Un-Holly alience film Studio and Digital

[FilmsUP]

Years ago when Foreign corporations started to buy out American Studios the worry was that films like "Midway," would never be financed by say a Japanese Corporation. While the jury still may be out on that questions.

We now have evidences that corporate best interest are driving HD film production at Sony Pictures. Director of Photography David Connell, ASC was quoted in the February edition of American Cinematographer as saying, that he and the Director Craig Baxley, wanted to shoot Kingdom Hospital on film, "but Sony Pictures, the project's co-producer, pushed hard for high-definition (HD) video. "

Connell went on to explain, "Neither Craig nor I had worked with HD, and we didn't want to shoot a show like this on HD," ...I know that Craig wanted to do a lot of speed and shutter ramps, which you can't do with HD. Frankly, I just don't think that HD is there yet as a capture medium."

Judging by the rest of the article, his high contrast non glamour look would be hard to Handel with the limited latitude of video.

P.S. interesting article on "NBC's Miss Match and the use of Super 8 within the show.

[Santo]

Of course it's special interest megacorps who have a vested interest in their technology being used who are attempting to drive the HD thing.

Contrary to what most people seem to believe, the reality is is that most low budget to high budget feature film producers and other creative principles could care less about HD technology as an originating medium. After they examine the facts. Simply because there is no significant cost savings. And even if that changes, a few thousand bucks on a low budget film (I'm talking a million starting point), means jack! In fact if you talked to all the low budget producers I know, they recognize the fact that originating on film is the only way to go, because you can never go back. Edit in other formats, sure, but shoot? Why shoot in HD??? They have no interest or intention of shooting on HD, nor do they feel any pressure to do so -- unless Sony is putting up the budget. Damn, if Sony gave me a budget for my next feature and I had to shoot it in HD, you bet I would. Otherwise there is no concrete incentive and none on the horizon.

[Roster]

I may be wrong about this, but I seem to remember reading that The Last Samurai (Tom Cruise) was shot in HD. I saw this movie (projected via film) and I thought it looked pretty darn good. Certainly, the compositing of digitally created effects is easier with original digital footage..., this said however, I still think film is still the way to go for most 'theatrically released' motion pictures.

[Number216]

The iMDB incorrectly states "The Last Samurai" was shot in anamorphics, and the film would have looked MUCH better if it was. At least it wasn't Super 35. (I can tell it was mastered in digital. Either it's HDTV, or it's Super 35 thru Digital Intermediate)

"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" looked better, though.

Well, anything's better than grainy Super 35. (they come up with every excuse in the book for not using anamorphics)

[pheboglobi]

IMDB is correct, The Last Samurai was shot in the 2.40 anamorphic format using the Panaflex Millennium XL and Arri 435ES cameras with E- and C-Series primes and Primo zooms. They used EXR 100T, EXR 200T, and Vision2 500T as the film stocks. Select scenes were mastered via Digital Intermediate.

(Information taken from Jan 2004 of ASC, pg 53)

--Garrett

[wahiba]

He who pays the piper has the tune!

It is true in the Highlands

It is true in Hollywood

It is probably true in 'communist' countries, but let us not get into that.

[marc]

I have always wondered if people like Lucas who so eagerly endorse Digital Video as a viable form of capture for major motion pictures is being " bought and paid for " by the corporate fat cats. Just exactly how have they greased his palms?

[sunrise]

Number216, is your signature from Pi?

sunrise

[Number216]

Yes, it's from Pi, and the name is, too. (the number 216)