Michael Bay: “Blu-ray suits my films better”

Outspoken movie director Michael Bay, who is behind the blockbuster movie Transformers, recently related his theory that Microsoft wants both the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats to fail, saying the war is just a diversion to create confusion. Now he adds in his site that he doesn’t care about the war at all (since he can play both formats in his screening room anyway) but that the Blu-ray format suits his films better. This comment also got a reply from Amir, a “retired HD DVD insider.” Read more in the full article.

Outspoken movie director Michael Bay, the man behind the blockbuster movie Transformers, recently commented that Microsoft wants both the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats to fail and that the whole format war is just a diversion to create confusion.

Now he adds in his site that he doesn’t care about the war at all (since he can play both formats in his screening room anyway) but that the Blu-ray format suits his films better:

Does anyone out here want to challenge what I feel suits my films better in terms of look. I see every frame of my films over a hundred times before it is ever released. […] – Blu Ray suits my films better. But that said – I don’t a care about this format war because I have both formats in my screening room – I’m just filling you in on what people deep in the film industry feel ultimately is going on –

Transformers looks great even in DVD!!

The post was recounted in the AVS Forum, inquiring whether any insiders would like to comment. It got a reply from Amir, titled as a retired HD DVD insider (circa fall 2007):

• It is great that he has both formats! And that he thinks even DVD looks great. Imagine how much better HD DVD is then (and how it is possible then for something to be better than it!).
• We would be happy to invite him to a screening to show him how incredible HD DVD picture quality is on a proper projector/display. And let him find any fault using his own material.
• Both HD DVD and BD have the same “range.” Both are 8-bit products and with 4:2:0 sampling. So the look he describes does not change in that respect no matter which format is used. Indeed we have different encodes of Paramount titles and not a single review that I recall has commented on the range or lighting condition being different on the formats.
• Ultimately though, I personally respect the creative person deciding different things that us engineers. For example, AVC was used on Transformers not because it produced the best fidelity/transparency, but the best look in the eye of the “creative” making the call. And we respect that also, even though it meant our codec was not used at the end of the day.
• The interactivity in HD DVD lets his creativity travel far past the linear movie experience created in theater. That I would think would be music to anyone’s ear that cares about creative experiences. BD format is far behind right now in this area so he would take a step back if his wishes came through. We have shown these capabilities to many directors and they can’t wait to see their future titles in HD DVD with these features.
• Anyway, I love the fact that Michael is active in forums and stays so in touch with his audience. In that respect, he could say VC-1 and HD DVDs sucks a thousand times and that would still be cool with me. I hope though, that like me, he does allow the possibility that folks posting may teach him stuff about things he may not know. I know that I have learned a lot from your postings

Via Shoot for the Edit