For the record, mastermind James Cameron want us to know that he refers to 3D as “stereo.” The director behind one of the most anticipated movies ever, AVATAR, just did an epic interview with Variety on the future of cinema (3D theatrical and 3D home viewing) and tossed in a fresh announcement about his follow-up to the 2009 sci-fi thriller. It won’t be Battle Angel (sigh). The man is on a mission, namely blasting the “3D is eye candy porn” stigma and naysayers into outer space…
Q: Right now, 3-D is pretty much being used for films that have some spectacle in them, whether it’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth” or “U2 3D”; nobody’s talking about using it for domestic dramas. But there are people wondering whether it will actually enhance the impact of character-driven stories. What are your thoughts on how 3-D changes the experience of watching actors act?
A: I plan to shoot a small dramatic film in 3-D, just to prove this point, after “Avatar.” In “Avatar,” there are a number of scenes that are straight dramatic scenes, no action, no effects. They play very well, and in fact seem to be enhanced by the stereo viewing experience. So I think this can work for the full length of a dramatic feature. However, filmmakers and studios will have to weigh the added cost of shooting in 3-D against the increased marketing value for that type of film.
Perhaps this next film will be even more revolutionary than AVATAR? I can’t fathom how There Will Be Blood or, let’s say, The Puffy Chair could benefit from the technology, but Cameron is dead set on it. Earlier on, he said he wished 300 was a 3D film, and the same goes for…Atonement. Imagine the bookcase thrust. Sorry, we’re dispelling 3D as eye-candy porn, I forgot. This makes a nice seg into Cameron’s notions on the 3D home viewing experience…
“As for 3-D in the home: The only limitation to having stereo viewing in the home is the number of titles currently available. When there is more product, the consumer electronics companies will make monitors and players. The technology exists and is straightforward. Samsung has already shipped 2 million plasma widescreens which can decode an excellent stereo image. There’s just no player to hook up to it right now.”
We’re edging a little too close to the home entertainment in Fahrenheit 451 with a 3D Cops in suburbia, no? Sounds like fun.
Discuss: Are you guys and gals ready for a world that paints all movies, even the gushy costume dramas, in 3D? Anyone bummed that Battle Angel won’t be next? Who’s taking up Cameron’s “it’s stereo, hombre,” campaign? Sexman is not.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:11 am
nah, i’m not feeling the current 3D rage at all, especially in dramas. if 3D emphasises the point of a scene, or accents a moment - sure why not. but the porno eye candy i can live without.
BUT, cameron is a smart guy and i’ll always listen to what’s on his mind, and watch what he’s putting out. who knows, he may even convert this skeptic.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Didn’t Cameron once say he’d never again work on movies he didn’t conceive? Did he change his mind when he signed onto Alita or did he forget he had said that and is now distancing himself from Alita?
April 11th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I’m glad he’s returned to sci-fi. The genre has sucked for a long time now and it’s been turned into a saturday morning WWE cartoon. And hearing news of Ridley Scott working on a new sci-fi film has me in grins aswell.
As for Battle Angel, I was all for it. But if he decides to drop it. That’s fine by me too. I like that he takes the time to create his own stuff.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I never believe a thing James says, he takes forever. His next movie will come out when everyone is dead.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Lloyd,
That’s why they have shit factories in Hollywood producing Aliens Vs. Predator and the thousands of blue-tinted horror movies to fill in the time until the goods hit the theatres.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I trust him when it comes to stunning new visual effects. I think he is right, 300 would have made a good 3-d movie.
I have a hard time picturing a drama in 3-d being better, but I do remember when I saw polar express in 3-d the slow scenes were enhanced greatly by the 3-d snow which built a nice depth.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I thought sunshine was an excelent sci fi flick
April 11th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I loved Sunshine until Melanoma Man showed up at the end. That film was just at the finish line in being perfect. Boyle also showed me that Chris Evans is a great actor. He turned out to be one of my favorite characters in that whole film. Surprising since I usually saw him as “that dude” in those horrible spoof and FF films.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Cameron’s saying the stuff I’ve been telling people for years.
He’s absolutely right - cinema has always been trying to move towards increased levels of audience immersion.
Of course, the first and foremost way you try and do that is with a damn good story. But using and improving the nature of the cinematic medium to enhance that experience is also part of the package of filmmaking and film watching.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
@Manfred
You don’t need 3D to enhance the cinematic experience… you just need people to check their cell phones at the door. That alone would make any movie 10 times better, especially dramas!
April 11th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
haha, touche Enrique :)
April 12th, 2008 at 7:23 am
i just looked up this avatar stuff which i hadn’t heard of before, sounds awesome, i really dig good sci-fi and i saw Beowolf in 3D at sydney IMAX, which was awesome, can’t wait for this.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I found this post really interesting, and a good recap and perspective on the Variety interview with Cameron. With the recent Hannah Montana 3-D concert film release, it seems to be that everyone is discussing the next best way to utilize this new technology on screen. I’ve followed along with the production of Avatar and can say that its truly exciting to see what such a visionary director like Cameron could do with this new technology, especially due to Cameron’s history making large, yet personal films.
However, I can say that talk of Cameron’s aspirations of making a drama in 3-D worry me about the oversaturation of this new twist on the medium. While I do believe 3-D has been effective in animated films like Beowulf and event or concert films like U2-3D, and it has potential to change cinema with Avatar, I worry that if it enters every genre it will become bland and overused. If a normal genre such as drama starts to utilize 3-d, I’m afraid films will begin to rely on these effects, and before long audiences will simply be waiting for the character to reach for the mail and have their hand bursting through the screen. I think animation and event films rely on moments that allow 3-d to shine, but I doubt its ability to become the new platform for film. I feel the adjustment process would be simply too drastic and obvious, that would, in turn, dilute the content.