The much anticipated, buzz-generating Avatar–director James Cameron’s first feature since the lauded Titanic–is living up to the buzz, according to the first flight of movie reviews. The film, which just went into general release, has been cited by critics as being historic in that it realizes the long sought after potential of 3D filmmaking, and just as if not more importantly allows audiences to enjoy that experience while whetting their appetite for more, helping 3D to graduate beyond the gimmickry stage to that of enabling full fledged storytelling.
Cameron and his team “have found a way to tell a story using technology so that the technology isn’t the story. It’s a film that awakens different parts of your brain in a participatory manner,” observed Rob Willox, director of Sony Electronics’ content creation group. “The CG work is so fluid and the bottom line is that you’re blown away by the story, by getting the chance to be sucked into an environment rather than having it forced upon you…Once you’ve seen the film, give it 24 hours and you’ll want to visit that world–Pandora–again.”
Willox has enjoyed a behind-the-scenes perspective on Avatar in that Sony had a hand in helping to realize Cameron’s vision and what is now being heralded as a visually immersive 3D experience meshing live action and state-of-the-art visual effects.
Veteran cinematographer and 3D technology expert Vince Pace co-developed the 3D camera rigs, which used Sony cameras specially modified for the movie’s requirements for stereoscopic image capture and production.
Avatar used eight Sony HDC-F950 cameras for primary acquisition. Additionally, Sony HDC-1500 cameras captured speed shots during live action, with the then recently available F23 camera also used for specific shots.
“It was important that the actual shooting of the movie wasn’t impacted by the fact we were doing it in 3D, and these cameras allowed us to do that,” said Pace. “They allowed us to create a unique and completely immersive 3-D experience. I don’t think it could have been done any other way.”
Pace noted that his goal was to create a shooting system that could do both 2D and 3D without impacting the creative direction of the film or disrupting the actors’ performances. The Sony cameras delivered the ideal combination of 2/3-inch image quality and on-the-set flexibility that enabled them to go from handheld to a techno crane to Steadicam at a moment’s notice.
“This movie is the result of nearly four years of production, with Vince and his team modifying the Sony camera systems, and continually refining the technology,” said Willox. “What movie-goers will see on the screen represent the pinnacle of 3D technology, and the unique 3D views are the direct result of the Sony camera systems.”
The Sony cameras were put to the test in a range of shooting conditions: jungle and action sequences, as well as soundstage work for the interaction with the CG characters.
“We knew we could achieve the creative look we wanted with these cameras based on our testing and previous experiences,” Pace said. “Sony’s CineAlta brand and the performance of these camera systems are very well-known and very powerful. The one thing we didn’t want to do was compromise the 2D in the quest for 3D. With these cameras, we were able to tell the story we wanted, in the best way possible.”
Willox said that Sony was happy to play a part in Avatar but gave full credit to the filmmakers. “We got a request to help James realize his dream and vision. We provided a modified camera system to something we had in the pipeline. The true genius is in their manipulation of that technology. What James, Vince and their people did is remarkable.”
Asked what lesson Sony learned from Avatar, Willox said simply, “Provide the technology and get the hell out of the way.”
Alec Baldwin Urges Judge To Stand By Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Case In “Rust” Shooting
Alec Baldwin urged a New Mexico judge on Friday to stand by her decision to skuttle his trial and dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie.
State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case against Baldwin halfway through a trial in July based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense in the 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust."
The charge against Baldwin was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be revived once any appeals of the decision are exhausted.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey recently asked the judge to reconsider, arguing that there were insufficient facts and that Baldwin's due process rights had not been violated.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer on "Rust," was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer โ but not the trigger โ and the revolver fired.
The case-ending evidence was ammunition that was brought into the sheriff's office in March by a man who said it could be related to Hutchins' killing. Prosecutors said they deemed the ammunition unrelated and unimportant, while Baldwin's lawyers alleged that they "buried" it and filed a successful motion to dismiss the case.
In her decision to dismiss the Baldwin case, Marlowe Sommer described "egregious discovery violations constituting misconduct" by law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as false testimony about physical evidence by a witness during the trial.
Defense counsel says that prosecutors tried to establish a link... Read More