LEGITIMATE home videos on DVDs and VCDs can be released as quickly as a month after the theatrical run, although the industry average is between three and five months.
To understand the difference in quality, you need a peek into how the movie industry works.
Studios are split into two camps - namely, the big six comprising Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Disney and 20th Century Fox, and the smaller ones like Lions Gate Entertainment and The Weinstein Company.
When it comes to home videos, the big six produce their own DVDs for sale worldwide.
The smaller studios, however, provide the video materials to the home video licensees in each country to produce their own DVDs for sale.
However, the materials come in different grades and quality and different markets are left to decide on what they need.
For instance, some countries like Thailand and Vietnam dub the movies in their own language for home video sale, so they do not need the high quality 5.1 audio and can use the cheaper version with 2.0 stereo sound.
Since VCD offers a much lower resolution compared to DVD, the studio also has lower resolution materials available.
According to industry sources, the price of a high-quality master with 5.1 surround sound can be priced from US$10,000, whereas a normal one in 2.0-stereo sound can cost a mere US$2,000.
To cut costs, the smaller markets use lower-quality materials to produce the DVDs. Special features can also be left out in some cases.
This explains why DVD aficionados prefer to buy their movies direct from the US, as the competitive American video market is known for its high quality control standards.
To play it safe, check the packaging for the logo belonging to the big six studios when you buy a DVD. Also, read local forums for feedback.
This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.
