THX: Difference between revisions
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→3rd Trailer (May 20, 1988-2002)
imported>IlCattivo25 (→2nd Trailer (Late 1983-October 24, 2006, March 19, 2010-September 17, 2012): I noticed that ROTJ had THX screenings in a couple of theatres in Texas during its first run. Maybe it's worth looking into? Also, if the situation in LA was the same in Dallas, maybe TOD was the premiere film for Broadway after all, though, again, we can't be too sure at present.) |
imported>IlCattivo25 |
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'''FX/SFX:''' A conductor flicks a baton which triggers a hyperspeed boost, finishing in an abyss with the THX logo moving past the screen. This is CGI, mixed with live-action with the hand, done by Industrial Light and Magic using Alias Research. | '''FX/SFX:''' A conductor flicks a baton which triggers a hyperspeed boost, finishing in an abyss with the THX logo moving past the screen. This is CGI, mixed with live-action with the hand, done by Industrial Light and Magic using Alias Research. | ||
'''Music/Sounds:''' | '''Music/Sounds:''' [http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/f1/t007116.html According to Brad Miller, a Film-Tech forum administrator who used to be a projectionist], one of two pieces were used at first, depending on the film format: | ||
* | * 35mm: The appearance of the box is accompanied by the sound of an orchestra warming up, which fades out as the conductor's hand appears. Once it flicks the baton, a booming, descending synth note accompanies the hyperspeed boost, overlapped by an orchestra crescendo as it reaches its peak. When the THX logo appears in the abyss, the descending synth is played again with less distortion. An ascending string note slowly becomes prominent as the THX logo appears before it replaces the synth note entirely as it reaches its peak, representing the Deep Note. Twinkling sounds play as the "'''The Audience is Listening'''" text appears, and echo until the end of the trailer. This early audio was recalled due to its potential to break underpowered theater speakers (some theaters reportedly still retained this variant well into the mid-'90s, however) and thus replaced with what can be read below. | ||
* | * 70mm: A new orchestral piece composed by James Horner. The trailer still begins with an orchestra warming up, but the loud descending note following the conductor flicking his baton is replaced with a rousing orchestral cue; whistling sounds accompany the hyperspeed boost as the cue reaches a crescendo before abruptly fading out (not in the original version of ''WOW!'' except for the 2002 & Vimeo releases). As the THX logo appears, a slightly quieter series of ascending string notes is heard, representing the Deep Note; a "whoosh" accompanies the THX logo zooming in. Wind chimes, played in the same pitch as the string notes that preceded it, accompany the appearance of the "'''The Audience is Listening'''" text. Eventually expanded to 35mm as well due to the aforementioned speaker problems. | ||
** | ** A prototype appears on the LaserDisc, ''THX WOW!''. The music on this release seems to be unfinished, as the whistling sounds at the start are absent, as is the "whoosh" that accompanies the THX logo zooming in. | ||
** The LaserDisc variant also starts with a thunderclap, transitioning into the ascending string notes from the | ** The LaserDisc variant also starts with a thunderclap, transitioning into the ascending string notes from the 70mm music variant. | ||
'''Availability:''' Rare. This became the first alternate THX trailer to be used in 1988, beginning with the original theatrical release of ''Willow'' in THX theaters. | '''Availability:''' Rare. This became the first alternate THX trailer to be used in 1988, beginning with the original theatrical release of ''Willow'' in THX theaters. | ||
* The | * The 35mm version is extinct as it was recalled due to the soundtrack's potential to break theater speakers, and only survives in the hands of a few home projectionists. Footage of the logo in action, seen before a British theatrical showing of ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'', was discovered in mid-February 2022. | ||
* The | * The 70mm version is only available on THX demo discs. | ||
* The Dolby Digital variant was seen in THX theaters from 1995-2000. | * The Dolby Digital variant was seen in THX theaters from 1995-2000. | ||
* The LaserDisc variant can be seen on LaserDiscs from 1996-1999 such as ''The Blues Brothers'', ''Volcano'', ''Independence Day'', and others (namely [[20th Century Studios|Fox]], [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], and [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] flicks). | * The LaserDisc variant can be seen on LaserDiscs from 1996-1999 such as ''The Blues Brothers'', ''Volcano'', ''Independence Day'', and others (namely [[20th Century Studios|Fox]], [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], and [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] flicks). | ||