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

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by mhafner

Can you say if there has been a new transfer made for LOA or all efforts still focusing on processing the transfer from the 90s?

Well, now that it has been shown on HDNet Movies (the source being the same HD master that will be used for the Blu-ray edition), I feel a little more comfortable in answering your query.

If you’re asking if LoA received a new complete photochemical operation with repair work to basically generate a new film print……the answer is no.

A new transfer received extensive dirt and scratch removal with color correction at the one-light stage (i.e. a digital restoration). Robert Harris assisted in the process. I hesitate to provide anymore details as I don’t want to step on paidgeek’s or G.C.’s toes.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by mpsan

That is bad as I am the one who can not read a paper or magazine without finding errors.

When are they going to invent a keyboard that can type?

Your real problem is having scrutinized too many of those *cards* plastered all over Tokyo phone booths back in the day.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff®

Very nice Jeff.
One of my most favorite actors in one of my most favorite films.

[Blu boy]

hey penton what do you have to say about toshiba and this pulling the plug on hd dud any thing you can tell us?

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, now that it has been shown on HDNet Movies (the source being the same HD master that will be used for the Blu-ray edition), I feel a little more comfortable in answering your query.

If you’re asking if LoA received a new complete photochemical operation with repair work to basically generate a new film print……the answer is no.

A new transfer received extensive dirt and scratch removal with color correction at the one-light stage (i.e. a digital restoration). Robert Harris assisted in the process. I hesitate to provide anymore details as I don’t want to step on paidgeek’s or G.C.’s toes.

Exactly as I suspected.

I did watch the HDNet airing of my beloved Lawrence, and I was pretty pleased overall, although I did think it looked a bit softer than I would have liked. Hopefully the extra bandwidth of Blu-ray will help with the overall PQ.

Edit: I wanted to add that the PQ is leaps and bounds better than any DVD release, including the Superbit version. The color banding is GONE!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

Classic.

I wish I had your talent for this Jeff!

Well, do you have a talent for identifying faces?

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, do you have a talent for identifying faces?

Yes, that's Peter O' Toole!!!




And just in case people don't realize it, no, it is not Peter O' Toole, but T.E. Lawrence himself. The resemblance is amazing.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Blu boy

hey penton what do you have to say about toshiba and this pulling the plug on hd dud any thing you can tell us?

I don't care about Toshiba one way or another.
They've always got their refrigerators to sell.

[turboedguy]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I don't care about Toshiba one way or another.
They've always got their refrigerators to sell.

the only thing they make that doesnt freeze.

[ezcobar411]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I don't care about Toshiba one way or another.
They've always got their refrigerators to sell.

Does that mean that you don't think that they spent the company's money well on this marketing lesson?

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by turboedguy

the only thing they make that doesnt freeze.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by turboedguy

the only thing they make that doesnt freeze.

Oh SNAP!!!!

Man, that's funny.

[eat_me_cool]

Originally Posted by turboedguy

the only thing they make that doesnt freeze.

Owch, thats low. But Fair.

[Smackos]

Penton-Man(or anybody else for that matter).. presuming we do see Universal Studios and Paramount back in the fold on Blu-ray at some point soon what do you think the chances are that BOTH will remain region free as per they're HD-DVD efforts?

Obviously I know that Paramounts likely to do as before but what about Universal?? Would they want to take advantage of region coding with the option available to them now on Blu-ray?

Cheers for any thoughts on this mate.. I appreciate it..

~Mat

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by turboedguy

the only thing they make that doesnt freeze.

^^^^ I love reading stuff like this first thing in the AM over coffee. Hilarious.

[Lambchop]

Penton,

Thanks for all the work you've done to win this war for Blu. ...I enjoy reading your posts here since you have the perfect blend of many good qualities about you: A little mystery, cheek, professionality, forcefullness when necessary & most importantly, love for movies & BRD!

In regards to the war being over now, can we expect to see studios changing their use of region-locking? E.g. will Paramount, WB & Universal continue a region-free policy?

Are there any non-traditional approaches to this that we can hope for with BRD? For example, I'd gladly pay any studio or distributor for a region-unlock key to play discs unavailable or different from regional releases available in my region.

Thank you for responding!

David

[DaViD Boulet]

Here's an idea for The BDA that's probably too late but a good idea nevertheless:

How about a region-lock that can be UNLOCKED once the film has finished its theatrical run?

The opposite of BD+ if you will... but perhaps operating by the same mechanism?

Basically a title like Hairspray starts out in the USA region A but then once the film has worked its way around players get an update allowing them to play it even if they are out of region.

Thoughts?

[WickyWoo]

Penton-Man(or anybody else for that matter).. presuming we do see Universal Studios and Paramount back in the fold on Blu-ray at some point soon what do you think the chances are that BOTH will remain region free as per they're HD-DVD efforts?

Universal and Paramount have a lot of movies with split international rights. doubtful. The trend is toward more region coding, not less

How about a region-lock that can be UNLOCKED once the film has finished its theatrical run?

All pressings after 12 months of release will be region free. Once volume is up on Blus, you will probably see that R0 pressing soon after the deadline expires. You still have to protect the home video window

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Here's an idea for The BDA that's probably too late but a good idea nevertheless:

How about a region-lock that can be UNLOCKED once the film has finished its theatrical run?

I suggested that before the Blu-ray launched, when a certain A-level someone was yabbering on about HD DVD being region free.

Gary

[DaViD Boulet]

All pressings after 12 months of release will be region free. Once volume is up on Blus, you will probably see that R0 pressing soon after the deadline expires. You still have to protect the home video window

WickyWoo,

will the studios really make such a change from their current practice? I notice that with DVDs of catalog titles, virtually all of them in my collection are R1 despite the fact that there was no "window" to worry about.

Even the Criterion edition of The Last Emperor I just got on DVD to review for dvdfile is region 1.

Why would the studios act different with Blu? Don't get me wrong, I hope that they do! I'm just curious about what would motivate a different approach to when to/no to region-restrict a release.

I suggested that before the formats launched, when a certain A-level someone was yabbering on about HD DVD being region free.

Gary

It would certainly seem an easy thing to do with 2.0 web-enabled players... they studio server could talk to the player and unlock any restricted titles once the window had passed.