Matt LaSorsa, senior vice president of marketing for New Line Home Entertainment, took a few minutes to answer some of my questions about the two-tier strategy for releasing the Lord of the Rings film on DVD.

What research did you do to decide a tiered strategy was appropriate for this DVD release?
It's an interesting question because we almost went to a tier strategy by default. To put together the elements for the November release is taking all of that time. We have the ability to put the August release together for August, so by default we're in the two-tiered strategy. On the other hand, we think it's certainly the right strategy and even if we didn't have that as a limitation, we would stick with the strategy because both releases are so distinctly different. The films are distinctly different. The probable ratings are different, so we feel that it's important to stage the releases the way they are.

How is the extended cut different?
I think one of the better analogies to give is that the theatrical version was very Frodo-centric. Almost every scene had Frodo in it or followed his journey, largely with the help of the fellowship, but really it was Frodo-centric. The extended version will enable people to experience more character development from other people. For example, Aragorn's character. You'll explore him, his background, where he is, why he is where he is. You'll see Galadriel's gift-giving scene extended beyond the gift to Frodo that you see in the theatrical version. For the theatrical release, it would have not made as much sense to include that because all those story arcs from the other gifts are completed in films two and three. For the real film fan that's familiar with the books, they miss seeing that in the theatrical release but will get to see it in the extended version. But they know the books so they know why they're not seeing those story arcs completed.

Will this mean people will have to see the extended cut to understand two and three?
It will be a great companion piece before somebody goes to see The Two Towers but Peter recognizes that a lot of people will not have seen the extended version before they go see The Two Towers and ultimately Return of the King. So, I think he will close some of those story arcs. I don't know how he's going to do it, but I don't think somebody will feel excluded or miss key points if they don't see the extended version.

Is it planned for the next two Lord of the Rings films to also have extended cuts?
We'll have to wait to see. So much of it depends on the running time of the theatrical versions, what can be included from ratings standpoints and just pure story content. I think it's a wait and see [situation.]

Why until August for the theatrical cut?
Well, the theatrical cut could conceivably be available before August but we are doing some bonus features on that that we're still working on and just completing now. Then you've got the June/July months that are typically not video-friendly months because people are on vacation. We felt that the best merchandising opportunity comes in August with the back to school window.

Why save more bonus materials for the November release?
Because the two discs of supplemental materials for the extended version is the material that's being shot, edited, cut now that really won't be available for two or three more months. When you look at just the manufacturing process of four disc sets and what's required for meet time, replication, authoring, mastering, it really becomes the earliest that that can be feasibly available for the consumers.

Will there be a feature showing the reediting process for the extended film?
A lot of the features are still in development, so it's really too early to talk specifically. I don't want to address something that maybe won't work or doesn't end up being on there. But before June 7, the whole world will get an opportunity to see item by item the kind of things we're conceiving.

Get ready to pre-order the theatrical cut in April and the extended cut in June.

Award-winning films being rushed on video
The New Straits Times

A SLEW of Oscar-winning movies is set to hit the stores on DVD/VHS in the coming months.

A Beautiful Mind, which swept the awards in four categories (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay), is slated for release in June.

The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, which also picked up four Oscars, will be coming out in no fewer than three versions, the first on Aug 6.

FANS of Peter Jackson’s first Lord Of The Rings film will be thrilled to know that three video versions of The Fellowship of The Ring will be available this year.

The first, set for release on Aug 6, will be a double-disc DVD (single VHS) featuring the three-hour movie and two hours of additional content.

The second, a “special extended edition”, will be a four-disc DVD (single VHS) set featuring a 3½-hour rendering of the theatrical release and six hours of extras. It comes out on Nov 12.

Also slated for Nov 12 release is a five-disc collector’s DVD package that includes all the contents of the four-disc set plus a National Geographic special.

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