How much better would a Royal Albert Hall DVD really be?

[Justin]

Okay, so here's something I noticed on the newly released DVD that made me think about a possible RAH DVD release.  The footage found on this DVD can I believe give us a preview of what we can expect on an RAH release.  We know the RAH show was filmed. The stage was littered with tiny digital cameras in front of each principle BB, filming the entire show.  It is clearly visible on the wonderful first row footage on YouTube.  See screenshots from the video perfectly showing the small cameras filming the band:





So we know they definitely filmed the RAH gig with these cameras.  There was probably one other camera man roaming the stage with a handheld camera (same type as the stationary ones).  But no moving camera on tracks in front of the stage.  Just these cameras.

Anyway, they had the same cameras throughout the Phoenix stage for the filming of the new DVD.  Mixed into the concert is some footage from these stationary digital cameras as they had propped throughout the stage.  Here are some screen shots from the DVD that show the digital cameras pointed at specific members of the band:










So what kind of footage do these cameras give us?  Take a look:









Hmmmm....significantly lesser quality than the HD cameras capturing the show.  It's hard to tell on these shots but the angle of these cameras appear to give some kind of "fish eye" effect and it sort of disorts the subject on the screen; it kind of cuves at the bottom and almost gives the shot an oval shape--it is much more noticeable when you watch the DVD. You can see the camera in action in the "Little Deuce Coupe" clip from Rolling Stone at 1:06: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/beach-boys-take-little-deuce-coupe-for-a-spin-20121119.    Notice how weird Scott Totten looks in that shot.  It almost looks like hidden camera footage or security camera footage of the concert.  In the DVD, they manually zoom in on these shots in some kind of post-production effect to simulate like the camera is being operated by a human but it's not.  The picture really does not improve as it's being zoomed in either.  It looks VERY static and VERY obviously manufactured to simulate a real camera moving.  It's hardly noticeable when mixed into a show that is filmed by full HD cameras that are operated by real people with real live moment but 2+ hours straight of this type of footage?  Ummm....yikes.

We know they shot RAH with these cameras.  If we do get the RAH gig I do not see it being any better than what we see in these shots.  Haha...anyone who wants those sleepy, boring shots that they missed on this DVD will definitely get it on an RAH release!  Just something to think about as we eagerly await an RAH release.  Sure we'd get every song they performed but with VERY limited camera mobility.  I think it'd be slightly claustrophobic for me to enjoy. 

Something to think about!

[STE]

This is what I what I wrote few days after the RAH gig:

There was a fixed camera for every single musician on stage plus one mobile on stage and one mobile under the stage. At least! There might have been long-shot ones back in the stalls as well.
So it will be like a 20 layers project!  That's fun to edit!  If anyone in charge is reading I'm available to do it for free (but I will need access to the multi-track audio too ).


EDIT: just noticed there were some small ones pointed to the audience as well

So yes, there was one cameraman under the stage and one on stage.
But overall you are right, the RAH DVD would look like the Phoenix one, only with better performances, better venue, better acoustics, better setlist.

[lee]

the RAH DVD would look like the Phoenix one, only with better performances, better venue, better acoustics, better setlist.

Sounds good to me.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

There could be more songs....different songs...but sonically and visually it be the same style as the current live DVD. They aren't gonna suddenly go au naturel. They want to look and sound their best. It will be studio enhanced like this one.

[Cabinessenceking]

better audience? by this I mean the London public is more into the 'great' music, in contrast to much of america who prefer to get zinepaks from Walmart. Just suggesting that London digs IJWMFTT more than Phoenix.

I prefer my setlists to be straight. DAMN STRAIGHT I TELL YOU.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Straight_line.jpg

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

but London audience won't have as nice teeth

[Aegir]

I would rather see long still shots through a fisheye lens than a panning cut every 5 seconds.

[Justin]

I hear ya.  In theory, I of course, would love to have the RAH show--there's no question that it's a must-have.  But I'm now disappointed just how low the quality of the footage from these cameras turned out to be.  I was worried at the time just how well these cameras would do the job and now seeing the actual footage as used in the Phoenix DVD confirmed my worries that an entire show of 3 hours would be a little challenging to watch. 

[HeyJude]

I think the original post highlights what I've been wondering, which is whether the RAH show was truly actually captured on video intended to be released as any sort of standalone release (as opposed to little bits of footage being used in some documentary).

There appears to be a possibility that they did not do a full-blown "shoot" for RAH with cameras hanging and tracking all over the place as in Phoenix.

Does anybody who has talked to the people putting together the "several" video projects know or are they able to ask these folks if RAH was caputured in a "full shoot" so to speak? It has been sounding like the Red Rocks show was the other big video shoot for the tour.

I'm still just skeptical of what else we're going to get video-wise outside of some sort of documentary with interspersed live snippets. I can't imagine we'll be getting anything approaching a release of the full Red Rocks and/or RAH shows on Blu/DVD. I still hope though!

[Wirestone]

I've come to suspect that the Phoenix show release is what we're getting. The other shows might feature in the documentary, might be the source of some bonus footage, etc. But I think we've seen the live video release, for better or worse.

[PS]

I've come to suspect that the Phoenix show release is what we're getting. The other shows might feature in the documentary, might be the source of some bonus footage, etc. But I think we've seen the live video release, for better or worse.

As far as I've heard (previously) from a source close to both Levy and Bennett, that is correct.

[Justin]

I'm still just skeptical of what else we're going to get video-wise outside of some sort of documentary with interspersed live snippets. I can't imagine we'll get anything approaching a release of the full Red Rocks and/or RAH shows on Blu/DVD. I still hope though!

Now that I see just how poorly these cameras actually captured the action on stage...I have less hope that the RAH gig would be marketable for a mass release.  I believe the only other show they filmed with a real camera crew (like the Phoenix show) was the Melbourne show.  Not sure what their intention is with that show.

[HeyJude]

I've come to suspect that the Phoenix show release is what we're getting. The other shows might feature in the documentary, might be the source of some bonus footage, etc. But I think we've seen the live video release, for better or worse.

As far as I've heard (previously) from a source close to both Levy and Bennett, that is correct.

That's too bad. As I point out in my review on my blog, this "Live in Concert" release, while looking and sounding up to HD standards and all of that, still seems like a rather cheap product. The artwork is kind of slapdash, and the Blu-ray isn't even authored with any pop-up menus like seemingly 99% of Blu-ray discs are. It doesn't even list the songs on any menu screen. It's like the thing was edited quickly and then literally just dumped onto a Blu-ray disc without any budget to even design an actual menu or chapter selection screen.

For this to be the penultimate actual "concert video" of the tour is pretty sad. I was hoping this was going to be the cheapie thing put out quickly for the holiday season.

[Wirestone]

I have a feeling this (the 50th concert DVD) is something the Boys own and -- like the Wembley thing -- will be licensed and sub-licensed to various parties for years and decades to come. My point: We'll probably see a new version of this DVD with actual menus in a year or two.

[The Shift]

I have a feeling this (the 50th concert DVD) is something the Boys own and -- like the Wembley thing -- will be licensed and sub-licensed to various parties for years and decades to come. My point: We'll probably see a new version of this DVD with actual menus in a year or two.

Wembley? Or Knebworth?

[Pretty Funky]

I have a feeling this (the 50th concert DVD) is something the Boys own ....

If you also mean control, then I think Brian is going deaf in the other ear.
What does he and the rest of the group hear when they listen to this and some of the other projects this year?

[PS]

I've come to suspect that the Phoenix show release is what we're getting. The other shows might feature in the documentary, might be the source of some bonus footage, etc. But I think we've seen the live video release, for better or worse.

As far as I've heard (previously) from a source close to both Levy and Bennett, that is correct.

That's too bad. As I point out in my review on my blog, this "Live in Concert" release, while looking and sounding up to HD standards and all of that, still seems like a rather cheap product. The artwork is kind of slapdash, and the Blu-ray isn't even authored with any pop-up menus like seemingly 99% of Blu-ray discs are. It doesn't even list the songs on any menu screen. It's like the thing was edited quickly and then literally just dumped onto a Blu-ray disc without any budget to even design an actual menu or chapter selection screen.

For this to be the penultimate actual "concert video" of the tour is pretty sad. I was hoping this was going to be the cheapie thing put out quickly for the holiday season.

From my high school buddy today, when I prompted him with some questions for Levy and Bennett about the next release and the issues we are raising here (1 or 2 more releases? full songs or clips? bonus disc? archival bio/fan interviews/tour footage? many venues or just a few? plans for a complete show in the works?). He replied briefly:

"I'll ask:) I did speak to David earlier today and the next release appears to be a theatrical one... That's the intention ...."

We discussed this possibility in another thread. I'll post anything as soon as I hear back.

[ontor pertawst]

Good luck getting theatrical distribution unless they have something mindbendingly incredible in the can! Unless they mean theatrical as in four walling two or three theaters for a weekend and sacrificing some chickens for good luck.

Cut to someone feverishly converting Al Jardine to 3D.

[PS]

I'm guessing more of a film festival/limited run, like Neil's films or even American Band (which I saw in a movie theater)

[HeyJude]

I'm guessing more of a film festival/limited run, like Neil's films or even American Band (which I saw in a movie theater)

Yeah, that seems most likely. Hopefully it won't be one of those "playing in five cities for a weekend" thing and then no Blu-ray/DVD for another six months or a year. It could be like "Concert for George" (apologies for continuing to reference it!), which got a short theatrical run. I saw it opening night in a theater with about five people present! 

[The Shift]

Theatrical release at this time of year? Gotta be a panto! Brian as the Dame, Mike and Bruce as the Ugly Sisters, Dave as Prince Charming and Al as the Genie in the Lamp.

For those who don't know, btw, Al's already in 3D. He was born that way.

[TonyW]

I'm still just skeptical of what else we're going to get video-wise outside of some sort of documentary with interspersed live snippets. I can't imagine we'll get anything approaching a release of the full Red Rocks and/or RAH shows on Blu/DVD. I still hope though!

Now that I see just how poorly these cameras actually captured the action on stage...I have less hope that the RAH gig would be marketable for a mass release.  I believe the only other show they filmed with a real camera crew (like the Phoenix show) was the Melbourne show.  Not sure what their intention is with that show.

Sydney got the full film treatment as well but I was told that one of the main objectives (not the sole objective) at the Sydney show was "audience shots".

[adavidw]

For this to be the penultimate actual "concert video" of the tour is pretty sad. I was hoping this was going to be the cheapie thing put out quickly for the holiday season.

I'd love it if it were the penultimate concert video release of this tour, because that would mean we were getting one more.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penultimate

[adavidw]

Good luck getting theatrical distribution unless they have something mindbendingly incredible in the can! Unless they mean theatrical as in four walling two or three theaters for a weekend and sacrificing some chickens for good luck.

I'm guessing it would be more along the lines of the satellite broadcasts that movie theaters are booking to earn extra money. Generally, a company will beam out a concert film or opera or musical play to theaters for a showing at a specific date or time, and the theaters sell tickets as a special event.

For an example of what I'm talking about, check out the schedule for one of the big players here: http://www.fathomevents.com/upcoming/. Looks they have a Bon Jovi concert film next week, a bunch of opera broadcast live, a ballet, and even a Star Trek: TNG double episode thing with extra bits. Past concert events they've had included Coldplay, Peter Gabriel, The Rolling Stones, Chicago, Celine Dion, David Gilmour, etc. I think a Beach Boys reunion concert seems a natural fit for this type of release, because you get a chance to sell a reunion concert experience (where you're seeing the band play one night only with music played really loudly and surrounded by other like-minded people) all over again to those who didn't have a chance to see any of the actual reunion concerts.

If a BB concert film would be released this way, you wouldn't have a problem finding a theater showing it, as they cover nearly all markets. The only problem would be committing yourself to the one date and time that it's sent out. It's not unheard of for a band to release a concert film this way, but then release it to home video the next year, however.

So, it's still pure speculation on my part, but I would bet good money that if we see any other concert from this tour on film, it's going to be as this type of a digital broadcast event in movie theaters.

[Rocky Raccoon]

I want to see a Beach Boys concert film done with the same care as the Led Zeppelin Celebration Day release that just came out.  Something that was actually promoted, actual effort put into the presentation, and most of all, a full 2 and 1/2 hour concert.