1st Screen
(1995-2006/2010)
Bumper: A black screen fades in reading: "This film has been modified from its original version. It has been formatted to fit this screen." It fades out after a few seconds.
FX/SFX: Just the simple fade in and fade out. DVDs that are in the full-screen format also use this format screen, and they also use the fade in and fade out.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: On all Sony Pictures VHS tapes until VHS was taken off the market, and many full-screen DVD releases (including The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, which was solely available in the full-screen format, Stuart Little, Matilda, and many others). However, the format screen makes a surprise appearance on the PlayStation Portable UMD video of The Karate Kid (2010) by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Which is on the bundle for the PSP with little big planet and the karate kid.
Scare Factor: None.
2nd Screen
(2006-)
Bumper: The screen in Times New Roman Bold font reads "The following film has been modified from its original version. It has been..."
"formatted to fit this screen."
"formatted to fit this screen and edited for content."
"formatted to fit this screen, to run in the time allotted, and edited for content."
"edited to run in the time allotted and for content."
"edited to run in the time allotted."
"edited for content."
FX/SFX: Just the simple fade in and fade out.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: On some full-screen DVDs of the era (without the fade in and fade out). The other variants appear on syndicated and network prints of Sony movies as well as MGM and Trifecta-owned Starz movies.
Scare Factor: None.