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

[Ben]

Penton: Belated thanks for the great Kubrick / 2001 restoration story. That man was a true original.

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m not saying they will be or they won't be. But in regards to your query about grain/noise reduction and such on home video (Blu-ray), Technicolor uses the Thompson AVC encoder which handles grain well.
For historical purposes, Deluxe did the vast majority of HD DVD encoding/authoring for Uni.

In regards to any post house’s acquisition of a DVNR 2k system (such as the one you linked) and their potential to detrimentally alter the PQ of Blu-ray movies to the experienced eye of film purists………I guess time will tell.

Keep in mind though, don’t feel too upset……….. be thankful because we dodged a large pitfall regarding the potential for over zealous DNR use just by Blu-ray having had won the format war rather than HD DVD.
Why?

Because the superior bandwith and space of BD50 compared to HD DVD30 does not so easily lead to the temptation of a *low bit rate philosophy* and a concurrent viscous cycle involving grain/noise reduction to that end. Michel (mhafner) actually made a very insightful post regarding this pitfall back during the format war.

Thanks for the information about Technicolor and Deluxe, Penton.

With regard to the bolded part, for me, this was pretty much what the format war was all about, after I had seen enough of those HD DVDs in blue cases to make it clear what was at stake. . .

[desmond]

P-Man,

Just watched 'A Passage to India'. Very, very impressive job by SPHE.

Thanks.

[Rob Tomlin]

..

[BluStar88]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

AR Asia is much much smaller in scope, at least the first season I watched

true the logisitics of the US version would be hard.

[aygie]

Hey Penton how was NAB?

Did you get to see any of the new HD cams? (Panasonic, Canon, Sony) Pretty pissed that i bought the HVX a month ago and there's an updated model, but damn i love that camera so what the hell.

I know we talked about it a while ago but is there any insider gossip about Apple's Final Cut going bye bye?

Thanks

[rlsmith]

Penton,


I just watched A Passage to India on Blu-ray.

This is one of the most film-like video presentations I have ever seen. Very smooth, tremendous range of colors, and just the right texture and grain.

I had seen the version on HDNet Movies some months ago and thought it was OK but this is completely different.

My son (MFA in film) came into the room and he said it looked like a dye-transfer Technicolor print "from the 50's".

I kept looking for the 35mm projector!

Congratulations!


Bob Smith

[Rob Tomlin]

..

[Deciazulado]

Run, Rob, run. Excellent job. I couldn't stop watching it after what I thought was gonna be a short initial check, and ended staying up late at night watching the whole thing. Releases like this exemplarize the raison d'être for Blu-ray. Congratulations to everybody involved. A must have in my opinion.

[Rob Tomlin]

..

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Let me say this. I think of grain like salt in your meal. It’s a very personal and subjective thing……..i.e. different people certainly prefer different amounts. I think that there is no *right* amount. Personally, I like a little salt in my meal (films), on the other hand, I personally don’t like an excessive amount of salt. More importantly, if I’m the chef, I don’t like my recipe (including salt content) altered further on down the line no matter where people are eating my delicacy (home theater)……….which I think is what you are getting at.

I think that's a fantastic analogy. I'm going to steal that and use it myself if that's alright with you.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Aygie

Hey Penton how was NAB?

Did you get to see any of the new HD cams? (Panasonic, Canon, Sony) Pretty pissed that i bought the HVX a month ago and there's an updated model, but damn i love that camera so what the hell.

I know we talked about it a while ago but is there any insider gossip about Apple's Final Cut going bye bye?

Thanks

No substantiated rumors as to a sale of their product.
Heck, no rumors at all for that matter.

Apple even came out with a press release the week prior to NAB saying that Final Cut Server was shipping……..albeit just about one full year after it was announced that it would be forthcoming “shortly” (just for perspective for those whiners that whine about various Blu-ray titles which get delayed for one reason or another).

http://www.apple.com/finalcutserver/

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by rlsmith

Penton,


I just watched A Passage to India on Blu-ray.

This is one of the most film-like video presentations I have ever seen. Very smooth, tremendous range of colors, and just the right texture and grain.

I had seen the version on HDNet Movies some months ago and thought it was OK but this is completely different.

My son (MFA in film) came into the room and he said it looked like a dye-transfer Technicolor print "from the 50's".

I kept looking for the 35mm projector!

Congratulations!
Bob Smith

I’m happy to hear you say that because I’ll have you know that quite a few high ranking studio executives from all the majors read this forum regularly now, and this forum only (if only for expediency --because their time is so limited, 5-10min. max.)………hence they utilize this forum to gauge the vibe of the vocal consumer.

So, when somebody like David Bishop (Pres. of SPE) reads your and Deci’s overwhelmingly positive comments about A Passage to India, the people in the trenches that did all the elbow grease for this title, subsequently get rewarded for their hard work visa vee his V.P.s.

P.S.
I forgot.
Actually quite a few executives from the minors also read this forum/thread one of whom comes to mind being Kim Aubrey (American Zoetrope – Francis Ford Coppola), who is also a member here.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Squozen

I think that's a fantastic analogy. I'm going to steal that and use it myself if that's alright with you.

Certainly, you can use it.
I didn’t misspell anything.

The only single thing that I hope nobody ever steals as their own is my first pic of Maya……….
which I purposely misspelled as My “cyote” to make it tougher for the googlers out there in cyberspace.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m happy to hear you say that because I’ll have you know that quite a few high ranking studio executives from all the majors read this forum regularly now, and this forum only (if only for expediency --because their time is so limited, 5-10min. max.)………hence they utilize this forum to gauge the vibe of the vocal consumer.

So, when somebody like David Bishop (Pres. of SPE) reads your and Deci’s overwhelmingly positive comments about A Passage to India, the people in the trenches that did all the elbow grease for this title, subsequently get rewarded for their hard work visa vee his V.P.s.

P.S.
I forgot.
Actually quite a few executives from the minors also read this forum/thread one of whom comes to mind being Kim Aubrey (American Zoetrope – Francis Ford Coppola), who is also a member here.

I will have A Passage To India delivered tomorrow. It will be my first viewing. I'm freaking out!!!

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Run, Rob, run. Excellent job. I couldn't stop watching it after what I thought was gonna be a short initial check, and ended staying up late at night watching the whole thing. Releases like this exemplarize the raison d'être for Blu-ray. Congratulations to everybody involved. A must have in my opinion.

Oh man. It's times like this I go nuts waiting for the shipment from Amazon.com.

It's great to hear SPHE has hit another home run with a classic. You guys are making this format intro one for the ages.

Gary

[WickyWoo]

I can't wait to check out my copy as well.

[Rob Tomlin]

..

[coolmilo]

hence they utilize this forum to gauge the vibe of the vocal consumer.

In that case, Hello Focus Features. I love your movies. Please bring on In Bruges in Hi Def ASAP. This was my favorite movie in 08 so far. FF has a great library of movies.

Penton, I hope that Paidgeek is not disappointed with Passage sales. It's a terrific movie and a great Blu-ray transfer. I hope that this translates to big $$$ for Sony.

[Scooby Blu]

Originally Posted by Iceman

This thread is dedicated to asking questions of industry insider "Penton-Man" (Hollywood insider) who has graciously taken the time to participate here. Penton-Man and all our insiders do this out of their free time and to try to keep us informed to their best abilities, and therefore are to be treated with respect and courtesy.

Before asking a question, please skim at least the last weeks worth of posts in order to make sure that the question hasn't already been asked or answered. Using the search function is also always a good idea. Please conduct your inquiries in a professional manner and avoid asking "chicken little" questions or asking when unannounced titles will come out.

Penton-Man - Hollywood - Track posts

This thread ,what should I say, haz failed to do what was intened !
The great Penton ! Should have some peace Penton this is your forum ! I thank you for your keen wisdom. And by the way; sharp witt. For about a year now I have had a BLAST ! Reading what you have put to "paper" Thank you so much ! You have been so kind to the lowly Blu's