Archived: Insiders Thread

[lupin23rd]

Those are all the major languages? Doesn't almost half the world speak a Chinese language?

Actually I am a bit disappointed that I don't see a lot of Japanese tracks or subtitles on regular films. I see Thai or Korean often, both of which I would have expected to be less "mainstream" than Japanese.

Any chance we could see more Japanese subs on future movies?

[Balian]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m not worried.
The BDA isn’t worried.
You shouldn’t be worried.

The Blu-ray Grand Counsel is not complacent.

Thank You Penton-Man. You are one of a few people on the internet that could reassure me of all things pertaining to HDM and Blu-ray.

[jd213]

Originally Posted by lupin23rd

Those are all the major languages? Doesn't almost half the world speak a Chinese language?

Actually I am a bit disappointed that I don't see a lot of Japanese tracks or subtitles on regular films. I see Thai or Korean often, both of which I would have expected to be less "mainstream" than Japanese.

Any chance we could see more Japanese subs on future movies?

I believe Paid has said earlier that BDs won't contain Chinese subs if that version isn't supposed to be officially sold in China.

The case is probably the same for Japanese. I guess you have to have some incentive for people to buy local versions besides region coding, especially in Japan where the region is the same.

Although IIRC the latest Harry Potter film BD is supposed to have the Japanese dub. Anyone know if the other Harry Potter films will follow suit?

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by merrick97

...
In fact, I have one GREAT idea:

Why not get all the CEs to throw in a free (or at least heavily discounted) 1.0 spec bluray player with the purchase of every HDTV from those brands (ala have Panasonic provide a Panasonic brand bluray player). ...

Sony has a sale like that here in Switzerland. If you buy a Bravia 42inch TV you get a BDP S300 for free. Really nice Promotion.

It's print only. The store called FUST has a brochure included in a daily newspaper (Tages Anzeiger) with a coupon for the (sorry, it's only 40 inches) Sony LCD with th BDP S300 and the Spidey trilogy for 2999.- SFR.

Originally Posted by paidgeek

This would be a Sony Music question. I don't think they will release titles without at least some form of video content though.

As they have with DVD Audio. So here comes not a question but one mans hope: if the studios could re-animate DVD Audio in the form of BD Audio I would be very happy and very broke

[JimboTHX1138]

Originally Posted by HDJK

Sony has a sale like that here in Switzerland. If you buy a Bravia 42inch TV you get a BDP S300 for free. Really nice Promotion.

It's print only. The store called FUST has a brochure included in a daily newspaper (Tages Anzeiger) with a coupon for the (sorry, it's only 40 inches) Sony LCD with th BDP S300 and the Spidey trilogy for 2999.- SFR.

Or better still, considering Toshiba have dug themselves a hole where they now have no choice but to sell players for $100-$200 permanently, the BD CEs can have the best of both worlds. As soon as Profile 1.1 players hit the market they could sell all the Profile 1.0 players at $100-$200 while still being able to charge the normal $s for the 1.1 players.

[Seretur]

Paidgeek -- thanks again for your answer.

[woodspoon]

Paidgeek, where you able to check why the spanish editions of Spiderman 1 and 2 didn´t have TRUEHD in english? I just want you to be aware so next time we get the two languages in TRUEHD, and hopefully the other companies will copy your quality level.

[dbs2]

Originally Posted by merrick97

.............

Many sources tell me the BDA is getting ready to play hardball and I just hope they do it sooner rather than later.

Now there is something i agree with....... come on BDA No more Mr. nice guy..... Ok well maybe not that harsh, but i think we all mean something like that.... Sort of

[jdsanko]

Originally Posted by Ben

Pricing things so low and so far below cost that you aren't even allowed by law to sell them in certain states is the definition of bad, shortsighted business. Toshiba is essentially goading lower income customers into becoming their trash dump for a product no one wants. How wonderful of them.

Well said. This is a clear sign that HD-DVD is dead and Toshiba knows it. If you are going to buy these players, you had better buy two or three and save them as spares. Eventually your HD-DVD library will be useless when all the players die and none a left to be had. Jumping into HD-DVD is like flushing money down the toliet.

[aphex]

Korean is a popular subtitle because there are a lot more Koreans living in the US than Japanese. I should know, right? However, there are a lot of Chinese too, so you should see that quite often too. There are a lot less Japanese in in the US. That's why there's always a K-town or China-Town, but never a J-town.

word?

lol

[mfinochio]

Paid or Penton,
I saw a demo of BLU Ray in a Sears store the other day. It had the dvd picture and the blu ray picture in a split screen of a movie. Even my wife thought it was great to see the difference side-by side. I was wondering if this could be the main demo disc for BLU Ray? It is the only time I have seen that particular demo and thought it was the best way for consumers to see the BLU Ray difference. I am sorry if this has been covered, but my wife never notices better audio or video but was shocked at the demo's picture difference.
Michael

[SS316SRV]

Insiders,

I know from working on the retail level that we have demo discs to use in the store display players. I know that everybody loves showing off their Blu-ray players and sound systems and such to visitors in our homes. Would there be any legal issues with including those demo discs in the boxes of new players? That way when somebody visits and wants to see what Blu-ray actually looks like, we can pop in that demo disc and show them clips of all kinds of movies.

[garytma]

Paidgeek, sir, 2 questions for you please:

1. Since it was shot originally in Panavision, should we expect that Seinfeld will appear in widescreen, when it is ultimately released in Blu?

2. And in a related question concerning TV shows, and multiple disc sets: Why don't studios issue some kind of redeemable coupon, within each individual disc package, of a multi disc series, that would entitle the buyer, to the special premiums included with "complete set" packages.

For example, I have been regularly purchasing the Seinfeld disc sets, season by season, as they have become available. Now that we are getting the final season set available, the Complete Series boxed set is also becoming available- replete with special additions including a special bonus disc.

So an individual, who has religiously purchased the whole series, individual season by individual season- likely paying more for the whole set than if he waited for the complete boxed set, would essentially be rebuying the whole series over again, if he or she wished to get the bonus items.

It simply seems like a fair idea to get a coupon, in each individual season set, where by if one buys all of the sets, they could mail in the coupons to get the bonus items.

Such things have been done before, and with the popularity of TV shows on disc, it would seem to be a natural program to offer for such series.

Otherwise the lesson we should be learning is: don't buy the individual sets, but wait for the final "complete boxed set" as it will be a better value, and will include the special items.

Does this make sense?

Thanks

[ckenisell]

Originally Posted by garytma

Such things have been done before, and with the popularity of TV shows on disc, it would seem to be a natural program to offer for such series.

Not a TV series, but a good example of that was with the LOTR Extended Edition trilogy. When Return of the King EE was released, a box set came out that included all three. However, those that already owned the first two EE's were able to go to the web site and order the box to hold all three movies: Essentially the individual purchasers to own the complete box set for a simple shipping fee.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Im glad you're amused,

Actually, come to think of it, today I am a little sad for authorized dealers like Value Electronics who spearheaded the sales of Toshiba players on AVS and I believe still has an A2 listed on his website for $295.

I guess sharks (Toshiba) really do eat their young.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

please tell me the BDA has a way to counter this.

Keep in mind like kjack said a few pages back…..everything we say on this forum is heavily monitored by various people……and they aint friends.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Seretur

If I can generalise a bit -- how important is it for Sony and other encoders to have a given film's cinematographer actually consult on the transfer and encode? We're seeing a lot of director approved transfers recently, and while it's a step in the right direction to be sure, the DP is usually the ultimate authority on the way a film was meant to be seen..........

Yes, according to the director’s intent.
But to presume that the DP is the “ultimate authority” independent of the director’s approval is incorrect. The director is the “ultimate authority” and has veto power.

Make no mistake that the DP works for the director (as does the editor for that matter) and in collaboration with the director. Now, how much an individual director micromanages an individual DP in terms of his cinematographic approach and execution usually depends upon their personalities and working experience together. However, the director is the original creative personality for the intent and conception of the imagery.

The DP may be much more knowledgeable than the director in regards to the cinematographic execution via the tools used, i.e. lenses, film stock, lighting, etc.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

This is a long topic that I am fortunate not to deal with day to day. From what I can gather from the folks that handle the transfers, the director has the final say in who supervises the transfer on his behalf. These days, there can be a lot of adjustment done in the transfer step or in digital intermediate, so it is important that the right persons are involved. I think the DP involvement really depends on the relationship between the director and the DP, but my impression is that it is the DP's job to capture the director's intention for the shot. If the director want to make tint it blue and take the wrinkles off the actors face in DI, that is his prerogative.

Your impression is correct…………as usual.
Unfortunately, most DP’s don’t get paid for the supervision the of DI process.

The crème de la crème do but, I think most do not. Their union gave up their right to profit participation awhile ago. It is not uncommon for a first class digital intermediate to take at least four weeks of intensive work. So, unless the DP has a special arrangement with the Director (think $ or friendship), the DP’s involvement in the DI is often abbreviated instead of being fully part of the entire process. That role lands in the hands of the digital colorist (who is paid).

Therefore, when the DP has done his best to communicate the intentions of the director to the color timer and must depart for his next shoot (where he is compensated for his time), the color timer must collaborate with the director for any guidance when needed. Problem is, if there is no hands-on supervision with the director involved (or his designee), the chain of intent of the imagery is compromised. There are alot of digital colorists out there that have more experience with commercials than feature films and when no DP, director (or director designee) is physically present, the final product that the public sees in the theater is reflective of that.

[Aelun]

Originally Posted by HDJK

Sony has a sale like that here in Switzerland. If you buy a Bravia 42inch TV you get a BDP S300 for free. Really nice Promotion.

Over here in Ireland, Sony has a similar deal. Buy a certain tv and you get a free BDP S300, or you can buy a PS3 in conjunction with a 42" Bravia tv and save €500. Great way of getting Blu-ray players into homes.

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Keep in mind like kjack said a few pages back…..everything we say on this forum is heavily monitored by various people……and they aint friends.

You can just PM me with the details...I promise I am friendly.