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Topic: Feature Info

Malcolm Gerard
Film Handler

Posts: 7
From: Hampton, London, UK
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-11-2001 06:58 AM

Just to say how useful is the information about formats for new films as reported in the Feature Info Forum. Many thanks to those of you who bother to post it. Here in little old England we get most movies at least a couple of weeks (and often several months) later than you over there and it's very helpful to know in advance what the ratio and sound formats are. It saves ringing the renters and talking to Voicemails in the technical departments (which are not always responded to). So please keep the information coming and as up to date as possible. The time delay between the US and UK releases is getting shorter on average and some films (eg Hannibal) are only a week behind.

Aaron Mehocic
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 804
From: New Castle, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-11-2001 09:57 AM

You guys just got Hannibal quicker because Anthony Hopkins is British, right?

(I heard he is a Welsh nationalist and sometimes can be a pain-in-the-ass to the crown. Is that true?)

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 03-11-2001 12:11 PM

Boxoffice Magazine and Film Journal International have free on-line reviews that usually list running time, rating, format, and sound format:
http://www.boxoffice.com/justinapr.html
http://www.boxoffice.com/justinadditional.html
http://www.filmjournal.com ("This Month's Reviews")

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-11-2001 01:38 PM

Hopkins might still be British as well, but he became a fully naturalised US citizen late last year. It caused some comment at the time, because he'd recently been given (and accepted) a knighthood. For those who aren't quite up to speed with our arcane traditions, that's when the Queen whacks you on the shoulder with a sword, after which time (assuming you're still alive) you can put 'Sir' before your name.

Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-11-2001 01:52 PM

So if she doesn't approve of the appointment I assume she gets to use the edge not the flat of the sword

Rachel Carter
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 248
From: Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 03-11-2001 01:56 PM

I agree with Malcolm, thank you everyone for posting the info. Being a 2nd run theater we get the movies late and it is always helpful to know the info before you get it.

Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-11-2001 03:48 PM

Gordon: No, she gets Prince Philip to do it after he's had a few gin and tonics...

Aaron Mehocic
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 804
From: New Castle, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-12-2001 10:03 AM

Since Gordon is Canadian he can be knighted for his services here at Film-tech. Sorry John Pytlak, your American!

Malcolm Gerard
Film Handler

Posts: 7
From: Hampton, London, UK
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 03-12-2001 01:03 PM

Thanks to John Pytlak for introducing me to the Film Journal website. From a cursory glance it is obviously going to be a most useful source of information.
As to the tangential banter about Knighthoods that my posting seems to have generated, I would only say that Anthony Hopkins renunciation of his citizenship caused quite a bit of ill feeling in his home country of Wales as he was simultaneously to be seen on cinema and television screens advertising one of our biggest banks (Barclays) which had just closed its branch (the only remaining bank) in his birthplace. As to his participation in the repulsive Hannibal, it is always sad to see a major talent sell out. It happened to his compatriot Richard Burton, though he accepted poor material rather than obcenities like Mr Hopkins current release. He is reported to be willing to play the character once more so is obviously quite unrepentent. Clearly there is a big market for such sadistic trash when done with such style judging by the business it is doing everywhere so I'm sure he (and Ridley Scott) feel fully justified. It is, to be fair, a great performance, but his lack of integrity is very disappointing. He will no doubt be crying all the way to the (Barclays?) bank.

Evans A Criswell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1579
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 03-12-2001 02:58 PM

Film Journal International does list the movie format (1.85/2.39), but Box Office does not. Film Journal International only has information for a few of the movies that actually come out. The information provided on the feature info forum here is great, but still, there are many movies that slip through with no information posted.

On my WWW site, I try to include the format (flat/scope) for each movie coming out each Friday here in Huntsville. Sometimes I can get the information and sometimes I can't. I note Film-Tech as a source for my information since I typically get the information from that forum when possible. Are there any other sources of this information? The main reason I like to know this information and provide it is I'm in a city where many scope movies get shown at 1.85:1 and the format information is good to have so Huntsvillians can know which movies to avoid at certain theatres.

Evans A Criswell

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