Technicolor Film Services

MINUTES OF A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE INTRODUCTION OF CYAN DYE ANALOGUE SOUNDTRACKS 26 October 2000

Present:
Andrew Wales (Minutes)
Graham Edmondson, Dolby
Brian Dale, Technicolor
Nick Watson, Dolby
Ashley Hopkins, Technicolor
Clive Ogden, Kodak
Phil Hill, Agfa
Tim Everett, Warner Bros.
Terry Lown, Agfa
Richard Hühndorf, Warner Bros.
Ray Perry, BVI
Steve Southgate, Warner Bros.
Dave Allen, Deluxe
Mel Ryder, Deluxe

Apologies: Paul Stapley-Tovey, Columbia

Overview:
This meeting was the follow up to an earlier meeting to discuss the introduction of cyan dye analogue soundtracks and how their introduction can be made as easily and quickly as possible.

1. Before any move to cyan dye tracks can be made, all the distributors should be using high-magenta analogue tracks. Of Technicolor's major customers, Warner Bros. has been specifying high-magenta for a number of months with no comments from theatres. Ray Perry went on to explain the current BVI position. BVI in Burbank sent out to all appropriate laboratories a trailer OSTN for printing high-magenta. Ray mentioned that although the UK laboratories produced acceptable prints, some of the mainland Europe labs did not. He felt that it was issues such as this which were delaying BVI requesting high-magenta prints, but that the conversion date of 1st January 2001 was still on. Dreamworks, Technicolor's other major client, had not given any indication when any move over to high-magenta would take place. This was also the story that has come out of Technicolor Hollywood. Dave Allen and Mel Ryder said that of Deluxe's major clients only 20th Century Fox was specifying high-magenta. They had no indication as to the intentions of their other clients. Andrew Wales would ask Paul Stapley-Tovey of Columbia about their intentions.
2. At the first meeting it was decided that the best way of informing theatre managers and projectionists of cyan dye tracks was to produce a short promo reel. Ray Perry had been in touch with Keith Adamson, a member of staff from Technicolor, and had come up with a basic script, which was now on its third rewrite. At the meeting, Graham Edmondson and Tim Everett performed a run through of the script. There were a few minor alterations required but these were to do with terminology and removing trade names such as Dolby. Andrew Wales and Keith Adamson will correct and resubmit for approval. Once approved, Keith would be asked to produce a final script and storyboard ready for shooting.
3. A subcommittee consisting of Graham Edmondson, Ray Perry, Steve Southgate, and Andrew Wales to be set up to see the project through. Estimated cost of the production was put at £1500, which hopefully will be split between the distributors. Date of the shoot has been provisionally put for the w/c 29 Jan 2001, and the subcommittee will arrange other aspects of the shoot.
4. Richard Hühndorf brought a BKSTS information sheet that when approved by all interested parties would be circulated to theatres in film cans. If all distributors could put a copy of the leaflet in the UK releases, the theatres would then see that cyan tracks are likely to be on their way and all laboratories and distributors back the move. Using information such as this, the theatres can be sure that the push towards cyan dye tracks is ongoing. The distributors present could see no problem in supplying the information sheet in cans. Dave Allen and Mel Ryder said Deluxe would be willing to issue the note with cans coming from their lab.
5. As at the first meeting, concerns were raised regarding the 'playability' on red readers of black and white silver (rather than B&W on color stock) prints. Although mainly affecting archive material, every few years a subject is released on B&W stock for artistic purposes. Andrew Wales will come up with a list of possible combinations of print and reader type and with the help of Dave Allen and Mel Ryder come up with a set of printing specification. During this discussion, the issue of 16 mm prints was also brought up. No one at the meeting knew if any projector manufacturer was offering red sound readers. If there are no red readers available then there is no possibility of moving to 16 mm cyan dye prints. Further information would be sought prior to the next meeting.
6. Next meeting planned for 8 January 2001. Andrew Wales to confirm.