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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Affordable New S3D Camera Rig Hits Market - 3D Film Factory's 3D Bullet Rig

Some interesting press from 3D Film Factory today - a relatively affordable 3D setup ideal for you independent stereo filmmakers out there! Here's the release:

3D Film Factory Introduces an All-New, Handheld 3D Rig Designed To Capture Incredible, Accurate Stereoscopic Images on the Move


Hollywood, CA – 3D Film Factory, the leader in professional, affordable 3D camera rigs, introduces the World’s lightest, most affordable, handheld 3D rig - the 3D Bullet Rig. Ready to “Load & Shoot”, this versatile 3D system is literally unshakable for handheld or steadicam filming, as well as studio productions.

This compact, modular beam-splitter rig is the perfect solution for location, reality, or action 3D filmmaking.

“The 3D Bullet Rig is going to take 3D production to a whole new level. I love this rig. It’s incredibly light, rock steady and most of all – it’s really easy to shoot with from your shoulder, or tripod. This rig is a 3D filmmakers dream, very versatile“, said the company’s veteran stereographer Keith Driver. “Most 3D rigs are bulky, expensive and worst of all - tripod bound. They require a crew to operate. We’ve shot 3D projects in Africa, the Middle East, Hollywood soundstages, you name it we’ve done it in 3D. And we realized we needed a more mobile 3D rig. A 3D rig you could just pick up and shoot with. This is the 3D Bullet Rig.”

The 3D Bullet Rig makes handheld 3D filming effortless and smooth by transferring the weight to your waist and shoulder. Each 3D rig includes a spring-loaded suspension rod, comfortable weight displacement belt and adjustable, padded shoulder mount. The result is hours of mobile, handheld 3D filming capability. In addition, the rig features detachable rubber hand grips for easy manoeuvring and a standard tripod mounting plate (¼-20 and ⅜-16 holes).

Weighing approx. 13 lbs. (5.8 kgs.) the steady 3D Bullet Rig accommodates the Canon DSLR 5D, 7D, 60D, XF105, XF305, XH-G1, Sony F3, EX3’s, HDCP1, X5U, Z1U, Panasonic AF100, HVX200, HC 1500, HC 1800 and many other professional HD cameras.

The rig also features custom camera mounts that easily lock and load cameras into place using a standard quick-release plate from Bogen/Manfrotto. The horizontal camera mount offers IO (inter-ocular) adjustability from 0” – 3.5” (0 - 89 mm) and simple convergence movement from 0°-3°. Both functions are easily controlled using smooth, accurate finger knobs, with calibration markings. The vertical camera mount adjusts for perfect stereoscopic picture alignment by elevating and performing full x-y-z rotation (yaw, roll, tilt).

The light-weight, mirror box housing is constructed using space-age foam core plastic that’s durable, corrosion-free and substantially cooler than a metal matte box. This ensures your beam-splitter glass with its expensive coatings will stay cool on hot days. The rig itself is hand-milled employing a nearly indestructible aluminium alloy frame.

Perfect for traveling light, the entire 3D Bullet Rig is ingenuously designed to set-up and break down in a matter of minutes, packing into a small, water-tight pelican case.

As a bonus, the horizontal rail easily detaches, along with the camera mounts, transforming into a side-by-side rig 3D for wide and landscape stereography.

Our opti-prime, 50/50 beam-splitter glass is optimized to meet the demands of 3D filmmaking. See specs. Within the matte box, a simple adjustment tool allows stereographers to fine tune the glass angle from between 43° to 47°.

The outcome is simply the world’s most affordable, professional handheld 3D rig.

It should be noted that using our simple Lanc system camera operators can now synch start/stop, focus, alignment, lens shift and many other vital functions thru both cameras or individually.

The 3D Film Factory offers a complete line of 3D beam-splitter rigs intended for HD camcorders, as well as larger ENG and broadcast style camera. In addition, we offer several inexpensive side-by-side rigs and real-time 3D viewing solutions. To learn more about 3D camera rigs, 3D viewing systems, 3D production services, or 3D training workshops visit – www.3DFilmFactory.com

About the 3D Film Factory
Established by award-winning filmmakers and veteran stereographers, the 3D Film Factory is the worldwide leader in professional, affordable 3D camera rigs and real-time 3D monitoring solutions. In addition we provide a host of 3D production services worldwide including, stereographers ‘for hire’, 3D camera rig rental, 3D viewing systems, and 3D post, as well as intensive 3D training workshops. Former clients include ESPN, NASA, Disney, HD Cinema, Pinewood Studios and Discovery. For more information visit www.3DFilmFactory.com

The price for this setup with all included (save for the cameras!) is $4,895. I love to see cheaper solutions on the market that can still do a half decent job - I'll continue to post any such finds for you.


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Boxleitner Confirms TRON 3 A Done Deal! 2013 Anticipated Release!!

Well I hope this man is in the know and by all means he is in a position to, so I am going with it! We have news (via AICN) of TRON 3 being a "done deal" through the spoken word of Bruce Boxleitner (who plays TRON) and that we will see the movie in 2013. Production will probably start next year according to Boxleitner.

Obviously the production will be in 3D, although nothing has been officially confirmed to my knowledge. Disney won't drop the ball on this one!

If I had one piece of advice for Disney it would be to use Weta for the facial performance capture. The young Jeff Bridges did not look up to snuff in TRON: LEGACY. It was distracting at times too. Go with the best!

Have a listen to what Tron himself had to say:



So what do you think? Are you amped about a TRON 3 hitting is in 2013? Any suggestions for Disney?


Monday, August 29, 2011

Spy Shots From PROMETHEUS!! **Some Visual Spoilers**

Well it was bound to happen sometime and here they are: Set photos from Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS have hit the Interwebs. Earlier shots were less than impressive and revealed nothing, but these are definitely much more worth while.

Click to enlarge photos...

Enjoy them while you can as who knows if Fox will want to have them removed. I always comply with studios as they cooperate with me.

Here's the official storyline:
Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life’s ultimate mystery.

The principal cast members of Prometheus are:
Noomi Rapace as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, a character Rapace has likened to the Alien franchise's Ellen Ripley.
Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers. Theron described the character as "a suit who slowly sheds that skin through the film". Further description: "a fortysomething, tough-but-sexy woman".
Idris Elba as Captain Janek
Michael Fassbender as David, an android.
Guy Pearce Ben Foster Kate Dickie Logan Marshall-Green as Holloway, Elizabeth's love interest.
Sean Harris Emun Elliot as Chance
Benedict Wong as Ravel
Rafe Spall James Payton Patrick Wilson

Sources: Alien Prequel News | Wikipedia



Saturday, August 27, 2011

Two New Posters For THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Hey guys - we have two new posters from THE THREE MUSKETEERS for you.

Click the image to expand. One is for France (can you tell which one?) and the other is North American. Obviously the story is very dear to the hearts of the French and is an important country for its box office.

I don't know about you but I am quite looking forward to seeing Orlando Bloom playing a darker role! And of course anything with Christoph Waltz is going to look great - he definitely classed up THE GREEN HORNET and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS goes without saying.

Here's the storyline:
The hot-headed young D'Artagnan along with three former legendary but now down on their luck Musketeers must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.

Studio: Summit Entertainment
Release: October 21, 2011
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: Paul W.S. Anderson, Alex Litvalk
Cast: Logan Lerman, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Matthew Macfadyen, Christoph Waltz, Mads Mikkelsen, Milla Jovovich, Juno Temple, Orlando Bloom, James Corden

Check out all of our coverage for THE THREE MUSKETEERS right here. Stay tuned for more!


Friday, August 26, 2011

GAMING UPDATE: HALO Going 3D *AND* MasterImage's Glasses Free Display - 500 Times Better Than The 3DS!

Time for a 3D gaming update! And it's a humdinger on two fronts...

Microsoft's humungous gaming franchise HALO is going 3D for the upcoming November release of HALO: ANNIVERSARY. The game will be a reboot of the original HALO game made (can you believe it) 10 years ago.

Further it is the first of the lot to NOT be made by Bungie Software. Really looking forward to this!

*AND*

Word is starting to get out about MasterImage 3D's new 4.3" WVGA (this is the same one I reported on back in May). Venturebeat's Dean Takahashi demoed one recently and was suitably impressed.

Says Takahashi: "The quality blew me away. On a 4.3-inch WVGA screen, Taylor showed that he could demonstrate a 3D movie running in stereoscopic 3D. I didn’t need to wear glasses to see the sharp 3D imagery. When I moved my head, it didn’t get blurry. And if I moved my head too far to the side, it gracefully transitioned to a two-dimensional image."

Roy Taylor, EVP & GM For MasterImage 3D recently said: “We’ve measured their alignment accuracy and we believe we’re 500 percent more accurate than the 3DS. We don’t have any issues with eye strain.”

I was not impressed with the Nintendo 3DS from the very start. In fact the best thing about it was their marketing I suppose. I found the screen to be headache inducing and just not a pleasurable gaming experience. Personally I think Nintendo should seriously consider the cell matrix parallax barrier technology from MasterImage 3D for any future handheld needs.

But that's not the end of the product line from MasterImage 3D. 7" and 10" tablet screens are coming this fall! Stay tuned!!

Source: VentureBeat

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Update On Pixar: BRAVE Storyline And Some New Projects!

While we lament Steve Jobs stepping down as CEO of Apple and wishing him the best, here are some interesting news items from his other beloved company, Pixar (part of Disney now)...

The long awaited storyline for BRAVE is upon us! Many just couldn't fathom what was happening in the clips Pixar has released to date, so this should calm some waters!

Here's the official storyline:
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and the signature Pixar humor enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

BRAVE hits theaters June 22, 2012.

Pixar also has announced a few other new projects that should be followed in the coming months:

There is going to be a prequel to MONSTERS INC. entitled MONSTERS UNIVERSITY that will open its books on June 21, 2013. Dan Scanlon will direct the story about how Sulley and Mike Wazowski befriended each other at scare school. Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi are all returning with hopefully more of the original voice cast.

From what I have read, it seems as though Pixar has been working on this prequel for a fairly LONG time (2008?) so I am thinking that they are definitely wanting to stick their flag in the ground again with it. The reception of CARS 2 has perhaps urged them to even higher heights for these projects.

After MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, the next on the tee off list has a working title of THE UNTITLED PIXAR MOVIE ABOUT DINOSAURS - but it is much more than just that!

Check out the brief storyline for DINOSAURS:
What if that life-changing asteroid missed Earth? Director Bob Peterson’s hilarious tale depicts a world where dinosaurs never went extinct.

Interesting!! Bob Peterson and Peter Sohn are co-directing. THE UNTITLED PIXAR MOVIE ABOUT DINOSAURS (with a new title presumably!) is slated for release on November 27, 2013.

The next tee off has a working title of THE UNTITLED PIXAR MOVIE THAT TAKES YOU INSIDE THE MIND. Pete Doctor is co-helming this project (a trend now at Pixar it seems) along with Ronnie del Carmen.

Here's the storyline for MIND:
Pixar takes audiences on incredible journeys into extraordinary worlds: from the darkest depths of the ocean to the top of the tepui mountains in South America; from the fictional metropolis of Monstropolis to a futuristic fantasy of outer space. From director Pete Docter (“Up,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and producer Jonas Rivera (“Up”), the inventive new film will take you to a place that everyone knows, but no one has ever seen: the world inside the human mind.

THE UNTITLED PIXAR MOVIE THAT TAKES YOU INSIDE THE MIND will be released on May 30, 2014.


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

3ality Digital Acquires Element Technica

Exciting news! Our friends over at 3ality Digital have just acquired the 3D rig specialists over at Element Technica - these two companies have worked well together during past productions and this union makes perfect sense. The marriage of 3ality's production expertise with ET's rigs and manufacturing will help them push 3D's gold standards.

The value of the deal is "several million dollars in cash, plus equity," said Steve Schklair (pictured), formerly CEO of 3ality Digital and now CEO of the combined company, which will now be known as 3ality Technica.

The combined company can now boast such impressive productions as THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, PROMETHEUS and JACK THE GIANT KILLER as well as TV events like the FIFA World Cup.

Wow. This move will certainly shake things up a bit in the 3D production world. Congratulations to all those involved! I know there is more action brewing within this space and I will get it to you the second I can! Stay tuned.

Source: Variety


MUST WATCH: New Trailer For GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE

I want you to set aside your thoughts about the first GHOST RIDER movie and start afresh. This one is looking like it's going to be different. This one looks GOOD.

It still appears to be a 3D movie even though I have not seen marketing yet to indicate that it is.

Certainly the directors were outspoken about S3D...

Says co-director David Taylor: "We’ve always wanted to make a 3D movie – we wanted to make ['Crank: High Voltage'] in 3D; the way that we move the camera and the sort of manic pace of our action… we always thought it would be sort of amazing and nauseating and fantastic in 3D."

"I’ve never shot a movie with directors like this before," star Nicholas Cage added. "[Neveldine] would hold onto motorcycles on rollerblades with the camera, literally risking his life to get the shot."

To which Taylor replied: "Let’s see Scorsese do that!"

(Watch the full interview here - can't embed as it is lamely restricted to certain geographies)

Here's the storyline:
Nicolas Cage returns as Johnny Blaze in Columbia Pictures' and Hyde Park Entertainment's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In the successor to the worldwide hit Ghost Rider, Johnny - still struggling with his curse as the devil's bounty hunter - is hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe when he is recruited by a secret sect of the church to save a young boy (Fergus Riordan) from the devil (Ciaran Hinds). At first, Johnny is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider, but it is the only way to protect the boy - and possibly rid himself of his curse forever. The devil is trying to assume human form...

Directors: Mark Neveldine, David Taylor
Writers: Scott M. Gimple, David S. Goyer, Seth Hoffman
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Cast: Nicolas Cage (Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider), Ciaran Hinds (The Devil), Idris Elba (Moreau), Violante Placido (Nadya) and Johnny Whitworth (Blackout)
Release: February 17, 2012



Basically I am a Nic Cage fan from way, way back. Yes he can choose some stinkers, but there is no arguing that he is a beloved Hollywood icon. This time I think he has another winner!

Besides, if the directors are pointing fingers at Scorsese and saying cross this line then there must be something to see! Stay tuned for more info as I get it.


Source: MTV News via CBM


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

MUST SEE: New Motion Poster For PUSS IN BOOTS!

Ahhh - some creative genius at work! I loved this scene in the trailer which we have already seen, but the marketing gurus over at Dreamworks Animation have added it to a moving poster. Love it!








Here's the storyline:
A swashbuckling ride through Puss in Boots' (Antonio Banderas) early years as he teams with mastermind Humpty Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis) and the street-savvy Kitty (Salma Hayek) to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs.

Release Date: Friday November 4, 2011
Genre: Comedy
Director: Chris Miller
Studio: DreamWorks Animation
Producer(s): Michelle Raimo, Joe Aguilar
Screenplay: Tom Wheeler, Chris Miller
Voice Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis

This one is pure gold indeed. Nothing to worry about here - success is clearly written by anything to do with cats, let alone the famous PUSS IN BOOTS from the worldwide phenomenon SHREK. All I need are the boots...

Source: Fandango


Monday, August 22, 2011

Fright Night 3D Review (Some Spoilers)

Tim here. First let me start by saying that it’s been years since I saw the original Fright Night from the 1980’s. That being said I was greatly pleased that the filmmaker’s accomplished a lot in their remake, and kept the humor, suspense, and fun of the 1985 version. It was a greatly enjoyable movie with smart writing and good performances all around from Anton Yelchin, David Tennant, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Colin Farrell was an interesting choice and I think that he packed his charm into the performance well, and the sinister nature of his being shown through at the right moments. David Tennant was fantastic (but I’m a Doctor Who fan so that might help). However he was able to steal the show whenever he was on screen.

The directing and pacing was fantastic in this version, and with the stereo cinematography done by Max Penner of Paradise FX this movie was an improvement upon the original. There were some issues with the movie taking place at night most of the movie as at times you lost stereo depth in continually mute blue tones, but I think they managed to light it well enough for the shooting that the depth was still there, just toned down enough to work. And there were some fantastic shots in 3D throughout the movie. This is why I’m a strong believer in shooting natively because it looks better. My favorite shot made me wish Children of Men was shot in stereo because the shot was very similar to that long shot inside the car. The difference is that this time the characters are being pursued on the desert road at night by a vampire. Here’s where I’d like to point out that despite the night-time setting, and the constant blue tones in the lighting, that the depth actually worked well. The car’s tight environment, added with the camera’s constant movement to show the action inside and outside of the vehicle, worked fantastically in stereo. Plus the shot was a long shot, which works so well in stereo. That’s why it was my favorite shot.

There were many other great shots that utilized the 3D aspect of the movie really well: when vampires burst into flames in the sunlight, during the actions scenes when characters threw objects or shot arrows at someone, and when Farrell’s character sets fire to the protagonist’s house. Then there were the more intimate shots, which looked fantastic, and the establishing shots. There was a helicopter shot in the beginning where we’re looking down on the town birds-eye-view that was great to see in stereo. The decision to keep the camera moving for motion parallax was a great choice on the filmmakers part because they managed to make us want to look around the foreground objects at the subjects in the mid-ground. Fright Night had great editing for 3D because they held shots longer. They knew what they were doing when it came to pacing the shots to utilize the stereo space the best. As well the cutting was pivotal to our suspense, which was held throughout the final act of the movie.

In all I enjoyed the movie, found the 3D to fit the movie perfectly, and would recommend it to a friend. Due to the genre I can understand why it’s going to need word of mouth to get people into the theaters. It doesn’t help that it opened against 2 other 3D movies and 2 3D holdovers. Final Destination 5 still has the IMAX 3D screens where I went to see the movie. Also, since it’s not Twilight the numbers can’t be anywhere near the same, but when adjusted for ticket inflation the 1985 version made more money in its opening weekend. Let’s hope audiences find the movie and a lot more people see it.


Friday, August 19, 2011

SPOILER WARNING: Watch Captain America And Thor Battle Together PLUS Thor Flip A Car Over With Mjolnir!!!!

Ok - this is somewhat spoilerish so if you want a pristine viewing experience of next year's THE AVENGERS then don't watch the clip below. It is certainly special effects spoilerish!

CBM found these fan spy clips of the street set location for THE AVENGERS - check out all the material they have on their report.

Here's Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) deep in fisticuffs:




And here's Thor flipping a car with his hammer, Mjolnir:




As if we needed further anticipation for this movie! WOW. If that doesn't get you riled up to see this 2012 mega-movie, what will? Can't wait...


Thursday, August 18, 2011

YES! New UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING Trailer!

Jim here. I think this iteration could be the best of the lot. I have seen the previz and the actual shooting of the finale for UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING and let me tell you I was thrilled at what I was seeing. From a technical and cinematic point of view, all the pieces are there and from the storyboarding it all looks amazing.

When I spoke with the co-directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, I got a keen sense of where they were going with it and it all made sense to me as a fan of the universe. This fourth movie definitely adds a new take! I will have my interviews up during the coming months once I get clearance from the studio.

Now we have our first trailer and I am even more amped! I am beginning to see just how well those Red Epics captured the native S3D action and the level of detail is simply staggering. UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING snaps you out of mundane sequels and into a visual and vibrant new take on the franchise. Yeah, I'm sold on it.



Here's the official storyline:
After being held in a coma-like state for fifteen years, vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) learns that she has a fourteen-year-old vampire/Lycan hybrid daughter, Eve, and when she finds her, they must stop BioCom from creating super Lycans that will kill them all.

UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING opens in theaters January 20, 2012. Stay tuned for my exclusive interviews coming soon!


Ridley Scott Directing A New BLADE RUNNER Movie - In 3D!

Tim here. Apparently Deadline has it on good authority that Ridley Scott intends to return to the world of BLADE RUNNER with the new state of the art 3D technology that he used to revive Alien with cousin PROMETHEUS. It's unknown whether the movie will be a sequel or prequel to the 1982 cult classic, which was loosely based on Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?".

Set in a dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, the original film followed burnt out blade runner Richard Decker (Harrison Ford) as he hunted down replicants, organic superhuman robots, who have escaped to Earth and are hiding in LA. His life turns around when he falls in love with Rachel (Sean Young), a replicant who was unaware that she was a replicant, he fights to keep her from retirement (what they call destroying replicants). It's unclear whether Ford will return, and the same is true for co-stars Young and Edward James Olmos who played blade runner Gaff.

Alcon Entertainment partners Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will be joining Scott as producers. They got franchise control earlier this year. Although the film wasn't a box office smash when it hit in 1982, as it only made $27.5 million at that time and through re-releases in '92 and 2007 brought it's lifetime gross to $32.8 million, but the cult status and critical esteem it has gained makes it a very hot property. It was one of the first films to be associated with the term tech noir with it's bleak, but breathtaking visuals, complex storyline with themes of mortality. It is now considered a classic.

Imagine what Scott and his team could do with the addition of 3D. Warner Bros. made the original film, and Alcon has a distribution deal with them for this one. No word on a release date, but Prometheus is set to hit 3D screens June 8, 2012.


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

New Trailer For IMMORTALS

The third trailer for Tarsem Singh's new epic IMMORTALS has hit the interwebs and the promise still holds true - a visual masterpiece. Here's hoping the story and suspension of disbelief works as well.

Here's the storyline:
The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army are rampaging across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king’s mission.

As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge the death of his mother in one of Hyperion’s raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final desperate battle for the future of humanity.



Director: Tarsem Singh
Writer: Charley Parlapanides
Studio: Rogue Pictures
Cast: Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans
Release: November 11, 2011

Extremely visual isn't it? Love it! IMMORTALS should cement Singh as one of the great visual directors of our time. It needs to resonate with the box office though and I hope it will.


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Guillermo Del Toro Makes Heavy Statements About Alfonso Cuarón’s GRAVITY

Guillermo del Toro recently spoke to MTV about his good friend Alfonso Cuarón's GRAVITY and obviously he is very enthusiastic about it.

Cuarón is pulling no punches. He went straight to the top of the industry and sought advice from David Fincher, James Cameron as well as del Toro.

Here is the storyline for the movie (adapted from Deadline):
"[The film] is set on a remote space station. While a team leader (Clooney) and a female colleague are traveling outside, the other team members get wiped out by a debris field from an exploding satellite. The film's central focus is the heroine's desperate attempt to return home to her child."

Check out a very enthused Guillermo del Toro talking about hooking Cuaron up with Cameron as well as his thoughts on the project:




Who isn't excited now? I mean really. If Cameron is saying he is five years ahead of the time in his technology use and he pulls it off? I expect cinematic history here in some capacity - seriously. Potentially a one shot 20 minute opening space scene, in S3D using brand spanking new technology to achieve a very visual director's masterpiece. I have always loved Sandra Bullock's characters and George Clooney adds some real depth. Can't wait!


Monday, August 15, 2011

FINAL DESTINATION 5 Sees A Stellar 75% Of Revenue From 3D *AND* Stereo Box Office More Than Doubles Last Year

Love seeing the naysayers cringe when they read reports like this, but clearly the people are speaking. 3D has been embraced the world around and it's getting better every year!

Even though FINAL DESTINATION may be showing signs of franchise fatigue (I really enjoyed the movie a great deal - wonderful 3D! Go see it!!), 3D clearly helped the movie as it still drew in $18.4 million and it held a staggering 75% of the gross from 3D screenings! (Source: BoxOfficeMojo) That brings us back to AVATAR-like percentages. Love it!

Moreover, a recent ScreenDigest study cited that Global 3D box office continued to grow and in fact doubled last year with a $6.1 billion take as compared to a $2.5 billion influx in 2009. That $6b reflects a 19.3% share of all box office revenue (only 8.6% share in 2009).

From Film Journal:
In terms of regional distribution, cinema analyst Charlotte Jones noted the largest share in Europe (24%) in comparison to North America (20.5%). 3D accounted for more than one-quarter of total box-office revenues in six territories, including Poland, Russia (33.1% share) and the Czech Republic. Following Japan’s largest individual gross ($471 million), the United Kingdom was the strongest 3D theatrical market in Western Europe ($427 mil. and 27.5% share). Of the countries profiled by IHS Screen Digest, Norway reported the lowest 3D box-office ratio (15.8%), followed by Turkey (15.9%). Norway also recorded the highest average 3D ticket price, but “this was relative to its blended ticket price.”

In July 2011, after a yearlong rollout, Norway became the first country in the world to have been fully digitized. “It has been a challenge due to [its] elongated shape with sparsely populated areas, but the process took one year less than anticipated,” and “VPF [virtual print fee] income is a bit higher than predicted,” with payments ending in 2017. Cinema association Film & Kino further noted that all 420 screens are equipped with mainly Christie projectors and Doremi servers, but 65 Sony 4Ks have also been installed and about 80% of the cinema locations are 3D-capable. Whereas the western region exclusively installed some 50 Dolby 3D units, the rest of the country deployed another 35 from Dolby along with XpanD (35), RealD (66) and MasterImage (31).

The 3D revolution is only just beginning with huge conversions on the way (THE AVENGERS, STAR WARS franchise and TITANIC) and of course THE HOBBIT movies and AVATAR 2 and 3 in production and development! Can't wait to see what 2012 brings us...

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Topanga Film Festival 3D Day


Hi everyone, Tim Buttner here. I've decided that my first post will be about my recent visit to the Topanga Film Festival that ran July 28-31. Saturday July 30 marked the Festival’s “3D Day” where they screened several 3D short films, some trailers from upcoming 3D films, and had a panel discussion from industry professionals.

It was a beautiful sunny day deep in the Topanga Canyon hills, held in the main auditorium near the Topanga Elementary School, where RealD had provided a screen for the day’s event while Christie provided the projector that had the RealD polarizing lens in front of it. Max Penner of Paradise FX was on hand to set up the projector along with Eric Kurland, President of the LA 3D Club. Max also took part in the panel later in the day. Ray “3D” Zone was also in attendance. Mr. Kurland provided a number of 3D shorts from the LA 3D Club’s Movie Fest, including the winners from previous years. Mr. Penner showed trailers from Dolphin Tale and Fright Night, and as well a 6-minute single take of a turtle 50 feet below the surface in the coral reef of the Cayman Islands. Everyone really enjoyed the cool underwater 3D footage.

The icing on the day though was a panel discussion consisting of Mr. Penner, Wayan Palmieri (Digital Revolution Studios), Ted Kenny (3ality Digital Systems), Michael Page (3D StereoLab), Erik Spicard (3D Filmmaker), and neuroscientist Dr. Alan Horsager, Ph.D. Dr. Horsager started it off with a brief overview of how we perceive 3D in real life and his thoughts on why we gravitate towards 3D films. Each panelist introduced themselves and explained how they got into 3D filmmaking, and as well what projects they have worked on. They voiced their thoughts on where the technology is going and how its becoming more accessible to the public. They commented that the format has yet to have its Michelangelo’s or Da Vinci’s and that we’ve yet to see what some people can do with it.

Afterwards I caught Wayan Palmieri to inquire about what editing software DRS would be switching to after the disastrous release of Final Cut Pro X, and he told me that they were moving to Avid. It seems Apple has pushed a number of professionals back into Avid’s hands, but Mr. Palmieri informed me that he is on the BETA team for Avid to integrate 3D tools in Media Composer 6.

Topanga’s first inclusion of 3D in the festival went well and it should become a staple of the festival. Next year I’m sure they’ll have more projects to show and the attendance will be twice as large, possibly even larger.

For more info on the festival and to perhaps attend next year, check out www.topangafilmfestival.com.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

STAR WARS EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE Finished Conversion? Apparently So!

Apparently Bleeding Cool spoke with Prime Focus' Matt Bristowe about STAR WARS EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE and Bristowe confirmed that they have finished the conversion and the George Lucas himself has signed off on it.

It's rare that a conversion house will talk about a project before it has been officially announced as completed by their client so this is a rare treat. MANY will tell me things in confidence but I am sworn to not reveal the details to anyone, let alone publicly.

Of course I'm looking forward to seeing all these movies in 3D - and when we finally hear about the next trilogy in the STAR WARS universe I'll be even more happy :-)


Friday, August 12, 2011

Update On What James Cameron Has Been Up To Lately...

**Edited conversion company details on TITANIC (August 14)...

We all know James Cameron is a very busy man with AVATAR 2 and 3 looming on the horizon
but he does have other things on his plate believe it or not! Let's have a quick update:

1. TITANIC 3D - This morning Fox showed the audience at London's BIG SCREEN (sort of UK Comic-Con) 10 minutes of the new 3D conversion TITANIC! Wish I was a fly on the wall.

Here's what a viewer had to say about what he saw:
Opening on the crowd scene in the docks as the ship is boarding, the most noticeable thing about the footage is how much detail there is. When a film is converted to 3D, objects are rotoscoped and separated out onto layers. Ordinarily there are only a few layers in a shot, but with Titanic ...every single object (was put) onto a separate plane**. The effect is astonishing – and completely justifies a 3D version of the film.

Several of the other scenes shown also looked stunning – the sumptuously decorated rooms and the chaotic engine room in particular. That said, the fact that stereography wasn’t a consideration when the film was shot did cause a few issues in some of the scenes we were shown. In the sequence where Rose attends the raucous dance below decks, the frame is often filled with very close up shots of people as the camera tracks past. Every time this happens it seems to interrupt the effect of the 3D for the few moments afterwards.

The other major issue is the contrast between the rich, multi-planed scenes, and those in much less sumptuous locations. The sequences that took place inside the cabins look almost Spartan, and certainly much more flat, simply by virtue of there being fewer points of reference for us. Similarly, the Rose and Jack on the bow of the ship sequence seems to have received little to no conversion at all, again because of the lack of points of reference.

Sounds as though the conversion was done magnificently. This is a must see in my mind for all you 3D aficionados out there! Cameron won't sign off on anything that isn't up to his standards so rest assured that the conversion will be done right!

2. Meeting With Justin Lin And Arnold Schwarzenegger About Terminator 5 - Cameron apparently met with Justin Lin (FAST FIVE) to help him out with another potential installment in the TERMINATOR franchise for Universal. Schwarzenegger was also present.

Lin says: "Just even this week, I had a great meeting with Arnold and James Cameron, just sitting down unofficially. And James is so gracious because he’s not part of the project, he’s not going to be producing, but it was great of him just as a filmmaker to take time out to just talk."

"I don’t know where it’s going to lead, but I never thought at this level I’m going to be able to meet filmmakers and be in situations where they’re that gracious and insightful and so inclusive. And that’s a franchise that I’m working on right now, but again, if I’m going to be kind of the gatekeeper to it, I want to make sure that I can hopefully build it up the right way – and so far that’s been the most fun. Just to be able to take James Cameron’s brain and for him to be so open even though he has no stakes in it, just as a human being, that’s something that I will always remember as a part of my journey as a filmmaker."

Justin Lin is on the fast track with FAST FIVE pulling in a cool $600m. Could he resuscitate the TERMINATOR franchise? Man I hope so. There is plenty more to do in that realm if you ask me.

Isn't that vintage Cameron to be so inclusive to filmmakers seeking his council? I'm sure that Hollywood is very appreciative of that. He's influenced newer directors as well as the top echelon with his creative ideas and technology. Tip of the hat to Mr. Cameron!

3. Lightstorm Entertainment Hires Kathy Franklin (formerly of Disney) To Be The Keymaster To The AVATAR Universe: Cameron has hired on Franklin to head up all their franchises in development and right now AVATAR is at the top of their list. Obviously there is more to running a franchise than producing movies! Much more and on multiple platforms...

Here's the official release:
LOS ANGELES (August 9, 2011) Kathy Franklin has been named President of Franchise Development at Lightstorm Entertainment. Announced by James Cameron and Jon Landau, the hire signifies Lightstorm's commitment, in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox, to building the franchise and brand of AVATAR beyond the traditional licensing and merchandising avenues.

Cameron commented, "Anticipating the exponential growth of the Avatar universe, we looked for someone who could lead a team that will cement Avatar as a world class brand across all platforms and markets. Kathy’s experience, coupled with her drive and vision for what Avatar can be, made her the right choice."

Franklin is a seasoned leader with a proven record of designing and implementing industry-leading branding, growth and communications strategies. As Vice President of Global Studio Franchise Development for Disney Consumer Products, she led the strategies that drove the Disney Princess, Disney Fairies, Cars and Toy Story franchises while building integrated partnerships with film, television, and online divisions of The Walt Disney Company. Before that, Franklin was Vice President of Disney Worldwide Outreach, during which she ran marketing and communications for all corporate philanthropic outreach and charitable giving. Franklin's first position at Disney was Director of Disney Learning Partnership, a philanthropy focused on supporting creative approaches to teaching and learning, which she helped launch and for which Franklin created DisneyLearning.org and executive produced "The Creative Classroom Series," an award-winning set of videos and educator guides.

"Bringing Kathy onboard at Lightstorm further reflects the unique creative and business relationship shared by Fox and Lightstorm on the Avatar franchise," said Oren Aviv, Twentieth Century Fox's Chief Marketing Officer, and Tony Sella, Fox's Chief Creative Officer. "Jim Cameron created an amazing universe of mass appeal and we're confident that with Kathy in place, this partnership will further capitalize on the tremendous opportunities inherent in this awesome property."

"Kathy has proven herself to be a forward thinker who possesses the ability to bring new ideas to life," said Landau. "With Kathy's leadership, in collaboration with the team and infrastructure at Fox, I'm confident our franchises will grow in innovative ways that remain consistent with the quality and themes of our films."

"From the beginning, Jim and Jon have viewed AVATAR as a franchise whose storytelling has global reach and impact across multiple platforms. I look forward to leading this exciting new phase in the evolution of the franchise and to working with the team at Twentieth Century Fox to drive AVATAR's continued growth," said Franklin.

Franklin will be based at Lightstorm's Santa Monica headquarters.

So glad to hear that Franklin will be helping out the Lightstorm team because quality control is going to be a major issue if they are going to open up the universe to third parties for development. Good luck Kathy!

More when I get it!

Sources: ComingSoon | The PlayList | THR


Call For Projects For The 1st European Co-production Stereoscopic-3D Film Market

3D Stereo MEDIA features a new 3D film market, called the 3D Film Mart (3DFM). It is the first European co-production market for stereoscopic-3D (S-3D) movies.

The 3D Film Mart was developed by 3D Stereo MEDIA in association with TWIST and peacefulfish. It is partially funded by the MEDIA Program of the European Commission (EC), and is thus an official project of the EC. This gives it a wide visibility and a significant notoriety in Europe and beyond.

This co-production market works as follows. Producers of 3D contents (for cinema, TV, ...) who have projects for S-3D contents (feature, documentary, animation, alternative content, ...) at an early stage of development, and are looking for financing (of at most 90 %), are invited to submit their projects to the market. Since the primary goal of the market is to boost the production of quality 3D content and to be educational, the market strongly encourages producers that lack experience in S-3D but are successful in 2D movie making - or in some other form of art - to submit their first S-3D project, thereby using the market as a way to get up to speed in the demanding world of 3D!

A jury will select the 20 best projects submitted. The producer of each selected project will be invited to present his/her project to a panel of ten investors (sales agents, distributors, financiers...). The panel will select the best of these projects and its producer will be eligible to receive an award in the amount of 3,000.00 €.

Producers and investors will interact during pitching sessions and one-to-one meetings during the overall 3D Stereo MEDIA event, in Liège, Belgium, on 7-8 December 2011.

All the information necessary for submitting a project can be found at www.3dstereomedia.eu/filmmart.

Just do it ... but in 3D: Submit your project to our brand-new 3D Film Mart!

The deadline for submission is 1 September 2011.

For more information, please contact Alexandra Gérard at market@3dstereomedia.eu

Very interesting event! I am looking forward to seeing the results of the market and I'll pass them on to you when I get them. Anyone interested in participating should remember that September 1 is their deadline for submission.

The market is just the tip of the iceberg: They also have a Professional Forum, Scientific Conference, 3D Academy as well the aforementioned Film Festival & Mart.

Be sure to check out their site: www.3dstereomedia.eu


Fincher's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA To Be 70% CG?

Wow. Seventy percent is a hefty number and if David Fincher can pull off that amount of CG in a compelling way (he certainly has the credentials) than 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA should be an amazing movie.

Here's what Fincher had to say recently on the matter: "I would love to to something like that. I would love to do something probably more like Avatar than Tintin. I like the idea of something that is a little more… complicated. I love the idea of a ‘cartoon’, but I would like it to be sort of very, very dense. And, in fact, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will be probably 70% CG. [...] I love motion capture and think it’s only in its infancy, and eventually there won’t be a difference between motion capture and acting. Because that’s all motion capture is, is being able to capture acting."

Can't wait to see some first looks from this project! I'm a big fan of Fincher and all of this in 3D (especially the fact that it will be underwater) is going to be massive.

Source: /Film

Thursday, August 11, 2011

New DOLPHIN TALE Photos!

Here are a couple of new stills from the upcoming 3D family movie DOLPHIN TALE which actually looks pretty darn good.

I've always been a fan of Harry Connick Jr. anyway and Morgan Freeman goes without saying.

Storywise, it seems like a winner. It's based on a real life story too which helps (in most cases). I am sure you will have to bring a pack of tissues with you too.

Here are some of the movie's details:

“Dolphin Tale” is inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the compassionate strangers who banded together to save her life. Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun. Without a tail, Winter’s prognosis is dire. It will take the expertise of a dedicated marine biologist, the ingenuity of a brilliant prosthetics doctor, and the unwavering devotion of a young boy to bring about a groundbreaking miracle—a miracle that might not only save Winter but could also help scores of people around the world. The real Winter, who plays herself in “Dolphin Tale,” today serves as a symbol of courage, perseverance and hope to millions of people—both able and disabled—who have been touched by her remarkable story of recovery and rehabilitation.

Cast: Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Nathan Gamble, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Austin Stowell, Morgan Freeman
Director: Charles Martin Smith
Writers: Karen Janszen and Noam Dromi
Producers: Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, Richard Ingber
Executive Producers: Robert Engelman, Steven P. Wegner

Official Site

Looking forward to seeing this one for sure. I love human interest stories and ultimately this is all about being human.

My good friends at Paradise FX were involved with this shoot too :-)

DOLPHIN TALE is opening September 23 from Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

First Look: A VERY HAROLD AND KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS Photo

After HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY (HKEFGB) had a half decent return (it made $43.5m) on investment it seems the franchise lives on. In 3D this time! We'll see how it goes.

I did love the marketing for HKEFGB with the create a voice answering message from President Bush. It was HILARIOUS.

Kal Penn and John Cho do a wonderful job in the lead roles for these films.

Here's the storyline for A VERY HAROLD AND KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS:
After years of growing apart, Harold Lee and Kumar Patel have replaced each other with new friends and are preparing for their respective Yuletide celebrations. But when a mysterious package mistakenly arrives at Kumar’s door on Christmas Eve, his attempt to redirect it to Harold’s house ends with the “high grade” contents — and Harold’s father-in-law’s prize Christmas tree — going up in smoke. With his in-laws out of the house for the day, Harold decides to cover his tracks, rather than come clean. Reluctantly embarking on another ill-advised journey with Kumar through New York City, their search for the perfect replacement tree takes them through party heaven — and almost blows Christmas Eve sky high.

Sounds like typical Harold and Kumar fare - so in other words a pretty good time. AND Danny Trejo will be in it. I'll be checking it out on November 4.

Source: Yahoo


RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION Heats Up With Jovovich And Anderson Returning!

The heart and soul of the RESIDENT EVIL franchise apparently just signed on to the fifth installment in the series: RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION. Actor Milla Jovovich (Alice) and her husband director Paul W.S. Anderson are returning, the latter is writing the screenplay and directing.

It looked like Sienna Guillory would be returning to her role of "Jill Valentine" (she tweeted back in March: "RE:5 alert! Training begins! I aim to mostly put less in the big hole on the front of my face than comes out of the little one on my arse."), but now it seems that that role is being recast. No word as to why Guillory will not be returning.

Toronto and Tokyo will play host to the production that starts in October. Sony Screen Gems has set September 14, 2012 as the release date.

You can see another anticipated project that the power couple have made this October 21 - THE THREE MUSKETEERS. In 3D of course...

Source: BloodyDisgusting

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Marvel's 2014 Mystery Movie Release Dates!

Disney has decided to slate two dates for their 2014 release schedule but have declined to name which properties will be put into superhero action. Best guesses?

Certainly CAPTAIN AMERICA 2 is one of them. Wagers on ANT-MAN? Disney does own the URL "ant-man-themovie.com" after all.

The dates are: May 16, 2014 and June 27, 2014. And of course don't forget that THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (Sony) is out May 2, 2014!

Of course we already know that THOR 2 and IRON MAN 3 are coming in the summer of 2013 and that little known and unanticipated movie THE AVENGERS is out next summer. ;-)

What about BLACK WIDOW or HAWKEYE? DEADPOOL? BLACK PANTHER? LUKE CAGE? Someday I want to see DAREDEVIL done right, but my guess is DEADPOOL. And Mark Ruffalo deserves his own shot with THE INCREDIBLE HULK. And there is some activity around a DOCTOR STRANGE feature too. I think the lesser known characters will be released off-summer though. My assumption.

Love that Ryan Reynolds was playing with a katana (samurai sword) in THE CHANGE UP (did you catch that?) - makes you know how much he wants to jump into Deadpool's antics. So yeah, I hope Reynolds gets to slice and dice in 2014.

What about you? What Marvel feature would you like to see in the summer of 2014?

Monday, August 08, 2011

NURSE 3D Lures Actresses On The Rise

Here's an interesting new 3D project that you should know about. Douglas Aarniokoski (HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME) is directing a thriller about a pair of nurses that lure unfaithful men into their fatal web entitled NURSE 3D. What I am interested in is how a VERY 'R' RATED exploitation movie like this one will use 3D to its best advantage.

NURSE 3D has just landed two up and coming actresses who have plenty on their plates. Katrina Bowden (Pictured left; 30 ROCK, PIRANHA 3DD, AMERICAN REUNION) and Paz de la Huerta (Pictured right; CHOKE, A WALK TO REMEMBER, BOARDWALK EMPIRE) have signed on in the leads and will soon be digging their nails into cheating husbands.

Here's an earlier project description:
Lionsgate and the filmmakers of Nurse 3D are pleased to announce that Paz De La Huerta (“Boardwalk Empire,” ENTER THE VOID) will star in the film as Abby Russell, a beautiful, dedicated nurse with a sinister side, and a secret life’s work in which she targets and punishes dishonest men.

By day Abby Russell is a dedicated nurse, someone you wouldn’t hesitate to trust with your life. But by night, her real work begins…using her smoldering sexuality she lures cheating men to their brutal deaths and exposes them for who they really are. When a younger nurse starts to suspect Abby’s actions and compromises her master plan, Abby must find a way to outsmart her long enough to bring the cheater you’d least expect to justice.

Doug Aarniokoski, who has collaborated with directors such as Robert Rodriquez (FROM DUSK TIL DAWN, SPY KIDS, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO), Jay Roach (AUSTIN POWERS), Russell Mulcahy (RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION) and Terry Gilliam (FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS) is scheduled to begin shooting in Summer 2011.

Apparently the film is based on Tim Palen’s (Lionsgate’s CMO) photographs, and he also designed a very controversial piece concept art with Paz being mostly naked and covered in blood with a white nurse's cap and high heels on (warning - it's kinda graphic).

This project is different enough that I am keeping a close eye on it. Certainly it adds a new dimension to the current slate of modern 3D movies. More when I get it!

Source: Deadline

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