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

[Robert Harris]

The Seven Pillars

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

The Seven Pillars

..

[Esox50]

Penton,

Any thoughts on Nolan asking WB to offer the Blu-Ray version (in lieu of regular DVD screeners) of The Dark Knight to the members of the academy? Will this be a new trend, and will it make a difference in helping the Dark Knight win some of the technical categories?

Is there any buzz in Hollywood you can share on whether Nolan & Co. will be back for one more Batman movie in 2011?

-Esox

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

Huge!

During the format war, the administration of that board made their bed with a certain software company and subsequently allowed the red ants to run rampant and destroy the infrastructure of that once fine forum.

This drove many people away from the *science forum*, people who subsequently became new members of Blu-ray.com, HTF, HDD, etc. because they simply couldn’t deal with the injustices allowed on a daily basis with regards to disinformation and misinformation.

Now, the forensic screenshot scientists (many of whom have a history), as well as self-proclaimed *authorities*, have taken over with their inaccurate assumptions and conclusions regarding everything from creative intent to digital tools.

This is further eroding the rate of attracting new membership there, as well as their credibility with the people who work in any of the businesses associated with Blu-ray.
The administration didn’t *get it* back then (during the format war) with their preferential support of the losing format………..
and still they don’t *get it* now.

Believe me Robert, if you had not posted an early denial regarding digital grain reduction usage during the production of the Godfather trilogy, the accusations of such would have been numerous and ceaseless by *authorities* over there. Give them a week or two, and they’ll find a new title to cry wolf over in some form or fashion whether it be grain reduction, sharpening or color, etc.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I'm not intending to change the subject, but it's obvious the current state of computer graphics technology (and computing horsepower) has done much to make the 4K-based restoration of The Godfather possible.

I'm wondering if there is a number of other great films currently deemed "dead" or "lost" that the newest suite of digital image manipulation tools (along with improved techniques in "analog" film clean up methods) may bring back from the grave.

Adobe Systems is going to do a big web-cast tomorrow morning to roll out "Creative Suite 4" (my bank account is already saying "ouch"). The thought of newly improved graphics tools had me wondering.

I missed your post as well as the web-cast.
If you’re really interested in that stuff, might I suggest ……..
For a list of new features
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Premiere...B21C3A2Ba.html

For help –
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/PremierePro/4.0/

In regards to your general question, see RAH’s post on the last page.
I’ll add the fact that the tools are getting better and faster, and since time is money, this can only help with giving some titles a second look *for work*, which were originally classified as being cost prohibitive, just a few years ago.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Penton,

Any thoughts on Nolan asking WB to offer the Blu-Ray version (in lieu of regular DVD screeners) of The Dark Knight to the members of the academy? Will this be a new trend...................
-Esox

I think it’s another example of Chris Nolan’s propensity to think *out of the box* in regards to all aspects of filmmaking and post production.

I’m happy that this idea to break the DVD screener ceiling is being championed as early as what………..7 months after the official conclusion of the format war ?

It should become more common as time passes.

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I'm wondering if there is a number of other great films currently deemed "dead" or "lost" that the newest suite of digital image manipulation tools (along with improved techniques in "analog" film clean up methods) may bring back from the grave.

Absolutely! We were only able, for example, to take "Vertigo" so far, and it is still not up to 1958 standards, although it is as high as quality as was possible a decade ago.

The Godfather(s) could not have been restored via photochemical / photo-optical means.

There are others, inclusive of The Alamo and a number of others which I'm uncomfortable naming, which can only be saved by fully digital means.

We have been working in the digital realm, usually mixing with analogue for the past 14 years. It is only since 2006 that we have the infrastructure to do full film resolution restorations in 4k. To this point there have been very few. One that I can mention is Dr. Strangelove, restoration performed by Grover Crisp of Columbia, also done in full 4k.

RAH

[PeterTHX]

Robert...

As I understand it they are putting Lawrence thru another pass using the newer digital restortation tools, correct?

Any plans on tweaking My Fair Lady for HD release? Possibly a transfer off the 70MM elements?

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Robert...

As I understand it they are putting Lawrence thru another pass using the newer digital restortation tools, correct?

Any plans on tweaking My Fair Lady for HD release? Possibly a transfer off the 70MM elements?

I've reopened my thread, and don't wish to disrupt Penton's unnecessarily.

I'll copy and answer over there.

RAH

[4K2K]

Do you have contacts with the people at Amazon/Amazon UK?
Please could you get them to stop showing reviews of DVDs when you click on a Blu-ray? Could you also please get them to stop putting Format: PAL next to most of their Blu-ray discs on amazon UK (as they don't put Format: NTSC next to their Blu-ray discs on amazon.com) and 99% of the ones they put PAL next to don't have SD PAL or 50hz HD content on them.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

I've reopened my thread, and don't wish to disrupt Penton's unnecessarily................

RAH

Doesn’t bother me.
In fact it gives me some recuperation time.

Nice to see with your reopened thread and the Digtial Bits et. al. thread, that we’re nearly back up to full Insider team strength.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

Do you have contacts with the people at Amazon/Amazon UK?

Sorry, no, but Marketing people do read this thread.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Doesn’t bother me.
In fact it gives me some recuperation time.

Nice to see with your reopened thread and the Digtial Bits et. al. thread, that we’re nearly back up to full Insider team strength.

^
I see that Sir Terrence, Alexander J, kjack and even Maxpower also checked in today to contribute.

Max, I figure today I lost something like 5 cents on every dollar I own, that is somehow linked to financial investment.

Thank God for guaranteed pay-outs of annuities.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Maxpower

What canine is credited with saving WB from bankruptcy back in the day when life was much simpler?

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Max, I figure today I lost something like 5 cents on every dollar I own, that is somehow linked to financial investment.

Thank God for guaranteed pay-outs of annuities.

Not sure how close you are to retirement, but it's all going to be fine. Clearly, there will be more change to how business is done in the Financial Service industry. At least one fundamental way in which the Fed operates is going to change, which in turn is going to change how some markets operate directly (and others indirectly). This will eventually free up credit, reasonably, and get the economy back on solid footing (with profits to be made). But it's all going to be for the better longer term.

Quite the toxic cocktail we had here recently, but rest assured you can blame terrorism, our own government initiatives (and I'm not speaking about the War in Iraq), the accountants, and a select FEW general "idiots" who wanted something for nothing and/or took advantage of someone else. The good news is that 2 of the 4 of those we can control/change. Terrorists and idiots, unfortunately, we don't control (unless were talking about former HD DVD'ers in the context of "idiots" ).

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

What canine is credited with saving WB from bankruptcy back in the day when life was much simpler?

Lassie?
And don't ask why I'm awake at 1:52am.....LOL

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

What canine is credited with saving WB from bankruptcy back in the day when life was much simpler?

That would be Rin Tin Tin. I actually hold the rights, for whatever they're worth, to his first all-barking serial, The Lone Defender.

RAH

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Not sure how close you are to retirement, but it's all going to be fine. Clearly, there will be more change to how business is done in the Financial Service industry. At least one fundamental way in which the Fed operates is going to change, which in turn is going to change how some markets operate directly (and others indirectly). This will eventually free up credit, reasonably, and get the economy back on solid footing (with profits to be made). But it's all going to be for the better longer term.

Quite the toxic cocktail we had here recently, but rest assured you can blame terrorism, our own government initiatives (and I'm not speaking about the War in Iraq), the accountants, and a select FEW general "idiots" who wanted something for nothing and/or took advantage of someone else. The good news is that 2 of the 4 of those we can control/change. Terrorists and idiots, unfortunately, we don't control (unless were talking about former HD DVD'ers in the context of "idiots" ).

..

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Sorry, no, but Marketing people do read this thread.

Do the studio big wigs still read this thread?

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I think it’s another example of Chris Nolan’s propensity to think *out of the box* in regards to all aspects of filmmaking and post production.

It appears that ONE of his "out of the box" aspects of filmmaking is catching on more and more:

Transformers 2, Others To Use IMAX

~Alan