tylerminkis5 Posted August 8, 2004 Share Posted August 8, 2004 I was watching AMC today (I know, I know) and I was wondering if pan and scan movies are cheaper for the network. With widescreen DVDs usually outselling full frame DVDs, the public should be used to seeing letterboxed movies. So is pan and scan being cheaper why AMC runs cropped movies? And if it is TV for movie people. Shouldn't the movie people know the benefit of letterboxing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagebrush522 Posted August 8, 2004 Share Posted August 8, 2004 I don't know about cheaper but there is/was a perception among the companies that release films for TV and video that customers feel cheated if there is space showing on the top and bottom of their screen. Hence pan and scan. AMC could show wide screen films in wide screen but then again it could show it's films uncut and without commercials interrupting the films constantly. It's not doing any of these things. AMC calling itself TV for movie people is cynical, to say the least. Ariel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhnrndglt Posted August 8, 2004 Share Posted August 8, 2004 You're right Ariel. And I think that perception of "being cheated" is still pretty common. Even TCM continually shows that bumper with all the directors saying exactly why "letterboxing" is actually giving us the entire film. AMC is actually movies for television people....LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenwal34 Posted August 8, 2004 Share Posted August 8, 2004 One reason for full screen versions is that the demand still exists . With the growth of the new breed of wide screen tv's,this may change.Even with my 27 inch,I still prefer WS. Depending on the films ratio,I usually get a decent picture.Seniors or others with eye problems,may have difficulty seeing the images.Last,but not least,is the "cheated" problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrtbsh Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Pan & Scan isn't necessarily cheaper, but there are times the distributors only have those versions available (because historically they've been in higher demand). I agree that letterboxing is becoming more accepted. As you should know, TCM always prefers letterboxed versions when they're made available to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orson4ever Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 With VHS, they used to price the widescreen videos around $10 higher than the pan-and-scan edition, a pricing policy which thankfully is not applied to DVDs. AMC did not heartily endorse widescreen, even in their commercial-free days (a sign of things to come?). They would broadcast the full-screen version of a particular title repeatedly, and always during daytime/primetime hours, yet would air the widescreen version of that same title only once during the entire month, and around 2 a.m. You had to be a subscriber of their monthly magazine to even notice this practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 To: TCM Programmer. Thanks for replying in this thread. This topic is one that keeps coming up, along with a few others that you are continually having to re-address for the new folks who join us every week. Once again it seems like it would be so helpful for us, and for you too, if you would only establish a special Forum where these issues can be addressed, and where we can refer new members who have missed previous discussions concerning them. Any chance? :)ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bggalaxy Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 We can add this issue/topic to the "genre" "widescreen cinema" thread. Once there, people can refer to it first then ask questions. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrtbsh Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 ML - it's a great idea and there is a chance of it happening, but not for a little while at least (we are doing a bit of a redesign in the coming months and may incorporate it into that) bggalaxy - another great idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Hello our TCM Friend! I knew that I could count on you to get back to me re. my "suggestion". I realize that your people are working on improving our registration and log-in procedure, and that making these kinds of platform changes simply takes time. And, if the larger "redesign" could possibly include any valuable suggestions you receive from us concerning our Forums, such as the one I made followed by yet another good one by bggalaxy, I'm sure that we can muster enough patience to tough out a reasonable waiting period. Gotta take this opportunity to tell you personally that this month's "Summer Under the Stars" has been a spectacular achievement, and is being totally enjoyed by the great majority of us, and huge numbers of people who don't even post here. Good job! :)ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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