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

[NutsAboutPS3]

Penton-Man, thought you might be pleased to hear that the Blu-ray of Ghostbusters is currently number 1 in the play.com pre-order chart. I remember this title scored pretty highly in the poll on blu-ray.com a while back about which titles people would like to see released on Blu-ray, so it's nice to see that translating into actual orders.
http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/6-/PreOrderChart.html

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Objectivity

Not to jump into the middle of your argument, but since when do people only make decisions they're qualified to make? They make decisions based on the information or misinformation they have on hand.

Given the choice of the illusion that things are going hit them in the face or a higher quality picture on the big screen (if they even recognize that as the case) people are going to choose the sight-gag almost every time.

Be honest, in your typical movie theater, with your typical mainstream audience member, how many people are going to notice the difference between 70mm and 35mm? Now, how many people are going to notice the difference between 2D and 3D?

Just my 2 cents on the subject. TDK FILLED IMAX theaters for weeks. Sold out shows across the country. I am confident that the vast majority of those moviegoers were aware of, and, specifically sought out those venues, because of the superior image quality of the IMAX footage scenes.

I believe that a theater offering (and advertising) the same movie in different rooms, one in 3D and one in 70mm would at least prompt a query from patrons handing out the cash. Yes, even J6P. Lets see, one is $3.00 more and one is $2.00 more, hmmmm, what are the advantages, which one is better and why? The "whats in this for ME?" mentality may come into play.

Sci-fi and animation may draw in the "glasses" crowd, but I truly believe that drama seekers would opt for the improved traditional presentation.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I believe that a theater offering (and advertising) the same movie in different rooms, one in 3D and one in 70mm would at least prompt a query from patrons handing out the cash. Yes, even J6P. Lets see, one is $3.00 more and one is $2.00 more, hmmmm, what are the advantages, which one is better and why? The "whats in this for ME?" mentality may come into play.

I would love for that to be the case. In my anecdotal experience with vaguely similar situations, it actually is the case a lot less often than I'd prefer.

Yes, TDK did impressive IMAX business, but have you seen the 3D returns?*

I think a price premium for a 70mm presentation (especially for a 70mm print of a 65mm-originated feature) would definitely be a help in getting the consumer to sit up and take notice. The price premium would interest the consumer in an education about the offering. It's now been so long since I've seen a *first-run* movie in 70mm, I honestly can't remember if they used to charge a premium or not.

I have a fave restaurant back in my (more or less) home town that serves the best filet mignon I've ever eaten. They have a nice relationship with a local rancher and, when they started out, were able to offer it for $16.95. Well, you can guess where this is going: they couldn't move them to save their lives, but as soon as they arbitrarily jacked the price up to $24.95- hotcakes! Immediately, they were selling three times, in a night, what they'd previously sold in a week. Sometimes nothing makes it special like making it special.



*not for TDK, obviously, but in general

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

True, they just "parked the bus" and were completely unadventurous.
Will you get to see United-Arsenal at some stage tonight??
(my brother is going to the game)

Yeah, I watched it. Not too bad but, the big thing that continues to bug me about Arsenal is that when they have a momentary advantage while pushing the ball forward into the opponent’s half of the field, they never seem to challenge that one last defender(s) or take the shot. They always hold the ball up to wait for help or back pass and by that time the other side (in this case, Man U) has gotten the defense stacked and it is even harder to penetrate.

They really need someone like Thierry Henry again.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Don't be so sure. In her freshman year at UVA, my sister's dorm was invited to a wet T-shirt party. So the girls each put a T-shirt on a hanger, wet them down, and took them to the party.

That my friend, is the reason why so many UVA guys continued to roll to places like Sweet Briar and other local all women’s colleges in the area for the first few years after UVA went co-ed.

Tell her this Cavalier says “Wahoo-wah” and lived at the Balz dorm his first year…. when he wasn’t shacking up with his calculus teacher who would give Jacky Bisset a run for her money……… wet T-shirt or not. I got me the best ‘education’ ever during my undergrad years in C-Ville while learning how to do derivatives and such.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Hey Penton,

Here is a different kind of question for you. Afterall, you are the man!

Question:
My female friend told me that the guy she was dating asked her for some money and she told him no. I told her she made the right decision.

Whats do you think Penton?

Dude, this isn’t Dear Penton !
But I agree with what she told the potential free-loader, unless there were very extenuating circumstances involved, such as………see next post -

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Hey Penton,

I need the Hollywood perspective!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080365/

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I got me the best ‘education’ ever during my undergrad years in C-Ville while learning how to do derivatives and such.

Derivatives of what, I dare not ask.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Yes, TDK did impressive IMAX business,

There is a hunger / market for it. The sales growth of HDTVs and Blu-ray products demonstrates that even J6P is understanding and seeking improved picture quality.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by NutsAboutPS3

Penton-Man, thought you might be pleased to hear that the Blu-ray of Ghostbusters is currently number 1 in the play.com pre-order chart. I remember this title scored pretty highly in the poll on blu-ray.com a while back about which titles people would like to see released on Blu-ray, so it's nice to see that translating into actual orders.
http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/6-/PreOrderChart.html

Good to hear!

Keep in mind that every detail possible has been rung out of the HD master so the Blu-ray edition will be a worthwhile picture upgrade (without even mentioning audio) to those fans of the film.

But, this title is indeed a true example of one of those cases which will in no way be demo material to show off enthusiasts’ 1080p displays to friends and such because the imagery is hamstrung by the principal photography in the first place.

[Penton-Man]

Squid,
I'm ten minutes ahead of schedule and ISDT racers don't get any points deducted for coming into a checkpoint ahead of time.

Later

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Yeah, I watched it. Not too bad but, the big thing that continues to bug me about Arsenal is that when they have a momentary advantage while pushing the ball forward into the opponent’s half of the field, they never seem to challenge that one last defender(s) or take the shot. They always hold the ball up to wait for help or back pass and by that time the other side (in this case, Man U) has gotten the defense stacked and it is even harder to penetrate.

They really need someone like Thierry Henry again.

Arshavin has been showing promise but was unavailable for the first leg. They'll have him back at the Emirates on Tuesday. Almunia was huuuuuuuuge.

I'll take the rest of my thoughts to the Football thread!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Slec

Arshavin has been showing promise but was unavailable for the first leg. They'll have him back at the Emirates on Tuesday.

No, they won't. He was unavailable because he's cup-tied.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

No, they won't. He was unavailable because he's cup-tied.

i thought he was carded out... eff.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by mark antony

That's Vilmos Zsigmond, is it not?

M

I think some at UCLA may be saying that come Monday, May 11.
http://www.theasc.com/news/News_Articles/News_225.php

Even if you didn’t particularly care for this motion picture, any local film enthusiasts in the area should consider attending the screening as it is free and Vilmos is a master at his craft.

P.S.
b.t.w. – he pushed for and got a 4k D.I. for the feature film The Black Dahlia back in the day.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

b.t.w. – he pushed for and got a 4k D.I. for the feature film The Black Dahlia back in the day.

He also used some very tasty deep focus on that one. Fans of the stonking-depth-of-field style, myself included, are expecting good things from the eventual BD, Josh Hartnett notwithstanding.

[Objectivity]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Just my 2 cents on the subject. TDK FILLED IMAX theaters for weeks. Sold out shows across the country. I am confident that the vast majority of those moviegoers were aware of, and, specifically sought out those venues, because of the superior image quality of the IMAX footage scenes.

Yes, but those people weren't seeking out a 70mm experience, they were seeking out an IMAX experience. They know a movie on an IMAX screen will be five stories tall and about a mile wide.

Will that transfer to a 70mm being played on the same size screen as the 35mm print playing next door? IMO, I don't think so. The IMAX experience is all about the size of the screen, not the print.


[QUOTE=SquidPuppet;1863697]I believe that a theater offering (and advertising) the same movie in different rooms, one in 3D and one in 70mm would at least prompt a query from patrons handing out the cash. Yes, even J6P. Lets see, one is $3.00 more and one is $2.00 more, hmmmm, what are the advantages, which one is better and why? The "whats in this for ME?" mentality may come into play.

It comes down to whether J6P can tell the difference on your standard size movie screen. To many, it will be like 1080p on a 32" TV. It will look the same as 720p. Technically, it's better, but you know that because you're told, not because you see it yourself.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Sci-fi and animation may draw in the "glasses" crowd, but I truly believe that drama seekers would opt for the improved traditional presentation.

I would agree with that. I just don't know if they'll opt in to a format where the visual difference may be too subtle for most to appreciate.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Objectivity

Yes, but those people weren't seeking out a 70mm experience, they were seeking out an IMAX experience. They know a movie on an IMAX screen will be five stories tall and about a mile wide.

I would agree with that. I just don't know if they'll opt in to a format where the visual difference may be too subtle for most to appreciate.

Hmm. Most people I talked to were really looking forward to the IMAX footage PQ, not the size. Yes the IMAX experience is unique, but it was the PQ that was being talked about quite enthusiastically. Even TDK Blu-ray viewers talked about the PQ of the IMAX footage. A lot too.

I certainly do not know, but perhaps we could get an opinion from a resident pro on the difference in quality on a "standard" screen. It sure seems like 70mm would look fantastic on a large theater (modern stadium) screen. Does 70mm really need a JUMBO screen to see the benefits as Objectivity has described with his 1080p on a tiny display analogy?

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Does 70mm really need a JUMBO screen to see the benefits as Objectivity has described with his 1080p on a tiny display analogy?

Being that one of the chief advantages of 70mm projection is increased light output, it certainly still has some benefit over 35mm, even on a smaller screen.

[Vincent Pereira]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I think some at UCLA may be saying that come Monday, May 11.
http://www.theasc.com/news/News_Articles/News_225.php

Even if you didn’t particularly care for this motion picture, any local film enthusiasts in the area should consider attending the screening as it is free and Vilmos is a master at his craft.

P.S.
b.t.w. – he pushed for and got a 4k D.I. for the feature film The Black Dahlia back in the day.

I spent a great afternoon hanging with Mr. Zsigmond and picking his brain during a location scout in NYC for JERSEY GIRL back in 2002. One of the greatest afternoons in my life

If they were screening HEAVEN'S GATE, I'd consider flying out to LA for that event. I love that film (and no, I'm not being sarcastic) and have never seem it projected in a cinema.

Vincent