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Chris Solo

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Join date
2-Aug-2013
Last activity
22-Mar-2023
Posts
59

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Post
#970176
Topic
Starchaser Legend of Orin 3D - 35mm 3D Preservation & Restoration (* Unfinished Project *)
Time

Yeah I actually have a rip of the VHD on my home theater server in SBS format but it’s not 2.35 so either it’s either panned and scanned or the scope DVD is cropped to 2.35 which I kind of doubt but need to check. The 3D is impressive but the quality is sub par. Having a high definition, scope, full 3D version will be nice.

Post
#969918
Topic
Starchaser Legend of Orin 3D - 35mm 3D Preservation & Restoration (* Unfinished Project *)
Time

PLEASE NOTE: New lower fund raising goal…

I have opted to use a different cleaner/scanner which will save some money but I will still be having the print cleaned and scanned at 4K. Without any help I couldn’t entertain the other service offer but the project will continue. The reels are going out next week. My new goal is substantially lower so please PM me if you can help. The print is paid for and the storage is paid for. I just want help to go toward the scan. Thanks folks!

GOAL: $500.00


Hello fellow OriginalTrilogy.com members. This is the official project thread for my first effort here and I think I picked a fun one. First of all let me say that I thoroughly enjoy everything you all do to make MY movie viewing experiences better. You all do some truly phenomenal stuff. Now I know there are folks who have completed or are working on things like THE Original Trilogy and restoring classics like Fantasia and I am sadly not one of them. However, when I saw a 35mm print on ebay of that classic and wholly original animated feature from 1985 that is in no way a rip off of Star Wars called STARCHASER THE LEGEND OF ORIN, and in 3D to boot, well I jumped on it, jumped in it actually, head first I’m afraid. I say that because I purchased the print not having any idea what I would do with it when I got it. It arrived today on 6 2000’ reels. There is no vinegar smell just as the ebay seller had stated and is, as advertised, Over/Under 3D. The print is an Eastman LPP. While I can’t verify, it was said to have zero splices and based on not only the seller rating and reviews on Ebay but on my communication with him, I have no fears. I would like to lay out the game plan for the project before I arrive at the inevitable.

First, I am having each reel cleaned and prepped using a Lipsner Smith ultra-sonic cleaner on them, adding 15 foot leaders and transferring each reel to lab cores. Next up will be scanning. Now I am very excited because the reels will be scanned at 4K on the best scanner currently available on planet Earth. I was told that normally to have a film this length scanned at 4K, it would cost in the neighborhood of $25,000 plus storage. I can’t afford to live in that neighborhood BUT the offer on the table is to scan for the incredible price of $1,000.00 for the entire film plus storage! Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and apparently he’s partial to 3D animated films from the 80s 😉 With regards to storage, a 2000‘ reel needs a little over 3tb so I’m planning on going with TWO 4tb drives per reel. They can be had for around $130 on Amazon and with two HDDs per reel the risk of data loss is greatly reduced. Now, unless my math is way, way off we’re looking at:

Clean and prep: $720.00
4K Scanning: $1000.00
Storage: $1560.00
Insured Shipping: $250.00

That’s $3,530.00 to get back six HDDs with a 16bit per pixel TIFF image sequence, and a matching WAV file for the audio (plus six backup HDDs).

I’m basing the shipping on what it cost to ship the reels to me here in Florida from the Ebay seller in Cali. I would imagine that the $3500 figure is fairly representative of the total needed. NOW, I have no problem whatsoever passing the raw scans to anyone who wants to do cleanup, color correction, etc. I have no plans to just sit on the scans and insist on doing the entire thing myself. ORIGINALTRILOGY is all about group effort. It should be straight forward enough to sync the image sequence up with the soundtrack and push out a “grindhouse” 3D version since the format means the left and right eye are already perfectly aligned on each frame. A high def “grindhouse" 2D version will probably be simple enough too. But the higher resolution of the 4K scan means that doing a half SBS 3D release will yield a better image. And my ultimate goal is to separate the left and right eyes and create a full resolution frame packed 3D blu-ray. The scans will need to have dust and scratch removal done I’m sure as well as color correction like I mentioned earlier. I am completely open to whatever anyone wants to suggest as how to best proceed once the scanning is done. But obviously the most critical thing right now is getting enough folks on board with the project so we can get to that point. The print is paid for and I am not trying to recoup that. Also,I am going to go ahead and have the first reel cleaned, prepped and scanned immediately. It’s going to cost, I figure, $450-$500 for one reel and while I don’t have the extra cash I do have a credit card and I think it will be important to get started in earnest. Getting that done will not only allow me to show everyone something but it should hopefully help bring some more people on board. I don’t know much about the history of the soundtrack of the film, but in addition to the audio on the print itself, I also own the DVD release from 2005 as well as a laserdisc which is how I discovered the flick back in 1990. I am assuming the content of the soundtrack is the same across all the platforms but we shall see. I know this isn’t as high profile as some of the other projects but I have read great things about the 3D on this movie. It was billed as the first feature length animated film in 3D. It’s a blatantly fun rip off of Star Wars and I just hope there are enough members who want to see it restored as bad as I do. Naturally let me beat the preverbial dead horse and state again that I am needing help in the monetary department first and foremost. If I don’t get the donations to move forward, I will still get the scan done and I’ll still make it available to the members here but it will take a long, long, long time due to the costs. I have set up a paypal.me account so PM me for more information. I will be keeping a thorough accounting of the project costs.

As for the finished project, as I mentioned, I would like to see a straight forward Over/Under 3D release (grindhouse and restored versions), a 2D release (also grindhouse and restored versions), a half SBS 3D version (restored only) and a FULL SBS/Frame Packed 3D version. Again, I am an open to whatever ideas or suggestions any of you have and certainly, if you know of any behind the scenes stuff, let me know. There are a few trailers on youtube and I will recreate them with the restored footage but I have found no making of specials or HBO First Look type specials.

Thanks for reading and if you want to see this in high def and in true 3D as bad as I do, PM me. “Never dig up. Up is hell.” (it’s not Star Wars so I couldn’t very well use May the Force be With You)

Post
#967975
Topic
working with 3D
Time

I’m about to be in possession of a 35mm print of Starchaser The Legend of Orin.

http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Starchaser-The-Legend-of-Orin-35mm-Print-OverUnder-3D-I-got-it/id/50799

I’ll start an official project thread, or update my existing, when I get the reels in and am ready to get going. Looking down the road a bit though, once the scan is complete I want to have a couple of options for the 3D. The plan is a 4K scan due to the nature of the 35mm 3D format (Over/Under). One option will be straight up over/under 3D. Simple enough. Would be nice to have SBS as well but my ultimate goal, not knowing AT ALL how to approach it, is to take the left eye and right eye and re-merge them as frame packed which would offer the best HD 3D experience (I’ll be offering a 2D version as well). Is there a script written I could use in AVISynth or is this something that might possibly be available in off the shelf NLE? I am versed enough with avisynth to screw something up. Looking for some advice and feel free to PM me if you want to help get the ball rolling. The print is paid for and shipped today. But getting the reels cleaned, prepped for scanning and getting enough HDDs to store everything is probably going to end up close to $3000 or so..

Jedit: Cleaning and scanning is being done now and my cost was $535 for 4K scan, $180 shipping round trip and $96 for a 2tb HDD. Files are being delivered as 4K raw dng.

Post
#967671
Topic
Help Wanted: Starchaser The Legend of Orin 35mm Print OverUnder 3D - I got it...
Time

I’ve heard about a planned live action remake but it’s been a while. If that moves ahead I can’t imagine this not getting an official release but I’m sure what can be accomplished by the folks here will still be better than anything official. That being said, I don’t anticipate selling anything to anybody nor do I think they’d ask. There has been a DVD release so I’m sure the elements are sitting on a server somewhere but not enough folks are demanding it.

Post
#967480
Topic
Help Wanted: Starchaser The Legend of Orin 35mm Print OverUnder 3D - I got it...
Time

Yes I want to maximize resolution in order to hopefully create a frame packed 3D blu ray. Guess I need to ask if there is anyone interested in chipping in to pay for everything. The print is taken care of. Cleaning would run approx $720 at those estimated per reel cost. As for HDDs, we all know what they run. Let me know if you want to help with this. It let everyone know when the reels arrive.

Post
#967348
Topic
Help Wanted: Starchaser The Legend of Orin 35mm Print OverUnder 3D - I got it...
Time

Payment made, shipping being arranged. I’m excited about this. As for the exact details on the print:

It’s being delivered on SIX 2000’ reels on cores.
It is an Eastman LPP with supposedly good colors and no fading.
There are no splices.

I discovered the whole fan edit subculture (it is a subculture right?) when I came upon a nifty little movie called Superman Redeemed back in the day and was impressed with what the editor did. Then I found out about Harmy. Now there is a restoration under way of Fantasia?!? Enough said. I have benefited from this place and the spleen immensely so I hope there are some die hard Starchaser fans who will get a kick out of this. Now I need to find a print of Disney’s Condorman (my DVD just isn’t cutting it) and that other 3D flick that I shouldn’t like, Spacehunter. EDIT: Gotta get a 3D print of Captain EO too while I’m wishing…

Post
#967283
Topic
Help Wanted: Starchaser The Legend of Orin 35mm Print OverUnder 3D - I got it...
Time

Took a stab at an offer because I want to see this film preserved in high def 2D and 3D. It will be no problem to get the reels BUT I will have zero equipment or knowledge to allow me to restore this myself.

I’m looking for help folks. The print was advertised as having no splices or jump cuts, nor vinegar smell. The pics uploaded look good. It is Over/Under but I’d love to have a couple of options for release: O/U (which should work fine if I can get it straight up transferred), SBS and frame packed which technically I know can all be accomplished but like I said I need some folks to do the heavy lifting or at least help out. I’m not opposed to trying a home brew telecine and I’m not After Effects illiterate but not ready to teach any classes neither. PM me if you want to help. I am doing this for myself because I love this flick for some reason but the restoration will be for everyone of course!!! I don’t know the history of the soundtracks but in addition to the commercially released DVD, I also have a laserdisc of the film and if I am not mistaken, it was a Japan release (english mono). Not 100% on that but it was part of a box of LDs I bought 20 years ago from a guy in the Navy who had been stationed over there. OT but I paid $100 for a box of 30 discs and one of them was Song of the South. Lucked out. Thankfully I have better copies of that these days but I was watching it when others were only dreaming about it lol Anywho, I am at a loss as to WHERE to start once the reels get in but am definitely READY to start. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to break the bank but if anyone wants to help pay for the print, I won’t turn ya down but it’s really not necessary as long as I can get some help with transfer and restoration, otherwise I will have a curious collectible set of film reels and nothing to do with them. Thanks errbody 😉 EDIT*** The LD I have of this is a US release and contains a stereo soundtrack, not a mono.

Post
#960087
Topic
Info Thread: 3D Movies Preservation
Time

Charles Threepio said:

I’d like to see full HD 3D restorations of Spacehunter and Metalstorm (both of which I have on '80s VHS cassettes, respectively using the right and left eyes). I’d especially love to see Spacehunter in 3D without those annoying Japanese subtitles (they’re not annoying per se, it’s the hardcoding that annoys me).

–Charles Threepio
Human-Logo Enthusiast Relations

Metalstorm is releasing this September from SHOUT Factory. It’s on Amazon pre order now. I want Spacehunter and Starchaser myself.

Post
#958486
Topic
Info Thread: 3D Movies Preservation
Time

Anyone ever get this title?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-35mm-FEATURE-FILM-STARCHASER-THE-LEGEND-OF-ORIN-OVER-UNDER-3-D-PRINT-/152134924941?hash=item236bf2ba8d:g:5~wAAOSwbYZXXGYL

I am tempted to snap it up but want to make sure someone here would be able to do the transfer. I don’t have the equipment but I’m really wanting to see this in 3D. Guilty pleasure.

Post
#957985
Topic
TFA: A Gentle Restructure (Released)
Time

Skipped to the halfway point and watched it through the end. Much better to have events unfold like this. It gives a greater sense of urgency to the attack, even though I know the original through and through, the idea that maybe they’ll get the job done before SKB fires makes for a more engaging experience IMO. Always thought the Hosnian Prime destruction being visible was dumb. Watching this the very first time in the theater I left thinking SKB should have fired just before it was destroyed. Now if you can make Leia hug Chewie…lol I can definitely see the finished edit being my preferred way to watch this and definitely the way I’d show it to anyone watching for the first time if such people exist.

Post
#946311
Topic
TFA: A Gentle Restructure (Released)
Time

This was the only aspect that really bothered me. There were other little things but as soon as I saw TFA, as much as I enjoyed it, I started thinking that I hoped someone would make a fan edit that does exactly what you are describing. I agree the movie would have been so much better. They succeed in destroying SKB but not before The First Order destroy Hosnian Prime. I’m looking forward to following this project.

Post
#897030
Topic
<strong>&quot;From Star Wars to Jedi The Making of a Saga&quot; - now in HD</strong> (Released)
Time

What a cool idea. I may hijack this a bit. I have a 2.35 screen home theater so I think I’m going to take your approach and format everything for scope. To clarify, the HD clips would fill my screen top to bottom and side to side and the SD clips would fill the screen top to bottom and have pillar boxing on the sides. I did this for the classic THX Wow demo some time back. Lost my drive 😦 But seriously, what a cool idea man. Kudos.

Post
#891270
Topic
The Force Awakens : Fan Edit Ideas
Time

Bingowings said:

One change that might make this film a bit different from ANH is making the main goal of building the Starkiller to take out the Republic capital and their fleet and the whole purpose of entering the base and trying to destroy it is to prevent that.
A countdown graphic could be added to rank up the tension and the base would be destroyed but too late to save the targets so the footage of the core worlds being destroyed comes after the weapon has been destroyed. This would make the ending even more bitter sweet because not only have we lost Han but also the Republic government and defences all in the final act.
The capital being destroyed wouldn’t be an exact mirror of Alderaan but instead would play out like Yavin 4 being destroyed and a few survivors looking on in horror from escaping ships.
The First Order may have lost their big gun but it has done it’s main job. They won.

THIS. Honestly I enjoyed the movie save for the handling of the Starkiller base. When I read today that deleted scenes were going to be included with the official BD release, I immediately headed over here to see how many threads for fan edits had started haha. The base should be priming to blow up the Hosnian (sp?) system NOT the resistance base. Everything can go down the same way but have the Starkiller base destroy the Republic system then Starkiller can go on and implode from the resistance attack. Having rebel personal, I mean resistance personal sitting on another planet waiting for an attack to prevent their destruction is too much for me.

Post
#884532
Topic
Harmy's RETURN OF THE JEDI Despecialized Edition HD - V3.1
Time

Bloody outstanding! Like borisanddoris, I just watched this in my home theater room. Sixteen foot wide scope screen, MKV played back via a Dune Smart D1 and I was blown away. I can only imagine what the final, fully realized version will look like. I applaud you for the dedication and I envy you for the talent. To quote Clark Griswold, because I am going to be able to do a proper OT marathon leading up to next Thursday, “This is gonna be the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny f****** Kay!”

Post
#726136
Topic
Harmy's STAR WARS Despecialized Edition HD - V2.7 - MKV (Released)
Time

Here's a little example of why this work is really important Harmy.  My dad and I have always had Star Wars.  It is just as big as watching football or baseball together, if not bigger.  I waited a long time to become a dad myself (I'm a ripe old 42).  My son is seven now.  My dad is visiting and he suggested the three of us watch Star Wars.  He was not aware of the Despcialized Editions and I really don't know why I haven't told him.  He is visiting because he is terminally ill.  I can't tell you how special it was to him for the three generations to see the film that he and I loved instead of the inferior SE.  He was totally amazed and impressed that a fan did this.  Of course he has his own copies now to take back home (shame on me for neglecting this) and my son and I have a memory that can't be erased the same way Sebastian Shaw was in ROTJ.