I’ve been re-watching star trek voyager recently, and I’ve heard when filming, they didn’t clear the wide angle of filming equipment, so it’s not as simple as just going back to the original film. With the advancement of AI, is it only a matter of time until older programs like this are released with more updated formats?
And if yes, do you think AI could also upgrade to 4K. So theoretically you could change a SD 4:3 program and make it 4k 16:9.
I’d imagine it would be easier for the early episodes of Futurama for example due to it being a cartoon and therefore less detailed.
Why would you want that? It’s always best to consume media in its purest form, and that means with its original aspect ratio. Resolution is something I’m flexible on, because I figure that filmmakers and tv directors in prior eras would have used HD if it was available, but aspect in general is tied to format, though it can be used to great effect to convey the space of a scene in different ways. Changing the ratio is akin to changing the color pallet. Might as well offer Instagram-style filters for older content while you’re at it.
Exactly, the filmmaker knew exactly what the aspect ratio was and framed shots specifically for it, why would anyone ever want this…?
Ooo, maybe we can get a nice blurred copy of the picture to fill the edges of the screen, just like TikTok!
I feel sick even jokingly suggesting that…
Because adding more detail to the sides doesn’t change the quality of the show? If anything, it improves it.
I’m also not going to install some old CRT monitors to “consume media in its purest form”, because I want the best quality, not the quality the filmmaker wanted back in the day it was created.
The best quality IS the quality the filmmaker wanted when it was created.
People buy CRT TVs even now btw, the absence of input lag makes it ideal for competitive smash bros.
Most people are perfectly happy watching an old film/show on a new screen because it can near as dammit replicate exactly what the director wanted us to see. Adding actual stuff to the framing of shots is a nuts idea and it absolutely changes the quality.
To give an example, having someone’s face fill the screen versus being centred with more background visible around it changes the feel of the shot a LOT. 12 angry men is a good example here because the camera gets almost imperceptibly closer to the person speaking throughout the film to ramp up tension and draw the viewer into the story. It creates a feeling of claustrophobia that would be dulled if you added content to the edges of the screen.