What is a Screener ?

[ramram]

Hi Guys

I don't know where this topic belongs to. Please redirect me to the right place if this is not the one. Thank you.

Can anyone please explain me the difference between VCD/SVCD and Screener ? Or you can please direct me to a page where I can find the difference between different Video Rip formats.

Thank you.

RamRam

[Shocker Milwaukee]

Dude, one thread is enough.

[henry_nettles]

Hi Guys
Can anyone please explain me the difference between VCD/SVCD and Screener ? Or you can please direct me to a page where I can find the difference between different Video Rip formats.

Your question is on the very edge of what is acceptable/unacceptable on these forums. A "screener" is a very limited edition DVD, not for resale, not for distribution. Originally, the term referred to DVDs sent out only to the Academy Award voters. The intent was for the Academy Award voters to have a chance to see certain movies that they would not otherwise have a chance to see (foreign films which never played in the United States, etc).Or, conversely, for foreign voters to see films which only played in the U.S.A. Eventually, this practice was broadened, until now the major studios routinely send every Academy Award voter an early copy of every film they release which might even be accidentally considered for any kind of an Academy Award. These screeners exist long before there is a retail release of the movie on DVD, often while the movie is still playing in theaters.

Recently, the studios have taken to sending early copies of soon to be released DVDs to owners of video rental stores, in an attempt to influence them to buy the retail DVDs for rental when they are released.

The term screener is most often encountered where people are downloading / trading illegal copies of movies.

[ramram]

Thank you very much Henry. That was an elaborate explanation which clarified my doubts about "Screener".

[Noahtuck]

Your question is on the very edge of what is acceptable/unacceptable on these forums.

Well, screener's have been around long before dvd's
And just asking what one is i don't think is on the edge, he is just asking what one is 8)

Dude, one thread is enough.

DUDE!!! i've seen 3!!!!


ramram STEP AWAY FROM THE POST BUTTON!!!!!!!!!!
Been here that long you should now better

[Laddydaddy]

A screener can also come in the form of a vhs tape.

[Gurm]

More generally, a "screener" is simply an advance copy available for "screening" (so simple, and yet so overlooked). Screening could mean that you are being urged to BUY the film in quantity (you are a distributor or video store owner) or VOTE for the film (Academy member), or REVIEW the film (any of hundreds of movie reviewers for any of hundreds of newspapers around the country).

All such films are watermarked in some way, usually with a phrase that pops up every few minutes saying "this is a screener, you really shouldn't be watching it you damn pirate".

Last year, the Academy DIGITALLY watermarked each copy of each film with a UNIQUE digital watermark so that they could identify who was leaking them to the general public. As you can imagine, very few were leaked last year, and the ones that were - well, they were mostly lousy VHS copies.

Now, my ANSWER thus far has been pretty "on the edge" of what's allowed here, but there's no harm in making someone aware of the existence of something.

We don't traffic in much information about screeners here, though. Or pre-release rips. Or really ANY rips that you didn't make yourself from your own DVD which you own legitimately. Cam versions of films which are pirated directly from the movie theater? RIGHT OUT.

[Byronleehk]

One screener I saw had several 5 second b/w sections within the film (and it was clearly stated on the jacket too). What's the purpose of that?

[dphirschler]

Dream sequences?


Darryl

[Gurm]

One screener I saw had several 5 second b/w sections within the film (and it was clearly stated on the jacket too). What's the purpose of that?

Again, watermarking. It marks the movie as a screener, because the pirates got in the habit of clipping the top of the screen where they ran the "don't copy me" notices.

[Cobra]

Don't dabble in warez, please. Ask Google if you want to find out about that sort of stuff, but it's generally not welcome here. I know your post was pretty harmless, but I am locking it anyway since it will be fairly prone to degerating.

Thanks!

Cobra
Forum Moderator