Alex Spindler
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2000
- Messages
- 3,971
Also as an example:
Ocean's 11 is currently running on HBO in open matte (or at least partially). The film was projected at 2.35:1, so there are some significant changes in the framing. Throughout the film, I found myself far less involved and distracted than I had remembered when watching my DVD of it. After some careful attention, I realized that the open matte was the cause. First, I was seeing a lot of things that I never had before. I was seeing actors gesture with their hands in sections that had always been hidden, and it was very distracting. I was focusing less on their faces than I would have normally. Then, in the scene with Garcia, Mac, and Damon, Everyone seemed so distant. In this case, there was a large table to the bottom of the screen which felt like it separated me from the story on screen.
Now, in no part of this film was filmmaking equipment visible, so the open matte didn't reveal anything of this kind. But the framing introduced all kinds of things that distracted or muted the film itself in my eyes.
Also, as a good corrollary, would you rather every deleted scene be readded to the film. It represents more of what was shot, although the director chose for whatever reason to leave it out. Often times, the added material just doesn't work or adversely affects the film. If a director truly wanted to have the deleted scenes in the film, they would release a director's cut with them added in.
For me, unless the director or cinematographer creates a "director's framing version" with a non-OAR ratio, it just isn't suitable. Just as a studio version that forces you to watch the film with deleted scenes added in without the approval of the creators.
Ocean's 11 is currently running on HBO in open matte (or at least partially). The film was projected at 2.35:1, so there are some significant changes in the framing. Throughout the film, I found myself far less involved and distracted than I had remembered when watching my DVD of it. After some careful attention, I realized that the open matte was the cause. First, I was seeing a lot of things that I never had before. I was seeing actors gesture with their hands in sections that had always been hidden, and it was very distracting. I was focusing less on their faces than I would have normally. Then, in the scene with Garcia, Mac, and Damon, Everyone seemed so distant. In this case, there was a large table to the bottom of the screen which felt like it separated me from the story on screen.
Now, in no part of this film was filmmaking equipment visible, so the open matte didn't reveal anything of this kind. But the framing introduced all kinds of things that distracted or muted the film itself in my eyes.
Also, as a good corrollary, would you rather every deleted scene be readded to the film. It represents more of what was shot, although the director chose for whatever reason to leave it out. Often times, the added material just doesn't work or adversely affects the film. If a director truly wanted to have the deleted scenes in the film, they would release a director's cut with them added in.
For me, unless the director or cinematographer creates a "director's framing version" with a non-OAR ratio, it just isn't suitable. Just as a studio version that forces you to watch the film with deleted scenes added in without the approval of the creators.