The OFFICIAL STNG-R general discussion thread!

[Prologic9]

The chances for DS9/VOY in HD are probably better, if the conversion team behind TNG in HD learned a lot about optimizing the process with the TNG material. After that, converting DS9 and VOY is probably much cheaper than it is with TNG right now.

DS9 and Voyager will both require a massive effort to redo all of the CGI work from scratch. They'll both be much more expensive to bring into HD than TNG will be, while they bring in much smaller profits.

That's why it's so unlikely (but not impossible) to happen.

 

[Skywalker]

DS9 didn't start to extensively use CGI (not including Odo) until the sixth season, I believe. It would take more time and effort to recreate the CGI effects of the latter seasons, yes, but not as much as VOY would require.

 

[TheSeeker]

At that time, it was thought that the effects elements only existed on video, which would mean that everything would have to be reshot from scratch.

The fact that the original elements still exist on film changes the equation considerably.

I don't believe this is quite correct. I remember there were always a few who pointed out that the raw effects elements probably still existed on film. However, the fact that the post production process would have to be redone was seen as an insurmountable obstacle. So much so that recreating everything with CGI was argued to be easier to do but still too expensive to be financially feasible. Fortunately, the doomsayers where proven wrong.

It wasn't just the F/X they were talking about. The whole show was cut together on video including the live action elements so right now they are doing almost all the post production of the show all over again which a lot of people didn't think they would spring for.

 

[Trekker4747]

I was one of the doubters that they would ever do a "remastered"/HD version of the show. Not that I thought it was impossible just that it was wildly impractical. I knew they'd pretty much have to re-edit the show again from scratch on top of replacing many of the effects that were done on videotape.

I knew that if that they did do it it'd be a major under-taking and something Paramount would have to committed to and, also, something fans would probably have to be willing to pay a premium for. Though that latter part remains to be seen.

As for doing it for the other series....

I dunno. TNG would probably have much a broader appeal than the other series so how it does on HD/BD will probably be the guide for how DS9 and Voyager are done. I suspect, however, that doing those shows would be a touch easier as they probably don't have quite as many hurdles as TNG does.

 

[Captain Robert April]

The effects on DS9 and VOY were substantially better than TNG (especially early TNG), so worst case scenario, neither show would necessarily suffer too much from just being upconverted. And has already been stated, ENT was shot in HD to begin with, so all they have to do an Blu-Ray master from what they've already got, no reediting or new FX work required.

 

[ALF]

Thanks for the link! Took my breath away. It looks fucking fantastic!! Guess I've gotta get a Blu Ray player.

I have always hoped for this. Anyone watch their TNG (broadcast) VHS tapes recently? Muddy as ol' hell.

With this trailer I gasped at the color and beauty of the "Inner Light" scene on the bridge. The lightning effects on the buildings of Kronos was incredible as well. Not super crazy about Farpoint (as opposed to BOBW), though the Space Jellyfish did look sweet. I guess we have the saucer separation scene to look forward to.

 

[roliver]

neither show would necessarily suffer too much from just being upconverted.

They would suffer the same as any SD source being upconverted to HD.

 

[Salinga]

DS9 and Voyager will both require a massive effort to redo all of the CGI work from scratch. They'll both be much more expensive to bring into HD than TNG will be, while they bring in much smaller profits.

TNG has CGI also. AFAIK "Birthright: Part Two" has CGI effects, so they will developing a way to (re)create these effects, since the original data sources/renderers are probably not available/accessable anymore.

 

[JWD75]

Since technology is continually improving I think that a DS9 remastering project is likely to become economically feasible sometime in the future. DS9 is one of the best filmed and visually interesting shows ever made and I really look forward to seeing it in HD someday.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

TNG has CGI also. AFAIK "Birthright: Part Two" has CGI effects, so they will developing a way to (re)create these effects, since the original data sources/renderers are probably not available/accessable anymore.

What were the CGI shots in Birthright part 2? Asking because I'm genuinely interested, not to be defiant.

I recall reading (back in the day) that the only real cgi shots in the show were the crystaline entity, the alien probe texturing from "Masks" and maybe the Q energy barrier? I'm sure there was more, but that's all I remember.

 

[Prologic9]

DS9 and Voyager will both require a massive effort to redo all of the CGI work from scratch. They'll both be much more expensive to bring into HD than TNG will be, while they bring in much smaller profits.

TNG has CGI also. AFAIK "Birthright: Part Two" has CGI effects, so they will developing a way to (re)create these effects, since the original data sources/renderers are probably not available/accessable anymore.

Well then those thousands of shots for DS9 and Voyager just don't matter anymore do they?

They don't need to "develope" a way to recreate CGI, they know how to make CGI. It's no different from any other CGI. There's not some secret formula they can come up with that's magically going to make everything easier.

We've already seen them replace effects for TNG HD, the other show's problems are a matter a scale. A larger effort means a smaller profit, for shows that already bring in much smaller profits than TNG.

And we don't even know if TNG-HD will be successful at this point.

 

[RAMA]

Hey all, I've updated our coverage on TrekCore with a new feature I've been working on over the past few days. We've taken all new stills straight from the original DVDs corresponding to the stills I took from the HD trailer from CBS and put them in a format where you can directly compare them frame-for-frame.

This is what sells the project for me - it's all too easy to forget just how bad TNG looks on DVD until you compare it like this!

http://tng.trekcore.com/bluray/index.html#analysis2

Awesome job, even more obvious than I would have thought.

RAMA

 

[ALF]

The Q-Net effects in Farpoint had to be CGI. Any chance they'll replace that?

 

[Harvey]

CGI at that level? On television in 1987? That would surprise me.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I recall reading (back in the day) that the only real cgi shots in the show were the crystaline entity, the alien probe texturing from "Masks" and maybe the Q energy barrier? I'm sure there was more, but that's all I remember.

The "Emergence" creature was CGI, as was Junior from "Galaxy's Child."

 

[Oso Blanco]

I've seen how new CGI effects can ruin everything (TOS), I hope they won't make the same mistake here. Better upscale the old effects instead of fucking up everything!

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I've seen how new CGI effects can ruin everything (TOS), I hope they won't make the same mistake here. Better upscale the old effects instead of fucking up everything!

I thought the TOS-R Blu-ray releases gave you the choice of viewing either the original or updated FX via seamless branching?

 

[Tosk]

Boy, these arguments over whether or not DS9/VOY will get a HD upgrade are totally fascinating, and will definitely not be a real chore to read over and over again during the next few years.

 

[ATimson]

I thought the TOS-R Blu-ray releases gave you the choice of viewing either the original or updated FX via seamless branching?

They do.

 

[FalTorPan]

CGI at that level? On television in 1987? That would surprise me.

Those particular effects would have been relatively simple to make using CG technology of that period.