New Docudrama shot in HDV
 

I invite you to check out the docudrama we are finally finishing after nearly a year of production.

http://www.onourwayup.com

The trailer is up as well as a few stills and a copy of the poster, the site just went live so we will continue to add more content.

The entire thing was shot with the JVC JY-HD10U and edited with Vegas / Cineform.

We are submitting the master for replication on the 25th and then we start shipping the DVD on March 11th. It will also be available in small stores (such as Wayfield Foods) in Atlanta, primarily around the Kirkwood / Edgewood area ("Zone 6") initially. In any case the versions purchased on-line or in-store will have retail-quality packaging, no cheap stuff.

The last piece (the last thing we are doing before replication) is the commentary by myself and Ed, I hope it proves helpful to current and potential HDV adopters. Our commentary will include our experiences working with HDV, among other things.

You can pre-order the DVD for $14.99 and free shipping; after March 11th it will be $19.99 + shipping.

We welcome your questions / comments.

P.S. Would bundling the Windows Media HD version be a selling point to people here, or would you just assume have a choice between the SD and HD versions? I'm not sure we can make our March 11th deadline and do a 2-disc set with the Windows Media HD version as well (not to mention trying to hold the $19.99 price), but I'd like to guage the interest here.

Regards,

Ben

I couldn't get the trailer to work.

<<<-- Originally posted by Bob Zimmerman : I couldn't get the trailer to work. -->>>

The only version we have up right now is Windows Media, do you have Windows Media Player (WMP is available for both the Mac and the PC)?

We will add a Quicktime version as soon as possible.

Ben

Congratulations on finishing a movie! That is a great accomplishment.

For your question about the HD version. I would suggest only replicating this as a SD DVD. The main reason being that the only way to view the WM9-HD today is on a PC.

Maybe you could offer anyone who purchases the DVD from your website the option of buying a DVD-R with the HD version on it for like $2 extra.

Are you replicating this at 1,000 copies? I'm curious as what your goal for sales is.

Keep up the good work!

- Jed

<<<-- Originally posted by Ben Buie : <<<-- Originally posted by Bob Zimmerman : I couldn't get the trailer to work. -->>>

The only version we have up right now is Windows Media, do you have Windows Media Player (WMP is available for both the Mac and the PC)?

We will add a Quicktime version as soon as possible.

Ben -->>>

I'm running a mac but I'll try it on my wife's computer

<<<-- Originally posted by Bob Zimmerman : <<<-- Originally posted by Ben Buie : <<<-- Originally posted by Bob Zimmerman : I couldn't get the trailer to work. -->>>

The only version we have up right now is Windows Media, do you have Windows Media Player (WMP is available for both the Mac and the PC)?

We will add a Quicktime version as soon as possible.

Ben -->>>

I'm running a mac but I'll try it on my wife's computer -->>>

Ok, but again Windows Media Player is also available for the Mac as a free download, so you should be able to see it on the Mac too.

Well, there is the AVEL LinkPlayer 2 that will play Windows Media HD DVD+R or DVD-R's, it is a standalone unit for only $250.00. The WMVHD version of our DVD plays on that unit, for a review of the player see our HDSource site (in my sig). I just wish they would release the firmware update that would make the unit DRM compatible.

I think the final decision about this we fall onto our deal with the replication house. They are also doing the packaging, so if they can cut as a good deal on a dual-disc replication / packaging job, maybe we will do it.

We are having 2,000 units replicated at first, with the full Amaray style DVD case, bar code, etc. We might bump this up to 5,000 if pre-sales go well and if we arrange for additional retail arrangements. The replicated DVDs will be split between Internet and retail distribution.

1,000 units is our initial sales goal, although our market research indicates we can drive sales of around 5,000 units. After that we would start pursuing deals with larger distributors as well as other revenue streams.

<<<-- Originally posted by Jed Williamson : Congratulations on finishing a movie! That is a great accomplishment.

For your question about the HD version. I would suggest only replicating this as a SD DVD. The main reason being that the only way to view the WM9-HD today is on a PC.

Maybe you could offer anyone who purchases the DVD from your website the option of buying a DVD-R with the HD version on it for like $2 extra.

Are you replicating this at 1,000 copies? I'm curious as what your goal for sales is.

Keep up the good work!

- Jed -->>>

You could probably fit both a HD .wmv as well as the plain VIDEO_TS if you did a dual layer/platter disc (~9gb vs ~ 4.5gb)

Or do a DVD10 and put one on each side of a DVD 5 disk

I watched it and it looks good. Music sounds good too. Who is doing the music?

<<<-- Originally posted by Bob Zimmerman : I watched it and it looks good. Music sounds good too. Who is doing the music? -->>>

One of the three "Clark Brothers" is Brian Clark, a.k.a. "Profit" (don't laugh). Actually he is a pretty good rap artist who has a club following in the Atlanta area, we were amazed by the production quality of some of the tracks. Profit is now working with Usher's "people" on an album to be released this year. The one on the trailer (and the intro to the site) is pretty dang good, if you are into that type of music.

There are also songs by some major artists, and some club mixes that feature hooks taken from classic rock songs; one features a guitar riff from a Led Zeppelin song, it was so funny when I heard it I said "hey, that is Led Zeppelin", and these young kids responded, "who?". :)

I have to admit, the music definitely makes OOWU stand out, I'm sure there will be a soundtrack to follow.

Anyway, the guys backing this (Three C Studios) are actually the Clark Brothers themselves, which makes it basically an autobiographical documentary. It was pretty interesting, everything was shot on location in a very "rough" part of town. The police were a little curious as to what was going on, needless to say :)

Of course, then there is the story of how we obtained all the real guns (including an AR-15) for the "assasination" scene, let's just say they weren't that hard to come by on short notice.

I can't wait to finish the commentary tracks on this, I think people will find it very interesting.

Ben

Looks good and I'm still a fan of the Brandy Rich segments! :)

Personally, I'd be very interested in the opportunity to get a Windows Media HD version. Seeing the SD output could be mildly informative, but my real interest in HDV is to see what it looks like when output at HD resolution. Let us know if you decide to offer this option.

By the way, what bit rate are you using when encoding WM-HD? Are you doing that directly from Vegas, or using some other software?