[opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios
- From: Cliff Benham <flyback1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:11:51 -0500
On 12/19/2010 6:32 PM, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
I expect that the anamorphic 70mm 2.76:1 was a tour de force meant to obsolete
Cinerama, since some people seemed to object to the frame joints in Cinerama.
Bert, Cinerama is unique. It's still being shown in theaters today. The
70mm replacement formats like Todd-AO, Vistavision, Super Panavision 70
and even IMAX don't come close to the visual impact of original 3 film
Cinerama.
What makes it different from all other widescreen film processes is the
fact that Fred Waller designed the whole system to complement the human
visual system. The 146 degree screen is deeply curved just at the same
radius as the human retina is. The three camera lenses are the size of a
contact lens and have the same focal length as a human eye.
Waller realized that the secret to depth perception in film is not what
you see in front of you but what you see peripherally from the sides.
It was the ability of Cinerama to replicate human peripheral vision and
pull you into the picture as a participant in the action rather than as
someone just sitting in a movie theater like other film processes.
Besides which, the newer superwide Cinemascope 2.55:1 had just about
reached Cinerama's 2.58:1, even if the screen wasn't slightly curved in
Cinemascope.
The earliest Cinemascope films, i.e. The Robe, etc. were compressed 2:1
anamorphically with a projected aspect ratio of 2.66:1. The Cinemascope
screen was curved but not nearly at the depth of the Cinerama screen.
Again it wasn't the extreme width of the Cinerama image but it's
peripheral depth that creates its visual impact.
I guess something with a greater wow factor was needed.
If you have never seen Cinerama, you missed it.
But these "wider than 2.35:1 formats" aren't used anymore, Craig. And
even back then, very few films we shot that way. We're talking 1950s and
1960s, Craig.
So your broad brush "Hollywood still uses a large number of formats" is just
not true. Get down to specifics, Craig. Hollywood uses 1.85:1 and 2.35:1 these days, for
regular theaters.
Bert, Cinerama is unique. It's still being shown in theaters today. No
other widescreen film process can touch it for the reality it produces
in a theater.
Cliff
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Other related posts:
- » [opendtv] Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Manfredi, Albert E
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- John Shutt
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Manfredi, Albert E
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- John Shutt
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Manfredi, Albert E
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Albert Manfredi
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Cliff Benham
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Cliff Benham
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Manfredi, Albert E
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios - Cliff Benham
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
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- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Manfredi, Albert E
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Stessen, Jeroen
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Albert Manfredi
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Albert Manfredi
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Albert Manfredi
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Manfredi, Albert E
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Albert Manfredi
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Craig Birkmaier
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Cliff Benham
- » [opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios- Ciril Kosorok