Like many who recognize the limitations of streaming, I’ve begun to re-embrace physical media as the ideal format for watching movies. Yeah, it’s nice to know I genuinely own the content I’ve spent money on. On top of that, Blu-rays, DVDs, and 4K discs offer certain perks that typically aren’t available through streaming and digital downloads.
This is particularly true for someone like me, who harbored dreams of attending film school since first seeing Star Wars. I may have ultimately decided to pursue different academic and professional goals, but that doesn’t mean the part of me that yearns to sit in a lecture hall and absorb lessons about cinema doesn’t still exist.
Luckily, satisfying my natural curiosity about film and the filmmaking process is one of the key advantages physical discs offer. Unlike their digital counterparts, physical copies of movies often come with supplemental features like documentaries, audio commentary, and booklets.
Sometimes, these special features are actually more interesting than a marketing featurette. There are, in fact, plenty of examples of Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K supplemental features that offer the kind of real depth and insight a film student craves. These are just a few from my collection that scratch the itch so familiar to cinephiles.
The Shining Blu-ray has a documentary that shows how Kubrick worked
Vivian Kubrick’s documentary about her father’s process shows a master filmmaker behind-the-scenes
Again, it’s not exactly uncommon for a DVD or Blu-ray of a movie to come with some type of “making-of” documentary. However, the value these documentaries offer to those who want to learn about the nitty-gritty of filmmaking can be somewhat minimal. Such documentaries are often produced long after a film is made, or they otherwise consist of interviews with cast and crew members when they’re not actively working on the film.
Many with experience in the industry will tell you that the best film school is being on a film set. While no documentary can completely mimic the experience of being an active participant in a film production, Vivian (daughter of Stanley) Kubrick’s chronicle of the making of The Shining comes closer than most.
Maybe it was her direct relationship with the subject of her documentary that gave her such access. Regardless, this “bonus” feature is so much more, as it offers viewers the chance to watch one of the most iconic directors in cinema history at work. That’s the kind of valuable experience even a film student doesn’t always get.
The director and stars discuss the realities of achieving key moments in a movie
Anyone who fell in love with Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy should seriously consider investing in the Criterion Collection’s set of all three movies. Along with showcasing the beauty of these pictures in a way a digital copy is unlikely to reproduce, the set boasts a range of additional features and content for those of us who can never quite get enough of Jesse and Celine.
For Before trilogy fans interested in how films are made, the most engaging content may be the audio commentary for Before Midnight, the final installment. The commentary consists of Linklater discussing the film along with its stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Often, the conversation involves the three discussing the details that actually go into filming shots and scenes that may seem effortless from a viewer’s perspective.
A noteworthy example comes early in the commentary, when the team discusses the process of filming an extended one-shot scene of the two main characters driving and talking. The audience may only notice the stellar performances, but the talent that actually delivered and captured those performances had to prepare thoroughly to ensure not a single mistake was made. The commentary thoroughly addresses the details of such preparation and the stress experienced by everyone involved when filming the actual scene.
Even seemingly mundane scenes offer glimpses into the challenges filmmaking inherently involves when the people who created those scenes look back on them. For instance, when discussing a moment that, on screen at least, seems to merely consist of two characters walking and talking, the director and actors reflect on the difficulties of everything from capturing the natural lighting to coordinating the movements of background extras.
Honestly, they’re quite blunt about what a “pain” it can be to get certain scenes. The result is a detailed, thoughtful reminder that filmmaking is both an art and real, practical work.
My Criterion discs are a full film history class
Even if you don’t want to learn filmmaking, physical media teaches the history of film
Not everyone who ever aspired to attend film school wants to make movies. Some are just passionate about the art, and want to learn more about its history. To that end, in my collection alone, there’s enough content to fill a semester (or more). I’m specifically thinking about the various film criticism and history features available on my Criterion Collection discs.
As a horror obsessive, I love how my Blu-ray copy of Cat People offers a documentary about Val Lewton, a major figure in the genre who often doesn’t get the attention he deserves. The disc also features a film historian’s commentary. My Criterion disc of M features a similar commentary. Similarly, archival footage provides a time-traveler’s perspective on classics like Night of the Living Dead.
Even more recent pictures come with features that help ground them in their historical contexts. Trainspotting’s Criterion disc features two documentaries, one from around when the film was made, and another a retrospective from 2008 featuring various members of the cast and crew. Together, they help me (and any other viewer) better appreciate the film’s overall cultural significance.
Those are just a few examples. The main point to understand is that you don’t need to enroll in a major university to learn about the history of movies and moviemaking from quality sources. Boutique physical media labels like the Criterion Collection often release discs aimed squarely at those who want to become unofficial film students in the comfort of our own homes.
Physical media discs offer special features that educate and entertain
Access to informational supplemental features is just one of the many reasons some are beginning to turn away from streaming. Whether you still plan on attending film school one day, or you’re just a movie lover who wants an informal cinema studies education, researching and selecting the right physical discs can give you the opportunity to learn about your favorite form of art without having to apply for student loans.
Still, you might worry that building a physical media collection can nevertheless be relatively expensive. That doesn’t need to be the case. There are a few smart ways to snag deals on DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K discs worth familiarizing yourself with. Researching some general tips about how to start growing your physical media collection can help you more confidently put together the type of library that offers hours of entertainment while also doubling as an introduction to film education.
