranati featurette, which may not make the cut.  I have to have a looooong think about that, but if it goes ahead then it’s a potential game-changer… I did mention it on Patreon years ago to do a Paranati commentary, but a featurette should cover it.

Actually, a word about the word “featurette”.  Whenever I see featurette on the back of a box, I always assume it will be some 2 minute disposable thing, but that’s not the intention with these.  I just don’t know what the word would be.  They’ll be a better than a 2 min shrug-off though.

There are, of course, many further considerations to how this works.  How much we can actually fit on a disc, how we do two disc sets, having everything BBFC certified (that’s gonna be a daft bit of it as they have to view everything), but I shall keep you up to date with the process as it gets underway.  For now, here’s my first draft proposal of what will be in the set.  Not a promise, just a starting point.  I’ve not even shown this to Simon yet, it’s just my scrawl from the bunker.

Genuinely feel free to comment any thoughts or suggestions…

Feature

·  The Movie

Feature Audio Options

·  Director’s commentary (new)

·  Ian & Barry Commentary

·  Audience Response Track

Extras

·  Making of – Documentary (Filming, Postproduction, Release and re-release)

·  Location revisit shorts (East Drive, Church, Wooley View)

·  Deleted Scenes x20 (estimate)

·  Ask the Experts Featurette

·  A History Of The ParaPod featurette

·  In The Cinema/Q&A's Featurette

·  The ParaPod Live (video)

·  The American Premiere Featurette

·  The Car’s The Star Featurette

·  Paranati Top Secret Featurette

·  Editing Featurette (may be incorporated into Documentary)

·  Audio Featurette (may be incorporated into Documentary)

·  Soundtrack Featurette (may be incorporated into Documentary)

·  Storyboard Comparisons

·  Trailers

There we go.  That’s where I’m up to.  Probably a lot of work but no deadline so a side project and ,once all the material is collated/filmed, we can work through it at our leisure.

Hope you are having a lovely start to the week and that Monday is treating you kindly.  Or if it isn’t, just do it yourself anyway.

Much love

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