Ask questions to Sony Pictures Entertainment insider "paidgeek"

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by jason_grumpy

Paid,

Here's the results for this poll - It was 96/7 in favor of the old system at the time of this posting.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=38970

Here's exactly the setup we're talking about in picture form:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...70&postcount=6

One of the suggestions were to add a new audio preference in the menu to something like:

[Automatically] "Decode TrueHD to PCM"

And keep the system the way it is.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Thanks for putting this together and providing the feedback. I will pass it along and let you know if there is good news.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by kknight

Paid,

It's been a while since Sony Pictures has released any big sci-fi movies. The last I could remember is Stealth. I really missed those movies like Starship Troopers, Total Recall, The Fifth Element... Are there any plans for Sony to get back into the sci-fi genre?

I'm probably the few who likes this sci-fi movie called Screamers but it's actually one of my favorites. I would love to see Sony pumping out more sci-fi movies...

I like this genre too and plenty of SPE titles are in the works.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Paid,

Anymore on this? If you could tell me the exact menu settings it would be appreciated. Also, is there a way to display on screen or on the player if you are getting TrueHD?

Thanks,

Jason

Sorry, but I had little time available last week and did not get to this. I'll do my best to have a look in the next few days.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Paul H

Since "30 Days of Night" was released by Sony Pictures Entertainment, I hope this is the correct thread to voice my concern.

Just finished watching "30 Days of Night" on Blu-ray and I was very dissapointed with the forced subtitles on the disc. The disc should have included the specified subtitles where they were located on the OAR theatrical film frame of the movie.

Note: If subtitles could be relocated via blu-ray specifications from the menu, this would not be a problem.

The 1080P Blu-ray disc was authored in the films original theatrical ratio of 2.40:1, but with one very important exclusion. The mandatory forced subtitles (the subtitles for the translation of the vampire language) are not within the original ratio film-frame of the movie.

Instead, the subtitles on this disc are partly within the movies 2.40:1 frame structure and partly within the ATSC video formats 1.76:1 (16x9 screen area) where the bottom black bar is located on a full 16x9 screen.
This defeats the directors intent of what is seen on the film and is incompatible with the black matting in both theaters and home-theaters alike, also "constant-image-height setups that can optimize 2.40:1 aspect ratio will suffer, as the subtitles can't be read off the viewable area of the screen.

Thanks,

Paul

PS. I also posted this on the HTF forum: 30 Days of Night - On the screen in theaters - should be on Blu-ray disc

I understand your complaint, and this is something we experimented with on "Immortal Beloved".

Of course we don't really know if a director would put a line into the matte if they actually had one, but I suspect they would since it interferes less with the picture.

Are you using an anamorphic lense with a 2.40 screen? If many persons are, then we should really consider dual position subs as a standard feature.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by 191

Hi Paid,

Firstly thanks for continuing to answer questions as an insider. It is appreciated by all.

Now to the question: With regards to each blu-ray released by a studio, I imagine that there is a serial number or code which would indicate the uniqueness of that release? If so, what are the numbers (if any) that indicate a particular release will be region locked or region free? (besides the ABC designation).

If it was as simple as reading certain numbers off the barcode on the back, that would enable the layman to know the region coding. It would also allow retailers to know without having to "test the disc". This will probably become a necessity as the number of different titles released grows exponentially, plus the fact that some studios have none, partial, or always region locking principles. And there may be different SKU's of the same title that are region free and region locked.

I think I was clear enough, sorry for the waffle,

191

EDIT: PS, Would it be possible for upcoming releases to have their region code known, just as Audio and Video specs are given out prior to release date? Is there something so special about region codes that prevents this from being given out? Cheers

I do understand your question.

As stated elsewhere, our intention is to always avoid region coding unless a title is still running theatrically. For SPE titles, you should consider the title all-region if it is a catalog product. I know there have been a couple of excepetions in the past, but this is our plan for future releases.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Banjo

Paidgeek, I just sent an e-mail to Sony Home Entertainment after checking the Blu-ray release, "Across the Universe." What I discovered was inexcusable and a misuse of the term, SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing).

Here is the e-mail I sent.



Sony better get their priorities straightened out and make the entire contents including the special features on any Blu-ray and DVD fully accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing.

Pardon my tone, but you need to understand that I have been putting up with it for far too many years. It should have been done from the beginning.

Enough is enough.

Points taken.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

paid, would it be possible for the PS3 to be able to do frame interpolation like many of the 120hz HDTVs?

if it is possible is it something that might be coming to PS3? it would greatly improve the visual quality of movies for people with 60hz HDTVs.

I am not sure if it is possible to do this in software, but since you can't pass 120 fps over HDMI, I would say this is a moot point.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Will SPE and Blu-ray in general have a presence on Sony's soon to be launched PS3 'Home' network.

It would appear to be the ideal platform to promote, inform and sell Blu-ray titles.

As you would expect, SPE will be participating in PSN.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Thanks for asking... I guess one title that comes to mind is "Dances With Wolves". In truth, I have a number of movies on Blu-ray that I have not made time to watch.

What the heck?
Just bring a Sony F35 out to my neck of the woods some Saturday afternoon.
I’ll dance with her for ya…………………….

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=5313

[WickyWoo]

I'd pay to see that

[Penton-Man]

I see paidgeek departed.
I wonder if it has anything to do with David Bishop’s comments noted here i.e. - “Sony plans to street slightly more than 100 titles during the year (2008), marking a 54% increase from its 2007 output.”

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6537034.html

I can just hear the guys responsible for procuring the *added value* on the discs all screaming at once to paidgeek in some conference room………………….
“Por favor no más!”

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

What the heck?
Just bring a Sony F35 out to my neck of the woods some Saturday afternoon.
I’ll dance with her for ya…………………….

Been a long time since I've seen this movie so I'm a bit fuzzy... But I think Tatonka danced nekkid in the woods. Are you serious about the dancing, Penton? Or are you a bit fuzzy?

paidgeek - I concur with Banjo on Across The Universe. Hopefully future pressing of ATU will be fixed to reflect this. And hopefully music licensing will procure lyrics publishing as part of the subtitles work for all languages, especially for movie musicals.


fuad

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I see paidgeek departed.
I wonder if it has anything to do with David Bishop’s comments noted here i.e. - “Sony plans to street slightly more than 100 titles during the year (2008), marking a 54% increase from its 2007 output.”

Yikes!

And, with two majors and two minors joining/rejoining the party.

"How many lines do we have to install?!!"

Gary

[FourToedStatue]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I see paidgeek departed.
I wonder if it has anything to do with David Bishop’s comments noted here i.e. - “Sony plans to street slightly more than 100 titles during the year (2008), marking a 54% increase from its 2007 output.”

Man that is exactly what I wanted to hear. More titles! I hope the other studios follow suit.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Points taken.

Thank you for listening. WriteSimply, appreciate the support. :-)

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by Banjo

Paidgeek, I just sent an e-mail to Sony Home Entertainment after checking the Blu-ray release, "Across the Universe." What I discovered was inexcusable and a misuse of the term, SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing).

I'm not hard of hearing, but I too was disappointed in the subtitles on Across the Universe.

I love The Beatles and have listened to their whole catalog many times, but there are some songs, including those in the movie, where I don't know all the words. I was disappointed that they subtitled all the spoken dialog, but when they'd start singing they'd often just do the first couple lines of the song and then stop. Why?

I've seen movies where they subtitled the soundtrack songs, even when they were truly being used as pure background music and the lyrics didn't necessarily fit what was happening in the movie. Given that, it seems inexcusable that they'd not subtitle lyrics that the main characters are singing as part of the plot.

Other than that, though, fantastic movie, and fantastic BD.

[jnm422]

paidgeek,
First, A little background on my problem from one of my posts;

UPDATE: Okay, so I went through 4, yes 4, copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Blu-ray and it freezes everytime at the exact same spot, chapter 17 shortly after Hermione stops dancing and goes to talk to Harry. I went through 3 copies at BB and 1 at CC. I just gave up and got Live Free or Die Hard in exchange. I don't know what to do. I finally just went to Blockbuster and rented the darn thing on DVD, ugh. Could this be my PS3? I've never had a problem before. Other Blu's play fine. Can anyone help?

Do you know of any reason this would happen? I've gotten no responses from anyone and I'm not even sure you are the right insider to offer some help on this. If not, could you direct me to someone?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by jnm422

paidgeek,
First, A little background on my problem from one of my posts;

UPDATE: Okay, so I went through 4, yes 4, copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Blu-ray and it freezes everytime at the exact same spot, chapter 17 shortly after Hermione stops dancing and goes to talk to Harry. I went through 3 copies at BB and 1 at CC. I just gave up and got Live Free or Die Hard in exchange. I don't know what to do. I finally just went to Blockbuster and rented the darn thing on DVD, ugh. Could this be my PS3? I've never had a problem before. Other Blu's play fine. Can anyone help?

Do you know of any reason this would happen? I've gotten no responses from anyone and I'm not even sure you are the right insider to offer some help on this. If not, could you direct me to someone?

Can you check your firmware and tell me what version you are running?

[jnm422]

I'm running 2.10 on a launch 60GB PS3.

[desmond]

Hi Paid,

Finally had a chance to see Lawrence on HDNet and it was very, very good, can't wait for Blu-ray. Here is my question: Are Gandhi and Guns Of Navarone on HDnet based on transfers that will be used for HDM release like Lawrence?

Keep up amazing work!!