Letterbox format - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 01-11-2005, 03:51 PM

I've noticed the last 2 episodes plus the one before Thanksgiving have been in letterbox format. What do you think of it?

Trish Marie · 01-11-2005, 04:08 PM

Hi TJ....

I noticed it too. Has it been just the last two episodes? I am so non-attentive.

I think it rocks. It gives it that "cinematic" feel. However, many shows seem to be doing this now and it may get to be so "old hat" that instead of seeming "cinematic" it will start feeling "televisionistic" and lose it's thing.

If that is the case, perhaps if they saved it for the episodes that are rather "dramatic" or "special", whoever would make those determinations.

(I know, kinda lame.)

But for myself, I do like it, very much.

Trish

TeeVeeCloset · 01-11-2005, 04:21 PM

The whole letterbox on tv thing has gotten way out of control......the original idea was to make the viewer think this show must be special because it is in letterbox like a movie.....but of course the real reason for letterbox is to preserve the aspect ratio of a theatrical movie when it is shown on television.....without letterbox you would miss images on the screen when converted to television size.....TV programs are already shot for television aspect ratio.....so it does nothing but make the images smaller.....to prove how silly the tv show letterbox craze is...I kid you not....the new Jamie lynn Spears (britney's little sister) sitcom aired on Nickelodeon this past weekend in letterbox....how silly!

Storywriter · 01-11-2005, 10:16 PM

I'm not fond of it I like the full picture on the account of I can't afford an LCD or Plasma Screen tv but I do deal with it for American Dreams and Dead Like Me was like this too...

Some Prefer it which is fine but it bugs me but I won't give up AD because of it...At least in a cinema the screen is the right size for this.

Leigh Ann · 01-12-2005, 11:37 AM

Yeah, I have noticed this too and it bothers me. I can understand why the "Tidings of Comfort & Joy" episode was presented in widescreen, but it's not necessary to keep doing it. "For Richer, For Poorer" will probably be like that too. Hopefully, that'll be the last episode in widescreen.

Trish Marie · 01-15-2005, 06:32 PM

Oooooooooo.....

Everybody hates it.

Now I feel really especially lame...

Heh heh...

Trish

rusyd · 01-15-2005, 10:44 PM

Now I feel stupid. I watched both eps and didn't even notice. I will have to check it out next ep.

Trish Marie · 01-16-2005, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusyd

Now I feel stupid. I watched both eps and didn't even notice. I will have to check it out next ep.

Hi Rusyd...

Just don't say you like it...

Trish

rusyd · 01-16-2005, 01:54 PM

Hi Trish Marie, You do seem to be the minority here. I'll let you know when I see the next ep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trish Marie

Hi Rusyd...

Just don't say you like it...

Trish

Storywriter · 01-16-2005, 01:56 PM

You can say you like it.its fine it just bugs some of us but ones whom like it it doesn't make them lame.Mel

davezen2 · 01-22-2005, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeeVeeCloset

.....TV programs are already shot for television aspect ratio.....so it does nothing but make the images smaller

FWIW: American Dreams has been filmed in 16x9 widescreen since the first episode. (and nowadays just about every show on the major networks is filmed/broadcast this way too) The image you're used to is actually the original 16x9 image with the sides cropped of to fill your 4x3 television screen, so you haven't actuallly been seeing the entire picture. People with widescreen HDTVs have been seeing the "big" picture from the very start. That's actually the reason I started watching A.D. in the first place. It was one of the first shows on the broadcast networks being broadcast 16x9.

Within the next few years as the transition to digital television sets grows (and ultimately the analog broadcast spectrum is given back to the government) chances are just about every show you watch be broadcast in "widescreen" as most of the new HDTV ready sets are of the 16x9 format.

Storywriter · 01-24-2005, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davezen2

FWIW: American Dreams has been filmed in 16x9 widescreen since the first episode. (and nowadays just about every show on the major networks is filmed/broadcast this way too) The image you're used to is actually the original 16x9 image with the sides cropped of to fill your 4x3 television screen, so you haven't actuallly been seeing the entire picture. People with widescreen HDTVs have been seeing the "big" picture from the very start. That's actually the reason I started watching A.D. in the first place. It was one of the first shows on the broadcast networks being broadcast 16x9.

Within the next few years as the transition to digital television sets grows (and ultimately the analog broadcast spectrum is given back to the government) chances are just about every show you watch be broadcast in "widescreen" as most of the new HDTV ready sets are of the 16x9 format.

Well some of us like myself can't afford plasma screen tvs or HDTv right now and as far as the sides being cutoff well that doesn't matter to me as long as my color, sound and picture work..Mel

davezen2 · 01-24-2005, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storywriter

Well some of us like myself can't afford plasma screen tvs or HDTv right now and as far as the sides being cutoff well that doesn't matter to me as long as my color, sound and picture work..Mel

I hear what you're saying. It still bothers me when I watch a show/DVD over at a friends house and it's presented in widescreen making for a very small picture. I was just making the point that they aren't cutting off the top and bottom to make it widescreen, they're just making the original image viewable on a standard 4x3 television.

Storywriter · 01-24-2005, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davezen2

I hear what you're saying. It still bothers me when I watch a show/DVD over at a friends house and it's presented in widescreen making for a very small picture. I was just making the point that they aren't cutting off the top and bottom to make it widescreen, they're just making the original image viewable on a standard 4x3 television.

I wasn't complaining about your comment trust me on this.I'd like to get a plasma screen but I know a small one on a stand it about 400.00.HDTV we probably can afford and I've asked my mom and she's not caving and saying she'll get it.OH well.I'm sure in the future the plasma screens will get cheaper.Mel

Screenwriter · 02-02-2005, 08:56 PM

Haha.... it's not letterbox. Letterbox is 2.35:1. This is shot in 1.85:1.

But, it's funny, when they released the first season to DVD they changed the aspect ratio to 1.35:1.

01-11-2005, 03:51 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,683	Letterbox format I've noticed the last 2 episodes plus the one before Thanksgiving have been in letterbox format. What do you think of it?

01-11-2005, 10:16 PM	#4
Storywriter Tcha! You Know What. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2004 Location: not given Posts: 1,209	I'm not fond of it I like the full picture on the account of I can't afford an LCD or Plasma Screen tv but I do deal with it for American Dreams and Dead Like Me was like this too... Some Prefer it which is fine but it bugs me but I won't give up AD because of it...At least in a cinema the screen is the right size for this.
	__________________ The Vampire Diaries,Pretty Little liars, The Mentalist,Victorious, Icarly all good shows Proud Adult Disney channel and Nickelodeon fan in her 30's

02-02-2005, 08:56 PM	#15
Screenwriter Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 18, 2002 Posts: 760	Haha.... it's not letterbox. Letterbox is 2.35:1. This is shot in 1.85:1. But, it's funny, when they released the first season to DVD they changed the aspect ratio to 1.35:1.
	__________________ I have to leave you now... don't TVDVDs I own All in the Family: Season 1, 2 & 3 Charlie's Angles: Season 1 Cheers: S1, 2. (need S3) DVD Season 1 and 2 Dallas Season 1 & 2 Happy Days: Season 1 Laverne & Shirley: Season 1 Taxi (Season 1 Coming Soon) The Jeffersons: Season 1 and 2 The MTM Show: Season 1 MAS*H: S1,2,3,4,5 Mork & Mindy Season 1 Sanford and Son: Season 1 (needing 2, 3, 4, and 5) I Love Lucy S1, 2. (3 in Nov.)

01-11-2005, 04:08 PM	#2
Trish Marie Lover of Jack Pryor Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Posts: 204	Hi TJ.... I noticed it too. Has it been just the last two episodes? I am so non-attentive. I think it rocks. It gives it that "cinematic" feel. However, many shows seem to be doing this now and it may get to be so "old hat" that instead of seeming "cinematic" it will start feeling "televisionistic" and lose it's thing. If that is the case, perhaps if they saved it for the episodes that are rather "dramatic" or "special", whoever would make those determinations. (I know, kinda lame.) But for myself, I do like it, very much. Trish

01-11-2005, 04:21 PM	#3
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	The whole letterbox on tv thing has gotten way out of control......the original idea was to make the viewer think this show must be special because it is in letterbox like a movie.....but of course the real reason for letterbox is to preserve the aspect ratio of a theatrical movie when it is shown on television.....without letterbox you would miss images on the screen when converted to television size.....TV programs are already shot for television aspect ratio.....so it does nothing but make the images smaller.....to prove how silly the tv show letterbox craze is...I kid you not....the new Jamie lynn Spears (britney's little sister) sitcom aired on Nickelodeon this past weekend in letterbox....how silly!

01-12-2005, 11:37 AM	#5
Leigh Ann Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 2,189	Yeah, I have noticed this too and it bothers me. I can understand why the "Tidings of Comfort & Joy" episode was presented in widescreen, but it's not necessary to keep doing it. "For Richer, For Poorer" will probably be like that too. Hopefully, that'll be the last episode in widescreen.

01-15-2005, 06:32 PM	#6
Trish Marie Lover of Jack Pryor Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Posts: 204	Oooooooooo..... Everybody hates it. Now I feel really especially lame... Heh heh... Trish

01-15-2005, 10:44 PM	#7
rusyd Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 13,505	Now I feel stupid. I watched both eps and didn't even notice. I will have to check it out next ep.

01-16-2005, 01:56 PM	#10
Storywriter Tcha! You Know What. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2004 Location: not given Posts: 1,209	You can say you like it.its fine it just bugs some of us but ones whom like it it doesn't make them lame.Mel