DVD Publication Planning

I spent the last few days pricing out many different scenarios for a press-run of an open-source DVD edition of “No Children in Space”. This is a tricky proposition, because there’s a pretty high risk that we won’t sell a lot of them. So I want to keep the investment relatively small, but also want to do a press run of actual pressed DVDs — the kind with ‘pits’ instead of ‘smudges’ (i.e. not dye-based DVD-Rs).

There’s a lot of detail I had to consider for this, and I checked several different suppliers to figure out how best to do it.

It would of course be ideal, for a short run like this, to make it using my M-Disc upgraded disc duplicator. However, I have not even begun doing the software development work to support it, so I think I have to consider it unavailable for this publication project. Maybe next time.

However, there is a beautifully low-tech solution for printable M-Discs that I have thought of, which is to simply use rubber-stamping technology. I priced getting a custom stamp made of a size to print a single-color pattern on the whole disc. With this, and a customizable stamp for detailing, I think I can make a pretty nice looking “Supplement” disc for things like project source code, which would be really good, because then I can do on-demand or short-run printing of M-Disc BD-R media, which are an excellent archival choice — this would be a superior product to ordering pre-printed dye-based BD-R media, despite a slightly more “home made” look (or is that actually an advantage, I’m not sure!).

The only objection I can think of for this is that the stamping might stress the disc, but I think this can be solved with judicious use of wooden jigs, hubs, and maybe a little felt. I shall experiment.

This is cheap enough to set up that I’m going to try it out anyway. It would be a nice way to mark my annual archive discs, which currently have very tiny felt-tip on them, with the theory that I would print something else over them — eventually.

Signed/Numbered Special Limited 4-Disc Collector’s Edition

This will be a 4-disc set:

• Pressed NTSC DVD9 with Video + Extras + Selected Library Source Files
• PAL DVD with Video + Extras + Concept Art (possibly another press-run or on M-Disc DVD media).
• Pressed CD with Soundtrack / “Music File 1”
• M-Disc BD-R with Episode Source and supporting Library Source Files

The risk is controlled somewhat because only the NTSC Disc #1 has to be produced as a press run with a 1000 discs. If pre-sales go very well, I will probably also get the PAL disc replicated in the same way. The minimum order for the CD run is a much smaller and cheaper 100 discs (I’m a little suspicious of this — I’ll need to verify that these are pressed and not just CD-Rs). I can make the other on-site in batches of 10 or so. And of course, I’ll be assembling the sets by hand, in house, along with numbering and signing them.

For the planned 100 sets, this is not a problem.

Each disc set will come with a certificate insert, with hologram and stamped sequence number, a signature from me (Director, Terry Hancock), and a unique image and text, so that each certificate is slightly different. I will probably also add some stickers or trading cards to each pack, with random selection.

I may expand the number of units if pre-sales should exceed 100 sales, but I don’t really expect that to happen.

I will also produce a small number of similar sets as Contributor Editions, exclusively for those who contributed actively to the project (modelers, animators, voice actors, etc). These won’t have the same numbering, but will say “Contributor Edition” and have a personal note for each contributor. Can’t get these for money, unless they decide to sell them!

Disc Contents

DISC 1: NTSC Video + Extras + DVD-ROM Extras + Source

This the “main DVD” disc that will be included in this special edition and also in the regular edition. It has the NTSC SD version of the episode as well as an HD version included with the DVD-ROM data.  It has most of the featurettes, with a limited amount of DVD-ROM data, including a few of the more interesting Blender models used in the episode.

DVD Video/Menus (NTSC Format):

• • Anamorphic Widescreen 29.97fps SD/NTSC version of episode
  • Commentary Tracks
  • Featurettes:
    • The Other Open Source (Location Research)
    • Free Culture and the Creative Commons (Explainer)
    • Free Software Production Pipeline Tour
    • DVD-ROM Content Overview
  • Selected Set Tours and Turnarounds
  • Character Profiles for Georgiana, Hiromi, and Sergei
  • Selected Concept Art Slideshow
  • Cast & Crew Bios and Filmographies

I plan to keep the DVD video content to a minimum, because standard DVD video uses MPEG2 compression, which is bulky and limited to SD video. If I instead put this content on as “data”, then I can use modern codecs like VP9 or H264 which are more compact, even for high-defnition (HD) video. This arrangement will allow more to be included.

Note that most DVD and Blu-Ray players today will play both PAL and NTSC video, with minor playback quality differences, regardless of which is the preferred format in your country. The 29.97fps of NTSC is very close to the original 30fps. This will result in a frame dropped about every 1000 frames — or about once every 33 seconds. The most notable effect will be a very subtle lag in lipsync, which will probably not be noticeable with animation.

DVD-ROM Data:

• • 1080p HD / 30fps / High-Profile VP9 version of episode
  • 1080p HD / 30fps / Web Profile H264 MP4 version episode
  • Script
  • Concept Art
    • Character Concepts
    • Modelsheets
    • Logo Art, Patches, Seals, In-Universe Branding, Etc.
  • Two-Minute Tutorials
  • Selected Screencast Videos
  • Selected Source files
    • Characters
      • Hiromi (Dress)
      • Hiromi (Flightsuit)
      • Hiromi (Sokol Spacesuit)
      • Georgiana (Pinafore/Dress)
      • Georgiana (Flightsuit/Playsuit)
      • Georgiana (Spacesuit)
      • Sergei (Flightsuit)
      • Sergei (Sokol Spacesuit)
    • Mech
      • Soyuz Launch Vehicle
      • Soyuz Transporter-Erector
      • Soyuz Launchpad
      • Soyuz Orbiter (Exterior)
    • Sets
      • Aquarium Room
      • Soyuz DM Interior
      • Cosmodrome: Launchpad Exterior
      • Monument: Glory to the Conquerors of Space (& Park)
      • Monument: Stele to Science and Space (& Park)
      • Cosmonaut Hotel Interior
      • Train Station Exterior
      • Train Station Interior
    • Props
      • Teddy Bear
      • Space Bunny Ragdoll

DISC 2: PAL Video + Extras + Sources

The second disc will be a DVD with a standard PAL 25fps version of the episode, and a few extras in PAL format. These should play on most DVD players, even in NTSC countries, but the conversion process from the 30fps we use internally to 25fps may introduce some artifacts. So for this disc, I’ve chosen featurettes that I expect will be less sensitive to these framerate issues.

DVD Video/Menus (PAL Format):

• • Anamorphic Widescreen 25fps SD/PAL version of episode
  • Commentary Tracks
  • Storyboard / Animatic / Rendered / Composited Comparisons
  • Production Slideshow
  • Featurettes
    • Lunatics Project History
    • Free Culture and the Creative Commons (Explainer)
    • Free Software Production Pipeline Tour

Again, by minimizing the DVD video content, I can keep more room available for DVD-ROM content, which can include better-compressed video as well as more of the source files. This PAL disc is clearly meant to be a supplement, and should be viewable on DVD players in NTSC countries (notably North America).

The biggest issue is the frame-rate change, which might introduce some unevenness when converting from the original 30fps, since this will drop about 5 frames per second. Again, the fact that this is animation should help to make this less noticeable. We’ll be testing Kdenlive and FFMPEG here!

DVD-ROM Data:

• • Production Timelapse Screencasts
  • Film-Making for Lunatics Screencasts (Unfinished Series) for Soyuz Set
  • Supplemental / Overflow Source Files (i.e. some of the above might be moved here for space reasons

DISC 3: Audio CD – Music File 1

This will include some tracks for episodes 1 to 3.

• Space Zine (Full Length) – Elaine Walker
• Nylon – JMF
• Once Upon a Time – AK1974
• Orient – Lulo
• Yunus – Restless Hear
• Rise of the Titans – Butterfly Tea
• Back to Adventure – Butterfly Tea
• Andoria Main Title – Butterfly Tea
• Don’t Lose Heart, You’re Nearly There – Insignificance
• White Military Ants Are Floating in the Sky – Insignificance
• The Sky City – Butterfly Tea
• Silliness in F Sharp Major – Mattias Westlund
• Pride – Miguel Herrero
• Bellatrix – J.T. Bruce
• The Fairytale of Time – Yunus
• My Desire is Now – Gotika
• Horizons – Gotika
• Magic of Freedom – Distemper
• New World (Iridium Cut) – Elaine Walker
• Zanimoland Medley – Butterfly Tea

DISC 4: M-Disc 25GB BD-R ROM – Source Files

This disc will include the source files needed for S1E01 “No Children in Space”:

BD-R ROM Data:

• Episode Source Files
  • Kdenlive Edits (.kdenlive)
  • Blender Compositing (compos)
  • Blender Camera Direction (cam)
  • Blender Character Animation (anim)
  • Blender Mechanical Animation (mech)
  • Audacity Project Files (.aup3)
  • Music Tracks (.flac)
  • Voice Recordings (.flac)
  • Sound Effects and Ambience (.flac, .au, .wav, .mp3, etc).
• Required Library Files
  • Characters
    • Hiromi (Dress)
    • Hiromi (Flightsuit)
    • Hiromi (Sokol Spacesuit)
    • Georgiana (Pinafore/Dress)
    • Georgiana (Flightsuit/Playsuit)
    • Georgiana (Spacesuit)
    • Sergei (Flightsuit)
    • Sergei (Sokol Spacesuit)
    • Reporters
    • Press Representative
    • Mother & Son from Train
    • Porters from Train
    • Cleanroom Technicians
    • Market Salesman
    • Baikonur Crowd/Extras
    • Pad Crew Extras
    • Mission Control Room Extras
    • Press Gallery Extras
  • Mech
    • Soyuz Launch Vehicle
    • Soyuz Transporter-Erector
    • Soyuz Launchpad
    • Soyuz Orbiter (Exterior)
    • Platzkart Passenger Train Car
    • Passenger Train Locomotive
    • Cosmo-Train Steam Locomotive (Display)
  • Sets
    • Aquarium Room
    • Soyuz DM Interior
    • Cosmodrome: Launchpad Exterior
    • Monument: Glory to the Conquerors of Space (& Park)
    • Monument: Stele to Science and Space (& Park)
    • Cosmonaut Hotel Interior
    • Train Station Exterior
    • Train Station Interior
    • Kazakhstan Railway
    • Train Station Exterior
    • Central Universal Market
    • Cosmodrome: Building 254 Exterior
    • Cosmonaut Trees Park
  • Props
    • Teddy Bear
    • Space Bunny Ragdoll
    • Isolated Set Furnishings: Chairs, Props, Tables (also in set files above)
    • Cosmodrome Test Equipment

Regular 1-Disc Edition

Of course, the replicated discs will be in larger minimum press runs, so I will have extras of those (900, per plan), which will be sold in a simpler “regular edition” through our new store. If we should sell out, I’ll order another pressing!

I can keep the risk on these low, because the case and wrap-around cover can be ordered in smaller batches (say 100 at a time). So if we don’t sell a lot of them, it won’t be a big burden, other than for the storage space. I’m expected something like 10 stacks of 100 discs each, which will fill a largish box, plus some storage for assembled packages. I think I’m prepared for this.

International DIY Edition

Unfortunately, I’m only going to be able to ship packages out from the USA (no fulfillment network setup). So shipping either the limited edition pack or the single-disk pack will be kind of high for addresses outside the USA. I will do that, of course, but you’ll have to pay for the shipping and any customs dues that apply, so it could get pricey.

I have looked into cheaper mailing options for DVDs, but I think there’s a significant risk of shipping damage with these.

But we can provide access to an ISO download, from which you can burn your own disc on DVD-R.

Which just leaves the cover art. So what if we just mail you the wraparound cover and insert? This will fit in a large standard envelope and thus mail at letter rate, which is a lot more reasonable! The crease is not a problem, because it can be creased at the corner where it wraps around the case spine.

Pre-Sales, Pricing, and Contingencies

I will have to do a more precise accounting of costs to make any promises about pricing. My plan is that, for the limited-edition run, the low numbers will be at tiered premium prices — e.g. highest price for №1, somewhat lower for №2-9, another step to №10-20, and then №21-100 will be at the basic price. There will also be a short run of “Contributor Copies” for those who actively participated in producing the episode.

And, assuming I do the 1000-unit run of the main NTSC disc, the extra 900 will be sold as a single-disc edition for a more consumer-friendly price.

New Storefront

I just found (while drafting this article), that Gumroad is no longer accepting new physical product listings. That’s quite a rug-pull for me, as I was hoping I wouldn’t have to migrate to a new solution so soon. But we obviously can’t work with this limitation, so I’ll be testing the available e-Commerce apps for YunoHost (“Abantecart” and “Prestacart”). Clearly I have to get one or the other set up by April.

Pre-Sales

The plan will be to open pre-sales for the limited-edition series on April 1st and probably close those on April 30th (with the public online premiere scheduled for April 12th on our PeerTube). What exact form the limited edition series will take will probably be affected by the results. There will be a modest discount for ordering in the pre-sale campaign.

Duplicator

I have a LOT scheduled to do in February and March to prepare for this release, so I’m doubtful that I’ll find the time to develop the control software for our M-Disc duplicator/printer. However, if time allows, I may get this done, and that would make for prettier full-color M-Discs for the set.

Failing that, I think the stamping approach will produce a suitable result, so I’ll try that.

Press Run, Assembly, and Fulfillment

Starting May 1st, with the results from the pre-sales, I’ll send out the press-run orders needed and also start producing the print-on-demand discs on my workstation. I expect this will be completed during May and orders will ship as they are completed.

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