Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Was expecting LOTR instead received something called "Changing Seasons"?

This is topic Was expecting LOTR instead received something called "Changing Seasons"? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 12-18-2001, 09:56 AM:

I am assuming this was done for theft prevention. Is this the only fake title they used or are there any others?

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 12-18-2001, 10:46 AM:

For that particular title, that was the code name. Other films have had the same 'code name' treatment:

'Star Wars Episode I' was called 'Perfect Timing'
'Alien: Resurrection' was called 'Weaven'
'Cast Away' was called 'Bones' (not to be confused with the Snoop Dogg film)
'Lost World: Jurassic Park' was retitled using its release date rather than a catchy code name.

There were others, I just can't remember them all. Try scanning all of the 'Feature info' threads where the codename is usually listed alongside the title of each film.

-Aaron

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-18-2001, 02:45 PM:

The typical foolishness is still there. Anyone trying to steal a set of cans for bootlegging purposes will certainly be turned off by the title "Changing Seasons" and will in no possible way notice the big "LORD OF THE RINGS" printed on the cans. Why do they keep bothering with the fake names if the depots are going to blatantly print the real name right there on the labels on the cans???

What gets me is the fact that the LEADERS have the fake names on them! This is just wonderful for those repertory rentals down the road when the projectionist has no idea that the film has a fake name. Just how much trouble will this cause?

Posted by Trevor Bailey (Member # 75) on 12-18-2001, 04:12 PM:

Wasn't Harry Potter's "code name" something like "Being Human"?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-18-2001, 05:51 PM:

The Cable Guy = The Dish

There were a few others, but I can't remember. Maybe Ian can. I think maybe Warriors of Virtue had a fake name when I ran it for the producers about a 1000 times so they could see how it looked with diferent film stocks. But they brought the print themselves, so I don't understand why it had a fake name.

Posted by John Brookshire (Member # 1013) on 12-18-2001, 07:30 PM:

Stepmom = Mother's Day
Mission Impossible 2 = Doll House

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 12-20-2001, 10:37 AM:

There was an Australian film called 'The Dish' released last autumn. I wonder how many art and rep houses will now get sent prints of 'The Cable Guy' by mistake?

Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 12-20-2001, 03:34 PM:

Hell, even the DTS disks had the fake name on them..

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-20-2001, 03:46 PM:

Leo: In the US there should be no confusion. The Dish was released here by Warner Bros. (ETS depot) while The Cable Guy came out through Sony (Technicolor

depot).

Posted by Karen Hultgren (Member # 395) on 12-20-2001, 04:32 PM:

Yeah, we were told by the studio to label the LORD OF THE RING discs as "Changing Seasons".

Karen at DTS

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 12-20-2001, 08:26 PM:

That'll slow down the bootleggers by, oh, 15 to 20 mins or so...

Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 12-20-2001, 08:49 PM:

Yeah, -unless them bootleggers are lurking at the Film Tech Forums

Potter prints in Denmark were marked by their real name, but a roll of banners were disguised with the synonyme... Spooky !

/ p.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-27-2001, 04:09 AM:

The international discs are LOTR though...

Posted by Andy Muirhead (Member # 712) on 12-27-2001, 06:53 PM:

Our Boxes and Cans were labeled 'Changing Seasons', however the leaders are marked 'LORD OF THE RINGS'

They must change how they do this depending on territory, etc, as Brad mentioned his leaders had 'Changing Seasons' on them.

Most of the time i get a 'coded' print, only the box has the coded title, and the cans are correctly labeled, as are the leaders.

I'd love to know the origin of the codes though, whether they are random or have any sort of significance.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 12-31-2001, 07:09 PM:

Aaron said:

"'Star Wars Episode I' was called 'Perfect Timing'
'Alien: Resurrection' was called 'Weaven'
'Cast Away' was called 'Bones' (not to be confused with the Snoop Dogg film)
'Lost World: Jurassic Park' was retitled using its release date rather than a catchy code name."

Andy said: "They must change how they do this depending on territory, etc, as Brad mentioned his leaders had 'Changing Seasons' on them."

That must be true, because my print of Cast Away was labeled Cast Away. I didn't even know that studios used code names until LOTR came out.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 12-31-2001, 07:20 PM:

Let's not forget the best one -- which unfortunately I think I already have -- dangit --

But one title was sent out as "DUTCH 2" when it was in fact some really hot print like the Star Wars Re-issue in 1997... who on EARTH would touch a sequel to DUTCH?

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 12-13-2002, 02:08 PM:

So I wonder if it is going to be called "Changing Seasons 2" this year? That would be a cleaver homage to last year. [Razz]

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 12-14-2002, 12:06 AM:

quote:
I'd love to know the origin of the codes though, whether they are random or have any sort of significance.

If they run out of ideas, maybe they can connect with whatever comes up with those passwords on the AOL "free" trial CDs.

"seaweed blatant"

Posted by Scott Balko (Member # 438) on 12-14-2002, 11:58 AM:

S.W. Ep.2 was called "Black Eyes" if I'm not mistaken.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-14-2002, 01:31 PM:

There is a fake name for LOTR2, but for New Line's security reasons, those of us who know it please respect not posting it until opening day. [Smile]

Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 12-15-2002, 04:30 AM:

I just find it funny that the film itself has a security name, but the cans are labeled accurately.

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 12-15-2002, 07:34 PM:

My boxes, cans & the reels are labeled with the fake name.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 12-16-2002, 04:29 PM:

Should we be posting fake names at all??

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 12-16-2002, 07:16 PM:

All the prints I have seen here have the fake name on the print and the rear label on the cans, but the front label on the cans have the real title 'LOTR: TWO TOWERS' plain as day on them.

Effectively making the fake name pointless.

-Aaron

Posted by Jacob Huber (Member # 1138) on 12-16-2002, 08:26 PM:

I've noticed that the prints from ETS are always delivered with the code name (if applicable) on one side and the real name on the other. TES however only used the coded name.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 12-17-2002, 12:48 AM:

TOTALLY SCREWY!

Ours isn't "Changing Seasons"... though I understand Brad's thoughts about the security title some of us are getting. However, the real name is all over the cans. If you were inclined toward piracy, you wouldn't have to look farther than the label on the shipping cans.

The security title isn't evident until you open the cans, and only serves to confuse the poor dumb [Confused]

that has to make up the thing.

Sure fooled me! [Razz]

I'm going to call ETS tomorrow & demand they send me the real thing. [Big Grin]

... what was really wierd was that we screened it tonight & it didn't even resemble the title on the leaders. I'm not sure I'll be able to put it back together right! [evil]

Posted by Gordon Hedges III (Member # 863) on 12-17-2002, 02:13 AM:

I was just talking to some of my employees last week about how dumb these security titles are. I can't remember the "fake" title for "MAID IN MANHATTAN", but I found it stupid to put such lame practices on lame movies. We almost sent back "MARS PROJECT" about a month ago, BEFORE we received an email stating the "8 MILE" is being shipped by that name. If they want to ship in incognito, why not put it in a box disguised as POPCORN TUBS or SODA CUPS. Heck, why not ship each reel individually, maybe one for each day. That way my projectionists can each have their hands on putting it together.

Other titles w/ fakes:

STAR WARS EP2: ------ Black Eyes
STAR WARS EP2: ------ Daddy Long Legs
HARRY POTTER &
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS ----- 3-1-8
8 MILE ----- Mars Project

Posted by Jacob Huber (Member # 1138) on 12-17-2002, 05:35 AM:

Maid in Manhattan = World's Apart

What irks me is that the printing of the code name on the can is in really small type amidst other small type, whereas the real name is emblazened like a firey beacon on the other side. At least this print actually has the code name on the heads and tails.

Posted by Josh Kirkhart (Member # 1046) on 12-17-2002, 06:00 AM:

TWO TOWERS = GRAND TOUR

Code names on cans and h+t but says Lord of the Rings:Two Towwers on DTS discs. last year everything was coded.(except for opposite sides of cans!)

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 12-17-2002, 06:54 AM:

Let's come up with fakes that could reveal some truth about some films:

Poorly Printed
Needs Editing
Stupid Retread
Too Long
Bad Idea
Studio Writeoff
Moronic Movie

etc.

[evil]

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 12-17-2002, 01:18 PM:

In homage to "Dutch 2" they should use a code name such as "To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar 2" [Razz]

=TMP=

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 12-17-2002, 04:06 PM:

Actually, theres a site that summarises movies in 4 words. Perhaps they should be consulted. ie Ep 2 was "Darth does puberty badly" or something.

Posted by Alex Grasic (Member # 1371) on 12-18-2002, 03:51 AM:

Well it's obvious that the code names change by region. Our Maid In Manhatten was not coded at all...it's probably because all us Canadians love J-Lo. Same goes for 8 Mile...another star in the eyes of the Canadians [Big Grin]