In October of 2016, I received a message on Twitter (X) from someone at Netflix DVD.com inviting me to join their new DVD.com Directors program. I was skeptical at first, but I responded, and the offer was legit! In an introductory email, they said I was selected to join a “small, exclusive group of people,” because of the interesting stories, discussions and opinions I shared on my social media channels and/or blog (I’m blushing).
As a VIP, I’d enjoy perks, such as a twelve-month free subscription to both DVDs and streaming; early access to free products; reshares of hash-tagged content; DVD.com swag; and Netflix DVD.com gift cards. I love freebies, and I love movies and TV, so it seemed like a win/win to me. It was, while it lasted.
One of the most-fun perks of the program was a sponsored trip to California to tour a DVD processing facilities and meet some of the other “directors.” There were about 12 of us, and boy, were we spoiled. Recap of the DVD Netflix Director Trip 10/25/2018.
From 2017 to 2020, I wrote 46 posts on a wide variety of movie topics for Netflix DVD.com’s blog, “Inside the Envelope.” I also hosted Twitter chats and participated in lots of Web meetings with the other Directors. It was a lot of fun.
Unfortunately, as streaming became more popular, DVDs became less so. Fewer and fewer people owned DVD players, and they seemed PROUD of it. In 2020, Netflix DVD.com discontinued its director program and the writing was on the wall. In September of 2023, Netflix DVD.com shipped its last disc. Sad to See DVD Netflix Go 4/19/2023
The “Inside the Envelope” blog ceased along with the DVD service, but during my time as a DVD.com Director, I had been adding some of my “Inside the Envelope” posts to my own blog. In early 2026, after I had my website redesigned, I added the rest, except for two I couldn’t find. Here is a list of the posts. They brought back memories, for sure. They may be old, but there might be some evergreen posts that are still of interest.
- Seven Intelligent Horror Films Worth Watching 10/15/2020
- How Pre-Internet Sci-Fi Depicted Life in 2000s 9/15/2020
- Best Edge-of-Your-Seat Thrillers 7/15/2020
- A Dozen Independent Dramas You Shouldn’t Miss 6/9/2020
- A Dozen Best Musicals for Singalongs at Home 4/24/2020
- Seven Fun Comedies to Watch With the Kids (and Grandparents) 4/15/2020
- The Storied Career of Isabelle Huppert 4/1/2020
- Five Academy Award Winners Based on Novels 3/3/2020
- Seven Romance Films With Class Struggles 2/3/2020
- The Souvenir: Love It or Hate It? 12/19/2019
- Timothée Chalamet: A Strong Foothold for a Bright Future 12/4/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 2010s 11/2/2019
- Seven Fantasy Movies from the 2010s Worth Watching 10/30/2019
- Terrorism Films from the 2000s: Five Movies to Watch 9/19/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 2000s 8/21/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1990s 8/2/2019
- Seven Fun and Silly Comedies of the 1990s 7/16/2019
- 1980s Big-Business Films Worth Watching, 6/13/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1980s 6/11/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1970s 5/30/2019
- Strong Women Characters in 1970s Movies 5/29/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1960s 5/1/2019
- The 1960s: The Vietnam War in Film and Documentaries, 4/25/2019
- Dropping in on 1950s Domestic Life in Film and TV 4/2/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1950s 4/1/2019
- World War II Movies Made in the 1940s 3/5/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1940s 3/1/2019
- 1930s—Seven Movies That Depict the Great Depression 2/1/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1930s 1/31/2019
- Top-Rented Movies in the Independent Genre for 2018, 1/21/2019
- Notable Academy Award Winners of the 1920s 1/5/2019
- Howard Hughes: The Enigmatic Movie Maker and Airline Pioneer 12/22/2018
- Seven Must-See Denzel Washington Films 12/21/2018
- Ten Most Rented Judi Dench Films 12/5/2018
- Seven Intelligent Films from 1998 9/6/2018
- Owning a Piece of Mad Men: Seven Highest Bids 8/15/2018
- Hacksaw Ridge and Seven Other Films About Peace-Minded Heroes 7/10/2018
- 7 Mom Movies You Need to See 4/26/2018
- “The Holiday” and Seven More Movies About Women Wanderers 4/25/2018
- Blu-ray vs. DVD: Is Blu-ray Worth It? 3/7/2018
- Never to Be Typecast: 10 Most Rented Rachel McAdams Movies 1/12/2018
- The Most Rented of Kate Winslet: From Animated to Dark Satire 1/11/2018
- 7 Favorite Summertime Movies in My DVD Netflix History 7/22/2017
- Music, Movement, and Mathematics Dominate the 2017 Oscars 2/2/2017
Here are the two posts I couldn’t find. I wish I could, because I’d like to watch those seven Tuscany movies. . .
