Scorsese Prefers To Shoot In 3D From Now On!

I love reading interviews like this! Martin Scorsese recently spoke with Deadline about HUGO and 3D in particular...

Here's the excerpt:
How long had you wanted to work in 3D?
SCORSESE: Since I saw my first 3D film back in 1953, House of Wax.

As you watched 3D develop through the years, it’s gone from something that jumps out at you to an immersive feel. How have you felt about the evolution?
SCORSESE: I have always been fascinated by it. Even before I saw 3D films, I remember getting a packet of 10 postcards that were stereoscopic from the late 19th century and looking at them through a little device. Then there’s the wonderful View-Master which had beautiful stereo images. Not only did it immerse you in the picture, but was like a story. I was fascinated by depth and I placed such moments carefully in Hugo. There are a number of things that do pop out at you, but we tried to have our cake and eat it too. Ideally you don’t realize the effect occurred. By the time it’s over, you’re onto something else. It was about placing you inside this boy’s world; the memory of a child. If you think back at your childhood, you think about where you grew up and if you ever go back there, it’s different. It has a different feel to it from what a child sees and perceives. I thought that would be amazing in 3D plus the fact that he lives in the walls of a train station with the mechanisms of the clocks – which always fascinated me. I remember a little glass ball of a clock that my grandfather had. He gave it to me. I was always fascinated because on the back of it, you can actually see magnified; the workings of a clock and since I was a child I was fascinated by that.

The technology certainly allowed you to see the inner workings of the clocks that are prevalent in the film.
SCORSESE: I go back to that old clock my grandfather had and I still have in the house now and I was fascinated by that. I’m not mechanically inclined but I’m fascinated by the mechanisms, and what they suggest. The stories that come out of them. The measurement of time itself. Movies being the illusion of motion, and then it is seen and it is an experience that disappears–into time. And in many cases, it has strong, profound, powerful reactions that can change your life. It certainly did mine.

There’s a wonderful moment where an audience watching a moving picture for the first time scatters as a train rushes through the camera. In your life and career, what film innovation compares to that?
SCORSESE: Well, two things really. It was the use of 3D back in ’53. Obviously, there are two or three films better than all the others – House of Wax, Phantom of the Rue Morgue and Hitchcock’s use of it in Dial M for Murder.

What was the other?
SCORSESE: I’m going back to theatrical experiences for this one. It was the first use of wide screen and the Cinemascope image on a wide screen at the New York Roxy theater which was really very thrilling. But the 3D I preferred, because in the first use of Cinemascope, it was rather static, but the 3D was not for some reason, particularly in House of Wax. I was always fascinated by these technical innovations and never thought I would get to make one. It was only 2 years ago that I was talking to some filmmakers in Cairo of all places, saying 3D is going to be amazing, but that it has to be in the script. I said, I’ll never get to make one but that’s the nature of where everything is going anyway. Ever since storytelling started, whether it was rock paintings or campfires, or the Shaman, it’s been about telling stories with motion, color, sound and depth, which leaves you what? Holograms.

And just two years after saying you wouldn’t make one, we’re talking about your first 3D film. What changed for you?
SCORSESE: Well, the story of Hugo. The climate of what Jim Cameron did with Avatar and 3D seemed right and the subject matter was just perfect for it. And it was time to take a chance with it.

How did you feel after watching Avatar?
SCORSESE: There was extraordinary visual storytelling in that picture. Cameron is a great innovator and leader in cinema. It made it (3D) very welcoming. If you suggest 3D, from that point on, it was taken seriously. But I just think 3D is open to any kind of storytelling. It shouldn’t be limited to fantasy or sci-fi. Look at (Werner) Herzog’s use of it (in Cave of Forgotten Dreams), Wim Wenders with Pina. It should be considered a serious narrative element and tool, especially when telling a story with depth as narrative.

Which of your movies might have most benefited from being shot in 3D?
SCORSESE: That’s an interesting question. Let’s see…Aviator, maybe? Maybe Taxi Driver… because of the intimidation of the main character , his presence is everywhere, a frightening kind of presence.

What was the hardest part about getting use to shooting with this format? There must have been a learning curve, figuring out how to frame shots to take advantage of that dimension.
SCORSESE: The high depth was very helpful and beautiful to work with. The rigs we had at the time were big, and that was problematic, though we were luckily shooting in a studio so we could keep it on a crane and move it around. Now, the rigs are smaller and more flexible. As I lined up each shot, we had to rethink how to tell a story with pictures. And so each shot was a separate surprise, a separate journey, even though I designed a lot of the 3D effects in the movie way before shooting started. I just didn’t want to waste the depth, even if it was a medium shot of a person speaking . This was something that [cinematographer Robert] Richardson, myself, my AD Chris Surgent, my second unit director Rob Legato. We all worked on it heavily, every day, adding to the frame, try things, making mistakes. Pull back, go forward, try something we weren’t supposed to do. This was the key.

Is it that much more challenging than shooting a 2D film?
SCORSESE: Eliminating the idea of the heavier equipment which is now getting smaller and flexible, I don’t think there’s very much of a difference. It shouldn’t frighten the filmmaker, it shouldn’t be an obstacle or an impediment. Break through it. Think differently about it. Don’t let people tell you what can and cannot be done. I shot the film in the way I’m used to shooting. It’s designed with editing, it’s a montage at times, but imagine somebody doing one long take in two hours in 3D, where the element of space really becomes part of the very fabric of the narrative, as we tried to accomplish here in our editing? It’s so unlimited. So yes, there are certain technical issues to deal with as you go ahead and work on a picture, but those are choices you make and you work it through. I wouldn’t be intimidated by it. You should really try and be bold.

Recently, 3D has been knocked as an excuse for studios to charge higher ticket prices. Now we’re seeing more filmmakers like you, Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Ridley Scott shooting in it. Would you prefer to shoot all your movies in 3D going forward?
SCORSESE: Quite honestly, I would. I don’t think there’s a subject matter that can’t absorb 3D; that can’t tolerate the addition of depth as a storytelling technique. We view everyday life with depth. I think certain subject matters aren’t meant for 3D but you have to go back to Technicolor; when it was used in 1935 with Becky Sharp. For about 10-15 years, Technicolor was relegated to musicals, comedies and westerns. It wasn’t intended for the serious genres, but now everything is in color. And so it’s just a different mindset. Granted once the technology advances and you can eliminates glasses that are hindrances to some moviegoers, so why not? It’s just a natural progression.

I honestly believe that when even filmmaking geniuses like Scorsese are challenged with something new, they experience something old and familiar to them - excitement. The excitement of filmmaking when they were younger. Of discovery. I think it brings the best out of ANYONE. Hearing Scorsese talk about making mistakes and trying again is not something you would expect out of a 2D production with him. But 3D? It must have been thrilling for him again.

Congratulations on HUGO Mr. Scorsese. Looking forward to your next S3D film!!

75 Percent Of HUGO's Audience Is Choosing 3D! And Justifiably So... Oh And The Movie Is 9.5 Stars

If you haven't seen Scorsese's HUGO yet, I must say - get out and see it because it is truly a magical movie. And, as 75 percent of current movie goers agree, see it in S3D.

HUGO has taken in $15 million so far and Paramount is set to aggressively expand to more locations on December 9. In fact HUGO is Scorsese's third highest opening, behind SHUTTER ISLAND and THE DEPARTED. Look for very long legs for this film.

For me, other than AVATAR, there has been nothing to date to come close to this masterpiece. We haven't seen TINTIN yet, but as far as live action 3D is concerned, HUGO is unrivaled.

Why should you see it? It's one of those rare movies (rarer these days especially) that resonates at all levels. You will laugh, cry, be horrified, scared and in the end be completely satisfied. Moreover, the next day you will be thinking about the splendor you just saw. What else is there to ask from a movie?

Martin Scorsese doesn't have to prove a thing even though this is his first film working with children. He IS one of a handful of our key cultural treasures and consistently delivers time and time again. HUGO is no exception and the fact that this is his first 3D movie and that he hits it out of the park is no surprise.

What is a surprise, is seeing timeless Scorsese signature directions in a family oriented adventure. It suddenly dawns on you how much you adore his way of shooting scenes and capturing emotion. How he tells a story - ANY story. I had never stopped to think about that until I was in this movie. Not a story that is old and tired but an exciting new adventure for all ages. Nor 3D that was not well thought out and lazy. I am talking a full on, visceral experience that cannot be aptly explained in this post. Simple scenes like a man on a stage (I won't give away who) whose head and body occults a massive light beam directed at him, the movie goer in it's eclipse. Our camera slowly dollies right as if we're orbiting the scene. I use those terms because it is almost as if an astronomical event was happening when I saw it born on the screen. HUGO is that good.

Then of course, there are the classic Scorsese camera positions like the straight down angle that he has made famous. Imagine that in 3D now. Seeing depth to the floor rather than a wall and having the eerie feeling of floating over a dramatic scene. Scorsese! I couldn't have imagined a better person to show the world a dramatic 3D movie. And HUGO is dramatic, don't kid yourself. The character development is superb. Of course HUGO is also an adventure and a comedy all rolled up into one.

The story is amazing and full of originality. I love that it is set in Paris, though the English accents threw me off a tad (I might have even given this movie a ten if that wasn't the case!). Yes I know English accents are commonly used to depict foreign languages being spoken in an exotic way that doesn't require subtitles, but still I think I would have preferred french accents. But more importantly Scorsese has chosen to introduce his brand of S3D through a homage to film history and childhood memories. So well done.

A MUST SEE. A cultural and visceral experience for the whole family. 9.5 out of 10 stars.

Statistical Source: BoxOfficeMojo

MUST SEE: TV Spot For Scorsese's HUGO! Watch Cameron & Scorsese Talk About S3D!

Martin Scorsese's HUGO seems to be a hit no matter who sees it! Currently standing at 100% fresh at RottenTomatoes, this natively shot 3D movie is firing on all cylinders it seems.

This is Martin Freakin' Scorsese here folks. Fully embracing 3D and almost childlike in his enthusiasm!! Love it.

Here's the synopsis:
Hugo tells the tale of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. When Hugo encounters a broken machine, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs the toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy.

Here are some raving reviews already for you:
"Hugo emerges as a spectacular adventure for film lovers of all ages."
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"A passionate brief for film preservation wrapped in a fanciful tale of childhood intrigue and adventure, Hugo dazzlingly conjoins the earliest days of cinema with the very latest big screen technology."
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

"In attempting to make his first film for all ages, Martin Scorsese has fashioned one for the ages."
Peter Debruge, Variety

"Magical and imaginative, this eye-popping masterpiece from director Martin Scorsese will transport audiences to a place they won't believe."
Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine

"A stunning exercise in 3D and a delightful celebration of Scorsese's lifelong love of the movies, something he, like Hugo, developed on childhood."
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel






HUGO is set for release on November 23 - so get ready! And perhaps the icing on the cake is that it is ideal for all audiences. Looking forward to a full blown, true adventure without the need for R rated gore (don't get me wrong, I MAINLY like that genre LOL). Scorsese in 3D? I'm first in line...

MUST WATCH: Martin Scorsese's HUGO Trailer!!

Finally! And boy does it seem worth the wait. A 3D masterpiece from one of the master himself, Martin Scorsese. HUGO seems to jump off the screen at you in 2D, let alone the full 3D experience we will all encounter on November 23.

Apple also has an HD version if you so prefer.

Here is the official movie storyline:
Hugo tells the story of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. With the help of an eccentric girl, he searches for the answer to a mystery linking the father he recently lost, the ill-tempered toy shop owner living below him and a heart shaped lock, seemingly without a key. Based on Brian Selznick’s award winning and imaginative New York Times bestseller, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, this magical tale is Academy Award (R) winner Martin Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D.

The cinematography is impeccable. The colors are so sublime. The characters seem rich and about to clash in so many ways that the mind races! Can't wait to see more of this.

Not only is HUGO (Formerly HUGO CABRET) Scorseses's first 3D film, it is also his first family film. Scorsese shot it in wonderous native 3D using the Cameron - Pace Group's Fusion Camera rigs with ARRI Digital's Alexa cameras.

It looks perfectly cast don't you think? The opening shots of Paris are jaw dropping too. I have to tip my hat to Scorsese - looks like he's done it again... More when I get it!!

Poster Photo: Scorsese's HUGO!

Here's something else we can chew on a little bit for Martin Scorsese's HUGO!

Obviously a photo taken somewhere out in the wild of the upcoming release's poster. Even though the photo is effectively ruined for me with that freakin' watermark - it saves me the trouble of linking to the photo.

Here's a brief storyline:
Hugo Cabret, Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D, tells the tale of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a 1930s Paris train station. When Hugo encounters a broken machine, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs the toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy.

More when I get it! This movie is a must see in my books.

Scorsese Adds Even More Talent To HUGO CABRET; Talks About 3D Redefining Movies!!

Martin Scorsese has landed some pretty big names for smaller roles in HUGO CABRET - impressive names!

"...appearing in the all-star cast are Academy Award® nominee Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), Ray Winstone (London Boulevard), Christopher Lee (“The Lord of the Rings”), Helen McCrory (“The Special Relationship”), Frances de la Tour (Alice in Wonderland), and Richard Griffiths (The History Boys)."

“It’s a film that’s a fable. It involves Hugo Cabret, [a young boy] and playing the part is Asa Butterfield. I think he’s 12 or 13 in the film and he’s the lead. [The rest of the cast] Chloe Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, Emily Mortimer, Sacha Baron Cohen, it’s a group, quite a group. We had the sets built by Dante Feretti out here in Shepperton Studios and we’ve been shooting for quite a while now. We only have a few more weeks, I hope and I hope to get it out by next year.”

And Scorsese spoke about how he is dealing with the movie and 3D: “It’s going. It’s going. It’s an experience. The geometry of it, everything, you’re really redefining. You’re trying to figure out how to tell the story again in pictures with this 3D, which is really interesting.”

It is so exciting to see Martin Scorsese engrossed in 3D and to actually hear him talk about redefining the movie going experience! Truly a movie to earnestly look forward to. HUGO CABRET is slated for a December 9, 2011 release.

3D Geek Alert: Scorsese's 3D Steadicam Rig For HUGO CABRET And More Info On Just What Cameras He Is Using...

Got a couple of interesting behind the scenes news items for you 3D geeks out there who are following Martin Scorsese's project HUGO CABRET.

First, Andrea from 3D-Life.it sent me some cool backstage photos (which I always love receiving) which show us 3D steadicam operator Chris Fawcett using a rather interesting 3D rig setup (click for larger images). Note that you can configure the set up for an operator to stand up or sit down as needed. Be sure to click through to 3D-Life for more shots.

As these shots demonstrate, Scorsese is using a 3D beam-splitter rig (not sure of manufacturer yet) to house two ARRI Alexa cameras used with a steadicam package on a Segway! How cool is that? Makes sense that it would be quite functional too. The Segway would relieve the weight burden of carrying that equipment for the operator.

Second, I recently spoke with Vince Pace who is, as usual, extremely busy. Pace has been given the contract to supply 3D cameras and expertise for HUGO CABRET. As part of the deal, PACE has taken delivery of the first ARRI Alexa cameras and has 23 more on the way. Yes, you read that right - Scorsese approached PACE for their expertise in shooting 3D and not necessarily their proprietary Fusion 3D cameras that were used for AVATAR. That is not to say that the Fusion cameras are not being used though. To the contrary. More on that in the next post. I am sure you will be very interested...

Very cool to see PACE being tapped for their stereoscopic expertise and not just for their cameras alone. 3ality Digital is experiencing the same industry needs of late and I have pinged them for an update as well. More when I get it!

Martin Scorsese Has Started Shooting HUGO CABRET In London

Martin Scorsese has started lensing his first 3D movie in London according to Sony. HUGO CABRET is based on Brian Selznick's bestseller "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" and stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Jude Law, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Lee, Ray Winstone, Helen McCrory, Frances de la Tour and Richard Griffiths.

HUGO CABRET tells the tale of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. When Hugo encounters a broken machine, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs a toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy.

London's Shepperton Studios will serve as Scorsese's base of filming with some other local areas mixed in. Paris also has some location business with the project.

HUGO CABRET is scheduled for release in December 2011.

Undoubtedly, this is one movie to keep an eye on. Even Roger Ebert said that he would reconsider his stance on 3D if Scorsese ever started filming in the genre - and as of right now, the master filmmaker has. HUGO CABRET is a very important movie in so many ways... :-) Stay tuned!