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Topic: Cyan Tracks
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 03-19-2004 07:58 AM
MGM is the first distributor to produce all US 35mm prints with Cyan Dye Soundtracks. Today's press release:
quote:
MGM to Issue All 35 mm Prints
with Pure-Dye Analog Soundtracks
(March 19, 2004)—MGM and the Dye Track Committee have announced that beginning with the release of Soul Plane on May 28th, 2004, all 35 mm prints of all MGM titles will be issued in the US exclusively with pure-dye cyan analog soundtracks. MGM is the first studio to use environmentally friendly cyan tracks in lieu of traditional silver-applicated tracks on 100% of its 35 mm releases.
Environmental benefits of the cyan soundtrack include the elimination of caustic chemicals, and silver itself, from the print manufacturing process. The switch also enables a significant reduction in water usage: were all U.S. print manufacturing to convert to cyan tracks, the ongoing savings would be equivalent to the drinking water needs of a town of 75,000. Silver-applicated tracks have the further disadvantage of a comparatively high manufacturing reject rate.
“MGM is proud to be in the forefront of this landmark change in film sound-tracks, and to be taking a significant step in improving the environment,” said Chris Aronson, Executive Vice President, General Sales Manager, MGM. Added Ioan Allen of the Dye Track Committee, “MGM’s commitment is a major step in this unique partnership between studios and theatres.”
In exhibition, cyan soundtracks require red-light soundtrack readers, which have been standard in new projector models for some time. It is estimated that the vast majority of the projectors in use in the U.S. are now equipped with red-light readers, making it now practical to use cyan tracks on all 35 mm prints. “We are grateful for MGM’s leadership, and delighted that the studios are taking advantage of the theatres' shift to red light readers,” said John Fithian, President, National Association of Theatre Owners. “This shows that the film industry as a whole has an environmental conscience.”
The move to pure-dye soundtracks has been spearheaded by the six-year-old Dye Track Committee, which consists of representatives of Eastman Kodak, Dolby Laboratories, and print laboratories that include Deluxe and Technicolor. The technology has been thoroughly and successfully tested by labs, film distributors, and exhibitors over the past four years. Digital soundtracks are not silver-applicated, so are not affected by the decision to use cyan analog tracks.
Expect other announcements soon.
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Frank Angel
Film God
Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-19-2004 12:36 PM
I know a 10-plex here in Brooklyn, city of 3 million (not exactly a one horse town), that still has white-light readers in every screen. And that's just the one theatre that I know of because the projectionist is a friend of mine. I suspect there may be a few more. So when the press release says,"It is estimated that the vast majority of the projectors in use in the U.S. are now equipped with red-light readers," I wonder just how is was "estimated" and exactly what they mean by the word vast. After all, 51% is a majority and if I were a distributor, I surely wouldn't be happy loosing 49% of potential screens.
So how come the Committee, which includes Technicolor hasn't made cyan test film readily available prior to the release of an all-cyan inventory title? I find that a bit irresponsible, no? Given that Technicolor certainly has the facilities and the distribution system to ship rolls of test material with prints just as they ship trailers, one would think this a natural, easy way to get theatres ready in advance rather than just shipping out prints that will rely on new technology --technology that heretofore has been untested in most (dare I say the vast majority) of theatres that do have red-light readers. At the very least, shouldn't cyan track test film have been made part of the SMPTE's test film arsenal and been available long ago, surely before the first cyan-only release?
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