[In Progress] Harry Potter: Ultimate Definitive Editions

[Klexos]

Hello everyone,
I am working on a definitive version for the Wizarding World movies.
And by this I mean overlaying Open Matte DVD with Open Matte AMZN/WEB and the 4K Blu-Ray for maximum picture display and resolution.

I will also restore as many deleted scenes as I can and try to savage unfinished ones, to achieve extended editions for all movies (Which I will source and upscale as well from the Blu-Rays which I own) and also achieve Maximum Picture for these as well by overlaying them with the Freeform+SyFy Extended copies.

I made a spreadsheet for the material that will be used for the project as well:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...edit#gid=0

An example screenshot rendered at 1080p (final render will be 4K) as a POC of what the final thing should look like:
https://imgsli.com/MzQ1NjI/0/2 (almost 50% more picture)
Also, visual chart version:
https://imgsli.com/MzQ1NjI/2/1

Full resolution Comparisons:
https://imgsli.com/NzM0NDU
https://imgsli.com/NzM0NDM

Steps (All 10 Wizarding World films):

• A. I. Upscale Theatrical Open Matte DVD [Completed 2/5]
  
• AutoOverlay Open Matte DVD + Open Matte WEB-DL + Widescreen (Theatrical) = Theatrical Aligned [Completed 1/8]
  
• A. I. Enhance Theatrical = Definitive Theatrical Complete [Completed 3/10]
  
• A. I. Upscale and AutoOverlay Blu-Ray & Freeform Extended/Deleted Scenes = Max quality+picture for extended scenes [Completed 1/2]
  
• Edit the extra scenes into the Definitive Theatrical version = Definitive Extended Complete [Completed 1/10]
  

[Doctor M]

I think we talked on OT Forums, but to clarify what I've got:

NOT the Freeform version. I have the raw cap of ABC's open matte broadcast of the extended cut with those scenes.

It will need serious clean up (maybe even frame by frame work) because of macroblocking, 59.97i framerate (iirc), uncorrected color timing, and some occasional random macroblocks that will just pop in and screw up a shot. Oh, and logos, and screen bugs from the network and local station.

So, yeah, it's crap, but if you can get me a list of the deleted scenes you need, I can see what I can put together for you.

[Klexos]

I think we talked on OT Forums, but to clarify what I've got:

NOT the Freeform version. I have the raw cap of ABC's open matte broadcast of the extended cut with those scenes.

It will need serious clean up (maybe even frame by frame work) because of macroblocking, 59.97i framerate (iirc), uncorrected color timing, and some occasional random macroblocks that will just pop in and screw up a shot. Oh, and logos, and screen bugs from the network and local station.

So, yeah, it's crap, but if you can get me a list of the deleted scenes you need, I can see what I can put together for you.

Thanks! If I fail to get the freeform copy for CoS, despite the issues you mentioned your copy could still be used as the next best thing to cross overlay with the SyFy one to hide the logo, so I only need to use a little piece in the corner where the SyFy logo is.

Really cool project, can't wait to see your PoA Ultimate Definitive Edition (hope it's the theatrical cut)!!!

[Klexos]

Really cool project, can't wait to see your PoA Ultimate Definitive Edition (hope it's the theatrical cut)!!!

Thank you! I'll be making both Theatrical and Extended versions! Sadly PoA Open Matte copies don't seem to have almost any extra picture and are for the most part Pan&Scan. It's really the odd one out of the bunch as all the other movies have extra picture in their open matte versions in considerable quantity.

[Lio]

Sadly PoA Open Matte copies don't seem to have almost any extra picture and are for the most part Pan&Scan. It's really the odd one out of the bunch as all the other movies have extra picture in their open matte versions in considerable quantity.

That's probably the director's discretion. The first two movies framed things loosely so that it could be cropped well to home video; they're basically the same movies in both widescreen and fullscreen. On Azkaban they were much more deliberate about placing the action on either extreme of the frame. So if a real open matte master was never made back then (because it wasn't necessary -- it wouldn't have been the basis for the DVD because it was also pan-and-scan) Warner may just not have one on hand. I don't know why they have an "open matte" copy in the first place and don't send the 2:35 to these stations instead, unless it's to compromise with channels which have a 1:78 policy.

[Klexos]

Sadly PoA Open Matte copies don't seem to have almost any extra picture and are for the most part Pan&Scan. It's really the odd one out of the bunch as all the other movies have extra picture in their open matte versions in considerable quantity.

That's probably the director's discretion. The first two movies framed things loosely so that it could be cropped well to home video; they're basically the same movies in both widescreen and fullscreen. On Azkaban they were much more deliberate about placing the action on either extreme of the frame. So if a real open matte master was never made back then (because it wasn't necessary -- it wouldn't have been the basis for the DVD because it was also pan-and-scan) Warner may just not have one on hand. I don't know why they have an "open matte" copy in the first place and don't send the 2:35 to these stations instead, unless it's to compromise with channels which have a 1:78 policy.

That makes absolute sense yeah, thank you!
Also, my friend is recording the Christmas airings on SyFy and so far sadly they seem to be as the webs on their website. Meaning 1-2 so far are widescreen and not OM. Meaning getting the freeform versions is mandatory and even then I won't be able to mask the logo seamlessly for these two due to not having another source with the logo in a different position.
I heard these OM extended copies went to HULU for a while after leaving Freeform. Wish someone had gotten them but I don't think anyone did. They might have been actually logoless. A missed opportunity there.

[Kynch]

I wish there was something I could bring to this project. You'll have to make do with my support!

May I ask what you're going to do on the audio front? Considering that the deleted scenes probably have some very poor lossy Stereo compared the healthier lossless options the films have.

[Klexos]

I wish there was something I could bring to this project. You'll have to make do with my support!

May I ask what you're going to do on the audio front? Considering that the deleted scenes probably have some very poor lossy Stereo compared the healthier lossless options the films have.

I actually don't know how I'll deal with that yet. I'm trying to focus on one beast at the time. But I do intend to preserve the 7.1 track used on the 4K release and I'll do my very best to make the transitions between stereo audio for these scenes as seamless as possible. Though, until I get those freeform copies I won't be even able to do the extended versions at all

[Klexos]

A bit of news. I cross-checked the Syfy/USA extended scenes with the ones from the BD and it seems all extra scenes from #3 onwards are actually Pan&Scan. This eliminates the need for the Freeform copies besides the first two movies which we know for sure have Open Matted Extended scenes thanks to fres202's screenshots. I updated the spreadsheet as well.
Also, I can confirm now for sure that for #3 neither the DVD nor AMZN OM versions have any extra picture at any point. Meaning the Definitive Theatrical version for PoA is safely the 4K BD version. Guess this one will be quick work as I will only need to put together an extended version.