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

[micks_address]

hi folks - any word on when some of the high profile catalogue titles being released in 2009 will be announced? i know we have some from disney, but have we a list with dates from Warner/Sony/Paramount/Universal/Fox?

Seems like with the strong christmas period it would be good to keep the momentum going with a strong release schedule to look forward to..

[Eternal_Sunshine]

Penton,

did you get any feedback from Paidgeek about the issue that Sony Pictures usually encodes the subtitles of scope movies with one line in the black bars?

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...64#post1149664

There is also a new thread about this here:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=50457

It's really annoying for folks with a scope FP setup. I actually stopped importing SPHE (and Warner) scope Blu-rays because of this (I'm in Europe). Disney, Universal, Paramount and (usually) Fox get this right, btw.

(As Fox and Disney region code all/most releases, ironically former HD-DVD holdouts Universal and Paramount have become my favourite BD studios... )

[Deimos]

The question is if there is actualy anyone who really likes Storaro's 2:1 aspect ratio decision.

By the way, I'm interested too if there's an answer regarding the issue with subtitles in black bars on most Sony Pictures titles.

[Torsten Kaiser TLE]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I think Vittorio Storaro needs to revisit this 2:1 idea.

When Vittorio Storaro first decided to use the 2:1 framing method most home video viewers were watching movies on standard 4:3 television sets and hardly anyone watching movies in high definition at all. It has probably been more than a decade since he made this choice. The black bars with a 2.39:1 ratio movie shown on a 4:3 television are pretty big, so there is a valid point with making a 2:1 compromise.
(...)

Bobby,

did you see this ? http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/713
This may give you an answer; he apparently was very sure about the AR in 2007.

[Oliver K]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

Yes, there is a Nielson tracking service among others.

http://www.nielsen.com/solutions/videoscan.html

As I understand it, break-even for a standard def disc is around 7,500 units, with Blu being twice that. With today's much more tech savvy marketplace, a quality disc is generally better reviewed (at least by those who know what they're looking at) and sales numbers are aided by positive press.

Thanks, I have contacted Nielsen. I guess 15000 could be a tall order for companies like Criterion. I agree about the reviews and photography and production values were exceptional on all 4 movies and would certainly help in achieving a perfect score when properly released.

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

The lack of proper transfers for the Bronston films is a sad situation. Cost vs. quality seems to have won out. As transferred, the Bronston films would not have been good material for Blu-ray. These are wonderful productions, that did not receive fair treatment on home video. Had quality been more than just half decent, numbers could have been far greater.

Make no mistake, properly handled -- and these films are NOT in need of any real restoration -- they would make glorious Blu-ray releases of distinction.

RAH

Thanks for the kind words as I like these productions a lot. There is something very impressive about a single man who is pulling all the strings to mount these productions and for all the effort as of today they cannot be seen in versions that do them justice either in cinemas or on home video.

The question is how we will be able to get a satisfying home video version if neither the rights holder nor the US distributor is putting up the necessary funds to get back to the large format elements.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Squozen

I agree that the AVS forum is full of freaks and mutants.......

I would say that people in the industry who are even aware of that forum’s existence, have the same sentiment of it as does Tina Fey and her fellow professionals who cheered her on for her remarks during her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.
Instead of internet haters “cougar-letter”, “dainefan”, and “BabsonLacrosse”, you can just substitute the names of the usual suspects from the *science* forum and tell them they can... “Suck it”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY9oc...eature=related

P.S.
By the way, in my Signature Post, the “CN” in the quoted post from brainsturgeon refers to Christopher Nolan.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

The lack of proper transfers for the Bronston films is a sad situation. Cost vs. quality seems to have won out...

Robert at the other end of the format scale (16mm capture), fortunately in the case of Pride and Prejudice (1995)
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2200
I think that Quality vs. Cost seems to have won out.

What I’m getting at is that Pride and Prejudice was a TeeVee drama shot on A and B roll negatives and rather than A&E Home Entertainment (and its contracted mastering facility) just scanning the IP (and therefore accepting the photochemical generational loss in resolution compared to an OCN) and not dealing with the headache and cost of digitally repairing all those splice bumps, the content providers indeed incurred the added expense of scanning the original 16mm A and B roll negs. to get everything out of the source material possible for Blu-ray viewers enjoyment.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Eternal_Sunshine

Penton, did you get any feedback from Paidgeek about the issue that Sony Pictures usually encodes the subtitles of scope movies with one line in the black bars?

I’ll check back into it.
He’s been overwhelmed lately with BD-Live™ stuff along with other things and it seems this week I’m constantly swimming upstream with work that has accumulated since the Holiday hiatus and CES.

[BluDomain]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I would say that people in the industry who are even aware of that forum’s existence, have the same sentiment of it as does Tina Fey and her fellow professionals who cheered her on for her remarks during her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.....

I didn't watch the Golden Globes, but it is apparent that Hollywood
doesn't carry the allure it once did. I have no idea why except for
me it is boring. I did look at the results on the web, but nothing was
awarded to give me cause to changing my viewing.

"The 66th annual Globes averaged 14.6 million viewers across its three hours on NBC, earning a 4.8 rating among adults 18-49 and an 11 share.

That’s down 26% in the adult demographic compared with two years ago (last year's short Globes press conference is not considered comparable) and marks the lowest-rated Globes since NBC took over the telecast in 1996 . "

[Eternal_Sunshine]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’ll check back into it.

Thanks!

[rlsmith]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

No. Just like Robert Rodriguez opens his movies up from scope to 16:9 at home, this is how he wants things, so it can be considered OAR

I am weary of film makers who want to change the work that we already know. If they want to do so as an ALTERNATIVE, that is fine with me, but it should not replace the original or its availability.

WRT The Last Emperor, I first saw this film in 70mm/6 track magnetic at the wonderful Northpoint Theatre in San Francisco. This is one of my top 100 exhibition memories.

When I see a film at home, I want to replicate the theatrical experience.

The 70mm version was about 2.2 aspect ratio. I also have the LD at 2.35.

I spent last week comparing the new Blu-ray to the LD. It is very hard for me to watch the Blu-ray because I keep finding myself noticing what is missing more than what is there. Very disconcerting. No competent cinematographer would endorse the resulting effects on the composition of many scenes.

The experience of watching this film belongs to me, not Mr. Storaro. He does not have the "right" to make these changes. This is very high-handed and inconsiderate of him. He's good but hardly the best. Conrad Hall and Robert Surtees would never have tried this nonsense.

I also have problems with the grain, color, and 2.0 soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Altogether a very disagreeable experience.

Criterion should look at the Blu-rays of 2001, Close Encounters, and Blade Runner. All of these were justly famous LD's from the Criterion catalog, and all are terrific Blu-rays. The Last Emperor Blu-ray is a black mark against a company previously at the forefront of preserving the original aspect ratio of movies.

[H9k_]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’ll check back into it.
He’s been overwhelmed lately with BD-Live™ stuff along with other things and it seems this week I’m constantly swimming upstream with work that has accumulated since the Holiday hiatus and CES.

How about also asking if he is up for a BD-Live downloadable subtitle test sometime in 09?

[PaulGo]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I would say that people in the industry who are even aware of that forum’s existence, have the same sentiment of it as does Tina Fey and her fellow professionals who cheered her on for her remarks during her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.
Instead of internet haters “cougar-letter”, “dainefan”, and “BabsonLacrosse”, you can just substitute the names of the usual suspects from the *science* forum and tell them they can ...“Suck it”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY9oc...eature=related


P.S.
By the way, in my Signature Post, the “CN” in the quoted post from brainsturgeon refers to Christopher Nolan.

Like everything else in life their are no absolutes. Some forums there have their fill of people out of touch with reality, while others forums can be very helpful. However when it comes to the areas you care about I would in the most part have to agree with you.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

Like everything else in life their are no absolutes. Some forums there have their fill of people out of touch with reality, while others forums can be very helpful. However when it comes to the areas you care about I would in the most part have to agree with you.

Correct, I was referring to their Blu-ray software *science* forum and the disproportionately vocal membership there.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by BluDomain

I didn't watch the Golden Globes, but it is apparent that Hollywood
doesn't carry the allure it once did. I have no idea why except for
me it is boring. I did look at the results on the web, but nothing was
awarded to give me cause to changing my viewing.

Well, long story short, Slumdog Millionaire ruled the night with other highlights being Christopher Nolan's speech on behalf of Heath Ledger……
and the comeback kid, namely Mickey Rourke, who made sure to thank his dogs (living as well as deceased) at the end of his acceptance speech.
Speaking of Slumdog Millionaire, I’ve got to search for a post from that Slumdog fan from Austrailia.
One moment……….

[Vincent Pereira]

Originally Posted by BluDomain

I didn't watch the Golden Globes, but it is apparent that Hollywood
doesn't carry the allure it once did. I have no idea why except for
me it is boring. I did look at the results on the web, but nothing was
awarded to give me cause to changing my viewing.

"The 66th annual Globes averaged 14.6 million viewers across its three hours on NBC, earning a 4.8 rating among adults 18-49 and an 11 share.

That’s down 26% in the adult demographic compared with two years ago (last year's short Globes press conference is not considered comparable) and marks the lowest-rated Globes since NBC took over the telecast in 1996 . "

Remember that the Globes were up against the long-awaited premiere of 24 this year, so that might account for some of that drop off.

Vincent

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Squozen

I loved the look of Slumdog Millionaire....

The imdb site won’t tell you this because I don’t believe they itemize by percentages but, you may be interested to know that easily more than half of Slumdog was captured with an SI-2K, which is a 2k digital camera.

[Penton-Man]

To all those that have PM’ed me over the past few days since CES, I realize that I haven’t replied to many of your PM’s and they’re really starting to pile up.
It’s just that I’m really swamped.
Later.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

Like everything else in life their are no absolutes.

Not to get into a philosophical discussion or disagreement, but you just stated an absolute.

Regarding that 'other' forum, it can be interesting in certain ways indeed.

[Oliver K]

Originally Posted by rlsmith

I am weary of film makers who want to change the work that we already know. If they want to do so as an ALTERNATIVE, that is fine with me, but it should not replace the original or its availability.

WRT The Last Emperor, I first saw this film in 70mm/6 track magnetic at the wonderful Northpoint Theatre in San Francisco. This is one of my top 100 exhibition memories.

When I see a film at home, I want to replicate the theatrical experience.

The 70mm version was about 2.2 aspect ratio. I also have the LD at 2.35.

I spent last week comparing the new Blu-ray to the LD. It is very hard for me to watch the Blu-ray because I keep finding myself noticing what is missing more than what is there. Very disconcerting. No competent cinematographer would endorse the resulting effects on the composition of many scenes.

The experience of watching this film belongs to me, not Mr. Storaro. He does not have the "right" to make these changes. This is very high-handed and inconsiderate of him. He's good but hardly the best. Conrad Hall and Robert Surtees would never have tried this nonsense.

I also have problems with the grain, color, and 2.0 soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Altogether a very disagreeable experience.

Criterion should look at the Blu-rays of 2001, Close Encounters, and Blade Runner. All of these were justly famous LD's from the Criterion catalog, and all are terrific Blu-rays. The Last Emperor Blu-ray is a black mark against a company previously at the forefront of preserving the original aspect ratio of movies.

This has been all over the web for a while now and wile probably almost everybody except for Mr. Storaro agrees with most of your points they do not really matter as apparently Mr. Storaro is the men when it comes to decide on the AR of both The Last Emperor and Apocalypse Now. So in releasing this movie Criterion could only go wrong and the best might have been to respectfully tell to Mr. Storaro that they would agree to a compromise AR of the 70mm prints (2.20) or else that they would not want to produce the Blu-Ray until he reconsiders. In the end the changed AR hurts their sales and that is too bad as they are just starting out with Blu-Ray and need some good sales to justify more Blu-Ray releases.

With regard to grain: It might be more than you like but I am certain they did not create it to annoy you, it was already there in the elements they used. And of course it would be nice if they had used the 6 channel magnetic 70mm soundtracks for the sound on the Blu-Ray. After all that was apparently the preferred and intended presentation form for the movie.