Bringing a New Look to your Screen

(Original press release, announcing the formation of Screen Attractions.)
For release 2/8/01

(Orlando) At the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association (UDITOA) meeting on Wednesday, 2/7/01, guest speaker Tim Reed made a surprise announcement to the industry of a new venture he has formed, dedicated to the production of intermission clock trailers. The company is being called Screen Attractions and, along with business partner Justin West, the two are digitally-remastering classic 35mm trailers from the golden age of drive-ins.

They will be producing the first new intermission films in twenty years with the introduction of several all new, original segments and customized snipes. The new segments keep with the nostalgic flavor of the remastered footage, and feature progressive motion graphics, fresh music, and slow-sell voiceover work from broadcast network announcers. All of the films will be recorded in Dolby SR optical stereo, and options have been secured to record tracks in both Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) and Dolby Digital.

Screen Attractions has also been licensed to utilize new digital copies of all the vintage music tracks, recorded directly from original stereo masters. Existing voiceover tracks are being run through a sweetening process, which masks surface noise and compensates for high frequency losses.

"As you'll see, these films truly look better than the originals," said Reed in his opening comments. "There are no generational increases in contrast, film grain, or jump and weave to transfer to the new negative." He added, "We're able to make the picture sharp and color-correct it, replace missing footage, eliminate burn marks, emulsion scratches, and remove any unsteadiness present in the originals. Of course, it goes a lot faster if we start with good materials but, really, a film doesn't even have to have sprocket holes; we can motion-track objects in the frame and make it rock steady with our (proprietary) process."

West and Reed's process is the product of almost a year of research and development, which resulted in the design of a film remastering paradigm and makes use of computer cgi technologies. Reed allowed that they have been quietly remastering films for several months.

The screening of a product reel at the convention was met with enthusiasm and applause. Several segments brought audible gasps of astonishment from the crowd. The greatest reaction, however, came when Reed announced that the films will be offered to drive-in theatres at no cost. "At this price, every theatre in the country can afford a nice clock trailer," Reed joked. The "Free Intermission Clock Program" involves subsidizing production through local sales of just three merchant ads, which Screen Attractions produces and includes in the clock.

Reed emphasized that the cost to the owner is nothing, with the added incentive that the owner is free to arrange his own rate schedules with the merchants for the screening of their ads, besides the increased traffic that the clock will generate at the concession stand. For theatres not wishing to run merchant ads, the clocks will also be available for outright purchase, at affordable prices.

The films are being produced in such a way that will allow theatres with only one feature to utilize them as well, at the beginning of the show. "We're being careful not to place references to the 'next' show, or saying anything like 'visit our concession during this break between shows' or the like, so that everyone can use these trailers, at any point in their program."

Said one owner upon viewing Reed's demonstration: "I've seen these films before but this is like watching them for the first time...fantastic!" Another owner added, "All those films out there that everyone said couldn't be saved...now they can. The possibilities are endless!"

Full production to come later this year.

The SHOWBIZ Clock!
The first new clock trailer produced for drive-in theatres in over 20 years!

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