Dolby, the Oscars and a DVD debacle

摘要

We knew it would happen sooner or later. After the fiasco of pirated Academy screeners, encrypted DVDs were sure to follow. Academy screeners are provided to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (those incredibly nice people who hand out gold statues called Oscars) and BAFTA, the British film and television organisation which seems to be sponsored by the Orange mobile phone company. Both academies include members who have done something worthy or spectacular in the movie industry, and who act as judges for various and coveted industry prizes. Because of this, film companies are typically eager to send them screener disks in the hope these luminaries will vote for their film. Naturally, a prize-winning movie translates into increased sales, but releasing an advance screener cbpy is not without risk.