Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by mark antony

Other bizarre twists include Babylon 5 where the effects were created in standard definition, with the intention of re-rendering them from the original computer files at a later date for hi-def and widescreen; but someone lost/destroyed the majority of the files...hence why the sfx look poor in comparison to other shows of their time.

A lesson for the digital age.

The film negatives are degrading. But, they physically exist. Digital data are at the mercy of the data backup and preservation protocols that are in place. And, as your example shows, they can be tragically poor.

Are all the DIs out there being stored properly?

Gary

[NoQuestion]

Bill, quick question.....

Now that WB has taken over releasing New Line titles, is WB going to be in charge of doing the encodes for blu releases or is New Line going to still do that? I ask this because New Line has been putting out titles that are encoded specifically for blu. All of thier vc-1 encodes have for the most part been much better than WBs. I am affraid that if WB takes over the encoding of NL titles we may see a drop in quality both on the PQ and AQ front. Any thoughts?

not trying to complain or start an argument, just really curious to know just how much control NL has in regards to thier titles that get released.

Thanks Bill!!

[Snikt]

Hi Bill,
I'm fairly new to this website and I've looked through many of your responses on upcoming blu-ray titles. I saw that an X-Men Trilogy is planned for release.

My question is this: Will the films be released separately and will they be released with special features?

Thanks so much for your time.

P.S. Any new info on a possible released date.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Hi Bill. When is Star Wars coming out on BD?

Just thought I'd bring a smile your way!

It'll be a couple years yet. BUT... I'd say there's a good shot of getting Warner's Star Wars: The Clone Wars CG animated film this year.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by NoQuestion

Bill, quick question.....

Now that WB has taken over releasing New Line titles, is WB going to be in charge of doing the encodes for blu releases or is New Line going to still do that? I ask this because New Line has been putting out titles that are encoded specifically for blu. All of thier vc-1 encodes have for the most part been much better than WBs. I am affraid that if WB takes over the encoding of NL titles we may see a drop in quality both on the PQ and AQ front. Any thoughts?

not trying to complain or start an argument, just really curious to know just how much control NL has in regards to thier titles that get released.

Thanks Bill!!

Well... Warner controls it now. I'm looking into this. I understand all the complaints about digital noise reduction vs. having film grain in the image. I'm going to raise the issue with the studio in the weeks ahead, and see what's up.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Snikt

Hi Bill,
I'm fairly new to this website and I've looked through many of your responses on upcoming blu-ray titles. I saw that an X-Men Trilogy is planned for release.

My question is this: Will the films be released separately and will they be released with special features?

Thanks so much for your time.

P.S. Any new info on a possible released date.

No idea, no idea and sometime in the 4th quarter.

I'll try to find out more when I can.

[Drewza89]

Bill,

Will there be a Blu version of Van Helsing to coincide with the upcoming collector's edition DVD?

Thanks!

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Drewza89

Bill,

Will there be a Blu version of Van Helsing to coincide with the upcoming collector's edition DVD?

Thanks!

It's possible and I think likely, but it hasn't been announced yet.

[MACSTER]

Bill, could you pry for a few things next time you talk to some Disney reps?

First, are they planning on getting Lost Season 1 and 2 out on blu before Season 4 makes it? I'll be ready to rewatch all of the seasons by then.

Second, can you put a bug in their ear that it would be nice to get more than one Pixar catalog film per year? It's going to take a while at this rate. They could put out one right before the new movie hits theaters (like with a movie ticket discount I won't use), and another when the new movie hits blu.

Third, do you know which movie has replaced Finding Nemo for the 2008 release? Or maybe you know already, and just can't say.

Thanks for hanging out here with us Bill!

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by MACSTER

Bill, could you pry for a few things next time you talk to some Disney reps?

First, are they planning on getting Lost Season 1 and 2 out on blu before Season 4 makes it? I'll be ready to rewatch all of the seasons by then.

Second, can you put a bug in their ear that it would be nice to get more than one Pixar catalog film per year? It's going to take a while at this rate. They could put out one right before the new movie hits theaters (like with a movie ticket discount I won't use), and another when the new movie hits blu.

Third, do you know which movie has replaced Finding Nemo for the 2008 release? Or maybe you know already, and just can't say.

Thanks for hanging out here with us Bill!

I know a bit, but let me ask and see what I can confirm.

[bferr1]

Bill,

Any word if/when we might see a native 3D version of U2 3D on BD?

Thanks,
Bryan

[neo_reloaded]

Next time you talk with someone from Sony, can you ask about Rescue Me season 4? That seems an odd release to skip given season 3 is already out on BD.

Thanks.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by bferr1

Bill,

Any word if/when we might see a native 3D version of U2 3D on BD?

Thanks,
Bryan

I think there's a VERY good shot at this, especially given that BVHE is releasing the Miley Cyrus concert on Blu in 3-D. I know that 1080p tests have been done. In fact, the director and crew were previewing the footage in 3-D on the set in 1080p and were excited about the results. So fingers crossed. I'm trying to see what I can find out. I presume Universal Music is handling the release.

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Next time you talk with someone from Sony, can you ask about Rescue Me season 4? That seems an odd release to skip given season 3 is already out on BD.

Thanks.

What I've heard is that Season 3 didn't sell well, so the studio wants to wait a little longer before putting the rest out - let the market grow a bit. Demand for TV product on BD will likely pick up after the holidays. But when and if I can confirm, I will.

[NoQuestion]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

Well... Warner controls it now. I'm looking into this. I understand all the complaints about digital noise reduction vs. having film grain in the image. I'm going to raise the issue with the studio in the weeks ahead, and see what's up.

Thanks once again Bill. I just think that many on this site would love to see WB release titles just like NL did on thier few titles they put out. I hold many of NL releases at the top of my list for best PQ. Hopefully we will see WB step up to the plate and knock all thier future releases out of the park!!!

[WickyWoo]

RE LOST SEASONS 1 AND 2

After all the incessant nagging I finally heard back from my source

As predicted "Yes we want to do them, but it's not going to happen any time soon"

As I predicted, shoving 20 hours of catalog material through the already choked authoring pipleline is prohibative at this point. 2009 and beyond is a better bet.

[Snikt]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

No idea, no idea and sometime in the 4th quarter.

I'll try to find out more when I can.

Thanks so much Bill. Really appreciate it. Keep us posted

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

I think there's a VERY good shot at this, especially given that BVHE is releasing the Miley Cyrus concert on Blu in 3-D. I know that 1080p tests have been done. In fact, the director and crew were previewing the footage in 3-D on the set in 1080p and were excited about the results. So fingers crossed. I'm trying to see what I can find out. I presume Universal Music is handling the release.

Since this was a National Geographic release, might Warner have something to do with it?

[WickyWoo]

Paramount released the only other NG films release, K-19

Universal Music has been Blu from the beginning

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

RE LOST SEASONS 1 AND 2

After all the incessant nagging I finally heard back from my source

As predicted "Yes we want to do them, but it's not going to happen any time soon"

As I predicted, shoving 20 hours of catalog material through the already choked authoring pipleline is prohibative at this point. 2009 and beyond is a better bet.

Yes... what he said.