ìPearl Harborî In 70mm And 8-Channel DTSÆ

By Michael Coate Research Editor/Staff Writer, Widescreen Review

22-Jun-01

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bayís World War II epic ìPearl Harborî had its Japanese premiere yesterday, Thursday, June 21. The big event was held at the Tokyo Dome, and featured a specially prepared 70mm presentation. The one-screening-only eventís sound presentation was in 8-channel DTSÆ, via the companyís special venue audio format (so as to preserve the 8-channel sound mix originally created for selected 35mm-SDDSÆ screenings). ìPearl Harborî is the first non-special venue feature film to utilize the DTS-8 format in conjunction with the 70mm format. The 70mm print contains no soundtrack at all, unlike in years past where prints would be customarily magnetically striped. Instead, the prints carry digital timecode, which enables the print to be synchronized to a series of discs containing the filmís soundtrack.Itís not uncommon for premieres to utilize specially prepared 70mm prints, particularly if the screening is being held in a large venue with a massive-sized screen. Itís also not uncommon for studios to spare no expense for special screenings, such as the Japanese ìPearl Harborî premiere. In the past few years, special 70mm-DTS prints have been prepared for international screenings of ìIndependence Day,î ìStar Wars,î ìArmageddon,î ìGodzilla,î and ìDinosaur.î Those presentations, however, used the same 6-channel DTS audio format as the conventional 35mm presentations. The North American premieres and releases of these films utilized 35mm prints exclusively. The World Premiere of ìPearl Harborî was held on May 21, and was shown in 35mm on a screen estimated to be 100 feet wide. The event was held aboard the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier.For more information about the 70mm presentation of ìPearl Harbor,î and other 70mm screenings, visit WSRís comprehensive 70mm film listing, at: http://db.widescreenreview.com/theatrical/default.htmPhoto Credit: The Associated Press

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