Anyone have any ideas for DVD Extras that haven't been mentioned?
I dug out an old email from our internal project list back from 2001 before the AnotherUniverse s**t hit the fan. We also had a poll on mscl.com in 2001 asking the fans for their ideas.
Here's the "ultimate christmas wish list" we ended up with (I edited it a bit to bring it up to date):
- cast/crew commentary track(s)
-> this is a "killer application" and a "must-have".
-> especially for episodes #1 and #19.
- deleted/unedited footage
-> this is another "killer application".
e.g: - pre-production stuff like casting scenes
- dropped scenes
- just anything Bedford Falls might still have lying around
- cast interviews.
-> Devon Gummersall, A.J. Langer and others agreed back in 2001 to do interviews with us, but it fell apart due to scheduling issues in the last minute. Dan was already in L.A. to do the interviews...
-> but at least we got the interview with the nice folks at Bedford Falls. Unfortunately, AU put an unedited version on the bonus disc, so you can't understand everything they say.
- original promo material
-> there should be promo stuff from ABC, MTV and FOX Family available... somewhere in their archives.
-> we know that MTV produced little segments with the cast in 1995 when they aired the show
-> I also have a ABC press promo CD which features an early trailer for the show and two short interviews with Claire. But they're only tiny Quicktime videos (this was made in 1994, so it's low-quality)
-> possible source(s): Bedford Falls, ABC, MTV, FOX Family
- better video quality DVD
-> new video transfer. The first DVD set by AU/BMG was produced based on the masters produced for the early VHS sets back in 1998. The result was a low-quality picture quality with visible scan lines and film grain which looked sometimes really crappy on big (and smaller) screens. As far as I know, the show was originally shot on film, so better quality transfer should be possible these days (but still costly).
-> region code free (probably impossible since there're now R2 releases announced)
- subtitles in other languages (most requested: Spanish, French, German)
-> some are even already available (made by fans)
- intellimode / "fact track":
Based on the
fan-made dvd commentary there could be a special subtitle track with background information about the scene and/or the possibility to access special behind-the-scenes footage.
- Making of MSCL / MSCL documentary
-> from the early stages of the idea born in 1991 during the production of "thirtysomething" to the cancellation in 1995 to the DVD production...
-> maybe create some kind of documentary for the DVD with interviews with former ABC entertainment chef Ted Herbert and the Bedford Falls folks?
-> "what MSCL means to me": Interviews with writers/actors from other tv shows commenting on the influence of MSCL on their work. Also: Interviews with fans.
-> "Making of the DVD" / the history of the first DVD box set / the AU debacle...
- "special" footage:
-> original trailers from ABC and/or MTV from 1994/1995
-> footage from the "My So-Called Life" event at the museum of TV and Radio in L.A. from 1995. (60 minutes -- this is definitely available)
-> interactive "history of MSCL" with stills/videos from "Operation Life Support"
(e.g. the MTV interview with Steve Joyner, the Variety ad from January 95, Claire Danes winning the Emmy for MSCL,...)
- DVD-ROM section
- complete shooting scripts (and their revisions)
-> should be RTF or DOC or ASCII text on the DVD-ROM part
-> possible source(s): Bedford Falls, fans, "ScriptShops"
-> I have almost all of 'em.
- complete MSCL-related scores/theme songs by Snuffy Walden
-> possible source(s):
http://www.wgsnuffywalden.com
-> he actually answers his email by himself -- at least back in 2001
- "video-soundtrack" (e.g. the "Everbody Hurts" video by R.E.M.)
- actors biography / filmography (with trailers?) / "where are they now?"
- as a gag:
"MSCL in other languages".
(just like on the first "Shrek" DVD: short scenes with french, german, italian dubbing...)
- some kind of game (interactive trivia game, etc.)
-> little MSCL game ... something dealing with the cat and/or Tino perhaps. (just like the "pills" on the Matrix DVD ...)
-> this one is actually the reason for that little "key" on the lunchbox. It was supposed to be part of a larger easter egg on the main DVDs.
- Limited edition bonus ideas:
-> the book "Fighting for Life", edition 2007
including: - promo ads from ABC for Golden Globe consideration
- behind-the-scenes pictures
- actor biographies
- "angela's world"
- fanfiction stories
- the history of "Operation Life Support"
-> "Liberty High Yearbook" with pictures from some MSCL-fans
-> T-Shirt
-> Poster (Replica of original ABC promo posters)
-> letter from Winnie Holzman/Bedford Falls to the fans...
-> limited autographed edition
- First "My So-Called Life" World Convention / Release Party
when the DVD gets released. (heh, one can dream...)