Quote:
Originally Posted by
camaj 
Well yes, that's true of every tv show pre-99 (for arguments sake). Like you say, they went back and did it for Star Trek, they even redid some of the models. I'm not sure if the SFX would have to be redone but they could possible upscale those shots. Aside from shots of vampires being dusted I can't think of much CGI. Most of it was make-up and costumes.
Reading this bit of your post I think you may be missing the point?
The original 60s Star Trek (aka TOS) was shot AND edited on 35mm film. Therefore complete episodes exist as edited film masters. These can be re-telecined using HD equipment to generate an HD master, that can then be restored. However it isn't necessary to go back to the original camera rushes and re-transfer these in HD and re-edit in HD - as the 35mm edited master exists and can be simply re-telecined using an HD telecine. This production process - shoot 35mm / edit 35mm remained standard throughout the 60s, 70s and early 80s for a lot of US drama (though wasn't as widespread in the UK - where video was used more widely, and mixed video / film production was widespread)
Therefore shows shot in this period on film are relatively straightforward to master to HD. Sure there will be some requirements to clean them up (scratch/dirt/sparkle removal, and you might want to re-caption them) and possibly to re-frame them slightly to reduce the 4:3 pillarboxing (though personally OAR would be best for me)
HOWEVER - in the 80s - with the improvements made in video editing, and the lower costs involved with video post production, it became popular to shoot on 35mm film, but then transfer the camera rushes to video for editing in the video domain, at standard definition.
As a result, shows like Star Trek : TNG etc. were only ever edited in the standard def video domain, meaning the edited masters only exist in SD, and can't be re-transferred to HD in the same way that a film master can.
The only solution to obtain HD versions of these shows would be to re-transfer the camera rushes in HD, and then entirely re-edit the shows. In the case of the video edited Star Trek series, this would also require that all the CGI and other special effects (composites etc.) would need to be re-done, as these were done in the SD video domain, not on film (or at film resolution) This is a far more expensive process, and would require a major investment, as well as the original camera rushes to have been archived and still be in good condition (though one would hope this were the case)
It IS ironic that shows like Dynasty (which unlike Dallas didn't move to video post), Knight Rider, Charlies Angels, Quincy MD etc. that were shot AND edited on film could be re-mastered in HD relatively easily (if the 35mm edit masters still exist), but the newer stuff like The X Files, Buffy, Angel, Star Trek : TNG, DS9, Voyager etc. that were shot film BUT edited on SD video need major work to re-master them in HD.
that would be goat.
