Peter Fields

Thats why you need to shoot 16x9 and crop the sides to 4x3 =D Letterbox...ish!

Hey!---That'll work! ;-D

But here's the real question:

 

Is the old aspect ratio just as useless as the Dodo bird was? Or is it still part of a viable "ecosystem?" Everyone get out their biology textbooks... :( I know most of you were probably fair to middling in that subject.

I really hope the old aspect ratio is still a viable part. It should remain as another artistic choice that filmmakers have. However, my concern are the people who don't know how to change the aspect ratio on their new HDTVs and leave them on the default "stretch" mode. So, if a filmmaker shot a film in 1:33, 1:66, 4X3, their film is destined to be viewed stretch/distorted on many, if not most, HD televisions. Whenever I go into a public place that has HDTVs installed (in the States), I've never seen 4X3 programs displayed properly.

This is one of the main reason I would choose not to shoot 4X3 as I would want to be certain my productions are viewed properly.