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

[Lambchop]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Damn, the ones in the movie had more hair!
Thanks for the link though. I still plan to make an effort to see the real thing on display, if I get the opportunity.

I like the history stuff.

Apparantly, the real Tsavo Lions are a slightly different breed that don't have manes while the lions in the Ghost & the Darkness are the better known breed. I guess a maneless lion isn't quite as impressive on film

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

Oh man, I hate it when I am called on a mistake like that (I make so few of them).

Yes, you are 100% correct about that particular (great) movie!

But Lawrence is one of the very few exceptions to the general rule, which is: the local cineplex sucks! The majority of movies will look better at home using Blu-ray.

Agreed. Apart from the theater conditions, film processing has really gone downhill (especially in Europe). I remember, when LOTR: The Two Towers opened, I went to a very good, non-multiplex theater, only to see that the color-timing changed very visibly from reel to reel - after the reel change mark, forests switched from green to cyan and 15 minutes later, back to green.

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Agreed. Apart from the theater conditions, film processing has really gone downhill (especially in Europe). I remember, when LOTR: The Two Towers opened, I went to a very good, non-multiplex theater, only to see that the color-timing changed very visibly from reel to reel - after the reel change mark, forests switched from green to cyan and 15 minutes later, back to green.

I had a bad experience with Return of the King. The opening scene of Smeagol and Deagol in the boat was stretched vertically (due I'm guessing to a lack of anamorphic lens?)

Thankfully someone noticed and corrected it by the time Gollum was born.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Agreed. Apart from the theater conditions, film processing has really gone downhill (especially in Europe). I remember, when LOTR: The Two Towers opened, I went to a very good, non-multiplex theater, only to see that the color-timing changed very visibly from reel to reel - after the reel change mark, forests switched from green to cyan and 15 minutes later, back to green.

Also, keep in mind that it is not uncommon for a reel of a release print that has been only shown 40-50 times to start demonstrating slight color shifts (esp. toward yellow) compared to its virgin condition.

[Penton-Man]

A big thanks to all you guys that provided the links and referrals to The Field Museum in Chicago in regards to viewing the lions from The Ghost and the Darkness.

For those Chicagoans that provided the gift links, this is my gift link in return, just in case you’re unfamiliar with the venue (in a Chicago burb)…………………….
http://www.bigscreen.com/journal.php?id=810

Hopefully, in 2008 and the years beyond there will be more and more 4K content out there if people like Chris Cookson can champion complete 4K digital pipelines for studios as costs and rendering times decrease.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by db2

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

Definitely worth it.

No, but thanks for the heads-up.
I have a sister in the area who I visit from time to time, so I'll keep it in mind.

[Penton-Man]

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...

Speaking of the Rat movie, and Brad Bird, who if you recall was interviewed for this forum by our very own Ben Williams and Josh Dreuth …..
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=647

I think he gave a good acceptance speech at the Academy Awards and the absolute best for any aspiring filmmakers that were watching the show………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nEQax1iEaE

[Alan Gordon]

Not a question, but since I've always believed that if my friends jump off a cliff, I should too, I'll join in on the discussion regarding film vs. digital.

A few years back my uncle saw LOTR: TFOTR with his wife and friends, I saw it on DVD months later. Since he was the only one in the above group who really liked it, he and I went and saw LOTR: TTT at the theater. It was kind of rowdy as some people dropped their kids off at the "The Two Towers" and evidently went and saw a movie they wanted to see. It was loud, but it didn't deter us from seeing the final film, we just picked a better night to watch it. We got 2/3 or 3/4 (I can't remember) through the movie when all of sudden, the picture just FROZE! We all were shocked in disbelief at this... and one guy in front of us even stood up and yelled "oh, come on! We waited three damn years for this!" (not an exact quote, but it was hilarious at the time), and suddenly a small black spot appeared on the screen which shortly turned to the color orange followed by the black spot growing larger and larger until it was quite clear we were seeing the film being burned by a fire. We all sat there for a little bit until someone came to tell us that this would be the end of the film for us tonight, but that we'd all receive free passes. An annoying development for those of us sitting there to miss the ending, but probably even more annoying to a couple that was there who my uncle knew who recently became first-time parents and this was their first night out in forever only to miss out on the ending. I don't think they ever got to use their free passes either.

While I've been to the theater before when the film was crooked for a couple of minutes into the film, it didn't really bother me, the only time where I was really bothered was when I went and saw "Big Daddy" with my cousin only to have to sit through the first 10-20 minutes without sound. However, that was mainly due to the ineptitude of the employees and not really relevant to the film vs. digital discussion. I got free passes to it as well from a friend of mine who worked there as a second job (splicing film, etc...) after I told him the story about how the manager gave me some story about how he'd give me free passes, but he didn't have any in his wallet at the time.

The LOTR story was from a newer facility than the "Big Daddy" story, and I've heard they've even upgraded to DLP, and the Hannah Montana and U2 movies were shown in 3-D there, but I haven't been there in a couple of years so I can't really comment as to the upgrade in quality, but I do intend on going there this year for "Iron Man" and "The Dark Knight". If they've upgraded to DLP, can they still use film, or does it have to be digital?

~Alan

[Proteus]

I prefer digital over film, period.

2k or 4k doesn't matter, though our 'good' theatres here are using 4k projectors now (part of a beta program they are in).

Why?

Not because it may be 'better' in the lab as has been discussed here, but rather in the 'real world' it BLOWS FILM FREAKIN' AWAY.

Seriously, film _SUCKS_ in the real world. Projectionists aren't even trained for film anymore around here. They wouldn't even know what to do with it. Back when we still had film, they clearly still didn't train them as it was always dirty, scratched, vibrating all over, etc. I hated having to stay up til Midnight to stand in line for 6 hours to see a new movie just so I could see it with a somewhat clean/clear film print. By the end of the first day the movies were ruined back then it seemed.

I hate film in mainstream theatres. Just absolutely hate it. At least with digital I know I'm getting nothing worse than film and it's consistent and predictable. The untrained projectionists getting minimum wage only have to push a button to start it so they can't screw it up unless they are a complete village idiot (and some are).

Anyway, so, yeah... I think Spielberg is making a monumental mistake putting Indy 4 on film only. It's going to destroy the films presentation in this world of digital projectors and untrained projectionists who know nothing about it. If I am unable to see it at a 'first showing' I'm simply not going to see it in theatres. I'll wait for the digital blu-ray and enjoy the detail, thank you. Spielberg can have his crappy film requirement.

I'll stop ranting now... but, someone really needs to set Spielberg straight on what era we live in currently so he doesn't ruin a good film for the majority of people viewing it.

[DaViD Boulet]

just a thought, should we start a thread about film versus digital versus 2K versus 4K projection? Seems a lot of bandwidth about that but not sure it makes sense to carry on an extensive discussion in Penton's thread (even though he also contributes)... sort of seems like a topic all on its own worth a thread.

Mods... if you start such a thread you could move all the relevent discussion from here to there.

[Proteus]

Meh, I didn't see the harm as there really isn't much else going on atm and PMan was all into it also.

[DaViD Boulet]

no harm, I wasn't complaining (and all your points and those of everyone else are spot-on). Just wondering if we should have a dedicated thread given the momentum of the topic.

[Bullseye]

The cinemas are pretty good here in Ireland. The few times I have been to the cinema in the US I have found that the gradient of the seats is too shallow and with some very tall people residing in the US it’s not very well thought out. The only time I have seen a decent seating arrangement was at the IMAX in NYC.

[Penton-Man]

In regards to our recent discussion on digital theatrical presentations and such, I received several inquiries about 3D stuff……….

Some good points were made at the last HPA, even one by our old replication friend Alan Bell……………..
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...3fca0ddcccab01

For a walkthrough of a 3D venue by somebody that seems to think all Academy members are your grandfather’s age………….
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9B04tsJAZeg

[DaViD Boulet]

Penton,

any word from the BDA about putting together an (optional) 3-D spec for Blu-ray that could use the secondary video channel running parallel in 1080p24 for the second video angle for real 3-D encoding (with full backwards compatibility with all 2-D hardware)?

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Penton,

any word from the BDA about putting together an (optional) 3-D spec for Blu-ray that could use the secondary video channel running parallel in 1080p24 for the second video angle for real 3-D encoding (with full backwards compatibility with all 2-D hardware)?

I'm also interested in knowing this. My Mitsubishi WD-65833 has a "3D Glasses Output" jack, but I have no reason to use it right now!

Also, what's the latest word on Mitsubishi's 3D BD player?

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

The cinemas are pretty good here in Ireland. The few times I have been to the cinema in the US I have found that the gradient of the seats is too shallow and with some very tall people residing in the US it’s not very well thought out. The only time I have seen a decent seating arrangement was at the IMAX in NYC.

Have you been here lately, to a newer theater?

"Stadium seating" (a steep slope) is now all the rage, and it's designed exactly to fix the problem you describe.

[pellucidity]

Originally Posted by TheRealBob

Have you been here lately, to a newer theater?

"Stadium seating" (a steep slope) is now all the rage, and it's designed exactly to fix the problem you describe.

Since it's designed into the venue, it's one of the few things they can't mess up. I'm not even sure if I'm kidding.

I have two nearby theatres, a neighborhood venue that recently reopened (but the equipment is just too dated, even after the money the new owner put in), and a standard incompetent multiplex. It's sad, but I just can't be bothered to go out to movies except at the local arthouse these days. I don't even know where I'll go for Indy 4.

[Anthony P]

any word from the BDA about putting together an (optional) 3-D spec for Blu-ray that could use the secondary video channel running parallel in 1080p24 for the second video angle for real 3-D encoding (with full backwards compatibility with all 2-D hardware)?

I would like to know that as well (and if not what is the best way to get the point across)

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Penton,

any word from the BDA about putting together an (optional) 3-D spec for Blu-ray that could use the secondary video channel running parallel in 1080p24 for the second video angle for real 3-D encoding (with full backwards compatibility with all 2-D hardware)?

I have no information regarding that possibility.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKFdHniY-9M&NR=1
^ ^
I’m starting to believe that real 3D with human subjects would explode (even 3D animation, if less annoying voicing can be found) if the porno producers got interested. Lol, if that did indeed happen, I just pity the wives of some colorists and editors when they return home after a hard day’s work.