"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Penton...

better get out the Siginficant-Other control and fast!

I'm sure you like taking your wife out to movies imeasurably more... right? (answer is "Yes!")

Yes!
She (in contrast to the ole girlfriend) actually watched all the movies with me when we dated so we had something to talk about while on the way home where we *tended to business* ..........without breaking any local laws.

[TauHeel05]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Dude…….you don’t even have to be in the projectionist booth for such extra circular activities.
I’m embarrassed to admit that when I was a high-schooler and my girlfriend and I attended some shows where few people were in the auditorium, if she became bored with the motion picture that was playing, instead of giving it thumbs down like with Roger Ebert and other movie reviewers that use that system……..

She gave it a *heads-down* review…….if you know what I mean.
I particularly enjoyed taking her to movies that she found boring.

Haha. Did you ever cut a hole in the bottom of the popcorn bucket?

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Dude…….you don’t even have to be in the projectionist booth for such extra circular activities.
I’m embarrassed to admit that when I was a high-schooler and my girlfriend and I attended some shows where few people were in the auditorium, if she became bored with the motion picture that was playing, instead of giving it thumbs down like with Roger Ebert and other movie reviewers that use that system……..

She gave it a *heads-down* review…….if you know what I mean.
I particularly enjoyed taking her to movies that she found boring.

Man, I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes. I can just see you picking movies you knew she wouldn't like.

[WickyWoo]

Preach the Word, brother!

Shame on you, you should know that Lawrence is only truely experienced in 70mm

[db2]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I still plan to make an effort to see the real thing on display, if I get the opportunity.

I like the history stuff.

OT, have you been to the International Spy Museum in D.C.??

Definitely worth it.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Resolution. Vertical pixel count.

Equivalent Blu-ray resolutions:

1k - 720p
2k - 1080p
4k - 2160p

Thanks Max, I was wondering the same thing.

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by Cruyff14

I still remember the times when showmanship was part of the vocabulary of a projectionist and going to the movies was something special. The sensation of the lights dimming, the curtains slowly opening and the film filling that huge huge screen. Nothing will beat that.

Yeah, I was just thinking recently about that very thing. It sounds stupid, but I really miss the curtains. I haven't seen that in any theaters in many years (although I'm sure some of the top theaters in big cities still do that kind of thing).

The theater my family used to take me to when I was a kid had the curtains. The screen was something close to 2:35:1. The curtains would start closed, then they'd open to what I assume was probably a 1:85:1 ratio for the previews, then when the main feature was going to start, they'd open to the full 2:35:1 size. That silly "now we need the power of the whole screen for the main feature" moment really added to the experience.

For that matter, almost all of the screens these days seem to be 1.85:1 or 16:9, with 2.35:1 movies shown letterboxed. That kind of ruins the idea that these special action movies need to have a bigger horizon. I suppose you could just sit closer for the effect, but it's not the same.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Several years ago at ETC’s DCL there was a demonstration attended by a bunch of industry folks…………ASC projection sub-committee members, DP’s, CTO’s, tech-geeks, outside consultants, etc. where they showed the StEM movie in a side by side test with the film’s answer print shown on one side of the screen and the digital format simultaneously presently via a 2K projector on the other side of the screen.
(this test was later repeated in film vs. simulated 4K digital face-off, which was even more revealing for the 2K vs 4K aspect of digital projection).

Anyway, the general consensus among audience members was that the 2K was slightly sharper (and I’ll emphasize the word “slightly”) and showed better dynamic range than the 35mm print. Color (including blacks) was considered similar with both.

Then I remember in the Spring of 2005, at the same venue, there was a screening of Steven Soderberg's Oceans 12, with alternating 35mm and 2K digital reels. As above, the film print was considered of “answer quality” and not some release print that had been stepped on hundreds of times already. Likewise, the projectors were state-of-art for that time and likely in far better maintenance than your typical film projector in your local movie theater. Anyway, the result was the same as above with the StEM material demonstration, i.e. everyone preferred the 2K reels over the 35mm. reels (slightly). It should be noted that a few attendees couldn’t discern any difference at all between the two.

I think it’s now more accessible for hobbyists out there to form their own conclusions.
For instance, one of my neighbors goes to a local Cineplex that has one of those Barco 2K projectors and he always mentions to me that he prefers features utilizing that projector rather than the film projectors used in their other auditoriums……no matter what the title.

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Advantages of Digital:

Better looking esp. in real world applications, copying, changing, controlling, delivering.

Then, when you deliver the 2K onto a direct view monitor (no lens MTF) you get something better than slightly (adds hot sauce to the steak)

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by TauHeel05

Haha. Did you ever cut a hole in the bottom of the popcorn bucket?

In my day, the bottom folded over.... I can remember a ribbon on V-Day...

SURPRISE !!!

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m embarrassed to admit ...

NOTHING to be embarassed about. What have you done wrong there?

[Kris Deering]

I can understand people's preference with film if ALL of the circumstances are ideal. But that is probably the case .0001% of the time. Most theaters don't take care of their projectors or the film. So we suffer. With D-Cinema the presentation seems to be far more consistent so far. But that doesn't mean it is perfect.

I've seen a lot of convergence issues, lighting issues (which kills contrast) and screen issues (seams mainly). But I don't have to worry about gate issues, print wear and the multitude of other issues I see with a film presentation within hours after opening (if not opening night!).

[ryoohki]

Well i saw a Presentation of Ratatouille in Film. It was the 2nd night. The print had Cigar Burn and a lot of hair that wasn't coming from the Rats...

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

Well i saw a Presentation of Ratatouille in Film. It was the 2nd night. The print had Cigar Burn and a lot of hair that wasn't coming from the Rats...

Good grief

[Azumi]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

Well i saw a Presentation of Ratatouille in Film. It was the 2nd night. The print had Cigar Burn and a lot of hair that wasn't coming from the Rats...

There was a time where you could see much more in the Disney classics, if you had a subliminal vision...

Which reminds me that my Laserdisc of Roger Rabbit had a very nice shot of Jessica

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by Azumi

There was a time where you could see much more in the Disney classics, if you had a subliminal vision...

Which reminds me that my Laserdisc of Roger Rabbit had a very nice shot of Jessica

HAHA yeah I know the bit you mean.

[Cinema]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

For a first and only post.. that sure is a weird sounding one to me....
Butt splicer? Sounds painful.

Best to be fast and accurate or you could face the wrath of an angry mob. Also you must always be mindful of your heads and tails orientation.

[Rob Tomlin]

..

[Member-9711]

Penton or anyone with knowledge....

Sony own MGM right? How come 20th Century Fox distributes their movies and not Sony Pictures? And since Fox distributes MGM's movies, does MGM or Fox determine which catalogue releases coming to Blu-Ray?

Thought about this for awhile

Thank you and all the other insiders for participating here!

[Sporty]

Originally Posted by Dofflan

Penton or anyone with knowledge....

Sony own MGM right? How come 20th Century Fox distributes their movies and not Sony Pictures? And since Fox distributes MGM's movies, does MGM or Fox determine which catalogue releases coming to Blu-Ray?

Thought about this for awhile

Thank you and all the other insiders for participating here!

Sony actually only owns 20% of MGM.

It was an equity group that bought MGM, not just Sony. Comcast also owns 20%, Providence and TGP both own a larger percentage then Sony.

[WickyWoo]

Fox distributes MGM's movies, does MGM or Fox determine which catalogue releases coming to Blu-Ray?

Simplest explanation. MGM decides, Fox makes it happen