3 Blu-ray links

I saw three different Blu-ray related links from ianshepherd on Twitter this morning. I love my Blu-ray discs and my Playstation 3 which sees a lot more duty as a Blu-ray player than a gaming machine. Yes there’s the argument that disc-based entertainment is yesterday’s technology and Internet delivery is the future. That may be true at some point in the future but at this point in time Blu-ray still looks better than HD movies from iTunes and Comcast HD. Plus, I like to throw that DVD on the shelf. And many of the Blu-ray supplements are top notch. The Dark Knight is gorgeous and the behind the scenes stuff is well worth the investment.

And the links: Where we stand on Blu-ray Disc -  DVD guru Bruce Nazarian rounds up exactly where Blu-ray stands thus far.

Petition to stimulate adoption of Blu-ray Disc publishing -  One of the biggest obstacles to Blu-ray adoption are the steep licensing fees to get a disc professionally replicated. I think that a lowering of those fees would a much better adoption of Blu-ray in the corporate world and secondary markets where Internet delivery isn’t as desirable.

And even more people are joining the IDMA’s campaign on reducing the licensing fees.  The more the better.

Live Action Oscar Nominated Short Films on iTunes

For all of us out there that love (and make) short films it’s especially pleasing when the presenter announces the winners of the short film categories on Oscar night. I always wonder what the winner is thinking and feeling as they make that long walk from the back of the room up to the stage to accept their Oscar. In the early 90s they tried to do away with the shorts categories (at least on the telecast from what I remember) and there was such an uproar by a number of prominent filmmakers that they kept the categories intact. A couple of years ago they tried to give all of the shorts awards away at one time and that was an awkward train wreck. It has been suggested more than once that the shorts need to go. Sure the Oscar telecast is bloated and long but for a filmmaker the act of even having the shorts categories represents something to strive for. The knowledge that you have just as much of a chance as anyone at a real Oscar nomination is a great incentive to do you best work on your short film. The odds are still great but dedicated filmmakers work against the odds all the time. Since shorts are such a staple of the Internet the Academy should embrace the short film format more than ever. Even CNN has a story about the shorts filmmakers!

iTunes has recently posted all 5 Oscar nominated short films for sale via Shorts International. The direct iTunes links can be found at this link on Ticklebooth. The animated ones are all linked here.  I haven’t been able to find and view the Documentary Short Subject nominees so if you have a link to them please post it in the comments. The Oscars are this Sunday so get your viewing done before then!

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