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Author Topic: MPAA, you suck! Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-13-2003 01:56 PM                     I asked my friend whom I worked with if he really wanted to know what CAP code was before he went and saw LOTR:TTT Extended and he said he didn't mind. When he got back from the screening, he said "those red dots were annoying as fuck!" And not only that, but his roommate who has never worked in a booth or seen a film print or knows what CAP code and copy protection is, asked him in the middle of the film, "What the hell is up with those red dots all the time?" This is getting WAY out of hand. I propose everyone who finds a cap-coded reel relentlessly order replacements until you get one without. And destroy the CAP-coded ones beyond the point of runnability before you send them back. For security reasons, of course. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-15-2003 03:49 PM                        Thomas Procyk wrote: quote: ...And destroy the CAP-coded ones beyond the point of runnability before you send them back. Much as you might object to something, those prints are the property of the distributor, who likely authorized and paid the lab for any anti-piracy coding. There are much better ways to change industry practices than to willfully damage property.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 12-15-2003 07:33 PM                     While I agree with John that intentionally damaging reels is not the way to solve the problem, I am all ears. So John, just exactly how do you propose this nonsense be put to an end? And by putting an end to this, I mean an effective way to put an end to it, not meetings of committees that drag on and on over the course of months or years. So far the only effective proposal I've heard is to blow up the Deluxe Labs building.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 12-15-2003 08:39 PM                        The solution to this problem is relatively simple. If enough customers complain and demand a refund or raincheck because the movie they pay GOOD MONEY to see is DEFECTIVE, the message will be received LOUD and CLEAR. We need someone like Roger Ebert to take this cause up and educate moviegoers as to how movies are being mutilated by the studios. This REALLY pisses me off!!! Every print of RotK, arguably the most-anticipated release of the year, will be defective, right out of the lab. F-ing idiots!!!! EDIT: You can let the MPAA know how you feel about their mutilation of movies via email: hotline@mpaa.org I just did.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-15-2003 09:35 PM                        Never underestimate the power of the pen (or keyboard). State the facts, and be professional and businesslike in your correspondence.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 12-15-2003 09:39 PM                        Oh yeah, I agree. I managed to express my outrage and disgust at this practice, while not invoking the F-word even once! (Even though I badly wanted to! )  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-16-2003 02:57 AM                     Yet another scathing review of how stupid CRAP Code is: It's supposed to be a review of 'Master & Commander, but more time is spent bashing the CRAP Code Epic, grandiose and brilliant, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" is nonetheless marred by a smirking performance by Russell Crowe and a new problem affecting studio releases in 2003, piracy prevention marking. Yes, my fantastic movie-going experience watching this often- beautiful film was nearly destroyed by the appearance of distinct dots throughout one of the film's most engrossing scenes. The scene in question features a torrential storm and its effect leaves one featured shipmate of the crew that is our protagonist here stranded and left for dead. But I couldn't tell you what shipmate/actor it was because I got incredibly distracted during the highly important scene by the appearance (no less than six times) of dots in light areas of the frame. These dots are now being splayed across the frames of studio films in the lab, by the order of the film's distributor(s) (i.e. the "studio") in order that the print may be "marked" so that if someone pirates it (copies it and distributes it), the source print can be identified and the culprit more easily tracked. This is a new trend in the theatrical exhibition of films and one that is about to cause this viewer to abandon watching films at the theater altogether. This revolting and ugly effect took me out of what was a truly captivating scene in a wonderful film to the point of where I completely lost track of what was going on in the story. Because of this, a pivotal plot point of the film totally escaped me. This left me so angry that it took me an additional five minutes to recover and get back into the film. It is completely unnecessary for the studio to allow such a thing to occur. All this was done for a concept that is highly questionable. Not only is piracy NOT an issue in the United States, but many studies that have been completed about piracy have lead to the overwhelming conclusion that films are copied and "stolen" at the level of the labs and the other areas within the studio system itself. In other words, it is not consumers who are pirating films but those contractors/ sub-contractors and agencies who work for the studios who are responsible. For the studios to allow the domestic releases of their fare to be marred for a supposed crime that simply is not taking place (at least, not in the ridiculous numbers that they suggest it is) is simply unacceptable. As consumers, we must do all that we can to change and eradicate this insipid new program established by "Hollywood." I suggest that we write letters, get on-line and complain at every opportunity and, if necessary begin to boycott films that have these marks. As for "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," it is a brilliant film, one of the best you will see during this holiday season, even if it takes 20 minutes to get used to Crowe's thespianism run amuck. Go immediately to the nearest multiplex showing the film and buy a ticket. Watch the movie and try not to let those disturbing markings in the film ruin the feature for you. Then, when the film is over, go out to the lobby, get a manager, and demand that they give you your money back since the print was "dirty" and "marred." ...Back to your regularly scheduled Film-Tech session... -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-16-2003 03:55 AM                        Again, I have to ask, where is NATO on this issue? Do they just sit around collecting dues from their theatre members? Isn't it painfully obvious that if people start reacting like that reviewer it can only be bad for box office business? It would be in the theatre owner's best interest as well as the interest of the consumer, his ticket buyer, to do the same as the writer suggests -- refuse to play films that are so blantly scarred with these crap codes. NATO should take an agressive stand and inform the studios that supplying prints that are mared with non-picture information in the image area will be considered a damaged print and thus put the studio in breach of their own Master Contract which obligates them to supply prints in good condition, discounting normal wear and tear. NATO should make a statement that if the studio delivers prints that contain deliberate, distracting marks in the image area, they will be considered prints not "in good condition" as contractually required and will be considered by the NATO member as a breach of contract. That then puts the ball in the theatre owners ball park. The theatre could pull the picture because the studio deliberatly sent a print that will cause the theatre to loose business. NATO should be very sensitive to the fact that unhappy customers will be ruinous for business. All that has to happen is a few high profile reviews like Ebert and Ropert slam this practice, and it could easily become an abatros around the studios' necks that they will want to be rid of quicker than they send titles to DVD. Hmmm, why not send off an email to those two, perhaps quoting the above. Start a fire....who knows, it could become an inferno.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-16-2003 06:51 AM                        quote: It's supposed to be a review of 'Master & Commander, but more time is spent bashing the CRAP Code I think what is interesting here is that the mindset that perpetrated the markings has that "the audience doesn't notice things like that" unsubstantiated appraisal showing only contempt for the audience, & yet what's revealing them as clueless is that people are obviously critical of image quality because of their feedback on DVD releases. From the NY Times story "Greatest DVD's Never Made: A Most Wanted List" 12/14/2003: 'In a recent industry survey by the Consumer Electronics Association, asking people what they liked best about DVD's, "picture quality" was the highest-scoring reply, cited by 81 percent of respondents. Studios that may once have rushed a disc to market are now taking greater care, even at some expense. "The marketing people have told us that picture quality is a premium," said MGM's Mr. Grossman.'  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 12-16-2003 08:03 AM                        quote: Frank wrote: Again, I have to ask, where is NATO on this issue? Why would they care? NATO is one of those organizations that take forever to get even the most simple task done, because they make sure all of their members are incompetent before they join or too busy to ever paticipate. Why else would they be so ineffective? If they were competent, they would move a lot faster and be a lot more help to the industry. Just look at their idiotic logic on trailer volume. Decreasing the volume over a period of 10 years or something retarded. The whole thing could have been over and done with years ago if they had the balls to just axe the db level then and there. Guess what, it's STILL a problem thanks to NATO. NATO is ineffective. And only real action from them (not propaganda talk from Pytlak) can prove otherwise. I'd like to see NATO prove me wrong, but that's not gonna happen.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-16-2003 09:49 AM                        I do not speak for NATO, the labs (ACVL), the distributors (MPAA), the theatre equipment manufacturers and dealers (ITEA), or similar trade organizations. You need to take your issues directly to them. Here are the contacts: http://www.natoonline.org/officers.htm http://www.natoonline.org/contacts.htm http://www.acvl.org/officers.htm http://www.acvl.org/members.htm http://www.mpaa.org/about/ http://www.mpaa.org/anti-piracy/ http://www.filmjournal.com/applications/guides/alpha.cfm?PageID=11111130 http://www.itea.com/officers.html  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-16-2003 12:27 PM                     Of course, I meant destroying the prints in jest. They would probably charge you and/or pull all your bookings for that studio if you returned them a buzzsawed reel. John has a GREAT idea. Let's swamp all the organizations, (Studios, MPAA, NATO, etc.) with letters explaining our dissatisfaction with X presentation at X theater because of the crap code. If you see a movie at the theater, send a letter to the theater's corporate office (although with some chains, you'll only get a pass or two with a "Dear Valued Customer" letter) letting them know that you were distracted by this. We should start the Film-Tech Lobbying Organization. "FTLO" sounds official, too! Imagine, "Oh shit! The FTLO is after us again!" =TMP=  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-16-2003 12:44 PM                        Thomas: The idea is not mine. But well-reasoned, business-like, professional communication will have much more impact than childish ranting or bashing. Trying to disrupt business by your suggestion of "...Let's swamp all the organizations..." is not likely to convince those who can make beneficial changes, and will reduce your credibility.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 12-16-2003 01:37 PM                        John is right. Corporate people do not respond well to immature ranting and raving. Those kinds of complaints are readily dismissed by "them". If you keep to the facts, state your concerns, etc. and do it relatively politely, they are MUCH more likely to pay attention. That doesn't mean you can't be indignant -- just don't be "rude".  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 12-16-2003 02:23 PM                        Why not just a letter that says "YOU SUCK!!!1!!!@!!!" and nothing more? Surely they'll know exactly what is being referred to.  |  IP: Logged

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