I’m into this hobby (movie restoration) for two years now, and still not got a complete, final, ultimate definitions of what Restorations, Preservations, Fan Edits (and so on) are, according to everyone… I tried to write down them here, based on what I have understood in this time, what are my personal thought, what other members think about them, and also on the FAQ of this forum and fanedits.com.
Obviously someone will agree with some or all definition completely, someone will agree partially, and others will strongly disagree… and it’s the meaning of this post: trying to find a common thought about WHAT precisely we are doing here!
These definitions will be useful to set guidelines for all of us (movie restorer), and will help future fans who would like to start their own projects. Let’s decide the definitions together first, then we would set rules to follow for each category.
INITIAL DEFINITIONS
1) Fan Restoration
Attempts to restore a film version, that had a full retail BROAD digital release*, to be as closest as possible to its original theatrical release, using best sources available.
This may include video taken from commercial releases, or TV broadcasts, and may consist of one or several of the following works: color regrading, frames/scenes replacing, aspect ratio correction, removal of scratches, tears, spots and dust, sounds/dialogs replacing/correction, entire soundtracks replacing etc.
It could also include restoring theatrical or director’s cut where the BROAD digital release* includes only the extended edition, or viceversa.
2) Fan Preservation
A fan-made release of a film version that has never had a full retail BROAD digital release*.
This is sourced from analog formats such as VHS, laserdisc or film print, but sometimes they can be sourced from captured TV broadcasts (both analog and digital) or NICHE digital releases**.
2b) Fan Enhanced Preservation
The same as fan preservation, but with some sort of enhancement (noise reduction, conversion from letterbox to anamorphic) not as extensive as a restoration.
2c) Fan Restored Preservation
The same as fan preservation, but with extensive enhancement, the same level of a fan restoration – the only difference is the fact that the film has not a BROAD digital release* (yet)
3) Fan Recreation
The most meticolous kind of restoration; it attempts to restore a film version closest to its original theatrical release, using various video sources (also different from the film itself like trailers, documentaries, and even other films), applying every kind of restoration work, and more, to obtain the best restoration ever possible.
For example, where a restoration will use a one-for-all technique for the whole movie, the reconstruction will use the best technique for each scene or eventually single frames.
4) Fan Extended Edition
It adds additional scenes where they fit, to have a new extended edition not available on BROAD digital release*.
If the additions require a few movie alterations for plot reasons, it still counts as an extended edition, for example if an alternate ending replaces the original one.
4b) Fan Restored Extended Edition
The same as fan extended edition, but the restoration is applied to the main features and extended scenes as well.
5) Fan reMux
A multiplexing of video and/or audio and/or subtitles taken from analog and/or digital releases, to obtain the best version possible.
This involves NO restoration at all, just a selection of the best/correct/alternative audio/video/subtitles streams from different sources.
6) Fan Edit
A fan-made alternative version for an existing film, made by the insertion, deletion or re-ordering of scenes within the film, or taken from different films, or a fusion of different films/TV episodes in a coherent version.
7) Workprints and Bootlegs
Low quality cams/telecines/television/VHS captures of alternative workprint versions or lost theatrical cuts.
* BROAD digital release = DVD, BD, digital download
** NICHE digital release = VCD, HD-DVD, D-VHS, UMD…
to make things cleaner, just write AGREE for each or all definitions you think are right; if you partially agree, just quote the definition(s) (or part of) you think are not right, and write down your correction; if you completely disagree, just write the whole definition(s) as you think are right.
Also, if other definitions exists, please post them into your comment.
Recent Comments