Any Hints Almar?

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

So Almar,me old mucker,any hints/clues/thoughts where SHAMELESS 2 might be going?

[Almar@Cult Labs]

Well the primary hint would be that there will be more Shameless! I know I've not been on here that much of late but right now it's a mega-busy time of year for me promoting the DVDs that pay the bills - Mitchell & Webb, Family Fortunes (!) and the upcoming Kylie release. Added to that we've been having some long meetings to determine if there will be a DVD industry in the UK in 2009 (a bit overdramatic but for indies it's just nuts at the moment) and whether Shameless would continue.

We're still running at a loss but the gap is now closing and we've got some strategic alliances and ideas in mind for 2009 that should help. Plus, most importantly, the interest and support on here steadily keeps growing and that's too important to ignore. You're all... very... special. Go on - give yourselves a pat!

We're not going to another massive 20-strong collection - it's very restrictive and hard to plan. Rather we'll go for building smaller more inter-related collections that we can plan, release when we say we will (hah!), have all the elemtns for and then properly promote.

That could of course just be a big old crock of shit but that's the thinking. Could finally have secured our SHAM020 - just checking off some important bits 'n' bobs and hope to announce that soon.

[cloud]

Just acquire the rights to Evil Dead, give it about 724 different releases and you'll become VERY wealthy . Failing that there is always Night Of The Living Dead, Withnail & I, Halloween etc..

Joking aside, could you PLEASE have a word with Play because their failure to stock Shameless titles is taking the piss, are they not interested in making money I wonder?

[Almar@Cult Labs]

I was shocked at the lack of a new edition of Halloween this year...

I have no idea what is going on at Play - the £5.99 prices were their idea yet they never have any stock. I'd point out that Amazon seem to be price-matching them on all such titles and they do have stock so seem like a far safer bet for now.

You can imagine how maddening it is for us when people can't get hold of our DVDs!

[vincenzo]

Play appear to have gone seriously breasts-horizontal of late. They seem to be incapable of restocking some titles, and many new releases never appear at all (their in-stock dates just continually keep getting moved back).

[Almar@Cult Labs]

Used to be my destination every time for DVDs - now I have to say Amazon are very good, fast and good value.

[vincenzo]

Yes I agree. Amazon are much better & faster these days.

[Sarah@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Almar@Shameless

Added to that we've been having some long meetings to determine if there will be a DVD industry in the UK in 2009 (a bit overdramatic but for indies it's just nuts at the moment) and whether Shameless would continue.

Is the fall in DVD sales really that dramatic? I know hardly anyone (including myself) who's actually made that switch. DVDs are just much better value for money compared to BluRay - particularly when you're on a budget. I mean, when I walk into Zavvi and see 2 BluRay for £30 or 5 DVDs for the same amount I know straight away which way I'm heading!

[Almar@Cult Labs]

I'm referring there to indies getting stocked in the few stores left that will carry them. There's really only one that counts and that makes all of us very vulnerable and plenty have gone bust or are on their way out. As for majors product in supermarkets etc no worries there - sales are as hearty as ever!

[cloud]

A stupid question perhaps, but do you even need brick and mortar stores now to break even? Personally I do most of my shopping online because for a start it's more convenient and it's where all the best deals are. In HMV they're selling the Diary Of The Dead tin for £10 but on their website it's £7. It seems that I'm coming back from Birmingham city with fewer and fewer DVDs and CDs because it's hard to find good deals in the shops there. And judging by things I read on forums most people are in the same boat and mostly use Amazon and that now.

It's just a shame Play don't get their stock sorted out because that must be costing you a lot of money. Even their marketplace section was quiet last time I checked regarding Shameless DVDs.