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Re: A Question For Steve O?

Hi Sam!

Great question. Technology can only go so far. For example, a lot of computer based restorations are based on fixing bad frames of a print by using good ones immediately before/after the good one. If the source print has imperfections throughout, then this process becomes infeasible, both practically and financially. Restoring films is extremely expensive. Only if it is predicted to be a strong seller will a studio be willing to invest in it.

Also, it is best to work with a print as close to the original negative as possible. Every time you go a generation removed the picture loses detail and becomes softer. For that same reason it is much preferred to use 35mm over 16mm. A lot of the grey market DVDs of the Monograms were sourced from 16mm prints which is why a lot of them looked washed out, overly dark, etc. Contrast that to the Chanthology DVDs and one can see how important it is to have a good starting point.

By the way, whenever you see a DVD with "Digitaly Remastered" on it, that's just marketing hype. All DVDs by definition are "digitally remastered" since they are mastered for the digital domain. There is a big difference between a true restoration (like what Fox did with their Chans) and just remastering.

I apologize for the long winded post, but I hope this makes some sense.

Steve

Re: Re: A Question For Steve O?

Steve,
You are never long-winded just thorough and accurate, which I know I value highly!
Virginia

Re: Re: A Question For Steve O?

Thanks Steve O for the info! Is there really a difference between "Digitally Remastered" and "Digitally Mastered"? I have seen both of those expressions used? I have always thought that "Digitally Mastered" meant that it was mastered from a film print derived from the original negative while "Digitally Remastered" meant that they used a computer to remove any imperfections from an existing film print which has been run through many a film projectors?

Re: A Question For Steve O?

Hi Sam,

I see "digitally mastered" "remastered" as meaning essentially the same thing (transferring film to the digital domain). By definition all DVDs are digitally mastered.

"Restoration" is the process of returning a film to its original condition (or close to it as possible). A film can be digitally remastered but not restored. Restoration is very expensive and is typcially done for major studio releases (Fox, Warner, Paramount) and not done for the $1 DVDs, Alpha type releases.

Steve