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

[cipher]

I had to laugh after reading an article in the National Post about recently aquired Raptors forward, Sean Marion. It seems he's a huge movie fan and from the sounds of it has a very large DVD collection. However, the article then goes on to say...

Marion is not that forward-thinking in all aspects of his life. Do not, for example, ask him to embrace the emerging Blu-ray disc in place of the old standby.

"Hell, no," Marion said of making the switch from DVDs. "Blu-rays cost too much. Blu-rays cost like 35, 40 bucks apiece. I'm going to stick with the $19.99s. $14.99, $19.99, widescreen, I'm good. High definition, that's all I need."

I guess the economic woes are hitting everyone!

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/s...tml?id=1332179

[GabrielB]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m not really concerned so much about reissues (given these current economic conditions) as much as I am about problems or deficiencies with the processes of each content provider repeating themselves with regards to future titles, whether it be random or systemic in nature.

Yes. Yes exactly. That was the whole point.
Although reissues would be nice at some point, this is about doing something concerning Warner.

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m beginning to think that there is so much bureaucracy over there in home video that it is truly amazing that they can even accomplish the most rudimentary tasks…….meaning they go so slow, it’s lucky they're not rolling backwards.

So I wasn't too far off from the truth about them it appears... It must be even worse now that New Line was folded into them... ouch.

So keep us posted.
Any comment concerning my stupid idea here about getting some backup friends? (see last part of the post)
Shirley there must be top people in Hollywood who are just as dissatisfied and discouraged with WB’s BDs offerings as we are.

[Jeff Kleist]

Well, you may not like Star Trek II... Nick Meyer wasn't a Trekker at all when he started either. Paramount regulated Roddenberry to "Executive Consultant" because they didn't trust him with the franchise anymore after ST:TMP underperformed both creatively and financially. Gene also complained about the changes Meyer made..."Too militaristic, too dark, etc."
And continuity: how the hell did Khan recognize Chekov! And they gave Kirk a kid!

But Nick Meyer didn't add anything, and other than Checkhov there were no continuity violations of what came before. Roddenberry objected to the tone, not the content.Rick Berman. Like George Lucas, Roddenberry is great in the setup, but he needs good people who will smack him around a bit to get the execution where it needs to be On TOS that was Bob Justman, Herb Solow, Matt Jeffries and a host of others. Nick Meyer was also very careful. He was making a sequel to "Space Seed", not his own movie and he knew it.That's the Doctor Who situation to a T- Modernization without destruction, Continuation, not rewriting. While the tone is different, it remains the same, and when the Genesis arc came out of the pit of darkness, it certainly returned to the lighter side, again with a movie co-written by Nick Meyer that absolutely captured the spirit of the lighter episodes of TOS

And honestly, the way Kirk slept around, it's amazing he didn't have his own show on TLC :P Kirk also didn't know about David. had it been "hi sonny, remember when you won little league?" That certainly would have been a different story.

I would argue Trek has thrived without him. The films were better, and when Gene went hands off (over to Berman & Piller) in TNG's Season 3 TNG got a lot better. The first 2 seasons are atrocious in comparison.

That's because they forgot the "you have to modernize it" part. That's why I never understand the people who insist that I want Battlestar Galactica back exactly the way it was, when that's never what I asked for. That's also why you never allow people who are too old to do the modernizing, as Gene and the crowd obviously were. If you find someone to bridge the two, who respects and loves the old, but is in touch with the new, you get the magic that makes nearly everyone happy.

“Somebody had asked me, ‘What’s going to become of ‘Star Trek’ in the future?’ And I said that I hope that some day some bright young thing would come along and do it again, bigger and better than I had ever done it. And I wish them well.”

That's the problem though, they're not making Star Trek bigger or better. I reserve final judgement till I see it, but when someone comes out and makes comments like JJ Abrahms made today, all it is is mooning the people who supported the franchise the last 40 years.

If I made Star Trek where Kirk is a celibate lesbian, Spock is an emotional wreck, and the best of friends with McCoy, and scream "it's my vision! I re-imagined it!" How is that valid or appropriate?

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The problem with the player-generated fonts is the greatly variable quality of them, a big reason why no one is using them

I expect especially higher end players that someone will put in a sub bump feature at some point

The player generated subs vary in quality most likely due to not specifying them tightly enough in the blu-ray specs.

The high-end players cannot bump raster-image based pixel subs due to the so called protected video path unless Sony/BDA develops certified-code for the player manufactures to integrate into the players.

This is a big mess that shouldn't have happened for a high-tech technology. Actually, it is a shame on the blu-ray spec developers.

The simplest solution for this mess is to add an additional sub within the frame (or on the black bar) so that the user could select. The additional sub could be towards the end of the 10 to 15 subs that is already on the disk. I really cannot see an issue with this. After all it is only few more clicks at the authoring stage to include an additional set of shifted-subs. Why this is not happening, I really wish to find out.

Please inform the studios. Please help.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

And honestly, the way Kirk slept around, it's amazing he didn't have his own show on TLC :P Kirk also didn't know about David. had it been "hi sonny, remember when you won little league?" That certainly would have been a different story.

Actually Kirk knew about David. "Is that David?" When he sees the both of them for the first time. In the tunnel to the Genesis cave to Carol: "I did what you wanted, I stayed away. Why didn't you tell him?" Kirk knew about David, but David didn't know that Kirk was his father.

If I made Star Trek where Kirk is a celibate lesbian, Spock is an emotional wreck, and the best of friends with McCoy, and scream "it's my vision! I re-imagined it!" How is that valid or appropriate?

Well, if Paramount believes in it and gives you $150 million to tell that version of the story...

I think we all need to see the finished product before we can damn the changes. Orci & Kurtzman have said that everything will be explained. I have faith, and I guess that reflects the optimism of what Gene Roddenberry installed in Trek.

[Jeff Kleist]

I seriously doubt that when Blu-ray was being developed 6-7 years ago that anyone foresaw the installation of anamorphic lenses and processing for home common height as something for more than a handful of people, and they still don't.

Most people who were lobbying for subtitle stuff were lobbying for more colors and greater flexibility.

The studios are aware of the sdesire, but they also believe (probably correctly) that this is a feature desired by a handful of people, and something that will probably be addressed by some of the higher end brands paying for and approved implementation rather than mass adoption of bumped sub tracks.

It has nothing to do with lack of tight specification, and all about how much money and time the developer spent implementing them. It just has to be able to display it, not make it look pretty

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Sounds to me like you're talkin' about the new one.

That'd likely put your proposal at that gorgeous Italian piazza. Are you that romantic?

Hopelessly……………
http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/i...azza-del-campo

Well…..that combined with the fact that the *little man* was getting quite perky and I couldn’t wait until we got up to Venice, which was later on in the itinerary of the trip.

[Jeff Kleist]

Actually Kirk knew about David. "Is that David?" When he sees the both of them for the first time. In the tunnel to the Genesis cave to Carol: "I did what you wanted, I stayed away. Why didn't you tell him?" Kirk knew about David, but David didn't know that Kirk was his father.

You're right, juggling too many things. Point still remains that giving him a son is very much still in character, and it would be in character for him to have 17 and counting too

I think we all need to see the finished product before we can damn the changes. Orci & Kurtzman have said that everything will be explained. I have faith, and I guess that reflects the optimism of what Gene Roddenberry installed in Trek

Time Travel and other dimensions. That's the explanation. Afterward JJTrek 2 we move forward in "another dimension". He might've gotten away with it if everyone grew goatees first. That way he can claim the original continuity still happens and he's not erasing it. BS. How many people can tell you the real ending to the Little Mermaid? Adam West's show (sorry don't know the people responsible for the format) poisoned the character of Batman for over a decade until Neal Adams took over, and some say over 20 years till the Burton movie. There's lots and lots of examples.

Well, if Paramount believes in it and gives you $150 million to tell that version of the story...

That's not the point. It's all about having your cake and eating it too, and not letting your ego get in the way. Look what happened to Scorscese and Last Temptation of Christ :P Tell the story straight up, and you make record bucks, especially if you know which parts to emphasize to play to the existing fanbase who will go see it again and again

I think we all need to see the finished product before we can damn the changes. Orci & Kurtzman have said that everything will be explained. I have faith, and I guess that reflects the optimism of what Gene Roddenberry installed in Trek.

Pessimists are never dissapointed, and when it comes to people ruining the classics at this point in the game, 2 months before release, it's safe to move to guilty till proven innocent, especially after those kinds of comments.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Quantum of Solace,

Roger that.
One location being…………..
http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1...ond_movie_set/

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Roger that.

I guessed it first! I guessed it first!

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Roger that.
One location being…………..
http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1...ond_movie_set/

Wow, you proposed to your wife there?

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well…..that combined with the fact that the *little man* was getting quite perky and I couldn’t wait until we got up to Venice, which was later on in the itinerary of the trip.

TMI! TMI!

[sharkshark]

little, eh? who knew you were compensating.....

[Penton-Man]

Affectionately and most importantly, comparatively speaking, whilst sleeping against either of my two other lower extremities……. which I use to walk with.

And upon awakening from a well deserved slumber, think Torre del Mangia (The Tower of Mangia)……
http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/i...azza-del-campo

Or sharkshark, since you seem so interested, as Sir Howard is fond of saying (at the 9:26 mark)……."Wouldn't you like to wake up to Big Ben?"
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderd...ward-stringer/

I best remember that evening with my wife on the piazza whilst listening/viewing this clip, who b.t.w. looks amazingly similar to one of these brunette beauties……..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33LeY...eature=related

[Eternal_Sunshine]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I seriously doubt that when Blu-ray was being developed 6-7 years ago that anyone foresaw the installation of anamorphic lenses and processing for home common height as something for more than a handful of people, and they still don't.

What about the "zoomers" that hate the black bars and zoom in on scope movies to fill the whole panel of their precious new 16:9 LCD TV? They also lose the subs in the black bars. Are they also only "a handful of people"?

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The studios are aware of the sdesire, but they also believe (probably correctly) that this is a feature desired by a handful of people (...)

I'm sorry, but "The studios" does not exist in this context, because the majority of them (Disney, Universal, Fox, Paramount) apparently do not believe this as they actually put the subs inside the picture area where they belong. "The studios" you may speak for here are therefore only Warner Brothers and Sony. Why do they not "get it" while the others do?

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

(...) and something that will probably be addressed by some of the higher end brands paying for and approved implementation

Philips seems to be trying exacctly that with their upcoming BDP9100 player that is supposed to complement their also upcoming 21:9 LCD TV. I hope they get it right and other will follow:

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2421
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1123792
http://www.cinematicviewingexperience.com/index.html

[Jeff Kleist]

What about the "zoomers" that hate the black bars and zoom in on scope movies to fill the whole panel of their precious new 16:9 LCD TV? They also lose the subs in the black bars. Are they also only "a handful of people"?

They typically don't watch movies with subtitles

I'm sorry, but "The studios" does not exist in this context, because the majority of them (Disney, Universal, Fox, Paramount) apparently do not believe this as they actually put the subs inside the picture area where they belong. "The studios" you may speak for here are therefore only Warner Brothers and Sony. Why do they not "get it" while the others do?

What they do is up to them, I'm just telling you why they're not in a rush to change a policy. I suggest you write them a physical snail-mail letter and sign it. I also suggest that if you're not in the US that you send it to your local division, because foreign letters will likely be ignored.

Phillps's 21:9 TV is $5000. Anyone who's got 5k to drop on a TV has got an extra grand or 2 for a projector and an anamorphic lens.

[DenonCI]

Penton,

What do you think of some studios (Disney especially) including a DVD with their Blu-rays? I believe "Marley and Me" is going to include one as well. I personally think this is a brilliant strategy, espeically with kid friendly titles. The combo disc (despite the problems associated with them) is the only reason why my wife preferred HD DVD over Blu-ray. I'm sure there are other consumers out there who would agree with her reasoning of wanting the kids to be able to watch the movie in the car on long trips without having to buy the movie twice (Blu-ray and DVD copy). By including the DVD of the movie, I would venture to say that Blu-ray will open up to a wider audience.

Do you see other studios joining in this marketing tactic?

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Or sharkshark, since you seem so interested...

you, uh, nailed it... I came here to talk about your cock.

On a related note, the day I spent in Sienna was a surreal one... The town was -empty-, and I wandered around the quiet streets with someone that I had just met on the train. We stood in the square, devoid of all but a few people sweeping up, when she went to make a phone call, and I held her bad (with her money, passport, etc.)

In literally 10 minutes, some 60-70 thousand people arrived... I literally had -no- idea that it was the day of the Palio trials, and where I was standing, waiting for this person I had just met (this was even pre cell phones!) they wanted to charge me a bazillion Lira.

Luckily she found me, but the weird mix of panic, relief, and the sheer onslaught of seeing those horses charge around that track was pretty damn memorable. It's certainly something that struck me about QoS, at any rate.

The funny thing, of course, is that they fire off the canon when there's a false start... After a while, this becomes a common occurance, so that when the race actually -does- have a good start, it's somehow anticlimactic, there's no "BOOOOOOM!" to let you know it's a go...

Oh, and for me the best remains the great Italian tradition - you come in first, you are lauded as a hero. Last, there's disgust, naturally, but such is the life of a poor sector of the city. Come in second? Your whole group is allowed to punch or kick you, for the biggest insult is to have come in second, where you clearly =could= have been first if only you had tried harder.

And that, in a nutshell, is Sienna contra Firenze, time several hundred years...

[PaulGo]

Jeff, I have been a avid Star Trek fan from the original series. Sometimes a concept such as Star Trek needs to reinvent itself to stay current. I may be disappointed when I go see it, but then again I may not. Many movies sequels had updated and change thing to be more current (granted sometimes it doesn't work) and this also applies to many comic strips.

If they can update the franchise in a way to gain new fans and prevent Star Trek form dying then I will give it a chance.

[Jeff Kleist]

Jeff, I have been a avid Star Trek fan from the original series. Sometimes a concept such as Star Trek needs to reinvent itself to stay current. I may be disappointed when I go see it, but then again I may not. Many movies sequels had updated and change thing to be more current (granted sometimes it doesn't work) and this also applies to many comic strips.

Again, you're missing the point

Modernizing something does not require throwing the baby out with the bathwater The problem is that people are too concerned with putting their own stamp on something or "making it their own", than making it right. Therefore they change everything they think they can get away with, even if there's absolutely no reason to. Enterprise did one thing right: they took today's technology and put it on a path that pointed toward the TOS look in form and function, but taking into account things they never could in the 1960s. Does JJ's bridge look like anything that 5-10 years down the line could be a more modern version of TOS? Aside from a few set pieces, and some raw elements of the layout (chair, navigation and helm stations), it bears almost no resemblence. He changed the transporter effect to be this hyper fast blender look, which throws the rhythmn of the whole process off (in fact the time it takes to beam in and out has often been a plot device). While the transporter effect graphic often changes, the beats of it do not.

For example, The Manchurian Candidate remake correctly updated 1950s paranoias and conspiracy concerns to modern ones that would be relevant to today's audiences, how the rest of it turned out is debateable, but the methodology was sound.

The fanfilm Star Trek Phase 2 series does a great job of capturing the nostalgic look of TOS, and keeps with its theme of being "season 4". A new commercial version like that? No way in hell.