Street date alert - 12:01am

Another big summer blockbuster is making its way to DVD as the major fourth quarter buying season gears up. The live action remake of Scooby-Doo hits DVD on 10/15 in separate full frame and widescreen versions, complete with bright green snapper case. Also debuting on 10/15 is Sister Wendy: The complete First Season from the BBC, and the new retrospective documentary Extremes and In Betweens: Chuck Jones, A Life in Animation a week later on 10/22. Stay tuned for specs.

While not exactly the blockbuster MGM likely hoped for, the $100 million Windtalkers lands on 10/15, followed by the art house smash Y Tu Mama Tambien in separate Unrated and R-rated versions a week later, along with the import Gangster No. 1. And another summer disappointment, the Chris Rock and Anthony Hopkins actioner Bad Company, is due to hit DVD on 11/12 from Buena Vista, along with the Oscar Wilde update The Importance of Being Earnest. Retail is $29.95 each, and watch for full details to follow.

In other upcoming title news, director Peter Bogdanovich recently gave an interview to Video Premieres Magazine, discussing work he has recently undertaken with producer Laurent Bouzereau to prepare many of his biggest films for DVD release. "I asked to work with Laurent," said Bogdanovich, "he's excellent at what he does." Titles include the Oscar winner Paper Moon, the controversial Targets and Daisy Miller. The director has already begun recording commentaries for the releases, all tentatively due from Paramount in 2003, which will join another of the director's favorites, What's Up Doc?, as part of Warner's new Barbra Streisand collection, also due in 2003. Watch for more details in the coming months.

Finally, Anchor Bay has announced the acquisition of no less than 10 films from acclaimed German director Wim Wenders, all slated for DVD release in late 2002 and throughout 2003. The agreement includes The American Friend starring Dennis Hopper, Notebook on Cities and Clothes, Nick’s Film: Lightning Over Water, The Goalkeeper’s Fear of the Penalty, State of Things, Tokyo-Ga, Wrong Move, The Scarlet Letter and Chamber 666. Planned extras include commentaries and more to be announced. Stay tuned!

HD-DVD consortium meets - 12:01am

Is HD-DVD heating up? According to this new Video Business article, the first official meeting by top executives from all the major studios took place this past week in Los Angeles to discuss the possible introduction of a new DVD-based, HD prerecorded format. While many have speculated this sudden rush to develop a viable HD-DVD platform sooner rather than later is to combat the launch of JVC's new D-VHS videotape format, sources in the article indicate that slow but steady acceptance of HD technology and high consumer satisfaction are also major motivating factors in the rush to develop a new format just as DVD is gaining mass market acceptance.

While hardly as divisive as early talks on DVD, these ongoing talks have not been not without controversy. With more than one possible HD-DVD technology on the table - Warner allegedly favors a red-laser based format mostly dismissed by major hardware manufacturers, versus "Blu-Ray" technology, which boasts more robust storage and "data throughput" and is favored by the majority of the consumer electronics companies that occupy the DVD Forum, especially heavyweight Sony - the road to true HD-DVD is still cloudy. But at least the studios are talking at all, and it is still too early to tell what impact this may have on the DVD of today. Do I need to tell you to stay tuned?