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

[savage1984]

So it is Lawrence of Arabia... wow.

[chris0]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Not by me.

Whoohoo! Usually your clues are just waaaay to obscure for me, but that "May 19" clue seemed too big a coincidence. Now that we're all excited for it we only have, what, 12-24 months before it's released on BluRay?

[Wilche]

Incredibly good news. Thank you Penton.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by jdc115

I thought Neil Young was anounced quite a while ago. at least on his site for the Archive project it was mentioned that it would be coming out in BD. There can not be enough concert and music releases on BD for me and this one is great. Do you have any idea how long it may take for part 2 of the Archives to release? Think is is possible in 2009 or probably a long wait given how particular N Young has been find a format that he felt suitable for his material.

You should ask the insider known as Talkstr8t.
He may have further info on that subject.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by savage1984

So it is Lawrence of Arabia... wow.

I was particularly enjoying your guesses , as you mentioned you will be seeing LoA this coming week in 70mm.
Also that fact that DKP is located in Santa Monica.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by chris0

Whoohoo! Usually your clues are just waaaay to obscure for me, but that "May 19" clue seemed too big a coincidence. Now that we're all excited for it we only have, what, 12-24 months before it's released on BluRay?

Well, I was feeling a little guilty because I was thinking how few people are probably familiar with the intricacies/companies that deal with large format scanners so I thought I would pass out a more *layman* type hint.

In regards to your question, I’m hoping for the later part of next year for a Blu-ray release of LoA but, keep in mind nothing is set in stone. I think that beatboy actually got a bad bashing by some…. because people don’t realize these things are always subject to change.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Wilche

Incredibly good news. Thank you Penton.

Did I mention that the negative is planned to get scanned ?


Once somebody can find the keys to the underground vault.

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Did I mention that the negative is planned to get scanned ?


Once somebody can find the keys to the underground vault.

So, Penton, can you use your influence to make sure that it's split between two discs with an ABR of about 38?

[fronn]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

In regards to your question, I’m hoping for the later part of next year for a Blu-ray release of LoA but, keep in mind nothing is set in stone. I think that beatboy actually got a bad bashing by some…. because people don’t realize these things are always subject to change.

You mentioned a page ago about a possibility of a double dip on the title...

I'm going to guess that you wouldn't have revealed the title so quickly if it wasn't a "for sure" thing at this point.

I imagine it's still a question if Sony will release LoA on BR from their current master (that I thought they just did a bunch of work on?) and then take another dip when this new master is done? Did this newly agreed upon work throw a "wrench" into Sony/Columbia's plans they already had? (obviously plans are more likely than not to change, but this had to have given Sony something to think about!)

Who is funding this re-master? (I'm a little confused, because I thought Sony already put a bunch of work/money in it rather recently to get their current master)

So potentially we could get it next year from the current master and then a few years down the line from that newer master (it would seem silly to pop out a double dip the next year)... or we may just have to wait 'til, likely, late '09 or '10 for it to be done and us to get it the first time?

I'm mostly just curious, as I'll take whatever LoA is released on BR... double dips and all!

A side note: I picked up Passage to India this week after renting it last week... Great work to Sony and whoever else had a hand in it! Not an "I, Robot", but it certainly looks to be the best that title will ever look and it's definitely a worthy purchase for any classic film fan.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by hollywoodguy

I think the game is over already. We're just waiting for all the happy people to arrive.

I'm happy, despite my guesses being WAY off

[WickyWoo]

id I mention that the negative is planned to get scanned ?

Someone get me a bib and Tomlin some smelling salts

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by fronn

Who is funding this re-master?

Rob Tomlin.















I'm kidding of course.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by fronn

You mentioned a page ago about a possibility of a double dip on the title...

I'm going to guess that you wouldn't have revealed the title so quickly if it wasn't a "for sure" thing at this point.

I imagine it's still a question if Sony will release LoA on BR from their current master (that I thought they just did a bunch of work on?) and then take another dip when this new master is done? Did this newly agreed upon work throw a "wrench" into Sony/Columbia's plans they already had? (obviously plans are more likely than not to change, but this had to have given Sony something to think about!)

Who is funding this re-master? (I'm a little confused, because I thought Sony already put a bunch of work/money in it rather recently to get their current master)

So potentially we could get it next year from the current master and then a few years down the line from that newer master (it would seem silly to pop out a double dip the next year)... or we may just have to wait 'til, likely, late '09 or '10 for it to be done and us to get it the first time?

I'm mostly just curious, as I'll take whatever LoA is released on BR... double dips and all!

A side note: I picked up Passage to India this week after renting it last week... Great work to Sony and whoever else had a hand in it! Not an "I, Robot", but it certainly looks to be the best that title will ever look and it's definitely a worthy purchase for any classic film fan.

A lot of questions, let me try to summarize in one post.

You are correct. Last year, the techie people at SPE were asked to produce a new video master of LoA using the last available scan (not telecine but scan) as the source. This did indeed incur a good deal of expense, time, and effort. Then, the marketing folk decided that the installed Blu-ray player base (PS3 as well as standalones) was just too meager at this early time in the format’s history so, the new video master was shelved for whenever it was deemed *worthy to be released* economically.

Meanwhile, early this year, Asset Management determined that LoA was due for digital archiving and the budget for that venture was now available (funded by SPE to answer your direct question). As to how this will all play out……………..

I suspect that the project will take Asset Management (and all its associated contractors) about one year to complete everything. It is possible, that early next year marketing could recommend the currently available video master be used to produce a Blu-ray edition to fit some need. I highly doubt it however, as they seem in no rush to release this epic film on Blu-ray…..esp. the way catalogue titles are selling in general. I expect Asset Management in the meantime to continue on its merry way and do a complete digital restoration of LoA with a new Northlight high resolution scan as a starting point.

A new video master based on this will be produced. SPE does tests on everything imaginable, so I expect a side by side comparison of the latest video masters will be evaluated by a group of eagle eyes and the one with the best PQ will be offered up for a Blu-ray encoding/authoring job to the marketing folk.

An important thing to consider is that although the current process of 4k digital projector theatrical adoption is going slower than some people would like, after the above mentioned digital restoration, a 4k DCP can then be produced which potentially could show this film on big screens (45 ft. or so) with greater picture quality than the current stepped on 3rd generational prints that most viewers are seeing at special screenings at the few theaters that still have functioning/optimally maintained 70mm projectors.

So, it’s a step forward in a sense for the preservation of the film also.

[Rob Tomlin]

..

[Rob Tomlin]

..

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

B.T.W.
We’re only going to call in Bob Harris to do some of the work on this restoration if he promises to wear white gloves like Marty ………….

http://www.scorsesefilmfreixenet.com/video_eng.htm

[fronn]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

A lot of questions, let me try to summarize in one post.

You are correct. Last year, the techie people at SPE were asked to produce a new video master of LoA using the last available scan (not telecine but scan) as the source. This did indeed incur a good deal of expense, time, and effort. Then, the marketing folk decided that the installed Blu-ray player base (PS3 as well as standalones) was just too meager at this early time in the format’s history so, the new video master was shelved for whenever it was deemed *worthy to be released* economically.

Meanwhile, early this year, Asset Management determined that LoA was due for digital archiving and the budget for that venture was now available (funded by SPE to answer your direct question). As to how this will all play out……………..

I suspect that the project will take Asset Management (and all its associated contractors) about one year to complete everything. It is possible, that early next year marketing could recommend the currently available video master be used to produce a Blu-ray edition to fit some need. I highly doubt it however, as they seem in no rush to release this epic film on Blu-ray…..esp. the way catalogue titles are selling in general. I expect Asset Management in the meantime to continue on its merry way and do a complete digital restoration of LoA with a new Northlight high resolution scan as a starting point.

A new video master based on this will be produced. SPE does tests on everything imaginable, so I expect a side by side comparison of the latest video masters will be evaluated by a group of eagle eyes and the one with the best PQ will be offered up for a Blu-ray encoding/authoring job to the marketing folk.

An important thing to consider is that although the current process of 4k digital projector theatrical adoption is going slower than some people would like, after the above mentioned digital restoration, a 4k DCP can then be produced which potentially could show this film on big screens (45 ft. or so) with greater picture quality than the current stepped on 3rd generational prints that most viewers are seeing at special screenings at the few theaters that still have functioning/optimally maintained 70mm projectors.

So, it’s a step forward in a sense for the preservation of the film also.

Thanks for the answers. They were sort of what I was expecting.

It is kind of cool to see Sony willing to put more money into a title like LoA even after spending quite a bit on it already. It seems to me Sony is one of the better studios out there for putting effort into restorations (Warner too). They should definitely be applauded for their efforts. I'll definitely be there day 1 with my purchase, whenever they decide to release it.

I only wish more people were excited about classics being restored and could appreciate the love and effort put into some of these titles. I feel like anyone who appreciates film at all should be purchasing these titles (who cares if you like the movie!), if only to support the efforts.

Very exciting stuff. I wish I could work closer to the movie business, but maybe it's best to keep my love of film in hobby/entertainment form only.

[Agent Cooper]

Lol Penton - for whatever reason I thought that the arrival of LoA on Blu-ray was pretty much confirmed earlier (both by insiders and Sony) and ruled that out of your little riddle. I'm sure you've had a lot of laughs watching us fumble about...

Great news!

Funny you should link to that specific title in your in70mm link - a couple of us at work watched a 70mm reel of South Pacific some time back and it was definetly not the reddish danish print shown, but a pristine print. A spectacular image but I have to admit that I've never heard about the movie before.

[WickyWoo]

I hope since there are so few remaining 70mm theaters, that they would at least run an IMAX print or and send it around. It's not perfect, but it's better than 35mm

[Rob Tomlin]

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