logo Sign In

Addresses and contacts for various media outlets go in here — Page 3

Author
Time
I was thinking more of somebody outside Lucasfilm. There's nothing John Singh can do at this point, and I'm sure he's already gotten tons of emails.

Maybe a newspaper or magazine or TV station- somebody who might want to do a story on the whole controversy, or maybe the American Film Institute (AFI). Just browsing all of the contact info in this thread alone- there are tons of options.

Author
Time
Well, what about AFI, then? What about contacting A&E (the Arts and Entertainment Channel) and IFC (Independent Film Channel)? Since it's quite late in the game to change the DVD releases (right?), maybe an expose on the irrationality of Lucasfilm's move is the way to go?

What if we were to write letters to Entertainment Weekly and other movie mags? At least, get the stupidity of "no anamorphic treatment for one of the most important movies of all time by one of the world's foremost cinema technology pioneers" into the public forum. Get John Q. Moviegoer to understand that it's ridiculous for the original version of "Star Wars" to get a lesser DVD treatment than "The Toxic Avenger Goes Back to High School"!

Okay, now I'm getting fired up!
Author
Time
That's what I'm thinking, too. It's too late to do anything about this DVD release- but we need to embarrass Lucasfilm, and inform the public.

We have to figure out what the best places would be. I wish the Sci-Fi channel still had that talk show- that was great.

I'd say USA Today, but didn't they already do a piece on this? Maybe CNN?

Author
Time
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.

Yes, they have.

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.


No, I will not shut up until you do the OOT justice. Sorry.

Someone, like the webmaster ( ) should take this in his hands and name a date and an adress to mail, so everyone can join in one big hit.


Can anyone contact Jay?

If these people all get 78,000 e-mails and letters in a single week about once a month, may they can't ignore us forever. Lets go

I wonder if we can still win this in the end?

We need to put as much pressure on Lucasfilm as is humanly possible, and then some. If I ever get those contacts for Jerry Bruckheimer and John Williams, I will post them. The Shawshank Redemption on their asses.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author
Time
Here's the reply to my follow-up email kindly answered by Lucasfilm, Ltd. Publicity representative John Singh:

Michael,

You might be aware already, but in 2004 the three movies (Episodes IV, V and VI) were fully restored and released on DVD in beautiful digitally remastered prints.

These are the movies you will find on disc one in each of the two-disc sets that are being released on Sept. 12. The source for the bonus material is the 1993 Laserdisc master, which represents the best restoration that has been possible on the original movies.

There are no plans for further restoring those earliest theatrical versions.

I hope that answers your questions, and I really do appreciate your enthusiasm for the movies. I hope you will be able to understand that we want to both honor George Lucas's artistic intentions as well as provide those first versions for DVD viewers.

Best regards,

John Singh


Lucas has apparently spoken, and his "artistic intentions" have trumped both fan demand and film history.

Our only options now seem to be: (1) Buy the September release, (2) Try to bring the sub-standard DVD treatment of these historical films to light in the media, or (3) Do both.

Anybody up for a rash of letters-to-the-editors of various film/entertainment magazines/TV shows?
Author
Time
Here's my final reply to John Singh stating my chagrin over Lucasfilm's upcoming DVD release and their lack of plans to further restore the original theatrical versions of the films:
Hi, John. Thank you for your quick reply and for the clarification on the sources for the movies for both discs in each DVD title release this September.

It is unfortunate that no effort has been made to reconstruct suitable masters of the original theatrical releases to allow for an anamorphic transfer for this DVD edition, and it is regrettable that there are no plans to do so in the future to preserve these films in their original epic forms for future generations.

Thank you for your appreciation of my concerns and for your kind attention.

Sincerely,

Michael Banks,

Lifelong Fan

Author
Time
That's great, Michael. You know, little by little, I think they're getting the message.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Mielr
That's great, Michael. You know, little by little, I think they're getting the message.

I hope so. The interesting thing is this: they're answering. They may be answering with what amount to a backhandedness or at worst a big "!@#$ you," but they are answering.

These are the movies you will find on disc one in each of the two-disc sets that are being released on Sept. 12. The source for the bonus material is the 1993 Laserdisc master, which represents the best restoration that has been possible on the original movies.

No, it does not. That is a bald-faced lie.

There are no plans for further restoring those earliest theatrical versions.

Really? Like when the OOT would never be released on DVD or when the 1995 release was the last time?

You might be aware already, but in 2004 the three movies (Episodes IV, V and VI) were fully restored and released on DVD in beautiful digitally remastered prints.


The ones with the inverted sound and the miscolored video? As the SEs. Which is not what we want.

I really do appreciate your enthusiasm for the movies.


No, clearly you don't.

I hope you will be able to understand that we want to both honor George Lucas's artistic intentions as well as provide those first versions for DVD viewers.


Then do. No one is denying Lucas's artistic intentions. We just want properly restored versions of the OOT. Until you give them to us, we are not going to be satisfied.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Mike O
The interesting thing is this: they're answering. They may be answering with what amount to a backhandedness or at worst a big "!@#$ you," but they are answering.
I don't think there was really any backhandedness in John Singh's response, but it does not seem so surprising that they are answering since we are so near the release date; there is likely nothing that could be done to change the release at this point anyway, so damage control seems plausible.

The source for the bonus material is the 1993 Laserdisc master, which represents the best restoration that has been possible on the original movies.

No, it does not. That is a bald-faced lie.
It may not be a lie from where Mr. Singh is sitting; consider the idea that Lucas has said that the LaserDisc source is the only one he is making available for the DVD. In that scenario, it is the best restoration available to the team that has pushed this idea this far. It seems that we have like-minded people within Lucasfilm but that they are being denied, too (even if they are only in it for the money, I'd see no reason that there wouldn't be people pushing for the best quality possible).

There are no plans for further restoring those earliest theatrical versions.

Really? Like when the OOT would never be released on DVD or when the 1995 release was the last time?
This official statement is really disappointing, but, like you said, "Yeah, right!" Again, consider the fact that this guy is bound by his job.

You might be aware already, but in 2004 the three movies (Episodes IV, V and VI) were fully restored and released on DVD in beautiful digitally remastered prints.


The ones with the inverted sound and the miscolored video? As the SEs. Which is not what we want.

Isn't this also referring to the SEs only? Technical mis-steps aside, this is what bothers me the most: Lucas referring to the SEs as the REAL SW Trilogy.

I really do appreciate your enthusiasm for the movies.


No, clearly you don't.

I don't see any reason to doubt that John Singh appreciates my enthusiasm. For all I know, he may be a bigger SW fan than I'll ever be, and it may kill him that these films aren't being made available in the highest quality fashion possible.

I hope you will be able to understand that we want to both honor George Lucas's artistic intentions as well as provide those first versions for DVD viewers.


Then do. No one is denying Lucas's artistic intentions. We just want properly restored versions of the OOT.

It seems likely that Lucas is afraid that the market (read: "the fans to whom he's been a god all of these years") might prefer the OOT to his "artistic intentions" and deny the SEs in their choice of which version to buy. The issue seems to lie with Lucas alone.

Until you give them to us, we are not going to be satisfied.

Amen and amen. We can keep complaining here in the forum, or we can try to take this battle to Lucas by writing to the media.

I forget (sorry) who mentioned the idea of Lucasfilm getting bad press over the quality issue of the OOT, but I think that's the only angle we have: to point out the ridiculousness of the treatment of the OOT on the upcoming "limited time only" DVD release and to place the question square:

Why would one the most technologically innovative movie companies in the world settle for outdated, non-anamorphic transfers of three of the most popular movies of all time which are known the world over AND include them ONLY as BONUS FEATURES sold with the SE versions that have been sold multiple times in the last 5 years in various incarnations?

Of course, we'd need to state these points a little more succinctly to get anyone to pay attention. Who's up for making a list of points that we can write about to various magazines and/or TV shows?

If we could make some waves at the same time that the DVD rrelease comes out, we might be able to weaken Lucas' contention that this release will prove whether or not people want the OOT on DVD.

Author
Time
I apologize for the length of the previous post, but I think it could be important.

-Darkhelmet (aka, Mike B.)
Author
Time
Originally posted by: darkhelmet
It seems likely that Lucas is afraid that the market (read: "the fans to whom he's been a god all of these years") might prefer the OOT to his "artistic intentions" and deny the SEs in their choice of which version to buy. The issue seems to lie with Lucas alone.


That's why it's so important that these DVDs sell well. It's kind of a double-edged sword, I know, on the one hand we should boycott them because of their quality (but that might be mis-interpreted as a lack of demand), on the other hand we need to buy these to show exactly how much of a demand there is, in SPITE of the sub-par transfers- which is why I think the latter option is the way to go. At the same time, we also need to embarrass Lucasfilm with their whole 'THX-attention-to-quality' credo.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Mielr
That's why it's so important that these DVDs sell well. It's kind of a double-edged sword, I know, on the one hand we should boycott them because of their quality (but that might be mis-interpreted as a lack of demand), on the other hand we need to buy these to show exactly how much of a demand there is, in SPITE of the sub-par transfers- which is why I think the latter option is the way to go.
Whether or not we as individual fans wish to buy the DVDs is up to the individual. I won't let what basically amounts to being strong-armed by Lucas (and he alone seems to be the problem, not his company) decide for me whether or not I will buy a sub-standard release.
At the same time, we also need to embarrass Lucasfilm with their whole 'THX-attention-to-quality' credo.

Which is why we need to make some kind of noise in the media explaining the frustration over a DVD release that does not treat these historic movies with the honor and respect that the latest slasher flick gets when put on DVD.

Is anybody ready to make some noise by writing out, point-by-point, why were not simply a bunch of spoiled whiners?

Lets work together to strategically hammer our point home to magazines and/or specialty TV shows in order to put Lucas's ego in check and get the product that any other studio would gladly sell to an eager market!

The September release is the perfect time to get this message out. If enough of us are persistent enough (with a logical argument), and we are given significant press, then Lucas won't be able to simply say that demand for the OOT doesn't really exist if sales aren't good.

This is our only hope unless we simply wish to be passive and give our money to Lucas for something lacking.

Your thoughts, Mielr and Mike O?
Author
Time
Let's get started with the email-writing campaign right now. Nobody seems to have any ideas as to what company to pick first, so why don't you do the honors, and we'll get the ball rolling ASAP.

Author
Time
Well with just a bit over a month away from the release, it looks like Lucas is going ahead with their plans dumping these DVDs on the market.

But expect to see early reviews of these discs a week or more before they come out.
There's good in the Original Trilogy, and it's worth fighting for.
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://www.myspace.com/harlock415
Author
Time
It may not be a lie from where Mr. Singh is sitting; consider the idea that Lucas has said that the LaserDisc source is the only one he is making available for the DVD. In that scenario, it is the best restoration available to the team that has pushed this idea this far. It seems that we have like-minded people within Lucasfilm but that they are being denied, too (even if they are only in it for the money, I'd see no reason that there wouldn't be people pushing for the best quality possible).

Ok, fine, but what they are saying is that this is the best that that they can do and Lucas is leaning on him. That doesn't change the fact that there are better prints, and saying that that the LD master are the best that they have is a lie, pure and simple.

It seems likely that Lucas is afraid that the market (read: "the fans to whom he's been a god all of these years") might prefer the OOT to his "artistic intentions" and deny the SEs in their choice of which version to buy. The issue seems to lie with Lucas alone.


True, but consider his MTV comments. He really doesn't think that there is anyone interested in the OOT. God willing, this release will prove him wrong.


Amen and amen. We can keep complaining here in the forum, or we can try to take this battle to Lucas by writing to the media.


This isn't over. Lucas has lowered his defenses with the 2006 release. Lets rush him. Who knows? Maybe, at some point before hell freezes over, we can see a proper release of the OOT. Maybe we can still win this. And call me Mike .

If this release sells well, which it just might, then maybe Lucas will star to get the message ever so slightly.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author
Time
Just for good measure, I might as well put this in here too. I have no idea if this is a legit address, but it's worth a try (not that it will do any good even if it does reach him...but you can let your feelings be known, at least):

rick.mccallum@lucasfilm.com

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Harlock415
But expect to see early reviews of these discs a week or more before they come out.

Let's be part of these reviews by making our logical complaints heard. I'll start trying to figure out where we can all write to. I suggest Entertainment Weekly magazine for one. Does Tech TV do a DVD review segment? Is that show even on any more? While we won't be changing these DVD releases, we might be able to bring the Lucas' slight against the OOT to light.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Mike O
Ok, fine, but what they are saying is that this is the best that that they can do and Lucas is leaning on him. That doesn't change the fact that there are better prints, and saying that that the LD master are the best that they have is a lie, pure and simple.
Let's make a point of that with factual evidence when we write.

True, but consider his MTV comments. He really doesn't think that there is anyone interested in the OOT. God willing, this release will prove him wrong.
I read his comments in a different light. I don't feel that Lucas thinks no one wants the movies; I think, against a background of how he's treated them and us as fans in the past, Lucas wants the public to forget about the originals like he would like to since they aren't his "original vision". I feel that Lucas wants to have more ownership of the films creatively than he did originally with the vast amounts of talent that went into creating the originals. He can only do this with the changes made in the SEs.


This isn't over. Lucas has lowered his defenses with the 2006 release. Lets rush him. Who knows? Maybe, at some point before hell freezes over, we can see a proper release of the OOT. Maybe we can still win this.

I don't know if you read the Leonard Maltin thread, but film critic Maltin apparently responded to an email from one of our members stating that Lucas tends to do as he pleases. We need to show him that "what he pleases" doesn't please us. We need to point out all of the flaws with this release, starting with the fact that it's not truly an OOT release.

And call me Mike .

Alright, Mike. Nice to meet you.

If this release sells well, which it just might, then maybe Lucas will star to get the message ever so slightly.

He needs to be hit over the head. This release is just him being stubborn.

Again, I point to the apparent fact that Lucas is dealing to us from a stacked deck; just look at the sub-standard way in which he is allowing the OOT to be made available on DVD (not to mention the fact that there are no future plans to restore the OOT according to John Singh of Lucasfilm, Ltd. Publicity), which is what this is all about.

Look at what he has to gain if this release doesn't sell: he can wash his hands of the OOT for good; he'll just point to this release as proof that no one wants it, and he'll be able to curl up nice and cozy with his precious SEs at night.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Mielr
Let's get started with the email-writing campaign right now.
Yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about!
Nobody seems to have any ideas as to what company to pick first, so why don't you do the honors, and we'll get the ball rolling ASAP.

You got it! I'll have a list going tomorrow (Saturday, 8/5/06). All suggestions welcome; post 'em here, or PM me.

Edit: Do you guys think this warrants its own thread once the writing begins?

Author
Time
Let's get started with the email-writing campaign right now.

Physical letters are important too.

Look at what he has to gain if this release doesn't sell: he can wash his hands of the OOT for good; he'll just point to this release as proof that no one wants it, and he'll be able to curl up nice and cozy with his precious SEs at night.


It is starting to look like, even if this release does not start flying off of the shelves, it will still sell reasonably well.

Let's make a point of that with factual evidence when we write.


The Digital Bits has an excellent article in which they refute everyone of LFL's points one by one and prove that restoration is physically possible.

We need Jay and the petitioners and forumites, however. We need to make a lot of noise.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author
Time
Originally posted by: darkhelmet

Edit: Do you guys think this warrants its own thread once the writing begins?


Yes, please start a new thread giving the contact info etc., that way, everyone will see it, and we can all post in the thread that we've sent our email (or snail mail letter), and we can post what we've written if we want to.



We can do this every week- each with a new place to concentrate on.

Thanks for all your help!

Author
Time
I'll PM Jay.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Mike O
Physical letters are important too.
I agree.
It is starting to look like, even if this release does not start flying off of the shelves, it will still sell reasonably well.
That's good if Lucas cares to invest in the OOT with a future release.
The Digital Bits has an excellent article in which they refute everyone of LFL's points one by one and prove that restoration is physically possible.
I think we need to decide what we will all write about to present a unified front; the real issue and the logical complaint here is, IMO, not that a better source doesn't exist but that the treatment of these film classics is sub-par.

Star Wars is an Academy Award-winning movie and is on the Academy's list of the top 100 films of all time, for crying out loud!

Why should movies such as SCREAM 3 and TRANSYLVANIA 6-5000 get the anamorphic treatment while the OOT is relegated to the realm of bonus material in non-anamorphic letterboxing from a 13 year old LaserDisc transfer?
We need Jay and the petitioners and forumites, however.
The more people, the better.
We need to make a lot of noise.

Definitely, but we've got to project our noise in the right directions.
Originally posted by: Mike O
I'll PM Jay.

Cool.
Originally posted by: Mielr
Yes, please start a new thread giving the contact info etc., that way, everyone will see it, and we can all post in the thread that we've sent our email (or snail mail letter), and we can post what we've written if we want to.

I'll do this as soon as I have that list worked up today.
We can do this every week- each with a new place to concentrate on.

Having a focus for our letters would be good, but don't let that stop you from writing multiple places. The more media hears from us, the better. I imagine that they discuss influxes of letters like this between their publications to gauge how hot of an issue it is.
Thanks for all your help!

You're welcome. Thanks to you and Mike for your enthusiasm and discussion!

Author
Time
Originally posted by: darkhelmet
We can do this every week- each with a new place to concentrate on.

Having a focus for our letters would be good, but don't let that stop you from writing multiple places. The more media hears from us, the better. I imagine that they discuss influxes of letters like this between their publications to gauge how hot of an issue it is.

True, but there's nothing to stop people from writing to multiple places now, either. I think that focusing on one place at a time would be less likely to scare people off, and may seem more manageable.

Author
Time
Originally posted by: Mielr
Originally posted by: darkhelmet
Having a focus for our letters would be good, but don't let that stop you from writing multiple places.

True, but there's nothing to stop people from writing to multiple places now, either. I think that focusing on one place at a time would be less likely to scare people off, and may seem more manageable.

That's true; we don't want to burden anyone, just give them the ability to voice their dissatisfaction.

Maybe we can ask people to write to 2 places? The contact list which I've compiled, so far, is pretty short, as is our time; September issues of magazines are already out.

I'll post the contact info in the new thread, but it consists of Star Wars Insider, Entertainment Weekly, Empire, Film Review, Starburst, Ultimate DVD, Total Film, and Uncut DVD magazines. I'll get some TV contacts going, too.

Should we standardize a message to write about to unify our efforts? I think the main topic should be the sub-par presentation of the OOT on the September DVD release. What do you guys think?

I'd like to have this decided before opening the new thread so we don't simply create a multi-headed hydra of confusion and babble.