Ireland on Road to Cinema Perdition

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 6:47 pm

Yes, the nation that gave the world most (or at least a lot) of its best English language writers is doing something I consider shocking, shocking, shocking....

It's not that I hate all digital projection -- it's ideal for works that were digitally created (Pixar films, movies like Collateral, the Last Samurai, Star Wars, etc., a growing number of low budget/indie films), but for movies shot on film (i.e.,everything else), it's a crime against man and God, I tell you!

Foyle Brothers Arise!

http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2005-03-22/#3

Ireland To Be First Country To Go All-Digital in Theaters

Ireland said on Monday that it intends to take the lead in digital projection by replacing 35mm film projectors with digital ones in all of its 500 theaters. The Irish Film Board said that the plan will include both the Republic of Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland. The board noted that not only would picture quality be improved but that small towns would be able to view the same films as those in large cities. The film board said that theaters will be able to download the latest releases via satellite. Board member Moira Horgan told the BBC: "We don't have big Hollywood budgets to market those films so any way we can save money on distribution costs and actually spend it on promotion and advertising can only be a good thing."

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:02 pm

Appreciate your pov, Bobster, but this all seems to me a recycling of the old vinyl vs. cd argument. People will adjust. Moira Horgan's point about saving on ''distribution costs and actually spend it on promotion and advertising can only be a good thing." is very valid. Many art films barely get a screening at members only cinemas, like the IFI in Dublin and the Kino in Cork, because the prohibitive costs the censors charge to certify films precludes them from getting a wider distribution. Now that the cost of sending cumbersome film reels around the country may soon be factored out means these costs will be lessened, certification will be more feasible. Sorry, I'm all for it.

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:40 pm

You're not arising.

Actually, I really do think it's a shame. I'm going to dig up an old Roger Ebert piece on this whole matter that might make this matter a bit clearer...I should also say, I'm all for digital projection except where it replaces film projection entirely. There are theaters here doing both. Don't know what the problems are, if any, of having both types of projection.

VonOfterdingen · Post by **VonOfterdingen** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:19 pm

Why do you hate it, Bobster? The quality and sound is great on digital. The only reason why Peter Jackson didn't shoot his trilogy digitally was because the black colors weren't black enough. But that problem is solved i believe. I'd like to get rid of all those bumps and scratches on the screen.
Not shaken, not stirred, please

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:33 pm

VO --

You're confusing digital projection with digital generation. I have been won over that HD is a respectable way to make movies. I had been concerned that it would look too "real" (like the nightly news reports), but that problem isn't an issue at the very high end. And I actually not only believe, I know that digital projection is a better way to see a film that was shot digitally.

My only concern is that when you show a shot-on-film (not High Def video) production on video, basically all you're doing is watching a very expensive home video and you may be losing details, like grain...and I know this sounds picky but grain/film stock can be a very important aspect of a filmmaker's technique and I'm concerned about its loss. (If you're not sure what I'm talking about, think about any of Steven Soderbergh's more recent films -- except the ones he made on video. He likes to use very fast film stocks, partly for practical reasons, but also I think because of the atmosphere that it creates,)

I've seen a lot of film projected digitially in theaters and festivals, etc., and so far, where the movies were shot on film, it just ain't the same. Darks have a tendency to become blacks and there are other problems, though I admit the technology is rapidly improving.

And, even though I think High Def video is a perfectly okay way to make a movie and has definite practical advantages (though sometimes too many advantages can translate to an artistic disadvantage), I'm really, really, glad that Peter Jackson chose to make LOTR on film. And I believe he's doing King Kong the same way.

VonOfterdingen · Post by **VonOfterdingen** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:03 pm

Ok - I see. I still haven't noticed any problems with shot-on-film movies projected digital. But then again I never looked hard for it since I was satisfied.

Fight Club would have a problem since the "cigaretburn" got a story of it's own

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:06 pm

Not getting the Fight Club reference -- something to do with all the cool effects and the lauded explanations on the DVD?

VonOfterdingen · Post by **VonOfterdingen** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:12 am

I was thinking about the scene where Brad Pitt explains the "cigaretburn" you get on cinama screens. It's where the film is put together i think. He puts in a brief pornscene....
I meant that in a time of digital projection, this wouldn't be possible.

Not that interesting actually

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:13 pm

Actually, they've replaced those little marks in the corner of the screen for the reel changes with something even uglier and more intrusive can "cap codes"...something to do with trying to prevent piracy...for all the good it's done!

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Fri May 12, 2006 4:53 am

Sorry Bobster, it's starting today, too bad about the film.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/s ... 8023590&x=

bobster · Post by **bobster** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:10 pm

I weep for the film geeks of Ireland, but you'll always have James Joyce, Guinness, Van Morrison, and the Pogues.