Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[SquidPuppet]

Jeff, would you be so kind as to help us out here...

ANYthing you can add would be appreciated.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-mo...ml#post2824214

Thank you

[Jeff Kleist]

I believe the framerate issue in the thread is the root source, but I would ask Robert Harris since he's more familiar with the technical issues of movies of that era.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I believe the framerate issue in the thread is the root source, but I would ask Robert Harris since he's more familiar with the technical issues of movies of that era.

Thanks

[MerrickG]

Gotta wonder how long it will be before films get $400M budgets. You can bet the King of the World will get it though.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

It is impressive, but in adjusted terms, it has a ways to go to unseat Titanic:

26 Avatar Fox $559,512,300 $552,797,000 2009
6 Titanic Par. $943,342,300 $600,788,188 1997
1 Gone with the Wind MGM $1,485,028,000 $198,676,459 1939^

Uh, is there a "# of tickets sold" equivalent for each of the above movies?

[SpaceDog]

I've yet to be able to find any internet resource that specifies # of admissions. I'd love to see it though. Most of these numbers take the gross of the film for initial or rerelease, and calculate backwards based on the average ticket price at that time - then account for current pricing from that number.

One problem is that talking about number of tickets sold isn't as sexy as talking about 500 million dollars, 600 million dollars, or 2 billion dollars. As a result, that figure either isn't tracked, or isn't reported.

[DenonCI]

It should also be noted that "Gone With the Wind" was released whenever MGM needed cash, which was quite often. It's mentioned on one of the bonus features found on the Blu-ray release.

Also to put that film in perspective, when it was first released Network TV wasn't around, so for entertainment people went to the movies. Here's some info from Wikipedia:

Gone with the Wind was given theatrical re-releases in 1947, 1954 and 1961. It was re-released in 1967 in a 70 mm stereophonic version, which is best known today for its iconic poster.[30][31] It was further rereleased in 1971, 1989, and by New Line Cinema in 1998. The 1954 release was the first time the studio issued the film in widescreen, compromising the original Academy ratio and cropping the top and bottom to an aspect ratio of 1.75:1. In doing so, a number of shots were optically re-framed and cut into the three-strip camera negatives, forever altering five shots in the film.[32] The 70 mm re-issue of the film cropped the film further, to a very narrow ratio of 2.20:1. The 1998 theatrical reissue and the VHS and DVD releases restored the film to its original aspect ratio. On November 14, 2009, on the occasion of the film's 70th anniversary, the film was re-issued in a new high definition transfer to the Blu-ray format.[33]

The film made its television debut on the HBO cable network in June 1976, and its broadcast TV debut in November of that year in two parts on the NBC network, where it became at that time the highest-rated television program ever presented on a single network, watched by 47.5 percent of the households sampled in America, and 65 percent of television viewers. Ironically, it was surpassed the following year by the mini-series Roots, a saga about slavery in America.

[jpaul1972]

Hey Jeff, any chance Kundun will see a release on Blu-ray anytime soon?

[captveg]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

It should also be noted that "Gone With the Wind" was released whenever MGM needed cash, which was quite often. It's mentioned on one of the bonus features found on the Blu-ray release.

Also to put that film in perspective, when it was first released Network TV wasn't around, so for entertainment people went to the movies. Here's some info from Wikipedia:

It also sold at a premium $1-2 ticket price when most films were $.10-15 admissions.

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Uh, is there a "# of tickets sold" equivalent for each of the above movies?

That might be a more interesting metric then the adjusted for inflation numbers. But anyway you do it, there are still a lot of other variables. Inflation does not always account for improvements in technology as well as the CPI may not be very reflective of the inflation of a single good.

For example, I find that the average price of tickets in the 1930's was .23 to .25

If I adjust that for inflation of the CPI, then it only comes to $3.91 in 2009 dollars yet ticket prices are closer to $10 now. So the cost of going to a movie has increased more then the CPI.

If they increased GWTW's ticket revenue by the CPI, then it is probably less then half of what the revenue would be if the same number of people went at today's ticket prices.

Other things to consider, there probably are a lot more alternatives today then just going to the movies as has been pointed out so just the number of tickets sold is hard to judge.

There really are a lot of flaws trying to compare the two any way we do it. I think what Avatar was done is impressive as well as Titanic and GWTW. But I have seen each of them once and I don't think I would ever watch any of them again.

[Alan Gordon]

Jeff,

I hate to ask questions regarding when (insert title here) is coming, but I have a question.

BBC America is airing two series here in the US that have been released on Blu-ray in the UK by 2 Entertain Video and Sony Pictures.

Demons: Series 1
Being Human: Series 1

I feel the odds of them getting released here in the US are probably slim since they don't have the audience of "Doctor Who" or "Torchwood"?

~Alan

[Jeff Kleist]

Depends on how well they're doing on the network.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

BBC America is airing two series here in the US that have been released on Blu-ray in the UK by 2 Entertain Video and Sony Pictures.

Demons: Series 1
Being Human: Series 1

I feel the odds of them getting released here in the US are probably slim since they don't have the audience of "Doctor Who" or "Torchwood"?

I have some interest in seeing those two series on Blu-ray also, and have been looking for information on those UK releases. The Demons set looks released by Sony there, at least going off the Amazon.co.uk listing. If Sony authored it, there would be a good chance it is region-free. Of course I would still like to know if anyone knows what type of video is on the BD? Lots of British shows are presented at frame rates on Blu-ray that are often incompatible with U.S. players.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

BBC America is airing two series here in the US that have been released on Blu-ray in the UK by 2 Entertain Video and Sony Pictures.

Demons: Series 1
Being Human: Series 1

I feel the odds of them getting released here in the US are probably slim since they don't have the audience of "Doctor Who" or "Torchwood"?

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Depends on how well they're doing on the network.

"Demons" hasn't been getting good reviews... I doubt the rating are much either. It ran for one season (series) in the UK before getting canceled... which is why I'm doubtful we'll see it.

The BBC Three's "Being Human" however is in it's second season (series) in the UK, and a recent episode even beat the ratings for the eighth season premiere of "24" on Sky1. The SyFy Channel is even doing a US version... so it might all depend on which company owns the US rights for distribution here... if any...

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I have some interest in seeing those two series on Blu-ray also, and have been looking for information on those UK releases. The Demons set looks released by Sony there, at least going off the Amazon.co.uk listing. If Sony authored it, there would be a good chance it is region-free. Of course I would still like to know if anyone knows what type of video is on the BD? Lots of British shows are presented at frame rates on Blu-ray that are often incompatible with U.S. players.

My understanding is that both of the series listed above are 1080i/50 (or 1080p), so neither would play on my PS3, but I'll probably purchase a stand-alone player later this year. I was intending to get a Sony, but since there may be other UK shows I'd want to own, I may be smarter to get an Oppo BDP-80.

~Alan

[Xorp]

What are the chances Saving Private Ryan will also get a 4K remaster from LaserPacific?

[Drewza89]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the To Live and Die in L.A. blu-ray is still going to be released on February 2nd?

[Jeff Kleist]

I'll see what i can find out, but I'd say it's likely that it'll get a really good new transfer, probably in 4K. Spielberg is a stickler for quality, and he gets what he wants

Wheels still turning on Ponyo for those wondering

Live and Die in LA is in Fox's catalog for the 2nd, with full details and cover art but since they don't send screeners out until street date, I can't say for absolute sure

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I'll see what i can find out, but I'd say it's likely that it'll get a really good new transfer, probably in 4K. Spielberg is a stickler for quality, and he gets what he wants

Spielberg is my favorite filmmaker. I'm thankful knowing that since he IS so powerful, that his films will receive top notch quality.

Which leads to this question. Hypothetically, if Spielberg was the director of Gladiator, and he was busy filming Robin Hood, would that BD have gone out with the current transfer? I would assume absolutely not.

I mean, Ridley Scott is also a big-time director/producer. I figured he'd have some influence as well, perhaps not on the level of Spielberg. But I can't imagine he'd be happy with how that BD turned out.

Any idea if Spielberg will always personally approve a transfer? If he's busy filming something, do they just wait until he's free, or would he send his D.P. on said film to approve for him?

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Spielberg is a stickler for quality, and he gets what he wants

Well, that's also a movie that will disappoint/piss-off Joe Consumer if it looks anything less than phenomenal and the studio knows it.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Wheels still turning on Ponyo for those wondering

Thank you so much, Jeff. Your efforts here are appreciated. We need to set a positive precedent for the entire Ghibli range.

I'd also love to see the original Japanese credits option from the DVDs make its way over to BD, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Hypothetically, if Spielberg was the director of Gladiator, and he was busy filming Robin Hood, would that BD have gone out with the current transfer? I would assume absolutely not.

I mean, Ridley Scott is also a big-time director/producer. I figured he'd have some influence as well, perhaps not on the level of Spielberg.

Yeah, there's "A List"... and then, there's "S List".