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

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

Before I read about the 270 degree shutter, I thought he would have been using a 360 degree shutter to make it easier...

When the first news came out of P.J.’s Hobbit being shot at 48fps and projected at 48fps and the benefits thereof as explained to the media, i.e. in Peter’s own words - ” Looking at 24 frames every second may seem ok--and we've all seen thousands of films like this over the last 90 years--but there is often quite a lot of blur in each frame..."
..I believe most cinematographers assumed that purely on a *shooting standpoint*, the filmmakers in fact would shoot with a 180 degree shutter because if the goal is to shoot for the appearance of better motion characteristics (less blur), then shooting with a more open shutter, i.e. 270 or 360 would kind of defeat that purpose because the later would introduce more motion blur than would keeping it at the traditional 180 degree setting.

Going to the 270 degree shutter setting at 48fps, is a compromise….and may well have been decided upon for facilitating ease of intended 24fps post production deliverables.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

...I think the 120 fps and then dropping/blending frames is what Douglas Trumbull is talking about with Showscan Digital? who's also going to be doing a high fps film.

You are correct, he is (albeit using ‘virtual sets’)…as Douglas briefly mentioned here in his keynote at NAB –https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...ml#post4627860

although that info didn’t make it to the short highlight reel above ^ and when I was present, I don’t recall him getting into the details and specifics of his intended how to’s of using 120fps. Clearly, shooting at higher frame rates (higher than 48fps) opens up the possibility of opening the shutter to fully open (360).

Anyway, Douglas is not only brilliant but a truly driven man. When I get to be his age (hopefully), I plan on spending most of my time with my feet up on a beach somewhere in Hawaii and counting or contemplating the number of blue lints in my navel rather than starting up new business ventures. He truly is an amazing individual.

[phansson]

Hey Penton,

This may be a stupid question, but how will Blu Ray handle the 48fps? Just drop it to 24fps?

Also, I was in your neck of the woods two weeks ago. Spent a couple of nights at the Wilshire and then a night in the Roosevelt. We were there for a charity event. We had a great time and we partied like rock stars!

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Anyway, Douglas is not only brilliant but a truly driven man. When I get to be his age (hopefully), I plan on spending most of my time with my feet up on a beach somewhere in Hawaii and counting or contemplating the number of blue lints in my navel rather than starting up new business ventures. He truly is an amazing individual.

...he's delightful, and also nuts. Did he manage to talk about his UFO hunting? He slipped that into the BLADE RUNNER presentation. The more time I spent hearing from him, the more I worried that behind many of his (incredibly impressive) grand ideas were a whole lot of hooey.

Still, we'll see if he can pull it off this time, his track record for decades now has been terrible.

[MerrickG]

Penton,

Is Ghostbusters 3 still happening?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Penton,
Is Ghostbusters 3 still happening?

Merr-man, I’m not at liberty to reveal anything in that regard.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

...he's delightful, and also nuts. Did he manage to talk about his UFO hunting?...

Nope…and it's probably a good thing he didn't at that venue.

Douglas did mention something like that in side-by-side tests he had done in the past comparing 24fps to other higher frame rates, they found that 66fps was the magic spot which turned out to be visually 'indistinguishable from reality' in terms of how humans see things in this world with their eyes and brains.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by phansson

Also, I was in your neck of the woods two weeks ago. Spent a couple of nights at the Wilshire and then a night in the Roosevelt. We were there for a charity event. We had a great time and we partied like rock stars!

Hah! Your thoughts remind me of past fond personal memories from another time and place –
https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...tml#post338835
https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...tml#post338849

You party-animal you –

YouTube - Who Let the Dogs out??- Baha men Original version

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by phansson

Hey Penton,
This may be a stupid question, but how will Blu Ray handle the 48fps? Just drop it to 24fps?...

Blu-ray doesn’t support 48fps in either the 2D or 3D….nor, for that matter, does the SMPTE, for 48fps/eye (3D) that is, which I feel certain Wendy A. is well aware of (see third or fourth paragraph from the bottom of the page) –http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...th-named-72601

Therefore, unless the filmmakers are willing to accept a limited release, the onus will be on the distributor to produce, or at least obtain from P.J.’s post facility either a 1080/24 or 720/60 HD master as the source to make the Blu-ray home media versions. As far as higher frame rates, I really don’t foresee ‘48’ ever becoming part of the Blu-ray spec. Blu-ray *currently* supports 60p, but only at 720 resolution…which may sound measly to some these days but, as I think I said before, the higher the frame rate, the better the imagery will look for 3D (for 2D, we get into that aesthetics debate) and the lower spatial resolution of 720 is a marginal PQ downside in comparison to the gain in temporal resolution obtained by the higher frame rate of 60 for 3D…as viewed with most small-sized consumer flat panels at home.

Initially, I had my doubts that this 48fps-based production would transfer well to Blu-ray; however, the fact that P.J. is shooting with a non-traditional 270 shutter may significantly change things in the post process, for the better, at least for Blu-ray aficionados (less digital processing needed to remedy the resultant artifacts in going from 48fps -> 24fps). This still remains to be seen.

We’ll just have to wait and see how the *48fps speed-down processed* Blu-ray version of ‘the Hobbit’ visually compares to other 2D and 3D Blu-ray titles sourced from native 24p or 60p camera acquisition.

[phansson]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Blu-ray doesn’t support 48fps in either the 2D or 3D….nor, for that matter, does the SMPTE, for 48fps/eye (3D) that is, which I feel certain Wendy A. is well aware of (see third or fourth paragraph from the bottom of the page) –http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...th-named-72601

Therefore, unless the filmmakers are willing to accept a limited release, the onus will be on the distributor to produce, or at least obtain from P.J.’s post facility either a 1080/24 or 720/60 HD master as the source to make the Blu-ray home media versions. As far as higher frame rates, I really don’t foresee ‘48’ ever becoming part of the Blu-ray spec. Blu-ray *currently* supports 60p, but only at 720 resolution…which may sound measly to some these days but, as I think I said before, the higher the frame rate, the better the imagery will look for 3D (for 2D, we get into that aesthetics debate) and the lower spatial resolution of 720 is a marginal PQ downside in comparison to the gain in temporal resolution obtained by the higher frame rate of 60 for 3D…as viewed with most small-sized consumer flat panels at home.

Initially, I had my doubts that this 48fps-based production would transfer well to Blu-ray; however, the fact that P.J. is shooting with a non-traditional 270 shutter may significantly change things in the post process, for the better, at least for Blu-ray aficionados (less digital processing needed to remedy the resultant artifacts in going from 48fps -> 24fps). This still remains to be seen.

We’ll just have to wait and see how the *48fps speed-down processed* Blu-ray version of ‘the Hobbit’ visually compares to other 2D and 3D Blu-ray titles sourced from native 24p or 60p camera acquisition.

That sounds interesting Penton.... Maybe they could throw in a 720p 60fps anamorphic version for us 2.35ers(I know that Blu Ray doesn't support anamorphic, but you could still encode it stretched). That would be pretty damn solid! They might sell 100 copies.

I don't think we partied that hard, but I did have to take a week off on the drinking to let my liver recover.

[frogmort]

Hey Penton-Man, do you know if Pulp Fiction is still slated for a June release?
Thanks!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by phansson

That sounds interesting Penton.... Maybe they could throw in a 720p 60fps...

Well, I’ll tell you phansson, whatever be the chosen frame rate, slowly but surely your 3D is becoming more and more diversified as time goes by as evidenced by its presence and recognition at the grass roots level by aspiring young filmmakers - http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/LG...-Tribeca.shtml

to the more sophisticated feature presentation level by a couple of more experienced guys – http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article...-death-samurai

With even more broadcast hours devoted to the adrenalin sports junkies – http://hd.engadget.com/2011/04/29/es...3d-coverage-t/

To across the pond for one of the more traditional sports competitions –http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...d-in-3d-947947

Diversification leads to a strong base of support and continued investment, refinement, etc.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by frogmort

Hey Penton-Man, do you know if Pulp Fiction is still slated for a June release?
Thanks!

Sorry Joe, like you, I am a fan of the flick but, I have no idea….as I have zero professional affiliation.

[phansson]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, I’ll tell you phansson, whatever be the chosen frame rate, slowly but surely your 3D is becoming more and more diversified as time goes by as evidenced by its presence and recognition at the grass roots level by aspiring young filmmakers - http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/LG...-Tribeca.shtml

to the more sophisticated feature presentation level by a couple of more experienced guys – http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article...-death-samurai

With even more broadcast hours devoted to the adrenalin sports junkies – http://hd.engadget.com/2011/04/29/es...3d-coverage-t/

To across the pond for one of the more traditional sports competitions –http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...d-in-3d-947947

Diversification leads to a strong base of support and continued investment, refinement, etc.

I personally am very excited about having a great 3D experience in my home.

That is exciting to see so much backing now. Hopefully it will continue.

[Penton-Man]

b.t.w., tip of the hat from me and all my beach house Irish pub neighbors in Coronado –http://twitpic.com/4sh31n

to Seal Team 6…http://abcnews.go.com/US/osama-bin-l...ry?id=13509739

[Orange Green Tea]

Isn't the purchase of Rotten Tomatoes by WB a conflict of interest?

[kpkelley]

Penton,

With Bright Star finally receiving a Region A release courtesy of Panorama Studios in HK, are we going to hear an announcement for a domestic US release?

Should I wait for Sony to release this film or should I not hold my breath?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by phansson

I personally am very excited about having a great 3D experience in my home.

That is exciting to see so much backing now. Hopefully it will continue.

Well, despite the fact that these are the very earliest days of the modern stereoscopic 3D era, I think that the infrastructure has a solid base this time around and, like I said, diversification…. from children’s fare –http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...120808979.html

to more adult-oriented material –http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...e-aliens-in-3D

with continued optimistic penetration forecasts for 3D capable viewing in consumers’ homes - http://tvtechnology.com/article/120092

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Orange Green Tea

Isn't the purchase of Rotten Tomatoes by WB a conflict of interest?

Rightly, or wrongly, in the future, it could plant a seed of doubt in well-informed followers of Rotten Tomatoes esp. if R.T. does things like editorials. The ultimate significance of the new *connected* ownership will be in how it plays out over time. Do people feel that NBC Nightly News gave its longtime parent company (GE) a break when it came to any potentially damaging GE-related news? I don’t know, you’d have to go back over the record and see how competing news organizations covered such topics.

I don’t think that the home theater community-at-large will be that upset though about the R.T. parent company ownership thing because if you carefully examine the past posting history and columns by some blogger-boys, I think it’s readily apparent that some bloggers/reviewers have *soft-balled* or downplayed…or showed preferential patience in dealing with WB’s past/present home theater product deficiencies (the journey to lossless audio, a pattern of DNR-ed titles, etc.) in return for perks like direct access to publicity and marketing people for things like rumors of yet unannounced studio news, etc. and so hobbyists don’t seem to be concerned about that type of repetitive *conflict of interest*.

I’ll give the screenshot scientists one thing , although they may have been misguided in some of their past analyses, I don’t think they ever *played studio favorites* and they really tried to judge every Blu-ray movie based on merit, at least as they viewed it with their screenshots, rather than giving preferential treatment. On a side note, given the relatively recent predominating internet attention to cover art, I kinda feel sorry for the scientists because I get the impression now that the *cover art connoisseurs* have robbed them of their thunder. Honestly, I read one post a few days back where the member said that if the cover art is indicative of the PQ of the upcoming yet-to-be released Blu-ray movie, then this is not a good sign for the title in question.

I guess the newest generation has never heard of the metaphorical phrase…"don't judge a book by its cover".

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Penton,

With Bright Star finally receiving a Region A release courtesy of Panorama Studios in HK, are we going to hear an announcement for a domestic US release?

Should I wait for Sony to release this film or should I not hold my breath?

Unless I'm in your Will (better yet Trust, so I don't have to pay extra taxes), I would definitely not hold your breath as there are no plans at all…at the time of this post.