Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I can only assume that most, if not all who are reading this at least have some interest in the field of collecting physical media. If not, well, maybe I can convert you.
What I want to do here is give an introduction to the world of collecting physical media, and explain my process for doing so in hopes of inspiring anyone else who wants to do so to join in on the fun! It has quickly become one of my favorite hobbies, and I hope that I can make a collector out of at least one of you as well.
Now, as the title suggests, I should admit that I myself am still a beginner. I’ve got a few drawers full of DVDs and Blu-Rays, but I’m nowhere near a full-time collector. I’m a newly-wed, twenty-two year old man, working a day job at a grocery store, only barely able to pay rent. Needless to say, I don’t have the shelves and shelves of films and TV-boxsets that I would like. But, it is still a hobby that I am slowly spending more and more of my energies enjoying. So, as someone who is still, by all means, a beginner, I want to give some advice to the other beginners out there who might be as lost as I was (and in many ways still am), regarding the incredibly fun and rewarding world of collecting.
Why is Physical Media important?
So, what’s the point? Why put any time, effort or, (and this is the big one) money into collecting physical movies? There are a thousand and one different streaming services, all hosting hundreds, or for some even thousands, different films and TV shows. Why have a library of your own?
To be honest, the answer to this question really depends on the person, and this is a point I’ll come back to later. But really, there are many answers. For some, it’s the thrill of the hunt, going out to stores and searching for your favorite film, or some rare and out-of-print edition you might really want. For some, it could be the satisfaction of having one, two, three, or however many shelves lined with beautifully decorated film cases and boxsets. For others, it is the principle of always having access to your favorite films, as a streaming service always runs the risk of losing a license to a product, and it being lost forever.
That last one is a point I would like to dwell on for a second. How many times have you scrolled past a movie or show on Netflix, Disney+, Max, or whatever other service you might use, thought about how you wanted to watch it but just did not have the time right then, came back later, and it was gone. This could be the result of various issues. The service might have lost the rights to stream it, and there is nowhere else at the time that possesses those rights. Or, the rights could change over to another service, one that you might not have. Or, in the case of HBOMax in 2022, actively erasing content from its service in the hopes of changing its brand name.
That last point is especially frustrating, as it was mostly animated content that never got a physical release in the first place, meaning that those shows, shorts, and films can never be seen!
However, if you own physical films, they can never be taken from you. You always have access to them, regardless if the company wants you to see them or not. They are yours to watch whenever you want. For me, one of the primary reasons to collect physical films is the permanent accessibility of the product.
What are Boutique Labels?
A boutique label is simply a company that puts out Blu-Rays, usually with a specific focus on what sort of content it wants to put out. This is different from the standard Blu-Ray released from Disney or Warner Bros. These are usually much higher quality, and are of films that usually would not get the biggest or widest release. Here are a few of the many boutique companies out there to consider:
SHOUT! Factory - SHOUT! releases Blu-Rays for anime, Studio Ghibli films, various cult-classic films, most of the Power Rangers, and my favorite - almost ALL of the Transformers animation.
ARROW Video - ARROW is a UK based company who, like SHOUT!, specializes in cult-classic and b-movie films. With beautiful releases for films such as ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’, ‘An American Werewolf in London’, ‘Dune’ (the David Lynch film, not the 2021 film), and the 90s ‘Heisei Gamera Trilogy’ (which is one of my personal Holy Grails), this only scratches the tip of the iceberg for what ARROW has in its catalog.
INDICATOR - INDICATOR specializes in films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Indicator releases anything from film noir, to classic monster films (including Hammer Horror), and three beautiful boxsets of Ray Harryhausen films (another Holy Grail of mine).
CRITERION COLLECTION - This is the big one, and the last one I will be mentioning. CRITERION is the most well known, and in my opinion the best in regards to boutique releases. They release the most culturally important and influential films of history, whether it’s a classic from the 1930s, or a movie from 2020. There is no specific genre Criterion specializes in either. Whether it is a Wes Anderson film, the entire Showa Era Godzilla series, or any number of foreign films, Criterion would likely release it.
These are just a few labels I wanted to cover here. There are many more worth considering, so I am listing this article by CBR that covers more boutique labels if you want to check them out.
How much does it cost to collect?
Obviously, collecting costs money. As I alluded to earlier, collecting is something that is a bit trickier for me as I am limited on how much I can spend. That is why the biggest, and most important tip I can give is BUDGET. Do not think you have to spend a million dollars and fill up your collection as quickly as possible. Budget a certain amount each month and stick to it.
For me personally, with my current income, I give myself roughly $50 each month to spend on film. Of course, this can fluctuate depending on the month. If my wife and I are having a particularly difficult month financially, I will cut that budget accordingly. But also, for months like July or November when Barnes and Noble Criterion has all of their films 50% off, I might be willing to go a bit over my budget because I know I can get more than for less (but that is only within those months).
Your budget may be different from my budget. You may be able to spend more or less that $50 a month. But having a set number that you more or less stick to each month is going to be key in helping you build your collection.
Why are you doing this?
The last point I want to touch on is this: why are YOU wanting to collect physical media? What about it is attracting you to this hobby? Is it to have your own library of film to be able to choose from on family movie night? Is it to have a unique and aesthetically pleasing wall of shelves to look at in your house? Is it because you enjoy going out to stores or searching Ebay for the best deals on out of print boutique label releases? Is it because you want to ensure you will never lose the ability to watch your favorite films or shows?
All of these are wonderful reasons to begin collecting as a hobbyist but you must make sure you know YOUR reason for doing it. Do not do it just because someone else does it; do it because, for whatever reason, it is something you enjoy and brings you pleasure.
And remember, for most of us this is a hobby. It is not our defining feature. It is fun and that is the important part. Make sure you are having fun with it that is the most important part of all.
留言