8mm Forum: What is a Cineavision Print?

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Topic: What is a Cineavision Print?

Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted October 17, 2004 10:33 PM

Hello to all,

I was looking at an previous second hand list sent out by Derann films, and there was a 3x400 foot Cineavision print of Ben Hur for sale. Can anyone please describe this title and its source. What exactly is Cineavision? Were these titles recorded in Stereo, and with Scope capability? Did they also have good sharp definition and color saturation, and were they edited well.

Best,
Michael

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John Clancy
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1954
From: Cornwall
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 18, 2004 02:10 AM

Cineavision used a 'Scope process which reduced the size of the picture area within the 8mm frame to give the full width and height of the original 35mm frame.

I always wondered how this worked on Ben Hur given that when it premiered at the Empire it had a ratio of 2.77:1. The Super 8 Cineavision (I believe) gives 2.40:1.

Some of the prints are quite good, others are downright awful and seemed to be printed pre-faded.

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted October 18, 2004 12:23 PM

Yep, we have the cinevision of Ben Hur and although its ok, id rather have a normal scope print with the better colour and sharper image, Jaws " however,(a crap film looking back) was a very good cinevision print.
If i remember it was Dr Van Tetterings company>

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Mark Todd
Film God

Posts: 3846
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted October 18, 2004 12:33 PM

Hi Tom was that Jaws 2 the 400 version, as I think the 2x400 Jaws was adapted scope as it were.( masked)
Doesn`t matter mind just wondered if there was a scope 2x400, the 200 footer was 4/3 and a better print I think.
best Mark.

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 18, 2004 05:41 PM

Hi all, I don't mean to get away from the subject, as I was very disappointed when I first bought the JAWS 2X400'super 8 U8 print, only to find it was "letterboxed". I must state that whenever this "letterbox" subject comes up, I get a little annoyed. I do appreciate the whole director's vision, total picture idea(Woody Allen's 'MANHATTAN' comes to mind), but I hate losing a third(or is it half)of my screen to black. I know the sides are cropped with fullscreen, but I still like having my screen filled with picture. I also have to mention that this widescreen total picture concept isn't always true, at least with widescreen DVDs and VHS videos. Just look at the widescreen VHS or DVD of the film ANACONDA...(including the "superbit" version...!)the tracheotemy scene(most noticeable to me being into special make-up effects) on Eric Stoltz's character is cropped on the bottom! compared to the full screen versions which shows the whole make-up effect!!! I thought the whole concept of widescreen, letterbox, scope was that you had the total picture...not always true.

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Joe Taffis

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted October 20, 2004 01:35 PM

I know what your saying Joe. I'm the same, if only U8 released more in scope, Jaws, High plains drifter to name just two good titles. Jaws 2 was the Cinevision print, unfortunatly, (as far as i know) there is no 2 x 400ft scope copy of Jaws anywhere. This is where 16mm comes into its own, if you search the list there are some A1 films in scope if your budget allows, unfortunatly mine doesn't. Although i have to moan that 16mm prints are fetching twaty prices, still if they sell fair enough. The idea of masking off on noramal prints also allowed the film to retain its quality, if you look at many titles that have been squeezed up to fill a 4:3 screen they are often very grainy or slightly soft focus. Some companies did it better than others.

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