Award Winning 3D Short Film FOXED! Being Released June 28 At TIFF

Short film, stop-motion and 3D aficionados pay heed: The award winning 3D short film FOXED! is being released on June 28th at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Bell Lightbox. It will be opening in front of Storm Surfers 3D - another great project to check out if you are in town for the festival!

Director James Stewart is a good friend of mine and his is exceptionally proud about this project.

Here is the storyline for the short:
Emily has been Foxed! in this 3D stop-motion tale of fighting for what you believe in. Filmed in stunning 3D, director James Stewart crafts a humorous tale about growing up in an environment of parental control and how children are often mis-portrayed in the eyes of their parents.

In this tale of fighting for what she believes in, Emily is up against the sinister forces of foxes. FOXED! has been enthusiastically received at international film festivals in Stuttgart, San Francisco, Annecy, and Sarasota, FOXED! is a darkly humorous tale about growing up in an environment of parental control in which children are often misrepresented in the eyes of their parents.

Beware of what hides behind the mirror. The menacing 3D, stop-motion world of FOXED reveals young Emily toiling in the mines beneath her house, imprisoned by foxes who have duped her entire town into believing children can be replaced. Emily has to grow up quickly if she is to escape and outwit the foxes at their own game. But her daring attempt to get away is met by a stunning encounter above the ground that leaves her lost and confused.

You can check out more details about the TIFF screenings here.

Further, you can also see FOXED! at one of these fine venues in the near future as well:

New Media Film Festival, Opening Night, June 11, Los Angeles, CA
http://newmediafilmfestival.com

Annecy + Screening, Annecy, France June 14th
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Annecy-/116891325091116

San Antonio Film Festival June 17 – 23, San Antonio ,Texas
https://safilm.com

Anima Mundi International Festival of Animation of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug 14 - 18th
http://www.animamundi.com.br/en/festival/

Montreal World Film Festival Aug 22nd
http://www.ffm-montreal.org/en_index.html



Here's the trailer for the FOXED!:





Like the short on Facebook.

Check out the first "Making Of" featurettes for the short right here.

About James Stewart and Geneva Film Co.
FOXED! is co-directed and produced by digital 3D filmmaking pioneer James Stewart whose credits include the 3D work for Werner Herzog’s acclaimed Cave of Forgotten Dreams. As the head of Toronto-based Geneva Film Co., Stewart is one of the world’s most active directors and foremost experts in 3D filmmaking. His short film FOXED! – which recently won the Best Animated Film Award at the Yorkton Film Festival - is currently being developed into a full-length feature film.

James Stewart is an award-winning director and the founder of the Geneva Film Co. in Toronto, Canada. Through his production company, Stewart has produced over 30 projects in digital 3D, including cinema commercials, concerts, stop-motion and CG animation. He is a director, storyteller, artist, digital innovator and multi-platform visual designer whose work ranges from mobile to giant screen, from motion graphics to stereoscopic 3D installations.

Recent projects include the stop-motion film FOXED!, the experimental short BÉATRICE CORON’S DAILY BATTLES in collaboration with NYC based French artist Béatrice Coron, Werner Herzog’s CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, ONTARIO 4D for the Vancouver Olympics, and live 3D concert films of the Montreux Jazz Festival and Kylie Minogue. In 2012, he produced the world’s first gesture-controlled 3D cinema game for the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S3.

A sought-after director, artist, and expert on 3D, Stewart is a six-time speaker at The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and has spoken at TED.

Geneva Film Co. can be found on the web at www.genevafilmco.com

Twitter: @jamesstewart3D

Drexel University to Be First East Coast University to Have a Student 3D Short

Hey all, Tim here with news coming out of my Alma Mater Drexel University! Drexel University is a school in Philadelphia, PA and Sal Sciortino (writer, director, producer) is going to make his senior thesis film Crane the first stereoscopic 3D student film done on the east coast! This is exciting news personally for me because of the years I spent sharing news stories and talking with faculty & students about 3D. It's great to see a young student pushing forward with the first stereoscopic production to come out of the school. It also helps bring the 3D medium to education throughout the continental United States.

A short synopsis about the this ambitious short film:

Crane is an action-packed film that deals with the life of former secret agent, John Crane. He has classified information and has been hiding from his old agency, the agency has had enough. They kidnapped John's wife, and he is hell bent on finding her. With the help of his friend (and current operative) Jamaal, John traverses the city to locate his wife. Unfortunately, finding his wife will be no simple task – the agency keeps her well hidden, they have a ton of agents standing in John's way. Luckily for John, he's a rugged man with phenomenal fighting skills, and he will let no one stand in the way of finding his wife.

The action scenes in this movie will be done with full cooperation of the city of Philadelphia, who will assist in closing down roads in order for shooting to take place! Sal comes from a background full of experience to make this possible.

Sal Sciortino is currently a senior at Drexel University. During his time in school he has worked on countless projects. Sal spent 9-months in Los Angeles gaining production experience and working for companies such as Bad Robot Productions and Toy Box Entertainment. His love for film began when he was in the eighth grade. Sal learned countless programs and techniques through self-drive, and has been improving his skills ever since.

The short film will be shot using Drexel's own 3D Film Factory beamsplitter rig, and a pair of Sony EX-3's. However, there are a few items that Sal and his crew are going to have to rent in order to make this happen in the best possible stereo 3D. As Drexel doesn't have an on set 3D Monitor of their own the production will need some money in order to rent one, along with a bit more 3D gear. That's why Sal has launched a Kick Starter Campaign to help raise funding for the project. Below is a video from the shooting studio of Drexel Film & Video with Sal explaining the Kick Starter campaign and a bit about the film:

HIT THE JUMP FOR THE VIDEO AND MORE INFO:

S3D Animation Update: A New TANGLED Sequel Short And Another HAPPY FEET 2 Trailer

Looks like Disney has discovered shorts once again (it's a good thing!) because they have announced that pre-rolling in front of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D will be a short sequel entitled TANGLED EVER AFTER.

What I really like about this short is that EVERYONE is back! Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi (got a great autographed movie poster by Zach from Disney) are voicing again and the directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard are back.

Here's the official release:
The Walt Disney Studios proudly announced today that directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, the talented team behind Disney Animation Studio’s global blockbuster Tangled, will premiere a delightful new animated short film spotlighting the royal wedding of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and Flynn Rider – a.k.a Eugene – (Zachary Levi) in front of each screening of Beauty and the Beast in 3D, which opens on January 13, 2012. By popular demand, Greno and Howard are bringing back some of Disney’s most beloved characters when TANGLED EVER AFTER picks up where Tangled left off. The Kingdom is in a festive mood as everyone gathers for the royal wedding of Rapunzel and Flynn. However, when Pascal and Maximus, as flower chameleon and ring bearer, respectively, lose the gold bands, a frenzied search and recovery mission gets underway. As the desperate duo tries to find the rings before anyone discovers that they’re missing, they leave behind a trail of comical chaos that includes flying lanterns, a flock of doves, a wine barrel barricade and a very sticky finale. Will Maximus and Pascal save the day and make it to the church in time? And will they ever get Flynn’s nose right?

TANGLED EVER AFTER is the perfect accompaniment to Beauty and the Beast, which is returning to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ and introducing a whole new generation to the Disney classic with stunning new 3D imagery. Beauty and the Beast was nominated for six Academy Awards®, winning Oscars® for Best Song, by the renowned Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and Best Original Score (Menken).

You can check the short and the re-release out on January 13.

*AND*

Check out the final trailer (I say this because the movie comes out on Friday!) for HAPPY FEET 2!

I think this one is a sure fire home run as there has been a lack of quality G rated movies this year and families NEED them.

Mumble, The Master of Tap, has a problem because his son, Erik, is choreo-phobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and meets The Mighty Sven, a penguin who can fly!

Director: George Miller
Writer: George Miller
Studio: Warner Bros Pictures
Cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria
Release: November 18, 2011

Digital Revolution Studios Announces 3D Short Film Line-Up

Tim here. Digital Revolution Studios is proud to announce its line-up of 3D short films now available on 3net! Experience the magic of seeing the world in breathtaking 3D from your living room with a collection of mini-docs that take you to all corners of the world. In these family-friendly shorts, you can watch exotic animals, visit remote locations, learn about WWII tech, and escape into the wonder of our planet.

Starting with the trip around the world, audiences can enjoy Deserts, Jungles, Moments in Asia, and Close Encounters: Caves. For the animal lovers they can sit back with their favorite felines in The Cat House, graze and tussle with Big Horn Sheep, soar the skies like Birds, Birds, Birds, discover fascinating factoids about Cold Blooded species, or enjoy Living Large with some of the wisest and largest creatures on the planet. Lastly audiences can get an inside look into the mechanical marvels that got WWII Winners through the aerial dogfights.

These are great programs for families that will continue to push 3D in the home. If you haven’t bought a 3DTV or subscribed to 3net, now is the time to do it. 3net is available through Direct TV Channel 107. Check out 3net.com for a complete schedule of their programs, and don’t forget to catch Digital Revolution Studios’ latest projects at drs3d.com.

About Digital Revolution Studios:

Digital Revolution Studios (DRS) is a leading authority and innovator in high quality stereoscopic 3D production. From development to distribution, DRS has a reputation for pioneering new technology to expand the use of 3D in productions, including TV and features. DRS is on the forefront of all aspects of stereoscopic 3D, including low to high budget 2D-3Dconversion, live action capture, sound design/mix, visual effects, graphics and cutting edge post-production techniques. Founded by Visual Effects Editor of AVATAR, Craig Tanner, DRS is a team of highly skilled and award-winning industry professionals. For more information, please visit: www.DigitalRevolutionStudios.com.

About 3net:

3net, the joint venture of Sony Corporation,Discovery Communications, and IMAX Corporation brings together three of the world’s leading media, technology and entertainment companies to provide the nation’s first and only fully programmed 24/7 3D network. The three partners deliver an extraordinary collection of award-winning 3D content, technology and production expertise, television distribution and operational strength to the project, with a mission to bring viewers the highest quality and most immersive in-home 3Dviewing experience possible. For more information please visit www.3net.com.

Watch: First Look At Pixar's Short LA LUNA!

Nice! Having watched this thing a dozen times now (its not long) I can say that I am quite taken by it.

Interestingly enough, I actually got some vibes from Sony's CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS with the father / son dynamic and personality quirks. That's a kudo to Sony Pictures Animation's efforts of late.

Pixar really nails the human condition don't they? Why can't more studios do this with live action? THIS is what I want to see made in native 3D with real actors. My vote says, make it happen!

Check out the short:

Warner Bros. Animation Announces Three New 3D LOONEY TUNES Theatrical Shorts... And...

YES! A mainstay of my childhood is continuing its climb back to center stage - The Looney Tunes! Controversial to some as there is some questionable violence involved but loved by most, I can't wait to see the results. I turned out fine after all! For the most part.

Apparently there are feature films in development too for some of their heavy hitters like Bugs Bunny, Pepe Le Pew and the ACME Warehouse. But one would imagine that Daffy Duck, Sylvester & Tweety and the others couldn't be far behind.

Here's the official press release from Warner Bros for the shorts:

THE LOONEY TUNES — AND THE LEGENDARY MEL BLANC — RETURN TO THE SILVER SCREEN, STARTING IN 2011

Two of the Original Films Feature Voice Recordings Made by Mel Blanc

ANNECY, France and BURBANK, Calif. (8 June 2011) — “Thufferin thuccotash!” Sylvester the Cat, Tweety Bird, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner will all return to theaters in three original Looney Tunes 3D theatrical cartoon shorts produced by Warner Bros. Animation and directed by Matthew O’Callaghan (Coyote Falls). Two of the new shorts — Daffy’s Rhapsody and I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat — will feature the voice of the late, great Mel Blanc. The legendary actor/comedian known as The Man of a Thousand Voices brought to life some of the most revered characters in animation history during a celebrated career spanning six decades. Blanc will appear in the shorts — which are created using state-of-the-art CG animation and rendered in stereoscopic 3D — via original songs he recorded in character in the 1950s.

The announcement was made today by Peter Roth, President, Warner Bros. Television, who oversees television animation for the Studio, and Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros. Animation (WBA). Register unveiled news of the three original shorts — which also include an as-yet-untitled adventure featuring the Coyote and Road Runner — during a presentation at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

“Everyone at Warner Bros. Animation grew up loving the Looney Tunes characters, and it has been both a great honor and an enormous challenge to continue the legacy of these animation icons and introduce them to a new generation of fans,” said Register. “And to have the incomparable Mel Blanc voicing these characters once more is nothing short of a dream come true for all of us.”

Register added, “This will probably be the last time that Looney Tunes fans will have an opportunity to see an original Mel Blanc short featuring these characters. We are honored to bring Mr. Blanc and his legacy to Looney Tunes fans once again.”

Daffy’s Rhapsody: In the first of the new shorts, a persistent Elmer Fudd chases Daffy Duck (Blanc) on stage during a musical performance. The short features Blanc performing the song “Daffy Duck’s Rhapsody.” Daffy’s Rhapsody is scheduled to debut in theaters on November 18, 2011, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of Happy Feet 2.

I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat: A classic game of cat and bird transpires in Granny’s apartment as Tweety Bird goes to great lengths to avoid the clutches of his arch-nemesis Sylvester the Cat. The short also features the hit song of the same name, which was performed by Blanc, and sold over three million copies worldwide.

Untitled Coyote & Road Runner: Wile E. Coyote’s epic quest to capture the Road Runner continues in this all-new short. Will the Coyote finally get his paws on his elusive prize?

The three new shorts are all directed by Matthew O’Callaghan and executive produced by WBA’s Sam Register (The Looney Tunes Show, Teen Titans, Ben 10). The producers are Spike Brandt (The Looney Tunes Show, Duck Dodgers) and Tony Cervone (The Looney Tunes Show, Duck Dodgers).

The new theatrical shorts follow closely after the launch of The Looney Tunes Show, an all-new modern comedy series from Warner Bros. Animation which debuted in May and airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Cartoon Network. The animated sitcom finds Bugs and Daffy living together as unlikely roommates: Bugs is as brazen, sarcastic and ahead-of-the-game as ever, while Daffy — despite his narcissistic, sociopathic and paranoid tendencies — is Bugs’ best friend and seemingly permanent houseguest.

In 2010, Warner Bros. Animation unveiled its first three CG cartoon shorts, all of which featured Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. The first, Coyote Falls, was shortlisted for the Academy Award® for Best Short Film (Animated) and was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject.

Photo caption: Elmer Fudd (left) and Daffy Duck (right) star in Daffy’s Rhapsody, an all-new Looney Tunes 3D theatrical cartoon short from Warner Bros. Animation. Daffy’s Rhapsody will feature the voice of the late, great Mel Blanc, who will appear in the shorts — which are created using state-of-the-art CG animation and rendered in stereoscopic 3D — via original songs he recorded in character in the 1950s. Daffy’s Rhapsody will be released in theaters on November 18, 2011, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of Happy Feet 2.

Remember we will see DAFFY"S RHAPSODY pre-rolling in front of Warner Bros. HAPPY FEET 2 on November 18!

Thanks to Collider for alerting me to this.

You Want More TOY STORY? How About A Clip From A New Short Called HAWAIIAN VACATION!

Anytime we get to see anything from Pixar is a treat, but this short has the characters of TOY STORY so of course this is a must see.

This time around it is a clip from their upcoming short entitled HAWAIIAN VACATION that will pre-roll in front of CARS 2 this summer.

Here is what you're about to see:
Set in new owner Bonnie's bedroom, "Hawaiian Vacation" features Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) and Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) and the rest of the favourite Toy Story 3 toys as they create the ultimate Hawaiian vacation for Ken (voice of Michael Keaton) and Barbie (voice of Jodi Benson).

It seems Ken badly miscalculated their travel arrangements, so the gang has to create a dream getaway in Bonnie's Midwestern bedroom - in the middle of winter. Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation also features the voices of Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Blake Clark, Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Kristen Schaal, Jeff Garlin and John Ratzenberger.

Here's what director Gary Rydstrom had to say about it (from EW):
"We wanted to figure out a story that would include everybody, which is crazy because it is under six minutes. It takes place in Bonnie’s room — Woody, Buzz and Rex and everybody is in on it. Ken wants to take Barbie on a perfect vacation to Hawaii by stowing away in Bonnie’s backpack, but they get left behind in the middle of winter while she goes off without them. Ken kind of screwed up. [Laughs] Barbie probably does all the planning, and he tried to plan this one."

So have a watch!

MUST WATCH: Teaser Clip With ICE AGE's Scrat - CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP

Man I love Scrat! He is the flag-bearer for modern animation comedy if you ask me. You are going to love this teaser preview of the short entitled: SCRAT'S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP. Want to see the whole animated stereoscopic short? It will be pre-rolling in front of GULLIVER'S TRAVELS when it opens Christmas day.

I have a sinking feeling about GULLIVER'S TRAVELS however. Nothing in the trailers is really appealing to me. This short may be the best part of going to see the Jack Black comedy.

Here's the official outline for the short:
The special holiday treat sees Scrat still scrambling after the cursed acorn he’s been craving since the first Ice Age film. Only this time, the chase has world-changing consequences. Forget what you’ve learned in geology about the continents forming as a result of massive tectonic shifts and volcanic eruptions tearing land masses apart. SCRAT’S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP reveals that these seismic… crack-ups… came about from Scrat’s nutty misadventures.

Check out the clip!

3D Gaming Shorts: Sony's PS3 Gets 3D Movies Next Week *AND* Nintendo's 3DS Gets METAL GEAR SOLID

Couple of great 3D gaming related updates for you!

Sony has announced (at the Tokyo Game Show) that the PS3 will be getting the long awaited firmware update that allows the game consoles to play 3D Blu-ray movies.

The firmware update is v3.50 and is available September 21. Of course the Playstation 3 already supports stereoscopic 3D gaming with available titles such as WipeoutHD, MotorStorm 3D Rift, SuperStardust 3 and the upcoming Killzone 3 and MotorStorm Apocalypse.
"3D Blu-ray 3D Disc playback, in addition to stereoscopic 3D gaming and stereoscopic photo support will deliver users a total 3D package for PS3 owners," James Gallagher, blog manager at Sony Europe wrote on the official PlayStation blog.

*AND*

Kojima has announced (also at the Tokyo Game Show) that METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER will be released on the upcoming handheld Nintendo 3DS system sometime in 2011.

The game will be a port of the existing PS2 title with no new graphics and will use the 3DS' 3D gaming power and the ability to display 3D without the need for glasses (called autostereoscopic). It will still look gorgeous especially in portable, easy to use 3D!

More 3D gaming info when I get it!

CITY OF RUINS In 3D Added To THE 3D EXPERIENCE In Times Square Next Month

The 3D Experience Festival (Sept 24-26 in New York) has just secured an exclusive screening of the short film entitled CITY OF RUINS in 3D for the Executive Forum which will be held Sept 24 at the AMC Empire 25 (Times Square).

The movie short is a simulation of a libertator plane as it flies over the completely devastated Warsaw of 1945. A 30 person team labored 2 years to recreate the city's horrific aftermath of World War II.

If you have not seen it with your own eyes, isolated photos from the time of the war will not convey it. It is only the film that truly reveals what Warsaw looked like just after the war had ended and from what kind of ruins it was raised.



MarketSaw is a Media Sponsor for this must-see, international 3D event. I will be covering the festival in detail! It will be interesting to see this short on the big screen, solemn as it is.

New Clip From Warner Bros. Looney Tunes Short: COYOTE FALLS!

Got a 26 second clip from the new Warner Bros. LOONEY TUNES short that is playing in front of CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE. This one is entitled COYOTE FALLS and features The Road Runner and of course Mr. Wile E. Coyote!

For those who grew up with these endearing characters, it is more of the same insane and at times impossibly violent entertainment. This time in 3D.

Two more LOONEY TUNES shorts will ramp up this year immediately in front of other Warner Bros. movies: FUR OF THE FLYING (LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA'HOOLE) and RABID RIDER (YOGI BEAR).



I am glad that Warner's is trying to bring back these characters - kids not knowing who Bugs Bunny is - well that is just plain weird. All the power to 'em. I do an amazing Elmer Fudd... just sayin'.

Looney Tunes Shorts Coming THIS Year!

Yes! Love these characters. The Looney Tunes gang is back in action and this time in glorious 3D!!

The shorts and the movies they will be screening before are as follows: “Coyote Falls” (“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” in theaters July 30); “Fur of Flying” (“Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” in theaters September 24); “Rabid Rider” (“Yogi Bear” in theaters December 17).

From the press release: "The characters also return to television with The Looney Tunes Show, an all-new half-hour animated television series for Cartoon Network. No longer confined to seven-minute shorts, iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are out of the woods and living in the suburbs among such colorful neighbors as Yosemite Sam, Granny, Tweety and Sylvester. In addition to each episode’s main story, The Looney Tunes Show also features cartoons within a cartoon. The Tasmanian Devil, Speedy Gonzales, Marvin the Martian and other classic characters sing original songs in two-minute Merrie Melodies music videos, and the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote are featured in two-and-a-half-minute CG shorts."

It is going to be so cool to see good ol' Wile E. Coyote mess up in 3D. I grew up on Looney Tunes so it is about time we are seeing this happen!

3D Shorts: SPIDER-MAN Has It's Webb-slinger! Peter Jackson Aims At 3D Gaming? And Green Lantern Thinking 3D?

Jim here. Some rapid fire S3D shots comin' at ya!

First up: Marc Webb (500) DAYS OF SUMMER) has signed on as SPIDER-MAN's helmer!

From Comingsoon: Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, said, "At its core, Spider-Man is a small, intimate human story about an everyday teenager that takes place in an epic super-human world. The key for us as we sought a new director was to identify filmmakers who could give sharp focus to Peter Parker's life. We wanted someone who could capture the awe of being in Peter's shoes so the audience could experience his sense of discovery while giving real heart to the emotion, anxiety, and recklessness of that age and coupling all of that with the adrenaline of Spider-Man's adventure. We believe Marc Webb is the perfect choice to bring us on that journey."

Webb said, "This is a dream come true and I couldn't be more aware of the challenge, responsibility, or opportunity. Sam Raimi's virtuoso rendering of Spider-Man is a humbling precedent to follow and build upon. The first three films are beloved for good reason. But I think the Spider-Man mythology transcends not only generations but directors as well. I am signing on not to 'take over' from Sam. That would be impossible. Not to mention arrogant. I'm here because there's an opportunity for ideas, stories, and histories that will add a new dimension, canvas, and creative voice to Spider-Man."

Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man, added, "I'm excited that Sony has chosen a director with a real penchant and understanding for the character. This is a brave, bold direction for the franchise, and I can't wait to see what Marc comes up with next."

SPIDER-MAN is slated for a summer 2012 release and pegged at a reported $80m budget.

If Stan Lee is good, then I am good. 'Nuff said.

--

NEXT: Peter Jackson Aiming At Some 3D Gaming?

Gaming came up during a recent interview with Peter Jackson over on AICN, and it makes me think if he is taking yet another cue from James Cameron - I know they are good friends. Cameron has long postulated that movies and games are on a collision course - and even now many assets can be shared for the concurrent development of both at the same time for any given umbrella property. AVATAR went 3D in both the movie and the game - why not Jackson's Wingnut Games company entirely? He is certainly enjoying MODERN WARFARE 2 right now - which I play in stereo3D with my NVIDIA 3D Vision setup. Peter obviously loves 3D as he is doing TINTIN right now.

Could happen - I would love to see his imagination at work in gaming!

--

FINALLY: GREEN LANTERN Thinking 3D?

Frosty over at Collider had the opportunity to speak with Martin Campbell who is directing GREEN LANTERN and specifically on 3D:

Martin Campbell: “[Warner Bros. and I] haven’t really talked about it.” But with the worldwide success of Avatar, it’s hard to imagine every studio not re-examining their big budget properties to see if they can release it in 3D and make a few extra dollars."

Sounds very interesting! Campbell also says that GL will be closer to IRON MAN than BATMAN BEGINS with "one foot in reality". Be sure to check out the whole interview here.

3D Shorts: ViewSonic's LED 3D; World Cup In 3D; And Bringing 3D Life To Michael Jackson?

Jim here. Got three brief stories that have been accumulating and it is time to get them out there!

- Viewsonic is looking forward to launching LED based as well as a professional series of 3D screens in 2010.
...I have not seen their VX2265wm FuHzion in action, but the specs are similar to the 120Hz Samsung that I use.

- The FIFA World Cup will see about 50% of all of it's games broadcast in stereoscopic 3D. The World Cup is being held in South Africa next summer and it is thought that Sony will be participating in the S3D events as it is a major sponsor of the games. Sony is a leader of S3D technology development.
...We reported on discussions around the World Cup (and the London Olympics) being shot in S3D back in March of 2008. Looking forward to this!

- Michael Jackson could be brought back to life through full body 3D scans that were done of the King of Pop back in 1996. Of course this was before he had major cosmetic surgery and he was 37 at the time - the prime of his life.
- I have wondered about the feasibility of a well known actor/entertainer scanning his full body in 3D so that his/her estate could continue to capitalize on their likeness. No need to wonder anymore I suppose.

3D Shorts: ARABIAN KNIGHTS Are Coming AND Richard Kelly Talks 3D For New Thriller!

Jim here. Variety (via Garth @ Dark Horizons) reports that Chuck Russell (ERASER, SCORPION KING) will be directing ARABIAN KNIGHTS on a $70 million budget!

The interesting thing about this project is that it involves not one but three Eastern heroes which I am sure you have heard of: Sinbad, Aladdin and his genie. The story follows a young commander who joins forces with the trio after his king is killed in a palace coop.

"Through the use of a new generation of visual technologies, we will be able to quite literally take audiences around the world on a magic carpet ride." Russell said.

Producers are Inferno's Bill Johnson, Mayhem Pictures' Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, as well as Roar's Will Ward, who manages Russell.

Could be a visual bonanza if done correctly. I will be watching this one with a close eye...No word on a Robin Williams cameo :-)


AND...

Richard Kelly (THE BOX, DONNIE DARKO) is talking 3D! Chris Eggertsen (over at Bloody Disgusting) has uncovered that Kelly is writing a new script and has 3D in mind from the get-go.

Says Kelly: “I’m working on my new script, I’m probably on the eighth draft of it right now, and I’ve just kinda been waiting for 'The Box' to come out to see if I can get [the project] off the ground. It’s a thriller set in Manhattan in the year 2014. We hope to shoot the movie in 3-D, and part of the movie would be filmed using full CGI motion capture."

SWEET. Judging by the trailer for THE BOX I am not sure what to expect from the movie, but I will say the premise is interesting. If a talented director has an idea in mind and has been able to get it down on paper and refine it over the years - it should turn out magnificently. It is when a director lands something out of the blue with no previous thought that unsettles me occasionally.

When we hear more on these stories you will be the first to know!

3D Shorts: Disney is Cratcheting Up The Heat In 3D At Comic-Con!

Jim here. Disney is jumping down the 3D rabbit hole for Comic-Con - can't wait to see what they have in store for us this year. One thing is for sure, these guys mean business. 3D business. Disney knows entertainment and have been doing 3D for a long time - what better studio to keep the pressure on the others?

Keep it on MarketSaw for fast 3D updates from Comic-Con and breaking images like these official title photos. Disney will have updates soon on their upcoming 3D projects including TRON LEGACY, Zemeckis' A CHRISTMAS CAROL and Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Should be a blast!

3D Shorts: HAPPY FEET 2 In 3D; Weta's Growing; GEARS OF WAR 3D?

Jim here. Here are some rapid fire 3D news to keep you all up to speed!

~HAPPY FEET 2 will be in 3D! I will not refrain from expressing my enthusiasm for this sequel because I LOVED the first one - the soundtrack was superb. Release is pegged for November 18, 2011.

This is a movie franchise that is a pleasure to bring your family to see. I hope they can whip up more of the music magic once again!

~Peter Jackson's Weta is spawning a new working group called Transfx, headed up by Sebastian Sylwan who was previously the Director of Technology at Digital Domain and CTO @ the FX shop Lumiq. They will seek to bring a pragmatic edge to the new tech that Weta has developed by working on AVATAR and TINTIN: Making their FX reuseable/malleable for other projects.

This, of course, is a great idea. Hats off to the Weta team who are definitely in this thing for the long run!

~GEARS OF WAR still in the works! MTV recently spoke to Chris Morgan, screenwriter for GoW: "A draft went in and we’re talking about it now and we’re budgeting it out,” Morgan told MTV. “It’s looking incredibly good." Len Wiseman is still attached to direct. "It’s huge,” Morgan declared of the project’s scope. “One of the things they’re really talking about now is the budget of the film and how big of a spectacle this is going to be. My argument is, look at the underlying material. Look at the game and the scenario — the fact that the world is being taken over by the Locust, it has to be huge." Still no official word on this being shot in 3D - but, sometimes you just KNOW. Wiseman likes the idea. :-)

This movie will indeed be massive. At the box office too! Are you kidding me; GoW in 3D? A no-brainer.