Hi everyone,

this is Phil from German DVD label Turbine and I have been a Prince fan since "Lovesexy". I was front row center for the first time on June 13th 1990 in Dortmund aged 14. I love it when a passion turns into a job project. So we recently were able to acquire the rights for the SIGN "O" THE TIMES movie and will release special edition Blu-ray and DVD sets later this year or in early 2019. I plan to do various collectible editions and not just plastic cases. I am looking into 12" sleeves, a CD sized mediabook or digipak, adding a lobby card set, a heart shaped sticker, a "backstage pass" or whatever comes to mind.

Speaking of which: in case you have any input and ideas you want to share so it might make it onto the disc, packaging or into the booklet, please let me know right here.

I am currently looking for someone who might write a "1987" booklet focussing on the European tour. Any hints?

Or in case you know someone who knows someone who took pictures during the concerts in 1987 please let me know.

I may also be contacted by [Don't post personal email address in public forums. Use orgnotes to communicate snip - luv4u]

Thank you!

Cheers
phil

philcore said:

Hi everyone,

this is Phil from German DVD label Turbine and I have been a Prince fan since "Lovesexy". I was front row center for the first time on June 13th 1990 in Dortmund aged 14. I love it when a passion turns into a job project. So we recently were able to acquire the rights for the SIGN "O" THE TIMES movie and will release special edition Blu-ray and DVD sets later this year or in early 2019. I plan to do various collectible editions and not just plastic cases. I am looking into 12" sleeves, a CD sized mediabook or digipak, adding a lobby card set, a heart shaped sticker, a "backstage pass" or whatever comes to mind.

Speaking of which: in case you have any input and ideas you want to share so it might make it onto the disc, packaging or into the booklet, please let me know right here.

I am currently looking for someone who might write a "1987" booklet focussing on the European tour. Any hints?

Or in case you know someone who knows someone who took pictures during the concerts in 1987 please let me know.

I may also be contacted by [Don't post personal email address in public forums. Use orgnotes to communicate snip - luv4u]

Thank you!

Cheers
phil

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What source will you be using for the movie?

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Kares said:
What source will you be using for the movie?

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AFAIK there is one HD master. That is the one we have. UGTL has always been cut in from video I am afraid.

philcore said:

Kares said:
What source will you be using for the movie?

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AFAIK there is one HD master. That is the one we have. UGTL has always been cut in from video I am afraid.

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Would it be impossible to work with the Estate to try acquiring the original film negatives and original video tapes and remaster everything from the source? I assume these originals were stored in Paisley's video vault even if Prince didn't have the rights to the movie.

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WOW. Turbine is the best german label. Their releases are top notch (most of the time). I'm looking forward to this release.

Sounds promising! The U Got The Look HD master video circulates - it sould be nice if that version were snipped into the movie! Check the Japanese special edition and make your version different from it. Cant wait to see the final product!

Kares said:

partyup77 said:

ufoclub said:

Kares said:

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Would it be impossible to work with the Estate to try acquiring the original film negatives and original video tapes and remaster everything from the source? I assume these originals were stored in Paisley's video vault even if Prince didn't have the rights to the movie.

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The HD master is actually very good (was also what must have been scaled down for the official DVD releases too). I had the blu-ray and saw it in the theater the same year (a couple years ago) and the only thing the film version had was slightly deeper colors.

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I didn't say it's not very good. I'm only saying that going back to the source and restoring, remastering from that would be even better.
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There are sooo many different editions of the SOTT movie around the world already that it would really be time to produce a definitive version instead of just adding fancy packaging to the master already available.

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Will Blu-rays produced in Germany play in U.S. BD players? I have the original MCA VHS, and the Canadian DVD (which is pretty great), but missed out on the Japanese BD.

Kares said:

ufoclub said:

The HD master is actually very good (was also what must have been scaled down for the official DVD releases too). I had the blu-ray and saw it in the theater the same year (a couple years ago) and the only thing the film version had was slightly deeper colors.

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I didn't say it's not very good. I'm only saying that going back to the source and restoring, remastering from that would be even better.
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There are sooo many different editions of the SOTT movie around the world already that it would really be time to produce a definitive version instead of just adding fancy packaging to the master already available.

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I think that's exactly what they did with the current HD master that was used for all the offical DVD and Blu-ray releases. It's a pro master from the original source. Same one that is on demand in HD on cable too.

djThunderfunk said:

Will Blu-rays produced in Germany play in U.S. BD players? I have the original MCA VHS, and the Canadian DVD (which is pretty great), but missed out on the Japanese BD.

European Blu-rays are pressed in different a region code from North America and if region-locked, won't play in U.S. players. I do recall the Australian Sign "O" The Times Blu-ray being region-free and much more affordable than the Japanese release.

sexton said:

djThunderfunk said:

Will Blu-rays produced in Germany play in U.S. BD players? I have the original MCA VHS, and the Canadian DVD (which is pretty great), but missed out on the Japanese BD.

European Blu-rays are pressed in different a region code from North America and if region-locked, won't play in U.S. players. I do recall the Australian Sign "O" The Times Blu-ray being region-free and much more affordable than the Japanese release.

Murphy's Law: About a week after I finally break down and drop $ on a pricey import I'll come on the org and read that a release is finally coming to the U.S.

The problem with legacy releases is that at times people involved just don't understand the technicalities of film and video.

There will be a master source and improvements can be made. yet the problem will be legal access and costs. SOTT is begging for someone to care to put on an ultimate quality release.

Regards formats, forget DVD, it is such a nasty compressed format. Anyone still watching DVD needs to think twice!

On the subject of packaging, fans do not need multiple over priced useless packages. A blu ray with a decent booklet with a well written account of the tour is all that is needed.

Quality is the onus here!

Last year I saw the remastered 2K version in the theatres in Holland for the anniversary of SOTT.

Hopefully this version will be used for this new Blu-ray because it looked fantastic!

ufoclub said:

partyup77 said:

Sounds promising! The U Got The Look HD master video circulates - it sould be nice if that version were snipped into the movie! Check the Japanese special edition and make your version different from it. Cant wait to see the final product!

This is the first I heard of a “U Got The Look” HD master. I think even the version on the movie print in theaters was transferred to film from the NTSC SD master tape and looked quite blurry compared to the real 35mm film prints around it.

I went to a screening of a vintage print of SOTT in 2016 and UGTL was definitely inferior as compared to the rest of the film.

In a weird way, it almost makes me nostalgic for the VHS days, when you couldn't tell the difference!

I cannot believe that there is 35mm footage of UGTL, and that it was not used in the film. That baby was shot on video...

eyewishuheaven said:

ufoclub said:

partyup77 said: This is the first I heard of a “U Got The Look” HD master. I think even the version on the movie print in theaters was transferred to film from the NTSC SD master tape and looked quite blurry compared to the real 35mm film prints around it.

I went to a screening of a vintage print of SOTT in 2016 and UGTL was definitely inferior as compared to the rest of the film.

In a weird way, it almost makes me nostalgic for the VHS days, when you couldn't tell the difference!

I cannot believe that there is 35mm footage of UGTL, and that it was not used in the film. That baby was shot on video...

I believe "U Got the Look" was shot on 35mm but then edited down to an SD master videotape for MTV release. Then when it came time to put it in the middle of the movie (which was probably a last minute 3am idea to cash in on the single's success) they were just lazy, had no money towards it, or had already trashed the 35mm originals for the video... so they scanned an SD video onto 35mm film!

Kares said:

Would it be impossible to work with the Estate to try acquiring the original film negatives and original video tapes and remaster everything from the source? I assume these originals were stored in Paisley's video vault even if Prince didn't have the rights to the movie.

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The costs involved would be prohibitive. Why would they bother when there's a perfectly good HD master available?

Are there any outtakes available to include or additional footage from other SOTT tour shows? One thing I'd like to see is a CD version of the soundtrack included (preferably without the dialogue over the top of some bits like "I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man). There's never been a soundtrack commercially available.

Thanks for giving us a heads up and a way to share our thoughts. As for me, I do not care much for most special features.. unless it is extra music, extra outtakes or, as mentioned, commentary by the people involved.

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Unseen pictures might be nice as well.

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I understand that you only have the rights to the movie and not the music, but anything you can add would be nice.

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By the way, with special features I mean replica concert tickets, stickers, already published pictures, etc. But any background info on the creation of the stage, the ideas behind the lighting, art direction etc. would be very interesting. I'd love a documentary about "the making of the album, tour and movie" talking to anyone involved, but that is cost and time prohibitive, I suppose. (please prove me wrong )

BartVanHemelen said:

Kares said:

Would it be impossible to work with the Estate to try acquiring the original film negatives and original video tapes and remaster everything from the source? I assume these originals were stored in Paisley's video vault even if Prince didn't have the rights to the movie.

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The costs involved would be prohibitive. Why would they bother when there's a perfectly good HD master available?

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why? because whats the point of it if its no different than blu rays that are already out there. i have no reason to get excited about new packaging.

ufoclub said:

eyewishuheaven said:

I went to a screening of a vintage print of SOTT in 2016 and UGTL was definitely inferior as compared to the rest of the film.

In a weird way, it almost makes me nostalgic for the VHS days, when you couldn't tell the difference!

I cannot believe that there is 35mm footage of UGTL, and that it was not used in the film. That baby was shot on video...

I believe "U Got the Look" was shot on 35mm but then edited down to an SD master videotape for MTV release. Then when it came time to put it in the middle of the movie (which was probably a last minute 3am idea to cash in on the single's success) they were just lazy, had no money towards it, or had already trashed the 35mm originals for the video... so they scanned an SD video onto 35mm film!

Ah yes, that makes more sense!

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Personally, I'm not too bothered by repro tickets & stickers, etc. but would be very interested if a decent documentary about the tour, the cancellations and decision to film the show, the PP reshoots, etc. could be included.

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I suspect the cost of independently producing this would prove prohibitive so failing that a commentary coving the same topics with as many people as possible (e.g. Cat, Eric, Sheila, Sheena, Albert Magnoli, Steve Purcell (editor)) would be fantastic.

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Keep us posted on your progress.

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