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CNN Live Sunday
New Technology Brings New Life to Classic Movies
Aired July 27, 2003 - 16:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Hollywood is reintroducing some movie classics to a whole new audience, thanks in part to digital technology. As CNN's Eric Horng explains, the digital nip and tucks are giving old movie stars and their films a facelift.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In 1950s "Sunset Boulevard," Gloria Swanson delivers this classic line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SUNSET BLVD")
GLORIA SWANSON, ACTRESS: All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HORNG: But on DVD...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SUNSET BLVD")
SWANSON: All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HORNG: It's the film, not just Swanson's character, that gets a makeover. Thanks to digital enhancement.
JOHN LOWERY, LOWERY DIGITAL IMAGES: This really doesn't have to look old because of the medium.
HORNG: John Lowery has applied his digital touch to more than 60 films, hired by the studios to clean up films like "Citizen Kane" and "North by Northwest." By removing dirt, scratches and film grain, Lowery says an old movie can look as new as today's films.
LOWERY: How can you say that just because it was shot in 1950 that, well, it has to look old?
HORNG: Not everyone agrees. Shawn Belston works for 20th Century Fox, restoring films like "All About Eve" and "The Sound of Music." He uses digital technology sparingly, and is critical of what he calls "digital over-correction," making a film look too new. Belston compares it to putting a CD player in a vintage automobile.
SHAWN BELSTON, FILM PRESERVATION EXEC. DIRECTOR, 20TH CENTURY FOX: You get the advantage of having a CD player, but you lose the original integrity of the beautiful dashboard.
HORNG: It's a heated debate, now that studios are aggressively releasing classics on DVD, catering to consumers who value superior picture quality.
TIM KITTLESON, UCLA FILM & TELEVISION ARCHIVE: It is an art form. It is a cultural entity that makes a huge contribution to our society. At the same time, it's a business.
HORNG: Big business, in fact, for John Lowery. He expects his orders to double in the coming year.
In Hollywood, I'm Eric Horng.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 27, 2003 - 16:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Hollywood is reintroducing some movie classics to a whole new audience, thanks in part to digital technology. As CNN's Eric Horng explains, the digital nip and tucks are giving old movie stars and their films a facelift.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In 1950s "Sunset Boulevard," Gloria Swanson delivers this classic line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SUNSET BLVD")
GLORIA SWANSON, ACTRESS: All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HORNG: But on DVD...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SUNSET BLVD")
SWANSON: All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HORNG: It's the film, not just Swanson's character, that gets a makeover. Thanks to digital enhancement.
JOHN LOWERY, LOWERY DIGITAL IMAGES: This really doesn't have to look old because of the medium.
HORNG: John Lowery has applied his digital touch to more than 60 films, hired by the studios to clean up films like "Citizen Kane" and "North by Northwest." By removing dirt, scratches and film grain, Lowery says an old movie can look as new as today's films.
LOWERY: How can you say that just because it was shot in 1950 that, well, it has to look old?
HORNG: Not everyone agrees. Shawn Belston works for 20th Century Fox, restoring films like "All About Eve" and "The Sound of Music." He uses digital technology sparingly, and is critical of what he calls "digital over-correction," making a film look too new. Belston compares it to putting a CD player in a vintage automobile.
SHAWN BELSTON, FILM PRESERVATION EXEC. DIRECTOR, 20TH CENTURY FOX: You get the advantage of having a CD player, but you lose the original integrity of the beautiful dashboard.
HORNG: It's a heated debate, now that studios are aggressively releasing classics on DVD, catering to consumers who value superior picture quality.
TIM KITTLESON, UCLA FILM & TELEVISION ARCHIVE: It is an art form. It is a cultural entity that makes a huge contribution to our society. At the same time, it's a business.
HORNG: Big business, in fact, for John Lowery. He expects his orders to double in the coming year.
In Hollywood, I'm Eric Horng.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
