Los Angeles — Disney’s home video distribution company Buena Vista Home Entertainment announced its first nine Blu-ray Disc titles, and said it would enhance select releases with specially produced high-definition shorts.
The exclusive HD shorts, called “Blu-Scapes,” are being billed as the first original content developed for a new high-definition optical disc format, and will be included on five of the first nine discs. Cinematographer Louis Schwatzberg (“America’s Heart and Soul”) is producing the high-definition supplements.
Subjects for the special shorts will be inspired by the original films, Buena Vista said.
The initial titles will be released in two waves, beginning Sept. 19. The first releases will include “Dinosaur,” “Eight Below,” Miramax Films’ “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “The Great Raid.”
The second wave will follow on Oct. 17, and will include “Glory Road,” “Haunted Mansion,” “Gone In Sixty Seconds,” Touchstone’s “Dark Water” and Dimension Films’ “The Brothers’ Grimm.”
Titles containing the special HD shorts will include: “Dinosaur,” Eight Below,” “Glory Road,” “Haunted Mansion” and “Gone in Sixty Seconds”
The company said most Buena Vista Blu-ray titles will carry a $34.99 suggested retail price.
Buena becomes the fourth studio to announce Blu-ray software delivery schedules. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video and Lionsgate have previously announced Blu-ray shipping dates.
Paramount and 20th Century Fox are also expected to make similar announcements shortly.
