Any rumors about Buffy the Vampire Slayer show coming out on Blu-ray?

[mredman]

really want this one out on blu ray

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by mredman

really want this one out on blu ray

The first two seasons were shot on 16mm with the show being completed on NTSC video. Seasons 3 and onwards were shot in 35mm and the post processing, while still in the video realm, was at least handled at 24 fps. Also, seasons 4 and later were shot protected for 16:9, so there are legitimate widescreen presentations of these seasons (note that these episodes were still being artistically framed for 1.33:1).

Long story short, seasons 3 and above (and all episodes of Angel) would benefit greatly from being mastered on blu. The earlier seasons are... trickier. And the benefits would be marginal.

[mredman]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

The first two seasons were shot on 16mm with the show being completed on NTSC video. Seasons 3 and onwards were shot in 35mm and the post processing, while still in the video realm, was at least handled at 24 fps. Also, seasons 4 and later were shot protected for 16:9, so there are legitimate widescreen presentations of these seasons (note that these episodes were still being artistically framed for 1.33:1).

Long story short, seasons 3 and above (and all episodes of Angel) would benefit greatly from being mastered on blu. The earlier seasons are... trickier. And the benefits would be marginal.

isn't this the same with X-files and they are coming out on blu ray. So if it can be done for the X-Files (also FOX company) it can also be done with Buffy i would say right ?

[EricAD]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

The first two seasons were shot on 16mm with the show being completed on NTSC video. Seasons 3 and onwards were shot in 35mm and the post processing, while still in the video realm, was at least handled at 24 fps. Also, seasons 4 and later were shot protected for 16:9, so there are legitimate widescreen presentations of these seasons (note that these episodes were still being artistically framed for 1.33:1).

Long story short, seasons 3 and above (and all episodes of Angel) would benefit greatly from being mastered on blu. The earlier seasons are... trickier. And the benefits would be marginal.

So would seasons 3-7 of Buffy look about as good as Firefly did then? I'm curious, because all this time I figured Buffy on Blu-ray would require all seven seasons to be-reconstructed like how Star Trek: TNG is being done, and if that isn't the case then there is a way bigger chance that Buffy will come to Blu eventually. Fox then would still have to reconstruct seasons 1 and 2 from scratch, but that's ultimately only 34 episodes all together. And aside from vampire dustings and some other similar things, the first couple seasons were pretty low on the digital effects.

[Lili Rochefort]

Any new updates on this?

I would kill to have a Buffy Bluray Boxset! Even if it's just Season's 3-7.

Joss Whedon Take My Money!!!!

[Drewbee87]

There are non-cropped season 2 scenes at the beginning of a handful of the widescreen versions of season 4 when they do the "Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer..." and some in the intro. So if season 2 really was on 16mm, it was cropped to make it widescreen...

[HDMe]

Joss has been very clear on the aspect ratio point... He intended the show to be 4:3. Every opportunity he has been given, he has been firm on that point.

[Bucky]

Maybe they would do something similar to Star Trek where they put out a sampler disc with three or four episodes to see how much interest there is and gaugue feedback.

If they did this my picks would be:
Lie to Me
Amends
A New Man
Him

Solid episodes but not the standouts like Hush, Once More with Feeling, and The Body. Also, Lie to Me would set expectations for how the first couple of seasons of the show would look on Blu-Ray.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

The first two seasons were shot on 16mm with the show being completed on NTSC video. Seasons 3 and onwards were shot in 35mm and the post processing, while still in the video realm, was at least handled at 24 fps. Also, seasons 4 and later were shot protected for 16:9, so there are legitimate widescreen presentations of these seasons (note that these episodes were still being artistically framed for 1.33:1).

Long story short, seasons 3 and above (and all episodes of Angel) would benefit greatly from being mastered on blu. The earlier seasons are... trickier. And the benefits would be marginal.

I can't agree there. The benefits would be MASSIVE (& what makes you think the 16mm series weren't 24fps?). Nearly all drama here in the UK was shot on 16mm & looked very good. Those early episodes are hardly viewable in the UK, I'm sure standards converting them to PAL didn't help. The picture is really soft, far too dark, & the images are swimming in digital noise reduction (like looking at the picture through five mosquito nets!). All the seasons, 16 & 35 needs the original negives scanned to HD, all the special effects redone in HD. The biggest improvement would be in the 16mm seasons. It's a huge job, but Paramount managed it with Star Trek TNG, so Fox has to bit the bullet & do it sometime, it's an important series, it spawned so many other programs.

And it's not just Blu-ray sales, Fox are going to find that more & more TV stations around the world won't except SD material, esp. stuff that looks as bad as Buffy.

[LCT1000]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

I can't agree there. The benefits would be MASSIVE (& what makes you think the 16mm series weren't 24fps?). Nearly all drama here in the UK was shot on 16mm & looked very good. Those early episodes are hardly viewable in the UK, I'm sure standards converting them to PAL didn't help. The picture is really soft, far too dark, & the images are swimming in digital noise reduction (like looking at the picture through five mosquito nets!). All the seasons, 16 & 35 needs the original negives scanned to HD, all the special effects redone in HD. The biggest improvement would be in the 16mm seasons. It's a huge job, but Paramount managed it with Star Trek TNG, so Fox has to bit the bullet & do it sometime, it's an important series, it spawned so many other programs.

And it's not just Blu-ray sales, Fox are going to find that more & more TV stations around the world won't except SD material, esp. stuff that looks as bad as Buffy.

I have to agree here. The versions shown on Syfy HD in the UK (especially Seasons 1 and 2, maybe 3) look like upscaled versions of a DVD, and even then thay arent great. I know that 16:9 may be more favourable for HD but I wouldnt care if it were released in 16:9 or 4:3 I would just love a Bluray Buffy boxset Gilmore Girls also was meant to be shown in 4:3 but the last couple of seasons when broadcast in HD are 16:9, however I think the DVD releases are the 4:3 versions I would love a Buffy boxset

[willbfree]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Joss has been very clear on the aspect ratio point... He intended the show to be 4:3. Every opportunity he has been given, he has been firm on that point.

But does he really get any say?

[SlayersCouncil]

I have put the occasional episode into my Blu-ray player and have been marginally impressed with the up-convert in the older episodes. However, when I saw a part of the season 2 finale about a week ago on Syfy, I was blown away. Sure, it didn't look like the HD programs of today but it was so much better than what I saw through my Blu-ray player. I don't care if the entire series is released in full frame (except OMWF), but if I can see the entire series in near HD quality, I'm all for it. Of all the TV shows I have on DVD, this and Angel are the only ones I really want upgraded (well, that and FlashForward, but that won't happen).

[HDMe]

Originally Posted by willbfree

But does he really get any say?

He certainly got a say in the DVD releases... even put a note in some of the boxes... and he is more "powerful" in hollywood today than he was then.

I would hope that he would get a say.

Buffy was a 4:3 show... except for "Once More with Feeling"... Angel was a 4:3 show for season 1, then 16x9 after that.

[LCT1000]

Originally Posted by HDMe

He certainly got a say in the DVD releases... even put a note in some of the boxes... and he is more "powerful" in hollywood today than he was then.

I would hope that he would get a say.

Buffy was a 4:3 show... except for "Once More with Feeling"... Angel was a 4:3 show for season 1, then 16x9 after that.

In the UK, seasons 4-7 of Buffy were 16:9

[versionfiv]

it will never happen. i'm a huge buffy fan and have been since 1998 but it will never happen, because of the special effects, mostly. theyd have to reshoot all the special effects in hd all over again. if they ever did do it it would cost at least $150 an episode for the end user and i cant imagine anyone willing to pay that beyond some kind of limited 500 copy superfan edition of the series for $10,000+

[HDMe]

Keep in mind... it really isn't Blu-ray sales that likely will drive this happening.

It will more likely be syndication money that drives this.

Going back and making HD transfers and re-doing F/X to "future-proof" for syndication in HD is where the money is. IF someone like Netflix or Amazon wanted to stream HD versions and channels like BBC America, SyFy and outside-the-US HD networks were willing to pay... then this could happen.

Money made from Blu-ray sales doesn't need to pay for the work... knowing they have higher money coming from syndication would seal the deal, and the Blu-ray money would be a bonus.

Think of other releases... A movie that fails at the box office and needs money from Blu-ray sales is on thin ice... movies that do well, all the Blu-ray sales are gravy...

There would be no Blu-ray releases of older shows IF they needed the Blu-ray money to pay for it. There just isn't enough money there to pay for the work...

[BluBonnet]

Well, I'd bite

[ChrisOz]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer will come to Blu-Ray eventually.

I don't know why anyone thinks the chances are slim. Why would they be? Sure, special effects need to be re-rendered, new HD scans of originals might need to be made, and early seasons could be problematic. But all of these issues have been addressed for other Blu-Ray releases. BtVS is a beloved show and an important part of television history.

I'm aware of all the 4x3 and 16x9 issues with this show and season 1 of Angel. I am a filmmaker myself, so I'm always all for staying true to the original creator's intentions. HOWEVER: I've got the UK import DVDs and the show looks really really good in 16:9. There are a few moments that don't work, sure. I remember a dolly-in shot on Willow in the first episode of season 6 has some equipment in the 16x9 sides. And I think there is one or two other unintended things like this that pop up in a few episodes.

The only episode that is really affected that much by the 16x9 aspect ratio is Season 5's The Body, which is framed in a very particular way. Yeah, yeah, I know, framing is always intentional and important. But in my opinion, it only plays a major part to the story in this single episode. So, for all I care, leave that one in 4x3. Or not.

OR

MAKE IT OPTIONAL.

How about that?

Star Trek: The Next Generation and Friends are two shows that prove Buffy can/will come to Blu-Ray someday. And Angel will presumably follow, especially because a lot less work will need to be put into that show in making it Blu-Ray ready.

[ChrisOz]

One more thing: Someone mentioned above that Joss Whedon is more of a Hollywood titan now...and it's true. Same goes for much of the cast of the show.

Gellar did Ringer and is on The Crazy Ones (which is much more successful so far), Boreanaz has done Bones since the end of Angel and it's still going strong. Hannigan has done the wildly popular How I Met Your Mother since Buffy ended. Seth Green has made a name for himself in a bunch of movies and his TV show Robot Chicken. Eliza Dushku has done a number of shows and films. And Joss Whedon directed one of the BIGGEST FILMS OF ALL TIME last year and is spear heading a huge ABC show spin off.

This is a ripe time for Buffy on Blu-Ray. I'll be surprised if it isn't out by the end of 2015, if not earlier.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

Also, seasons 4 and later were shot protected for 16:9, so there are legitimate widescreen presentations of these seasons (note that these episodes were still being artistically framed for 1.33:1).

If they did intend to protect them for widescreen, they did a terrible job. There are boom mics (and boom mic operators) that show up so frequently in the widescreen presentations of later seasons that they might as well have their own character names.