247 Slacker

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PfR73
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 6:07 pm

Re: 247 Slacker

#51 Post by PfR73 » Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:36 pm

Yes, thank you. I just wanted to be clear I was aware of the distinction when raising the quesiton.

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Gregory
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:07 pm

Re: 247 Slacker

#52 Post by Gregory » Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:43 pm

Well :oops: I think I put my foot in it and should have left the discussion to those with experience as curators, projectionists, or even those here with better memories or understanding of what kind of prints they'd seen. I've seen films screened in Academy ratio as far back as the early '90s but many of these were in arthouse venues, or various pillarboxed films. Sorry if some of my viewing memories from back then are faulty, or obliterated completely.

And I do realize that films will be typically shown in widescreen even if the director prefers Academy, and then for the DVD can reflect the director's preference (some of Van Sant's more recent work, several documentaries I know of, and Slacker for example). I guess re: Slacker it'd be less problematic to say Academy is the preferred ratio rather than the "OAR," as I had said.

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zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm

Re: 247 Slacker

#53 Post by zedz » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:52 pm

Well, I saw Slacker in 1.37 the couple of times I saw it on original release. First was at a festival; second at an arthouse. In terms of festival screenings, 1.37 was a completely standard ratio, even in the 90s. Lots of 16mm independent documentaries (which were ultimately destined for TV) were Academy, and Slacker probably had more to do with that tradition than with Hollywood.

Did it actually make it to multiplexes on original release, or was it a hit on the arthouse circuit?

Brianruns10
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:48 am

Re: 247 Slacker

#54 Post by Brianruns10 » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:58 pm

I think German television bought it as well...they may have even been the first, enabling Linklater to finish "Slacker."

So the 1.33 AR is entirely reasonable, as it seems this film had as much a life on television as in the theaters.

I wonder if it is possible too that the film was hard matted to a flat 1.85 frame, with black columns on either side, so theaters equipped only for widescreen could show it in the proper AR.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
Location: Teegeeack

Re: 247 Slacker

#55 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:31 pm

The '90s reissue of Gone With the Wind had the Academy image pillarboxed within a 'Scope frame, which seems like a better compromise since it uses the full vertical resolution of the frame instead of windowboxing. I kinda doubt this was done for Slacker, though.

And to expand a bit on what zedz said, Slacker was made with little expectation of getting theatrical play outside of festivals and its own little circle in Austin. There was a vague hope that it might make its budget back through TV sales (and Brianruns is correct--the first sale was to WDR in West Germany) and by selling tapes through Film Threat and similar magazines.

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colinr0380
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK

Re: 247 Slacker

#56 Post by colinr0380 » Thu May 16, 2019 12:46 pm


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