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The Catacombs
Discussion about The Catacombs.
Destination Moonbase Alpha
Pinewood 2005
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| Martin 05 Sep 2005 00:56:04 |
Just back from the Fanderson Destination Moonbase Alpha convention at Pinewood studios. Lots of guests, very informative location tour, the new episode prints (for the Network DVD release) look superb. Thanks to Tim, Chris, Nick and everyone else who put this together. Just a small note on the DVDs... The Network DVDs have been pushed back to November 7th. There were some unfortunate problems with the projection of Breakaway (which broke down completely at one point- LWT all over again!). Note this was a projection problem, not a print problem. I looked more closely at the War Games print, and the detail and colour is really the best I've ever seen. Soundtrack was particularly clear too. BTW the Network DVDs will have 3 soundtracks- original mono, a new 5.1 mix and a music only track. Anyway, here's some photos from a few hours ago... Here's Heatherden Hall in the sun...  Tim, Gerry and a Mysterious Unknown Fan, and Barry :  Zienia, Barry and a Mysterious Unknown Fan  |
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| Senmut 05 Sep 2005 06:11:26 |
Okay, from now on in all FanFics, Bergman has a beard! | ||||||
| Martin 05 Sep 2005 06:23:55 |
Ok, I had 4 hours sleep, ready for more... Gerry gave an introduction to Breakaway (Lee Katzin's first version was 2 hours 20 minutes long) The studio tours were accompanied by Keith Wilson and Zienia Merton who added many good observations and memories. One thing that was apparent from seeing the studio- the admin block of L and M stages looks over a fence into Black Park. During the hot summer of 1976, there was a fire in the park which threatened to approach the studio... Barbara didn't trust Freddie's assurances, so she posted her own lookout to watch the flames, ready to evacuate everyone. Another fantastic convention programme, this time with a Roberto Baldassari cover. Everybody seemed to ask me when my book was published... Most fans from the UK, with large groups from Italy (of course) and the US, others from Sweden, Finland, Belgium and all the way from Australia. Incredible unique and fun table settings at the meal- thanks to Ian Nelmes, look for photos soon. To keep you going...  Keith, Roberto "Eagle" Baldassari and Johnny Byrne  |
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| Martin 05 Sep 2005 07:56:56 |
And more. Gerry's next series will be called LightSpeed (not Light Wave despite what he said himself!). CGI again. Two films in production at Pinewood- Children Of Men, based on the PD James sci-fi novel. We saw loads of huts made out of rubbish in the paddock area (where the temple of Sunim used to be). And on L and M stages (where Space 1999 was filmed) is Storm Breaker (teenage James Bond, from the Anthony Horowitz novels). Anton Philips and Rosie Badgett  Shane Rimmer. Beyond is the Gatsby extension to the Hall (built for ... the Great Gatsby)  Derek Wadsworth, a wonderful friendly guy  Barry again!!  And here's a table setting. Each table was different.  |
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| Ole 05 Sep 2005 11:59:46 |
Hi Martin, Thanks for the quick report and photos!  Will you post more here or at Catacombs?Would love any more insights of technical info on the Network DVDs... That was SOME news you posted about the soundtrack selection, since Network had not announced themselves yet..! I hope the 5.1 and seperate music track are from 35mm multitrack masters, do you know? These 3 new PRINTS that was screened, do you know if they were developed for projection for this event only? I was informed that the HD transfers for the upcoming DVDs are transferred from new interpositive elements that was made from the restored master negatives, so I really wonder why Granada would pay a lot of money to have projection prints developed for this event only, unless these were made as test prints for the restoration project... Anyway, would love to know more of what you know... I really hope Network will do a proper feature as partof the extras on their release of the restoration of Y1 and the HD transfer... Do you happen to know which people did the restoration of Y1 for Granada? Thanks, Ole |
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| moonbasealpha_s1 05 Sep 2005 13:10:16 |
MARTIN!!! This is AWESOME!!!  Thanks so much...Yeah, Sen, I have to agree with you...Bergman looks great in a beard...  |
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| Space1999! 05 Sep 2005 15:30:54 |
Truly incredible news Martin... thanks for sharing your pictures and commentary. I was really hoping that Network would take Space: 1999 Season One all the way with this restoration and reading that there will indeed be a 5.1 mix along with the mono AND separate music tracks is beyond GREAT news it is positively STUPENDOUS! IMHO they can continue to push this release back as far as necessary if it means we truly get the Space: 1999 Anniversary DVD set to end all sets. Hopefully Gerry's heart was warmed by all the care and attention going into all this and will reconsider opening up his archives. Lastly, you mentioned that Gerry spoke of a 2 hour and 20 minute original version of Breakaway... did he happen to say if this version still existed anywhere? thanks again, Richard |
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| Martin 05 Sep 2005 16:41:57 |
Network had leaflets promoting the series showing the box artwork, a brief description of the restoration (brand new HD prints taken from the original source materials...) and a long list of extras (some of which are still being worked on). The Making Of features listed are new, not repackaged or updated from the original documentary. The 3 prints (and they were 5 x 35mm film reels per episode, which confused the poor projectionist) were Breakaway, War Games and Dragon's Domain. I only saw the first two. There really was more detail and subtle colour than the current dvds, and the sound was very clear (I could make out some of the background radio chatter in Main Mission). Of course they were on a film screen in a very nice theatre (which was where the rushes and initial completed episodes were first shown in 1974...) Hopefully this will still be visible when they start mastering them onto DVD. I didn't hear much more detail about the restoration, but Tim told me that Network will be putting up a website that explains it fully, showing before and after shots and exactly what they did. This should be up soon. Orders so far are very good, and hopefully they might also invest in restoring year 2 (rather than just using the rather disappointing A&E restored episodes, which in any case were not done to this standard). |
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| Martin 05 Sep 2005 18:07:59 |
The programme book with Roberto's cover The Network leaflet showing the "Special Edition" cover.  |
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| Ole 05 Sep 2005 18:36:54 |
Martin, Wow, surprise...thanks (!) for posting a scan of the network flyer! Was it this one page only? (Can you possibly repost it here in a larger size? Some of the text cannot be read.) Hmm, not 100% sure about the box set design, any preliminary votes...  Btw, did Beddows tell you when Network's promotional website is up? Thanks, Ole |
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| moonbasealpha_s1 06 Sep 2005 00:53:53 |
I LOVE Roberto's programme cover. Excellent job. The Network DVDs...Multi-region release, I hope?!? |
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| Moonbase99 06 Sep 2005 01:13:10 |
Hi Martin, Thanks for the pictures and information! Did you get to see Lee Katzin's 2 hour 20 min. version of Breakaway? Or was that just info from the introduction? Ken |
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| Martin 06 Sep 2005 05:55:34 |
I'll put up bigger versions of the leaflet soon (and other photos from the convention). The extras list is a little odd at times- one of them is "Martin Landau and Barbara Bain". What, in every box? It will almost certainly be region 2 and PAL. Sorry! As for the 2 hour Breakaway- Gerry said "it was slow, uninteresting and an unmitigated disaster". Abe Mandell was "decimated" when he saw it. It's certainly not on the extras and I doubt it does exist. There was also a cut version which trimmed it to the required 50 minutes (completely disjointed, apparently) and another overlength version with Gerry Anderon directed additions, before the final version was cut to the right length. |
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| Ole 06 Sep 2005 10:26:07 |
Thanks Martin! As for Region 2 and PAL, I guess you havent followed the information at the ITC_DVD Yahoo group. I believe the Japanese will be the first ones to follow this release, either in NTSC or maybe HD. but the US will most likely get a full blown HD release in a year or two, if consultant Scott Bosco has anything to say about it. He was the one who against all odds pushed Granada Ventures to consider a restoration of Year One, not a small feat...Network has him and the Granada executives who made the decision to thank for this.. What I would have asked Gerry if I had been there (man, I should have thought of someone to ask him) was if SPACE was shot in 24fps or 25fps film. We had a discussion some years ago about this at ITC_DVD, where Steve Roberts from BBC Resources posted some pretty interesting information.... I would also have asked about the original version of BLACK SUN, what happened to the print they sent to Abe Mandell, or the 35mm negative trims after they shot new footage and re-edited the O-negative. What I am particularly interested to know is what archive source elements they used to mix the 5.1 sound, if the original multitrack masters still exist. |
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| Martin 06 Sep 2005 21:14:34 |
They were trying to trace alternative prints. In the end we didn't find them, but we did find tape copies of the Matter Of Life And Death with alternative t itles and the Landau Bain intros. So while the quality won't be as good as the rest, they will be on the DVDs. I think it was Polygram who junked lots of surviving material in the mid 1990s, shortly before Carlton took over; Jaz found the records of it, but it was too late. |
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| captphil 06 Sep 2005 21:49:55 |
My own personal Barbara Bain and Martin Landau! Marty can read to the kids at bedtime in Bela Lugosi's voice and Barbara and dance for us ala One Moment of Humanity! Let me get my dancin' music going! Phil and Barbara's Dancin' Music
And I understand no one in the US is picking up the show for re-release after A&E drop their rights. (Or however that works?)
Well, this is a shame because disaster or not it's something fans have been discussing for years and it would be interesting to see....or read which shots are Gerry's. Personally Breakaway was never one of my favorite Year One episodes but of course set's up the whole framework for the show. Martin, without getting too personal do you think 1999 is one of Gerry's shows he remembers foundly? I always get the impression he prefers to discuss Thunderbirds, UFO or his newer work like the CGI Captain Scarlet. Also his marriage broke up during the show so I imagine his memories of the time are sour but a lot of the work up on screen is stellar. The one time I met him in NYC there really wasn't an opportunity to discuss anything with him but it was a blast just to shake his hand and get his autograph. Could it be my impression an American since 1999 is very popular in the states while the more popular shows in the UK would be Thunderbirds and UFO? Sheesh, I would have loved to be there, it looked like a heck of a lot of fun. |
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| captphil 06 Sep 2005 21:56:49 |
Martin, I forgot to mention in my previous post you look a little like David Brin, have you ever seen him or read his work? http://www.davidbrin.com/ |
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| Jerome 08 Sep 2005 12:20:25 |
so, can you tell us when your book will be published ?  Best Jerome Wybon |
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| Martin 08 Sep 2005 20:50:16 |
Don't know!  Although the text is ready, I think people want to see something that is visually stunning. Space 1999 is a very visual series, and the book should reflect that. Lots of photos, dynamic presentation. We still need more photos, but we have some sources to follow up... |
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| Jerome 08 Sep 2005 21:29:28 |
I was just hoping your book will be published at the time of the DVD release |
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