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Moriarty's ShoWest Report - Warner Brothers Luncheon and Digital Cinema and Theaters!!!

from the compant that brought you the speak and spell by spike lee	Mar 22nd, 1999 10:32:07 PM
This was a very intersting article, and it sounds that Warner will have a great year. Wild Wild West will probably be the second highest grossing film of the summer behind Episode I, and I have heard nothing but the best about Green Mile. Will it win the Oscar? Not is Weinstien and Miramax can help it. And then I read the last two paragraphs, and I saw Texas Intruments. I live in Houston and I remember this company being a cash cow in the early 80's, they where everywhere. Like everyone else, I had their speak and spell, the E.T. tie in. A parents great gift to their child, it was educational and cool. Hangman anyone? Then the company laid everyone off, and dissapeared at the end of the decade. This was the first I have heard of Texas Instruments since the 80's.
Sounds like they are getting their act together by Spacey	Mar 22nd, 1999 10:35:21 PM
Wow, looks like some great movies from the WB. I'm peeing on myself waiting for The Green Mile, and Eyes Wide Shut. And look, not a sequel among them (I don't think).
cool by perrin_aybara	Mar 22nd, 1999 10:37:22 PM
i was just wondering if the actors seem as if they were just hamming it up for the sake of their movies, or because they are just that cool.
Harry on Sisckel and Ebert by theman#1	Mar 23rd, 1999 12:19:12 AM
Hey I was watching Ebert on Tom Snyder and he mentioned that Harry Knoles might be one of the guest critics on the show. Is this true Harry?
EWS trailer uncut here: by bruce le	Mar 23rd, 1999 12:19:42 AM
Moriarty is right.The version of the EWS trailer that was reported on AICN and at countingdown is indeed cut and without sound. You can find the complete version here: http://www.cplus.fr/html/jdc/v ideo/990319/
EWS trailer uncut here: by bruce le	Mar 23rd, 1999 12:19:52 AM
Moriarty is right.The version of the EWS trailer that was reported on AICN and at countingdown is indeed cut and without sound. You can find the complete version here: http://www.cplus.fr/html/jdc/v ideo/990319/
No Longer A Whipping Boy by mrbeaks	Mar 23rd, 1999 05:53:29 AM
That's quite a line-up the WB has; although, I would like to say that, having read a later draft of WWW, the stars are going to have to work overtime (along with the f/x folks) to make this film work. I think the key films on the WB slate are the following: THE MATRIX, THREE KINGS, and THE GREEN MILE. All three promise a level of intellect and originality that are generally foreign to the studios (i.e. they're bolstered by decent screenplays.) Plus, I'm a huge fan of David O'Russel after FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, and can't wait to see him step up to the big leagues. Still don't know what to make of THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, but Rush's participation is certainly encouraging. All in all, looks like the WB has returned to form.
WB not too bad by JudgeWD	Mar 23rd, 1999 07:34:40 AM
I personally am excited about WB's lineup this year. I am trying to be patient for The Matrix!!! But, this was an interesting report. Glad to see that there was something interesting to report. I still don't see what the big deal is about the EWS clip though. I watched it off the Net, and it is interesting. But, I don't see how it is all that indicative of a master film. I don't doubt that EWS may be a great Kubrick work, but I don't see how the clip exhibits that.
kick ass! by L'Auteur	Mar 23rd, 1999 08:04:30 AM
Nice! Im psyched that the Texas Insturments digital presentation went so well. The digital revolution is here and filmmaker's will now be able to fund their own films! It's an exciting time to be 19 and a film student. I'll be able to shoot my own movie without having borrow money from anyone. And now my dad is considering building a digital projector in the family room so I could make a movie in my bedroom with a Mac, print it on DVD, and watch it in the theater in the family room! Back in the olden daze, one would have to make it in a studio and view it in a "real" theater. It's an exciting time, oh yessss. Add to that the pre-millenial buzz and the fact that EPISODE 1 and EYES WIDE SHUT are almost here, and well........my tent is premanently pitched! I cant wait till spring break....my dad finally bought a DVDplayer yesterday...i cant wait to get home and try it out...im so glad im young enough to embrace this digital revoltuion without being all old and purist and all about film!
The Haunting of the House on Haunted Hill by Pope Buck 1	Mar 23rd, 1999 11:10:12 AM
Lane, I think you are confusing the upcoming "The Haunting" remake, "The Haunting of Hill House," with the film Moriarty describes, "The House on Haunted Hill," which is a remake of the cheesy Vincent Price / William Castle flick (filmed in "Emergo") from the late '50s. These are two entirely different films. Lili Taylor is starring in "The Haunting" with Jan de Bont -- this is another one altogether.
the confusion is understandable, but... by precode	Mar 23rd, 1999 11:56:08 AM
LaneMyers is mixing up "House on Haunted Hill" and "The Haunting of Hill House." He probably won't be the last.
More on TI Digital Cinema by dh1	Mar 23rd, 1999 12:18:55 PM
TI has had this killer projection technology for a couple of years now called 'digital micromirror projection'. Do a search on any web search engine for 'digital projection' and you can read a lot about it. Basically, it involves a lot of VERY small mirrors mounted on a microchip and a sophisticated system of optics to blow it up to viewable size. TI has used this system mostly for projecting computer screen images for presentattions. It BLOWS AWAY LCD projection systems; great color saturation, crisp blacks, great contrast, but is MUCH more expensive. LCD projection systems run around $3K but TI's is around 5-10 times more. If this is TI's computer system blown up to cinema projection, it should be fabulous. I haven't actually seen this system run, but it is reputed by everyone to be a big breakthrough in projection technology.
HEY! GUESS WHAT I JUST HEARD, AND ITS NOT A NICE SOUND by spike lee	Mar 23rd, 1999 12:25:14 PM
I was driving home from school listning to the radio, and they said that the Spice Girls are going to sing the theme song to the Bond 19. If this is not true, please dont shoot the messinger.
Steven Spielberg doesn't deserve to smell Kubrick's rotting, dea by Jimmer72	Mar 23rd, 1999 02:56:38 PM
Sorry for that lovely image, but this has been irking me since the Oscars: Spielberg is a goody-two-shoes putz! First, after Kubrick's death was announced, he was quoted as saying that Stanley was "a teddy bear" in real life. Then, during Spielberg's tribute to Kubrick during the Academy Awards, this knuckle-head had the gaul to suggest that Kubrick's films were full of "hope." HOPE! Right! Has this moron seen PATHS OF GLORY? A CLOCKWORK ORANGE?! DR. FUCKING-STRANGELOVE???!!! God, he pisses me off! Just because he makes a gazillion dollars and gets to bang Kate Capshaw, that doesn't mean he can paint his rosy outlook on life on everything he sees. Oh, the injustice. Scorcese would have been a better choice for the tribute, and Spielberg should have introduced Kazan--"Hey, he's an all right dude!" I hope EYES WIDE SHUT sends Spielberg crying to his mommy.
Spielberg & Kubrick Were Friends by mrbeaks	Mar 23rd, 1999 05:24:07 PM
Spielberg was one of many people Kubrick used to chat up on the phone. They were friends, who greatly admired each other's work. Perhaps Spielberg saw hope were many saw nihilism, but, in light of the fact that most Kubrick films were pretty open-ended (especially in his later works,) I think it's a valid assessment. And so what if Kubrick was a "teddy bear?" Would it have made his vision more valuable if he were an abusive drunk?
Iron Giant shortage!!!! by Prankster	Mar 23rd, 1999 08:33:14 PM
OK, so there's an IG report coming soon, but dammit, I need LOTS OF INFO on this pic right now. I mean, this site's been championing it more than any other, but even then, all it's posted is a dark and shadowy picture and a couple of sketches of Hogarth. And that was six months ago! This is an animated film, there outghta be pics out there! Good to here it went over well at ShoWest. Gonna be an interesting animated summer, with this and Tarzan and Mononoke. Oh yeah, and the thought that Stanley Kubrick's films are full of hope is not such a stretch...wouldn't you say 2001, homicidal computer aside, painted a very optimistic vision of the future? (More optimistic than real life, actually.) And Spartacus had the traditional freedom-will-prevail theme (don't tell me it was bleak just cause he died at the end). Even Strangelove ends with "We'll Meet Again" being sung...implying that, one of these days, evolution will get it right.
digital projection, cons and pros... by randy	Mar 23rd, 1999 10:48:49 PM
I'll tell you, being a projectionist, I'm very scared of this technology. Both in good, but mostly bad ways. first, I can see the benefits of this technology-1) No film equals no scratches, brainwraps (hell, no brains or platters!), etc. 2)The whole movie is stored on a hard drive, not a heavy as hell donut to move from theater to theater. 3)No print to build up. However, I mostly only see the bad things. Where as the theaters are worried about cost, my biggest concern is the fact projectionists will be out of a job. For me, that's not so bad, considering I do everything anyways, but to the union projectionists who project professionally-they're screwed. Hell, everything will be automated, the projectors will start probably by computer. There won't even be a need for a button pusher. 2)If there is a problem with the stored film or projection system, it's going to be aharder to fix. 3)A specifically trained person will be needed with extensive training and knowledge-ie, more $$$$$ on the payroll. 4)In a way, it's the scratches, splices, dust specks and lamp flicker that ads to the experience. This TI picture, though crystal clear, just sounds too cold and perfect. Sterile. So, what do any of you think? For those of you who are projectionists like me, surely you share my concern? For those of you who are just movie goers and want bigger and better (and also see us as merely garbage men with projection training), I hope you understand this equates to higher ticket prices.
Higher ticket prices? by X2zero	Mar 24th, 1999 05:50:23 AM
I would have thought that, if as you say projectionists will not be needed, ticket prices will fall. For any business, wages are usually the biggest bill. How do you come to this conclusion?
Ticket Prices Won't Change... by Moriarty	Mar 24th, 1999 07:59:10 AM
... or at least, they won't change because of digital projectors. Ticket prices always go up every couple of years, so it's inevitable that it will happen. Cries like the above poster's are going to be fairly commonplace. It's called panic. It happens anytime there's a major shift in the way an industry works. No more work for projectionists? How about you learn to be a technician for the new systems, then? Don't let yourself be made obsolete if it scares you so much. And as far as your theory that scratches and imperfections "make" the experience, I'm going to say something I've never said to another TALK BACKER... fuck you. You want a flawed system? You want something that's lesser just because it's what you know? You're out of your damn fool mind. I've seen the TI system, and it's got everything that's good about film going for it with none of the flaws. You can't make any rational argument to not move forward with the industry-wide switchover. I, for one, look forward to it. "Moriarty" out.
Digital Projection Issues by The Graduate	Mar 24th, 1999 09:44:30 AM
Randy brings up some good points about the concerns over digital projection. I think, though, that like the new sound systems digital projectors will be adopted slowly over the next 10-15 years so most of the kinks will be worked out. I know projectionists are worried about their jobs, but I don't think they need to be. New technology inevitably means more work, not less. The film projectionists of today will simply learn to become computer projectionists, maintaining the computers, checking on the digital link to the satalite, splicing in trailers on computer instead of by hand. Projectionists have a good union, and I am sure that arrangements will be made to train everyone in the new technology. Theaters will always need skilled people to make sure the showings go off smoothly.
DigRev by L'Auteur	Mar 24th, 1999 10:43:52 AM
so if i wanted to create my own bedroom movie studio, should i go with Mac or IBM? should i go with Avid or Adobe (or Mac's Final Cut)? How much disk space is neccessary? 20 gigs? 40? 50? 60?
Chill by JackFoley	Mar 24th, 1999 06:42:24 PM
Jeez...some people, eh? Moriarty, nice report. I enjoyed the info (not just the WB stuff but all the ShoWest stuff). Kudos. On the same hand, there was no reason to flip out at Randy like you did. "Fuck you" simply because he feels the scratches add to the feeling of a movie? Where did that come from? I feel popcorn adds to a movie, is that so wrong? Honestly, I totally look forward to the digital switch. If the film maker wants his film to have "feel" there's ways to do it, as you know (i.e. drain color like SPR). I agree with you, Randy's fear is moot. But it's still his opinion. That's the beauty of talk back. If I may steal a quote from Scream, "It's called tact, fuckrag". Tact. None of which you had in your previous post.
Rushmore by mambo bwana	Mar 24th, 1999 10:50:54 PM
Okay, first of all, Moriarty has shown his true colors, whatever color a twit is I suppose. Moriarty, you candy ass, if buddy wants to see a poor copy of a film, let him. You should both take a deep breath, realize that you are both dumb asses, and go see Rushmore because it is the best film I have seen in years. Long live Rushmore.
elia kazan: a reprise by mambo bwana	Mar 24th, 1999 11:10:05 PM
I did a little bit of thinking, which is rare, and I came to realize how stupid people are for giving the gears to Elia Kazan. He does not deserve to be treated like an asshole. Quite simply, his crime is for ratting out the sympathizers with the Soviet regime. The Hollywood candy asses who joined the Communist Party USA deserved to be blacklisted. History shows that the Soviets engineered one of the worst genocides in history in the 1930s. Somewhere in the range of 10 million Ukrainians were forceably starved to death because they didn't cooperate with the Soviets. Later, the Soviets cooperated with the Nazis in plundering Poland - and in 1939 the Communist Party USA supported Stalin's allegiance with the demonic Hitler. These are facts, you can look them up. So by association, Communist Party members in Hollywood supported both the Soviet genocide and the Soviet's allegiance with Hitler. Communists in Hollywood do not deserve any sympathy. They are either morons or spawn of Satan or bad people. Elia Kazan was a great filmmaker, and a man whose judgement is proven correct by history.
Digital projection, where? by Mr Sparkle	Mar 25th, 1999 12:35:32 AM
i heard about the four or so theaters equipped with digital projection in the country right now, one of which is in the Los Angeles area. Could somebody email me if they know which theater that is here in LA, even if its just a private facility on a studio lot? Thanks.
Up Yours, Mambo Bwana by dh1	Mar 25th, 1999 07:04:02 PM
That drivel you posted about former communists in Hollywood 'deserving to get blacklisted' was some of the most vile, patently stupid drivel I've had the displeasure of reading for a while. What TOTAL CRAP... you know so much about the 'facts', eh? Try this on for size, junior... most of the people targeted by HUAC had been EX communists for quite a while by the time that slimeballs and opportunists like Tail Gunner Joe decided that they would fight lack of freedom in Russia by enforcing THEIR OWN peculiar brand of totalitarianism here. I mean, is that the final essence of that claptrap you posted??? That 'oh wow, man, Uncle Joe Stalin killed millions in Russia, so if we pi$$ed on what supposedly were GUIDING PRINCIPLES here and didn't kill anybody directly, merely ruined their lives without due process, goddamnit, we were freaking SAINTS!!'??? BTW, when you can PROVE that any of the blacklisted writers, etc., traveled to Russia and actively supported, let alone participated, in Stalin's purges THEN you get to directly connect blacklisted Hollywood-ites to Stalin's atrocities, but NOT until. And, PLEASE, SPARE ME any more of your moralistic bombast on this subject. It's apparent that your 'principles' in regard to what's right where freedom is concerned have all the backbone of a wet noodle.
Digital Projection Format by Joe Buck	Mar 26th, 1999 01:04:12 PM
Here, here, DH1. Most of those blacklisted by HUAC had quit the party before WWII when they became disenchanted by the sudden embrace of Hitler following the German/Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of 1939. I am all in favor of digital formats as long as the superior one (TI in this case) is adopted. Unfortunately often times an inferior version is used because of short-sighted cost reasons. But if we get a film-quality presentation without all the annoying scratches that would be a revolutionary improvement and about time too. Film quality has remained basically the same this entire century which is pretty amazing when you think of all the massive improvements that have occurred in virtually all other technologies.
We also have higher ticket prices! Ohhhh yeaahhh! by Wolfpack	Jul 14th, 2006 08:49:04 AM

Undisturbed for thousands of years. by Wolfpack	Jul 19th, 2006 07:46:40 PM

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Moriarty's ShoWest Report - Warner Brothers Luncheon and Digital Cinema and Theaters!!!

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