 |
|
 |
|
|
VSDA CONVENTION 2000 - July 10th, 2000 by Peter M. Bracke
Aside from having the ugliest logo in the industry, the VSDA is a not-for-profit international trade association representing more than 3,500 companies throughout the United States, Canada and 22 other countries. Established in 1981, membership comprises the full spectrum of video retailers, as well as the home video divisions of all major and independent motion picture studios, video game and multimedia producers, and other related businesses which constitute and support the home video entertainment industry. The VSDA Convention is an annual event designed to facilitate industry growth by giving VSDA members a chance to meet their peers and showcase their products. General activities include seminars, panel discussions, exhibition booths, as well as after-hours festivities. This year's VSDA was one of many firsts: the first of the new millennium, the first with an extensive focus on DVD, and but perhaps the last to be held in the summertime. Starting next year, the VSDA will be held in conjunction with the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2001, so the big summer fiesta may only become a distant memory if this new cohabitation of the VSDA and CES turns out to be successful. Such a conglomeration of the two biggest home entertainment shows of the year undoubtedly would mean changes for both, and (oy vey) just the thought of trying to cover both at the same time sends shivers down an editor's spine... So in honor of what may be the last summer VSDA celebration, we present our second annual VSDA special report. Our coverage is not designed to offer a comprehensive overview of everything at the show, just what we think will be most interesting to our readers (i.e., everything DVD, and nothing VHS). I've broken it up into three parts: an introduction to the show; a look at the studios title plans for the fall (when they announced any, that is!), and then a look at some of the fun after-event parties and festivities. For those of you who are "skimmers" and just want to get to the meat of the story, there may be one word to sum up the whole event: underwhelming. Still, while this year's VSDA may have only been a flicker of VSDA's past in most respects, there was still fun to be had, at least a few cool announcements and much to make fun of. So let's party!
|
|
What
Is The VSDA?