GlimmerMan said:
John - that streaming idea is pretty cool, man. What are your thoughts on Path Beyond Thought anyway? I've only watched it once since I got my copy (from a very kind member of the old SS.com board who bought two original copies and then sent one to me!). It is good, but I was kinda disappointed that there was no interview footage with Seagal. I don't think it is available as an official DVD, so like John said, Connie's version must be a VHS to DVD copy. I have threatening to hook up two VCRs (or even a VCR to a DVD) for a while now - maybe if demand grows enough I might start cranking out copies of The Path Beyond Thought and distributing them across the world free of charge!
Hey Glimmer....been awhile......
Streaming is good to get an idea of something such as trailers,etc(I'm kinda surprised that ss.com didn't have a couple mt streamer of PBT to promote sales...$35 + shipping is on the extreme for a 50mt video...
since PBT came up yesterday I did some looking around last night and the PBT (315mb) on Winmx...that size indicates to me that it has to be the compleet 50mts..........and also I saw the 33mb Seagal-Aikiko by Steamroller on Kazza...this I belive is that ending montage that was floating around....both Kazza & Winmx are free P2P file sharing programs...saw OFAK also for that matter.......so it is possible to download PBT...from the size indicated it has to be a decent quality.
My thoughts???
well for me it may be a bit different.....years ago I saw a seminar pic..and noticed that in the background there was a student with a cam-corder.....so I wrote TenShin(when it still existed) about obtaining some of the sem footage...they did indeed admit that every sem was videotaped for 'learning purposes'......these tapese are/were availble to any student to take home and view.....they never were meant for the public...and there was no-way they were going to release any of it to anyone...tho I was invited to come to Cal and view the tapes..anyway so for me.....just getting my hands on some of this "rare" footage is worth it....let alone the 8mm B/W film from pre-ATL..taken in Japan of Seagal teaching in (his then) dojo...when TenShin(that the tapes belonged to) was disolved(I think this was when Matsuoka went back to Japan)..the video became available....they also told me(students still studied there under the new dojo..prior to Matsuoka's return) that Seagal himself was not pleased that they compiled this footage and released it....which could be a good indication as to why a brief interview was not included...some of the question & answer sesssions from these sem. were released thru the TenShin newsletters...and I also see that some had been released in the Martial Arts Legends(Seagal Issue #2)
I suppose it depends on one's point of view....to see Seagal teaching in raw unrehearsed footage is great...I mean you really get a feel that Seagal is the 'real deal'
I was happy as sh*t to trade for a copy..commercially-wise..it was kind of a bomb.....I've seen a few forums with people complaining about never receiving it after paying for it....or it taking 6 months or more to arrive....it never was available on anything but NTSC...which in my eyes sure didn't help sales...a DVD version really would have been a good idea for them....
When I asked why put up ss.com now after all these years..the Warner contract was now up, FDB had been out for nearly 3 years...why put up a web-site now...and I was told that the main purpose was it was supposed to be a marketing platform(mainly for PBT) and other products....taking advantage of the then upcoming Exit Wounds.
anyway.....all in all....if you can get your hands on one or even a copy....I'd say grab it(to me it's more or less a Seagal cult item)....last one on e-bay(auction site) I saw easily went for more than $100.
John
PS:most of the above info was e-mailed to me by students I was in touch with at the time..I myself can not validate any of it.