Its_Auto

RU.08 said:

A donor encode is now available (well I can make it available to all donors in a couple of hours - PM me if you donated). This is not considered a final version at this stage and was the result of 2 separate print scans.

We’re not using VHS or LD or anything other than film as the reference for theatrical colour timing. The operator of a SD telecine was literally called a “colourist” because they would grade the transfer on-the-fly for home video or broadcast. There’s nothing at all theatrically accurate about that process, and they come from what are known as “TV prints” which are 16mm prints struck specifically for telecine.

Thanks for the speedy reply RU.08 😃 That’s greats news regarding using film! [In regards to VHS and TV broadcasts, you are absolutely spot on - though I brought it up as I have found many examples of the earliest of home releases and TV airing from early 80s having very little changes made (in example, one movie I obsess over - ‘The Evil Dead’, the earliest 1982 pre-cert vhs/Beta/v2000 release from Palace was a lot rougher and radically different colour from all other releases afterwards - cross referencing with lobby cards and tweaking between the two as an approximation, I was surprised how close it ended up when I finally got my hands on a ‘Book of the Dead’ transfer (only minimal differences in colour temperature) - applying the same method as a ‘rough guide’ for Alien, the first print you showed (blue/green tint in the ‘Ash’ scene, and darker overall image in the jockey scene then home releases etc, grey nostromo model) seems exactly what I would have estimated - even with the theatrical lobby cards… I just thought it was worth mentioning in case you guys were torn between the two (though I have no doubt that this is in safe hands with you guys - I hope it didn’t come across as me trying to tell granny how to suck eggs! Apologies if it did ^^;

Regarding sending links to those who backed/donated. If it’s not too bold to ask, I know you aren’t accepting donations towards this anymore, but as it’s my join all time fave movie,and I’m late to the party, I figured I’d ask: I’m willing to donate to one of your other projects (of your choice!) may I be included in getting the early transfer of alien with the others today too? (As opposed to the other movie I was donating into)? 😃 I often prefer the rougher transfers to the final versions

JB

Hi,

I’ve been watching this project/thread for a while, and whilst I’m sure you guys have exceptional references for theatrical colour grading already, I thought I’d offer some input:

As one of my all time favourite movies, I’ve got a wide selection of transfers of this film from various home video releases and TV recordings. Often, people are quick to regrade everything to Laserdisc colours, but with this project having two scanned prints of differing colours, I thought I’d mention that the first set of screenshots (darker blue/green tint to Ash) you posted are highly likely to be more ‘1979 theatrically accurate’ than the cleaner ‘whiter’ screenshot of Ash from the second print. This is based on the very first pre-cert VHS release, and the very first USA TV airing, both sharing colours much closer to ‘print 1’ and hold up when cross referenced to theatrical lobby cards/early promo stills. Interestingly, the second ever USA TV airing shared similarities with your second print. If you like, I can contribute some screencaptures? 😃

Also, silly question, but where will this release be made available when it is ready? Will myspleen be a good shout? (I’m not as familiar with releases on original trilogy or how to get involved, but I’d like to!) 😃

Apologies if this looks like a duplicate post, I posted a while ago some months back but I cant see it in the convo anywhere

JB