Archived: Insiders Thread

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Geez
I’m not that cryptic.
You're very good.

All I know is that Marriott live a few houses down from my sis in the Falls and their lawns are way too big unless you have one of dem riding mowers.

The Warner Center Marriott?

And, about Richard Marriott, in Patomac Falls:


The World's Billionaires
#432 Richard Marriott
03.08.07, 6:00 PM ET

Age: 68

Fortune: inherited

Source: hotels

Net Worth: $2.2 bil

Country Of Citizenship: United States

Residence: Potomac, Maryland , United States, North America

Industry: Service

Marital Status: married, 4 children

Education: University of Utah, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Harvard University, Master of Business Administration
With brother J.W. Jr., sons of J.W. Marriott Sr. (d. 1985). Dad started empire with root beer stand in Washington, D.C. in 1927; Hot Shoppes later became regional chain. Opened first hotel 1957. J.W. Jr. appointed president 1964; exited restaurant business 25 years later. Brothers split company amid bondholder protest 1993. Richard controls hotel ownership operation (newly named Host Hotels & Resorts); J.W. heads franchise and property management outfit (Marriott International). Active Mormons fund education, also Bridges From School to Work Program

[The Guardian]

actually what he said was he had no information on an announcement tomorrow...

[Dave Mack]

Originally Posted by Frode

You mention crushed blacks, have you calibrated your display properly for hi-def input?

yep. Not the issue.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

Question for Paidgeek -- I know you're not in Sony itself, but have you heard whether Sony is considering a promotion something along the lines of a "free" Blu-ray player and choice of two free Sony Blu-ray videos with the purchase a Bravia HDTV? Something such as this would lend considerable support to the Blu-ray format during the critical Christmas and first of year sales season.

I have heard some plans for cross promotions, but I'm not sure about a player with a display...

[stockstar1138]

paid any info on WB going blu-ray exclusive. just a smiley of something.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by blublublu

This is getting silly.

It's starting to remind me of the Sicilian guy from The Princess Bride.

"Clearly Penton Man must have known XYZABC, so clearly, the announcement is not coming tomorrow"

BUT

"Penton would have anticipated that we'd know that, so clearly the announcement is coming tomorrow."

LOL I'm done here. We'll see what happens tomorrow...

[The Guardian]

Originally Posted by shug7272

Im gonna go out there and say the rumor poster was penton, he disappeared for a while and came back in the insider thread and just added fuel to the fire which is not like penton to do if it is all garbage.

Another possible clue is that Penton since he came back has been posting in other threads too, not just this one, yet he didn't see the Warner thread despite its massivity hehe.

Penton, it must suck to be microanalyzed like this, right? You probably couldn't even just make a straight statement anymore, people would still look for hidden meanings.

[kamiller42]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I have heard some plans for cross promotion plans, but I'm not sure about a player with a display...

Ah, a free PS3 with a display.

[scott1256ca]

LEAD: When Warner LeRoy built his flashy restaurant, Potomac on the River, in Georgetown, he encircled the dining area with a model train track, complete with locomotive and cars. But the system has given trouble and, at the moment, doesn't run.

Restaurateur Warner LeRoy, whose Hollywood roots and business savvy, brought glamour and pizazz to world reknowned eateries like Tavern on the Green and The Russian Tea Room, has died at a Manhattan hospital. He was 65.

LeRoy, the son of "The Wizard of Oz" director Mervyn LeRoy and Doris Warner, the daughter of Warner Brothers Studios executive Harry Warner, grew up around movie stars and movie sets, which helped form his personal credo on what a restaurant should be.

My God! You know what this means?! A major railroad is about to go Blu-Ray exclusive. This truly does spell the end for HD DVD!

[Bombthroat]

I'd just like to point out the name of the OP in the WB thread as SA<zero>CD. Super Audio CD. I have no idea what the relevance is, you guys just have me looking for clues that aren't there, I think.

Anyway, we'll hear soon enough whether this is true or not.

I'd just like to thank all the Blu-ray insiders who post here and help make this forum a great community for Blu information. I also commend all of you for taking suggestions you receive here back with you to help improve the Blu experience.

IMO, that's Blu-ray's biggest advantage...actually listening to what their customers want.

[kotton247]

Originally Posted by scott1256ca

My God! You know what this means?! A major railroad is about to go Blu-Ray exclusive. This truly does spell the end for HD DVD!

It could be the Reading. That was always my favorite on monopoly. Monopoly....that reminds of a company..hmmm but which one

[PaulGo]

Originally Posted by scott1256ca

My God! You know what this means?! A major railroad is about to go Blu-Ray exclusive. This truly does spell the end for HD DVD!

So HD-DVD is getting "de-railed"!

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

So HD-DVD is getting "de-railed"!

it's already out:

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Esox50

I honestly have no idea what is going on.

Esox

I’m in too much discomfort (knee) to give you guys any cryptic posts these days.
Read my last post carefully……. as it is as forthcoming and honest as I can be concerning this topic. It is not misleading at all, it is as sincere and as up-to-date info as can be publicly provided. I can’t elaborate any further.

All the references I made to PaulGo (who is from North Potomac) were simply idle chatter as my sis indeed lives in Potomac Falls down the street from one of the Marriotts and I did get a doctorate from Collegivm Georgiopolitanvm back in the day. I was just reminiscing with a fellow Blu-ray forum member (Paul).

[atdm71]

Originally Posted by MrBogey

Posting it just for what it's worth.

Warner and the BDA have been working on this one under wraps for awhile. I'm sure the BDA tried to close earlier but you know how deals go. Of course Amir and his buddies do not know. You can bet there are plenty of phone calls taking place tonight.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Esox

Penton-Man

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Dave Mack

It's the crushed blacks and softness that are the major problems. Coppolla and Zoetrope can play with the palate to their heart's content.
But now there is detail that is just gone.


If the transfer just looked dim, washed out because of the film elements, fine. But seeing the EXACT same shots in HD in the new documentaries looking MUCH better makes you realize that someone screwed the pooch.
Take this for example, in the SB dvd, it is CLEAR that the words from Harker's journal are superimposed over the shot of him at the door in the castle. in the BD, because it's SO much darker, flatter and crushed, you can barely see them at all and would NEVER register that these are "words: that have been superimposed.

There are a few things that those critical of the latest Dracula transfer should know.

1. The new transfer was supervised. This means that a representative from Zoetrope was charged we checking the color correction to make sure it met with the intentions of Mr. Coppola.

2. The new transfer and color correction were not done hastily. This title was carefully planned for BD and we were given the full cooperation of Zoetrope to get it done right.

3. The masters used for the DVD versions of this title were not endorsed by Mr. Coppola, the BD version is. The color correction on the DVD releases was not what Mr. Coppola wanted, regardless of the fact that the elevated brightness in some scenes on the DVD can reveal something not seen on the BD.

4. The answer print of the film is darker than the Blu-ray (answer prints are the approved color timed result that release prints are supposed to match).

5. Mr. Coppola intentionally shunned digital special effects techniques on this film in order to get a result that had the look of the classic horror films. The optical effects lead to some dirt and softening of the master.

A great deal of time and effort went into the remastering of this film, so it is more than a little disappointing that fans would not just second guess the wishes of the person that made the film, but would judge some of the work as careless or incorrect? From what I have read on the forum, the issue seems to stem from the darkening or color adjustment of a few scenes that leaves the viewer with less discernable picture information than was visible on the earlier unapproved release. If your display is properly calibrated, then rest assured that there is information in the video on most titles that you are not seeing. It is your choice if you want to turn up brightness to reveal some dark detail that is not necessarily supposed to be revealed.

I suspect that if we originally released a Dracula with a darker image, then released the Blu-ray with a brighter one, then perhaps these issues would not have been raised. Just remember that the film is supposed to set a mood and tell a story, not dazzle you with the picture details in the shots with a darkened room.

[theknub]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

There are a few things that those critical of the latest Dracula transfer should know.

1. The new transfer was supervised. This means that a representative from Zoetrope was charged we checking the color correction to make sure it met with the intentions of Mr. Coppola.

2. The new transfer and color correction were not done hastily. This title was carefully planned for BD and we were given the full cooperation of Zoetrope to get it done right.

3. The masters used for the DVD versions of this title were not endorsed by Mr. Coppola, the BD version is. The color correction on the DVD releases was not what Mr. Coppola wanted, regardless of the fact that the elevated brightness in some scenes on the DVD can reveal something not seen on the BD.

4. The answer print of the film is darker than the Blu-ray (answer prints are the approved color timed result that release prints are supposed to match).

5. Mr. Coppola intentionally shunned digital special effects techniques on this film in order to get a result that had the look of the classic horror films. The optical effects lead to some dirt and softening of the master.

A great deal of time and effort went into the remastering of this film, so it is more than a little disappointing that fans would not just second guess the wishes of the person that made the film, but would judge some of the work as careless or incorrect? From what I have read on the forum, the issue seems to stem from the darkening or color adjustment of a few scenes that leaves the viewer with less discernable picture information than was visible on the earlier unapproved release. If your display is properly calibrated, then rest assured that there is information in the video on most titles that you are not seeing. It is your choice if you want to turn up brightness to reveal some dark detail that is not necessarily supposed to be revealed.

I suspect that if we originally released a Dracula with a darker image, then released the Blu-ray with a brighter one, then perhaps these issues would not have been raised. Just remember that the film is supposed to set a mood and tell a story, not dazzle you with the picture details in the shots with a darkened room.

thanks paid. the information you have provided for this film is invaluable and we all should appreciate it.

[shamus]

Originally Posted by theknub

thanks paid. the information you have provided for this film is invaluable and we all should appreciate it.

I may have to order it myself....
http://www.hometheaterspot.com/fusio...hp?tid/138718/

[Ben]

Thanks so much, Paid. It must be a hard pill to swallow for the professional skeptics out there to realise that their own unreasonable desires for how a film should look have nothing to do with the reality of how a film's creators intend for it to be seen. Thanks for helping to promote and preserve artistic intent over the shallow and undereducated desire that all material resemble a live sporting event.