Cinematic Titanic

[SmilinJackRoss]

I was looking back over Joel's blog posts, and one entry in particular caught my eye. 

Posted on November, 14 at 2:00 pm:

...we will also be offering the e-mail club a chance to download a free "Christmas Present" before anyone else in the form of a short holiday film. This way you can try our "Download to burn" process and see just how fun and easy it really is. Then, show off your home-fab'd DVD to your friends, give it as a stocking stuffer, or slip it into a holiday card. Burning, labeling, and packaging disks at home is something, as Trace says, "Fits our do-it-yourself-aesthetic beautifully."

The bolded parts are what interested me.  First, there is this "free Christmas present download" thing.  What is it, you ask?  Well, nobody knows, because it never happened.  Thanks Joel.

Then there's the bit about "burning, labeling, and packaging discs at home".  Now, we all know the rights issues got screwed up and they weren't able to offer the download option, but what about the "labeling & packaging" aspect we were promised?  Three months after the release, and still no coverart for us to download.  Again, thanks Joel.

Now...I read the IFC interview and I realize this is an "artist owned and operated venture", which means the CT crew is paying for all this out of their pocket, so that they can do what they want without any studio or corporate meddling.  Sounds all fine and good, but having a big brother looking over your shoulder can actually be a good thing when you obviously can't run the project properly yourself.

I'm making a proclamation right here and now.  I will not buy anymore CT DVDs until Joel comes through on his initial promises to the fans.  Offer us this short holiday film for download, offer us the coverart for download....or if not, at least offer up an explanation as to why these things aren't available yet. 

[Doctor Who?]

Yeah Joel really has no idea how to run a project like this.

Hopefully he will find someone like Shout who will be willing to handle the running of things for his so that he can just do the riffing.

[SaucyRossy]

Smilin Jack Ross and everyone else who is going a little nutso.....please let's settle down a bit here.

I am sure like all people Joel and the gang are trying to figure out how running a business goes. They are artists afterall and probably have never owned or operated their own business. Doesn't mean you should start a boycott of future CT projects.

Be reasonable here, it's a learning process and I am sure as long as we support the project things will slowly but surely start to come together. I have a feeling CT was launched a little sooner than they wanted to do to the Bots are back press release and I am not excusing the fact that they haven't delivered on what they promised exactly but they have devlivered the product. It may not be all shiny, and wrapped in plastic like you want it but I mean it's the content that matters isnt it? You dont complain that your rifftrax purchases arent sent to youi on a packaged usb drive or some such do you?

And yes the delays have been annoying but I know or atleast have heard the rumour that they are going to film two back to back...so that should make the releases less far apart but I really look at the first episode of CT as a true pilot in the sense that they filmed it, paid for it themselves, and waited to see how well it did before really getting started on a full season, just like a real TV show does.

All I am saying is that if the only thing that is keeping you from purchasing a new CT is labels, packaging and dvd cases well then sir you are silly.

[SmilinJackRoss]

Smilin Jack Ross and everyone else who is going a little nutso.....please let's settle down a bit here.

I am sure like all people Joel and the gang are trying to figure out how running a business goes. They are artists afterall and probably have never owned or operated their own business. Doesn't mean you should start a boycott of future CT projects.

Be reasonable here, it's a learning process and I am sure as long as we support the project things will slowly but surely start to come together. I have a feeling CT was launched a little sooner than they wanted to do to the Bots are back press release and I am not excusing the fact that they haven't delivered on what they promised exactly but they have devlivered the product. It may not be all shiny, and wrapped in plastic like you want it but I mean it's the content that matters isnt it? You dont complain that your rifftrax purchases arent sent to youi on a packaged usb drive or some such do you?

And yes the delays have been annoying but I know or atleast have heard the rumour that they are going to film two back to back...so that should make the releases less far apart but I really look at the first episode of CT as a true pilot in the sense that they filmed it, paid for it themselves, and waited to see how well it did before really getting started on a full season, just like a real TV show does.

All I am saying is that if the only thing that is keeping you from purchasing a new CT is labels, packaging and dvd cases well then sir you are silly.

It's the principle, Saucy.  We were told we would get a free short, were told we would get labels/artwork, we were told we'd get downloadable content, we were told we would get a certain release date, etc etc etc.  And when the things that we were promised did not actually happen, we weren't given an explanation.  they should've at least let the fans know why these things didn't happen.  If you want someone to return to your business, you treat them well.  I don't feel like CT treats their customers very well.  And the only way I can convey my displeasure with the way things are running, is to speak with my wallet. 

It's like going to a restaurant that serves really good food, but the waiter was rude and incompetent.  Regardless of how good the food is, I'm not going to return to that restaurant because the service is crappy.  Like I said, if CT eventually offers the coverart like they said they would, and offers some kind of free short, then they will be back in my good graces, and I will continue to give them my business.  Otherwise, I'm not returning.

As for the USB drive comment...c'mon.  Rifftrax doesn't promise to send you a USB drive in the mail and then not do it.  RiffTrax not only meets my expectations, but exceeds it with their customer service.  The mods are always on the forums ready to assist you at any time, or ready to offer an explanation for a glitch, or remedy a problem you might have with their product.

[Doctor Who?]

Look all i said was that Joel doesn't seem to know how to run a project like this and given the facts i don't see how you can say that isn't true.

Look Joel seems like a nice guy and he is a great ideas man but most great idea men need someone else to run the day to day things for them,i believe Joel is one of those people.

CT is a great idea but until he starts making episodes that is all it is an idea.

Also what is up with the DvD not having cover,that's like selling a car with out paint and then telling the costumers that you will give them the paint so that they can paint it themselves but then not doing it.

I will not be giving them my $16 until they let you have a cover and I hear they they have shipped a disc in under 3 months.

[SaucyRossy]

I agree Joel may not be the best business man in the world and they haven't delivered on some of the things they talked about but like i said its the content that matters. I cant justify passing up on the next CT movies if they dont have covers, i could care less about a dvd cover etc. it doesn't matter that much in the long run really.....but i can tell many of you like having that and other tangible things like cases but to me I would rather do it all digital like rifftrax.

either way all I am saying is to be patient and let them prove us wrong. If they release the next one and say that the one after that wont be out for another three months then i will totally agree with all of you and i will probably stop caring but i highly doubt that will happen. Like i said, i think they are still working out the kinks and truly underestimated what it would take to get this done but i think (hope) once they get it rolling it will be a consistent and gratifying product like rifftrax is.

[bettertomorrowamy]

I agree Joel may not be the best business man in the world and they haven't delivered on some of the things they talked about but like i said its the content that matters. I cant justify passing up on the next CT movies if they dont have covers, i could care less about a dvd cover etc. it doesn't matter that much in the long run really.....but i can tell many of you like having that and other tangible things like cases but to me I would rather do it all digital like rifftrax.

either way all I am saying is to be patient and let them prove us wrong. If they release the next one and say that the one after that wont be out for another three months then i will totally agree with all of you and i will probably stop caring but i highly doubt that will happen. Like i said, i think they are still working out the kinks and truly underestimated what it would take to get this done but i think (hope) once they get it rolling it will be a consistent and gratifying product like rifftrax is.

I agree.  A pilot is what the first episode was.  This is only the beginning....the beginning...the beginning...

[Doctor Who?]

Well i hope you are right and things improve with the next release because at $16 each CT costs more then any other form of riffing and it has less features.

Look I want CT to be good I really do but I can't justify pay a premium price for something that I don't even get a cover with(I mean come on even the $1 dvds at Wal-Mart have a cover)that can take as long as six months to ship out.

If Joel can fix these things i will gladly pay the $16 but if I can't i will not be buying unless the price comes down to $10 or less.

But i do wish Joel all the best i really do it's just that I have limited money to sped on this sort of thing.

[bettertomorrowamy]

A cover?  That's so 20th Century of you.

He did promise artwork though, and I agree that they really shouldn't promise things and not deliver, and then give no explanation or apology.

[Doctor Who?]

You dang gone kids with your fancy coverless DvDs why in my day Dvds only cost a 95 cents and they came in a solid gold case,I aint going to take this crap any more!

[Natureboy]

CT has been a real clusterf*ck of an operation so far.  The seem to have no clear direction as to what they are doing.  Too many chefs maybe?

[MK Murder]

Doesn't seem like this is going anywhere, but if it does, I would buy the DVD. it looks good.

[CA20]

Did you know there is one out already? Maybe I misunderstood your post, but I got the impression you didn't realize they already put one out.

[MK Murder]

Did you know there is one out already? Maybe I misunderstood your post, but I got the impression you didn't realize they already put one out.

i know they have one out, but aside from that one, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

[bettertomorrowamy]

Did you know there is one out already? Maybe I misunderstood your post, but I got the impression you didn't realize they already put one out.

i know they have one out, but aside from that one, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Well they are going somewhere, just very slowly.