For the quick English release, the titles and infographics from Bluray will have to do I guess. They’ll just be cleaner 😛
The easiest and quickest thing is to take the audio from laserdisc and use the video from the first grindhouse release for a makeshift English version that will have to do until the proper restoration arrives.
We just didn’t want people having to wait months with absolutely nothing in their hands after helping us out so much with donations
The first grindhouse release will just serve the purpose of having something concrete so that people who kindly donated won’t have to wait months before seeing anything at all.
I did already make Ebglish subtitles though.
I have some more questions about the US version:
Am I correct in assuming that the previously mentioned 16mm prints have mono sound that can be made complete? If so, will that be included on the US cut release, or just LD audio?
Am I also correct in assuming that the first grindhouse release (and possibly the cleaned up too?) will just be the corrected scan with it’s Italian audio? Or will an English track be synced with all releases?
Thanks for any answers. 😄
I received answers to your questions, sorry if in some way they contradict anything that I might have said before:
Yes the 16mm mono English audio can be included on future releases.
Yes, the first grind house would be just the Italian release with Italian audio, it cannot be easily synced up with English audio as it is a different cut but if anyone wants to create a hybrid version with English audio dubbed-in while waiting on the proper release it’s not a problem from our end.
The proper American cut with original English audio will be released after the complete digital clean-up of the film.
160 Euros is probably like five billion USD, but I’ll see what I can do.
LOL! Thanks 😉
THX’s heroes!
Thanks again to everybody helping out with donations, from the smallest to the most consistent ones. I have updated the list (see first post) and we are now only short of 160 euro!
Yeah… Don’t credit the guy that drove for four hours (and four more back) just to get a never-seen-before reference of such subtitles from the rarest 35mm screening ever!
I’m just kidding, don’t! Lol
Oh right! You took the photos at the Italian screening! I love how this community collaborates 😄
Photos and more importantly video footage. Here’s a cheeky picture of me that I found on Facebook, I’m on the left, turned to look at the camera 😛
https://someimage.com/jDUyWmK
Yeah… Don’t credit the guy that drove for four hours (and four more back) just to get a never-seen-before reference of such subtitles from the rarest 35mm screening ever!
I’m just kidding, don’t! Lol
Yes… and no. They need to be internal 4TB sata hard drives of reliable brands (we went with the Caviar Blue ones). To keep the costs down they would also need to be sent from Europe and not needing returned. All things considered, buying them directly from Amazon with the donated money ends up being the cheaper option.
How much until the total is reached now? I want to donate but I’m a broke college student.
I update the amount regularly, you can find it in the first post. Micro-donations are making a big difference too, but if you’re too broke don’t worry about it 😛
Bates, is it already available?
When the secret plans are divulged, I’ll have more than $5 …
They’ll be divulged based on the entity of your pledge ahah
There’s already a release of the Italian THX with English subtitles which we worked on years ago. I’m still sharing it, if you want to check it out you know where to find it 😉
The Italian poster (included in the disc) is also the best one I’ve seen; to be fair most of Italian posters from 70-80’s were fantastic because they were always commissioned to well known artists.
What Silverwook said 😃)
We will know soon enough! My bet is on no Buck Rogers, mainly because we knew nothing about Buck Rogers here in Italy (and still don’t)
Yep, that’s its inevitable end but I’m looking into “freezing” it in some University archives after the scan is done.
The decay has just started and hasn’t affected the colors nor the film itself yet. The smell is not heavy yet but it’s there. It was acquired just in time! Had the seller sold it in a few months, or a year even, it could have been already too damaged for scanning.
There has been a series of lucky coincidences regarding this print!
Thanks to everyone who has been contributing so far and to Poita for his kind and true words. I updated the funding situation in the first post and I’m happy to let you know that the first half of the film has been scanned!
We only need another 355 euro to go in order to cover the remaining costs.
Ahah, I didn’t remember this from 20 pages ago but it’s very curious and it will be investigated but it might take a bit (screengrabs that I posted were ones that were sent to me). Remind me about this once I have the full scan at hand.
LOL for that video alone! Ahah
Thank you. I only decided to make the project public once the film was secured and the scan had begun.
I’ve recently found a gorgeous 35mm IB Tech print of THX 1138 in Italian. This is the first time we get our hands on this film in 35mm and, more importantly, so well preserved! Colors are fantastic and these are some of the pictures from the seller
The Italian version has credits in Italian but we already have access to 16mm prints to help reconstruct the whole American theatrical release, including the extended scene of SEN with the kids!
This 35mm film has already been purchased and a 4k professional scan has begun, thanks to the help of many generous members.
First half of the film has been scanned already but we are still short of 418 euros in order to complete the scan and buy the needed HDDs.
These are some teasers from the scan. First image is the raw file, second image is how the film appears when projected, third is how it should and will appear after the needed corrections.
high-res here -> https://someimage.com/elj94Kv
high-res here -> https://someimage.com/svFRx1K
PLANNED RELEASES:
PHASE ONE - A first direct grindhouse version will be released soon after completion of the scan, this will include the needed corrections seen above and inserts from Laserdisc (thanks to Mavimao) to fill in the gaps.
PHASE TWO - A digitally cleaned-up version of the film will follow the first “grindhouse version” (this one will require some months of work I think). Poita came out of retirement just to save this film for us! [EDIT: for the time being PHASE TWO is cancelled due to Poita’s current health condition)
PHASE THREE - a possible Despecialized Edition by Harmy ? I wish.
If you want to give us a hand to finally save THX 1138, any donation can really help. PM me for PayPal address.
====================
UPDATE: FUNDING FOR THE SCAN IS MORE OR LESS COMPLETE BUT… I have planned this preservation budget very tightly, strictly to cover scanning and shipping costs and probably underestimating quite a few as well but I initially did not include Poita’s expenses (back up hard drives, professional software licenses, etc), he’s the wizard making this magic happen so if you still wish I help out, please still consider supporting this project with your donations by contacting either me or directly Poita at this point.
Thank you very much
LIST OF BENEFACTORS FROM THIS FORUM SO FAR (in chronological order, more or less)
alexp120 (x2), snicker (x2), J.D., dahmage, valien, THX11384EB, Dek Rollins, Wazzles, silverwheel, jonno, Asaki, Harmy, saf1916, detola, Tower Boss, Porter, Laserschwert, jartatl, Shaunvis, jerlgrain, CriticalDan, Bewy, Socialiste, 2002thx1138, FekLeyrTarg, kurosawafan, Matthew M. (you forgot to tell me your username), Thomas L. (same as for Matthew), FilmCrewe, jerryd89, Mallwalker, Spaced Ranger, FaderArvid, Colson, impossiblefunky, clutchins, 77FN, jdaering
–updated 16th May–
Funding update: I “only” need 418 euros now. PM me for PayPal address if you are willing to give us a hand with making this happen. Even small donations count
EDIT: I opened a dedicated thread for better visibility. http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/THX-on-35mm-Tech-IB-preservation-HELP-NEEDED/id/48681
Wow! Those samples look amazing! We should remember that this was shot in the early 70s in Techniscope - so that’s half a normal Academy 35mm frame to create a widescreened image - and then blown up and squeezed to a normal anamorphic standard. Grain haters need should leave now…
LOL, well, grain haters will also benefit from this preservation, thanks to the future plans we have for this film! Don’t make me say anything else because at the moment I can’t ahah!
Here’s another tease, the last bottom picture has been adjusted to have an idea of the final look (before the digital clean-up!)
Here’s an early look (with some corrections applied) to give you an idea how the first grindhouse version will look, before digital clean-up.
https://img42.com/collection/lBMTn
First two reels (of four) are being scanned. I’m still short of another 470 euros to do the rest. Any of you willing to give a hand, this is the right moment ;D
