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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

James Cameron, George Lucas discuss future of film at CinemaCon, video online

Thanks!
 
Gotcha- when I read the topic 'Lucas and Cameron discuss the future of film' I expected a short- there is no future lol.

Noah
 
Well, then again, this is James Cameron and George Lucas. These guys know all the technology and meaning behind 3D, moving past 24fps, higher resolution, etc. Now, you get any other director in Hollywood and it may not be the same case, thus leading to poorly executed 3D and the potential for improper use of 48+fps.

"Avatar", regardless of all the haters out there, was an experience. It was a film that was well made and had all the latest technology fueling its ability to transport audiences to another world. James Cameron understands 3D and knows how to form his compositions to embrace that extra dimension. Now, the makers of "Drive Angry 3D" and "Yogi Bear 3D", eh, not so much. What needs to be emphasized with these standard changes is that filmmakers need to understand that certain things that were done using old standards aren't as effective as they used to be, for instance, being heavy on close-ups in a 3D film (ie. disorienting barf city). If they get that education part down right, then perhaps people would be less likely to discount 3D and 48+fps as movie gimmicks.
 
My reactions:

Lucas was and always will be a one trick pony. He never got over how successful Star Wars was and has been idolizing himself ever since. Seriously? He releasing it again theatrically? Will he do this with each new generation? This is pathetic.

Don't even get me started with Cameron. There is nothing wrong with good old 2D at 24 fps. Let's boost the frame rate to make this 3D crap look better. Ya, that's the future. You know, people are going to the theaters in fewer numbers because the movies today are crap and 3D, higher frame rates and a plate of food will not solve that.

Funny how none of them said that the future of movies was in telling better stories. They should have had guy like Chris Nolan, Duncan Jones and Neil Blomkamp up there. Not these hacks. Oh well.
 
I missed Star Wars in theaters the first time around because frankly? I wasn't born yet, then I somehow missed the second time around as well so I welcome the chance to see it on the big screen again.
Too many people these days have decided to demonize Lucas but he's right, people should have the chance to see these movies theatrically and you don't always get a chance to see a movie re screened.
 
I have very mixed feelings and both Lucas and Cameron. I applaud them for what they have/are doing for the industry and tech advancements. But I really wish Lucas would move away from the Star Wars world and do something else. I've never been a fan of Star Wars, I enjoyed the first three as much as any good film of its day. Move on to something original and interesting...

Cameron just needs to start telling some original stories. The last thing I want to see is Avatar 2 + 3, when the story in the first was so weak and generic.
 
Dag nabbit, everyone who really understands the true art of cinema knows it all went downhill once they added sound... and do NOT get me started on colour. If the Flying Spaghetti Monster had meant for us to see movies in 3D he would have given us two eyes.
 
Lucas and Cameron are fucking legends. End of story.

If anyone here manages to achieve 1/100 of the success of STAR WARS, they will have accomplished something.
 
Tim Hole said:
when the story in the first was so weak and generic.
Click to expand...

The Avatar story is anything but weak or generic. It is basically the story of American actions (or of the "white man" if you will).

You don't have to like the story or the movie - it's still a solid story based on history...

Star Wars... if I had created it, I'd probably still be making SW stories too. Especially since they still make money. My 7 year old nephew loves SW. He knows things I don't know. It is a franchise that continues to grow and enchant... I'd say that's pretty significant story telling. We can all learn from Lucas.
 
Shawn Booth said:
The Avatar story is anything but weak or generic. It is basically the story of American actions (or of the "white man" if you will).

You don't have to like the story or the movie - it's still a solid story based on history...

Star Wars... if I had created it, I'd probably still be making SW stories too. Especially since they still make money. My 7 year old nephew loves SW. He knows things I don't know. It is a franchise that continues to grow and enchant... I'd say that's pretty significant story telling. We can all learn from Lucas.
Click to expand...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth

http://someguycalledjon.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/poca2uresized.jpg

The film was unlike any movie-going experience before it, but let's not get carried away with how "deep" the narrative is.
 
Shawn Booth said:
The Avatar story is anything but weak or generic. It is basically the story of American actions (or of the "white man" if you will).

You don't have to like the story or the movie - it's still a solid story based on history...

Star Wars... if I had created it, I'd probably still be making SW stories too. Especially since they still make money. My 7 year old nephew loves SW. He knows things I don't know. It is a franchise that continues to grow and enchant... I'd say that's pretty significant story telling. We can all learn from Lucas.
Click to expand...

Oh please, stuffing political messages down the throats of the audience is so juvenile.

If you want to see why Avatar sucks, please watch this and then you will understand why the future of cinema looks grim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJarz7BYnHA

Lucas decided that he had a cash machine on his hands and decided to dedicate his life to squeezing it dry of every last possible penny.

It's time we call out filmmakers for producing generic watered down content to try to attract every demographic. Everyone loses in the end.

Once again, the future of movies is better stories, not better fx tech.
 
Andrew Rieger said:
Once again, the future of movies is better stories, not better fx tech.
Click to expand...

You are right. So, lets shoot with BMC-100P Forget about the Red One and Epic.
 
In terms of Lucas re-releasing, I'd rather have the opportunity to watch a ground breaking film like Star Wars in a big screen theater again and again, or any other non-remake benchmark picture in history, than only getting the latest 2D-to-3D-conversion-film-that-wasn't-interesting-to-start-with taking up my local 3D digital cinema screen time any day. With the hurdles that visionaries have to overcome these days in film to get to the 40+ foot screens, I wouldn't write off the potential of a director or filmmaker for not being prolific, but rather enjoy the work of art they have brought to audiences for what it's worth.
 
Andrew/Chuck - I'm not saying Avatar had some deep point. But it is a story based on history. I don't feel I was getting carried away... I didn't really like it myself.

Andrew - "It's time we call out filmmakers for producing generic watered down content to try to attract every demographic. Everyone loses in the end. " Isn't this a result of the audiences? More turn out for the mainstream equals more mainstream-type flicks no? What do you mean by "call out filmmakers"? What is their responsibility to anyone but the financiers? Just don't buy a ticket/rent/watch... Better yet, make better movies and tell better stories doing it.

As I said earlier, hopefully the future is better/good stories...
 
My first reaction to this watching this was great, now I'll be watching Avatar 2 in 3D, at 300fps, whilst eating spaghetti bolognese and drinking half a bottle of wine. Can't wait.

Seriously though, I think the bottom line was very simple. Cinema needs to re-invent the event, make it special and beyond what you could ever experience at home. Whether it's a rerelease of Star Wars ( I'll be at the front of the line ), or something more along the lines of Grindhouse, an evening of best indie films say. As long as the 3D gimmick films don't dominate and 3D is used in a creative way, to make our experience even better, then it's a good tool to get more bums on seats. Just my 2 bob.
 
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I like corporate morality storylines as a whole and I'm a Sci-Fi fan, however I am not 13 years old. Avatar thusly does not appeal to me in its incredibly heavy handed fashion. It is weak and generic - why because it complete lack of originality. Of course THE most generic film is STAR WARS (which is itself one of the reasons it has been such a success), he just vomited out 'Hero with a thousand faces'. Its the same reason I can't stand most comic book adaptations. I want real complexity and depth. If they took a lesson or two from the likes of Kieslowski we might get somewher. I don't want someone to walk up and smack me in the face with moral code, or force feed me archetypes. But then again its for children (or family entertainment) - the same issue i have with ET. Its all about family entertainment. But they don't even treat kids with the respect and intelligence they deserve.

But they are my issues. I am fed up of the majority of focus being on family entertainment. I'm fed up with pampering towards a maximum demographic.

That comment you made Shawn: 'What do you mean by "call out filmmakers"? What is their responsibility to anyone but the financiers?' Is the saddest reality about this whole ordeal we now call cinema. There is a reason to make a definition between Film and Movie. I have no interest in movies, but I love Films. I have no interest in making lots of money or acquiring fame just the ability to make small independent films.

The industry in the last decade or so has hit a new low. Its shameful the amount of reboots and sequels, comic book adaptations, generic genre films. What's even more shameful is the amount of money that is thrown at them. What's even more shameful, than the amount of money that is spent, they still can't manage anything close to a decent script for the most part. Pixar is the saving grace of family entertainment.

Does anyone remember 'In a lonely place' Bogart is having an argument with a director in the bar. "You done nothing but remake the same film for the last twenty years, you're nothing but a popcorn salesman" - and that was 1950 - still true today.

---It would appear though that the dominance of studio led films with their guarantee'd release forces the independents to reach further into their art, forces them to create more original and interesting films in order to give them the best chance at getting picked up and a couple week run in a small 120 seat cinema with no real chance of success due to the lack of advertising power. The minor few may find themselves getting an Artificial Eye release, if they are really lucky.
 
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