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

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Constitution 101

Question for Mr. Penton...I got my new TV calibrated recently, and then I went out and bought/watched Baraka. I've never seen anything even close to that picture quality before. Will we start seeing more of this in the future or is it just too impractical for studios? It's a shame if that's the case...

Obviously, I guess that’s largely dependent upon the studio and the particular title. Let’s place Baraka aside for the moment, because some online polarized views about that title have been beaten into the ground ad nausea and no need to rehash that. As to what may not be so obvious is that...

35mm film stocks are still getting better,
digital cameras continue to improve by offering things like shooting in S-log (logarithmic gamma curve) which makes full use of the wide dynamic range of the CCD sensor,
4k scanners are getting faster (think 15 fps),
storage is getting somewhat cheaper leading to more 4k DI’s (for instance, Sony has over 2.5 pedabytes of tape and 1 pedabyte of disc storage at the facility),

just beginning is the practicality of cutting-edge developments like realtime 4k color grading (rather than using 2k proxies for color correction) the higher rez significantly aiding some digital tools’ proficiency esp. in terms of achieving a more consistent look for film restorations when multiple types of sources (OCN, IP, etc.) are what’s only available, rather than luckily having something like the entire original camera negative at your finger tips… heck, not just aiding restoration work per se but also, for that matter, 4k finishing being helpful for modern day motion pictures, esp. those hybrid (film, digital) acquisitions,

home theater displays are getting better, accelerated by the shift to 3D reigniting TV image quality competition among all manufacturers causing a trickle-down effect with resultant 2D viewing increased picture quality.

Now granted, some of these evolving technological refinements I’ve listed above may translate into subtle improvements in Blu-ray movie picture quality dependent upon how really discerning your eyes may be, the size of your screen, etc. but, I personally believe the juice is worth the squeeze.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Constitution 101

Question for Mr. Penton...I got my new TV calibrated recently, and then I went out and bought/watched Baraka. I've never seen anything even close to that picture quality before. Will we start seeing more of this in the future or is it just too impractical for studios? It's a shame if that's the case...

^
P.S.
In case I misunderstood you and you’re asking if there is going to be some resurgence in new feature films shot entirely on 5-perf 65mm negative, no, my friend, I believe that boat has already sailed, which makes large format film showings like OliverK has done, even more special.

Best you can probably look forward to as a home theater enthusiast is something like the eventual Blu-ray edition of LoA and thank God that you don’t have to walk by this guy in the lobby everyday and be reminded the pressure you’re under to make certain it’s as good as it can be.
Best Picture.jpg

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

^
P.S.
In case I misunderstood you and you’re asking if there is going to be some resurgence in new feature films shot entirely on 5-perf 65mm negative, no, my friend, I believe that boat has already sailed, which makes large format film showings like OliverK has done, even more special.

Best you can probably look forward to as a home theater enthusiast is something like the eventual Blu-ray edition of LoA and thank God that you don’t have to walk by this guy in the lobby everyday and be reminded the pressure you’re under to make certain it’s as good as it can be.
Attachment 27386

Heh, that's fabulous. And, I guess, photographic proof you're at least on the Sony lot on with security clearance.

[Doctorossi]

Hey, Penton,

I guess I never jumped in on your little challenge, did I? I don't even remember what they're shooting with (the Fusion?), but I'm going to go with a 50mm as my first stab. I'll let you know where you can send the case of Rice-A-Roni.

[Penton-Man]

Deci, nice touch with the pic….Members only.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Hey, Penton,
I guess I never jumped in on your little challenge, did I? I don't even remember what they're shooting with (the Fusion?)...

ARRI Alexas on Pace 3D rigs. If your guess ultimately ends up being correct, don’t expect any gift because for one thing, your avatar is absolutely killing me this year what with the rollercoaster ride Arsenal is putting me through in both the Champions League and the Prem.

[Penton-Man]

sharkshark -
http://www.oscars.org/press/pressrel.../20101210.html

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

sharkshark -
http://www.oscars.org/press/pressrel.../20101210.html

Yup, I saw. I think Inception might take it (and not much else), but it's amusing to see small budget wonders like SCOTT PILGRIM are on that list - I highly doubt it'll make the final three, but who knows?

What's amusing is with the talk of abandoning the feature animation category, the line between that category and VFX is getting smaller and smaller...

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Yup, I saw. I think Inception might take it (and not much else), but it's amusing to see small budget wonders like SCOTT PILGRIM are on that list - I highly doubt it'll make the final three, but who knows?...

That (Inception), and I would say, also in strongest contention are probably Alice in Wonderland and Tron: Legacy (despite initial mixed buzz about the motion picture itself…
http://blogs.forbes.com/dorothypomer...mepagechannels )

Very fine Holiday gift for the PS22 Chorus from New York. It’s nice to see the un-jaded enthusiasm of youth …
http://www.youtube.com/user/agreggof.../0/1gKYFZyvehE

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

That (Inception), and I would say, also in strongest contention are probably Alice in Wonderland and Tron: Legacy (despite initial mixed buzz about the motion picture itself…
http://blogs.forbes.com/dorothypomer...mepagechannels )

Just got back from TRON - certainly lives up to the original (I mean that in a good way), it's a pretty thing, and frankly often more visually interesting that the last 3D IMAX film I saw (you know, with the Thundersmurfs...)

I was amused that in certain scenes the aspect changed, and we got full frame IMAX a la DARK KNIGHT.

Also saw THE FIGHTER today - I get the love for the film, it's about as good as the Town (B+, say), and it wears its contrivances on its shoulders, as it were. It's still fathoms away from the likes of BLACK SWAN or 127 HOURS, but, yeah, you've heard that before.

ps. Cute vid.

[Jumpman]

Thundersmurfs! NICE!

[Penton-Man]

Well, whether you’re an AVATAR fan or not, considerably long exclusivity deals (implied or real) with consumer electronics companies is just cutting the throat of 3D Blu-ray adoption, when broadcast alternatives are available to the mainstream public…
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/3737...-chaos-helping


It’s one thing to fund or financially compensate for the home media creation of a BD3D product but, at some point, any reasonable person knows when a money-grab is taking place, esp. since the majority of the heavy lifting, so to speak, takes place at the post production phase rather than further on downstream at the Blu-ray encoding/authoring stage, esp. with a film that has a relatively shallow depth of field (focus) to begin with and the filmmaker desires to keep it that way in post.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

It’s one thing to fund or financially compensate for the home media creation of a BD3D product but, at some point, any reasonable person knows when a money-grab is taking place, esp. since the majority of the heavy lifting, so to speak, takes place at the post production phase rather than further on downstream at the Blu-ray encoding/authoring stage, esp. with a film that has a relatively shallow depth of focus to begin with and the filmmaker desires to keep it that way in post.

Should be noted that SONY is/was a leader in this (SACD immediately comes to mind, and how the production dried up after the subsidies stopped), but, indeed, I agree that in this relatively fragile environment of Home 3D, getting users used to (inferior) 3D for the sake of ease of use/lack of exclusivity is beneficial not just for proponents of home 3D, but for the trickle down that's promised for more traditional releases (ie., the money losing classic that's funded, in part, by the success of the blockbuster).

Bah ha! One sentence!

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, whether you’re an AVATAR fan or not, considerably long exclusivity deals (implied or real) with consumer electronics companies is just cutting the throat of 3D Blu-ray adoption, when broadcast alternatives are available to the mainstream public…
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/3737...-chaos-helping


It’s one thing to fund or financially compensate for the home media creation of a BD3D product but, at some point, any reasonable person knows when a money-grab is taking place, esp. since the majority of the heavy lifting, so to speak, takes place at the post production phase rather than further on downstream at the Blu-ray encoding/authoring stage, esp. with a film that has a relatively shallow depth of focus to begin with and the filmmaker desires to keep it that way in post.

Penton,

I think having an exclusive for more than 6 months will ultimately harm the format. 3D could be the next "big thing," but making titles such as "Avatar" exclusive for over 14 months is not a good thing. http://www.hometheater.com/news/121510avatar/

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, whether you’re an AVATAR fan or not, considerably long exclusivity deals (implied or real) with consumer electronics companies is just cutting the throat of 3D Blu-ray adoption, when broadcast alternatives are available to the mainstream public…
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/3737...-chaos-helping


It’s one thing to fund or financially compensate for the home media creation of a BD3D product but, at some point, any reasonable person knows when a money-grab is taking place, esp. since the majority of the heavy lifting, so to speak, takes place at the post production phase rather than further on downstream at the Blu-ray encoding/authoring stage, esp. with a film that has a relatively shallow depth of focus to begin with and the filmmaker desires to keep it that way in post.

I'm waiting for an affordable 3D 1080p projector to come out before upgrading to 3D. But, when feasible, I do buy the Disney multi-disk packages that contain the 3D BD's so I will have content when I do upgrade.

Maybe there are a few uber-Avatards who bought Panasonic equipment just to watch Avatar in 3D; but these long-term exclusives are creating a "format war". I originally bought into blu-ray because the movies I most wanted to see in hi-def were available primarily on BD (Disney in particular). I had every intention of later buying a HD-DVD player, but when Toshiba found out I went blue, they stopped making the players. These exclusives are creating the same situation. Consumers are being driven to chose 3D hardware, at least in part, on the basis of available content, not price and quality. The whole home 3D push has not been particularly consumer friendly. Many of the new 3D players only have one HDMI output. Why should I be forced to buy a new receiver for my home theatre, or purchase a more expensive player.

2011 may be a make or break year for 3D. My local theatre has 6 screens, one equipped for 3D. Of the current 6 films showing, 4 are available in 3D forms. Tron is showing in 3D, Tangled was in 3D when first released but is now 2D, Narnia 3 and Yogi Bear are not available in 3D anywhere in my region. Appears that a number of new 3D films will not be available to view in 3D in many areas. The only hope these features have of making money off of 3D will be home video. From watching the previews of coming attractions shown before Yogi Bear, there appears to be a lot of 3D CGI dog poop being released in 2011. I hope this Hollywood excess doesn't turn the ticket-buying, and 3D set buying, population away from good 3D.

[Penton-Man]

^
To get your frustrations out, I say, go on a ride-along in The Black Beauty…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjXDBDl9o84

with Kato and The Green Hornet -
http://www.youtube.com/user/CarlsJr

Works for me.

P.S.
I can just see Doctorossi hurriedly clicking on that facebook link supplied below frame to get a shot at this car.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

Penton,

I think having an exclusive for more than 6 months will ultimately harm the format. 3D could be the next "big thing," but making titles such as "Avatar" exclusive for over 14 months is not a good thing. http://www.hometheater.com/news/121510avatar/

Feb. 2012 , eh? I could be dead or visually impaired by then.
How did your Poker tournament go?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Yup, I saw...

Well, I’ll bet you didn’t see these awards (entry eligibility ran from Sept. 8, 2009 – Sept. 7, 2010, so they’re always on a different tract than something like the Academy Awards), the HPA awards being determined by trained post production professionals (including colorists) who have excellent knowledge of color science as well as non-linear dedicated color grading systems…

http://www.hpaonline.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=122258

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

P.S. I can just see Doctorossi hurriedly clicking on that facebook link supplied below frame to get a shot at this car.

Moi?

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Feb. 2012 , eh? I could be dead or visually impaired by then.
How did your Poker tournament go?

12th place...2 from the money. Needless to say, I wasn't a happy camper at home that night. I've played in 3 others since then and I've come in first, 7th, and 7th, so not too bad. Unfortunately, 1st place in the "big tournament" would have been for $15,770 versus $640 for my 1st place in the smaller tournament, but the buy-ins were significantly different ($550 versus $30 ).

Thanks for asking!