rex racer
03-23-2002, 03:02 AM
Paul's recent topic gives me some concern for the viability of this. If Time-Warner-AOL is really pulling the strings here, it seems likely they would want a large return for their investment. DVD releases of restored to original form classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies are, I'm certain, desired by everyone here in the strongest sense. However, such releases would likely command a premium price, we really are pretty much a niche market in the grand scheme of things. Moms and Dads just aren't likey to drop 25 or 30 dollars a pop for a DVD of cartoons for the little ones. Face it, we are talking about the restoring of 15 small films per DVD all with individual color values, as well as variants in condition and archived film medium. Throw in the magnitude of searching for the earliest form of each release, if the original film elements have disintegrated and you have a lot of research costs as well.
I guess my central point is pretty basic. Why would this mega corp. want to go the whole nine yards when they can digitally wash their best existant films and get a better cost return. Frankly, they could redo and re-release the Golden Age series, and it would still sell just as well, if not better.
I can see them remastering some of the acknowledged all time classics, but would they really spend time and MONEY on bringing Buddy or Bosko, or many of the one shot Merrie Melodies back to pristine form? I have to believe the corporate mentality is based on financial profit, not preservation of a nostalgic art form. Don't get me wrong, If I had the resources, and the power of ownership, it would be done, ( well I can dream can't I ?) But the owners seem so removed from this cause, I just don't see it happening on anything but a limited scale.
Can anyone positively verify that full restoration is really occuring of any complete magnitude?? Jerry Beck is obviously constrained in his commentary on this subject, and I certainly wouldn't want for him to get booted out from involvement, but I wish someone really in the know would come clean on this. Preferrably some technician actually doing the restorations, or perhaps a film lab manager, someone who can acknowledge the scope of the project. Anyone?
I guess my central point is pretty basic. Why would this mega corp. want to go the whole nine yards when they can digitally wash their best existant films and get a better cost return. Frankly, they could redo and re-release the Golden Age series, and it would still sell just as well, if not better.
I can see them remastering some of the acknowledged all time classics, but would they really spend time and MONEY on bringing Buddy or Bosko, or many of the one shot Merrie Melodies back to pristine form? I have to believe the corporate mentality is based on financial profit, not preservation of a nostalgic art form. Don't get me wrong, If I had the resources, and the power of ownership, it would be done, ( well I can dream can't I ?) But the owners seem so removed from this cause, I just don't see it happening on anything but a limited scale.
Can anyone positively verify that full restoration is really occuring of any complete magnitude?? Jerry Beck is obviously constrained in his commentary on this subject, and I certainly wouldn't want for him to get booted out from involvement, but I wish someone really in the know would come clean on this. Preferrably some technician actually doing the restorations, or perhaps a film lab manager, someone who can acknowledge the scope of the project. Anyone?