Whedonesque Mobile : Comments on 10174 : Dutch Serenity DVD getting different artwork.

I don't get why they keep using this artwork... All I want is a nice black background with the original Serenity-logo on it.

Highvanhoe | April 25, 23:39 CET

'I don't get why they keep using this artwork.'

Because they want to sell it to people who've never seen the original Serenity-logo?

Caroline | April 25, 23:50 CET

Basically, yeah. I think we all know Browncoats aren't enough to make huge sales with this franchise. In fact, a vast majority of the money people have spent on the movie is non-fans. So, you want to appeal to those people.

I'm willing to bet years down the line they do some special editions for the fan base.

gossi | April 25, 23:57 CET

A little bit like the 2 DVD version, Highvanhoe?

When I first saw the US artwork, I prepared a private cover (all black with the logo, as you said, since it also seemed to me it was the best thing to do). But when I had the 2 DVD version, I found that the blue background is acceptable (since it is in fact a dark blue) so I kept it that way.

But, one thing is sure: if I had to have a version with the background explosion or the lama, I would have covered it right away.

Le Comit� | April 26, 00:00 CET

The artwork needs to convey what's in the film to people who aren't familiar with it. I don't think non-fans would get what the movie is about with a black background and the original Serenity logo. They're the ones that we need to buy the DVD.

killinj | April 26, 00:00 CET

Except, gossi and Caroline, that I am not sure a "black cover with logo" wouldn't have been efficient. One thing is sure: it would have looked strange on the shelves, something that you wonder what it is, and therefore that you pick up to look at the back (at least).

Anyhow, I do recognize that it depends on the public... but we know that the most successful public for Whedon is made of people with a little brains and a little curiosity; hence, these people should be the target of the cover... I can't see why an exploding background or a lama lost in an army of zombies would appeal to smart people (it would rather do the opposite, in my not-so-humble opinion).

Le Comit� | April 26, 00:06 CET

Well, the cover also has to not put people off, killinj. My parents laughed *at* me when I gave them the Serenity DVD to watch, when they saw the cover. That's not marketing to non-fans.

gossi | April 26, 00:06 CET

The artwork needs to convey what's in the film to people who aren't familiar with it.

Nope. The artwork needs to attrack people, it does not necessarily need to convey the content of the film.

As I would have seen it for serenity (see my previous post), the artwork could have been a "challenge" for the curious mind (entincing the people to grab the product), and then the backcover could have played the role of conveying the subject/mood of the film.

[ edited by Le Comit� on 2006-04-25 22:10 ]

Le Comit� | April 26, 00:09 CET

Just to clarify, by the way, I think the Serenity logo on it's own certainly has "What's that?" value. If you look at some of the classic DVD covers, they are incredibly simple, striking images. I realise Serenity is an ensemble piece with 1344 different things going on, but getting that across in a few inches of paper ain't easy.

Personally, I still think River's hand grippin' a bloodied axe for dear life with "Serenity" on it says everything you might want to suggest to people. But I could be completely wrong. It's also now an entirely mute point, unfortunately.

gossi | April 26, 00:11 CET

I also found your "bloody axe" idea appealing, gossi, when you explained it here...

Le Comit� | April 26, 00:13 CET

Well, the juxtaposition of a girl with a bloodied axe and "serenity" would certainly intrigue many but I for one would never have picked it up. It is indeed a moot point now. Unless there are other DVD release yet to come?

Lioness | April 26, 00:22 CET

It's good to see that us Dutchies are getting this cover instead of the much lesser one with a big River, the shooting Serenity and the bad photoshopped Mal and Z�e. You know which one I mean.

specialcase | April 26, 00:52 CET

The One With The Llamas. Oh my god, oh god my.

gossi | April 26, 00:56 CET

The artwork needs to convey what's in the film to people who aren't familiar with it.

Nope. The artwork needs to attrack people, it does not necessarily need to convey the content of the film.

I agree, but the artwork should not set-up false expectations and be completely at odds with what's in the film. The DVD artwork not only failed to be compelling, but it also failed by completely misrepresenting what�s going on in the movie. But, point moot, so I shut up now.

Dizzy | April 26, 01:51 CET

If you look closely at this, you'll notice the title looks different as well. This is because this'll in all likelyhood be one of those soft-metal keepcases (not like the R4 collector's tin, this is the actual box the DVD comes in), where the title comes 'out' of the metal case. I'm not sure how many countries have these metal-like keepcases, but lots of Dutch releases have been getting these lately, and I've known for quite some time that they were planning to release the DVD like that as well. This image seems to confirm that.

I'd say this cover/case-combo makes this a nice collector's item. I already own the R4, but I'll be buying it again just for the tin (yep, I'm one of those people). I'd especially recommend it to other R2-buyers who don't have a complete 2-disc release or a region-free player, so that they can't import the Australian 2-disc. This'll be the complete version, with all extra's including Q&A. But I think that was already known.

GVH | April 26, 02:26 CET

I saw the French DVD release recently...granted, it had the same cover, but it had a much better tagline:

"The rebellion starts in March."

Maybe they should've used similar, buzz-worthy ad slogans for the U.S. release to generate speculation. 'Cuz you have to admit, "Can't stop the signal" doesn't exactly elicit "What is the Matrix?" huge curiosity.

UnpluggedCrazy | April 26, 03:19 CET

GVH, so this one is a Steelbook? :O
Oh my god, I love my R4 tin, but it's just that, a tin. These new steelbooks are so, so sexy!
And they're really the case.

Just check the link (you can try and make your own steelbook preview), or googled to find actual pics of steelbooks editions. They rock. How lucky you are!

Angel TheVampire | April 26, 03:59 CET

Actually, after I commented I realised why these covers exist Caroline, but still ;)
And yes, La Comite, that's almost exactly what I mean, except for the blue...

Highvanhoe | April 26, 07:07 CET

"The rebellion starts in March."

I assume that by "March" you mean the month...

In which case, the translation is not entirely accurate (sorry, the french DVD doesn't even have that, a good tagline...). Anyhow, this would not be appropriate (March isn't the month of the french release, and would you put something as volatile as the month of release (soon to be forgotten) on a DVD cover?).

The french DVD says "La rebellion est en marche" which means "The rebellion is running"... ("March" is "Mars", in french).

Anyhow, your point is still valid, UnpluggedCrazy: a speculative tag line would have probably been better than the classical sci-fi "The future is worth fighting for" tagline. But "The rebellion is running" is, imho, not a better tagline (too "sci fi classical").

Le Comit� | April 26, 11:37 CET

I'd say this cover/case-combo makes this a nice collector's item. I already own the R4, but I'll be buying it again just for the tin (yep, I'm one of those people). I'd especially recommend it to other R2-buyers who don't have a complete 2-disc release or a region-free player, so that they can't import the Australian 2-disc. This'll be the complete version, with all extra's including Q&A. But I think that was already known.

I assume that most R2 fans already have the german 2 DVD edition, which is the same as the australian one (aka "the complete one" ;) ).

Le Comit� | April 26, 11:38 CET

GVH, so this one is a Steelbook? :O

Thank you, Angel TheVampire! I was racking my brain while writing that post yesterday and I just couldn't remember what those things were called. But yes, I'm assuming it's going to be a steelbook. I don't think this has been confirmed yet, but I know they were thinking of a steelbook for this release and the picture seems to support that. But I'd wait for definitive word, just to be sure.

I assume that most R2 fans already have the german 2 DVD edition

You might just be right, Le Comit�. Of course, if people don't have the German release yet, this one'll probably feature a nicer cover. Steelbooks rock ;-).

GVH | April 26, 13:28 CET

Definitely the best cover yet. Even thinking about buying this and giving away the old one to someone else as a birthday gift or what not.

Djungelurban | April 26, 15:15 CET

Le Comit�...damn it, see, I can actually speak some French. I just forgot the exact text of the tagline, French not being my primary language, and remembered it wrong.

So, um, yeah, that's disappointing.

Though it's still better than some of the American taglines.

UnpluggedCrazy | April 26, 21:27 CET

April 25 2006