John Singh of Lucasfilm, Ltd. Publicity emailed me an "out-of-office reply" first but followed up with a personalized email! And he sounds like a nice enough guy.
Below are my email and his two replies. Interestingly enough, he answers my concern for the quality of the DVDs as reported by Quint of Aint-It-Cool-News.com by stating that "[t]hose who have been communicating their opinions and beliefs online have not seen the DVDs." He also says something about the care that went into re-mastering the movies in 2004, but it is unclear as to what this is to mean for the original theatrical versions of the Trilogy.
I will be replying to him requesting clarification (straight from the source) as to the sources for the DVDs. More to come once he replies!
The emails:
Mine:
Dear Lucasfilm and Fox Studios,
It is very disappointing to hear from Quint of Ain't-It-Cool-News ( http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=23941 ) reporting from Comic-Con that the upcoming release of the original and unaltered theatrical release of the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD is not looking good.
The material being put on DVD that has been created from the 1993 LaserDisc masters sounds sub-standard ("A little washed out, pixelated and strobey"), hardly the treatment that these classic, culturally-phenomenal blockbusters should be given.
As a lifelong fan of these films from childhood, I feel personally slighted that Lucasfilm, which consistently pushes the envelope in regard to cinema technology, would resign itself to release this watershed epic in such a disappointingly shoddy fashion.
Please, reconsider the plans for the upcoming September DVD release of the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars Trilogy, three of the most popular and beloved movies in film history.
It would be wonderful and fitting for them to created from a truly high quality source and for them to be offered in the industry-standard anamorphic format that so many lesser movies have been honored with.
Sincerely,
Michael Banks,
Lifelong Fan
Reply #1:
Reply #2
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your note. We genuinely appreciate your concerns. It is precisely because the "Star Wars" movies are among the "most popular and beloved movies in film history," as you so nicely put it, that they were remastered and restored with great attention to detail and enormous care in 2004.
I hope you will have a chance to see these first versions of the movies on DVD when they come out. Those who have been communicating their opinions and beliefs online have not seen the DVDs.
I'm sure I speak for the others you cc'd when I say thank you for your passion and your enthusiasm for "Star Wars." It is truly, sincerely appreciated.
John Singh
It is very disappointing to hear from Quint of Ain't-It-Cool-News ( http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=23941 ) reporting from Comic-Con that the upcoming release of the original and unaltered theatrical release of the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD is not looking good.
The material being put on DVD that has been created from the 1993 LaserDisc masters sounds sub-standard ("A little washed out, pixelated and strobey"), hardly the treatment that these classic, culturally-phenomenal blockbusters should be given.
As a lifelong fan of these films from childhood, I feel personally slighted that Lucasfilm, which consistently pushes the envelope in regard to cinema technology, would resign itself to release this watershed epic in such a disappointingly shoddy fashion.
Please, reconsider the plans for the upcoming September DVD release of the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars Trilogy, three of the most popular and beloved movies in film history.
It would be wonderful and fitting for them to created from a truly high quality source and for them to be offered in the industry-standard anamorphic format that so many lesser movies have been honored with.
Sincerely,
Michael Banks,
Lifelong Fan
Reply #1:
***PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE!***
I will be out of the office on Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28. My access to e-mail will be sporadic at best.
If you are a member of the news media on deadline or if you need immediate assistance for any other reason, please call (415) 623-1962 and speak to one of the members of our publicity team, or send an e-mail to publicity@lucasfilm.com.
Thank you,
John Singh
Lucasfilm Ltd. Publicity
I will be out of the office on Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28. My access to e-mail will be sporadic at best.
If you are a member of the news media on deadline or if you need immediate assistance for any other reason, please call (415) 623-1962 and speak to one of the members of our publicity team, or send an e-mail to publicity@lucasfilm.com.
Thank you,
John Singh
Lucasfilm Ltd. Publicity
Reply #2
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your note. We genuinely appreciate your concerns. It is precisely because the "Star Wars" movies are among the "most popular and beloved movies in film history," as you so nicely put it, that they were remastered and restored with great attention to detail and enormous care in 2004.
I hope you will have a chance to see these first versions of the movies on DVD when they come out. Those who have been communicating their opinions and beliefs online have not seen the DVDs.
I'm sure I speak for the others you cc'd when I say thank you for your passion and your enthusiasm for "Star Wars." It is truly, sincerely appreciated.
John Singh