" but if they took the time to make the strip on the side of the film, why not make the discs?"

If the film has a viable DTS timecode and the credits say that it had DTS sound, then there ARE discs available for it! First thing to do is to CALL DTS (NOT the distributor, or you'll get the discs a week after the playdate) Ask for Karen Hultgren, she will do her best to make sure a set of discs get to your theatre expeditiously. Even for some of the more 'off the wall' prints that sometimes pop up with DTS tracks.

Aaron

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If you need discs and don't get them, call the film distribuator. If that gets you no where, call us at (818) 706-3525 or within continental USA: 800-959-4109. We will have discs sent to you.

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The best way to know if a film will be released in DTS, is to check it out on our web site at www.dstonline.com under 'cinema'.

As far as some films having a timecode track but no discs, those are usually lab mistakes. Having the track but not getting discs only means you cannot play it in DTS. But you can play it in other sound foramts without causing any problems in playback.

Karen at DTS

To be fair, yes, there have been times when timecode has been added to a print for DTS digital release in a foreign venue and, for whatever reason, all prints were made w/a timecode track. That, too, doesn't happen often.

Shadow of the Vampire has Malkovich -- Malkovich! -- and it's SDDS/SR only. Makes it even better if you saw it at AMC like I did

The Anniversary Party is quite good and it's SRD/SR only. Memento was quite good and it's SRD/SR only.

Has DTS timecode but no discs -- Hey Arnold!

SRD/SR/SDDS only -- Sunshine State

BTW, the stack ads and one-sheet for Sunshine State have the Dolby Digital logo but not the SDDS logo.

"Shadow of the Vampire" and "Memento" are both arguably art house films. It is kind of curious how both films omitted the use of DTS in the release prints, but both have DVDs that feature DTS audio tracks (the new 2-disc SE of "Memento" features a new DTS mix).

Several years ago there were many more films featuring only one of the three sound formats on the print. So back then a film like "The Fugitive," "The Lion King" or "Crimson Tide" could feature a Dolby Digital-only print containing a pretty aggressive surround track. I don't think that's the case anymore. Usually if a lot of work goes into the digital mix, a quad format print will be made these days.

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If a movie tests well, a distributor may spend more money to hype it up in the marketing. If not, they'll immediately find ways to cut the costs.

"Hey Arnold: The Movie" is just the latest film to have time code on the print but no discs made. I remember being mystified when Fox released "The Edge" years ago, featuring DTS time code on the print but no DTS discs being made for the feature.

Anyway, "Hey Arnold" isn't exactly drawing in the crowds. I got in a pretty interesting discussion about the duality of movie audiences and some of their bitch-rants regarding "there aren't enough films that are family oriented!" Well, IT IS THE AUDIENCES FAULT!!!! Geez. It is typical American behavior. Pawn something that is your own damned fault onto some other monolithical object, thing, group or whatever. The good theater in my town has family films out the wazoo booked, such as "Powerpuff Girls," "Like Mike," "Lilo and Stitch" and the aforementioned "Hey Arnold". The audiences aren't showing up to support these films.

The movie going public cannot have it both ways. They cannot bitch and whine about there not being enough family films when the only films they pay to see have blood flowing, bombs exploding and bare boobs bouncing all over the place! Hypocrites!

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