Is this the beginning of a 3-D revolution? Time has an article online discussing the upcoming wave of 3-D films fueled by such notables as Stephen Spielberg and James Cameron. The technology takes more time—and let’s not forget cold hard cash—to author, but many in the industry are betting it’s worth it. And some, like head of DreamWorks Animation SKG Jeffrey Katzenberg, are even going so far as saying that it will be the third wave of change to affect movies, after sound and color.
3-D cinema is nothing new. Just think about all those times you’ve put on those flimsy red-and-blue plastic glasses. In fact, this is the eighth time 3-D film technology has resurfaced, and so far it’s never come close to revolutionizing the industry. Furthermore, it’s no secret that the film industry is scrambling for a way to make the theater-going experience unique, what with the advent of increasingly sophisticated home theater technologies; why pay $10+ to sit in a stiff chair surrounded by strangers, when you can just watch a movie at home in your pajamas and binge on popcorn in peace? These two facts combined would indicate that the newest incarnation of 3-D film is nothing more than a gimmick that will fade into obscurity once the novelty wears off. But this time around, many Hollywood heavyweights claim that this time is different.
Silicon Valley companies, the brains behind the technology, are especially excited about 3-D right now. They believe it’s the way of the future—and not just of the film industry, but of everything; 3-D may become a standard by which people use their computers and HDTVs as well. So, given this, it’s very likely that new technologies in 3-D digital authoring will truly give viewers an entirely new experience, and may provide a stronger incentive to usher them back into the theaters. Below, Peter Jackson and James Cameron make the case for 3-D cinema:
…filmmakers say that 3-D, like sound and color, really breaks down the barrier between audience and movie. “At some level, I believe that almost any movie benefits from 3-D,” Lord of the Rings director Jackson says. “As a filmmaker, I want you to suspend disbelief and get lost in the film–participate in the film rather than just observe it. On that level, 3-D can only help.”
[James Cameron says] that 3-D viewing “is so close to a real experience that it actually triggers memory creation in a way that 2-D viewing doesn’t.” His own theory is that stereoscopic viewing uses more neurons. That’s possible. After watching all that 3-D, I was a bit wiped out. I was also totally entertained.”
It sounds…actually, really cool. But before 3-D films can become the norm, there are still a couple of hurdles to deal with. The general public may have to purchase their own jazzed-up versions of those red-and-blue plastic glasses—an investment that many people may be reluctant to make. But more importantly, in order for digital 3-D films to work properly, film studios and theaters will have to resolve their constant bickering about whose responsibility it is to bear the costs of that converting the screening process from analog to digital.
Still, the ambitions of many film execs may overcome these problems. And with upcoming releases like a 3-D version of Cameron’s Titanic (it’s true!) and Fox’s Avatar, filmmakers are proving that the future of 3-D filmmaking may already be here. [Time]
