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

[Elvis Is Alive]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Oh no, I read somewhere that keyboards are going obsolete! I find this very troubling as I have a large collection of keyboards and don't want to see them go to waste. I heard some new type of key-streaming will take over.

That made me LOL, literally.

I don't see blu-ray quality downloads as a true seperate revenue stream for studios as they will be terrified of pirating. Semi-HD bit starved streaming is the most likely avenue to additional revenues.

Also, it will be interesting to see how distrubution works. I am frustrated by all the fragmentation with exclusive content(Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc). Itunes has the best library by far, but Apple's pricing and closed system are frustrating. The studios are going to do whatever makes the most financial sense for them (licensing their content or distributing directly).

Personally, I've used ITunes to rent TV episodes of shows I'm watching that my DVR missed for some reason. It has acceptible video quality when viewed on an iPad (on my 67" TV no-so-much) Apple doesn't even rent Tv eps anymore.

I am a bigger fan of the SlingBox, that is the bees knees IMO. Nothing like watching my DVR recordings when I'm travelling. Won't be of interest to cord-cutters though.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Hi Ice - Further refinement/flexibility of connected televisions (internet TV).

No timetable but, on the roadmap – pursuit of glasses-free 3D TV vis-a-vie three approaches: 4k LCD panels, 2k LCD panels and comparatively smaller 2k OLED panels. I’m not at liberty to make any specific forward-looking pronouncements about 4k in and of itself.

As always, I am appreciative of your insight and commentary. Thank you.

So more things like AppleTV / built in Netflix / rumored impending Xbox 360 TV / etc. and less emphasis on technological wiz-bang PQ (except as more of a "stealth upgrade" sort of situation)? Seems like a logical choice to me, and makes a lot of sense, gauging by the current trends in consumer electronics.

[PaulGo]

Any comments on this thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/3d-technol...n-kill-3d.html

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Elvis Is Alive

That made me LOL, literally.

I don't see blu-ray quality downloads as a true seperate revenue stream for studios as they will be terrified of pirating. Semi-HD bit starved streaming is the most likely avenue to additional revenues.

Also, it will be interesting to see how distrubution works. I am frustrated by all the fragmentation with exclusive content(Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc). Itunes has the best library by far, but Apple's pricing and closed system are frustrating. The studios are going to do whatever makes the most financial sense for them (licensing their content or distributing directly).

Personally, I've used ITunes to rent TV episodes of shows I'm watching that my DVR missed for some reason. It has acceptible video quality when viewed on an iPad (on my 67" TV no-so-much) Apple doesn't even rent Tv eps anymore.

I am a bigger fan of the SlingBox, that is the bees knees IMO. Nothing like watching my DVR recordings when I'm travelling. Won't be of interest to cord-cutters though.

says it all right there. Sad, sad times!

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Rick - Have you seen Moneyball yet?

Penton, I have not...yet!
I really want to see it, as I read the book. Now that our 10-month old is in full exploration mode, it's tough to get a nice "date night" in. I'm hoping to see it this weekend, but I'll probably end up getting the BD.
Did you like it?

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Elvis Is Alive

That made me LOL, literally.

I don't see blu-ray quality downloads as a true seperate revenue stream for studios as they will be terrified of pirating. Semi-HD bit starved streaming is the most likely avenue to additional revenues.

Also, it will be interesting to see how distrubution works. I am frustrated by all the fragmentation with exclusive content(Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc). Itunes has the best library by far, but Apple's pricing and closed system are frustrating. The studios are going to do whatever makes the most financial sense for them (licensing their content or distributing directly).

Personally, I've used ITunes to rent TV episodes of shows I'm watching that my DVR missed for some reason. It has acceptible video quality when viewed on an iPad (on my 67" TV no-so-much) Apple doesn't even rent Tv eps anymore.

I am a bigger fan of the SlingBox, that is the bees knees IMO. Nothing like watching my DVR recordings when I'm travelling. Won't be of interest to cord-cutters though.

Glad I could be of service!
I totally agree! Since I don't travel all that much, and my brother does...a lot, I gave him my device. He uses the heck out of it. Ditto for all my digital copies, I have no use for them! I either give them to my neighbors son(unfortunately he's challenged & loves movies), or my brother for his travels.
I just like having options! Be it with multiple copies(BD, dvd, DC, UV), or even in the special features that appear on any given movie.
For me options = awesomeness!

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I have noticed the opposite in Uk. Far more full Hd models. Some of the smaller sizes and budget models were 720p mind you.

same here, for the guy who does not care there are cheap small 720p TVs, but once you get past 32" I think they all tend to be 1080p at least for LCD & LED, I think there might be Plasma models as well and they don’t go that small, so what ever the smallest Plasma TV as well.

[sharkshark]

I wrote this love letter to Criterion today - you guys have anything else to add to it?

http://filmfest.ca/2011/10/01/a-love...-to-criterion/

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

I wrote this love letter to Criterion today - you guys have anything else to add to it?

http://filmfest.ca/2011/10/01/a-love...-to-criterion/

I'd say more diversity. The stuff that Criterion releases usually is great (some instances of older masters, but no company is perfect) but there's so much stuff out there that people need to discover, that needs a company that releases it.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Icemage

As always, I am appreciative of your insight and commentary. Thank you.

So more things like AppleTV / built in Netflix / rumored impending Xbox 360 TV / etc. and less emphasis on technological wiz-bang PQ (except as more of a "stealth upgrade" sort of situation)? Seems like a logical choice to me, and makes a lot of sense, gauging by the current trends in consumer electronics.

More integration and flexibility with network services for sure.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

Any comments on this thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/3d-technol...n-kill-3d.html

I prefer not to comment on the inevitable pending row about the 3D glasses.

Though I will comment on the article which started the whole debate, namely in THR...http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...glasses-240837
In regards to the pic at the very top of the article ^, this is how it looked like with the guys setting up before the shot for The Amazing Spider-Man -

ASM Still 506.jpg

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

Any comments on this thread:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/3d-technol...n-kill-3d.html

As an aside, in that same thread, Paul H - concerning your query about ‘real’ vs. ‘fake’ 3D...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/5267765-post13.html

We already have a single-blinded (no pun intended) case study of a recent feature motion picture which shows that impartial audiences not previously aware of the true production/post production workflow, could not recognize the hefty amount of converted material in Transformers 3, despite the fact that about half the motion picture actually had been converted, as I mentioned here about 3 weeks prior to the news breaking on Variety...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...ml#post4911559

First off, just to be clear, my philosophy is, shoot as much as you can with native stereoscopic rigs and then convert the rest. With that said, conversions are not significantly inferior to native content. It’s just a pain in the arse to do them for a whole motion picture, compared to shooting in 3D. If enough time and $$ is put into the conversion, there is no significant difference in the quality of the imagery, example Transformers 3.

In fact, conversion is inherently superior to native 3D acquisition for images characterized by specular reflections (in Transformers like when Malkovich and Whitwicky meet) and conversions produce perfect stereo pairs which can not be achieved with native 3D live-action photography. Also, in some ways, there is greater flexibility with conversions than can be achieved with native 3D acquisition.

It’s not a matter of ‘real 3D’ vs ‘fake 3D’ in terms of technical superiorly or people getting their money’s worth for paying a premium to see a motion picture in 3D. It’s a matter of ‘good 3D’ vs. ‘bad 3D’. There is actually a demo for 3D filmmakers in town, in which the imagery of native 3D photography is directly compared to then taking one eye of the same 3D capture and then converting the same scene to 3D (2D -> 3D conversion). The converted material looks superb compared to the native 3D which had poor choice of IA as well as polarization problems and lousy alignment. ….i.e. ‘bad 3D’…..and there have been some “Shot in 3D!” motion pictures displaying these same traits, so the demo was not unrealistic to the quality of some past ‘Shot in 3D’ motion pictures.

In the real world, where 2D -> 3D breaks down is not in the basic science but in its implementation. By that I mean, the fact that there are only a tiny handful of companies that actually know how to do a good job of converting material and have the infrastructure to support feature length work. So, some productions, out of necessity, end up hiring several conversion houses and then it becomes a real challenge for the supervisor or senior stereographer overseeing the entire project, to keep all the different conversion houses at a consistently high level.

If past history is an indicator of future outcomes, then you should be reassured that the same stereographer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon is also the senior stereographer for Men in Black III.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Penton, I have not...yet!
I really want to see it, as I read the book. Now that our 10-month old is in full exploration mode, it's tough to get a nice "date night" in. I'm hoping to see it this weekend, but I'll probably end up getting the BD.
Did you like it?

But of course ....
https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...ml#post5239227

I love sports underdog stories and I’ve suffered long enough being an O’s (Camden Yards) fan for years.

A note on how small the world really is....you may be surprised to know that Wally P.’s first job ever as a paid (I think) cameraman out of high school was shooting PSAs for a local TV station on the Eastern shore. I still own property in the vicinity.

[Penton-Man]

Hint to my wife . As you know, my birthday is coming up soon and I kinda favor this item –
http://entertainment.ha.com/c/item.z...45&lotNo=44289
from the auction –
http://entertainment.ha.com/c/conten...tent=johnwayne

As I think it would fit nicely on my desk.

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

If past history is an indicator of future outcomes, then you should be reassured that the same stereographer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon is also the senior stereographer for Men in Black III.

Considering MIB II, I'm more concerned about the writing. I know David Koepp was part of the group that wrote Spideman, but he was also involved in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. (Although I'm sure part of that debacle was due to Lucas.)

fitprod

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by fitprod

Considering MIB II, I'm more concerned about the writing. I know David Koepp was part of the group that wrote Spideman, but he was also involved in Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. (Although I'm sure part of that debacle was due to Lucas.)

Crystal Skull has mixed results with audiences but 77% Critics "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomates.

The fact that you don't like it or Lucas doesn't make it a "debacle".

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

But of course ....
https://forum.blu-ray.com/insider-di...ml#post5239227

I love sports underdog stories and I’ve suffered long enough being an O’s (Camden Yards) fan for years.

A note on how small the world really is....you may be surprised to know that Wally P.’s first job ever as a paid (I think) cameraman out of high school was shooting PSAs for a local TV station on the Eastern shore. I still own property in the vicinity.

Small world....practically microscopic!
Wow, that is a neat little piece of info! Ah the O's...such an enigma. They certainly sunk the knife in Boston's heart in that final game(yesssss! Boston has had too much success this past decade)
Well right now my Phillies can't jump out of a boat and hit water! First the iggles lose in dramatic fashion, now it looks like the Phighten' Phils are soon to follow.
How are you feeling, btw? You seem to be posting more frequently, which is a good sign...right?

[Objectivity]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I love sports underdog stories and I’ve suffered long enough being an O’s (Camden Yards) fan for years.

I knew I wasn't alone here.

I went with a friend of mine to the game last Monday. Second time there this year. Before that, it had probably been five years or so. Still an awesome time, the stadium is aging great. The stadium crab cake was excellent. I couldn't bring myself to try the new delicacy - bacon on a stick.

Plus, we saw the first inside-the-park home in the stadium's history. Knock that one off my bucket list. Probably one of the rarest things, next to a triple play and a perfect game. (Actually almost saw one of those also, Daniel Cabrera's second(?) start for the team - made it to the seventh inning when drizzle threw off his concentration).

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Objectivity

I knew I wasn't alone here.

I went with a friend of mine to the game last Monday. Second time there this year. Before that, it had probably been five years or so. Still an awesome time, the stadium is aging great. The stadium crab cake was excellent. I couldn't bring myself to try the new delicacy - bacon on a stick.

Plus, we saw the first inside-the-park home in the stadium's history. Knock that one off my bucket list. Probably one of the rarest things, next to a triple play and a perfect game. (Actually almost saw one of those also, Daniel Cabrera's second(?) start for the team - made it to the seventh inning when drizzle threw off his concentration).

Awesome! Yes Camden Yards is a great sports venue, as is the surrounding city(Inner Harbor).
I would think the unassisted triple play would be the hardest to do!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by rickah88

...How are you feeling, btw? You seem to be posting more frequently, which is a good sign...right?

Believe me, more health-related battles await, but I’m trying to keep a stiff upper lip throughout it all.