FADFILE: DVD Extras
What's The Sitch?
Ever since the invention of the DVD, movies have become oh-so-much more than movies. Once you buy a DVD, you now have access to oodles of information that has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline, and everything to do with "the making of". Commentaries, interviews and virtual tours are just some of the extra's available on DVD's today.
Successful writer/director/producer Joss Wheden, and Family have taken DVD extras to a whole new level on Dr.Horrible's Sing Along Blog, where the commentary includes a musical commentary (titled Commentary!), as well as the standard issue commentary. Whilst Commentary! is heavily satirical of musicals, it also satirises the concept of a commentary track.
Successful writer/director/producer Joss Wheden, and Family have taken DVD extras to a whole new level on Dr.Horrible's Sing Along Blog, where the commentary includes a musical commentary (titled Commentary!), as well as the standard issue commentary. Whilst Commentary! is heavily satirical of musicals, it also satirises the concept of a commentary track.
Points For:
Rather than just watching a movie at the theatre, people have a whole new reason to buy movies, thanks to DVD extras. Which in the movie makers minds is a plus.
DVD extras a whole lot of fun, they've got bloopers just for laughs, games for kids, and just by existing they extend the fun of the whole movie experience. Provided, of course that the extras/ the movie itself was enjoyable.
They can often provide useful insight into the complex world of movie making, and encourage up-and-commers by showing the job opportunities that are usually left out because of public obsession with actors.
According to producer Bill Cunningham, "DVD extra's are more like DVD essentials."
Read the full article here.
Points Against:
DVD extras return the viewer to reality, removing the illusory effect of the movie. The movie stops being about the characters and their situations, and becomes about the actors, the directors and the all messy business that goes on behind the creation scenes.
Heart Broken from Commentary! sung by Joss Whedon, is a great example of the negative feelings some artists have about exposing their work in the way that is required by DVD extras.
My Thoughts:
Personally I like DVD extras, they keep the fun going a bit longer. But then I am the kind of person who read the appendix's on Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, just to 'keep the fun going a bit longer'.
1 comments:
I'm a big fan of the dvd extra. While they may dispell the illusion of reality of the film for some, like you mentioned, I don't think it reduces the experience. People don't usually watch the extras until they have seen the film, and although the content of the extras may alter their perception for future viewings, the reality would have worn off anyway because you know what is coming. And you're right about dvd extras being a useful aid to film enthusiasts, I'm a film student and watching extras and listening to the commentaries can be really educational.
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