Re: Master and Commander recurring dots

They are a security code which is printed into almost every film these days.
It identifies the number of the print, which can, in turn, identify which
theatre the film is being shown by. If you videotape the print, you get that
security code in there as well, which lets the studios know where pirated
copies come from (theoretically).  The problem is that most of the pirated
videos are not coming from dishonest projectionists or theatergoers sitting
in the audience with Sony camcorders, but from people in the business who
are selling pirated copies of preview tapes or DVDs that do not have those
codes in them.  They're an insult to the audiences and the theater industry
in general and an enormous pain in the butt when they flash on the screen
numerous times during a show.  It just goes to show how much the studios
really give a shit about what they put on the screen. They should be
patrolling their own people, not throwing garbage at those of us who pay to
see their product.


"WJL" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Yes, I saw them. They are only on one frame. And they appear in two
> separate reels. 35mm film, that is, not digital (if it's even running
> that way.)
> I don't know what they are about, but since the film is so compelling,
> I would feel that the audience, even though they will see them, will
> not lose their attention.
> But, what the hell are they?
> Bill
>
>
>
> On 30 Nov 2003 04:46:43 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Spam Trap5263428)
> wrote:
>
> >Numerous times during "Master and Commander", I noticed a grid of dots
> >appearing briefly in different areas of the screen.  At first I thought I
was
> >seeing dirt, but it occured so often that I finally realized that they
must
> >have been some sort of special effects artifact.  The dots appear in what
> >looked like a 3x3 grid, but there were not always 9 dots, sometimes 3
across
> >the top and 3 down the right side.  They reminded me of Braille, and were
most
> >noticeable when they appeared against the sky or some other plain
background.
> >The appear and disappear so quickly, they couldn't be present for more
than two
> >frames.  Has anyone else noticed these?  Anyone have an idea as to what
they
> >are?
>