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

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Oooh, a challenge!

Hrm... You were on set for Battlestar Galactica season 4?

How'd I know you'd step up?

Here's a hint: I was about to end the sentence "... of recent years.", but then I realized that it's been 19 of 'em.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Penton-

Is there anything you can say about the sound restoration for the Marx Brothers blu-ray releases?

I’m real busy getting the truck ready before we can haul the beer over to Jeff’s place…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5vOjpRFz28

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Not to reply with the obvious, but wasn't it Mae West who said it better with:
"Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go everywhere."

(Thanks for the Sony DVD release link.)

I don't understand the link to Meat Loaf's part in it?
What's the name of the relevant tract (song) on his CD?

Is there are a YouTube link for the song?
I'd like to hear it.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

We'll, I've come back to this:

Thanks RAH for delving into Spartacus - if I recall correctly, you had avoided doing so during the last unsatisfactory release...

Does that same lack of review recognition also apply to "Fellowship of the Ring"?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

The only think I think we can pray for now is that that Uni gives up on this title and lets Criterion have their way with it....

Even boutique content providers are not immune to unnecessary digital edge enhancement…watch Days of Heaven very closely. Which reminds me, when I get the time, I should do a short spiel on the highly esoteric subject of rare non-electronic causes of edge enhancement and ‘halos’ and I’m not just referring to defocus dispersion…or “chromatic aberration” of the camera lens, the term which most folks recognize. I'm personally familiar with one case (which still drives me crazy as to its true etilogy)...a western which Deci and/or DaViD Boulet may be familiar with.

Since, you like esoteric filmmaking links so much, you may find this surprising as to which films Nestor Almendros was most proud of
http://www.ascmag.com/blog/2010/04/2...brief-history/

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

He's baaaaaaaaaaaack!

We keep trying to hang him but, the rope breaks.

I read that FIFA published a list of the 30? or so players thus far selected for each National team going to the World Cup. I haven’t had time to pull or read the pdf file.

Do you know of any surprises?
You keep up with this stuff better than I do.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

Over the past decade I have become very suspicious of statements like: " <insert new tech thing> is going to take over in X years." Previously I was just skeptical...

I just posted it to rile up the 3D haters.

Personally, I don’t much care as I figure in 25 years I’ll either be completely senile or dead.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I don't understand the link to Meat Loaf's part in it?
What's the name of the relevant tract (song) on his CD?

Is there are a YouTube link for the song?
I'd like to hear it.

Let me introduce you to the creepy new future of listening to any song you want at any time:

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/sear...%20to%20heaven

And, for the record, this is a terrible song. And I loves me some Steinmen... (his version from the Original Sin album's available there as well)

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Since, you like esoteric filmmaking links so much, you may find this surprising as to which films Nestor Almendros was most proud of
http://www.ascmag.com/blog/2010/04/2...brief-history/

Excellent link.

I'm certainly not slamming a studio here for the treatment of Spartacus, it's just that given that the Criterion DVD is already a must-own independent of the transfer, I'd love them to be able to give the title justice by being the ones to release the (hopefully forthcoming) re-release so that they can include the so-called "extras".

Spartacus is one of those treasures of the Criterion collection, an absolutely top-notch collection of things that greatly enhance ones appreciation for the film. Ustinov's stories alone are priceless, and for anybody that has picked up the BD I'd recommend tracking down a SD copy just for these additional materials.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Does that same lack of review recognition also apply to "Fellowship of the Ring"?

Heh, I can't say, but I can say that at the time it was certainly quite telling that the man responsible for the restoration refused to have any official comment regarding the HD release of this classic film. I've learned over the years that when there's silence on a given topic there's often much more at stake than the many things that get talked about over and over.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

How'd I know you'd step up?

Here's a hint: I was about to end the sentence "... of recent years.", but then I realized that it's been 19 of 'em.

Hrm. 1991, eh?

http://movies.yahoo.com/browse/year/1991

I think there was a dolly zoom in T2, and it'd be just weird enough for you to be in LA for that shoot.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

I don't think the people who ultimately make those decisions are reading

Okay then, I’ll strike closer to home (video). One moment.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Torsten Kaiser

Just to be clear: Noise Reduction was implemented, but with two very different "sets of severity". Each affects the respective film's sequences in different ways. These two types of noise reduction can in no way be mistaken with or is related to the photography, the stock, equipment and lighting used at the time or the photochemical treatment.

The first part of noise reduction that I refered to is apparent in the OPENING CREDITS sequence. Here, the footage is very heavily, and crudely, de-noised. Just look at poor Leo; but you will notice it on the letters of the credits themselves as well. There is also (which is surprising to me that it is still in there) misregistration of the Technicolor negs.

The second part, which is the "rest of the film" is far more subdued; but still evident, if you look very closely. The high frequencies are "capped" a bit, even in those shots where the full potential of the VistaVision materials is very apparent (i.e. where no intended trickery was used or photochemical limitations play a role). This is very likely something that was implemented in the encoding stage. The problems in banding and bit depth in the background of some shots indicate as much. This is a problem that appears, by the way, on a lot of WB discs - AMADEUS, WoOZ and NxNW are just a few examples.
The opening credits sequence however, is, as I said, much more severe re: setting used. Since Blu-ray encoders would handle the material very differently this particular de-noising appears to have been made already on the mastering level to delivery (for Blu-ray and/or broadcast etc) master files/tape. I certainly hope that it is not on the new negative.

Torsten, excellent post . Un-necessarily soft is un-necessarily detail challenged, no matter what the cause and where in the chain it occurred.
Here’s a cookie for your trouble …
http://vimeo.com/11165238

Robert (RAH)…someone brought to my attention this somewhat dated news piece from an outside forum…
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news...er_Pics!)/3397

Please tell the guys over at WHV to actually communicate sometimes with their “in-house team” as Michael wouldn’t write the following unless he was told the following, namely – “keep in mind, many modern films such as Warners’ own Ocean’s 13 are finished in “2K”.

That ^ is just totally wrong. Ocean’s 13 (Super 35mm 2.40) was scanned at 4k (4096x3112 resolution) and was rendered out at 4K, including all color correction.

Tell 'em, let’s not prop up “Wizard” by downgrading “Oceans”, shall we ?

[Penton-Man]

Attention to Bram Stoker’s Dracula lovers and a special heads-up to Dave Mack (before I induce an epileptic seizure in thee, I recommend thee cuddle with that beautiful Dachshund that you’ve got. Relaxed now?)

Okay…
http://www.horrorexpress.com/news/915

[Oliver K]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Even boutique content providers are not immune to unnecessary digital edge enhancement…watch Days of Heaven very closely. Which reminds me, when I get the time, I should do a short spiel on the highly esoteric subject of rare non-electronic causes of edge enhancement and ‘halos’ and I’m not just referring to defocus dispersion…or “chromatic aberration” of the camera lens, the term which most folks recognize. I'm personally familiar with one case (which still drives me crazy as to its true etilogy)...a western which Deci and/or DaViD Boulet may be familiar with.

Please elaborate on these effects and other that might seem like EE to some viewers. I remember that back when The Professionals was released there was some discussion about the origin of halos in that one.

I also noted both chromatical abberration and other halos or rather a kind of 'glow' in both Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhiwago when I screened them in 70mm.

Might I add that this would be a welcome departure from the 3D discussion of the last pages?

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Hrm. 1991, eh?

Yup.

Originally Posted by sharkshark

I think there was a dolly zoom in T2, and it'd be just weird enough for you to be in LA for that shoot.

No, but I'll use the segue opportunity to give you (really, really obscure) hint number two...

One of my buddies from the set in question was locked in for the lead in an indie a couple years later, until one of the stars of your first guess knocked him out of the role by virtue of his name value.

And the same thing had happened to him (by way of a different actor with name value) on the movie in question.

If you get anything from that hint, I'll move to another planet.

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Yup.



No, but I'll use the segue opportunity to give you (really, really obscure) hint number two...

One of my buddies from the set in question was locked in for the lead in an indie a couple years later, until one of the stars of your first guess knocked him out of the role by virtue of his name value.

And the same thing had happened to him (by way of a different actor with name value) on the movie in question.

If you get anything from that hint, I'll move to another planet.

OK, so you're saying that Edward Furlong replaced your friend in an indie, and then was himself replaced? So I'm looking for a film that Furlong was =not= in? Yeah, that's a bit cryptic.

Here's a cool article about the history of the shot:
http://www.brokenprojector.com/wordpress/?p=21

K, I'm now guessing you were onset for 12 Monkeys, but you'll need to provide a wee bit more to have me guess who your friend is.

*****

Or, are you saying that Furlong was in American Heart, replacing your friend, and was himself replaced in T3/4 by Nick Stall and Christian Bale?

[Doctorossi]

Damn, man. You're about 50% utterly wrong and 50% mind-blowingly right.

Let me start by correcting a misunderstanding:

The guy who was replaced by a T2 actor was also replaced (but by a different actor) in the movie in question.

In other words, the same guy was knocked out of the lead by a name actor in two movies- the movie I was on set for and a later indie movie that ultimately starred a T2 actor.

I hope you also have a more effective avenue to put some of this talent to use.

[sharkshark]

Ahhh....

OK, I'm now guessing Robert Patrick replaced your friend, and narrowing down HIS "indie" career is next to impossible.

And the film you were on set for starred your friend, who was then replaced by a name actor. And it's not 12 Monkeys or T2. And, let's not forget, it includes a dolly/zoom.

Hrm.

K, I'm guessing this: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101917/

with your friend replaced by Johnny Depp.

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Damn, man. You're about 50% utterly wrong and 50% mind-blowingly right.

Let me start by correcting a misunderstanding:

The guy who was replaced by a T2 actor was also replaced (but by a different actor) in the movie in question.

In other words, the same guy was knocked out of the lead by a name actor in two movies- the movie I was on set for and a later indie movie that ultimately starred a T2 actor.

I hope you also have a more effective avenue to put some of this talent to use.

[Doctorossi]

*bzzt* Strike two!

You're good, though- you're good.