Just giving everyone a heads-up. A friend of mine is working on a movie right now. It doesn't matter which one, because this is a scam being perpetrated by several companies in the film world. Let's just say this is a major, big-budget film that will be coming out in the near future.

So what's the scam? It's nothing illegal, it's just unethical as hell. It's just fucking wrong. Some films are being released in more than one format on DVD. Sometimes it's as simple as an R-rated version and an unrated version, or it can be more involved than that -- a standard release, and a "special edition" release, filled with extra features ranging from deleted scenes and a director's commentary track to behind-the-scenes documentaries and storyboards.

So far, no problem. If you kind of like the film, you can buy the cheaper version. If you're a huge fan, you can shell out the extra bucks for the feature packed special edition. But while some movies take the honest approach ("Pearl Harbor" was released in November along with an ad campaign that clearly said the special edition version would be released two weeks later), other companies are insisting everyone involved keeps quiet about the special edition version. This is so that they can release the standard DVD first -- and then release the special edition several months later, figuring fans who already bought the DVD would then end up buying the other version as well.

Yes, you heard me right. They are intentionally hiding the fact that a special edition version is on the way for the sole reason of duping fans of the film to buy the DVD twice. Do what you want with this information -- I'm not organizing a boycott because I'm too damn lazy. But just keep your eyes open and, as always, buyer beware.

© 2002, Michael Yanovich. www.mentalsnot.com