Open matte question - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

MrTony · 07-30-2002, 08:42 AM

I think I know the answer to this, but I'll ask it anyway.

At IMDB, when clicking on the technical specs of a movie to look for the aspect ratio, sometimes there are two displayed. It looks like this:

1.37:1 (negative ratio)
1.85:1 (intended ratio)

Does this mean that the film was shot open matte? Thanks.

BubbleGumUK · 07-30-2002, 09:14 AM

Yes.

Open matte is a "getout clause" in shooting a film, when instead of pannin-and-scanning a 1.85:1 frame, the matte is openend up to show the full height of the camera negative.

Films are sometimes shot like this for easy transfer to 4x3 TV, but the correct framing will always be 1.85:1. Watch an open matte film and notice how low the heads are in frame - it appears that there is too much headroom.

The good thing about the "zooming" ability on most widescreen displays means that you can literally zoom in on the center of the image and regain roughly the intended framing.

MrTony · 07-30-2002, 09:19 AM

That's what I thought. Thanks BubbleGumUK, you have answered my question most satisfactorily.

This is good, because there are at least two films in my collection -A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - that I thought were P&S but are actually open matte. I of course would have preferred a widescreen version, but I am more tolerant of OM than I am of P&S, as I would guess most people are.

Nexus 6 · 07-30-2002, 10:42 AM

One problem with zooming in is that most open-matte movies are still cropped a little in their full-frame transfers. They are opened up a little at the top and bottom, but very seldom is the entire frame shown, as there may be boom mikes hanging down in the top, and other such things. Therefore, some side information is still chopped off. Hope that helps some.

Shawn Watson · 07-30-2002, 03:11 PM

Pan and scan versions of Xmas Vacation do exists. And it's the only version I have even seen. So a widescreen DVD would still reveal more parts of the picture to me.

Shawn

Marty McFly · 07-30-2002, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shawn Watson
Pan and scan versions of Xmas Vacation do exists. And it's the only version I have even seen. So a widescreen DVD would still reveal more parts of the picture to me.

You're correct. Warner never released WS versions of any of the Vacations (except for European, which was released in its intended ratio back in April), but they are open matte. I guess they'll have to do until new discs come out (hopefully) for the first one's 20th anniversary.

Shawn Watson · 07-30-2002, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marty McFly
You're correct. Warner never released WS versions of any of the Vacations (except for European, which was released in its intended ratio back in April), but they are open matte. I guess they'll have to do until new discs come out (hopefully) for the first one's 20th anniversary.

I have the original in R2. Only cost me £5.99. It's in 1.78:1 (anamorphic) and in Mono. But there are no features on the disc. But what could I expect for the price?

Shawn

07-30-2002, 08:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
MrTony Forum Wise Guy Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Waterloo, Iowa, USA	Open matte question I think I know the answer to this, but I'll ask it anyway. At IMDB, when clicking on the technical specs of a movie to look for the aspect ratio, sometimes there are two displayed. It looks like this: 1.37:1 (negative ratio) 1.85:1 (intended ratio) Does this mean that the film was shot open matte? Thanks. __________________ Prevent tornadoes before they happen: Make sure that warm, moist air fronts do not converge with cool, dry ones. Movies, Music and a few Games My Top 20 Films

07-30-2002, 09:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
BubbleGumUK Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: England	Yes. Open matte is a "getout clause" in shooting a film, when instead of pannin-and-scanning a 1.85:1 frame, the matte is openend up to show the full height of the camera negative. Films are sometimes shot like this for easy transfer to 4x3 TV, but the correct framing will always be 1.85:1. Watch an open matte film and notice how low the heads are in frame - it appears that there is too much headroom. The good thing about the "zooming" ability on most widescreen displays means that you can literally zoom in on the center of the image and regain roughly the intended framing. __________________ Check out DVD Toons for the latest in animated discs! And catch breaking Animated-News stories here!

07-30-2002, 09:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
MrTony Forum Wise Guy Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Waterloo, Iowa, USA	That's what I thought. Thanks BubbleGumUK, you have answered my question most satisfactorily. This is good, because there are at least two films in my collection -A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - that I thought were P&S but are actually open matte. I of course would have preferred a widescreen version, but I am more tolerant of OM than I am of P&S, as I would guess most people are. __________________ Prevent tornadoes before they happen: Make sure that warm, moist air fronts do not converge with cool, dry ones. Movies, Music and a few Games My Top 20 Films

07-30-2002, 10:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Nexus 6 Actor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Anaheim, CA	One problem with zooming in is that most open-matte movies are still cropped a little in their full-frame transfers. They are opened up a little at the top and bottom, but very seldom is the entire frame shown, as there may be boom mikes hanging down in the top, and other such things. Therefore, some side information is still chopped off. Hope that helps some. __________________ --"It's a condition of mental divergence. I find myself on the planet Ogo, part of an intellectual elite, preparing to subjugate the barbarian hordes on Pluto."

07-30-2002, 03:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Shawn Watson Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Underverse	Pan and scan versions of Xmas Vacation do exists. And it's the only version I have even seen. So a widescreen DVD would still reveal more parts of the picture to me. Shawn __________________ A PTA meeting with cucumbers instead of parents.

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