logo Sign In

Laserman

User Group
Members
Join date
11-May-2004
Last activity
6-Sep-2007
Posts
903

Post History

Post
#80871
Topic
StarWarsLegacy.com - The Official Thread
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/80871/action/topic#80871
Time
Mverta, I hope to get some time on the scanner when I get back in a fortnight - I'll do at least a Starfield scan for you. What rez do you want the image at?
I may be able to get hold of a '97 SE release complete on film of SW and ROTJ (except unfortunately for the last reel of ROTJ) , are there any segments of interest on the 97SE? (i.e. scenes that were still the same as the 77 release, but were since changed on the DVD)
My knowledge of the 97SE is very limited....
Post
#80442
Topic
combustion v after effects
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/80442/action/topic#80442
Time
I can second the idea of cramming as much RAM as possible into the MAC - We run 4GB in ours, and it made a huge performance difference over the 1GB we were running previously. Also means I can have everything open at once that I want to use - helps a lot with workflow.
I couldn't live without Shake and its scripting, I can write something in a minute to do things that would be tedious or impossible to do manually in other programs - but it is an acquired taste for sure, and coming from a programming background doesn't hurt either.

As for the graphics card, it helps if you are running at obscene resolutions, but we mainly see the difference in Maya more than anything else.
Post
#80428
Topic
Info: DanielB - Give capitalism a chance!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/80428/action/topic#80428
Time
You usually don't have to apply yourself, it is often done by the people that organise the film festivals themselves, as they pick from the thousands of films submitted - Just because you put yours in doesn't mean it will be shown of course. Then if it is a well organised festival, they will get the classification exemption. I am a registered classification agent and can classify games and short films, and I often fill this role, or get the required exemptions at festivals/showings etc.

You don't really have to wait for anyone else to get the script written, or at least the treatment. Make sure you register you stuff with a writers guild or similar - it protects you, and is a really good idea.
Post
#80291
Topic
Info: Let's call a truce and get back on topic
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/80291/action/topic#80291
Time

I think we all know what each other’s positions are on how original an OT needs to be etc. and because we are all human, some of our positions may not be consistent, or make sense to others, or may change over time.

Soooo… howzabout we all agree to stop slagging each other off and push our energies into getting on with it all. Let’s call a truce, agree that we are all mad and get back to our obsessions

I for one am not going to post anymore criticisms of peoples viewpoints, or defend my own. I will offer technical advice, or ask for explanation if I don’t get something or whatever. Also, if anyone wants there actual work critiqued, I am happy to help out for what its worth. I will also continue to make horrible spelling and grammatical errors

So no more ‘last words’ or posturing (well from me anyhow).

-Laserman

Post
#80290
Topic
Info Wanted: German HDTV rip
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/80290/action/topic#80290
Time
To get back to the HDTV transfer...

It is a better source for material than the SE LD. Basically it is the same content, but with better quality video.
Don't let the PAL thing throw you off, as it is an easy recompile back to 24fps to use as a DVD master.
It could be a good place to get some of the orginal frames back etc. that were lost in the DVD release. It's a shame its not the original OT, but it is less bastardised than the DVD release, and so some recovery is possible.

SO by combining the two, you could get something that was closer to the original trilogy than the DVD is, with better video quality than the laserdiscs.

As for using it to splice into the original laserdiscs, the effect is so jarring as to be unwatchable. I don't quite understand the reasoning behind doing it.
On one hand you could argue that you are putting the best available frames into the original trilogy. But what is the reason for doing that?

I agree (kind of) that it doesn't change the film *theoretically* (i.e. you have the same frame count, and the same things happen on the same frames) , but in reality you get something that is just plain weird, and is unwatchable as a film. So really you end up with something that is much further away from the experience of watching the OT, than just watching the laserdiscs, or a straight laserdisc transfer to DVD. You are much closer to the original just watching the laserdisc.

If the laserdisc and the DVD and the HDTV version were the only copies of the film in existence anywhere, then it would kinda make some sort of sense to do it from a historical viewpoint - but it's simply not the case, the film has been archived at the AFI and other places, and on VHS in many versions and on LD in many versions - so I don't really see the point of it.

And before we get too pedantic, we should all realise we are archiving the Laserdisc release of the film (which has been modified from the theatrical release) and not archiving the film itself.
Post
#80287
Topic
Info: DanielB - Give capitalism a chance!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/80287/action/topic#80287
Time
You'd like to be a film maker, so you know enough??

/Start stupid rant/

C'mon Daniel, stop wishing and start doing! Australia would have to be the easiest place in the world to be a film maker. I remember years and years ago, when I was stateside I saw Stephen King on set (I was a lowly grip) and one of the cameramen was talking to him saying 'I always wanted to be a writer', and SK turned to him and said something I never forgot.... "Writers write". That's all he said and walked away.
And it is so true, writers don't want to be writers, they write, and film makers don't want to be film makers, they make films.
I saved up my mowing money (for 7 months) when I was 11 to buy a 2nd hand Super 8 camera and a reel of film, and attempted a stop motion feature with my Star Wars figures. To my surprise it (kinda) worked, and I haven't stopped making films since. Talk to nearly any film maker and they have one thing in common - they actually make films, whether they get distributed or not, whether they are any good or not - that's what they do. And many of them hold down a 'normal' job and family at the same time.

You don't even seem to have the drive to do something that you supposedly feel passionate about - i.e. making an archival OT transfer - even though doing so would start to build some of the skills you would need to start doing films of your own.

If you really wanted to do any of this stuff, there would be no stopping you.

/End Stupid Rant/

Seriously, my offer is real of lending you the Laserdiscs, catpure card, software to make your own OT. I'll even lend you a burner. (I promise this is my last Daniel baiting)

Whew, OK now that I have offended everybody, I gotta go pack, I've got to supervise a shoot and will be away for about a week if all goes to plan. I'll check in here if I have time.
To everyone actually making a transfer, may your edits be glitch free, may your free space be plentiful and your laserdiscs be sparkle free.
Post
#80000
Topic
combustion v after effects
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/80000/action/topic#80000
Time
If you are on the PC, then combustion is the ducks guts, I'd use it over AE anyday for the colour correction and paint tools. I find it more intuitive, but then I was brought up on Infernos and flint/flame systems, so it was already familiar to me I guess.
But like everything it's not perfect, and I have some tools in AE that I still use because I can get the job done faster there. But if I was forced to only use one for the rest of time it would be combustion.
Now that it is sooo cheap it is a much better buy. Oh and BTW, the V4 is looking very nice indeed.

EIther would do the job, but for frame by frame restoration I would only use combustion.
Post
#79990
Topic
Info: DanielB - Give capitalism a chance!
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/79990/action/topic#79990
Time
Jeez DanielB, stop making us Aussies look bad

You obviously know very little about the film industry here or in the US, I've worked in both and can tell you the independent film market is alive and kicking in both, and both countries are horribly capitalistic - that's how it is.

Anyway, get off your arse and make your own version, I'll even lend you the DE laserdiscs, and a PC based capture card and all the software required, and instructions on how to do it. All you have to do is get a laserdisc player (available second hand for about the cost of the SE trilogy on DVD)

As I said before, if you really cared you would do it - so stop whining and produce your own transfer.
Post
#79210
Topic
***The MeBeJedi feedback thread ***
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/79210/action/topic#79210
Time
Ahh Danielb, if you really cared you would do it yourself and stop whining. End of of story.
Haven't got time or resources? Youd make time and get the gear if you *really* cared.
The fact that you haven't even shown an inkling in that direction means you don't care as much as you'd like to make out. It reminds me of people in my town that get outraged that no-one is helping the poor and destitute that litter our streets - they complain about it, and get on their soap box and demand that something be done - but I don't see them down with us in the soup kitchens at 7 in the morning.

So it really means the preservation of this trilogy is a low priority for you, and that's fine - but stop giving everyone else a hard time about it. If you pitch in to help, well and good and you will even find people willing to help, and you can do it your way.

Going on your argument, the original trilogy should *never* be watched on a television at all.
The changes required to get it onto TV (massive drop of resolution, totally different colour space) causes a big change in the way the film works (e.g. in wide shots you cannot see character's facial expressions which you can on film, which changes the effect of certain shots, which is why Cameron preferws Pan and Scan for some of his releases)

Enid Blyton's books have been preserved and archived, they are not going to disappear, new censored versions (that I don't think is a good idea) are out in addition to the old ones, and will perhaps let people share the essence of the great stories with their kids, that might not have done so otherwise because of worries over racial issues etc. because they were written when the world was a different place. I don't like it, but there is a place for modified versions.

As for original paintings, nearly every aging painting you see in galleries *is* restored, i.e. other painters have gone over them, added paint and repaired them - this is standard practice.

But really, your views are known, so start your own forums about them and discuss them, as it just causes all of these ones to go off topic really. (ANd I never need much encouragement to do that!)
Post
#79207
Topic
Do you think George Lucas might release the original triloggy
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/79207/action/topic#79207
Time
I don't think you guys get it, he will really never ever ever release the OT the way it was.
He has done the equivalent of 'I have no son!'. He has stated again and again that he can't stand them in their original versions.

So as far as he is concerned he hates the way the original films were released with a passion. As far as historical stuff goes, he considers the many many laserdisc, VHS and archived film copies out there more than enough - if he could he go and destroy them too so there was no evidence of the films in the version that he detests so badly.
Sure he changes his mind a lot, but it would take a religious awakening of momentous proportions to change his mind on this one.

If he suddenly had an apoplectic fit and changed hs mind, even financially it would make no sense, the costs to bring the OT as it was to DVD would be extensive, (contrary to popular belief there is no single digitised version of the OT at the ranch, just reams and reams of digitised elements) and how many copies would he sell of a faded Stereo version of the films - I would guess 100,000 copies at an absolute extreme, which isn't worth the effort from a money point of view.

About the only hope of ever seeing it on DVD would be if the AFI decided to digitize the film as a preservation measure and someone got a hold of it and leaked the terrabyte or so of files to someone who would compile it onto DVD and bootleg it.


Post
#79070
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/79070/action/topic#79070
Time
Re. the title crawl - Maybe they just thought English speaking people are impatient from a diet of Hollywood action films and fast food, so sped up their version?
Yeah I matted the title crawl from the foreign version, it works a treat.
If you really want a frame accurate solution , bite the bullet and go to Windows XP, then you can choose from premiere pro, combustion, Avid Xpress etc. and really get moving.
If you need help then PM me.
Post
#79069
Topic
***The MeBeJedi feedback thread ***
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/79069/action/topic#79069
Time
Well DanielB, you really do seem to feel very very passionate about the trilogy being preserved as is, it seems to be an extremely important issue to you.
My advice is that you go get a laserdisc player, and a faces set and start on your own project. It would be welcomed with open arms I am sure.
People that are truly passionate about things get in and take some action and do it. People that don't really have it, sit back and wish their lives away. It often means sacrifices of time, money etc. but that is what true passion and belief is all about. So step up to the plate, and add another release to the mix, we will all be very excited to see it, and there are many here that share your view of how it should be, so get in there!

Mebe, glad to hear you are making progress, betchya never thought it was going to be this big a job when you started out?
Post
#78962
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/78962/action/topic#78962
Time
LOL, I remember Steve Williams being passed out on my hotel room floor after he (and other ILMers) finished drinking the entire contents of my mini bar at Siggraph back in the mid/late 90s. I had to explain the bill when I got back to work , I put it down to a 'Business Lunch' with ILM Employees. Yep he knows his stuff, but was a burnt out wreck that year!
It was done in SoftImage in those days, if you could still call it SI with all of the ILM bolt ons that they added to the base package, they modified the crap out of that software.

Ahhh I don't mind being on the receiving end of a bit of a rant, I do enuf of it myself, and after re-reading my post I do come off as a bit of a tool Having directors stand screaming at you after not sleeping for a week is much worse. I guess I just didn't understand what was trying to be achieved?

BTW, has anyone checked the PAL DVD version to see if the Star Wars opening crawl is the correct speed? It would be easy to rip it and drop it into the NTSC release if it is...


Post
#78688
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/78688/action/topic#78688
Time
I'm not dissing the attempt, everyone has their own take on this stuff, and does their own thing - that's cool.
Its just that to me, the difference between the DVD and the laserdisc is SO drastic, that blending the two, you end up with something that is much much further away from the original trilogy 'preservation' than the straight laserdiscs currently are.
I agree that the original edit is the important thing, but to hash the two together looks so bad, that the only way to make it look not obsecene is to dumb down the DVD footage so that it is closer to the awful quality of the laserdisc. Its more than a few seconds, I calculated 14 minutes of changes - that's quite a bit. I did a quick run at this when the DVD came out, and the inserts are so jarring that it totally spoils the experience of watching the film.

If you want a less offensive version of the film, while retaining the quality of the DVD transfer, then just plain scene removal, and recreating other scenes using elements the DVD source footage to exactly match the laserdisc footage where possible would be your best bet. will work for a lot of it, except for Jedi, which personally I think is a lost cause. ESB is an easy one though.

I agree that the 97SE Jabba scen is way better than the 04 one, what's up with that (Though I detest both scenes), I still think its a botch job in animation though, looks like it was done in truespace lol.
Post
#78649
Topic
Thought on de-SE'ing the DVD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/78649/action/topic#78649
Time
If you really want to go down the path of DE-SEing the DVD, first just take a listen to the soundtracks, whole sections of the films were *completely* re-scored. This is the biggest challenge, the music is completely different, and runs for different lengths of time, and is going to be near impossible to sort out to be seamless for some scenes.

Also, anyone that thinks they are going to drop Laserdisc footage into the DVD release and not have it noticed is nuts. anyone that thinks it won't instantly look like crapola is nuts too.
We are not talking a small drop in quality here, we are talking a major major chasm between the two. You would probably be better off running the old 'super 8' versions through a high end film scanner than using the laserdiscs (lol). Really though, the difference is so great that it is instantly jarring to the viewer.

However you could make the DVD look just as crappy as the laserdiscs and then insert the footage, but what does that gain?

What is possible is with software like combustion and Mokey is to reconstruct and paint out some of the horrible added features using just the DVD as the source, and removing the awful added scenes, and running a bit of colour correction to it, to come up with a 'less offensive' Special edition, but you will never end up with an original trilogy out of it.