Theater Performance Preservations — Page 11

Well that seems to wrap things up for the time being.  Updated the first post, guides and Reel Change pages. 

RotJ is the one which doesn't have any markers yet, as the theater recordings available are significantly cropped/panned.  rmclain73 any recollection from your version of where the reel change markers showed up? 

An oddity of RotS is one reel change had no markers that I could figure out.  My guess is that instead of markers they used visual clues from the film.  At the time where the markers would have showed up begins the fight between Grevious and Obi, so maybe they used the twirling blades instead of burn marks.  In the other theater recordings there were signs of home made markers but didn't see anything specific in this RotS recording.

Also nothing's showed up so far of the super special star shaped markers from the Special Edition Era.

...and still want more Crowd Interaction!

The regurgitational FoMO (Friends of May Originance) would like to thank Voi Kahdeskymmenesviides, Kan Eenentwintigste, Kan Tjugofemte, Mohou Devatenáctého; Pouvwa Sèzyèm , Mund të Gjashtëmbëdhjetë; ????? ??????????????, Is Féidir Naoú & Getur Nítjándu. With limited mental support from :F:L:I:M:S:I:P:L:A:S:T: :D:A:T:A:B:A:S:E:.

Good.Buy.Good.Riddance

The next group of posts are more or less about the phenomenon, nothing about a specific new case but there are clues to the extent of this and some of the people involved.  Periodical search stuff and some random.

'Star Wars' piracy : books.google.com 77-79

The Consumer's Guide to Video Tape Recording, 1979

http://books.google.com/books?ei=PpH_TZKvHcLr0QGJwd2yAw&ct=result&id=uMbaHe6KJZcC&dq=piracy+%22star+wars%22&q=+%22star+wars%22#search_anchor

percent it will rival commercial TV as well as the film industry.  To counterract this new threat the film industry is focusing on films tht lose impact when viewed on a small screen.  Such films as Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kin lose their vista and excitement when seen on a home screen

 

Some VTR dealers have been giving away pirated cassettes of Star Wars to boost hardware sales.  Since many movies are shown on pay TV in the United States before theatrical release in Europe and Africa, there are larg amounts of transatlantic

Editorials on File, Volume 11, Part 1

http://books.google.com/books?id=oMdAAQAAIAAJ&q=piracy+%22star+wars%22&dq=piracy+%22star+wars%22&hl=en&ei=PpH_TZKvHcLr0QGJwd2yAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBA

have resulted in indictments against 55 persons in 10 states in a nationwide crackdown on pornography distrubtion and film piracy.  A federal grand jury in Miami, Fla. returned the indictments following a two and a half year probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, code-named Miporn, for "Miami pornography."

 

The motion picture phaseof the investigation involved the alleged piracy and distriubtion of major films ranging from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Star Wars and The Godfather.

Bulletin of the COpyright Society of the U.S.A. Vol 28 1980

http://books.google.com/books?id=qSFBAQAAIAAJ&q=piracy+%22star+wars%22&dq=piracy+%22star+wars%22&hl=en&ei=PpH_TZKvHcLr0QGJwd2yAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBg

The Supreme Court of South Africa handed down a landmark decision recently regarding video piracy.  The order prohibits Vic Donen of Pik-A-Movie from infringing copyrights in

 

fringed that of 'Star Wars.'

Popular Science, Nov 1978

http://books.google.com/books?id=OQEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44&dq=piracy+%22star+wars%22&hl=en&ei=PpH_TZKvHcLr0QGJwd2yAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=%22star%20wars%22&f=false

Who sells more prerecorded video-tapes than anybody?  The crooks.  According to a spokesman for the FBI, pirated prerecorded tapes are now outselling the legal versions.  Currently "Star Wars" and "Saturday Night  Fever" are the top bootleg best-sellers - and neither has been released yet for legitimate sale.

Educational & Industrial Television, Vol 10 1978

http://books.google.com/books?ei=U5H_TZLPKcnx0gHc0cS-Aw&ct=result&id=asgcAQAAMAAJ&dq=piracy+%22star+wars%22&q=+%22star+wars%22#search_anchor

couple of the 20th Century FOx tapes on order now.  If legal copies of Star Wars were available, they would make a fortune selling them - probably half the people who read this would become customers.  SO in my opinion, if these films were legally available, it would put the pirates out of business.

Copyright COnference: 1979

http://books.google.com/books?ei=U5H_TZLPKcnx0gHc0cS-Aw&ct=result&id=1kg_AQAAIAAJ&dq=piracy+%22star+wars%22&q=+%22star+wars%22#search_anchor

Europe and in the United States which has invested huge sums in research and development, is confident that the market will develop.  This confidence is felt not only by the legitimate sectors of the industry, but also by the pirates.  Just before leaving London I was told that unauthorised video reocordings of very recent films are available for hire or purchase - the one mentioned was 'Star Wars', a very popular science fiction film.  The threat to the film production and cinema

Inside the FBI 1980

http://books.google.com/books?ei=U5H_TZLPKcnx0gHc0cS-Aw&ct=result&id=9-IEAQAAIAAJ&dq=piracy+%22star+wars%22&q=+%22star+wars%22#search_anchor

was selling pirated cassettes and soundtrack tapes of such movies as Star Wars by setting up a distributorship and identifying the pirates.  There were six convictions.

 

He will ask you where ? American film, The Deep, is playing.  You will identify yourself to the man by responding that you donjt know about The Deep, but that Star Wars is playing down the street."

The redezvous was never consummated.  On May 20, 1978, FBI agents arrested three Russians as they were attempting to

'Empire Strikes Back' Piracy : books.google.com

Trademark & Copyright Infringement 1985

http://books.google.com/books?id=NKZBAQAAIAAJ&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22+piracy&dq=%22empire+strikes+back%22+piracy&hl=en&ei=44L_Te7bCerX0QGqv4HYAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBQ

In film piracy, as an example, a major problem continues to be those individuals posing as 'film collectors' who buy, sell and trade films which they have obtained from unauthorized sources.  These sources are usually dishonest employees at film laboratories, storage depots, film salvage facilities, television stations or other industry operations.  It is estimated that more then $50,000,000 in films are offered for sale illegally

 

you can't watch it, is not a bargain at any price.  The old adage "you get what you pay for" is still usually valid, but in the case of video piracy, you often do not get what you pay for.

The motion picture industry and governments worldwide are today faced with enourmous

 

borrowed long enough to make a transfer from film to tape.  The process of trnsferring from film to videotape is known as a film chain.  The equipment needed for this process consists of a film projector, a prism apparatus, a video camera and a video recorder.  The film image is merely projected through the prism into the video

The Film Yearbook, 1984

http://books.google.com/books?ei=44L_Te7bCerX0QGqv4HYAw&ct=result&id=NthxW1PEDVMC&dq=%22empire+strikes+back%22+piracy&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22+#search_anchor

there is no proof whatever.

So one is confronted by the slightly ludicrous situation of having a film such as The Empire Strikes Back or E.T. widely available thrugh the pirate network literally months before it's 'proper' release.

the piracy problem is

Billboard Sep 11, 1982

Vid Dealers Paint Rosy Picture

http://books.google.com/books?id=OiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT14&dq=%22empire+strikes+back%22+piracy&hl=en&ei=4YX_TZ3TLuLV0QG6xqipAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=%22empire%20strikes%20back%22%20piracy&f=false

Salomon's two pet gripes are that too many video games are being released, forcing himto rent them, and that there is to much videocassette piracy and bootlegging.  "We sold more of 'Star Wars' than anything since we've been in business," he said, noting that for him, as for most video dealers at VSDA, sales play a minor role compared to rentals.  "The reason is people were replacing their bootlegs of 'Star Wars' when the original finally came out."

VIdeo World-Wide: an International Study 1988

http://books.google.com/books?ei=eo7_Ta-NIcnb0QGiiqifAw&ct=result&id=ostkAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22empire+strikes+back%22+piracy&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22+#search_anchor

were made under civil law, and low fines were imposed.  The following examples illustrate this point:

i) A man in Perth was fined $100 on each of six charges for copying The Empire Strikes Back, Paternity, Yellow Beard, Class and Trading

Journal of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A., Volume 31 1983

http://books.google.com/books?ei=ro__TcP-Ganm0QGxrKiRAw&ct=result&id=0CNBAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22empire+strikes+back%22+piracy&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22+#search_anchor

Eighty pirated videocassettes were seized in FBI raids in White Plain and Port Chester, N.Y. "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" and "The Empire Strikes Back" were among the titles confiscated.

Return of the Jedi Piracy (in books.google.com)

http://books.google.com/books?id=MjFL1KbcX_oC&pg=PA122&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&hl=en&ei=1Xj_Ta2cJI6r0AHhp9ieAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22return%20of%20the%20jedi%22&f=false

During a two-week period in the summer of 1983, the season's blockbuster hit, Return of the Jedi, was stolen five times from cinemas in three states and in Britain to be turned into illegal videocassettes.  The last occurence was when two thieves in clown masks stole a print of the movie at gunpoint from a theaters in Santa Maria, California.  Earlier, thieves had broken down theater doors in Hastings, England, and Sherman Oaks, ,California, to get a print.  In South Carolina the film was inexplicabley missing while in Overland Park, Kansas, a projectionist was confronted in his theater's parking lot at midnight by an armed robber who forced him to return to the venue and surrender the print.  FSO head Richard Bloeser said the prince for a pirated Jedi ranged from $85 to $150.  After the theft of the print in Hastings, England, distributer Fox took out an ad in the large circulatoin British daily paper The Sun to advertise a $7,700 reward for information about the theft.  James Bouras thought that tighter print security by the industry in general may have been partly responsible for a perceived increase in the actual thefts of prints.  Bloeser added that his FSO had achieved 300 convictions since its start in 975 to mid 1983, and had paidout well over $100,000 in rewards.  Regarding piracy figures Bloeser said, "A low estimate of the film industry's loss from piracy is $100 million a year.  It could be as high as $500 million a year."

Copyright and related rights: Principles, Problems and Trends

http://books.google.com/books?ei=1Xj_Ta2cJI6r0AHhp9ieAw&ct=result&id=d0UVAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&q=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+#search_anchor

film The Return of the Jedi was stolen from a cinema in England, priated videoes of it were on sale in Saudi Arabia.  The theft took place despite stringent security measures diesigned to prevent such an occurrance, the producers being well aware of the dangers of piracy.  There is also a great deal of money at stake in the piratedof sound recordings, although that field seems now to take second place to video piracy.  A recent survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit suggested that 50 percent of video cassettesin cirucation in West Germany were pirated, 70 per cent

Time, volume 121, part 2

http://books.google.com/books?id=XRkfAQAAMAAJ&q=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&hl=en&ei=1Xj_Ta2cJI6r0AHhp9ieAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBQ

In May, Variety reported that video pirates were prparing an all-out assult on the summer's hotest film, Return of the Jedi.  Lucasfilm Ltd, the producer, stepped up security by policing film labs, fastening film canisters with special metal seals and using messengers to deliver prints around the U.S.  The distributor, 20th Century-Fox sent telegrams to 836 theater managers urging

 

Yes the thefts continue.  Says on Hollywoood public relations man: "If you know someone at a studio, you can get about any film you want."

Local movie theaters are particulatrly vulnerable to priates.  Projectionsist can often be bribed (going rate: $500) to look the other way while a hit movie is taken away fro a few hours to be copied.

 

In 1975, to combat video piracy, the major motion-picture studios established the Film Security Office, which has helped convict 300 pirates.

Modern Legal Systems Cyclopedia, Vol 10, Part 1

http://books.google.com/books?ei=1Xj_Ta2cJI6r0AHhp9ieAw&ct=result&id=-j46AQAAIAAJ&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&q=%22return+of+the+jedi%22#search_anchor

In the last two weeks, "Return of the Jedi" has been stolen six times from theaters in three states and in Great Britain.  The movie industry believes thta the object of the theft is to turn the film into video-cassettes.  The price of apirated copy of "Jedi", one range from $85 to $150.  Robert Greber, president of Lucasfilm, producer of 'Jedi', says a low estimate of film industry losses from piracy is about $100 million a year.  In 1975 the film studios formed a film security office in Los Angeles staffed by ex-F.B.I. agents to combat film piracy.  Since that time more then $200,000 has ben awareded to informatnts and more than 300 pirates have been prosecuted.

New Society, Vol 65-66

http://books.google.com/books?ei=En7_Tce6DsnY0QGCqv3YAw&ct=result&id=vakpAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&q=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+#search_anchor

Soft Pirates

Just when it looked as ir parliament and the police had got video piracy  under control someone stole a copy of The Return of the Jedi from the Classic cinema in Hastings and within days pirated versons were on sale in Saudi Arabia.  Now the high tech society faces a further threat --

The 1984 World book year book: the annual supplement to the World Book encyclopedia

http://books.google.com/books?ei=En7_Tce6DsnY0QGCqv3YAw&ct=result&id=YW2MHPLca7wC&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&q=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+#search_anchor

chronic annoyance if not an outright threat to the motion-picture industry.  In May, word hit the industry that two major upcoming summer releases, Return of the Jedi and the futuristic action picture Blue Thunder, already were available on pirated video cassettes.

http://books.google.com/books?ei=Mn7_TcLKM4Hy0gGc3vHAAw&ct=result&id=fB7uAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&q=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+#search_anchor

Pepperidge Form character cookies for Return of the Jedi, so popular they had to be rationed to stores;

The Electronic Pirates: DIY crime of the century

http://books.google.com/books?ei=HoH_TensKJC10AHhmLTkDg&ct=result&id=3dePAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+piracy&q=%22return+of+the+jedi%22+#search_anchor

Like the drugs trade, the quality gets worse the further down the line you go.

(personal interview)

Such was the paranoia of twentieth Century Fox before the release of the 20 million property Return of the Jedi that only one print

The case of 'Captain Eugene Horvath'

Auguest 15, 1982

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ho9TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4313,21091&dq=eugene-horvath&hl=en

A federal grand jury is investigating a U.S. Air Force captin following a raid on his home that netted 1,700 master videotapes and copies of pirated movies.

*omit*

The seizure was among the nation's first under a federal copyright law toughened in May to increase the penalty for videotape piracy from a misdemeanor to a felony.  Convictions can result in up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

January 9, 1984

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2P8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cM0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2279,6526123&dq=eugene-horvath&hl=en

Howvath when he faced the federal felony charge of copyright infringement, admittd he broke the law by operating his home videotaping center, although he said it was a hobby that got out of hand.  He accuses the Air Force of running an illegal business.

But at the Pentagon, Air Force spokesman Capt. Johnny Whitaker said the Air Force would not shut down its videotape centers in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines unless required by Congress or the Surpreme Court.

Last year, the U.S. Army closed its videotaping centers, saying thaey were violated copyright laws.  The Navy said it has halted videotape copyring The Motion Picture Association of America, members of which own the copyrights to the movies that are being duplicated, said the Air Force appears to be breaking the law.

*omit*

Conviction on the copyright charge would have required discharge from the Air Force.  But in a report to the federal judge, probation officer Charlie Varnon cited Horwavth's miltary record and the Air Force videotaping  activity and said it was be 'criminal' to force his discharge.

Under a plea bargain designed to save his career, Horvath admitted the violation, paid a $7,500 fine and worked 200 hours for a blood bank.  The charge was dismissed.

Jun 26, 1984

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6xtKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CiINAAAAIBAJ&pg=6935,2956314&dq=eugene-horvath&hl=en

The Air Force contends that Horvath improperly used videotape equipment to record movies and sell them to fellow officers for a small fee, and used government facilities to transoprt the tapes.

The hearing, which occurs in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling giving apporval to personal, not-for-profit videotaping of films, has drawn nationwide attention.

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB35EBE29D81699&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

Miami Herald - February 7, 1984 - 9A FRONT

CAPTAIN IS CLEARED IN COPYRIGHT CASE  TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- (AP) -- An Air Force captain who taped and sold hundreds of copyright movies to fellow officers was not breaking copyright laws for profit, three colonels ruled in deciding against discharging the 16-year veteran. The special administrative panel did not elaborate in ruling for Capt. Eugene Horvath, 38. He had admitted copying and selling the videotapes but said the Air Force does the same thing at six bases overseas and that his commanding officer...

The case of 'Peter Acrabascio'

July 23, 1981

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=krkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZtcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2334,2428193&dq=peter-arcabascio&hl=en

Film bootlegging charged

Chicago (AP0 - A North Side videotape dealer faces charges of boolegging at least 33 popular movies, including 'Star Wars' and 'The Empire Strikes Back,' for illegal sale in videocassettes.

The U.S. attorney's office on Monday charged Peter Arcabascio, 58, with violating the copyrights of several motion-picture companies.

Federal agents bought or seized 25 allegedly pirated videocassettes in 1979 and 1980 from two North Side video stores owned by Arcabascio, who also is known as Peter Archer officials said.

Copies of the tapes sold for between $50 and $100 each, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert B. Bresblatt.

Back tothe random:

Journal of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. Vol. 31 1983

http://books.google.com/books?ei=WCT9Te2eAanX0QGX6YmJAw&ct=result&id=0CNBAQAAIAAJ&dq=copyright+infringement+%22empire+strikes+back%22&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22#search_anchor

Eighty pirated videocassettes were seized in FBI raids in White Plains and Port Chester, N.Y. "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" and "The Empire Strikes Back" were among the titles confiscated.

Entertainment Law Reporter, Vol 1 1984

http://books.google.com/books?ei=WCT9Te2eAanX0QGX6YmJAw&ct=result&id=kPxCAQAAIAAJ&dq=copyright+infringement+%22empire+strikes+back%22&q=%22empire+strikes+back%22#search_anchor

Copyright, A New York state court has dismissed an indictment charging an individual with the unauthorized recording of sound in connection with alleged manufacturing and sale of videotapes of films such as 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' 'The Empire Strikes Back'

http://books.google.com/books?id=cRYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA125&dq=%22copyright+infringement%22+%22star+wars%22&hl=en&ei=zpL7TbiCHeHa0QGR_ZnJAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22copyright%20infringement%22%20%22star%20wars%22&f=false

Orange Coast Magazine : Feb 1982 : 'Smashing Home Video'

Quote: "The main effort of the MPAA's Film Security Office is "to get stricter laws on the books," said Mann.  Currently, first-offense infringement is treated as a misdemeanor.  The group is "working on getting laws ammended to make (infringement) a felony," says Mann.

Are there certain films that are more popular priate targets than others?  "Anything brand new," says Mann, and cited Raiders of the Lost Art as a current favorite.  "Star Wars is the most infringed film ni the history of the industry," he says. "Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back have never been released to the video market, so any cassettes you see of those films are illegal.""

http://books.google.com/books?id=okw1AAAAMAAJ&q=%22copyright+infringement%22+%22star+wars%22&dq=%22copyright+infringement%22+%22star+wars%22&hl=en&ei=vpn7TZqdJsbV0QGsnKHNAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBTgU

Business Week 1983

Quote: "Before Star Wars became available legally on tape, illegal cassettes priced at $500 found willing buyers."

Congressional Quarterly 1983

Quote: "There are also more subtle ways to lobby when it comes to issues ofimportance to Hollywood.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee, for example, were invited May 11 to dinner and a sneak preview of 'Return of the Jedi"

Video World-Wide : an International Study 1988

There have been many examples of pirated video movies in Australia.  For example, prints of the film Return of the Jedi were stolen from cinemas in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.  Subsequently video copies of this film were available in Australia before its cinema release.

1984 Year Book

The industry was growing as rapidly in 1983 that piracy became an increasing problem.  In some cases, no sooner was a film released than it began turning up on illegal cassettes throughout the world.  Studiios took extra precautions to guard prints so that they were not 'borrowed' from theaters overnight and copied.  For example, Return of the Jedi was reportedly stolen six times within two weeks.

Business Today 1983

Shortly after its release this summer, the box-office hit Return of the Jedi was stolen by video pirates six times from theaters in three states and Great Britain.  "This is an outrageous situation," exclaimed Robert Greber, president of Lucasfilm, producer of Return of the Jedi

CBS Evening News for Tuesday, Jul 12, 1983

Headline: Video Pirates

http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/program.pl?ID=291510

REPORTER: Dan Rather

(San Francisco, California) Econ. impact of video pirates on Return of the Jedi examined; scenes shown courtesy Lucasfilms. [Lucasfilms spokesperson Robert GREBER - anticipates violence in film thefts by video pirates.] Sec. measures taken by filmmakers noted. [Motion Picture Association of America spokesperson Dick BLOESER - questions film knowledge of thieves.]
REPORTER: Barry Petersen

nice article from the time, not on topic:

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20085640,00.html

August 08, 1983  Vol. 20  No. 6
The Forces Behind Jedi: Making Movie History Took Lucas & Co. to the Outer Limits

CBS Evening News for Friday, Jan 22, 1982 : Headline: Video Piracy

http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20110618668945312&code=tvn&RC=280077&Row=995

REPORTER: Dan Rather

(Chicago, Illinois) Conviction and sentencing of Peter Arcabascio for video piracy examined; his piracy of movies such as "Star Wars" noted. [ARCABASCIO - is stunned at sentence.] Extent of video piracy in Chicago noted. [Motion Picture Association spokesperson Richard BLOESER - cites blatancy of piracy here.] [US attorney Dan WEBB - comments.] Bootleg copies of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" said still selling. [Video retailer Ray NELSON - notes losses to piracy.] [Retailer Michael WEISS - comments.] [Retailer Lou PERRY - doesn't think piracy can be stopped.] Possible cause of situation considered.
REPORTER: Bob McNamara

CBS Evening News for Monday, Jun 14, 1982

http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20110618668945312&code=tvn&RC=284228&Row=994

(Studio) Supreme Court ruling on use of class action suits in job discrimination cases detailed; court decision on case involving union rights and campaign contributions outlined. Court said promising future hearing and decision on home videotape industry's possible infringement of copyright laws.
REPORTER: Dan Rather

(DC) Extent of home video recorder industry outlined; "Star Wars" cited as ex.; scenes shown. Basis of Sony Corp.'s appeal to Supreme Court explained; studios' position outlined. [Motion Picture Association president Jack VALENTI - explains studios' stance.] [Mfrs. attorney Charles FERRIS - responds.] Extent of situation considered.
REPORTER: Jeff Greenfield

ABC Evening News for Tuesday, Jan 18, 1983 - Headline: Supreme Court / Video Recorders

http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20110618668945312&code=tvn&RC=80705&Row=987

(Studio) Supreme Court reported hearing arguments today on Betamax case, involving home video recorders and possible infringement of copyright law.
REPORTER: Ted Koppel

(DC) Movie industry's opposition to home video recordings as intruding on their profits examined; "Star Wars" cited as example Scenes shown courtesy 20th Century Fox. Argument presented by Universal Studios attorney Stephen Kroft and apparent reaction of Justices Sandra O'Connor, Lewis F. Powell quoted on screen. [Sony Corporation attorney Dean DUNLAVEY - defs. home recordings.] Possible outcome of case considered.
REPORTER: Tim O'Brien Artist: Freda Reiter

ABC Evening News for Tuesday, Jan 24, 1984 - Headline: Video Piracy

http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20110618668945312&code=tvn&RC=86974&Row=964

(Studio) Supreme Court's recent ruling on home video recordings recalled.
REPORTER: Peter Jennings

(Travis AFB, California) Convicted video pirate United States Air Force Captain Eugene Horvath's case examined; his career background noted. [HORVATH - wants to return to duty.] August 1982 FBI raid on Horvath's home and confiscation of video equipment and bootleg tapes of such films as "Empire Strikes Back, Superman II" and "Raiders" of the Lost Ark recalled; scenes shown. [Motion Picture Association of America spokesperson Charlie VARNON - believes Horvath has paid his debt to society and motion picture industry] Horvath's defense against United States Air Force efforts to discharge him noted resting on claim that United States Air Force is also guilty of video piracy. [HORVATH - notes no. video movies possessed by United States Air Force.] Horvath's videotape of allegedly- illegal dubbing operation run by United States Air Force in Japan shown, discussed; Army recalled closing its similar taping ctrs. [HORVATH - denies doing anything wrong.]
REPORTER: Peter Lance

Attack of the Clones FTF

http://www.theforce.net/episode2/story/ap_talks_aotc_bootleg_67071.asp

A week before its scheduled release, illegal copies of "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones" are already appearing on the Internet.

One copy of the movie making the rounds online appears to have been recorded at a private showing, using a tripod-mounted digital camcorder pointed at the screen, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. Another copy apparently used a more sophisticated version of the same technique.

 

"It's an extremely serious threat," said Jean Murrell Adams, head of the litigation department at DreamWorks SKG. "I'm not surprised that it's on the Internet. I talk to pirates because I want to find out why they're doing this. And what I've been told is that they were eagerly anticipating who would be first to do this. It's a challenge for them."

 

http://strangetalk.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18377

http://theisonews.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=77441&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=eab458a5be7ec3e0c2e2392f69ac3e35

FTF & TucVcd & HaFVCD pre-release versions

Quality and sound supposedly suxxx, but is most likely the only pre-release.

A cam of a movie, as tightly-guarded as this one is, is still quite a fucking accomplishment.

 

The source of this is likely the screening wed night at the zeigfeld in NYC. The tapes were floating around downtown NYC 12 hours before this hit the servers so this is likely.

 

STAR WARS IS A FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT MOVIE... END OF STORY!!!!!!!!!

RotJ SE Workprint ending (temp music) direct from Avid system 1990s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqRmWI6VAtc

temp track in one of the comments is mentioned as "500 Nations" mini-series theme.  A documentary about American Indians.

via: Baronlando: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Sources-on-the-Special-Edition/topic/12849/post/508021/#TopicPost508021

*EDIT*

Previous discussion here: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Return-of-The-Jedi-Cut-with-Alternate-Workprint-Ending/topic/2154/

So I contacted Fritz (Video Collector) and he is sending me a copy of the full "Z" version. He merged the two VCD's to a single MPEG file. It'll be more complete than the version that is currently up on a.b.starwars. 

I'll update once I get the disc with it.

None, I know you'll probably want a copy of it. PM on how you want me to upload it.

A copy of the Z version sounds exciting! It's great that TPM boots are still in existence...

linke343 wrote: he is sending me a copy of the full "Z" version. He merged the two VCD's to a single MPEG file.

This is nice of both of you.  Looking forward to seeing the other half.

Note, especially with digital bootlegs there is information in the original which could be useful.  Digital forensics could learn something which might be lost as the files are modified.  Also original dates are important. 

But, if there is need to modify the original so be it.  Beggers can't be choosers.  And there is some value in modifying.  As the technology involved in some of these versions is not being supported by current computing.  I ran into problems playing several of the VCDs.  To get the screen caps, needed to jump though a few hoops to work with the files.  Had contemplated converting them to the DVD format as that format might last a little longer.  But the idea was to convert them only to the point that the original and this modified version would fit onto whatever media was chosen.  So AotC-ctp is 3 VCD's at 2.5 GB so the modified and the original could possible fit on a DVD5.  I held off on doing this as i'm not too adept with the aspect ratio thing (which I would like to correct) and interest is hard to guage.

None, what is the difference between TPMVHSNYC and TWC240_TPMB? They look very similar, but the sound seem less bassy on TWC240.

link343 wrote: what is the difference between TPMVHSNYC and TWC240_TPMB? They look very similar, but the sound seem less bassy on TWC240.

Same source different generation.  TPMVHSNYC seems closer to the capture.

TPMVHSNYC                                                                        TWC240_TPMB

TWC240 is most likely a VCR generation down, as the right side black bar has been increased.  The contrast is also higher.  TPMVHSNYC was found on the streets of NYC the week after film release and as that location has a history of bootlegging there's a good posibility this version originated there.  (but the width of the black bar on the right side, makes me think this is a second, third or fourth generation) TWC240 was found in the south east of the US.

The quote on TPMVHSNYC's cover (from usenet) is a possible clue towards the origin of this tape or a different bootleg:

alt.videos.bootlegs
May 26, 1999, 3:00 am

dkall26
"Filmed in a New York cinema with Hi8 Camcorder, Dead Centre, no obstructions, external audio quality mic used so really nice sound, framed apx 85% of widescreen picture.  Tripod shot, Steady as a rock, excellent colour."

The nice thing about TWC240 is that someone added to the tape a recording of a news program (Dateline) discussing the same bootleg.  But the version shown in the show has been even more modified, and my belief is the extra modification was done on purpose by the news program, or was supplied by the MPAA and they modified it.  (but if the MPAA/FBI are familiar with the bootlegging scene maybe they know who to go to, to find the same bootleg in various qualities)  In the report sections play fine (as in they look like the actual bootleg, except generally darker, could be show recording) then when they're discussing quality, then there is additional errors.  Example:

Dateline Version:                                                        TWC240:

If you'd like another news report on TPM bootleg, Ripplin's 'Star Wars Galore' tape was recently digitized and on disc 2 of this set, is the 'Extra' bootleg report:

Thread here:

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Ripplin-and-20-present-Star-Wars-Galore/topic/12962/

Disc contents here:

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/F-L-I-M-S-I-P-L-A-S-T-D-A-T-A-B-A-S-E/post/500333/#TopicPost500333

toho-scope wrote: waaaaay back in 1999 my dad somehow got a VHS bootleg of TPM and it sucked it was a piss poor cam job with blurry video worse audio and *possible* sections of the movie missing but it was so long ago ive probably forgotten but it didnt have the "z" in picture just a timecode on the top possibly the camcorders

We haven't come across any TPM's with timecode, so this is new to us!  Would you classify it as timecode as in two sets of number or just a running counter in the corner, then that would probably be a homemade addition.

fast forward to 2005 and me and my frend tom watched a bootleg dvd of episode 3 which didnt have the backstroke subtitles instead it had a timecode and sections missing including r2d2 falling upside down in the hanger and had artifacts all the time especially pronounced in fast motion

The R2 falling sequence is near a reel change so that's a good explanation for it's omission.

The first post has links to pics, if you want to check them out see if seeing pictures might jog some memories.

That audience reaction is interesting. It sounds like they were REALLY excited for the third movie... I wonder how many of them were still that enthusiastic by the end ;)

Nice find, toho-scope!

toho-scopre wrote: opening credits,crawl of ROTJ with audience reaction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNw65465h0&feature=feedrec_grec_index

Wow that is wonderful.  An opening day recording, and it sounds like a very festive audience.  Love the boooos.

Hey, sorry if it's been mentioned before, but will Zion and Adywan's ROTS Theatrical Reconstructions (sourced from the ROTS telecine circulating at the time ROTS was in theaters) be included in the opening post? I'm not sure exactly when these where made but they do use a theatrical telecine...

Ripplin said:

The Aluminum Falcon said:

Zion and Adywan's ROTS Theatrical Reconstructions

Whoa, what? Never heard of that. Where is that?

I'm talking about these ones shown here. That thread is the only place I see them mentioned. I've never actually seen them but, if I recall correctly, the thread hints that they're from the telecine with personally made end credits and opening crawls.

EDIT: Darth Mallwalker describes the DVDs more in depth in this post. I was right; both of these are mostly using the aAF telecine. More info would be handy. I believe these were made before the official DVD since they had to recreate the end credits rather than just splice it from the DVD.

Moth3r wrote: Makes me glad I live in the UK - our cinema-going audiences are much more reserved.

This RotJ is a rare beast, most crowds don't talk back to the movie.  (People do have their own conversations, unfortunately too often)

The Aluminum Falcon wrote: Hey, sorry if it's been mentioned before, but will Zion and Adywan's ROTS Theatrical Reconstructions (sourced from the ROTS telecine circulating at the time ROTS was in theaters) be included in the opening post?

No.  Going from the descriptions in the posts mentioned above, since they both modified the original source, either by adding from a second source or creating from scratch additional material that's going to keep these kind of things off the list in the first post.

But will add some of the versions mentioned which hadn't been brought up earlier.  RotS GTR & RotS KKi

Although aAF has been mentioned previously i've shy'd away from it as I was unsure what it was.  Is aAF the same as the INTERNAL.DVDRip.XviD which might not be a DVDRip?  INTERNAL.DVDRip.XviD has a file name date of 2005.06.04 which seems on the early side.  .nfo:

2005-06-04
Star.Wars.Episode.III.Revenge.of.the.Sith.INTERNAL.DVDRip.XviD

some notes:

We aren't going to say where the source came from, for obvious reasons. BUT we will say this, it isn't a TC. You can tell
by the way the craft lands, the vibrations etc. It's not a retail though, it ain't far off.

Shouts out to Georgey boy.

File sizes are: 730.8mb & 729.7mb.