HOLLYWOOD—MTI Film recently completed an all-new digital
restoration of North to Alaska,
Twentieth Century Fox’s 1960 comedy starring John Wayne. Employing proprietary
technology and image processing techniques, MTI Film scanned the original 35mm
cut negative at 4K before putting the film through an intensive restoration
process to address faded color, Newton rings, dirt, scratches and many other
defects. MTI Film ultimately delivered fully restored 4K files to produce
a new 35mm negative for long-term preservation, along with a 4K DCP Master and
high definition masters in a variety of aspect ratios.
restoration of North to Alaska,
Twentieth Century Fox’s 1960 comedy starring John Wayne. Employing proprietary
technology and image processing techniques, MTI Film scanned the original 35mm
cut negative at 4K before putting the film through an intensive restoration
process to address faded color, Newton rings, dirt, scratches and many other
defects. MTI Film ultimately delivered fully restored 4K files to produce
a new 35mm negative for long-term preservation, along with a 4K DCP Master and
high definition masters in a variety of aspect ratios.
Directed
by Henry Hathaway, North to Alaska was
a critical and popular success upon its original release and remains a favorite
among fans of The Duke. Wayne plays a Gold Rush miner who falls in love with
his best friend’s fiancé while escorting her to the northern minefields. Stewart
Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian and Capucine
costar. Variety called the film “good-humored, old-fashioned…slaphappy
entertainment.”
by Henry Hathaway, North to Alaska was
a critical and popular success upon its original release and remains a favorite
among fans of The Duke. Wayne plays a Gold Rush miner who falls in love with
his best friend’s fiancé while escorting her to the northern minefields. Stewart
Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian and Capucine
costar. Variety called the film “good-humored, old-fashioned…slaphappy
entertainment.”
North to Alaska was the first film to take
advantage of MTI Film’s new high-resolution scanning system which features an
Image Trends ScanMaster 4000 system equipped with an Oxberry film
transporter. Scanning was done at 4K and
in non-realtime to maximize detail, and proprietary infrared technology was
employed to automatically detect and eliminate dust and scratches. “We are able
to detect surface dirt and scratches on both the cell and emulsion sides of the
negative,” explains MTI Film CEO Larry Chernoff.
advantage of MTI Film’s new high-resolution scanning system which features an
Image Trends ScanMaster 4000 system equipped with an Oxberry film
transporter. Scanning was done at 4K and
in non-realtime to maximize detail, and proprietary infrared technology was
employed to automatically detect and eliminate dust and scratches. “We are able
to detect surface dirt and scratches on both the cell and emulsion sides of the
negative,” explains MTI Film CEO Larry Chernoff.
Further
restoration was applied using MTI Film’s own Correct DRS™ technology, with work
divided between the company’s facilities in Hollywood and China. A
newly-developed Color Breathing tool was employed to reverse degradation in the
color channels.
restoration was applied using MTI Film’s own Correct DRS™ technology, with work
divided between the company’s facilities in Hollywood and China. A
newly-developed Color Breathing tool was employed to reverse degradation in the
color channels.
Finally,
the new master underwent complete DI color grading. MTI Film colorist Jeremy
Sawyer applied the grade, working under the supervision of Fox’s Michael
MacKinnon. “Because the negative was so faded, it was extremely difficult to
recreate the film’s original look,” MacKinnon says. “Jeremy and I compared the
raw scans to existing prints and from there worked to bring it back, as closely
as possible, to its theatrical state. In compensating for the fading, we
improved the film tremendously.”
the new master underwent complete DI color grading. MTI Film colorist Jeremy
Sawyer applied the grade, working under the supervision of Fox’s Michael
MacKinnon. “Because the negative was so faded, it was extremely difficult to
recreate the film’s original look,” MacKinnon says. “Jeremy and I compared the
raw scans to existing prints and from there worked to bring it back, as closely
as possible, to its theatrical state. In compensating for the fading, we
improved the film tremendously.”
MacKinnon
believes that fans of the film will enjoy the results. “The state of the
negative would have made it impossible to restore this film photo-chemically,”
he observes. “MTI Film’s process allowed us to overcome all of the problems we
encountered and produce a new master that will last a generation.”
believes that fans of the film will enjoy the results. “The state of the
negative would have made it impossible to restore this film photo-chemically,”
he observes. “MTI Film’s process allowed us to overcome all of the problems we
encountered and produce a new master that will last a generation.”
About MTI Film LLC
MTI Film is a full service Post Production facility
providing high quality dailies, editorial, visual effects, color correction and
assembly for film, television and commercial projects. MTI Film’s talented staff of seasoned
industry veterans have served a number of high-profile projects including Hell
on Wheels, Longmire, Major Crimes and Dallas.
As a leader in post-production technology, MTI Film’s facility is
state-of-the art. With MTI Film’s
award-winning Control Dailies at the head of the workflow, MTI Film offers
unparalleled flexibility in the production’s choice of cameras, preferred
editorial platform and deliverables formatting.
MTI also boasts a brand new DI theater that is fully calibrated and
capable of 4k playback.
providing high quality dailies, editorial, visual effects, color correction and
assembly for film, television and commercial projects. MTI Film’s talented staff of seasoned
industry veterans have served a number of high-profile projects including Hell
on Wheels, Longmire, Major Crimes and Dallas.
As a leader in post-production technology, MTI Film’s facility is
state-of-the art. With MTI Film’s
award-winning Control Dailies at the head of the workflow, MTI Film offers
unparalleled flexibility in the production’s choice of cameras, preferred
editorial platform and deliverables formatting.
MTI also boasts a brand new DI theater that is fully calibrated and
capable of 4k playback.
Creative Director
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