Micheal Brockhoff has updated the Bronycon Documentary posting on Kickstarter with some information on the actual release. It sounds like there will be a primary we will be seeing in November, followed by some bonuses involving the European BUCK and GALACON in 2013.
His release says it best though! Have some information:
Many of you have been asking for a while now about the release plans for the documentary. After much discussion and consideration here is what we have in mind.
(More after the break)
Later this year, the feature length film "BronyCon: The Documentary" will be released. As promised, we’ve captured some amazing stories of individual journeys that converge at the convention and can’t wait for you to see them. The film will introduce you to the people we followed and will also be a celebration of BronyCon itself. On a larger social level, there will be insight into who the fans are and what is driving the phenomenon.
As bonus features, we are hoping to shoot and include two self-contained mini-documentaries on Germany’s GalaCon and the UK’s BUCK convention. Those plans are being made now.
When is this going to happen? Most likely, the release will be in early November. Yes, we originally promised September, but that was when we thought it was going to be two cameras covering two convention days only. Now we are in the process of logging and editing over 100 hours of raw compelling footage shot all over the world. Don’t consider it delayed; think of it as an early holiday gift. If there is any way to deliver earlier, we will.
Now for some of the technical details.
The digital download will be released as an MP4 file. The video will be in HD. We don’t know yet if the download will be 720p or 1080p since that has to be decided when the program is complete. We have to conduct a series of quality tests to determine the best balance of resolution, bit rate and resulting file size. After all, we don't want you to have to buy and fill a new hard drive just to hold the film. The MP4 will include English subtitles that can be turned on or off. The file will be DRM free. We are making plans to include the GalaCon and BUCK mini-documentaries in this file, but it will not include the extended bonus interviews.
Everyone that paid for a physical disc will receive a retail package with a Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray will have 1080p High Definition video. It will be region free so it plays anywhere in the world and will include English subtitles that can be turned on or off.
Although there have been requests for the release of a standard DVD, we are not going to be able to provide one. Many of our orders are from places outside the United States so if we were to provide a standard DVD we would have to create two versions (NTSC and PAL), which would be cost prohibitive. You don't have that problem with Blu-ray because the player converts the video.
As far as the bonus disc of extended interviews with Tara Strong, Lauren Faust and John de Lancie, a separate Blu-ray disc will be shipped either alongside or inside the retail package. Sorry, but this material will only be distributed as a Blu-ray disc. It is cost prohibitive to release this material via digital download (yes it does cost a lot to send a huge file to a thousand people) and/or as a standard DVD for the reasons previously mentioned.
The digital download and Blu-ray discs are still available and will continue to be available for purchase via our website at www.bronydoc.com
So what about release to the public and to those with a limited budget?
After "BronyCon: The Documentary" is complete and released to the backers, we will prepare a separate feature length program called "Bronies" for release in 2013. It will consist of a combination of the material from “BronyCon: The Documentary,” the self-contained mini-documentaries we plan on creating on Germany’s GalaCon and the UK’s BUCK convention, some added interviews and more social commentary. This is the version that we will submit to film festivals. Should everything work out, it will also be available as a video rental on sites like Amazon and iTunes, can be purchased at retailers and hopefully we’ll make a deal to release it via Netflix, broadcast television, etc.
By the way, T-shirt design is underway now. I plan to show you what we have in mind next week.
And to leave you, here’s a fun little video. Thousands of people entering the BronyCon hall.
Thank you for your support.
Best,
Michael Brockhoff
