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

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by FilmMixer

PM.. Is the PS3 going to offer checkerboard output for BD 3D and 3D gaming?

Hi Marc.
I never did get around to congratulating you for your Emmy award winning work on the HBO film ‘John Adams’.

So, here’s a belated tip of the hat.

To the best of my *knowledge the PS3 will not support checkerboard formatted output.

*and I don’t have first-hand knowledge, as only guys like Kevin Butler have first person knowledge like that...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiwSCznhdPo),

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Yeah, it's nice to have old Max making little Leon work for it.

Max is a Rodent.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by wakeboredb

How about that Biaggi double win yesteday at Monza!!!! He also set a track speed record in qualifying of 205mph without drafting off anyone.

And BMW finally got their first podium finish with their new superbike.

Lots of great WSBK excitement yesterday.

I'm starting to get itchy for the Isle of Man Race now. Those guys are freaks!
Here's a great youtube video for anyone familiar or unfamiliar with that race:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE7H6f9PVwk

The 2009 IOM review BD (3 hours long) is available....but not for region A. I saw some of it and the PQ and AQ were fabulous. Helicopter footage zoomed in like Planet Earth.... listening to the bike wailing at redline.

Did you see Lorenzos dip in the pond? Great race.

[wakeboredb]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Did you see Lorenzos dip in the pond? Great race.

That was funny, helmet and everything. Although I have no idea how you get out of a leather race suit after you've gone swimming in it. I'm sure there was a female with a pair of scissors just waiting for the opportunity to find out.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Max is a Rodent.

And that's why we value his presence.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

And that's why we value his presence.

Whats your take on the Moto GP season outlook?

Thoughts on Spies?

I think Spies will podium more than once. I think Lorenzo has a good shot at the title this year. Very good. I'd even bet (a small amount ) money on it.

My brain is really churning on the upcoming silly season. Lorenzo and Rossi will want to stay. Yamaha will want them to stay. Will Spies be content to remain in a satelite team? I'd like to see him stay at Yamaha.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I think Spies will podium more than once.

I do, too. And despite Yamaha's crowing about costs, I think they'll offer him a modest factory-support package next year. They'll find the money, somehow.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I think Lorenzo has a good shot at the title this year. Very good. I'd even bet (a small amount ) money on it.

I'll take that bet. Lorenzo will do everything a mortal can, but unless something happens to Rossi's health this year, Vale's gonna mess with him hard. This is the year to break his will at any cost. Should be epic and tight, whatever happens.

[wakeboredb]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I do, too. And despite Yamaha's crowing about costs, I think they'll offer him a modest factory-support package next year. They'll find the money, somehow.

I agree with multiple Spies podiums and the offer for modest factory support. But, do you think any teams will outbid Yamaha and offer full factory support trying to bank on him being an up-and-comer in hopes that it pays off a few years down the line? Are any factories willing to take that gamble?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I do, too. And despite Yamaha's crowing about costs, I think they'll offer him a modest factory-support package next year. They'll find the money, somehow.



I'll take that bet. Lorenzo will do everything a mortal can, but unless something happens to Rossi's health this year, Vale's gonna mess with him hard. This is the year to break his will at any cost. Should be epic and tight, whatever happens.

Shall we make a small wager? Say a Blu-ray title of choice (single film) for the winner?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by wakeboredb

I agree with multiple Spies podiums and the offer for modest factory support. But, do you think any teams will outbid Yamaha and offer full factory support trying to bank on him being an up-and-comer in hopes that it pays off a few years down the line? Are any factories willing to take that gamble?

Absolutely-for-sure! I was watching how much trouble Pedrosa was having until he got his new frame and was figuring it was going to be his last year at Honda. I was betting that Honda would offer HUGE money to get him (like the did for Lorenzo last year). But it looks like Danis getting things sorted with the 212v.

Is Capirossi done? Surely Suzuki now knows they made a colossal blunder by not grabbing Spies. Will they want him? Yes. Will they bid enough? Dunno.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by wakeboredb

I agree with multiple Spies podiums and the offer for modest factory support. But, do you think any teams will outbid Yamaha and offer full factory support trying to bank on him being an up-and-comer in hopes that it pays off a few years down the line? Are any factories willing to take that gamble?

Ducati probably is.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Shall we make a small wager? Say a Blu-ray title of choice (single film) for the winner?

I'm down, but we'll have to come up with some some "C" eventuality, in case Stoner pastes them all.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I'm down, but we'll have to come up with some some "C" eventuality, in case Stoner pastes them all.

How about this? You and I bet only on the Rossi vs Lorenzo final outcome, regardless of all the others. Thats more interesting to me anyway because of the internal team politics, headgames, egos and silly season etc. Work for you?

Stoner sure has his work cut out for himself if hes going to be a contender. Uphill battle from day one, ouch.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

How about this? You and I bet only on the Rossi vs Lorenzo final outcome, regardless of all the others.

So, just finish-order between the two of them, regardless of whether either claim the title? That'd work for me.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

So, just finish-order between the two of them, regardless of whether either claim the title? That'd work for me.

We're on!

Edit. I'm in the lead!!!!!!!!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I'm in the lead!!!!!!!!

Enjoy it while it lasts.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Interesting statistic. How many podium finishes did Lorenzo achieve after coming up from 7th or deeper?

He's like Doohan....gets faster and tougher at the end while others fade.

Now if he'd just stop crashing....

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

In the direction that we're currently heading, 65mm or 8p origination makes little sense. Current Kodak stocks are superb, and especially below the ASA 200 range are virtually grainless.

2K projection and 4/35 are fine for modest sized movie theater screens. Over the past decade dozens of movie theaters have been built with screens honestly too large for 4-perf 35mm projection and too large for 2K projection. But theaters with 70' and 80' diameter screens are still being installed anyway. 70mm projection is the only format that can provide the proper amount of light and proper amount of detail for such giant sized screens.

It's especially embarrassing IMAX has diluted its brand name with a 2K digital projection system. The only saving grace is IMAX digital screens are actually smaller than many of these other over-sized screens and they use two projectors to throw the image.

The sad thing is movie theater presentation quality is now being dictated by home video standards. I liked it better when movie studios, filmmakers and technology experts were working to stay ahead of TV. I think this is why 2K is still the de facto standard in movie post production. It's real close to HDTV standards. Easier to port to Blu-ray and cable TV. The general public seems all too willing to buy into the "digital" buzzword. Even more sad is so many filmmakers have too. The problem is if I'm seeing roughly the same level of detail on Blu-ray as I do in the theater I have one less reason to go to the theater. I think the movie theater should offer a demonstrably superior viewing experience.

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

Currently in NYC, I'm unaware of a single theatrical venue that can still run a 70mm mag print. IMAX theaters are in most cases no longer real IMAX theaters.

New IMAX theaters aren't real IMAX, but dozens of 15/70 installations still exist. Regarding traditional 5/70mm I agree 70mm mag is pretty much a dead format. Only a few select venues are able to run 70mm mag, some of which are private screening rooms. At least DTS is an option for new 5/70mm prints.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

At least DTS is an option for new 5/70mm prints.

...and it's inferior to those mag soundtracks, particularly SR mag.

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

...and it's inferior to those mag soundtracks, particularly SR mag.

The issue with DTS brings up another problem: movie studios repeatedly fail to use existing equipment to its best potential.

Old DTS-6, DTS-6D and DTS-6AD players and cinema processors could only play the standard DTS theatrical format, which is indeed inferior in quality to 6-track Dolby SR magnetic. Lossy Dolby Digital and SDDS are also inferior in quality to 6-track Dolby SR mag (not going to leave anyone out).

The newest DTS processors, the DTS-XD10 and DTS-XD20 can play more than just the old APT-X100 version of DTS. They can play various "home" format versions of DTS, uncompressed Linear PCM and even 24-bit 96kHz audio. Out of the box the processors support 8-channel discrete playback and can be upgraded to support 10 or more channels of discrete audio. This capability surpasses the audio capability of mag-striped Dolby SR film prints. But that extra capability has gone unused even though it's been available for several years already. Likewise, D-cinema systems can support a lot more than just 5.1 channels of audio.

The "Dolby Surround 7.1" format being introduced with Toy Story 3 is something of a joke since there is no Dolby audio compression is taking place. It's Linear PCM. Any D-cinema theater can use it if it is wired for 7.1 playback (with four discrete surround channels). This sort of thing is only going forward because Blu-ray can support 7.1 channels of audio.

This is just another symptom of how fundamental issues of presentation quality in movie theaters are slipping. I think the movie studios, producers and filmmakers cared more about this sort of thing 10 or 20 years ago than they do now. Today everything is just stressed for home video release.