Summer Stereographer Interview Series: THE GREAT GATSBY's Jeff Amaral

Our Summer Stereographer Series this year has a great list of the world's best stereographers and technicians and our goal is to enlighten you about the modern stereographer, his/her role in major tentpole productions, new technology and expert advice for the up and coming new generation of 3D creators. Be sure to check out all our interviews right here. 

Next on tap for our series is Jeff Amaral who has had his hands in many 3D silos including being a leading Stereographer and 3D Producing Engineer with the 3ality Technica team that made global broadcast history with the first live 3DTV transmissions in 2008-09. He was also Key 3D Engineer and Stereographer: Satellite Unit on THE GREAT GATSBY and Stereographer: Splinter Unit on X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST.

As an avid 3D Filmmaker, Jeff brings both a creative and technical passion to 3D cinema. In addition to over 20 years of feature film production experience, Jeff has been actively working in S3D Cinema since 1999 and he helped create the 2005 IMAX / Playtone documentary MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION for Executive Producer Tom Hanks.

After traveling the world to help launch the first live S3D Broadcasts in 5 additional countries, Jeff has created compelling S3D imagery for numerous live music, sports, television, and IMAX clients. Most recently, Jeff has helped pioneer the use of digital twin-camera systems for native stereo 3D imaging on the feature films THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, THE GREAT GATSBY, and XMEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST.

I appreciate your help with this series Jeff - thanks for helping out! What's your favorite 3D movie and why?
Jeff Amaral: My pleasure Jim! I was thrilled in 2004 when I saw POLAR EXPRESS in 3D as the first IMAX feature length film. Directed by Bob Zemekis, the film is a thoughtful, adult meditation on faith in modern times, balanced with a thrilling, immersive 3D adventure for kids. That picture, a performance capture, native stereo CGI film for kids, really tried to take full advantage of the emerging language of 3D Cinema.

You are transported into the world of a young boy, and embark on a quest to find out if Santa exists. A giant train arrives into your snow-filled cinema. You sink beneath the words on a page as if to get a different perspective and question what’s been written there. During the journey, you get to feel what it’s like to run with the wolves, to soar with an eagle, and hurtle toward certain doom on the top of a speeding locomotive. Fantastic.

From what I’ve seen lately, the real progress in the evolution of the language of 3D Cinema is being driven forward by the independent 3D film community. For example, Wim Wenders 3D documentary PINA is an awesome contribution to the global dialogue of this medium.

I truly hope that more great directors will consider exploring live action 3D for dramas and non-VFX explosion movies. I’m looking forward to seeing Wenders’ upcoming 3D drama EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

Explain your thoughts on the native 3D vs. the 3D post-conversion debate as it stands with today's technology?
JA: There isn't a debate.  Native is far superior. So superior, in fact, that anyone discussing the “debate” isn’t interested in picture quality at all, nor in serving the eyes or hearts of their audience.
Post Conversions are great to help fill in the gaps in the current state of native stereo cinematography, but it’s not an option for an entire live action film, GRAVITY notwithstanding.

Here’s how I see it: While it may be true that a 2d picture is worth a thousand words, a 3D picture is worth a library. It’s simply more information contained in the frame, a massive amount more. Over 100 years later, I can still step into a native stereo 3D photo from China shot in 1900 like I am time-travelling; it still moves me into a deep emotional connection with the subject across a century of time. That feeling doesn’t exist with any of the current 3D post-conversion processes.

3D post Conversions are a series of paper-dolls cut out and strung together with dark fuzzy gaps in between. It’s an easy studio marketing solution to justify an up-charge, but as might be expected, the audience has already tired of such over-processed product, and it’s slowing the evolution of the language of the 3D Cinema Medium to a crawl.

TOP two questions for Directors and DP’s when the studio offers 3D post-conversion as a total solution:
A.   How can we let some poor VFX kid chained to a box destroy our academy award winning actress’ face for a large percentage of our global audience?

B.   If we can use the greater information contained in the 3D frame to reach an audience with a deeper emotional impact, a deeper understanding than we previously were able to...would filmmakers of integrity would want anything less for their audience?

What do you make of the negative comments that Seamus McGarvey has made regarding 3D?
JA: This is the bleeding edge of the language of storytelling, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
I have such great respect for cinematographers such as Allen Daviau, Simon Duggan, Newton Thomas Sigel, and Benoit Debie who in spite of the technical challenges of native 3D shooting, were willing to dig into the medium and explore what is possible out here on the frontier.

Of course I’ve also dealt with a number of older cinematographers that were downright scared about the change to digital, let alone native stereo 3D. All I can offer to them is don’t be scared, be BRAVE. You can help write the language of this rapidly evolving medium.

How do you position China now on the world cinema stage now that they have ~20,000 3D screens in place and growing?
JA: Reportedly there’s a billion people that have been trapped under Marxist national identity stories for a very long time. The people there are probably desperate to get as much information as quickly as possible to help them grow out of their trap. What will they do when they realize who they truly are and what will they want from the west? I have no idea, but I believe strongly that the only answer for any tyranny is education. Screening 3D large format educational films alongside movies of multi-cultural superheroes battling against tyranny and oppression may well be the best way to foster change there. For my part, the day that AI WEIWEI wants to make a 3D movie, I’m going to help make it happen.

What brought you to 3D in the first place? (chance, study, interest, etc)
JA: I was raised in New England, and when I was 7 years old my mother gave me my first Viewmaster, brought home from a trip out to California. I started out with the 3 reel sets from the Universal Studios Backlot Tour, Knotts Berry Farm, and a collection of awesome Peanuts Cartoon dioramas. For example, the Snoopy and the Red Baron series were real model planes and puppets, shot on miniature sets and lit with strong, super-saturate colors. I’m fairly certain that they led me directly into a lifelong pursuit of theatre and cinema lighting, which grew into 3D Photography. The next thing I knew, I was living in California and making 3D movies. So I guess it’s true, I can actually blame my mother.

Well thanks to your mother, the world is enjoying better 3D! What is your preferred set up on set? (camera, rig, lens, etc)
JA: My preferred set up always starts with smart people, committed to the work. I try to hire the right team, and not get attached to which hammer they choose to use. That said, I’ve had a number of no hassle shoots with teams that were fluent with 3ality Technica gear.

Are there any new stereoscopic technologies coming out in the field that has your interest?
JA: Yes, but I’m really looking forward to the day that my handheld will have the power to document the entire data set of a “what if” scene that we have staged, and stream the story as we go to multiple venues around the globe.

When working with optics, do you find there is disparity between how long it takes to make a 2D lens change verses a modern 3D set up?
JA: There is no longer an on-set difference worth mentioning, because a good camera team is a good camera team, whether working in 2D or 3D. Forgive me for speaking plainly, but that kind of question only applies to FLAT FILMMAKERS, trying to wrap their brains around changing the way they have always done things.

How long should it take to do a lens change? A better question might be ‘How many shots do you really need to tell the story correctly in 3D?’ There is such a greater emotional impact in a 3D shot that you may find that you get away with far fewer shots. Might our creative time be better spent handcrafting each frame and sculpting the performances? I realize that I might be old-fashioned, but why would I waste our precious time together with the hustle and bustle of counting how many set-ups a day we get, or getting shots that we don’t need?

If you have worked with 3D conversions as a stereography adviser on set, how are the general interactions with the cinematographer and director as opposed to a native 3D production?
JA: I love it! It’s like 1st contact with an alien species, or perhaps preaching to the heathen in the wilderness. A delicate dance to be sure, but most of us are great movie lovers and so far it’s been easy to find common ground.

What would be your favorite shot for 3D and why?
JA: I can’t wait to see Tilda Swinton in 3D, the way she creates a character’s body language is like cold water magically brought forth into the dying desert of the flatlanders.

Obviously 3D has matured since the late 2000's both in technology and expertise. What credentials / experience would you mention that helps separate you from the field and brings you to the top of the industry?
JA: Anyone can learn to use the gear, but it takes time to learn how to see. I bring something to the medium that very few people have, a genuine love and respect for 3D Cinema and the history that brought us here. I grew up in the theatre and then transitioned into flat cinema; For me, 3D Cinema is the ultimate marriage of those two very different worlds, and I’m an enthusiastic proponent of the best of both. If you are a lover of storytelling, and you care about how your stories affect the planet, then I want to help you reach your audience with the greatest possible emotional impact.

What education would you recommend to up and coming stereographers / cinematographers in today's world?
JA: Ask yourself the question, What makes a 3D image different from a 2D image? You might start looking for the answer in the US Library of Congress Stereoview archives, by screening all the films in 3D from the 1950’s onward, and by patronizing a proper Theatre. I encourage students to consider the language of 3D from the perspective of both theatrical and cinematic history. There are many things that have never been seen on-screen nor said from the stage, this is an opportunity to write yourself into the history books.

Great point! Do you have a post-production software preference for working with the stereo images to do any fine tuning you need to do?
JA: The tool is only as good as the operator. That said, I’ve been very impressed by both Mistika and DaVinci operators.

How important is resolution? Would more pixels be more important for stereo 3D? Higher dynamic range? HFR?
JA: Yes, More is better, always. More information is what we are after in the pursuit of truth in the frame. In the future, it’s silly to have something like film grain blocking me from seeing what’s really happening in the story; it’s fun and nostalgic for sure, and sometimes it can be used to great artistic success for a story, but these are exceptions not the rule. For my part, I’ll never again watch the big game on my grandfather’s tube TV.

Are there any specialty filters that you find enhance the stereo images? How about specialty filters that you have found should never be used?
JA: I appreciate that DP’s often come attached to their old bag of tricks, and it’s true that specialty Filters and FLAT cinematography can be spectacular, but they’re tools developed over decades for an essentially different medium. In 2014, stereo matched lenses are just becoming readily accessible, but we still have to hunt through the bins at the rental house to find an acceptably matched set of basic ND Filters. That said, if you have a great in-camera idea that enhances a story point in some unique way, let’s test it.

Split focus diopters are a popular tool in 2D. Do you think a director looking for an effect like that can get that in stereo 3D?
JA: Sure, but I suspect that even De Palma would agree that you shouldn’t bring a knife to a gun fight? For my part, there is a danger in framing the discussion of contemporary stereo 3D content in relation to outdated special or visual effects. It is a different medium, a different LANGUAGE, that’s not quite THEATRE nor FLAT CINEMA. There are many tools that have been created to fulfill goals in FLAT CINEMA. Why would you want to restrict the advanced storytelling capabilities of the STEREO 3D medium by saddling it with a boat anchor like split focus diopter shots? That was cutting edge 40 years ago. Don’t get me wrong, if you want to cut one into your movie as an homage to your favorite director, then by all means we’ll find the best way to do it. It’ll be fun.

Open mic: What is the biggest challenge that you'd like to openly discuss about today's 3D?
JA: Cutting up the movie up into a ridiculous FLAT TYRANNY of 2 second shots.  It’s completely the opposite of the 3D aesthetic. The whole point of a 3D picture is that I can look at it longer, there just so much more to see. I can grok the content of a 2D image in the blink of an eye! Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why we cut so fast in 2D these days? But seriously, if Gene Kelly’s got legs, why are we cutting him up into little tiny pieces? I want to see him dance.

I usually encourage Directors & Editors to watch Gene Kelly in the Three Musketeers. Well before martial arts movies, it’s a first rate example of amazing sword-fighting skill, grace and athleticism. That movie is joy of wide frames and long takes, and the opportunity to see the real guy do all this amazing stuff. I’m a true fan of Johnny Depp’s work, but I can’t even watch the pirate movies today because I can’t see the sword-fights at all through the blur of edits. Either the actors do the fighting or the pictures do it. I prefer to see the actors.

Open Mic: What are you happiest about in the 3D field?
JA: That there are still people out there making amazing 3D content without a thought of financial or logistical concerns. They are passionate about the stories they tell, and they have found that 3D can enhance that story’s impact.

If there was one thing you could change about the industry what would it be?
JA: I do wish we could move a little faster from idea to eyeballs. Proper Bio Feedback for the direction of our species is fast becoming an endangered beast, and If we intend to hold up a mirror to nature we had best get busy.

What stories can be told in 3D that can’t be told via 2D?
JA: My late 3D Guru, Ray Zone, in his book 3D REVOLUTION wrote “stereography presents to the storyteller an expanded narrative palette with subtler and more seductive tools to invoke belief”. I’m really interested in expanding the 3D Cinema language palette by exploring flat thinking vs. multi-dimensional thinking, and finding ways to show the difference in Z-Space. If you recall, the world used to be flat. Then some humans started thinking about the question and lo and behold the world is actually round.

For example, in Zemekis’ POLAR EXPRESS, 3D makes it possible to literally sink to the opposite side of words printed on a page, when considering the opposite side of the story. That’s very interesting to me.

If they ever make a movie version of WICKED, the ultimate 2D-to-3D dissolve would take place when the story of the wicked witch intersects with our well known story of Dorothy. It would reference the B&W-to-Color dissolve in the Wizard of Oz, but when we consider the wicked witch as the hero of her own story, our understanding of the original story expands beyond 2D Propaganda and into Dimensionality. That's the stuff of cinema history.

There must be a proper 3D movie that’s coming, the “PLEASANTVILLE” of 2D & 3D if you will. I can’t wait to work with those kids. It’s going to be blast.

Thanks so much for your time on this Jeff! We appreciate it a great deal and thank you for your work that you are doing on movies like THE GREAT GATSBY. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the classic tale so wonderfully brought to 3D screens.

Stay tuned for our next interview in the Summer Stereographer Series coming soon!

Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale Head the Ensemble of Warner Bros. Pictures’ 3D Adventure JUNGLE BOOK: ORIGINS

Young actor Rohan Chand to star as Mowgli in the cast, also including Peter Mullan, Tom Hollander, Naomie Harris, Eddie Marsan, and Andy Serkis

Tim here, and I came upon a press release earlier today for Andy Serkis' Jungle Book adaption being handled by Warner Bros., which is not to be confused with the Disney one being directed by Jon Favreau. The press release (below) announces the cast of the Serkis headed movie, and it's quite the impressive cast. If you remember earlier in the year when I interviewed Andy Serkis at CinemaCon we spoke briefly about Jungle Book: Origins, which he had just been announced to direct.

Press Release:

BURBANK, Calif. --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Warner Bros. Pictures has assembled an impressive roster of stars for "Jungle Book: Origins," its new big-screen, 3D adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic The Jungle Book, marking the feature film directorial debut of Andy Serkis. The action adventure, which will blend motion capture and live action, will be released on October 21, 2016. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
The actors performing the roles of the story's central animal characters are: Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug") as the fearsome tiger, Shere Khan; Oscar winner Cate Blanchett ("Blue Jasmine") as the sinister snake, Kaa; Oscar winner Christian Bale ("The Fighter," the "Dark Knight" Trilogy) as the cunning panther, Bagheera; Andy Serkis ("Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") as the wise bear, Baloo; Peter Mullan ("Hercules") as the leader of the wolf pack, Akela; Tom Hollander as the scavenging hyena, Tabaqui; Naomie Harris ("Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom") as Nisha, the female wolf, who adopts the baby Mowgli as one of her cubs; Eddie Marsan ("Ray Donovan") as Nisha's mate, Vihaan; and Jack Reynor ("Transformers: Age of Extinction") as Mowgli's Brother Wolf. On the human side, young actor Rohan Chand ("The Hundred-Foot Journey," "Bad Words") will play the boy raised by wolves, Mowgli.
The film is being produced by Steve Kloves, who wrote seven of the blockbuster "Harry Potter" films. Jonathan Cavendish ("Elizabeth: The Golden Age," performance capture producer "Godzilla") is also serving as a producer. The screenplay is by Kloves' daughter, Callie Kloves, based on the stories by Kipling.
The story follows the upbringing of the human child Mowgli, raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India. As he learns the often harsh rules of the jungle, under the tutelage of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera, Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals of the jungle as one of their own. All but one: the fearsome tiger Shere Khan. But there may be greater dangers lurking in the jungle, as Mowgli comes face to face with his human origins.

Look for production to begin as soon as Andy Serkis wraps up his duties on Star Wars Episode VII. Jungle Book: Origins hits theaters in 3D on October 21, 2016. More details when we get it.

Marvel's ANT-MAN Begins Production: Casting Call In Georgia

At long last Marvel's Phase 3 production of ANT-MAN has begun! Director Peyton Reed tweeted the news earlier today and Marvel has followed up with the press release below.

The production is using the code word BIGFOOT and that signage has been spotted in and around the Stanford Court Hotel. Filming notice has been made for Jones, Ellis and O'Farrell streets (prep today with shooting tomorrow, 7am to 10pm) under the production banner Pym Particles Productions, LLC.

A casting search is underway in Georgia if anyone is interested in an extras gig:

New Life Casting is looking for people to play the roles below in a feature film beginning late August in the Atlanta area. Please submit to www.newlifecasting.com. Pictures need to be well lit and as clear as possible. Please upload a headshot, waist up and full body shots. If you have already submitted to us, please do not do so again. Also, please don’t be alarmed if you don’t get a confirmation email stating your submission went through. Our data base is undergoing surgery right now. If you submit, we will get it.

• Military looks with some experience handling weapons
• Scientists
• Business looks
• Ravers 18-23

Much of the Georgia shooting will be at Pinewood Atlanta Studios.


And here's Reed's tweet and the official Marvel press release:

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (August, 18, 2014) – Marvel Studios began principal photography today in San Francisco, California, on its newest Super Hero franchise Marvel’s “Ant-Man.” The film brings one of Marvel comics’ original founding members of The Avengers into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The production also shoots on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as the base for the film’s production.

Set for release in the United States on July 17, 2015, the film is directed by Peyton Reed (“Bring it On,” “The Break-Up”) and stars Paul Rudd (“I Love You Man,” “Role Models”) as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, and Michael Douglas (“Behind The Candelabra,” “Wall Street”) as his mentor Dr. Hank Pym and Evangeline Lilly (“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” “Lost”) as Hope Van Dyne, daughter of Hank Pym.

The film also includes outstanding additional cast including Corey Stoll (“House of Cards,” “The Bourne Legacy”), Bobby Cannavale (“Danny Collins,” “Annie,” “HBO’s “The Long Play”), Michael Peña (“End of Watch,” “American Hustle”), Abby Ryder Fortson (“Togetherness”), Judy Greer (“13 Going on 30,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”), David Dastmalchian (“The Dark Knight,” “Prisoners”), Wood Harris (“Remember the Titans,” “The Wire”), John Slattery (“Mad Men,” Marvel’s “Iron Man 2”) and Gregg Turkington (“The Comedy,” “On Cinema”) and multi-hyphenate T.I. (“American Gangster,” “Takers”).

Based on the Marvel comic character first published in 1962, Marvel’s “Ant-Man” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in Marvel’s “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the upcoming Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Marvel’s “Ant-Man” is produced by Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, with Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.

Director Peyton Reed’s creative team also includes Oscar® winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter (“Titanic,” “21”), production designer Sheppard Frankel (“Identity Thief,” “Horrible Bosses”) costume designer Sammy Sheldon Differ (“X-Men: First Class,” “Kick Ass”), visual effects supervisor Jake Morrison (Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” “The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers”), stunt coordinator Jeff Habberstad (Marvel’s “Iron Man 3,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past”) and six-time Oscar® nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudik (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”). The editors include Dan Lebental, ACE (Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” Marvel’s “Iron Man”) and Colby Parker Jr. (“Lone Survivor,” “Hancock”).

Marvel Studios’ upcoming release schedule includes Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015, Marvel’s “Captain America 3” on May 6, 2016, and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” on July 28, 2017.

Marvel Studios continued its unprecedented success in 2014 with more record-breaking films including the #1 releases of Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which recorded the largest April opening of all time at $95 million and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which recorded the largest August opening of all time with $94.1 million. Both films were the #1 film in the world when they were released on April 4, 2014 and August 1, 2014, respectively.

In 2013 Marvel Studios delivered #1 openings for Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” which grossed over $640 million worldwide and Marvel’s “Iron Man 3,” which grossed over $1.2 billon worldwide and was the highest grossing film of the calendar year.

In 2012 the studio produced the critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which shattered both domestic and international box office records, is Disney’s highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marked the studio’s fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with Marvel’s “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and Marvel’s “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 Marvel’s “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies Marvel’s “Iron Man” and Marvel’s “The Incredible Hulk.” Marvel’s “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally donned the Super Hero’s powerful armor and starred alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success.

Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend. On June 13, 2008, Marvel released Marvel’s “The Incredible Hulk,” marking its second number one opener of that summer.

ANT-MAN opens on July 17, 2015 if Marvel can meet the aggressive schedule after the delays.

Source: OLV 

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Top GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY For Top Box Office

Movie patrons shelled out more this past weekend for TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES than Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY but we'll see what happens as time marches on between these two huge 3D movies. I haven't seen TMNT yet, but it is in the cards.

TMNT took in $65.6 million making it the fourth highest grossing movie opening weekend in August of all time. It's probably the best cross over that producer Michael Bay could have entertained at this level - plenty of brand power and hungry for CGI.

Paramount stepped up almost immediately upon word of the solid box office returns to announce a sequel is in the works with an anticipated release date of June 3, 2016.

GUARDIANS remains a juggernaut. It has topped $314 million worldwide already and is still expanding into new markets. Look for standard Tier A returns for Marvel at the end of the run. Another grand slam.

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES just topped $500 million worldwide and will easily top $400 million overseas to pad the final tally. Native 3D doesn't get better than the high standard set by  the DAWN 3D team and 3ality Technica! See it again!!

Watch: THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Extended Edition Scene Disc Preview

Tim here, and in case you forgot about The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition, we've got a preview of a scene from it here! I know, how can there be more goodness from the second Hobbit movie? Well there is and I'm pretty excited about it. With any luck we'll get a special The Hobbit Extended Edition Marathon in 3D in theaters leading up to the release of The Battle of the Five Armies. 

The scene showcases Bilbo's climbing skills after the company reaches a swamp, which they've been warned by Gandalf holds some dark enchantments. That doesn't appear to stop the dwarves though, who encourage Bilbo to cross as he's the lightest. 

Check out the scene below:

There will be a total of 25-minutes of additional and extended scenes for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition. It's going to show some intriguing new moments from Bilbo's journey. 

You can grab a copy of the The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition on November 3^rd on 3D Blu-Ray (and it's native 3D of course - shot on 3ality Technica rigs), 2D Blu-Ray, and DVD, a month before The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies hits theaters on December 17^th, 2014 in IMAX 3D, RealD 3D, HFR 3D, and regular flavor 2D.

Movie Review: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - 9.1 Stars! $94M Opening!!

I have to say that director James Gunn has really nailed this one (9.1 stars - details below), and Marvel has yet another trophy opening on their mantle. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY earned $94 million + over the weekend with a worldwide take of $160 million +. This is getting to be a habit Marvel!

But this movie is more than just your standard Tier A comic book hero movie release. These guys are Tier B, unknown and unproven outside of a core group of comic fans - a huge risk for Marvel and Disney. However with large risks come large potential rewards! How does owning the box office record for best August opening sound? And not by a small margin - GOTG beat out THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM by $25 million.

AND... GOTG has tied or beat out it's own family's recent juggernauts, namely CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER ($95m) and THOR: THE DARK WORLD ($85.7m). How's that for unknown? It's a testament to the marketing power of Disney and the brand of Marvel - an unbeatable pairing. Nobody is going to be in Disney's neighborhood for the next decade with their onslaught of Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm productions, not to mention their own formidable studio offerings.

But this is not just about short term box office - to the contrary it's more about long term. GOTG opens up, well, the galaxy. Nothing really is untouchable now for Marvel and their vault of characters. Sure Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot can all have their own standalone movies. Sure the Avengers are sure to line up with these guys at some point in the future, especially when Thanos fully hits the scene. But now Marvel can feel much more confident about opening up their roster into the very depths of their library. I'd like to see some standalone / team up villain movies too. The sky is not the limit these days. The galaxy is.

So just how good was the movie? I won't spoil anything here for you but I can tell you this - it is the perfect blend of action, comedy, character development and visual effects that leave you wanting much, much more - and thinking about the movie the next day. THAT'S when you know you've hit the nail on the head. Top of mind discussion.

Some things that disappointed me (few and far between) were suspension of disbelief first and foremost - in some scenes, the visual effects were absolutely jaw dropping - some of the best I have ever seen, if not the best (some flight scenes with the Milano (spaceship) for example); however some other scenes were jarringly fake like and immediately yanked me out of enjoyment (some skyline scenes) - it just looked fake and hand painted. The lighting was off too. If I had to wager, I'd say different VFX companies were working on those scenes and believe me when I say to you Marvel, hire the Milano crew back and expand their tasks next time around. Heck I still gave the movie a 9.2 out of 10 for VFX, mainly because of those Milano flight scenes, etc. Don't NOT go to the movie because of this though, just be weary of it.

The stereoscopic 3D was good. Not as great as other Marvel productions, but good. A 9 out of 10 might be a little high, but the 3D didn't bother me much - it just didn't punch it to me. I noticed that both Stereo D and Prime Focus did the conversions - perhaps that split affected the end result - I don't know. Heck I wish Marvel would just go with native 3D and get it over with. For the life of me I don't understand why DC doesn't go native for a further differentiation between them and Marvel - more of a "high class" move. *Shake my head*

3D screenings were responsible for 45% of ticket sales which is not bad for a conversion. IMAX 3D was definitely enjoyable (I saw it in that format, and I will see it in Real D again this week) - with $11.7 million coming from IMAX showings.

The story is brilliant. Just it uses tropes but it does so with original and unknown character and seeing their story's develop, especially Star-Lord's was heart warming. A couple of times I had to wipe "moisture" from my eyes. It's a seriously good story. Love how Gunn pulled in the soundtrack too. LOVE it.

Acting was par at best, but we're not talking about a drama here - and comedy is hard to convey adequately - I thought Chris Pratt nailed it (the reason why my score for acting is as high as it is) and Dave Bautista shone. Saldana left a little on the plate I think. I know what she is capable of (AVATAR anyone?) and while her fighting skills were clearly excellent, I'd like to see more character depth in her portrayal of Gamora. The character definitely deserves it.

So yeah, 9.1 stars out of 10. A blockbuster breaking box office records and a heckuva summer movie. GO SEE IT!

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Teaser Trailer Lands

Tim here, and the Teaser Trailer for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is here! It's the final Hobbit movie, and it looks insane already. Check it out below:

First thoughts are: WOW! I love how the logos fly by at the very beginning. They would look so cool in stereo 3D, and I hope that I can see it in front of Guardians of the Galaxy this Friday in 3D. And the native 3D for the production should be over the top with 3ality Technica manning the camera rigs! We barely get glimpses of the action that is to come in the movie. We see a brief shot of Smaug bringing devastation to Laketown, followed by a shot of the aftermath. I definitely get a sense of the "calm before the storm" type of pacing with this teaser trailer. There's plenty of shots leading up to the big titular battle, and possibly some shots from it. I will say that the cinematography, color, and VFX presented within are already impressive.

The movie hits theaters December 17^th, 2014 in IMAX 3D, RealD 3D, HFR 3D, and regular flavor 2D. We can also expect a full theatrical trailer in the fall, probably around October.

Watch: Red Band Trailer For SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR

If you loved the original SIN CITY, then it seems you will love SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR, and isn't that what sequels are about anyway? More of the same type of experience? So if you like highly stylized, predominantly black and white, VFX locations and over the top characters then you are in for another treat. It looks amazing!

It's refreshing to see the SIN CITY treatment because it breaks the traditions of Hollywood and opens your mind to the endless possibilities of this genre and in storytelling.

Of course there is no shortage of talent lined up for this movie, starring Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Jeremy Piven, Ray Liotta and Stacy Keach.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring Miller’s visually stunning SIN CITY graphic novels back to the screen in SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR. Weaving together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales, the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more notorious inhabitants. SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR is the follow up to Rodriguez and Miller’s 2005 groundbreaking film, FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY.

SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR opens on August 22.

Instagram Teaser of Teaser Trailer for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Tim here, and it looks like we got a 15-second teaser of the Teaser Trailer for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies from the official Instagram account of The Hobbit Movie. Check it out below.

The new teaser trailer for #TheHobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will be unveiled tomorrow at 12pm PT / 3pm ET! http://t.co/CpJnmXfPbV
— The Hobbit (@TheHobbitMovie) July 27, 2014

And later, the full 1080 version hit YouTube:

The teaser trailer will hit tomorrow (Monday, July 28, 2014) around 3PM EDT / 12PM PDT.

Summer Stereographer Interview Series: X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST's John Harper

John Harper on set of THE THREE MUSKETEERS - Photo credit: Rolf Konow, SMPSP

Welcome to MarketSaw's Summer Stereographer Interview Series! To launch the program this year I have a nice list of the world's best stereographers and our goal is to enlighten you about the modern stereographer, his/her role in major tentpole productions, new technology and expert advice for the up and coming new generation of 3D creators.

First on our schedule is John Harper, who was lead stereographer on X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION and THE THREE MUSKETEERS. He was also the second unit stereographer on 47 RONIN. For anyone who has seen DAYS OF FUTURE PAST you'll know that the 3D was impeccable and a joy to experience. John has almost 20 years technical experience on feature films and he has risen rapidly in the modern stereoscopic 3D space.

I met John last year at Toronto's International Stereoscopic 3D Conference and was immediately taken with his professionalism, knowledge and passion for cinematography and of course 3D. And yeah, he's a nice guy too.

So I hope you enjoy this interview with John, get something from it and if you have any questions you can leave a comment or email me directly: jim (at) marketsaw (dot) com. John's a busy guy so I can't guarantee a response from him through me, but we do want to foster growth in the 3D community by sharing knowledge!

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions John. I really appreciate it! What is your favorite 3D movie and why?
John Harper: You're welcome Jim. Tough call. Many good choices out there, probably Avatar. It was a film that really showed the potential for 3D in modern cinema. Avatar reached a large audience who responded very positively. The success of the project paved the way for the advancements in 3D technology (capture and projection) we possess at present.

Explain your thoughts on the native 3D vs. 3D conversion debate as it stands with today's technology?
JH: Shooting native you are capturing the full depth of a scene by shooting with two cameras (left and right eye), similar to how we as human perceive depth. 3D post conversion is captured by a single camera. Through computer extrapolation and rendering, the conversion process generates the missing information of the second camera. The more time and money spent on a conversion shot, the closer that depth representation mimics that of a native shot.

In Native, 3D is composed and create live on set. With the help of 3D screens, the director and DP are put into direct involvement with the dimensional aspects of the scene. Creative and technical decision can be dealt with on set and later refined if needed in post. This to me is a key advantage in shooting native. The director is choreographing many different elements during a scene (action, lighting, 3D, camera movement, etc.) being able to see how all the elements interact within the scene has strong advantages. In Conversion, a larger portion of the 3D decisions can be left till post production. It gives the director a few less things to think about but in my experience often leads to the 3D considerations of the project being overlooked as the shoot progresses.

The effectiveness of using 3D in the story telling is that it needs to be kept in mind during the shooting process. Using the 3D as a tool to enhance immersion and composition through out the narrative. This being true for both native and post dimensionalized projects. Using it as an after thought (as we have seen from the response of audiences in the past) has drawn a lot of criticism and rightly so. Another point about the conversion process is that the edit and VFX must be locked earlier, to provide ample time for decent 3D conversion. This cuts down the amount of time the director has to refine the story line and VFX to tweak their work. Both technologies have their definite advantages and continue to improve. The competitive nature of native versus conversion breeds positive advancements in both technologies. The last show I participated on was a hybrid (80% native, 20% conversion). The Director Bryan Singer and DP Newton Thomas Sigel ASC used both technologies to their distinct advantages (eg. 3D rig could not fit into the cockpit of the aircraft), the shot was post dimensionalized. I see this as a highly effective way (creatively and economically) to facilitate 3D in production. To ignore either technology reduces the ability to use the right tool to get the shot the director envisions.

What do you make of the negative comments that Seamus McGarvey has made regarding 3D? 
JH: As the cinematographer of Godzilla, he should be entitled to his opinions and preferences about the film he is helping to create. Granted, not all productions should be produced in 3D and it’s not for all audiences. Conversely, Godzilla’s 3D revenue was 51% of it’s total box office. That’s a pretty decent ratio of movie goers interested in seeing the 3D version of that film. I’d say there is a good portion of the audience that believes differently to some of arguments he presents pertaining to 3D. Strong opinions exist within the film industry, at opposite ends of the ongoing 3D argument. Both bring up some interesting views. At some point our opinions have to be equated with those of the audiences. In the end, the movie goers are the ones we are trying to effect on an entertaining and engaging level. Giving the audience the option of both formats (2D or 3D) should be seen as beneficial to the overall movie going experience.

In regards to the 45 minutes lens lineups, sounds like some technical issues that should have been resolved during prep. To be fair, you cannot fault the DP here for being frustrated on this particular point. The Rig manufacturers at present have really created some very efficient systems. Shooting native, it’s our job as 3D techs on the set floor to show the full potential of these rigs. Otherwise we are doing a great disservice to native 3d as a whole. Prep time should be focus on making the 3D system and crew as efficient and mobile as possible.A loss in the industry’s confidence in the native 3D process is going to be very hard to retrieve.

How to you position China now on the world cinema stage now that they have ~20,000 3D screens in place and growing?
JH: China is quickly becoming a big box office consideration in many ways. In respect to it’s growing appetite for 3D, hopefully this will inspire all of us in the film industry to work even harder to produce 3D productions worth experiencing. We have already seen a back lash last year (in 3D revenue and attendance) from productions throwing a 3D label on a projects for the sake of ticket prices. I believe this caused productions to start to take stock of the situation. Also, let’s not forget about the great stereo work on Gravity here. This year (contrary to the 2014 predictions) we are seeing more people in 3D theaters domestically and abroad. As long as productions continue to consider 3D as a legitimate part of the story telling fabric, I believe that it will be beneficial to the film industry and audiences a like.

What brought you to 3D in the first place? (chance, study, interest, etc)
JH: My initiation to 3D was in the late nineties I got the chance to work (2nd AC) on a IMAX 3D shoot with the Solido. After the first day of dailies, I was blown away. Unfortunately, in the 90’s there very few 3D productions going on. Cut to 2009, I was asked to work as a convergence puller on a feature film. The DP (Glen MacPherson ASC) felt that a 1st AC’s skill set, could be translated to interaxial and conversion pulling. Glen continued his support by taking me on to his next 3D project in Germany. My initial responsibilities were technical support of the 3D system and advise the local camera crew who (at that time) had little exposure to native 3D technology. The project consisted of 4 rigs shooting in some very challenging locations. I enjoyed the experience immensely and decided to pursue more projects shooting 3D.

What is your preferred set up on set? (camera, rig, lens, etc)
JH: Cameras and lens are the part of cinematographers the tool set. It is part of the job description to try to facilitate what the DP prefers and work that into the 3D system. Of course there will be some limitations to what is feasible. Consultation as the stereographer then comes into play, pointing out any impact or disadvantages with the desired gear in regards to 3D.

Personally, my preferences for 3D:
(It should be understood that this is based on gear that I have utilized in the past and found amicable. Other manufacturers exist and with emerging technologies there are always options to explore.)

Camera:
Arri Alex M beautiful images and compact.
Red Epic good resolution , high speed capture, on board recording and light weight
Phantom: ultra high speed capture

Lens:
Primes: Optical quality, light weight and compact. efficient stereo lineups
Leica: Summilux-C good optical quality , match really well as stereo pairs.
Zeiss: Master primes great optical quality, nice depth and roundness
Zeiss: Ultra primes good optical quality , lightweight and compact.

3D Rigs:
3ality TS35: Remote stereo lineups, rigid rig construction. thick mirror with minimal flex. Preston compatibility, utilize different cameras (Arri, Red,Sony etc.) steadicam, handheld

CPG Smart rig: Remote stereo lineups, rigid rig construction. Preston compatibility, utilize different cameras (Arri, Red,Sony etc.). Acquisition of gear from a single rental source, steadicam, handheld, underwater and phantom camera rigs.

Cinesail 3D Atom Rig: Light weight and compact , rigid rig construction,acquisition from a single rental source, steadicam, handheld, budget conscious, transforms to side by side rig using same components, built to ship and shoot quickly with little prep time.

Stereotec rig: Have not used but by the great things I have heard needs to be mentioned.

This list consist of the broad strokes regarding advantages of each system. Looking at shooting style, terrain, budget, VFX considerations etc. becomes a key factor in choosing what is best for the production. A good example of this is shooting in a remote location under hostile weather conditions, such as the arctic. Motors will sometimes freeze, having a rig with manual adjustment has it’s advantages in this scenario. A rule of thumb for myself is building a 3D system and work flow that is efficient but not overly complicated.

Preferences of gear aside, you must also rely on the talents and experience of the camera and 3D team. The efficiency of the equipment is reliant on whose hands it is placed in. Building a talented team can be said to win half of the battle. The X men DOFP Camera and 3D team where a fine example of effective on set 3D execution. A real pleasure to work with.

Are there any new stereoscopic technologies coming out in the field that has your interest?
JH: The IMAX 3D digital camera, has my vote. Hopefully more cinematographers utilize this system in the future. 3D aerial drones. I believe will simplify getting some epic air to ground shots.

When working with optics do you find there is disparity between how long it takes to make a 2D lens change verses a modern 3D set up?
JH: Since I started in 3D, this has been one of the main criticism against shooting native stereo capture and a big concern of mine. The advancements in rig, camera and lens technology combined with veteran stereo crews have reduced this change over time considerably. You’re averaging around the 3 minute mark these days. By the time the Director, Actors, DP’s lighting, Hair/Make up, Stunts etc. have all made their adjustments, they are not waiting on the 3D rigs.

If you have worked with 3D conversions as a stereographer adviser on set, how are the general interactions with the cinematographer and director as opposed to a native 3D production?
JH: A little more difficult. Without the ability to show the director a 3D image on set you loose the strengths of the visual support of the image. When the director has a question pertaining to 3D, it is often easier to use a visual reference to show different 3D opportunities. The director has the ability to make a decision based on a visual presentation rather than oral interpretation. In this instance a picture is truly worth a thousand words.

What would be your favorite shot for 3D and why?
JH: Atmospheric environments are always one of my favorites (rain, snow, underwater, explosive debris etc.). You're really showing off the expansive depth of the space with great dramatic effect. This combined with a larger depth of field and slow motion can be very visually rewarding. Sparingly used throughout the film seems to create better impact. Also 3D medium close up using a wider lens, personally seems give a character a more engaging presence than you can achieve in 2D with the typical longer lens look. The roundness of the characters face plays on a very subtle level but
subconsciously effective.

Obviously 3D has matured since the late 2000's both in technology and expertise. What credentials / experience would you mention that helps separate you from the field and brings you to the top of the industry?
JH: There are a lot of great stereographers in the industry and I have been very lucky to participate on the projects offered to me. Interaction with cinematographers, other stereographers, VFX supervisors and 3D rig manufacturers has help me progress both technically and creatively. Experience, is another key factor in ones development. Each project brings new challenges and with that better solutions. On a personal level I think coming from a camera department background gave me a solid base in which to draw from and accomplish the job.

What education would you recommend to up and coming stereographers / cinematographers in today's world?
JH: Addressing the up and coming my advice would be, read, converse, experiment and make some mistakes (just not too many of them). I’ve gained an equal amount of valuable experience from negative and positive results while searching for solutions. Technically, know your tools at hand (camera, lens, 3D rigs, etc.). It’s important to know where the gear might hang you up during production and have a solution. The belief that digital equipment is bulletproof can be dangerous. Especially, working at “the bleeding edge of technology”. We often find ourselves working with prototypes because of the desire for the newest, most advanced systems. Preparation and testing during pre-production becomes very important.

Do you have a post-production software preference for working with the stereo images to do any fine tuning you need to do?
JH: Most of my work occurs on set. We employ a stereo image processor usually different depending on the 3D rig chosen. This speeds up rig alignment during lens changes and helps identify any optical disparities between the two cameras. A Qtake is responsible for providing 3D/2D playback and disbursing an image to different locations around the set. When required to shoot in parallel the Qtake will generate a H.I.T value which is passed onto the Dailies trailer. This allows the DaVinci Resolve operator to properly input the desired convergence into the image. This is later refined at the end of day with the director, cinematographer and myself present.

How important is resolution? Would more pixels be more important for stereo 3D? Higher dynamic range? HFR?
JH: All of the above components serve to better the expression of depth in 3D. The more information captured without causing unwanted optical disparities creates a better sense of dimension. HFR, to me personally works better in action sequences than in dramatic sequences. The only argument I would have against these advancements is taken to a hyper level, does the image become unreal to the viewer and destructive to the suspension of disbelief.

Are there any specialty filters that you find enhance the stereo images? How about specialty filters that you have found should never be used?
JH: The least amount of glass you put between the subject and the camera chip the better. Filters in native photography must have a uniform effect across the field of view in both cameras so no optical disparities occur. Basically, if the filter effect is greater in one eye you’re going to cause discomfort to the viewer. Neutral density filters, front mounted quarter wave attenuators and optical flats (during explosions) are generally what we stick with. Diffusion filter by diminishing sharpness also diminishes depth. Many of the filter effects such as contrast and color can be effectively dealt with in post.

Split focus diopters are a popular tool in 2D. Do you think a director looking for an effect like that can get that in stereo 3D?
JH: Diopters have been successfully used in native 3D photography, but do take a longer to align. With the use of a wide angle lens, camera proximity and a large depth of field we have achieved a similar effect. Enlarged props and set pieces have also been successful. A VFX option with green screen can also be an alternative. Shooting two 3D passes and then combining them.

Open mic: What is the biggest industry challenge that you'd like to openly discuss about today's 3D?
JH: From some members of the audience and film industry’s perspective, 3D is seen only as a gimmick to charge higher ticket prices. The visual effect of 3D is subjective and therefore open to debate. Not all projects (do to there subject matter) will be bettered by dimension. This can be illustrated by the differences in 3D revenues percentages of individual projects. To enhance the experience of those who prefer the 3D format we have to make a commitment. If 3D is to continue, then our attitude should be to employ it purposefully on a immersive, entertaining level. I am not saying that 3D should be the main focus of a project. Clearly direction, acting, cinematography, script, production design etc. are the mainstays of creative story telling. The history of film is defined by them. Hopefully, like the introduction of sound and color into movies, 3D’s contribution to the film experience will mature and find it’s place. If this is achieved the audience may feel more justified in paying for the extra premium. The consumer and manufacturer both benefiting. Theaters also must keep up their end of the deal with proper quality projection. Anything strived for 2D or 3D during production can be diminished by unsuitable projection. The exposure and color the DP has worked hard at accomplishing should be translated faithfully to the movie goer.

Open Mic: What are you happiest about in the 3D field?
JH: Seeing advancements in image capture technology that will benefit 3D, better lens, cameras and recording systems. Seeing directors actively supporting 3D and employing it creatively. We are seeing better quality in 3D and this in part is because of their efforts.

If there was one thing you could change about the industry what would it be?
JH: When talking with productions considering 3D, certain ideas persist about native 3D technology that I consider outdated. Technical information based on 3 or 4 years ago. The technology and crews have advanced considerably since then. Perceptions should not be locked in the past. Reassessment by production is needed to judge what has been achieved. This will be important for the continuation of native 3D in the future. A process with great potential and if disappears will be detrimental to the industry and audience.

Thank you so much for your help with this John! I'm really looking forward to your next set of 3D projects. And again, congratulations on X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST - it was amazing.

Stay tuned for our next interview in the Summer Stereographer Series coming soon!

**UPDATED - SDCC 2014: Marvel Unveils New Concept Art For AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Click to enlarge

Marvel loves the San Diego Comic-Con and has unveiled four new pieces of concept art for AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON featuring Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow and Iron Man battling the Ultron robot army which is probably part of a larger banner - note portions of Hulk's hand and Thor's Mjolnir in Black Widow's poster. If we get more images soon - I'll update this post.

Looks like the Avengers definitely have their hands full.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON opens on May 1, 2015.

NEXT DAY UPDATE: Here are the next two pieces of concept art featuring Hawkeye, Quicksilver and The Vision. They do all fit together as originally thought!

Click to enlarge

...AND Just Like, That Sony Announces Playstation 4 3D Blu-ray Support !

BOOM. Just as Microsoft announces its first ever support of 3D Blu-ray discs in the XBOX One, Sony has stepped up to the plate and stated that its PlayStation 4 will also get 3D Blu-ray disc support with its next software update (v1.75) coming next week!

For all of you PS4 owners, there was no mention of other home theater features in the mix yet, like Bluetooth remote, MP3 playback or DLNA but really, that has to be coming soon too. For those of you in the UK, you now have support for Sky's NOW TV app (XBOX One version coming soon) which gives you subscription based on-demand movies (£8.99 monthly), TV shows (£4.99) and sports (£9.99).

I'm still using my PS3 for 3D Blu-ray playback and it remains my hub of entertainment.

Thanks for the heads up Johnno!

Source: PlayStation Twitter

SDCC 2014: First Poster For THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES; First Look This Saturday In Hall H !

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Glorious! Love this poster!! It's not often I am so elated by a poster but in this case I will make an exception. The Hobbit's twitter account just launched the movie into marketing mode with this poster and that Warner Bros will host a first look in Hall H, Saturday at 10am. So if you're at the San Diego Comic-con and are planning on lining up... do so right now!

Think about it. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The first two Hobbit movies. Decades of trials and tribulations to get this all on screen and it all boils down to this final chapter! Smaug is rolling in!

The poster amplifies the setting, depicting the great dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) staring down Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans) of Lake-Town. And yes, Lake-Town is made of wood. Uh-oh.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES opens on December 17 in HFR 3D, 3D and IMAX 3D. This marks the end of one of the greatest fantasy epics ever told, and presumably the end of the Tolkien Middle-earth universe as well, at least for quite some time. Sad really. I hope this movie owns up to it's pedigree. THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES is shot in native 3D using 3ality Technica rigs in 48 frames per second. Can't wait!!

Must Watch: Five Minute Extended Clip From GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Alright. Marvel's marketing machine has slammed out another home run with this five minute extended clip from James Gunn's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. I have to say there is nothing I do not like about this movie thus far!

We all love STAR WARS and I'm thinking that GOTG may be the closest thing yet to that style of movie outside of Lucasfilm. An epic space comedy - with Marvel flair. Have to say the casting looks spot on too. Music, check. Visual effects? Cmon - it's Marvel. 3D? More superlative work from Stereo D. I can't find a hole yet. This could be a monster hit for a bunch of original characters that not many outside of the comic book world know anything about.

I won't spoil the clip for you - but it's certainly worth the 5 minutes! As far as content and how it relates to the movie, there are a few pieces of information that we hadn't known officially yet about Gamora and some cool visual effects shots but I'd say it was pretty well chosen to illustrate the quality of the movie, build excitement and yet not give too much away. I say watch it - but I understand if you are trying to avoid these clips for a pristine viewing experience opening night.

Anyway - for those that want to, here's the clip. ENJOY!! Dave - thanks for the heads up!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY opens on August 1.



Here's the storyline:
An action-packed epic space adventure, Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits – Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand – with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is presented by Marvel Studios.

Finally! XBOX ONE Gets 3D Blu-ray Support

Yes! Finally Microsoft will be implementing 3D Blu-ray support for it's XBOX ONE console with a new software update coming in August. This marks the first time the XBOX platform will offer the cool feature.

This is HUGE news in the platform gaming and entertainment field. 3D support adds the immersion that is expected with console owners as anyone with a PS3 and 3D TV will attest to.

Some other improvements coming with the update:

• Activity feed updates, and expanded friend area on Home screen: you'll be able to see what your friends are doing, and be more aware of it right from the Xbox One dashboard. And it'll show how long a friend's been away from his or her console.
• Mobile purchases: You can buy games or other content from the SmartGlass app or from Xbox.com, and have it download right to your Xbox One remotely.
• Low battery notification: You can already peek at your controller's battery level, but a pop-up warning now lets you know when it needs a recharge.
• Disable notifications during video: It's amazing this wasn't available before.
• OneGuide in Brazil, Mexico, Austria and Ireland: Four more countries can try connecting their Xbox One to their TV and browse TV listings.

Those with early preview access could get these updates as soon as this week.

Sony's Playstation 4 still hasn't updated with 3D support as of yet, but it is expected as they did with the Playstation 3 support for 3D Blu-rays (that I am still enjoying tremendously).

Now I'm considering an XBOX ONE purchase whereas I've always been a Sony guy. Congratulations on the 3D support Microsoft! Thanks for the heads up Tobias!

Source: XBOX Wire

Watch: First Clip From GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Check the first movie clip from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY registering in at just under 1 minute. The scene involves a shot that has been widely seen in the trailers thus far and expands both before and after. There's no spoilers of any significance in the clip - so enjoy!

Here's the movie's storyline:
An action-packed epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits – Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand – with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” is presented by Marvel Studios.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY opens on August 1.

Two New TV Spots For TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

Obviously the world wants more Michael Bay-ish action (TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION just hit $750m worldwide) and they are in for just that with TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES which is being produced by Bay.

These TV spots highlight more of the interactions between the turtles themselves and with reporter April O'Neil (Megan Fox). William Fichtner is in this movie. I repeat, WILLIAM FICHTNER is in this movie.

TMNT looks like some good popcorn fun for the family with heavy emphasis on VFX.

Here is the storyline for the movie:
The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April O'Neil (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to save the city and unravel Shredder's diabolical plan.

TMNT hits theaters on August 8.

Watch: Two More TV Spots For GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Curious about the origins of Star-Lord, Drax and Gamora? These TV spots spend some time giving you some background as well as dropping in a sprinkling of new shots and scenes about the characters played by Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista and Zoe Saldana respectively.

Here's the movie's storyline:
An action-packed epic space adventure, Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits – Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand – with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is presented by Marvel Studios.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY opens on August 1.