Well, I’m more hopeful of Legacy as a proof of concept than as a final commercial product. That is, to show what is capable to produce with what nth generation prints are still out there in public hands, and give the rights holders a tangible baseline to realize how good of a product they could have on their hands if they were to restore from their original elements, especially with the resources of a competent and dedicated restorationist (whether they’d fully entrust that to Mike, which his work may justify, or, probably, use him as a consultant in conjunction with seasoned or in-house restorationists).

How many numbers-weighing execs do you think look at the aggressively shiny and colorful Blu-ray video and understand how much room there is to improve on it (video/audio elements alone; I think even Hollywood laymen know of the general SE controversy) without stark comparisons shown to them in the brief moments they have when their attention isn’t being pulled between who knows how many other seemingly more pressing and important projects? Show them succinctly what is wrong with their product, how much better of a product they have available right now and how even better than that they could make themselves, leading to an understanding of just how much such a strikingly improved product they could have would be worth (well above any restoration costs, and, of course, the comparable “loss” of just continuing with the status quo of their current product).

I’m not saying I think Mike’s version will be the next official release, nor do I necessarily think he’d land a gig restoring the film for real, but if he does get his presentation and even a few execs, with solid facts laid in front of them, come to realize just what possibilities are open to them and it starts some wheels turning, it would still all be worth it.