Tag: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Screenwriting & Filmmaking: More about the Oncoming Real 3D Revolution

Posted by J Roland Kelly – March 31, 2009

real3D

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

  • Share/Bookmark

Filmmaking & Screenwriting for the New 3D; Real D Has New Possibilities

Posted by J Roland Kelly – July 14, 2008

There’s a lot of talk about 3D films coming back. Over the weekend I went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth in Real D to see what all this noise was about.

The new 3D is going to be huge. I now know what all the noise is about; I was blown away. I always thought these were gimmick films and I didn’t bother to see one until just now.

But man, it was magic. I was like a kid. Take an unsuspecting woman to see one of these new 3D films; if the two of you haven’t seen one you will be bonded forever.

I have been wrapped up in film history films for too long. I’ve been watching French New Wave films as of late, and I couldn’t believe I let something like this pass.

The whole experience was fantastic. The glasses themselves fit over my real glasses, I forgot that I was wearing them. Everything on the screen seemed new again.

In terms of storytelling Journey to the Center of the Earth was not great, which is why you should see it. You don’t want a story getting in the way of wigging out on this new Real D.

Smoke in 3D; just imagine it.

There have been a number of animated stories in Real D, and Beowulf was also released in it, but I considered these children’s movies. I don’t see children’s movies because I’m an art snob, and there you have the reason that I’m only now getting floored by this.

I suspect that here are a number of people in this boat.

Sitting in the theater, watching this film, I realized that most of the standard continuity film edits no longer work in 3D. There was a time before Sergei Eisenstein, when one character looking at something and then the camera looking at that something, and the audience connecting the link between the two, didn’t exist.

How basic is that? Editing.

The train could be filmed pulling into the station and then what? Hitchcock would have still filmed the train going into the tunnel, the perv.

Anyway, when I was in the theater I had a feeling that something as basic and simple has yet to be done with 3D.

This will be huge. The previews for other films at the beginning of Journey to the Center of the Earth where also in 3D, there are a lot of these Read D films coming.

Go blow your mind, see if you are the genius who will come up with the new 3D Battleship Potemkin.

Here’s a tip. Get there early, so that you can sit directly in front of the screen (not off to the side). The effect is diminished as you move off to the side.

Even the freaking credits at the end in 3D were interesting. 

-J Roland Kelly

  • Share/Bookmark

© 2007-2010 J ROLAND KELLY All Rights Reserved