James Cameron Dishes On AVATAR Sequels: "They’re gonna be BITCHIN'!"

James Cameron has come out from his creativity cave to finally give the world some comments on his AVATAR sequels and he doesn't disappoint! What I love about his movies are that they go for broke and leave nothing on the table. It's in your face and authentic. So yes, you can expect to have your mind blown for each and every one of these sequels. 

Here's what he had to say:
“I can tell you one thing about them, they’re gonna be bitchin’. You will sh*t yourself with your mouth wide open.”

Not surprising words to describe his movies - he's earned the right to say them, jokingly or not. More importantly to me, he addressed a technical issue that has been on the top of my mind since I spoke with him after his high frame rate (HFR) demonstration in Vegas. Specifically, whether he was leaning more toward 60 fps or 48 fps. Here's his dish on that:

“My thinking at the time was that 60 (frames per second) might be a better segue to the video market. I’ll be plugging into a system that’s a little more mature, so it makes sense for me to do 48 frames at this point.”

We all know that Peter Jackson's HOBBIT franchise was all shot in native 3D (with those amazing 3ality Technica rigs) and at a HFR of 48 fps. Cameron is giving a nod to Jackson for getting the ball rolling on HFR and it appears as though Lightstorm Entertainment will follow this same path at 48 fps. Further, with Cameron's close friend's franchise finale THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES launching in mere weeks, Cameron also acknowledged that a MAJOR plot point in the original AVATAR originated from Jackson and/or Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens...

“When Neytiri is holding Jake and she’s just brought him back to consciousness, the ‘I see you’ line was suggested by them. It might have been Peter who said that.”

For me, that scene in the trailer where Neytiri holds Jake is the culmination of the entire movie. It was make or break time and the visual effects prevailed big-time. I can't tell you the emotional impact that scene had on me from a creative standpoint. It resonated with me deeply and it still affects my creative writing to this day. So yeah, huge contribution by Jackson and his team on that one, and good on Cameron to give that credit. Man, would I ever like to see a collaboration between Jackson and Cameron on a project - similar to what Jackson has done with Spielberg - but MORE. :-)

More on the AVATAR sequels when I get them.

Source: Empire

**UPDATED With Steve Schklair Of 3ality Technica Thoughts - Peter Jackson On HFR: "There Can Only Ever Be A Real Reaction... When People Actually Have A Chance To See A Complete Narrative..."

** SAME DAY UPDATE: I reached out to Steve Schklair of 3ality Technica for his thoughts on the subject as Peter Jackson is using their 3D rigs on his production. 

Here's what Steve had to say:

"Every change in cinema technology has come with negative comments and naysayers. This includes the advent of color, sound, digital, and 3D. If you remember back to the early days of digital, there was a company selling a process that would artificially insert weave, grain, scratches and dirt into a pristine digital image so that it would have a “film look”. Motion artifacts in 2D are distracting, and in 3D they are especially distracting. Shooting HFR makes for better images and sharper less distracting pictures. Because it does not look like what people are used to, it comes with the same detractors as did color, sound, digital, and 3D. I agree with Peter Jackson in that you have to see an entire movie at 48 and not just a few minutes. When you become immersed in the story, the difference in look will become secondary to the story. Eventually, like all new technologies in our business, it will become the accepted norm. History shows that to always be true."

Eloquently put. I couldn't agree more!


It was only a matter of time until we would have heard from Peter Jackson on THE HOBBIT and it the so-called negative reaction to 48 frames per second frame rate. That time has come.

And the man makes total sense. Here's what Jackson had to say:
"Nobody is going to stop. This technology is going to keep evolving. At first it’s unusual because you’ve never seen a movie like this before. It’s literally a new experience, but you know, that doesn’t last the entire experience of the film; not by any stretch, after 10 minutes or so. That’s a different experience than if you see a fast-cutting montage at a technical presentation."

"There can only ever be a real reaction, a truthful reaction when people actually have a chance to see a complete narrative on a particular film."

"A couple of the more negative commenters from CinemaCon said that in the Gollum and Bilbo scene [which took place later in the presentation] they didn’t mind it and got used to that. That was the same 48 frames the rest of the reel was. I just wonder if it they were getting into the dialogue, the characters and the story. That’s what happens in the movie. You settle into it."

Further, Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. President of Domestic Distribution added:
"It might not initially be accepted by all, but eventually [Jackson] feels it will be and eventually it can only improve. I think by the time he presents this film finished, the majority of moviegoers will accept it and be pleased."

If you would like some further reading on why High Frame Rates (HFR) are important for 3D, check out this great article by Shutter Angle. It explains why these advancements in cinema technology walk hand in hand toward better and better viewer experiences.

Martin Scorsese wonders whether or not this whole HFR backlash thing is a generational gap. I tend to agree with that - younger audiences will be quicker to accept and immerse themselves in it.

My view is quite simple really. I subscribe to the aspiration of the perfect viewing experience - one where you can't tell what's real and what's not. Quite frankly, the holodeck from Star Trek TNG is what I'm talking about. Being IN the movie. 3D and HFR are incremental steps toward that goal and I support these movements 100%.

Here's the storyline for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY:
The Hobbit is an upcoming two-part epic fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson. It is a film adaptation of the 1937 novel of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien and prequel to The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings, returns as director of the film and also serves as producer and co-writer. The film will star Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Richard Armitage, known for playing Lucas North in the BBC drama series Spooks, as Thorin Oakenshield. Several actors from Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy will reprise their roles, including Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, and Orlando Bloom. Additionally, composer Howard Shore, who wrote the score for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, has confirmed his role in both parts of the film project. The two parts, entitled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, are being filmed back to back and are currently in production in New Zealand; principal photography began on March 21, 2011. They are scheduled to be released on December 14, 2012 and December 13, 2013, respectively.

Sneak Peak Of THE HOBBIT Shown At CinemaCon: Christie And REALD Debut Brightest Commercially Available 3D Dual Projection System

YES!!! So excited about this technology! 48 frames per second looks AMAZING - so realistic. I saw both 48 fps and 60 fps at James Cameron's demonstration last year and it was spectacular. I can only imagine how well THE HOBBIT looked! Wish I was there right now. More when I get it!!

Here is what I think are the two most lucid reactions to the screening:
"The fact is that 48 fps 3D is the most startlingly “real” 3D I’ve ever seen in my life. The downside for older types is that it’s too real. [...] In a word, 48 fps 3D looks like high-def video. It doesn’t look “cinematic”, lacking that filtered or gauzy look we’re all accustomed to." -Jeff Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere.

"It’s literally like being on the set next to the actors as they’re performing. [...] Once audiences get to see The Hobbit screened at the 48 frames per second rate when it’s released in theaters on December 14, 2012, I can guarantee moviegoers are going to demand all films be presented at 48 fps." - Rebecca Murray, About.com

While it is true that the image is spectacularly real, many just "want" that hazy feel of 24 frames per second. Trust me when I say that 48 and 60 fps looks just like you're looking out a window into another world and with 3D you are actually drawn into it.

Expect many to voice displeasure over the higher frame rates because, well, many hate change. Take 3D for example, that changeover is still occurring. Thankfully as the poll today suggests, 3D is over the hump of public opinion. So to will higher frame rates. For me though? 48 and 60 fps is astonishing!!

Here is a retelling of what was seen in the clip **SPOILER ALERT**:

There was a lot of the helicopter shots you expect in a Lord of the Rings movie. Lots of shots of the dwarves trudging over mountains (again, this stuff looked spectacular). There was some of the business we saw in the trailer, with the introduction of the company of dwarves. There were also some quick shots - the company floating down a river in barrels, Gandalf running through a dungeon, being jumped on by a wild man of some sort, Legolas sliding in front of spider-webbed dwarves and knocking an arrow, warning he would kill them. There were also a handful of longer scenes that we saw. We saw Bilbo's meeting with the three trolls. One positive aspect of the 48fps is that since everything looks so video, the digital creatures look more like they're on the set. The tone of the scene is very playfully threatening, with the trolls having dim reactions. The scene ends with the dwarves coming to Bilbo's rescue in a big battle against the trolls. We also saw Gandalf investigating the rising darkness. In one scene he is at a table with Elrond, Galadriel and Saruman, talking about ancient tombs that have been opened - ancient tombs with such strong binding spells no one should have been able to get in. Then there's a scene of Gandalf investigating the open tomb, where he runs into a very silly Radagast the Brown, who has some birds under his hat (we also saw a shot of his sled being pulled by bunnies). It turns out the opened tombs belong the nine Ring Wraiths. The biggest scene was Bilbo meeting Gollum. Despite being told what we were seeing were unfinished effects, Gollum looked great (and again, the 48fps gave him more of a sense of being actually there). The scene was cut a little slackly; I imagine the final version will be tighter. But it was good.  

Scenes from Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Hobbit” Brought to Life in 48 Frames per Second on Massive Silver Screen

CINEMACON/LAS VEGAS – (April 24, 2012) – Christie Duo™ combined with the new RealD XL-DP Cinema System today to project Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Sneak Peek” of The Hobbit in 3D, presented at High Frame Rates (HFR) of 48 frames per second, achieving an unprecedented combination of uniformity and brightness.  Christie®, a global visual technology company, and RealD, a leading global licensor of 3D technologies, powered today’s major studio presentation in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

In the setup for this presentation, projection engineers calibrated the system using brightness measurements taken towards the edges of the screen, rather than at the center. The abundance of light available allowed the center brightness to be reduced considerably and still provided luminance measurements in excess of six foot lamberts (ft-L) across the better part of this massive 70-foot-wide screen. By combining the Christie Duo and the RealD XL-DP 3D Cinema System, exhibitors can actually achieve double the light output over the previous leading large format solutions, and at a significant overall value during regular, commercial movie showings.

“With the new RealD XL-DP Cinema System, there is a technical solution for achieving 3D brightness at 2D light levels on some of the largest movie theater screens in the world,” says Rod Archer, vice-president of Cinema Products, RealD. “RealD technology delivers twice the light of other 3D providers, allowing premium large format screens to demonstrate the true potential of digital 3D cinema with a lifelike and immersive 3D presentation without compromising brightness.”

Says Don Shaw, senior director, Christie’s Entertainment Solutions product management group: “Although it may seem too good to be true, the incredible experience delivered today by RealD and Christie was achieved on a silver screen, using Christie’s Pureformity Color™ Technology to  ‘control’ the center brightness, allowing us to obtain the most uniform image possible across this large screen. Standard Christie Solaria® projectors, the Christie Duo integration kit and the RealD XL-DP Cinema System combined to achieve this industry first, which will present a compelling alternative to the more costly, but half as bright, offering from the current large-format market leader.”

The RealD XL-DP Cinema System is a pair of matched left and right eye polarizing filters featuring the patented XL light recovery technology.  This Cinema System is designed for use on dual DLP projector installations on large screens, usually over 65 feet in width (20 meters).  Early users of this combination of the XL-DP Cinema System and dual DLP projectors report 3D presentation brightness at 2D light levels on screens as large as 92 feet (28 meters).

Christie Duo and Christie Pureformity Color™ Technology Immerse Audiences in the Movies
Introduced in February, the Christie Duo is a new dual–projector integration kit intended to give exhibitors the ability to create and deliver their own, branded premium theater experience.  The Christie Duo™ integration kit can be used with either 2K or 4K Christie Solaria® Series digital cinema projectors, purchased with new projectors or purchased as a standalone integration kit for Christie customers who already have Christie projectors. Christie Solaria® Series digital cinema projectors are the world’s best-selling, DCI-compliant digital cinema projectors, with close to 30,000 shipped and installed to date.

The integration kit features the choice of two configurations: a compact and convenient stacking system for 3D installations, or a new, innovative physical configuration that perfectly aligns every pixel on the screen for optimal 2D and 3D presentations. Coupled with automated features that easily calibrate, align and optimize the images from both Christie Solaria® Series 2K or 4K digital cinema projectors, Christie Duo delivers a completely seamless, premium movie experience for the world’s largest screens.

Pureformity Color™ Technology – a contraction of the words Pure and Uniformity – aptly describes Christie’s innovative ability to achieve optimal image color and brightness uniformity. While every Christie projector is built to exact DCI standards, every projection system has inherent color and brightness uniformity variations across the screen, especially towards the left and right hand edges. These effects can sometimes be exacerbated by certain screen materials and auditorium lighting conditions. Christie’s Pureformity Color™ Technology provides an unprecedented level of field optimization for these issues so that image quality perfection can easily be achieved across the whole screen.
About Christie®
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual technologies company and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan, (JP:6925). Consistently setting the standards by being the first to market some of the world’s most advanced projectors and complete system displays, Christie is recognized as one of the most innovative visual technology companies in the world. From retail displays to Hollywood, mission critical command centers to classrooms and training simulators, Christie display solutions and projectors capture the attention of audiences around the world with dynamic and stunning images. Visit www.christiedigital.com.

Christie’s Commitment to HFR
The two main goals of Christie’s HFR activities are to help the industry develop the best HFR content and the best delivery system for HFR content. The first goal involves assisting leading-edge filmmakers and post-production companies in perfecting HFR movie creation, so the industry has the most engaging, entertaining content possible. The second goal is to assist exhibitors in showing these 3D HFR movies in all their glory. To these ends, Christie is helping create the standards for 3D HFR movies through formal and informal technology-development alliances with major producers and directors, post production facilities, studios and technology partners. On the exhibitor’s front, Christie provides one stop shopping for all the hardware, software and services that enable exhibitors to deliver a filmmaker's vision in stunning 3D HFR quality. For more information visit http://www.higherframerates.com.

Christie® is a registered trademark of Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
Christie Solaria® Series is a registered trademark of Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
DLP and DLP Cinema® are registered trademarks of Texas Instruments.
RealD is a registered trademark of RealD Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Clip Description From BadAssDigest (CBM had been previously credited in error)

Who Will Win The Ultra Hi-End Theatrical 3D Projection Race?

You have probably all heard by now that Peter Jackson is shooting THE HOBBIT movies at 48 frames per second which is double the 24 frames that is standard now. James Cameron will be also shooting AVATAR 2 and 3 at a higher frame rate. Word is getting out that higher frame rates are the future, especially for 3D. The experience is sublime!

But what about the back end of all this? We have major tentpoles now being conceived and shot with higher frame rates but what about the projection? Is the industry keeping pace? Can we actually see the results of all these improvements on the production side of things?

The short answer is yes. Most of the new digital projectors today can handle higher frame rates. Keep in mind that 3D systems (like MasterImage3D or RealD) are typically add-ons to these projectors. But the longer answer is audiences are demanding more and more from theater presentations. IMAX has already proved that over and over again throughout their existence.

We all know about IMAX and their large screens but did you know they recently bought out all the patents for Kodak's laser projection technology? There were about 50 patents involved that enable the display of digital content to large 80 to 100 foot screens and dome theaters. Brightness is the key.

Further, IMAX has taken these patents in hand and teamed up with Belgium based Barco to pool their expertise in creating a 'super' projection technology to display digital movies on a large, large scale. It's a seven year partnership deal which sees some royalties revert back to Kodak.

Barco has been recently installed in the Empire Theatres chain where I live and I have thoroughly enjoyed the new projection.

The IMAX / Barco partnership sounds great does it not? The end result should be fantastic! But I'm not done yet...

Industry visionary (and legendary) Douglas Trumbull (Brainstorm was a movie that deeply affected me) has his own plans, and grandiose plans they are! He developed Showscan so he has the chops to deliver more so than just about anyone else other than IMAX. Concurrent with receiving multiple awards for his projection technology prowess, Trumbull is also trying to secure financing for his next big set of ideas. And 3D is a huge part of it.

Trumbull has set up shop in Massachusetts to show off what he has deemed "Hypercinema"...

Here is what he had to say on the tech:
"No one in the industry has seen a 3D movie at 30 foot Lamberts at 120 frames per second. What happens when you get into this hyper-real realm of a movie, that seems to be a window onto reality, is that the entire cinematic language begins to change." He wants to make a movie using Hypercinema and move away from the master shots, two-shots, over-the-shoulder shots and close-ups we've all seen thousands of times, to create "an experience of tremendous participation in an alternate world, which I think people will crave and are ready to pay for."

Trumbull is talking about changing the way Hollywood shoots their movies. Their very dogma. Personally I will have to see what Trumbull is talking about before I can fully comment. I think the way James Cameron and Peter Jackson shoot their movies is perfectly fine. In fact I see their Performance Capture technology as the next wave of production much more than I do with the elimination of standard cinematography shots. But I have an open mind. Perhaps all of this combined could soar over what we have today.

It is certain however that Hollywood and theatrical chains cannot sit idly by. Audiences ARE changing and demanding more. 3D and digital media are just the beginning. I'm very excited by these developments with IMAX, Barco and the creative genius in Douglas Trumbull, James Cameron and Peter Jackson. With the industry looking at the whole 'food chain' of production, distribution and projection rather than just one segment of it, audiences should ultimately get what they want.

The Michael Bay's of the world should not have to personally write to the projectionists and ask them to display his 3D movies at the recommended brightness. There has to be an elegant answer.

Where do you see the future of cinema? Near term? Long term? When I saw the footage that James Cameron showed us at CinemaCon last year in 24, 48 and 60 frames per second and in 3D I was stunned as was everyone else in the theater. The higher frame rates are amazing. I can't wait for you all to see it too! The question is, HOW will you see it? While most recent iterations of digital projection can handle higher frame rates, the folks mentioned in this article are working on the next level after that. It's getting exciting again! Can you feel it?

I'll be talking with all these players again at CinemaCon 2012 - stay tuned!

Sources: Variety | THR

EXCLUSIVE: Cameron WILL Be Diving The Pacific Despite Rumors; We Talk Higher Frame Rates & An AVATAR Novel Update!

Finally had some time to edit, render and upload this clip for you after getting back from CinemaCon. More on the way!

In this clip I am talking with James Cameron about a few things:
1. Cameron dismisses the rumors that he will not be shooting at the bottom of the Pacific after the Japan earthquake and aftershocks. He will indeed be diving and shooting, potentially AT THE SITE of the quake in the Japan trench to see what has happened. His plans are to head down in June of 2012. Note how eloquently he corrected me about the name of the third plate that interacts with that area of the Pacific floor! I did know that it was the Australian plate, but for some reason I said Indian. He was on the ball though.

2. We discussed his brilliant higher frame rate presentation! The action scenes looked especially spectacular. With Peter Jackson now shooting THE HOBBIT at 48 fps and Cameron definitely going with a higher frame rate for AVATAR 2, it is only a matter of time for this new standard to become the norm.

3. As many (I say MANY) of you have been asking me privately and publicly for an update on the AVATAR novel I did take the time to ask Cameron about it. Unfortunately there is no real news to report on and it will be ready when it is ready. Don't forget that he is also hard at work on the script for AVATAR 2 too and if they are to start shooting next summer that has to be the priority I would wager.



Time was clearly an issue when speaking with Cameron as he is in high demand. I want to thank Jim for the time he was able to share and I look forward to further discussions!

CinemaCon 2011: WOW. Spectacular Demonstration Of Higher Frame Rates By James Cameron

You have to see it to believe it. I was floored when I saw the higher frame rate demo footage that Cameron made exclusively for this engagement (but will be made available for theater owners for testing purposes). All of it was in 3D of course!

Cameron and his team of contributors built a set, hired actors and a crew to create a medieval banquet scene as well as a sword fight scene to illustrate a fairly elaborate test of 24 frames per second vs. 48 and 60.

He enlisted TITANIC director of photography Russell Carpenter who used Red Epics, Arri Alexas, Phantom Flex high speed cameras (for outstanding slow motion) and of course the Pace / Cameron 3D system.

Cameron clearly pointed out that all of these tests were shot in 2K, not 4K and with good reason: The lowest hanging fruit to harvest a better cinematic experience is NOT 4K projection, but rather increased frame rate as most existing second gen digital projectors can do this.

Not to say we don't want to see both happen as soon as possible, but one step at a time!

I must say that the motion artifacts and strobing that were very present in the 24 fps panning (this is what we have been seeing EVERY time we go to the movies for a very long time) disappeared for the most part with 48 fps and were completely gone with 60. The result was dramatic and exceeded my expectations! The realism was amazing. It all really came together in the action scenes: The swordplay underscored the realism. Action movies will truly benefit from this approach to projection - like AVATAR 2!

Cameron even went so far as to double up on the frames to demo one way to achieve slow motion (although not as elegant as shooting at higher frame rates and taking a fractional approach). Top marks for showing the audience all angles of consideration for this technology.

Yes, Cameron confirmed that AVATAR 2 will be shot in higher frame rates but the discussion is whether it would be 48 or 60 fps. He mentioned that Peter Jackson was practically set to shoot THE HOBBIT in a higher frame rate but (aside from his health issues) did not want to stray from where Hollywood was going to go - it would be a gamble at the moment to choose 48 or 60. But it is happening, that I can say with confidence. Cameron did not commit to either rate, but instead is looking for cooperation in choosing one. 48 may be a more elegant solution as it is simply double the existing frame rate of 24, but 60 can still be readily achieved despite a bit more complexity in scaling back to 24 for the other screens that are not caught up yet.

One of the major points of the presentation was that all of this can be done with existing generation 2 digital projector equipment with only slight software modifications. That was driven home to the theater owners quite well. And so with neglible costs it becomes much more attractive to the owners to implement. A better picture brings the audience back in droves.

I spoke to him about AVATAR a bit after his session and I will have some video up soon, but let's be clear here - this was a day for frame rate discussion! I loved it. And so did Cameron: He is clearly in his element. We're priviledged to have him championing with the audiences best interests in mind.

James Cameron Update: AVATAR 2, BATTLE ANGEL, His Top Five Movies And A New Award!

Guys, it's time for a James Cameron update as he has been doing press junkets for his newly minted production SANCTUM.

First off, Cameron has given (via WSJ) some brief tidbits on AVATAR 2 and in particular how to improve the 3D viewing experience:

Says Cameron: “For ‘Avatar 2,’ what I’m most interested in is getting theaters to up their light level,” Cameron told Speakeasy in an interview Saturday in Los Angeles, Calif. “And we want to shoot the movie at 48 or maybe even 60 frames a second, and display it at that speed, which will eliminate a lot of the motion artifacts that I think are causing some people problems.”

“‘Sanctum’ was a cookie-cutter of the camera technology we used on [‘Avatar’],” Cameron explained. “It literally was, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, use it. But it will be in all of these different environments, water and all of that, where specific problems have to be solved that are external to the camera.”

“People talk about feeling sick or something like that, and I think it’s because the image is strobing,” Cameron observed. “That’s a function of the 24 frame frame rate, which has actually got nothing to do with 3D. It’s just made more apparent because the 3D is otherwise such an enhanced, realistic image, that all of a sudden you’re aware of this funky strobing which you weren’t aware of.”

Yes! Higher frame rates is the next holy grail to achieve in the AVATAR batting lineup and it will help S3D in many ways. While light levels for AVATAR were fine in my estimation, it is just like Cameron to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

MarketSaw is and shall be the top source for AVATAR universe updates before anyone else gets them - stay tuned!!

--

Secondly, Collider spoke with Cameron specifically about his upcoming project BATTLE ANGEL. The problem being he has a couple of small art house films he is shooting back-to-back called AVATAR 2 and 3! So poor BATTLE ANGEL has been back-burnered.

Says Cameron: "I’m obviously going to be pretty busy for the next five years [with Avatar 2 and 3]. And so I had to consider, do I hand this project off to another director? And then I thought, ‘No, I love it too much.’ …It’s such a rich world. What I’m going to do is take the spine story and use elements from the first four books. So, the Motorball from books three and four, and parts of the story of one and two will all be in the movie."

BATTLE ANGEL is one of those movies you KNOW is going to be a massive, MASSIVE hit. Cameron has all the tools required to drive this one home and I will be following developments in this story VERY closely. You should know that I regularly inquire with my sources about anything to do with this film.

Follow all of our BATTLE ANGEL updates right here.

--
Thirdly, Cameron serves up his top five movies of all time (Via RT)! They are as follows in no particular order:

- THE WIZARD OF OZ
- DR. STRANGELOVE
- 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
- THE GODFATHER
- TAXI DRIVER

No real surprises and all of them make my top ten list. I am definitely with him on TAXI DRIVER. No question!

--
Finally, Cameron is set to receive the International 3D Society's first Harold Lloyd Award for 3D achievement!

Says Suzanne Lloyd, who is 3D pioneer Harold Lloyd's granddaughter and chairman of Harold Lloyd Entertainment: "James Cameron has embodied Harold Lloyd's vision and passion for dazzling audiences across the globe. With Avatar and his commitment to 3D storytelling, it is appropriate that he is the first recipient of this most prestigious annual award."

Note: I am not quite sure if the award will look like the one pictured as this is a Lumiere Award from the same society.

This award makes perfect sense for Cameron to pick up and truly kicks off this inaugural award year in grand fashion! Congratulations Jim!

Oh and if you haven't already - add James Cameron for direct Twitter updates from the man himself! His new verified account is @JimCameron (@JamesCameron was already taken, by a pro blogger no less!).

That's it for now - will have more soon...

Cameron To Shoot AVATAR 2 And 3 At 48 Plus Frames Per Second? Or Higher??

Interesting information coming out of the Churchill Club meeting last night where James Cameron and Google's CEO Eric Schmidt talked about 3D movies and his upcoming sequels AVATAR 2 & 3.

Interesting in that Cameron may be finally delivering on a technology that he has long held dear to his heart - higher frame rates for movies! Yes, he is now talking about the real possibility of shooting the AVATAR sequels at 48 frames per second or higher (60fps+?) which is at least double the standard of 24fps for today's movies.

However this is NOT breaking news as our own Michael Stat asked Cameron about this very topic back in December of last year.

Technically Cameron says that the higher frame rate "helps reduce or eliminate motion artifacts. Another area of focus will be perfecting virtual water effects — light streaming into the depths of the ocean, and the shimmering, wavy surface being just a few examples." (StarkInsider)

Have a look at some of the conversation below:




Christopher Nolan said something about using new technology for BATMAN 3 and I suppose that could actually be higher framerates. Interesting if he does in fact adopt James Cameron's vision for that future of movies as he is kind of lagging on the 3D front ;-)

All the power to Cameron and his team! I would love to see this come to fruition and I know Michael Stat would too. Bring it on!!

Avatar's LA Premiere! Cameron Talks Higher Framerates (Avatar 2 at 48 or 60 fps?)...Plus Who Would Win in a Fight: a Na'vi or an Alien?

Michael here. I managed to snag a spot on the blue carpet pressline at tonight's LA premiere of Avatar, and got to ask Cameron his thoughts on what lies beyond 3D as the next technological breakthrough in moviemaking:



So it looks very possible that Avatar 2 will be shot in gloriously smooth 48 or 60 frames per second!

Someone also asked him about who would win in a fight: a Na'vi or an Alien. Watch Cameron's answer below:



I hope Cameron manages to get the digital projector companies and exhibitors on board the higher-framerate bandwagon. It would be wonderful to see the kind of action we see in Avatar, but as smooth as real life and without judder and motion blur.