Posted by Vincent at bg-tc-ppp402.monmouth.com on November 30, 1999 at 20:32:18:
In Reply to: Vincent - Digital Projection ? (no argument here) posted by Big Al on November 30, 1999 at 15:38:30:
: Saw 'Toy Story 2' over the weekend primarily because a local theater was showing it with 'digital projection', but by the time I got to the theater my tired and sick body had forgotten all about it. Looking back, I remember noticing no major difference from film; it was neither better nor worse - Which at the same time is impressive and disappointing.
: So my question is, what is the attraction? I understand that in a few years all the benefits will outweigh all other considerations for the film-goer; but now, well, at best it's equal.
: Please don't tell me it's all financial. The theater I saw it in is pretty new, but I don't see older theaters buying digital projectors *any*time soon - especially, if the best it'll be is equal to film.
: Is there any advantage now... for the viewer? I mean besides having to pay higher ticket prices so the theater doesn't lose any profit - the greatest benefit of all! (Sarcasm.)
: Al
Well, the real attraction is the word "digital"- the average consumer sees that and they think it MUST be better. The fact is, the system is actually pretty far BELOW what 35mm film is capable of when projected correctly... but that's just it- when 35mm is projected CORRECTLY. Most multiplexes offer us piss-poor projection and sound, and a properly done digital projection will blow such experiences away. But then the question arrises- if multiplexes currently are so lax with their 35mm systems, who's to say they'll make sure their digital systems are always running on the up-and-up?
The other advantage is that the digital copies should all be exact duplicates of the master tape- when it comes to high-speed film printing, mistakes can and often do happen- look at our own beloved DOGMA for that- a lot of the prints look pretty lousy, with some really obvious changes in the color timing at the reel changes.
The financial insentive isn't on the theaters side, BTW- it's theoritcally on the distribution side because the cost of manufacturing and shipping all of those heavy, clumsy 35mm prints is elliminated. So, it's up to the studios to convince theaters to upgrade and spend a ton of money, and the studios have that wonderful word "digital" on their side, because after all, if it's digital is MUST be better than anything else!
Vincent