Cameron criticizes 3D movie conversions
Source: Agencies |
March 26, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
"AVATAR" director James Cameron sees misguided thriftiness in Hollywood studios' latest craze to convert big movie projects from 2D to 3D, but the pace of such conversions shows no signs of letting up.
Cameron believes studios are rushing to take advantage of the public's appetite for 3D films.
But using computers to convert standard 2D movies to 3D, instead of filming in 3D, gives audiences a cheaper-looking film and could do more harm than good if audiences get turned off, he says.
He ought to know. Shot in 3D, "Avatar" is the top-grossing movie of all-time after taking US$2.7 billion at the box office.
"Transformers" maker Michael Bay has questioned the move, too. He is "not sold right now on the conversion process."
At an event to promote the April 22 DVD release of "Avatar," Cameron said: "The problem is these decisions should be made by filmmakers, they shouldn't be made by studios, because if it was up to studios they're going to sacrifice quality for lower cost."
Studios are rapidly converting now that Walt Disney Co has seen its 3D conversion "Alice in Wonderland" sell more than US$570 million in tickets since its March 5 debut.
On April 2, Warner Bros will release its action movie "Clash of the Titans" as another 2D to 3D conversion.
Warner Bros is now planning to release all major movies in 3D, Alan Horn, the studio's chief operating officer, said last week.
He said "conversion to 3D doesn't lessen" the experience of viewers.
Some estimates put the cost of a conversion as low as US$5 million a film. Shooting in 3D is far more expensive, industry watchers say. "Avatar" officially cost US$237 million.
Cameron plans to convert his 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" for a 3D release in 2012, but he said that was different because he plans to take his time, instead of doing a "slapdash conversion."
Cameron believes studios are rushing to take advantage of the public's appetite for 3D films.
But using computers to convert standard 2D movies to 3D, instead of filming in 3D, gives audiences a cheaper-looking film and could do more harm than good if audiences get turned off, he says.
He ought to know. Shot in 3D, "Avatar" is the top-grossing movie of all-time after taking US$2.7 billion at the box office.
"Transformers" maker Michael Bay has questioned the move, too. He is "not sold right now on the conversion process."
At an event to promote the April 22 DVD release of "Avatar," Cameron said: "The problem is these decisions should be made by filmmakers, they shouldn't be made by studios, because if it was up to studios they're going to sacrifice quality for lower cost."
Studios are rapidly converting now that Walt Disney Co has seen its 3D conversion "Alice in Wonderland" sell more than US$570 million in tickets since its March 5 debut.
On April 2, Warner Bros will release its action movie "Clash of the Titans" as another 2D to 3D conversion.
Warner Bros is now planning to release all major movies in 3D, Alan Horn, the studio's chief operating officer, said last week.
He said "conversion to 3D doesn't lessen" the experience of viewers.
Some estimates put the cost of a conversion as low as US$5 million a film. Shooting in 3D is far more expensive, industry watchers say. "Avatar" officially cost US$237 million.
Cameron plans to convert his 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" for a 3D release in 2012, but he said that was different because he plans to take his time, instead of doing a "slapdash conversion."
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