> Re: letterboxing of commercials, Gene Stavis wrote: >It also intrigues me why so many video buffs insist on a "letterbox" format >of their favorite film. Not all films benefit from an ersatz "letterboxing". >It is primarily the anamorphic films which require it, but I constantly read >requests for "letterboxed" versions of "Citizen Kane" or other "flat" films. >I think this is also a misplaced idea of one form being inherently superior >to another. It's also evidence of a culture-wide retreat into slogans rather >than serious inquiry into the actual facts. I would say that letterboxing should not be reserved just for 'scope films, but for any film made in 1.66 or 1.85 as well. The Japanese tend to do a better job with this for contemporary films, relying frequently on letterboxing with 'scope and non-anamporphic widescreen. Check out, for instance, the video of Imamura's KUROI AME (Black Rain--not to be confused with the Ridley Scott film!). You will see how even non-scope movies benefit from letterboxing when a director uses the width of the frame in his compositions. DD > > _____________________________________ David Desser,UIUC Cinema Studies 2109 FLB/707 S. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801 217/244-2705