Terminator 2 Diary - Back In The Studio


	In this exclusive section we will follow the development of Artisan Entertainment’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day Special Edition.” In irregular updates we will keep you informed whenever new developments occur and new information becomes available, so make sure to check by frequently to keep up with the latest development on this highly anticipated title.

by Guido Henkel
March 3, 2000


	After locating all the materials of the film, Van brought in Gary Rydstrom, the movie’s original sound designer and the re-recording mixer who had won two of his four Oscars for T2, to begin re-mixing the entire movie and adjust it to near-field listening

environments. “We did the mix last November,” Van recalls. He and Lightstorm representatives went to George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch to remix the movie’s soundtrack for use on the DVD. It took them about a week to do the work needed for both versions of the film and several other elements for the disc. “Luckily in 1993 when we did the Special Edition Laserdisc, we tried to do all the audio materials in six track, which helped us immensely now.”


	The soundtrack for the previous DVD release of T2 was created using a Sony linear 6-track, but for this release, Van and Gary went back to the original source elements they found. The result is a brand new 5.1 Dolby Digital mix that even contains spatial information for an additional rear center speaker as outlined in the Dolby Surround EX specifications. “The disc will actually contain the

Dolby Digital 5.1 plus-EX track and a Dolby Digital 2.0 mix. We’re also planning to create a DTS audio track, but we’re currently still discussing whether that will be a separate release,” Van explains. Because of DTS’ heavy storage requirements he is concerned that adding the DTS track to the existing disc would ultimately force them to sacrifice the image quality, a tradeoff no one involved is willing to take on this prestigious project.

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is slated to be another one of Artisan Home Entertainment’s DVD-18 releases, a DVD that has dual layer surfaces on both sides of the disc. The first side of the release will contain the movie in its two different versions that are both presented in 16x9 enhanced widescreen transfers, certified by THX. You will easily be able to select the version you want to watch from your main menu as you play the disc. This side of the release will also feature the commentary track created for the laserdisc, featuring 26 members of the cast and crew commenting upon the various scenes in the film.


	On the flip side of the disc you will find hours of supplemental material, such has a variety of trailers, storyboards, and a comparison of the movie’s widescreen version to its pan and scan incarnation. As a baseline Ling hopes to cover the contents of the Laserdisc box set he did in 1993; if so, you will also find all the stills, photos and video footage on the DVD that were part of the box set release.

However, Van is also trying to create and add some new material that would make it an even better package. “We’re also including the featurettes that were not on the Laserdisc,” he tells me. “There is a “Making Of Terminator 2” documentary that was done for TV at the time the movie opened theatrically and then we have “T2 - More than meets the eye,” a piece that was done for “Showtime”. It aired when we were releasing the special edition and it is a featurette that actually covers the making of the special edition.”

The DVD will also contain a DVD-ROM section that will contain some exciting bonus material. A few other supplements are plannedbut much of it is still pending legal approval and clearances. We will keep you up to date how things evolve however in this Production Diary.


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