Direct-To-DVD: from Syfy to the Majors
Direct-to-DVD: From Syfy to the Majors A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Fine Arts of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Christorpher J. Haak March 2011 © 2011 Christopher J. Haak. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled Direct-to-DVD: From Syfy to the Majors by CHRISTOPHER J. HAAK has been approved for the School of Film and the College of Fine Arts by Louis-Georges Schwartz Assistant Professor of Film Charles A. McWeeny Dean, College of Fine Arts 3 ABSTRACT Haak, Christopher J., M.A., March 2011, Film Scholarship Direct-to-DVD: From Syfy to the Majors Director ofThesis: Louis-Georges Schwartz The direct-to-DVD market is an understudied aspect of the film industry. By focusing on Syfy, as both exhibitor and financier of direct-to-DVD movies, and the Majors’ direct-to-DVD divisions, I will show how these two distinct systems interact with the home video market. Initially one would think that these two systems, Syfy with its ultra low budget action and horror movies and the Majors more typical direct-to-DVD fare, would be in competition with one another, however, this is not the case. The Majors are not attempting to edge out the mini studios by producing a glut of movies at the $1-2 million range; instead they leave that to mini studios and focus on fewer, bigger titles. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Louis-Georges Schwartz Assistant Professor of Film 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables ......................................................................................................................
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