District 9 RED One

[Steve Sherrick]

I had thought it was 30-40 million. These days, big budget low budget of this sort is probably still pretty big as you say (unless it is being filmed elsewhere in Africa in the usual fashion, then it often shows). Have a simple sci-if movie around here somewhere from 5-7 years ago, they talk of a low budget of 12 million from memory (and they mean it, they are a low budget team) and it features few sci-fi effects. But it almost seems like people are building scale models with some budgets

If you wanted to make a low budget sci-fi film, there are some people that make quality low budget kids science fiction TV series here is Australia (but you might have forgo aliens from the script).

Yes, $30 million indeed. Very impressive!

 

[Tim Whitcomb]

Yes, $30 million indeed. Very impressive!

impressive at any budget as the story was as awesome as it looked... incredible acting from a south african "no-name" cast. just an outstanding film
and who does photo realistic vfx and belnding better than Weta? nobody...

especially loved the complicated VFX ship start up sequence at the end which the alien made look like something he did 1000 times. just an incredible film...

 

[Rakesh Jacob]

Brilliant movie!!!! The lead is absolutely amazing, the emotional range he had to project was HUGE! Love the social relevance of the theme. My favorite movie this year. Gonna see it again tomorrow.

 

[mkpmedia]

Wow, wow, wow.

I stayed through the credits to watch all my Vancouver peeps get repped (a landmark film for our city, I might add - and thank you for that), and I was pretty surprised when I saw the RED logo. I assumed it must've just been for some vfx plates or doc footage, but now I'm finding out that it was ALL Red? Wow. Apart from 2-3 shots that I think looked a little video-y, it all looked really cinematic. I supposed the style of it all helped your case, but even then I'm surprised.

Great job- this really is the kind of film that make me want to go out and make films, and, having been a fan of Neill's since his Citroen ad, this was a pretty exciting day that I'd been looking forward to for a long time.

 

[Jarred Land]

having been a fan of Neill's since his Citroen ad, this was a pretty exciting day that I'd been looking forward to for a long time.

Heh heh you and me both... I remember sitting with Trent years ago when Neill went off to do that ad.. I barely knew Neill, but I knew after what I saw him do with that Citreon ad that he was destined for big things.

And I think around the same time Trent did the Panasonic Commercial and that also was a turning point.

It is great to see them both working together still, and create such an iconic piece of what (I think) will become a small bit of cinematic history.

Here is the Citroen ad for anyone that is interested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dilUbkP-PI

 

[Jonathan Smiles]

who does photo realistic vfx and belnding better than Weta? nobody...

The main VFX vendors are actually Image Engine and The Embassy from Vancouver BC.

Weta Workshop did the prosthetics, props and vehicles.

Jonathan
RED Camera Supervisor on District 9

 

[Rami Mustakim]

Here is the Citroen ad for anyone that is interested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dilUbkP-PI

And the parody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I88buAiNm38

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5f2k0_parodie-pub-citroen-c4-chevrolet-tr_auto

 

[Rami Mustakim]

Grabs from District 9 featurette on apple website

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/district9/

 

[David Wyatt]

So is this now the second Red-shot film to top the US box office (the other being "Knowing")? Here's to many more...:cheers2:

 

[David Wyatt]

Here is the Citroen ad for anyone that is interested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dilUbkP-PI

Didn't know the Citroen ad was by him...wow! This piqued my interest so I found some more Blomkamp ads that people might be interested in here:

http://dorkshelf.com/2009/08/13/the-short-films-and-commercials-of-neill-blomkamp/

Loved this one in particular:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmd8BDiB-qU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdorkshelf%2Ecom%2F2009%2F08%2F13%2Fthe%2Dshort%2Dfilms%2Dand%2Dcommercials%2Dof%2Dneill%2Dblomkamp%2F&feature=player_embedded#t=246

 

[Meryem Ersoz]

this had to be one of the most imaginative films that i have seen in years...

...with the execution to match.

i don't usually care for violent films, but this one really held me.

thanks for sharing the production stills, Trent, also quite interesting...

 

[Joe G.]

Just posted a new review of D-9 by screenwriter Bill Martell:

District 9 (2009) – Sci Fi Action With Brains and Soul

 

[Bruno-Pierre Lévesque]

It's the first time I saw a movie at the cinema so sharp and clean! Wow!
By the way, the scenario is impressive.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Congratulations TRENT. I'm not sure if it's playing on "the island" yet (Victoria, BC). If not, I might have to paddle over to the mainland- looks like it will be worth it.

 

[David Brillhart]

You guys did an awesome job. Thanks for the great pix and hard work. Hats off to Sharlto Copley. What a performance.

 

[Jonathan Smiles]

Couple more pics including "Dez and DIT truck at night".


Jonathan
RED Camera Supervisor on District 9

 

[Jonathan Smiles]

Nice article on the work Image Engine did on D9.

http://www.studiodaily.com/filmandvideo/currentissue/How-They-Did-It-District-9_11250.html

 

[Ivan Cortazar]

I think it has been discussed before in different forums, but how did you guys where able to put the EVF so low in hand held? In one of the photos it looks like it is used with 2 Noga arms. Is that right? This is one of my major concerns in hand-held. I tried with some Zacuto options but I never able to put it low enough to be comfortable.

Thanks, and of course, congratulations on the great movie.

Ivan C.

 

[Daniel García]

I saw it tonight in a (shaky/soft?) film projection. I already liked the shorts and ads so it was great fun. Great action but not silly film. Also catched the Tetra Vaal reference in the MNU labs. Kept thinking , where have I seen that before?

So I understand from the previous posts that HF100's were used in the "gun barrel" shots? They seemed softer but worked great for the short glimpses and general style of the movie.

I'm really interested in watching Neil on a more classic style movie. I saw in an interview that he envisioned his movies having a really classic shooting style but somehow became famous with the grittier docu style jobs he did.

Also, kept noticing the framings usually let people's foreheads leave the top of the frame, was that a conscious decision of a problem with my projection somehow? I rewatched Alive in Joburg and it seems to happen a little too.

Anyway, I'll find out if other theaters in my city have a digital version.
Can't wait for D10

 

[Sami S]

I really loved the movie. It's what Independence Day should have been!