Last year I wrote about going to see Journey to the Center of the Earth because it was in new Real 3D and I wanted to see what all the talk was about.

I then quickly added myself to the bandwagon of people who believed this new 3D was going to change filmmaking forever.

What I didn’t know is how far along this was getting, I read an interview with Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and James Cameron.

What they had to say surprised even me.

First let me say, if asked to come up with three filmmakers that I like the least, it probably would be this trio, but this group does represent the top of mainstream filmmaking, which makes what they had to say even more remarkable…

All of them have big budget 3D films currently in production, all of them believe that 3D is the future, and James Cameron went as far as to say that he would never make a movie in 2D again.

On a side note there is apparently a way to take a current 2D movie and turn it into 3D with a lot of money and computer power. So…

James Cameron is currently working on a re-release of a 3D version of Titanic, and even George Lucas wants to re-re-release the Star Wars films in 3D.

Here is why the industry likes 3D… the theaters can charge more money for a ticket, the films can’t be bootlegged as easily (good for the Hollywood moneymen), but James Cameron stressed an interesting third point… and I wonder how much research has been done on this… he said seeing something in 3D draws from real memories in the brain differently than something in 2D.

That is 3D draws you into the storytelling process more effectively than 2D.

From what I know, I would guess he is right. In fact this 3D development could be the beginning of a larger concept of virtual reality entertainment.

If you haven’t seen one of these films yet I recommend you do, you will see that this new 3D doesn’t get in the way of the story at all, it might actually emphasize it.

One of the biggest tests of this new filmmaking development will occur this winter when Cameron releases Avatar, currently the largest production of a 3D film to date.

The film is not finished but Cameron has already spent more than $200 million, and more than 1000 people have worked on it.

Who is this guy?

And who keeps giving him money?

It will have to be these mainstream filmmakers that push the boundaries of this new medium, they are the only ones with that kind of bank, but I object to productions of this magnitude.

…100 well financed independent films or one film by James Cameron…

I hope it flops.

It might actually, because if 3D is the only hook for this film, then the worldwide receipts are going to be slim.

Hollywood is having enough trouble getting theaters in the United States to switch to digital projectors that can show 3D, the rest of the world right now… forget it.

The worldwide market was a huge source of income for Titanic, I remember seeing Titanic candy bars for sale in Lithuania.

I’m sure it will be released in 2D and it might be ok.

But did I mention that he is re-releasing Titanic, I’m going to hope for the worst.

-J Roland Kelly