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

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Ben

Not to derail the conversation, but i think everyone here who has relied on Penton for so much great information and entertainment should buy one of these:

http://www.mondotees.com/index.asp?P...OD&ProdID=3406

As a show of appreciation and respect, of course!

I truly appreciate the kind gesture of appreciation as pics like that give me goose bumps all over.
To any motor-heads in the audience--- for the record, the machine is one of the first production Penton 250’s off the line and if memory serves, that shot was captured at a perimeter course around Valley Cycle Park in Simi Valley during a particularly rainy winter in SoCal………..back in the day.

Anyway, on to Panic Room …………..
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=4906

Part II.
Well, some say that David F. deliberately instructed Conrad W. Hall (the primary DP) to waaaaay underexpose the Kodak stock used during the shoot, so that the only way the majority of the film could be recovered for releasable theatrical viewing was by utilizing the digital intermediate process (which the production had not been budgeted for) because such extensive frame by frame grain reduction could not be optimally achieved via telecine.

You have to understand that this was back in 2001-2002, when DI’s were rather rare and not part of the typical post production feature film budget, like they are now.
And David F. is such an astute fellow that he realized even back then, that a DI process would not only *fix* the primary photography but, also had the capability to *extend* the primary photography and thusly satisfy his original vision for the film. (for those that aren’t following me, DI technology gives you much more control over color grading and contrast than traditional photochemical post……. as one can easily make adjustments equivalent of a quarter or half a point in a lab by the DI process, not to mention doing other stuff)

Well anyway, others say, that the DI was in the post production budget of Panic Room from the very start……….and David F. isn’t that cunning to begin with.

I won’t say…… what the truth of the matter is and let you all decide.

I will say that David F. has been ahead of the techno curve for years.
For example, the workflow of the particular camera system that David F. used for Zodiac, allowed him to view full resolution takes (10-bit, 4:4:4), instantly without any compression or waiting for film dailies. Actually, the workflow even allowed dallies to be viewed on a secure website by studio execs back in their comfy offices via the internet Project Information Exchange system.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Penton, could you please check your PM?
Thank you,
Pro-B

Got it.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Howard Hawks

You guess wrong.
However, I do like the symmetry in the sense that the first letters of the first and last names are the same.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

When's that coming out?
My brother will LOVE that.

I love the fact that one dude in that pic is now playing for Arsenal this season.

For the record, Sony has been a title sponsor of The Champions League for years. One would hope that if people can get a European soccer final on Blu-ray, the powers-that-be at NBC Universal and elsewhere could get the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on BD too, which had a worldwide audience much greater than that particular soccer match.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Now, how the heck did you know one of the future titles?

Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott Collection?

• Seven Men From Now (1956)
• The Tall T (1957)
• Decision at Sundown (1957)
• Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)
• Westbound (1959)
• Ride Lonesome (1959)
• Comanche Station (1960)

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott Collection?

• Seven Men From Now (1956)
• The Tall T (1957)
• Decision at Sundown (1957)
• Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)
• Westbound (1959)
• Ride Lonesome (1959)
• Comanche Station (1960)

Additional bolding in the quote above done by moi.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

^

Hmmm.

Is this Elite Kuro? Those have always been pretty much a whatever-we-feel-like pricing.

Is Pioneer giving up all panel production, or just the non-Elite panels?

Gary

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Budd Boetticher..........

In other words kp, you are correct.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Hmmm.
Is this Elite Kuro?........

I don’t know, I didn’t ask but, I assume it was their Elite line.
I was really paying more attention to their Blu-ray player and some invited guests, than the displays themselves.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by ThatArtGuy

Well, if it makes you feel any better I *am* American. I would think that British Columbia would qualify since it is a province after all. That and I'm not Danish.

Oh, and your Spidey set will be very well taken care of. I've been a Spider-Fan since the 70's, and I take exemplary care of my discs.

TAG

Your boxed set is in the mail ………sent via bald eagle to the land of wild salmon and black bears.

Enjoy.

P.S.
No, it doesn't make me feel any better you are American. I wouldn't care if you were a blind three legged donkey with vertigo. I still can't figure out how you guessed the kid was Jeff Ward.

[Bullseye]

Penton what do you make of WBs reps statement at IFA
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/high...arade-ifa.html

[CAB]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Penton what do you make of WBs reps statement at IFA
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/high...arade-ifa.html

Ha! I loved Wicky's comments just a couple of posts down. These WB comments sound like spin on ratios and to prove a perception to solidify a point. No mention was made of the fact that the PS3 IS the dominant player in any geography.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Not Penton, but I can explain.

Well, I don't really need to, Wicky did it for us in the HDD thread!



I'll expand on this. A lot of regional operations at Time Warner were in bed with Toshiba, and when instructions came from corporate HQ to drop HD DVD they didn't take too kindly to it and this is the end result. It will still take a while to flush out all of the bad eggs...

Thanks Max.

[CAB]

Wow!

"It is not too late. The DVD Forum continues to develop HD DVD. If 1 or more studios want to issue their movies on both Blu and HDDVD, it would be good." -Lestat of highdef digest fame

I want the number of his dealer!

[coolmilo]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Penton what do you make of WBs reps statement at IFA
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/high...arade-ifa.html

The problem is Warner does not get the Blu-ray market. People who support Blu-ray demand a high quality product. Rather than produce the best possible Blu-ray releases (PQ/AQ), Warner would rather bundle their products with silly books and other useless crap.

Personally, I love Warner movies but I rarely buy their Blu-ray releases. And until they change their ways and start building quality products (high bit video/lossless audio) I will not buy their Blu-ray releases.

I sure hope that Sony, Fox, Paramount, Universal, Disney, and their partners do not feel like Warner and are not happy with the development of the Blu-ray market. For the most part their releases are very good and I buy their Blu-ray releases like a mad man.

BTW, If Fox is unhappy perhaps they should consider reducing the price of catalog titles.

[Dogdvr]

Penton,
give us an update on the ladies!!

( a new pic would help too)

Brent

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by CAB

Wow!

"It is not too late. The DVD Forum continues to develop HD DVD. If 1 or more studios want to issue their movies on both Blu and HDDVD, it would be good." -Lestat of highdef digest fame

I want the number of his dealer!

He's missed his calling hasn't he? He'd make a brilliant encyclopaedia salesman.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Knight-Errant

He's missed his calling hasn't he? He'd make a brilliant encyclopaedia salesman.

It's amazing stuff alright.
Does he really believe in what he's saying though, or is he just having a laugh??
Sadly, but amusingly, I expect it's the former.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Not Penton, but I can explain.

Well, I don't really need to, Wicky did it for us in the HDD thread!



I'll expand on this. A lot of regional operations at Time Warner were in bed with Toshiba, and when instructions came from corporate HQ to drop HD DVD they didn't take too kindly to it and this is the end result. It will still take a while to flush out all of the bad eggs...

Also the reporting on the conference seemed to be a little biased. Here's a better one:
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=68697

Relevant part:

Next clip shows Warner's 2008 BD titles. Afterwards, Monica Juniel, VP of International Marketing at Warner Home Video comes out with a concise and to the point presentation. They're happy with how BD is going, but "there are a few things we see which are slowing us down a bit". Warner are upset that PS3 owners don't buy as many BD movie titles as owners of dedicated players.

"We're thrilled to bits to have those consoles out there, [...] but we need more set top players out there, and we need the PS3 households to buy more movies". Standalone owners buy about twice as many discs as PS3 households.

Next problem: BD awareness is high, but familiarity is low. Barriers to purchase are mentioned: over 50% of people say the players are too expensive, and they're indifferent to BD. "Indifference here is telling us that they're completely happy with their standard definiton setup" and don't see a reason to move up.

Warner's plan: bundle titles with BD players and PS3s. The second initiative is to get PS3 households to buy Blu-ray Remote addons. Apparently, owners of PS3 remote controls buy 5 discs annually instead of 2. Given how annoying controlling a movie with a game pad is, I'm not surprised! Next plan: better "retail experience". Monica wants displays with SD DVD and BD playing beside each other to show consumers the difference.

[cipher]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Goal!

Anyone know if there are plans to release previous finals that were shot in HD? Since May 25, 2005 I've been waiting for a Blu-Ray release of the greatest final ever!

Lets hope this is the start of regular Football Blu-Ray discs including other big games, tournaments and end of season releases etc.