Original RGB animation reel discovered

[d_osborn]

Scanning 1080 HD from 16mm or 35mm film is a piece of cake. The detail is there. This thing should look GORGEOUS. :love:

[sav-c]

@Kingpin

If memory serves from what Robert told me, the frame scans he received were scanned to 1920x1080 scale.

That’s good to hear. I bet it looks amazing!

[joeghostbuster]

anyone know the current status of this?

[kingpin]

Robert hasn’t sent me any updates, and I’ve not noticed anything in my Facebook feed.

[joeghostbuster]

Hey guys, Robert Barbieri asked me to post an update regarding the status of this project, as he is currently unable to login to gbfans and post himself, this is from his Facebook page… https://www.facebook.com/groups/1476720649259650/

Last teaser of the now FINISHED! lost film restoration of the Real Ghostbusters un-aired Pilot. It was used internally to sell the concept of a Ghostbusters cartoon to ABC back in 1985. I took the original ABC Saturday Morning commercial from 1986 that’s on youtube. It used only footage from the pilot, so i spliced in exact replacement footage from the restoration. It will be 1080, i reached out to Ghost Corps, a guy who supposedly is close to Ivan Reitman, gonna try to get an official DVD/blu ray release as a special feature or something, if not then i’ll get it out one way or another.

[joeghostbuster]

new update today, from Robert’s Facebook page:

Real Ghostbusters Pilot restoration update.

Nothing major but Ghost Corps responded to my email and after some talking they are going to fish the idea of an official release around between them and Sony and see what happens.

I told them I’m not looking for legal trouble, I could of easily just posted on Youtube or someone else would of just kept the film as is on their shelf and the film would have degraded further.

I also said I’m very easy to work with and as much honor as it would be to have my version of the restoration to be used, I said I would loan the film out if I would get it back. They can make a new film master if need be.

Anyways fingers crossed everyone plays nice.

I’ll keep you all posted.

[mrmichaelt]

Thanks for the updates!

[joeghostbuster]

UPDATE FROM ROBERT:

Quick update: Ghost Corps and Sony talks I’m letting simmer on the back burner since all they seem interested in is archiving the original film in a vault. Which is fine, but they have ignored all other questions about the restoration and release.

Still researching and accepting leads/suggestions on free-affordable legal advice.

I’m probably going to do a petition site to show the support for this to be released properly. So when I do that, if everyone can help share and sign that would be perfect.

On a high note, managed to get the attention of the original director of this pilot and we have his support on trying to get the world of fans to see this in all its high quality glory.

Thanks for all the support ghost-buds

[joeghostbuster]

1/11 Update from Robert:

Does anyone know how to get ahold of the person who created the Suicidal STAY PUFT CGI video after watching GB16 on youtube? i tried contacting who i thought might be it but never got a response. I wanna try to get a happy watching video SP for the pilot. any help guys?

1/14 Update from Robert:

Just keeping communication flowing to you guys no matter how insignificant.

Artist of the sad CGI Stay Puft that i thought would be cool to do a happy version while watching the pilot is too busy. So i’ll throw something together myself between photoshop and toys and video editing. If someone else does CGI by all means reach out.

No word back from Ghost Corps/Sony after ignoring their email for over a week after they want me to donate the film. Apparently they are in no hurry.

No word back from the Ghostbuster fan who is also a lawyer. I have a number to free lawyer advice from a Harvard Clinic that i’ll call this week.

Also, after getting some advice I purchased a vented plastic film container to let the original film breath while being protected in a cool room temp for good preservation.

On the one high note, a member David Mattox is a local here in Orlando and is offering his services to do the Documentary for this Pilot restoration.

Thank you for your support as always - Bobby_80s

[mrmichaelt]

Major bummer. Feels like this should be a fan-run project and release then donate to Ghost Corps after the fact or whatever.

[joeghostbuster]

well there are legal issues (thats why hes trying to get a lawyer) because sony owns the franchise/license but he is in possession of the physical media, they just want him to give him the film for their archives, it doesnt sound like they are going to do anything with it except throw it in a cardboard box in storage, so robert is in a tight spot. more than likely he will release digital versions (if not both the original & his restored version, then at least his version) for free with an option for people to donate $ to download the restored version, since he put in god knows how many hours of his own unpaid time to restore the old footage. i was hoping sony was going to do right by him but it sounds like they are just corporate ■■■■■■■■.

[KJghost]

Good work on the restoration of the reel.

[ghostware]

Gee, you think Sony would find an excuse to re release The Real Ghostbusters on another DVD set while it’s enjoying new popularity on Netflix. :sigh:

[joeghostbuster]

Update 1/18:

Reached out to “the toys that made us” crew on facebook. they replied to me in the past but have ignored my inquiry to talk to people in regards to ghostbusters. figured maybe they could arrange a deal to have the pilot stream with the rest of the series or have a netflix exclusive documentary but once again, deaf ears.

Also, haven’t heard back after speaking to and leaving my number with the Harvard Law Clinic about legal advice. And have not heard anything at all from the GB fan who is in the law business.

Sorry for the lack of news, I just don’t wana keep teasing images and I have no good news to report.

As for Plan B goes, waiting to do a Documentary and waiting to hear back on Blu Ray covers/labels to be printed.

Just keeping everyone informed.

-Bobby_80s

[joeghostbuster]

2/1 Update from Robert:

Probably a month away from just saying here you go.

The documentary will be filmed on the 11th of Feb. Roughly a week turnaround before its edited.

Then finalize and launch the website.

I haven’t tried every thing yet for lawyers but just the lack of response is crazy. Even if its sorry we can’t help you would be better than not hearing back at all.

All I have found out is anything 1989 and later it has a 70 yr copyright shelf life and 50 yrs before 1989. So still a good 17yrs away from public domain, but I have no clue about companies renewing copyrights etc…

So basically once the documentary is done we can sit back and enjoy this piece of Ghostbusters history.

As stated before it will have my watermark in the corner, just for now in the hopes it will spark the interest of the powers that be to approach me and make a deal.

I can always swap out the video for a clean one at any point so for everyone hoping for that clean clean version it will be out there eventually. and before you complain its gona be way sooner than if i handed over the film to Sony cuz they would of just tossed it in the back room of their archives.

After ignoring the request to donate the film, there has been ZERO tries to contact me further on the matter so you can see the priorities on Ghost Corps/Sony’s end is just not there.

[mrmichaelt]

That is some disappointing news about the lack of responses but Robert is doing his due diligence.

[mrmichaelt]

Mini-documentary about the restoration has been posted

The Real Ghostbusters Pilot Restoration Documentary

[joeghostbuster]

Things are progressing well, if you haven’t been following along yourself on the Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/321449535024691/), which has lots of updates, including some that have not been posted in this thread. Also, a new documentary style video by David Mattox was released today, which explains how The Real Ghostbusters series pilot came to be, and also how longtime Ghostbusters fan Robert M. Barbieri ended up with the film reel of the pilot in his possession, and his 5 month long restoration project to convert it from 30+ year old grainy film to clean crisp bright 1080 HD! the documentary can be seen here (LINK ABOVE) very interesting, especially if you love the RGB cartoon series!

[kingpin]

For your viewing pleasure: Ghostbusters Day 2018: The Real Ghostbusters promo - Ghostbusters News - GBFans.com