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1997 Star Wars Special Edition 35mm Project (a WIP) — Page 15

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 (Edited)

wwdarth said:

DrDre said:

Darth Lucas said:

DrDre said:

I’ve done a quick color correction of the first reel of poita’s 1997 SE scan, which also serves as a color reference next to the technicolor references for my regrade. Here are the Tantive IV shots and a few Tatooine shots as a bonus:

Not necessarily an error, as it probably is how it was graded in the first place, but seems the closeups of that one rebel soldier have noticeable more mint color in the walls than surrounding shots.

Yeah, poita also noticed the color balance of the SE print is all over the place.

Watching STAR WARS SE theatrically in 1997…during the LEIA/VADER scene on the Tantive IV…I clearly remember the color timing actually changing within a single shot…Leia’s skin tones clearly fluctuated during one of her responses. I saw it multiple times at different locations, so it was not merely a screwed up print.

Quite a few shots in the Blu-ray change color through their duration (Sometimes I had to blend two corrections through a shot), so it’s probably a case of degradation in the negative after 20 years.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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The progress is slow unfortunately.
There were ongoing problems with the scanner. The focus motor was failing, and then after that was repaired, we had another problem that required the entire optical block to be sent away. That caused a build up of commercial jobs waiting to be scanned, which pushed the SE scan back.
It is still in progress, but I don’t currently have an ETA, the scanner is running 24/7 to try and catch up with the backlog.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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poita said:

The progress is slow unfortunately.
There were ongoing problems with the scanner. The focus motor was failing, and then after that was repaired, we had another problem that required the entire optical block to be sent away. That caused a build up of commercial jobs waiting to be scanned, which pushed the SE scan back.
It is still in progress, but I don’t currently have an ETA, the scanner is running 24/7 to try and catch up with the backlog.

You good, fam. Take as long as you need.

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For anyone that hasn’t seen it already, here is a little bit of Reel 6.

https://we.tl/4TLV5Zw7G2

The whole film is being re-scanned due to problems with the scanner, this is from the earlier test scans, people that have donated have most likely already seen this sample, but it gives you an idea of the print. No cleanup done, just a basic levels adjustment.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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poita said:

For anyone that hasn’t seen it already, here is a little bit of Reel 6.

https://we.tl/4TLV5Zw7G2

The whole film is being re-scanned due to problems with the scanner, this is from the earlier test scans, people that have donated have most likely already seen this sample, but it gives you an idea of the print. No cleanup done, just a basic levels adjustment.

Just wondering once you have completed this what will the DNR levels be

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I won’t be using any DNR as such.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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 (Edited)

I have a kinda unrelated question, but I do remember seeing the 4K77 WIP version of the Reel 6 scenes poita has posted, and in the “lock S-foils in attack position” scene the starfield seems to have more resolution than in the SE. Could it be that the CGI in 1997 was too primitive, or maybe the Technicolor prints have more detail than the SE prints, or maybe I’m imagining things?

And thank you poita for your work!

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The CGI scenes in the SE were rendered out at just above 2K resolution, and then a film-out was done. The starfield in that shot would have had less resolution than the original shot.

However the stars may just have been eaten by the compression and lower resolution of the sample I posted, but in theory the CGI scenes are lower resolution than the rest of the movie, and less than the original.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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Reel 2 is on the scanner now, so if all goes well, this reel will finish in about 11 hours time.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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Reel 4 is loaded and scanning right now. Hoping to get to the rest of the reels in the next 3 weeks.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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Reel 4 completed successfully.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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One reel to go…

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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 (Edited)

If someone would like to check the proxy scan for missing frames or other issues, please drop me a PM.
To stop a flood of requests, I’m limiting this to people who have contributed to the project, and have the time to do this. I need to check the scan for issues before I relinquish the prints, but I am too strapped for time right now, so any help appreciated.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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I have spent so many hours looking at full frame, that Star Wars no longer looks right in cinemascope to me any more. Everyone looks way too short and fat!

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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 (Edited)

poita said:

If someone would like to check the proxy scan for missing frames or other issues, please drop me a PM.

Speaking as one of the monetary donors of this project, I would much like to have the first release of the SE’97 be grindhoused—with skipped-frames, reel-change cue marks on the upper right-hand corner, faded color, random dirt spots of varying sizes, dried-on adhesive marks, with a “pop"y and static optical soundtrack…

…and a cherry on top over whip cream.

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I’d love to go over it and verify frames but all my time is being spent on another project now.

I always like the grindhouse versions too.

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I haven’t donated or contributed aside from a few color corrections of your previous examples, but I do have the time to examine and verify the frames. If I’m still not eligible, that’s fine, but I am willing.

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The last reel is finishing up now. I’ll be transferring the files off (that alone takes 30 odd hours) and will be creating a ProRes proxy over the weekend.
I will have the version ready for checking early next week, thanks to the people who contacted me via PM, I will break up the reels so that you have one reel each to check. Please use the burned-in timecode to report any issues.
Thanks again for the help, I’d like to ensure we find any issues while the print is still available for re-scanning if needed.

Donations welcome: paypal.me/poit
bitcoin:13QDjXjt7w7BFiQc4Q7wpRGPtYKYchnm8x
Help get The Original Trilogy preserved!

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 (Edited)

Can anyone tell me which is the best quality Laerdisc sourced rip of the 1997SE? I need one for comparative purposes, I already have the “high quality” TB release that is found on Myspleen. But that’s from a territorial broadcast and I would like a 1997 LD version for comparison. I’m looking for a “raw rip” not one that was synced to another version.

Thanks!

[ Scanning stuff since 2015 ]