End of an era for Serenity: 35mm prints have been retired for U.S. screenings - Firefly&Serenity

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February 05 2012

End of an era for Serenity: 35mm prints have been retired for U.S. screenings. This is expected to have minor impact on CSTS screenings since the majority of last year's events were already using digital copies and CSTS has been anticipating the change.

Sunfire | Firefly&Serenity | 22:07 CET | 13 comments total | tags: serenity, can't stop the serenity, csts

Since this news first popped on the CSTS forums, I've been trying to determine the last time I saw a 35mm print of Serenity. If either CSTSLA 2011 or the SDCC 2010 screening was 35mm, it'd be one of those, but even there I didn't watch the entire film.

I suppose this was an inevitability, but it's still weird to contemplate.

The One True b!X | February 05, 22:11 CET

Sorry b!X, both of those were blu-ray. The last SoCal screening that used 35mm was Orange County in 2010 (I think, it could have been 2009).

danregal | February 05, 22:14 CET

Yeah, then I have no earthly idea.

The One True b!X | February 05, 22:17 CET

I suppose there's a laundry list of reasons it'd be unwise for Universal to auction off the remaining 35 mm copies as keepsakes?

Sunfire | February 05, 22:21 CET

Is there a place to see what legs/stops of this year's viewings will be using the "DCP" format vs. DVD/Blu-ray?

archon | February 05, 22:23 CET

Not as far as I know, although it'd be easy to maintain a list on the CSTS forums.

The One True b!X | February 05, 22:26 CET

That's so sad. My daughter works in film and what's happening in the industry breaks her heart. I know there's probably a lot of degradation with the same prints being used over and over, though.

redeem147 | February 05, 22:35 CET

Dang, that's a downer. I'm with your daughter on this one, redeem. Particularly as some of my favorite movie theaters in LA live and die by their film prints.

sumogrip | February 05, 23:11 CET

This is actually a gigantic problem for repertory cinemas, museums, and film history.

Though as a cinephile I have mixed feelings about the digital revolution, there's no doubt it has an enormous upside in terms of consistency and money savings for the studios, it's probably even got some green pluses. Nevertheless, I'm pretty angry that the studios are apparently completely stopping the manufacture of 35mm (and 70mm!) prints, particularly for films that were (and still are) being made that way. There should at least be a token number of prints manufactured, IMO.

bobster | February 06, 00:03 CET

I am sorry to hear about this, too. 35mm has a texture that digital just doesn't.

Shapenew | February 06, 05:09 CET

I agree with Sunfire. How awesome would it be if Universal donated even 1 single copy for sale as a whole or even frame by frame for CSTS. They have been so wonderful working with CSTS organisers in the past, and I for one, am grateful for their assistance (albeit through Universal Australia) in running CSTS events in the past. Not many film studios would do this for a fan base, charity or not, methinks.

Ivalaine | February 06, 09:07 CET

Aren't the real issues what becomes of the negatives and whether 35 mm film stock is going to be manufactured in the future? If the negative is in good shape and there is film, a new print can be made later.

There are film libraries preserving and restoring old movies. One of them should be given a copy of the Serenity negative.

janef | February 06, 23:12 CET

That's a shame. The movie has a nice, grainy film quality compared to the ultra sharp, grain-free digital format of "The Avengers."

Mcjw_serenity | February 07, 04:24 CET

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