Ask questions to Sony Pictures Entertainment insider "paidgeek"

[ckenisell]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

The thumbnail feature is available to anyone that wants to use it. I think SCE is enouraging all studios to support it.

What about some music playing and the background changing on the PS3 XMB as well? See any PS3 game.

[ckenisell]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I would say so... and we are going to try some new features to test PiP and BD-Live.

Will Sony be combining the two?

Is it possible, according to the BD-Live spec, to stream video (over IP) into the PiP box? If so, I'd like to make some recommendations for streamed content into those boxes. Who would I need to talk to about those recommendations?

[MarekM]

welcom back paidgeek

I would like to ask you if audio specs for The 6th DAYare same for US and UK relase...(if the czech language is also on US release)

UK release:
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=66970

1080P 2.40:1 Widescreen
English and Spanish Dolby True HD 5.1 Surround
Czech, Hungarian, Polish (VO) and Russian DD5.1 Surround

and is DolbyTrueHD 24bit on both versions ?

thank you,
Marek

[blu2]

Paidgeek:

Any updates on Sony plans for a portable copy of a movie to be included via Sony BD discs?

Fox is already rolling this out.

Thanks.

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by blu2

Paidgeek:

Any updates on Sony plans for a portable copy of a movie to be included via Sony BD discs?

Fox is already rolling this out.

Thanks.

I thought Sony was going to introduce some time of coversion process that would allow the PS3 to covert the file into a usable format with the PSP? I remember some type of hype about that from CES.

fitprod

[blu2]

Originally Posted by fitprod

I thought Sony was going to introduce some time of coversion process that would allow the PS3 to covert the file into a usable format with the PSP? I remember some type of hype about that from CES.

fitprod

Here's one article that suggests the PSP copy is on the disc.

Anyway, latest info/clarifications, if any, would be appreciated.

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/12453.cfm

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sony demonstrated an upcoming addition to Blu-ray titles; lower-resolution versions of the video content. Using a PlayStation 3 (PS3) consoles, which can read BD-ROM discs, and a PlayStation Portable (PSP) console with a MemoryStick Duo for storage, Sony inserted a Blu-ray title into a PS3 and produced a video compatible with the PSP.

The PlayStation 3 did not encode the video however, the copy for the PSP system is permanently stored on the Blu-ray title itself, with no expiration date and at apparently no extra cost. "There was always the promise of greater inactivity," said David Bishop, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

The new feature is not yet part of the company's release schedule, but Bishop said he expected to see Sony Pictures rolling it out this year. Not many details were given on whether the video content could be transfered to portable devices other than a PSP.

Support on the PSP is significant enough on its own however, as it seems Sony may be cleverly replacing its UMD format (at least for movies) with Blu-ray discs that instead contain a copy of the movie for the Memory Stick.

[ranma]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

This is the final warning

NO ASKING "Have you heard anything about, When is Title X coming", ESPECIALLY TITLES THAT DO NOT BELONG TO SONY

Asking "What challenges might you see in title x because of A, B and C" type questions are fine.

Ok, I want to say I want to see Crouch Tiger Hidden Dragon in blu-ray. Sony is good at imporing chinese-making movies into blu-ray. Although CTHD is not exact import from chinese, but I would like to watch it in blu-ray. I wish paingeek can give me some information.

[d0uble0se7en]

I hope this phrasing is allowed:

Paidgeek, would you guys say you're making an extra effort to get the SUPERBIT releases all out onto Blu-ray since they make ideal candidates or is there little/no priority given to these titles?

*cough* my vote goes to Panic Room *cough*

[Razzy]

Hi Paid,

This was your response to the Ghostbusters question:

Originally Posted by paidgeek

It's a possibility for later this year.

I remember reading a few months ago in the old insiders thread that the master for this title was in hard shape. How much work is involved cleaning up a movie like this, especially with all of the old school special optical effects. Are we talking a herculean effort on SPE's part or is it not as bad as most think? Of course for such an oldie I'm not expecting miracles, I'll just be happy to see it in on Blu.

Thanks.

[Big Daddy]

Dear Paidgeek,

I apologize if I sound a bit confrontational, but I am a bit confused. I do not understand the problem with the quality of the master of Ghostbusters and other popular movies. The Ghostbusters was made around 1984. How bad is the condition of the master?

Many great movies that were made before Ghostbusters have been restored effectively. For example, Nosferatu (1922), King Kong (1933), Gone with the Wind (1939), Citizen Kane (1941), Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), ET (1982), Star Wars, and many more.

I realize that it costs money and time to restore a movie, but a few of the old classics like Vertigo and Lawrence of Arabia were also released in the theaters. According to Christian Science Monitor (April 22, 2005, http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0422/p15s01-almo.html): “Columbia Pictures made a reported $2 million when it reissued Lawrence of Arabia in a meticulously tweaked version supervised by director David Lean himself.”

I understand that Ghostbusters is not in the same league as the movies mentioned above, but I am sure many people, particularly younger adults, will buy copies of the Blu Ray Version.

I thank you in advance for your response.

[Seretur]

Not Paidgeek by a long shot, but one thing does come to mind.

Namely, Richard Edlund's then-recently-acquired EEG Studios, rechristened to Boss Film Studios. Same company that produced the stellar Blade Runner effects, but now forced to use stop-motion for some of its work here (the Zuul dogs, namely). Plus, the nature of the effects produced some unsightly matte edges, even if it was all finalized on 65mm (better than ILM's VistaVision) before being transferred to the 35mm prints for release.

My guess is that Blu-ray would make the lack of motion blur and some issues with grain on dupe prints stand out more than ever. The alternative would be to go the Warner route and scan the 65mm effects shots in 8K, I guess, but that's a big commitment. And it wouldn't make the dogs move any more smoothly.

I, for one, am all for the preservation of the original (Oscar-nominated) effects work, with all its flaws. But I can imagine the kind of complaints that would get...

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Azumi

hello Paidgeek,

Good to see you back. I'm always reading your interventions with great interest.

I have a general question on Sony's general policy. Aside from the day-and-date and the FX-laden must haves, and based on the feedback from forums like Blu-ray.com and your usual channels, can we expect Sony to start releasing on Blu in 2008 some films that might appeal to broader or different audiences?

If we look at the early days of DVD, you started widening the horizons with releases like Taxi Driver (which had quite a few advanced features back then), Labyrinth, Silverado and a few select Marlon Brando and Frank Capra movies. Can we expect SPE to swim in these waters, with the intent to bring different kind of viewers to Blu-ray?

Another question. Some of us fondly remember Sony's Superbits. Could we expect one day their equivalent on BD -- with pristine 4k masters, stratosperic bitrates and DTS MA all across the board?

Hi Azumi,

We are starting to release classic titles here and there, but we need to see how they perform in the market. "A Passage To India" is next up and it is a great title. How it sells will give SPE and indication about what they should do next. Suffice it to say that CE3K has not performed to our expectations even with all the promotion surrounding it.

Every BD-50 is a Superbit of sorts, but 4K transfers and dedicated high bitrates might be in our future. DTS MA though? Lossless is lossless right?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

With the 'rear' projection LCD and SXRD HDTV's fading off into the sunset, and their flat panels going up to only 52", when will we see a 60" flat panel? [Jim]

You can buy a 70" from Sony today if you have a very thick wallet. I think they recognize the void and will have to do something to cover that requirement soon.

Remember, with HD, the screen can't be too big....

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Ian_S

Well I saw LOA a while back now here in the UK on SkyHD who use AVC for transmission and I thought it looked remarkably good for a film that age. Same went for Bridge over the River Kwai, and Guns of Navarone, although I'd say the latter was the weakest of the three. Are they all SPE?

Yes, these are all our titles, but I don't know what vintage the masters were that you were looking at...

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Paid, welcome back.

What would be the difference from a compressionists point of view in terms of time taken to encode a 150 minute movie on a BD50 versus encoding a 240 minute movie if lossless audio tracks were used in both instances?

Probably not as much as you would think because the 4 hour movie won't carry any added value on the same disc. Not to mention that the overture and intermission is going to compress really well.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

Welcome back Paid,

Do you have any insight as to why Sony is not releasing Revolver or Southland Tales on BD? I was hoping that Sony would keep to the policy of releasing all new day and date titles on BD and considering the directors involved this may prove to be titles that while overlooked in their VERY limited theatrical release, may be more popular on video with film enthuasists. I know Revolver is getting a release on BD overseas but I haven't seen much on Southland Tales.

I'll have to check Kris. We might not have the rights in the U.S.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Phila-Blu-Ray

The end of the Blu-Ray "5 Free Disc" Summer Promotion on Sept 30th saw a 5 day conversion to the Winter Promotion within 5 days (ie: October 5th) and new titles. Now that this has ended on January 31, 2008, what's the next promotion?

I just bought my Sony 46XBR4 and couldn't be happier -- but won't buy the blu-ray at the current prices without getting some freebies. What's the next promotion?

Also, am I the only one that would like to see an HDMI cable shipped with all Sony BDP products, plus the free disc offers? This would be a great combination.

What's the inside scoop?

The honest truth is that we can't give away product forever.... It's great to have new HD customers, but your getting a better deal on players now and that should offset the promotions that the early adopters got...

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

Interesting. I've heard there are several available levels of quality from Lowry (DTS) and depending on the level used you can get considerable differences in quality. Is this something you guys have investigated with any titles? I know that Universal has had varying levels of quality using this process, most of the titles that are poorly received have been through it.

We have had a somewhat different experience than what you mention. The Lowry process seems to be optimized for a particular level of image enhancement in our experience. It's not something we will use casually, but for certain titles, it's good to have available. We won't keep it a secret if it's used.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by kjacobs03

I have a quick question about Starship Troopers that is not about the release date . When it was delayed to probably coincide with part 3, did Sony intend to add "Added value content" as well? Or was it just pushed back?
Thank

I don't know how the timing was decided for this title, but a fair bit of work has been done on the master as I recall.

[Uxi]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Suffice it to say that CE3K has not performed to our expectations even with all the promotion surrounding it.

Though I bought it without hestitation (and love it!), I did notice the other day while I was browsing that it's MSRP is much higher than most titles...

How much synergy is there with the BD and DVD releases? Have the DVD sales also been disapointing?

Was CE3k a test for a more expensive, feature/cut filled Blu-ray SKU (similar to Blade Runner)?