Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[JohnAV]

Box Office: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Beats ‘Downton Abbey’ Sequel as Older Adults Remain Skittish - Hollywood Reporter 5/22
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' grossed $31.6 million in its third outing, followed by a $16 million opening for 'Downton Abbey: A New Era.'

In another universe — i.e., before the pandemic — Downton Abbey the movie blew away all expectations when opening to $31 million in September 2019 in a record-best for specialty house Focus Features.

Much has changed in the time since.

The 2019 big-screen adaptation of Julian Fellowes’ hit British TV series was fueled by moviegoers 45 and older — a demo that has been the most reluctant to return to cinemas since the COVID-19 crisis struck, and particularly older females.

Over the weekend, Fellowes’ sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era Era opened to $16 million from 3,815 locations. While that was in line with prerelease tracking, it’s notably behind the first film and underscores the challenges facing movies relying on older consumers who could still be nervous about COVID, and whose habits have changed in the pandemic era as studios offer new releases in the home as soon as three weeks via premium VOD.

Certainly, Downton Abbey 2 attracted plenty of attention from those 55 and older (48 percent) in a promising sign, but the number of people turning out wasn’t at the same levels as in 2019, when consumers over 55 represented 52 percent the opening weekend audience. As with the first film, about 70 percent of A New Era audience was female.

Overseas, the well-reviewed Downton Abbey 2 has earned north of $35 million.

Written by Fellowes, the movie sees the Grantham family journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the Dowager Countess’ newly inherited villa. There’s also the matter of a movie crew using the Abbey to shoot a film.

Returning members of the principal cast and new additions include Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Michael Fox, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Lesley Nicol, Douglas Reith, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Penelope Wilton, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West.

Marvel and Disney’s superhero pic Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had no trouble staying atop the chart in its third weekend with $31.6 million for a domestic total of $342.1 million and $803.2 million globally to become the No. 2 film of the pandemic era behind Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1.8 billion).

Doctor Strange 2 achieved the feat after passing up James Bond pic No Time to Die ($774.2 million), released late last year, and the more recent superhero pic The Batman ($768.5 million).

Family films The Bad Guys and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 followed with $6.1 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

Bad Guys has now grossed $74.4 million domestically and $182.2 million worldwide, while Sonic 2 is approaching $400 million after finishing Sunday with $181 million domestically and $375 globally (one film that did cross the $400 million mark this weekend was Uncharted).

A24’s folk horror film Men opened nationwide in 2,212 theaters timed to its screening at the Cannes Film Festival this weekend. Directed by Alex Garland, the movie placed fifth with an estimated $3.3 million.

Fellow A24 title Everything Everywhere All at Once grossed $3.2 million to push the film’s domestic total to $52.3 million — the top-grossing film of all time for the indie distributor after passing up Uncut Gems ($50 million).

[JohnAV]

Colin Cantwell, Concept Artist Who Designed Iconic ‘Star Wars’ Spacecraft, Dies at 90 - Hollywood Reporter - 5/22

Colin Cantwell, the concept artist who designed iconic Star Wars spacecraft, including the X-wing Starfighter, TIE fighter and Death Star, died Saturday at his Colorado home, Sierra Dall, his long-time partner, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 90.

Cantwell’s film credits include special photographic effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), technical dialogue for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and computer graphics design consultant for WarGames (1983). Yet, he was most renowned for his work with George Lucas on Star Wars, designing and constructing the prototypes for the X-wing, TIE fighter, Star Destroyer and the Death Star, among more.

Example of his contributions

The ORIGINAL Star Destroyer: Colin Cantwell's Design Reborn - YouTube

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I am never talking about the masses. they are a figment in some peoples imagination. Projectors were never owned by the masses , it has not stopped me enjoying one and buying newer ones over and over again. the world is divided into different niches for everything with some being bigger and some smaller. You have people that buy luxury sports cars and there are cars for that niche and people that want minivans and there are cars for that niche and there are people that want SUVs , cheap compact.... and each of those niches are filled.



I think AR sounds cool and one day it might find its place I see it more related to a smartphone. If they find a way to make them completely opaque when needed (aka like VR) then I think they could be interesting for watching film and TV. But I don't think anyone wants to see a film appear like a ghost onto their wallpaper or the rest of the room.

That being said if the last two years have taught us anything it is that sometimes people want a real shared experience and so there will always be room for TVs and projectors or their future equivalent (like smart walls)

It would be no different to a tv now. Many have their tv above the fireplace or on a wall. This would be no different, the ability already exists to lock the screen in place so it would be in the exact same position for everyone. It wouldn’t be transparent, it would be a clear picture.

I think they ran a demo of AR a while back where a chess board was left on a table after a match and when the players returned to the room, the pieces were in the exact same place as was the chess board. This can be carried over to anything I believe.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Rec and Rec 2 are superb. Rec 4 was the weakest imo.

I think Rec 3 is the weakest.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

I think Rec 3 is the weakest.

At least R.E.C 3 was different though, R.E.C 4 was just generic.

[StellaStevens]

i love this movie very much thanks for sharing with us to download the movie watch application completely free i have trusted here

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

At least R.E.C 3 was different though, R.E.C 4 was just generic.

I think Rec 3 is like Rocky 3.

Goofy but fun

(Haven’t seen Rec 2 or 4 tho.)

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It would be no different to a tv now. Many have their tv above the fireplace or on a wall. This would be no different, the ability already exists to lock the screen in place so it would be in the exact same position for everyone. It wouldn’t be transparent, it would be a clear picture.

I think they ran a demo of AR a while back where a chess board was left on a table after a match and when the players returned to the room, the pieces were in the exact same place as was the chess board. This can be carried over to anything I believe.

call it transparent or clear it does not matter. AR (at least to me) it is about adding something to reality that is not there.

I could not find a pic of what I wanted, but do you honestly think people want something like


but instead of the outside of the building it is all the junk in the home?

Now if what you are looking for is to set up a room with a bunch of seats all facing the same direction with the image locked to a nice big white (or grey) screen where people can see a moving picture. I have been doing that for a while

Don't get me wrong, if that image is created by everyone wearing AR glasses in the room or a projector, I don't care as long as I can attain a better picture, technology changes constantly.



but what I am talking about to go with your example of the TV over the fire place, won't iit be better if those glasses can "erase" the mantle, the nicknacks on top of it, the fireplace itself so the person does not need to be looking so high up? or the person does not need to look at the screen in a corner because that is where it fits.... that to me is where something like this can help

a bit like the Sony PLM-35

http://www.gamesfirst.com/articles/s.../glasstron.htm

where you end up with a portable big screen experience in places where you can't have a big screen experience

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

call it transparent or clear it does not matter. AR (at least to me) it is about adding something to reality that is not there.

I could not find a pic of what I wanted, but do you honestly think people want something like


but instead of the outside of the building it is all the junk in the home?

Now if what you are looking for is to set up a room with a bunch of seats all facing the same direction with the image locked to a nice big white (or grey) screen where people can see a moving picture. I have been doing that for a while

Don't get me wrong, if that image is created by everyone wearing AR glasses in the room or a projector, I don't care as long as I can attain a better picture, technology changes constantly.



but what I am talking about to go with your example of the TV over the fire place, won't iit be better if those glasses can "erase" the mantle, the nicknacks on top of it, the fireplace itself so the person does not need to be looking so high up? or the person does not need to look at the screen in a corner because that is where it fits.... that to me is where something like this can help

a bit like the Sony PLM-35

http://www.gamesfirst.com/articles/s.../glasstron.htm

where you end up with a portable big screen experience in places where you can't have a big screen experience

That was just an example. There is no reason why you couldn’t just have a huge floating screen. Don’t forget, the holographic images are projected from the glasses. Concentration on the screen won’t be a problem, it should be nice and sharp and of course, the actual real life room could simply be dimmed naturally by turning lights off and you have a instant HT screen.

I do t think we would have holograms plastered everywhere, just practical stuff. Think a screen showing weather in morning, a holographic object to study for education or shopping, gaming such as pool, chess, board games or almost anything.
From my experience in VR, a huge 200 inch screen can be great but maybe set further back (AR will have that ability).

Thanks for the links, I know what you are getting at. However, I think AR big screen viewing will be more practical. Placement will replicate real life in many cases. The potential is incredible.

However, we are a few years away from the tech that can do everything (not just create a big screen) and when the AR glasses can double as a powerful workstation, let us do work, game, let us shop and do all the stuff we can do on phones, it will take over.

I say 10-12 years. Like you say, real screens will still have a place though.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

That was just an example. There is no reason why you couldn’t just have a huge floating screen. Don’t forget, the holographic images are projected from the glasses. Concentration on the screen won’t be a problem, it should be nice and sharp and of course, the actual real life room could simply be dimmed naturally by turning lights off and you have a instant HT screen.

I get that it does not need to be exactly like my current HT that was not the point. the point was that you would need the background "(area iover eye where image is shown) to be extremely neutral or you will see that background interfere with the image. And yes in a completely light controlled room which is pure black the issue disappears, but I don't have that even in my HT, I have a bit of lights on the floor and stuff in case people need to leave or enter... and if I think of my foamily room that is impossible, and many like ambient light when watching.

I do t think we would have holograms plastered everywhere, just practical stuff. Think a screen showing weather in morning, a holographic object to study for education or shopping, gaming such as pool, chess, board games or almost anything.

I love the idea of AR, I would love a HUD in the car, while walking.... and there it won't be as big an issue especially with a smart display. For example think of GPS directions, you would have arrows showing forward, left ,right on the path in front of you with color chosen to contrast reality.

But that is not what we are talking about now, we are talking about something specific and that is watching pre-recorded rectangular content that fills most of the viewable area.
[quote]

[Steedeel]

[quote=Anthony P;20131879]I get that it does not need to be exactly like my current HT that was not the point. the point was that you would need the background "(area iover eye where image is shown) to be extremely neutral or you will see that background interfere with the image. And yes in a completely light controlled room which is pure black the issue disappears, but I don't have that even in my HT, I have a bit of lights on the floor and stuff in case people need to leave or enter... and if I think of my foamily room that is impossible, and many like ambient light when watching.



I love the idea of AR, I would love a HUD in the car, while walking.... and there it won't be as big an issue especially with a smart display. For example think of GPS directions, you would have arrows showing forward, left ,right on the path in front of you with color chosen to contrast reality.

But that is not what we are talking about now, we are talking about something specific and that is watching pre-recorded rectangular content that fills most of the viewable area.

I’m not sure what you mean. The stuff that interferes with the screen (background) would be the same in real life. This is just a image projected onto the retina. A rectangle displaying video which can be resized and placed where you like. The only things to distract are real world objects and that’s the same in real life!
It would be a solid rectangle not transparent or faded.

Besides, a lens cap could give you a total black viewing area like VR (only without the recreation of a real cinema)

If you mean field of view and clipping, that would surely be solved as the tech evolves.

Anthony, my iPad is acting up not letting me quote and the keyboard is sticking, I will get back to you with this.

[cheez avenger]

Ambulance is on Peacock in HD/5.1.