It seems Sony Pictures is running a little test run through iTunes regarding Special Features from a few recent films such as ‘The Other Guys’, ‘Salt’ and ‘Resident Evil :Afterlife’. If you buy one of these films off iTunes, they will have some bonus features that cannot be found on DVD. There are also ‘special functions’ that you can supposedly do which you can’t do on your DVD of these movies.
Say what?
Well, here’s the info as reported by the good folks at Paid Content:
Buy the Will Ferrell comedy The Other Guys and you’ll notice three extras that can’t be found on DVD or any other digital platform. A search button allows you to input a word, and any mention of it in the script will be retrieved along with a link to the exact moment in the movie in which the line was uttered. A “clip & share” function lets the viewer take select scenes and post them to social networks. There’s also a playlist with songs from the film, which are linked to to places on iTunes where those songs can be purchased.
Mind-blowing add-ons? No, but they do represent the intent of studios like Sony to offer differentiating value on digital platforms from that on DVD”
I really like the idea of linking to songs and soundtracks. Not every tune heard in a movie may wind up on that released soundtrack. Not to mention that this step could usher in movies who have unreleased or obscure music soundtracks. Or even soundtracks which didn’t have room for every song. Think of, say, “Goodfellas” and ALL the songs heard in that film. Only a select handful appeared on that released soundtrack. Yes, with some time and effort you can still get all the songs from the film if you haven’t done so already. But something like this makes it easier. And legal.
Finding the quote to a scene thing is nice…for a novelty. Still, this is all in a test stage. Personally, I would like most of the fluff “Entertainment Tonight” style extras off DVDs and Blus myself and to have them available as extra downloads for those who really want them. When it comes to extras, I like to see how the film was made and something I could learn from. But an average five minute “promotion” interview or two? I say love ‘em or leave ‘em.
How ‘bout any of the int’l friends? Anyone liking this “experiment”?
