David S. wrote:One can only wonder about the reasoning and/or debates that take place at BVHE about this, or if it is merely up to the whim of the producer of any given release.
BVHE Exec 1: Okay, we're releasing
The Sword in the Stone in a few months. How are we gonna handle the aspect ratio?
BVHE Exec 2: Let's do it in 2.35:1 and really piss off the animation fans!
BVHE Exec 3: Yeah, that'd really get their panties in a twist!
(all have a laugh)
BVHE Exec 1: No, seriously, what are we gonna do?
BVHE Exec 4: Well, the VHS was always in 1.33:1, as was the laserdisc and DVD. We should do it in 1.33:1 again, to be consistent.
BVHE Exec 2: But we've gotten reports from hundreds of irate parents with widescreen TVs who don't like that there are now bars on the sides of their TV. So we should matte it down to 1.66:1 or 1.75:1 in order to get that original theatrical experience.
BVHE Exec 4: Oh please, not that load of malarkey again. If you matte it even the slightest bit, you'll have stubborn animation fans crying foul that we don't show them the whole goddamn picture!
BVHE Exec 3: Obviously some of them will never understand the concept of theatrical matting, and that the artists and animators knew about it, and thus, had everything composed and animated for a matted frame.
BVHE Exec 1: Now, now, let's not get into either of those arguments again, guys. You both have valid points, but remember, we want to sell as many of these babies as possible regardless if it's proper ratio or not. For every hundred people who complain, there's a thousand more who are in ignorant bliss.
BVHE Exec 2: True, true. So, shall we make our decision the same way we did for the others?
BVHE Exec 4: Yes.
(An assistant brings out a bullseye target, with each ring saying either "1.33:", "1.66:1", or "1.75:1", and the bullseye says "Include both, goddammit!".)
BVHE 3: Whose turn is it at darts?
BVHE Exec 4: Mine.
(BVHE Exec 4 gets a set of darts, and is blindfolded.)
BVHE Exec 1: Okay, ready?
BVHE Exec 4: Ready.
(Everyone stands clear, and BVHE Exec 4 tosses each dart at the target, blindfolded. When he finishes, they go over and see which ratio got the majority of darts.)
BVHE Exec 2: Damn...two of them went to 1.33:1...and the other two went to 1.66:1.
BVHE Exec 1: Well, we'll just send out information saying it's one or the other. But I'll tell the DVD plant to pick whichever one they want, and do that. Let the consumers not find out until they put it on the player.
(All laugh.)
BVHE Exec 1: Okay, now that we have that over and done with, how about the special features?
BVHE Exec 3: I was able to acquire a freelance video crew and documentarian. They went out and interviewed various people who worked on the film, along with interviewing some animators here at Disney. Along with some older interviews we had with original animators, and a lot of nice photographs and artwork, they put together a really nice half-hour documentary about how the film was made.
BVHE Exec 4: I asked my four-year-old son what kind of game he'd like to see based on
The Sword in the Stone and he told me he wanted to be a wizard like Merlin, so I got some people to design a sort of "Academy" for young wizards. Very Harry Potter-ish, and a lot of fun for my son.
BVHE Exec 2: I figured we could just shift over all the old stuff and not have to pay for anything new. But not that "Disneyland" episode, we'd have to pay residuals and licence out the clips again.
BVHE Exec 1: Okay. I think we'll go with the "Academy" game, and all the old stuff. Saves time and money!
BVHE Execs 2 & 4: All right!
(They high-five each other, but BVHE Exec 3 looks disappointed)
BVHE Exec 3: But what about my documentary?
BVHE Exec 1: Come on, BVHE Exec 3, who's really gonna watch that?
(BVHE Execs 1, 2, & 4 laugh at BVHE Exec 3.)
BVHE Exec 1: And our last bit of business...the restoration. BVHE Exec 2?
BVHE Exec 2: We gave it a minor clean-up and turned up the colors a bit, you know, make it look a little different, but not different enough. Did it all in only a week too!
BVHE Exec 1: A week!
(BVHE Execs 3 & 4 look shocked)
BVHE Exec 2: Um...yeah, a week, why?
BVHE Exec 1: A title like
The Sword in The Stone doesn't need a week's worth of restoration. You should've been finished after 48 hours!
BVHE Exec 2: Oh...I'm sorry.
BVHE Exec 1: The five extra days of restoration is coming out of your summer bonus.
(BVHE Exec 2 looks sad.)
BVHE Exec 1: Okay, that's it for today. We'll meet again in a couple months to discuss
Oliver & Company.
BVHE Exec 4: Why don't we just re-release the existing disc with new cover art and different preview trailers?
BVHE Exec 1: That sounds good. Consider it done. See you guys in September, I'm off to Tahiti!
(Everyone leaves.)
Albert
.
