James Cameron planning Avatar 2 for 2014
In a wide-ranging conversation with Google’s chief exec Eric Schmidt, filmmaker James Cameron has announced plans for the next two Avatar movies, criticised the current state of 3D television and reiterated his belief that technology can save the planet from ecological apocalypse.
Cameron says stereoscopic 3D TV’s day will come, but stressed that it requires far better tech and content before going truly mass market.
“Well, we see the world in 3D,” Cameron told the audience at a Churchill Club dinner this week in California. “To me, there are no barriers to 3D TV in homes in five to ten years.”
Categories: 3D movies, 3D TV Tags: 3D experience, 3D home entertainment, 3D movies, 3D TV, Avatar 2
Consumer Demand Strong for 3D Movies
The International 3D Society announced today a survey they commissioned concluded virtually 6 of 10 adults (59%) have yet to see a contemporary 3D movie (past three years) — an untapped and huge opportunity for consumer discovery.
Of those who have seen a 3D movie, three-fourths (74%) feel that today’s 3D movies are better than 2D movies, among whom 30% say 3D movies are “incredible.”
The study showed that 3D movie viewing is directly correlated by age: 18-34′s have the highest propensity to have seen a 3D movie, followed sequentially by each succeeding age group. The survey of 1008 adults was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for the International 3D Society, October 7 – 10, 2010.
“Consumers are excited by the 3D movie experience,” said Jim Chabin, President of the International 3D Society. “And with 6 in 10 Americans still having yet to see a 3D movie, the growth opportunities are significant,” he added.
Categories: 3D movies Tags: 3D, 3D entertainment, 3D experience, 3D movies
Talking with Barry Sandrew from Legend3D about 2D to 3D Conversion
The 2D to 3D conversion of videos and movies is still getting mostly bad publicity due to not so good examples of projects that were rushed too much, or were done on the cheap, however when properly made, using enough resources and expertise, and taken the right amount of time needed, the final result might actually be really good and hardly distinguishable from a material shot in 3D.
The recent announcements about upcoming 2D to 3D conversions of very popular older, but cult movies like Titanic and the Star Wars saga has yet again led to a lot of controversy regarding the conversion process.
But I had the chance to do a short interview with an expert in the filed of 2D to 3D conversions, getting his opinion on some key subjects that a lot of people are interested in. I’m talking about Barry Sandrew who is the Founder, President, and COO of Legend3D – one of the top companies specialized in 2D to 3D conversion…
Categories: 3D Insights, 3D movies Tags: 2D to 3D conversion, 3D entertainment, 3D experience, 3D motion picture, 3D movies
Star Wars 3D Will Be a Moment of Truth
Unlike the most die-hard Star Wars fans, I have no strong opinion on whether Star Wars should be re-released in 3D, but when the conversion is finished and released in 2012, I think it will be a pivotal moment for 3D movies.
This is only partly because of Star Wars’ ability to draw a crowd. Of course, Star Wars 3D will bring people to theaters – assuming 3D hasn’t been dismissed as a cheap gimmick in two years, and that’s not a given – but it will also prove, or disprove, that 2D-to-3D conversion can be done in a way that doesn’t completely stink.
Obviously, Star Wars was not originally filmed in 3D. Doing so requires two cameras, positioned carefully in a way that can mimic the vantage point of each eye. The really good 3D movies, like Avatar, use two cameras.
Categories: 3D movies Tags: 3D, 3D content, 3D entertainment, 3D movies, star wars 3D
Shhh, Avatar 3D Blu-ray Dec. 1; Alice too
“Avatar” is coming to 3D Blu-ray on Dec. 1, according to a well-placed source, but as we previously reported here at 3DHollywood.net, it will only be available with the purchase of Panasonic 3D TVs and Blu-ray players.
Likewise, Sony is said to have made an agreement with Disney to be the exclusive provider of the 3D Blu-ray of “Alice in Wonderland” with the purchase of Sony 3D products.
Categories: 3D movies Tags: 3D Blu Ray Movies, 3D Blu-Ray, 3D Blur Ray release, 3D movies, Avatar
THX looking into ‘physiological effects of 3D’
THX has announced that it is to open up a 3D testing facility with BluFocus, which will analyse all aspects of the 3D production process.
It is the first 3D certification program of its kind, offering authoring and production guidelines for those shooting in 3D and testing procedures for evaluating 3D AV quality.
It will also look into 3D Blu-ray disc and player interoperability and what it is calling “the physiological effects of 3D on home viewers.”
There has been a lot of talk about the effects of 3D in a small viewing space – ie, the living room – so it will be interesting to see what the THX-BluFocus findings will be.
Categories: 3D movies, 3D Technology Tags: 3D, 3D production, 3D testing, THX
`Avatar’ returns to 3-D theaters worldwide Friday
Before he takes moviegoers deep beneath the Pandoran sea, James Cameron hopes they’ll go for an extended tour of the fictional planet he introduced in “Avatar.”
“Avatar: Special Edition,” which includes 9 minutes of new footage, opens in 3-D theaters worldwide Friday.
“I’m trying to use the technology to keep people interested and enthused about the `Avatar’ universe, because it’s going to be a long time before we get another `Avatar’ movie done,” the filmmaker said in a recent interview.
Cameron, 56, already has plans for the “Avatar” sequels.
He’s also got a submarine to build, cameras for the Mars rover to design, an underwater 3-D camera to upgrade and maybe even an ocean-related feature to make.
But first, he had to select and perfect new “Avatar” footage and persuade distributor 20th Century Fox to rerelease the film theatrically in 3-D.
Categories: 3D movies Tags: Avatar, Avatar extended version, avatar special edition
Why 3-D is already dying
Back in the day, the knock on Hollywood was that it produced too many two-dimensional characters. Now moviegoers are beginning to grumble about paying up to see them in the third dimension as well.
While premium pricing for 3-D movie tickets has lined studio pockets over the last few years, it hasn’t translated into throngs of new moviegoers at the theater. Movie admissions have been in a tailspin for more than a decade, and despite a bump in 2009, new data shows the public is cooling to the offerings at their local theater yet again.
Categories: 3D Insights, 3D movies Tags: 3D, 3D big screen, 3D cinema, 3D dying, 3D movies
Hollywood fears the 3D bubble has already burst
Hollywood’s faith in the power of 3D movies to deliver a bright future of packed cinemas and spectacle-wearing audiences has been jolted by figures that show the high-tech format may already be floundering.
James Cameron’s science fiction epic Avatar burst onto the screen in three dimensions, taking in $2.7 billion (£1.7 billion) and becoming the highest grossing film of all time.
Studio executives in America compared the breakthrough to the development of first “talkies” almost a century ago, and fell over one another in the stampede to produce more such films.
But now, with the tally of major films released in the new format expected to reach 22 by the end of the year – with up to $7.50 (£5) extra being charged per ticket – there are signs that 3D may not, after all, be the panacea for falling ticket sales.
The proportion of cinema-goers who opt to see new films in their 3D versions has fallen steadily over recent months, with more opting instead to watch them in the traditional – and cheaper – format.
Categories: 3D Insights, 3D movies Tags: 3D, 3D big screen, 3D cinema, 3D Hollywood, 3D movies
Extended Version of ‘Avatar’ Hits Theaters in August
Not content with having merely the highest grossing film of all time, James Cameron is going to give “Avatar” another opportunity to feed at the box office trough.
The director and 20th Century Fox announced Thursday that they will release a special edition of the 3D blockbuster for a limited theatrical run starting Aug. 27.
The special edition will include more than eight minutes of new footage. Audiences will need to don their tinted spectacles once again, because the studio announced that the extended look at Pandora will be released exclusively in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D.
In a press release announcing the “Avatar” encore, Cameron said the extra footage would include new creatures and action scenes.
source: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/blog-post/extended-version-avatar-hits-theaters-august-19062
Categories: 3D movies Tags: 3D, 3D entertainment, 3D movies, Avatar, Avatar extended version
