Hey MartinPierre!

[so-called customer]

I think it would be quite feasable to pursue a lunchbox release for those who financed this whole project from the get go under the terms Ross had from Disney. Those of us who ordered the sets initially (even if we cancelled leter - after all we were the ones bankrolling the operation for months) should be entitled to a lunchbox, even if it means paying a bit for it.

However, someone would have to approach Disney about it.

The DVD is another idea, but again there would be costs to cover, and those who hung in with AU can't expect an independent bonus disc release to be free, unfortunately.

The payment part is where it gets iffy, especially after all everyone has been through. If it required coming up with $30-50K to get this rolling, is anyone stupid enough to ante up yet again for etherware?

[Jason R]

Bedford Falls did not intend to give Ross an exclusive, and might not have ever signed over the rights.

Why not ask V3Media if they can't manufacture DVDs of the interviews? Does Dan still have a tape?

[GaryEA]

I'm all for a small group of fans taking picking up the ball and bringing this to a proper conclusion.

If anything, I'd suggest the group working in two teams - one works on acquiring the lunch boxes and prepping them for shipment, the other would collect material for a "My So-Called Bonus Disc" (I'm using my so-called idea as a title) and get it on disc. I'd like to work on this front.

They could either be shipped separately or together as a "final" package. The lunch boxes should be allocated to those who ordered them, and if there any left over, they can be made available on first come-first served basis.

The Bonus disc could be made for anyone who is interested, though I'd suggest that those who did not order from AU, like myself, would pay something like $9.99 (using DVD Discoveries as a model) as a fee.

EDIT: Jason's idea of contacting V3Media is an excellent one. They're just the type of firm that can do this.

Is this doable? I have no idea, but I do know that we could pull it off if the team works professionally and announces shipping dates only after we get a sense of what needs to be completed.

That's my 2 cents. Now pardon me while I go and finish watching "Firefly".

Gary

[so-called customer]

If this were to go ahead, one suggestion I would have for the bonus disc to keep costs down is not include packaging, just a finished DVD. That way, those who have the box set need only get a double Amaray and stick the disc in one of their existing DVDs. This would alleviate any need for graphics clearances from Disney, outside perhaps the logo silkscreen on the disc itself, plus greatly reduce the production and shipping costs.

Alternately/in conjuction, artwork for the disc could be made available as a PDF file online for anyone to print off at home. Technically, there should be clearance for any images used.

I believe there was supposed to be a still gallery on the original extras disc, but who got the rights to those, or has access to the slides I don't know.

Also, while it may not be feasable due to the problems that have been created with this set, it might be worth looking into obtaining the Museam footage. If the published numbers were correct, we'd need to have a fund set up to cover his additional expense.

Any graphics used for menus would also need to be cleared unless they came from the interview footage itself.

[JPP13]

I really like this. We need someone who is savy in such matters to initate "talks". Meaning, just an exploratory conversation.


IMO, we hold the cards on the lunchboxes. They are made. And the fans here are those who want them. If they don't go here, who the heck is buying them? I think we would be in a position to get them for cost, or better, assuming the licensing issues can be worked out.

What I envision, is a group of us who can, say 15 people, fronting the bill with a business trust set up to finance the deal. Then we turn around and re-sell them at cost first come first serve to those who pre-ordered. (I assume someone (Jason?) knows who those people are?). We would need some type of idea as to how many people would pay the 5 bucks or whatever it will cost, so we don't get stuck with a garage full of tin.

Thinking way outside the box for the moment, what if one or more of us re-approached the creators with our tale of woe? We can re-ask the same questions that were originally done, then throw in about 2 more hours of stuff. Hey, Jared Leto, touring with 30 seconds to mars, is very approachable. How much better would that be, even 15 minutes of reflection by a cast member. And Claire? I think she'd do it. Maybe. So we re-film it, put it out on digital (cheaply) and then re-distribute. The problem I suppose is licensing, but think of how we could sell ourselves. The victims who took matters into our own hands. I'd be happy to volunteer the legal work as best I can. Anyway, whats the MSCL licensing really worth at this point? Again, we sell it at cost. No taxes to worry about, or we set it up so any money goes to charity. Plenty of goodwill for Disney or whomever.

I need someone much smarter than a dolt like I to tell me whether this is feasible or not.

All of this is contingent of course on AU either going belly up or otherwise divesting itself from the contracts. The last post about Ross seems to counter that notion.

[Natasha (candygirl)]

FYI - Jared does not like to discuss MSCL or any part of his acting career now that he is touring with TSTM. He has been known to walk out of interviews when his acting is mentioned. He is focusing on his music now and consequently does not like to rehash MSCL. That said, I am not sure that he would leap at the chance to do something MSCL-related.

[Nostradamus]

What happens to the lunchboxes if they never ship from Hong Kong? Garbage scow? Melting pot?

What happens if they leave Hong Kong and AU finally kicks the bucket while they're halfway across the Pacific Ocean? Did the backlog from the recent dock strikes ever get cleared out?

What ever happened to the old-timers here who made the unofficial soundtrack CDs? I realize that project wasn't exactly the same as the current AU salvage operations, but maybe their experience can be of use now... ?

I wish I had some answers instead of questions, but at least I know there are plenty of dedicated Life-Heads out there working toward a solution.

[lance]

FYI - Jared does not like to discuss MSCL or any part of his acting career now that he is touring with TSTM. He has been known to walk out of interviews when his acting is mentioned. He is focusing on his music now and consequently does not like to rehash MSCL. That said, I am not sure that he would leap at the chance to do something MSCL-related.

Candygirl,

If true, Phooeey on Him! Still, getting the lunchboxes would be cool. I am willing to support those who wish to move on this with whatever help I can give. I can't be the "front dude" for this project though, grad school starts up again in two weeks (Arrgggh.)

Lance Man

[So-Called Loon]

I think it is your responsibility, by circumstance, to help the people who bought this DVD set from AU.

Not in this universe.

[So-Called Loon]

Yes in the past MartinPierre did defend Ross, ...

Not the way i read it.