ALF's Hit Talk Show Debuts

[Luke]

With the comparison to the Ferrari i was talking about taking money from the rights holder, not the person owning the particular DVD but yeah you are right that lots of these companies are big corporate people with megabucks. It is legal in most countries to make backups, but only of what you own. There are problems with DVD prices etc but i feel that's more films than TV shows on DVD. The films are way expensive here but with TV shows (taking advantage of pre-orders) you can get whole seasons of shows on DVD for near enough the price we used to pay for a few episodes "Best Of" compilation on VHS - AND you get extras. That's not too shabby in my book. I don't agree with the free use argument but then i wouldn't - i work in TV so obviously i'm going to be on the side of the industry, i can see both points.

Once i get a chance to check out the extras on the ALF DVD myself i will report back as to the quality. There have been some cuts but from what i can work out they are few inbetween and in all but a couple of cases fairly minor. Hopefully we can get original episodes in the future, i know Lions Gate are putting a lot of effort into the ALF DVD's.

ALF actually did an interview on NBC's "Access Hollywood" on Tuesdays edition. This was to promote the DVD release where they showed clips from the sitcom too. Anybody catch this?

 

[Iokitek]

I can also see both points actually. Oh well... there are forums especially set up for these kinds of discussions. So I guess I shouldn't bore everyone here anymore with my ramblings. That's the smart thing to do.

I will see if I can get that particular Access Hollywood episode for you. I know a few ALF fans who keep track of his apearances so they might have it. I'll contact you through your site then.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I think your comparison to the ferrari was not entirely correct actually. Since I would not be stealing someones stuff but rather making a copy of it...DVD's and cars are two very different products.

This is the mistaken impression that is often used to justify piracy. DVDs are and cars aren't any different really except that it's a lot easier to copy a DVD than it is a Ferrari (and if someone could clone them, you know we'd be debating the legality of that too!). The problem of course is that your neighbor can't give you permission to copy a DVD (in a legal sense anyway). Whoever created or owns the content you're copying should have the right to control and profit from it. If they wanted someone to be able to duplicate their work they'd release it in the public domain or through something like Creative Commons.

There is virtually no legal way to make/distribute copies of copyrighted content that you do not own or have permission to. The exceptions like fair use, personal copies, etc. are very narrow and people who try to justify piracy with those rules usually misunderstand them.

This doesn't mean you can't copy things of course, just that it is illegal just about everywhere except China.

That said, I definately agree with you that that customers are being ripped off to an extent here and the Studios are in it for themselves. There's a lot of price-gouging in the DVD market at the moment and the big studios are trying to make copyright even more restrictive in the US and elsewhere. They're also already trying to line-up an "improved" high-definition DVD format which is rediculous this early in the DVD format's life cycle.

I never hear small production companies complaining about these things. It's always the big companies who are obviously not doing that bad at all actually. So what are they complaing about then? The actors got paid, the crew got paid, the writers got paid, etc. Everyone got paid with a big profit left and still that's not enough. And even if they get a bigger profit...what does cameraman #4 for instance actually get to see of that huge profit? Just his set fee.

Again, I hate to argue with you but this is absolutely false.

While the big stars, the director and maybe the writer do make millions on a Hollywood films many supporting actors, extras and crews do not really make that much. They often depend on royalties from the studios to help support their families (a lot of people who work in film only work half the year) or to help pay for their union pensions so that they can retire one day. I know actors and crew who frequently do big commercials, movies, etc. but work as temps in an office part of the year to help make ends meet. I'm not saying a lot of these people aren't well paid, but for every well-off person in the film biz you show me I'll show you five who aren't.

But again, the studios are the bad guys here. Because they're not going loose money no matter what. They'll just lay people off. Or make movies in the Czech Republic, Canada or New Zeland or whatever cheap country they can to save bucks. They don't care who they put out of work.

It's so sad.

 

[Iokitek]

I guess It's up to people like you and me then to make our own programming and bring those dinosaurs to their knees.


Thanks for all the info Andrew. I hate having the wrong impression on matters so... It's always good to be reminded. I still disagree with a few things though. But I won't really comment on that. The law doesn't mean that much to me so I guess it's useless to remind me of that. And these are different everywhere. I feel that God's laws take precendence over any manmade law. But that's an entirely different subject ofcourse.

 

[Luke]

So i am aware of the ALF Cuts. The intro narration of the pilot is cut out. A narration from Lynn in the camping episode where she is writing to her boyfriend. ALF's conversation with Skip and Rhonda in their spaceship during "Help Me Rhonda" is cut so you just see ALF talking on the Ham Radio, not the spaceship scenes. These are all cuts made for the syndicated prints, they haven't been made just for the DVD. Some of those scenes were great though, wish we had the originals. Maybe those prints weren't in as good condition ?

 

[Iokitek]

I don't know actually. Maybe I can still find the origional episodes though. I'll check it out. Haven't been able to find the ALF interview yet. Sorry.

 

[beaker]

Luke, any idea how this show is doing...and if it means more Alf to come? Or is it a last hurrah? I dont have cable so I have no idea how this show is being recieved. Also, any chance the Alf cartoon will ever be on dvd? Call it heresy, but I was more a fan of the cartoon than the sitcom.

 

[Luke]

Yes Cory. The pilot was a success with viewers despite a mixed reaction from the critics. ALF's Hit Talk Show has been picked up by TV Land and will return for it's first season in October with a regular weekly time slot. No idea about the cartoon on DVD as yet - i'm not sure whether the rights are partly owned by DIC still.

 

[Drtooth]

Well, I still want it, cuts and all. Blaime the syndicators for this one, cutting stuff so we can see an extra 2 minutes of local commercials for Crazy Freddy's regional used matresses. Really wish they'd have gotten the uncut portions, but I guess something happened to them. I don't have cable, so I can't see the new ALF show, long awaited. For a while, I thought that this went into Unfounded TV heaven with the Kid's WB TMNT series, Jay Ward's "Watts Gnu" puppet show from the 60's, and all the Muppet TV rumors....

 

[Iokitek]

I changed my mind on the subject actually. Not entirely. But I have come to the conclusion that I need to uphold the law no matter how wrong it is. If I'd keep on copying stuff I'm actually part of the problem instead of the solution. I have written more on the subject on my blog.

Now there is still the problem of software though. If I don't copy series and movies etc then I can't copy software either. It's the same principle. So now me and my friend are trying to figure out how to get these programs because they are about $800 a piece. (Adobe mostly)

I guess that's also because too many people make illegal copies so they raise their prices. I would probably do the same. The only way this can ever change is if we all play fair. That goes for them too then ofcourse. And I'm not very happy about that situation right now.

I realize that not every production company treats it's employers fairly. But I'd say this is not my responsibility. If I'm being treated unfairly at work I'll take it up with my boss and maybe even quit. If they don't and keep on working for these companies then that's their decision. It's not for me to pity them. It's their choice. Except when contracts are involved though. Then you're just stuck to it. I know the main cast of CSI are caught in this predicament. They signed a 7 year contract without any hope for a payraise. While CSI is the #1 show at the moment and surely making good money. I would probably still break my contract with them then. Just to make a point.

Oh well. It's a difficult issue.