Yes, it's short. Yes, it's made by the same guy that did the T2 DVD Trailer.

Let me know some feedback, and I'll let you know some of the extras we put into it. Aw, heck with that. I'll tell you now. Every trailer is an Original Negative Print. We saved a generation by out-putting several Original Negatives, then we printed off them directly. No IPs, no INs, just original Negatives and their prints. Hope you all like it.

In effect, these trailers are from a "digital intermediate". For now, it's a more costly way of making the printing negatives, but it eliminates several stages of printing, and should greatly improve steadiness because it never would involve printing a short pitch master positive to a short pitch duplicate negative, which can cause printer slippage. Recording a >2K digital image directly onto a short pitch printing negative and then contact printing it onto long pitch print film is capable of excellent quality:
Digital Intermediate

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

The second question that begs asking is "Will Kodak ever provide a process where the output can be a negative developed with the full range of a positive?" Digital output directly to a first generation print would eliminate that first negative. Digital can output with values reversed, eliminating the need for a reversal process for the film.

"Out of curiosity, why can't a gate with a flat plate with non-tapered sprockets be used to solve this problem? The original technology was designed when stepper motors were unheard of."

The printing speed would still be much slower than a continuous contact printer, where the original and raw stock are wrapped around a 64-tooth sprocket, requiring a "short" pitch original and "long" pitch raw stock to minimize printer slippage. Step printers print a few frames per second, continuous contact printers print a few metres per second. Pulling the two films in contact through a straight gate has not caught on, probably because intimate contact was difficult to maintain.
Tutorial on Printing
Film Perforations and Printing

"The second question that begs asking is "Will Kodak ever provide a process where the output can be a negative developed with the full range of a positive?" Digital output directly to a first generation print would eliminate that first negative. Digital can output with values reversed, eliminating the need for a reversal process for the film."

Again, speed and throughput are the issues. Today's laser recorders still take seconds per frame:
ArriLaser Film Recorder
Kodak Cineon Lightning II Laser Film Recorder
Kodak CineSite Film Recording Services

Higher recording speeds and even greater resolution are likely. Recording directly onto print film would be , since print film is very sharp and almost grainless:
Kodak VISION Color Print Film Data

Look at the Modulation Transfer Curves (sharpness) and Diffuse RMS Granularity Curves (Graininess) of 2383.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Two beefs with the trailer. First beef:
The sound is still not on any dts discs that I have seen yet. That's bad, very bad. I assume this will be corrected shortly, though.

Second beef:
It is way too short! I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but it starts out with low thunderstorm rumbling that does a very good job of getting people's attention. After 10-15 seconds or so the sound morphs into the classic "deep note" tone that is familiar with the THX logos. There's only one problem...by the very instant the "deep note" becomes fully up to pitch, the audio is already fading out! A trailer that begins extremely promising and looks to be the best THX logo ever is ruined by forcing it to end early. The visuals are fantastic. The audio mix is fantastic. However, this trailer needs to be a good 15 seconds longer, and at least 10 of those seconds must be devoted to the "deep note" being substained at full intensity. That's what people want to hear and the way the audio fades out early on this one makes people (including myself) feel cheated.

So I am sad to report that I am no longer running the Cavalcades. I am back to the classic THX Broadway. I still get applauds from the Broadway as the Cavalcade is not as impressive with it's current length. Sorry, but the trailers need to be extended and shouldn't have that rushed feeling.

I'm not being critical of the THX trailers here. I think the THX trailers are an opportunity for THX to get really creative and do some really neat, cool stuff. Think of it -- people might want to go see a movie solely to see "the cool new THX trailer". It's not far-fetched, since many people went to see "Wing Commander" to see the new Star Wars Episode I trailer!

It's good to see that you're still around, Ted!

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Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Info Site

As for the visuals, the thunderstorm and globe thingy is fairly cool. But I thought the trailer finished up far too similar to the customized THX trailer on the "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" Ultimate Edition DVD. The same exact chrome morphing effect was reused on this new trailer. Same, slightly cheezy, sparkly blue border that resolves itself way too fast. Typographic design could have been better as well. Overall, I am just wishing the "Cavalcade" trailer had a more original concept overall rather than seeming like a re-hash of the "T2" trailer.

I made the suggestion sometime back that Lucasfilm THX should do a different trailer, like putting the audience under a C-5B Galaxy cargo jet as it takes off --for a jaw dropping fly-over surround effect. These things fly over my house on certain occaisions as they do touch and go approaches at Fort Sill. There is no other sound on the planet quite like a C-5. The engines give out an almost beautiful sounding scream at the top end, a really different turbine whirr through the mid-range and downright rib rattling bass on the bottom end. No movie I've seen with a C-5 featured has ever used the correct sound, they just use some standard jet noise. There's a bunch of C-5 Galaxy jets (along with C-17's that sound almost as impressive) stationed at Altus Air Force Base nearby. Anyway, that is one simple idea for a THX clip.

I liked the original look and straight-forward simplicity in design with regard to the "Cimarron" and "Grand" trailers. Those two clips remain my favorites to this day. The graphic design in those clips is superior to any of the other THX trailers. The raw viseral feel of those clips is also un-equaled. The tunnel of lights from "Cimarron" is just too cool (why isn't there a DTS track for this one on the discs??????). Furthermore, Lucasfilm THX needs to use the "Cimarron" and "Grand" trailers on occaision with their THX Digital Mastering DVD program. The "Broadway" trailer is just too overused. It is a nice clip but it is getting to be a bit boring.

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I wish THX would do like Dolby did and put out a DVD with all of their trailers. Maybe the profits could go to George Lucas' Education Foundation.

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If you dont mind would you please explain the trailer situation as to availability, entitlement<who can get a THX trailer>,method for ordering trailers, important: how often one can receive trailers per "certified screen", wait/delivery time/backordered trailers <happened to me all the time when ordering them>, price, etc etc.

I've come to find out that getting THX trailers are an "ordeal" or tough for many G.M's, projectionists, technicians to request and many just dont know how. You don't know how many theaters I visited in the past that were THX certified and A. never showed a single THX trailer B. didn't know they "could" show THX trailers C. Didn't know "how" to get THX trailers or D. their exixting trailers were just so damaged and old <years recyling them> that it was embarassing to see them on screen. oooooooohh nothing like a four year old "Tex" trailer in scratchy, poppy, analog SR......too old it never thinks again of ever playing in digital. Then first thing an old used THX trailer does as it wears down over time is the Digital sound start to fail including time code <longer wear down period required of course for T.C> then the picture quality becomes "very" apparent as compared to the brand new weekend opener trailers and movie it was built up with. I mean it becomes very obvious when you see the brand new "Friday night opener" movie show the gleaming, liquid, colorful crystal clear trailers followed by the scratchy, poppy analog sound whilst seeing platter scratches and the like just raining down over poor TEX. My point is THX trailers should be handed out like "pez"!!! Some theaters manage to preserve their THX trailers and in good presentable condition but they are too far and in between. Keeping quality up is in everyone's best interest!!

Rory