Is This The First Look At Ridley Scott's 3D Epic THE FOREVER WAR??

Jim here. This is potentially very exciting or very lame. Either way it is a nice piece of artwork I guess.

Quiet Earth claims they have some artwork from Steve Simmons (Artist on TIMELESS) that belongs to Ridley Scott's THE FOREVER WAR.

If you are unacquainted, here is the synopsis of Scott's planned stereoscopic 3D Sci-Fi epic: An elite task force returns home after a brief interstellar military operation, but discovers that 20 years have past and the planet they once knew is completely different. Based on Joe Haldeman's 1974 novel "The Forever War".

I would take a substantial grain of salt with this one for now as much as I would like to believe it. I will keep you updated!

Exclusive Confirmed! Reitman Attached To Produce BAYWATCH!

Jim here. Nope! I am not talking about watching Michael Bay and his 3D soft-shoe show.

But I AM kinda perturbed. Risky Business blog over at THR would like you to believe that they are breaking this story - they aren't. We had this story out in the open back in September of 2007! Modern journalists are amazing aren't they?

But they did fill in some blanks that were missing - so thanks, I guess! I had not heard anything further about the story since I broke that Ivan Reitman was attached. Originally Spielberg had a hand in this too - perhaps he still has.

The new update is that Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka have been tapped to write the screenplay and apparently Paramount wants to move forward with a 2011 release window.

From Risky Business: ...Insiders place the “Baywatch” adaptation in the context of a TV revamp like “Charlie’s Angels” rather than “Starsky and Hutch,” which indicates that female-driven action is also on the menu.

RB makes no mention of the original intent to shoot this in S3D, so we will remain cautiously optimistic at this point as I have not heard anything further. I think I will ping my sources again on this one. Certainly the worldwide following of Baywatch makes this an interesting project.

BMC MOVIE OF THE WEEK: CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes (1972)

• 
• 

• Asa Maynor,
• Buck Kartalian,
• David Chow

The fourth Planet of the Apes film is set in 1991, 20 years since the assassination of talking, time-traveling apes Cornelius and Zira at the end of Escape From the Planet of the Apes. The couple's infant son, Caesar (Roddy McDowall), has grown to adulthood in the care of kindly circus owner Armando (Ricardo Montalban). Meanwhile, a plague has wiped all dogs and cats from the face of the Earth; speechless primitive apes have therefore been domesticated and turned into first pets, then servants of humankind. Caesar becomes outraged at the treatment of these simian slaves and accidentally reveals his powers of speech in front of the militaristic authorities, who kill Armando when he tries to protect his friend's identity. His cover blown, Caesar kick-starts a revolution that pits chimps against humans, paving the way for eventual ape ascendency. – All Movie Guide

50% liked it

PG, 1 hr. 28 min.

Director: J. Lee Thompson

 

March 28, 2010: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (Year C)

As often happens when series drag on, the budget for Conquest was a little thin. Most of the costuming and props consisted of leftovers from old Irwin Allen TV shows (seriously), and the far-off future of 1991 New York City looked conspicuously like downtown Los Angeles circa 1972. The story was equally sparse, limited to providing a visual record of events already detailed in other entries of the series. Kind of like Revenge Of The Sith, except with primates. (Insert your own joke here.)

Fortunately, the budget did nothing to limit the acting chops of Roddy McDowell and Ricardo Montalbán whose performances raise the level of the whole picture. McDowell’s confusion and righteous anger over the mistreatment of his species is palpable even through the latex covering his features, and Montalbán’s kindly circus owner Armando, who does his utmost to present the good side of human nature to his simian ward, is one of my favorite performances from the actor. As far as Apes movies go, you can do a lot worse.

Of special interest is the recently restored director’s ending. In both versions, after the ape revolt, the sympathetic MacDonald appeals to the memory of Armando and begs Caesar for clemency for the humans. What the director originally shot was Caesar ignoring this plea, proclaiming a new era of ape rule, and allowing the gorillas to beat the humans to death. The End. Test audiences naturally balked at this outcome and the studio quickly re-edited the ending to one in which Caesar grants the humans mercy and speaks to the possibility that the two species might be able to alter the future and live in peaceful co-existence.

The test audience’s reaction to the darker ending came to mind this weekend after mass when I realized we didn’t use the version of the gospel reading in which the congregation speaks the words of the crowd at Jesus’ trial. You know, the ones where we have to do all the accusing and demanding for a crucifixion. It’s relatively easy to run across folks who express distaste at (or simply refuse to participate in) this custom as they insist that they would never, ever had said such things. But while I’d like to believe the same thing, the truth is, we’ve all already done much worse.

As the Catechism explains, “In her Magisterial teaching of the faith and in the witness of her saints, the Church has never forgotten that "sinners were the authors and the ministers of all the sufferings that the divine Redeemer endured." Taking into account the fact that our sins affect Christ himself, the Church does not hesitate to impute to Christians the gravest responsibility for the torments inflicted upon Jesus”. Maybe we wouldn’t have actively joined in the shouting to crucify Him, but our every sin put Jesus on the cross anyway. No tests audiences get to make that ending go away.

3ality Digital Doing First S3D Simulcast Of A Concert In The US TONIGHT: The Black Eyed Peas!! One Night Only!

Jim here. Some hot breaking news in Los Angeles if you are not up to anything tonight - but you have to hurry!!

3ality Digital is doing the FIRST S3D simulcast of a concert in the U.S. TONIGHT -- the sold-out Black Eyed Peas show at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The concert will be piped from Staples Center to a 70' screen at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14 across the street at LA Live.

The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D. World Tour LIVE Presented by BlackBerry 3-D Event, will also feature a 30-minute exclusive program that includes behind-the-scenes footage and band interviews.

Immediately before The Black Eyed Peas take the stage on March 30th, two lucky fans at the Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 will be selected to receive preferred seats for the live, sold out performance across the street at STAPLES Center.

Tickets for The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D. World Tour LIVE Presented by BlackBerry3-D Event on March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Pacific are available at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14 box office and at Fandango.com.

They actually moved the simulcast to the biggest auditorium they had, because it sold out in a matter of hours, with very little publicity or advance notice.

The six-time GRAMMY Award-winning group – will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie – are on their first tour since 2006, and the group’s most ambitious stage production to date. In support of their multi-platinum No. 1 album, The E.N.D – featuring the chart record-breaking consecutive No. 1 singles “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas are transforming major arenas into massive club parties across the country and around the world. The E.N.D. World Tour Presented by BlackBerry proves The Energy Never Dies with state of the art lasers, lights, HD visuals, flying stunts and eight world class dancers that will be a visual assault on the senses for hundreds of thousands of fans.

The Black Eyed Peas won three more GRAMMY Awards this year - Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals ("I Gotta Feeling"); Best Pop Vocal Album (The E.N.D.); and Best Short Form Music Video ("Boom Boom Pow"). To date, The Black Eyed Peas’ fifth studio album The E.N.D., has sold over 2.2 million copies in the U.S., and over 6 million copies world¬wide with digital single sales in the U.S. selling over 12.5 million tracks. The Peas have logged over 350 headlining tour dates in 29 countries, with over 2.5 million tickets sold.

Some other associated events:
Official After Party at Conga Room on Tuesday, March 30th
Tickets are available for $15 and may be purchased at www.congaroom.com.

The Black Eyed Peas Fan Fest on Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE
The Fan Fest is FREE to the public and does NOT require a ticket.

The live 3D event is being delivered by 3ality Digital and presented by AEG Live. Wish I was there!

3ality Digital is a sponsor of MarketSaw.

Zack Snyder Talks SUCKER PUNCH, GUARDIANS And 3D!

Jim here. Steve over at Collider had an awesome round table with Zack Snyder (300, WATCHMEN) and producer Debbie Snyder (Zack's wife) recently and Zack spoke out about his upcoming 3D projects SUCKER PUNCH (3D conversion) and LEGENDS OF THE GUARDIANS (native 3D) as well as 3D in general.

Zack always has interesting things to say and I had the opportunity to see parts of GUARDIANS at ShoWest this year - let me tell you, it was gorgeous! You will have to see it for yourself, but it is extremely well done visually and stereoscopically. Keep in mind that it is definitely a family movie, but stunning nevertheless.

If you are not up to speed on his upcoming movies - here are the rundowns:

SUCKER PUNCH is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl, whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her but her incredible adventures blur the lines between what’s real and what is imaginary…with potentially tragic consequences.

LEGENDS OF THE GUARDIANS (trailer below) follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences-causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga’Hoole-Soren’s only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.

Here is what Zack and Debbie had to say on their 3D process and upcoming movies...

Zack: "We did 3D from the very beginning on this. The very first images were all…we put into 3D."

Debbie: "Were made on 3D, not converted."

Zack: "We made this movie with the intent of 3D though I’m doing them exactly at the same time, so it’s different. Like for instance, the difference is when we were working on “Guardians” I said okay, I want because it’s an owl world the movie takes place at night, right? 90%. And so if we were shooting the movie in an owl world with owl cameras, the film would have a very shallow depth of field because we’d be shooting at night. We wouldn’t have a lot of light. So everything would be like a 1-3 or like a 1-9 like super skinny focus. And so that was a thing that I was like okay, that’s the mandate. Do that, always. And we built a big camera bible. It has all these like rules like things you could do and couldn’t do. Like I didn’t want…all the flying shots had to look like they were basically being photographed from some kind of a rig. Like another flying…like an owl with a camera on his back or I don’t know how…I was very militant about that stuff. When you go to 3D, the shallow focus is a bit of a thing, right? So there’s a little bit of a trade-off because most 3D movies everything’s in focus. That’s how you get the depth, right because the foreground is jumping out from the background. But if you, for example, at that shot where the feather comes at you at the very end of the trailer, the feather comes at you and the focus goes to it and the background goes out of focus but the feather really feels like it’s out. Those are the kinds of things that we…that’s not intuitive to 3D to do big out of focus playing with the feather or with an object popping out of the out of focus. So there was a lot of R&D that we worked on to try and get that to work throughout the entire film. And in some cases in the 3D version, the focus actually had to be extended as opposed to the 2D version of the movie we kept it skinny but because it’s all done on the computer the focus is applied. So everything is in focus, we apply the focus later. And so in 3D it’s actually easier to stretch that because the elements are all there and they’re all in focus. So there was a bit of a process that went on to find the right…without me saying like…because I won’t give it up entirely. I’m like no, I don’t want the whole thing in focus. But I do appreciate that for the 3D to work better, more focus is required. But those are the kind of conversations we had and have been having in the process to sort of understand the best way to render the 3D. Now, that said, and I think that when you actually watch the trailer you can see how clean the 3D is, it’s like super clean. Now the interesting thing is, we’re going to be converting “Sucker Punch” to 3D, so it’s like a different process. Although I feel like actually having done “Guardians”, I have a really good sensibility at this point to be able to manage that conversion process without it just being a gimmick that we slap on top of the movie."

Debbie: "And because of the way shooting a lot of the things against green-screen and when we have separate elements to play with, it gives us…it’s kind of different than if it’s just a norm…like kind of I say normal but like a film that’s just not shot that way. Because we can play with these elements more. We have them already isolated. It gives us more latitude."

Zack wraps up by revealing both movies WILL be at Comicon! Awesome. I am really looking forward to Xerxes too (Events that take place about 10 years prior to the movie 300). Thanks to Collider for the interview and be sure to catch the rest of it right here.

63rd Cannes Official Poster

Today the fest organizers unveiled the most beautiful official poster with none other than lovely and extraordinary performer Juliette Binoche. Bravo! Besides the poster is blue (one of my favorite colors), plays with light, the photo is by Brigitte Lacombe (suggest to check her site and check beautiful Meryl Streep portraits) and graphic design by Annick Durban. Here is a copy and paste of the official press release.

"Before the announcement of the official Selection on April 15th, the Festival de Cannes unveils its poster: the image of the 63rd edition is a photograph of Juliette Binoche by Brigitte Lacombe.

Continuing the series of heroines as representations of screen mysteries, initiated two years ago, festival organizers were charmed by this allegorical figure of the cinema who gives life to the image with a single stroke of her luminous brush.

The figure illuminates the scene with her presence; the magic of her enigmatic gaze heightened by her austere attire, the grace of her gesture is an invitation to follow.

(Credit : copyright © Brigitte Lacombe – graphic design Annick Durban)"

But if you feel like reading it at the official site please go here where you can also check the fest teaser playing with similar graphic design as the poster.

Cheers!

Gorilla Whale Returns

If that title means anything to you, I don't really need to say anything else. Here's the story, at Variety: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017027.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. are making a "Godzilla" movie.

There are two kinds of people in the world, at this moment: People for whom this rates as a giant ho-hum akin to the announcement of an as-yet untitled Jennifer Anniston rom-com, and people who are feeling some form of incredible excitement - though perhaps mixed with experience-based trepidation. People of the first type are entirely extraneous, as far as I'm concerned, and are almost certainly reading the wrong blog.

This is, instantly, the upcoming project which now has the majority of my attention. With appologies to The Avengers and Mr. Baggins... Godzilla is Godzilla.

"Legendary," for what it's worth, is Thomas Tull's Hollywood/Wall Street investment hybrid, notably responsible for throwing their initial weight behind "Batman Begins" and a good bulk of Warner Bros. "geek" properties henceforth (300, Superman, Watchmen, Where the Wild Things Are, Ninja Assassin and Clash of The Titans, among others) so that, at least, spells "good hands" so far. The BIG surprise is that notoriously-protective (even for a Japanese studio) "Toho" let ANY westerners near the property, which says that Legendary/Warners either has a killer pitch or (more likely) a SHITLOAD of cash.



They'll be announcing a director "shortly," which likely means they've already got one. At least one likely bet would "Clash" director Louis Leterrier - if "Clash" is a hit then "director of hit monster movie to remake Godzilla" makes fantastic marketing synergy. But that's just a guess. My dream choice? Neil Blomkamp.

Of Legendary/Warners, I'd make only TWO plaintive requests: Let Godzilla look like Godzilla, and let him breath fire. Oh, and if Ratner, Michael Bay, McG or anyone else in the Hack Pack finds their way to this project, I will find my way to you ;)

Exclusive: Photo Of New Weta Sound Stages Nearing Completion AND THE HOBBIT Coverage Kicks Off!!

Jim here. I am officially starting MarketSaw coverage on THE HOBBIT as of right NOW. :-)

There seems to be enough activity to warrant scaling up spy activities for our readers and may I say the wait has been arduous! WAIT NO MORE. lol.

I heard back from one of my better sources connected with THE HOBBIT and it seems that because the movie is not going to be 2D (which would have had a July'ish start), it will be ramping up in the November time frame as more prep is needed for S3D. This is not just from my source either - this is the word from the film community, set people and vfx folks. Another reason for the delay is the obvious financial issues with MGM (TORn has a good recent article on this).

The project itself is EXTREMELY quiet right now - to get this information out was very difficult. The cone of silence has definitely been lowered over this project and justifiably so; the world is holding its breath for more Middle-earth news.

That said, we can start talking about a couple of things: Sound stages AND Hobbiton - their construction is well underway. Amazing that there is no official green light as of yet on this thing because there is definitely money being spent!

The new sound stages on the film lot are almost finished and it looks like two large rooms under one roof with the potential of connecting the two.

One of our intrepid spies managed a shot of the exterior of the buildings.

Are we sure they are part of the lot? Yes! Walls are being torn down and ramps built to the central parking lot / production buildings on the opposite side.

One can almost imagine the giant green screens eventually being positioned within the new buildings to help create the dragon Smaug interacting with our adventuresome hobbits.

And what about Hobbiton? TORn has some great shots of how Hobbiton is being groomed for action! Check out one of the shots here and click on over to TORn for the rest.

Apparently a team of 60 has started work breaking new ground on Hobbit holes. Seems we may be able to actually enter these ones as they are significantly larger that the originals.

Keep it right here on MarketSaw as we activate our embedded assets in Wellywood :-) It is time to cover THE HOBBIT!!

Gaiking?

As "geek news" sites that either play ball with the studios better or are run by "the biz" itself take greater prominence on the web, the old warhorse AICN is more and more regarded as more an opinion/editorial site than a "news" source. Nothing wrong with that, march of history, etc. But once in awhile they pull one out, which may have happened once again.

Harry Knowles - to be fair, the patron-saint of "reporting stuff I WANT to happen as actually on it's way to happening" - has a report up claiming that producer Jules Urbach is well on his way to a live-action "Shogun Warriors" movie.

"Shogun Warriors" is a bit before my time, but the basic history is pretty fascinating: Much as happened with Transformers, an American toy distributor bought the rights to a slew of largely-unrelated Japanese giant-robot characters and released them as the "Shogun Warriors." A tie-in Marvel comic tied them together storywise, and the various heroes would become familiar to subsequent generations as their various anime series became syndicated worldwide like Mazinger ("Tranzor Z") or the "Force Five" anthology series.

According to AICN, Urbach is gunning for a live-action franchise after initially scoring the rights for a short-subject in David Fincher's long-gestating "Heavy Metal" movie. The plan involves starting with "Gaiking," a giant horn-headed mecha who rides around in a spaceship that turns into a dinosaur who's head he wears as a chestplate. Great idea... but we'll see what comes of it. For now, AICN has Urbach's FX-test clip of Gaiking himself which looks... pretty damn incredible, actually. Not to be a broken record, but why can't the Transformers look this good, again?

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/44426

Rundown of All the S3D Stuff Happening at NAB 2010!

Michael here with a rundown of the S3D stuff happening at NAB in April. The show will be filled with S3D educational sessions and high profile speakers such as Vince Pace, Steve Schklair, Barry Sandrew, Chuck Comisky, Buzz Hays and many more luminaries from all corners of the S3D world.

The Digital Cinema Summit on Saturday and Sunday is entirely dedicated to all aspects of S3D, and on Monday and Tuesday there will be even more sessions, including ones on the makings of Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon, and Hubble 3D:

Check out the schedule below:

Digital Cinema Summit - Saturday & Sunday:

Saturday, April 10

Understanding Stereopsis and 3D Image Capture
Saturday, 04/10/2010 8:45am - 9:45am
Room S222

This session will provide a review of how the human visual system perceives depth, and the fundamentals of stereoscopic imaging. In addition, common techniques for live 3D image capture using stereoscopic camera rigs will be explained, including benefits and pitfalls, and a variety of 3D capture tools will be demonstrated. Other topics will include imaging parameters such as the setting of interaxial distance (baseline) and convergence, plus causes of eyestrain in improperly crafted 3D images. Finally, factors such as hyperstereo, divergence and accommodation will be explained and demonstrated.

Speaker(s):

Peter Lude, Senior Technology Executive, Sony Electronics
Steve Schklair, CEO, 3ality Digital Systems LLC.

3D Programming: Lessons Learned
Saturday, 04/10/2010 10:00am - 11:00am
Room S222

Stereoscopic motion imaging is fundamentally different than 2D. To be most effective, the 3D production crew will take a different approach to depth of field, camera positions, zoom moves, intercutting and graphic compositing. In this session, we'll hear from pioneering 3D content producers to learn what factors must be considered in planning high-quality 3D coverage of different program genres.

Moderator(s):

Al Barton, Consultant, Freelance Digital

Panelist(s):

Pierre de Lespinois, Co-Founder, Evergreen Films
Thomas Edwards, VP, Digital Television Testing & Evaluation, FOX

3D Conversion
Saturday, 04/10/2010 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room S222

With the recent announcements of multiple 3DTV channels in U.S., Asia and Europe, will there be enough natively-captured 3D content? Many content producers are investigating if it is feasible to convert existing 2D material to stereoscopic 3D. Others are considering shooting new programs in 2D and then converting to 3D, versus natively-capturing in 3D. Is real-time 3D conversion a viable option or are humans needed to make the creative adjustments to create acceptable 3D images? This panel will discuss various issues related to 3D conversion from the point of view of content producers, distributors and 3D conversion experts.

Moderator(s):

Brad Collar, Vice President, Technology, Warner Bros.

Speaker(s):

Barry Sandrew, Ph.D, Founder and President/COO, Legend3-D, A Legend Films Company
Chris Alexander, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & Publicity, Twentieth Century Fox Television
Chris Yewdall, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, DDD USA, Inc.
Warren Littlefield, President, The Littlefield Company

A Case for Quality in Production and Post-Production
Saturday, 04/10/2010 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Room S222

This panel focuses on the creation of high-quality 3D in broadcast, feature film and other production types. Discussion will cover all aspects of production and post-production that relate to the creation of a comfortable stereoscopic viewing experience. It will also include specific areas of the creative side that contribute to the highest quality 3D possible, while minimizing discomfort and eye strain. Demonstrations provided.

Speaker(s):

Buzz Hays, Executive Stereoscopic 3D Producer, 3D Technology Center, Sony Corporation of America

After the Capture: What Other Tools Exist?
Saturday, 04/10/2010 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Room S222

The post-production workflow has to be modified to handle 3-D. What tools exist for editorial, color correction, adjusting depth, placement of overlays/captions/menus? What quality assurance guidelines methods exist for assessing consumer comfort (including children)?

Moderator(s):

Jim Whittlesey, Sr. Vice President, Technology, Deluxe Digital Media

Speaker(s):

Howard Postley, COO/CTO, 3ality Digital Systems LLC
Matthew DeJohn, VP/VFX Producer, In-Three Inc.
Peter Postma, FilmLight
Steve Owen, Director of Worldwide Marketing, Quantel

Stereography and Storytelling
Saturday, 04/10/2010 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Room S222

For many producers, 3D imaging has become an exciting tool to enhance the creative process of story-telling. Given the projects that have been done to date in movies, TV, and games, what can we learn from cinematographers and directors on what really enhances the story-telling and what detracts from the story-telling?

Moderator(s):

Rob Engle, 3-D Visual Effects Supervisor, Sony Pictures Imageworks

Speaker(s):

Chuck Comisky
Eric Kurland, Independent filmmaker/3-D enthusiast, 3-DIY.com

Sunday, April 11

Digital Cinema (including 3D) Roll-out: A Status Report
Sunday, 04/11/2010 8:45am - 9:45am
Room S222

Penetration flattened in 2008/2009 for a variety of reasons. 3D emerged as one of the strongest influencers in continued purchase of digital projectors. This session will assess the expectations and reationale for digital cinema deployment for 2010 and beyond.

(This session recorded for inclusion in the Online Learning Center)

Moderator(s):

Michael Karagosian, Founder, MKPE Consulting LLC

Speaker(s):

Oleg Berezin, Managing Director, Nevafilm JSC
Peter Wilson, Technology Chairman, EDCF, European Digital Cinema Forum

Technical Issues for 3D Digital Cinema
Sunday, 04/11/2010 10:00am - 10:30am
Room S222

While the distribution of the 3-D feature images are standardized, research and experiments continue in the realms of subtitling, windowing, depth ratios, etc. This session will identify what items are suitable for standardized metadata and what their time frames may be for documented standards versus practical field implementations.

(This session recorded for inclusion in the Online Learning Center)

Speaker(s):

Richard Welsh, Director, Digital Cinema Services, Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Production and Projection Techniques for Immersive Media
Sunday, 04/11/2010 10:30am - 11:00am
Room S222

This talk focuses on new technologies in the areas of multi-view displays and 3-D panorama and explores the possibilities of gaming and cinema growing together in the future. This presentation will provide an overview of research in mini-HD cameras that provide for more complex panoramic 3-D rigs, field recorders able to store more 3-D images, and on-set calibration tools for stereoscopic camera rigs.

Speaker(s):

Siegfried Foessel, Dr. Ing, Frauhofer IIS

3D TV Distribution: Which Platform(s) Will Succeed?
Sunday, 04/11/2010 1:15pm - 2:30pm
Room S222

This is the first of three mini-panels about 3D TV broadcasting and the specific challenges it brings

This first panel will address the options, plans, and strengths for delivery of 3D to the home by terrestrial broadcast, cable, satellite, broadband, and optical media.

Moderator(s):

Patrick Griffis, Senior Director, Technology Strategy, Dolby Laboratories

Speaker(s):

Chris Johns, Chief Engineer, B Sky B
David Broberg, Vice President, Consumer Video Technology, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
Jim Taylor, Senior VP and Chief Technologist, Sonic Solutions
Mark Richer, President, ATSC, Winner: NAB Engineering Achievement Award - TV
Tony Jasionowski, Senior Group Manager Accessibility, Panasonic Corporation of North America

Can There (Ever) be a Common Worldwide 3D TV Broadcast Standard?
Sunday, 04/11/2010 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Room S222

While cinema delivery is closing in on one standard delivery package this year, challenges abound for other methods of delivery. There are many more challenges in the world of television, where distribution methods and device types are numerous and widely varied.

Moderator(s):

David Wood, Deputy Director, EBU Technical, European Broadcasting Union

Speaker(s):

Ajay Luthra, Vice Chair JVT, Motorola, Inc.
Rick Dean, President, 3-D@Home Consortium
Ted Szypulski, Chair - SMPTE Working Group on 3D Home Master, ESPN, Inc.

Consumer 3D TV Displays: What are the Technical Differences?
Sunday, 04/11/2010 3:15pm - 3:45pm
Room S222

This session will describe the technologies of displays in the market (including legacy CRT), their ability to handle 3D, the various encoding technologies and their applicability to each of the display technologies. This will cover large displays to hand-held.

(This session recorded for inclusion in the Online Learning Center)

Speaker(s):

Peter Putman, Contributing Editor, Pro AV

3D Consumer Experience in the Home: The Interoperability Challenges
Sunday, 04/11/2010 3:45pm - 4:45pm
Room S222

Many "3D-ready" displays were on the floor at CES, and are on their way to stores. What does "3D-ready" mean for the consumer? What efforts are occurring in the Consumer Electronics industry to assure 3D content will play in some 3D form on all 3D-ready displays? What technical or standards barriers need to be overcome to ensure consumer acceptance and the start of significant sales? How will consumers match content, video sources, displays and glasses to get a compelling 3D experience?

This session will answer these questions and more.

(This session recorded for inclusion in the Online Learning Center)

Moderator(s):

Brian Markwalter, VP, Technology and Standards, Consumer Electronics Association

Speaker(s):

Ami Dror, Chief Strategy Officer, XpanD Cinema
Brad Hunt, President, Digital Media Directions, LLC.
Mark Stockfisch, Vice President and CTO, Quantum Data
Steve Venuti, President, HDMI Licensing, LLC

3D 10 Years Hence: 20/20 in 2020?
Sunday, 04/11/2010 4:45pm - 5:30pm
Room S222

What does the time-line look like for the migraion from special purpose glasses to inexpensive (almost disposable) glasses to glassless technologies? What technical or standards barriers need to be overcome to ensure consumer acceptance and the start of significant sales?

Moderator(s):

Hans Hoffmann, Programme Manager EBU Technical, EBU

Speaker(s):

Aljoscha Smolic, Disney Research, Zurich
Dr. Takayuki Ito, Deputy Director-General, NHK Science and Tech Research Lab
Tibor Balogh, CEO/Founder, Holografika Kft

Content Theater - Monday & Tuesday

Monday, April 12

ESPN: Scoring a Field Goal in S3-D Sports
Monday, 04/12/2010 3:00pm - 3:50pm
Room N109

With the wildly successful stereoscopic 3-D telecast of the Ohio State-USC football game, ESPN established itself as the leader in S3D sports production and exhibition. What are the creative and technical lessons that ESPN has learned capturing and distributing sports in S3D? How does S3D impact camera placement, workflows, graphics and the broadcast director and camera operator's job description? Industry pioneer Vince Pace joins ESPN technology and production executives to shine a light on ESPN's latest S3D projects and upcoming initiatives, including the new dedicated network to be launched June 2010.

Speaker(s):
Moderator(s):

Glen Dickson, Senior Editor, Broadcasting & Cable Magazine

Panelist(s):

Anthony Bailey, Vice President, Emerging Technology, ESPN
Vince Pace, CEO, PACE

Speaker(s):

Bob Toms, Vice President, Production Enhancements & Interactive TV, ESPN
Phil Orlins, Coordinating Producer, ESPN 3D & X Games

"Alice in Wonderland": Turning Fantasy into Motion Picture Reality
Monday, 04/12/2010 4:00pm - 4:50pm
Room N109

Journey behind the scenes of the stereoscopic 3D fantasy adventure "Alice in Wonderland," Tim Burton's wildly imaginative twist on Lewis Carroll's classic writings. Get an in-depth picture of the creative, production and postproduction processes, including the design of the film's poetic, hyper-real look and its use of S3D to accentuate the story. Understand the challenges of shooting for synthetic environments and realizing hybrid live action/CG characters of wildly varying heights and proportions. A rare glimpse into the making of one of today's most complex and visually arresting films.
Speaker(s):
Moderator(s):

Carolyn Giardina, Entertainment Industry Journalist, "The Hollywood Reporter," "ICG Magazine"

Panelist(s):

Art Repola, Executive Vice President, Visual Effects and Production, The Walt Disney Company
Corey Turner, Stereographer, Sony Pictures Imageworks
Ken Ralston, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Sony Pictures Imageworks
Tom Peitzman, Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer, Walt Disney Pictures

"How to Train Your Dragon" - A Case Study
Monday, 04/12/2010 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room N109

A comprehensive and revealing look at how the filmmakers created DreamWorks Animation's beautiful and heartwarming CG animated motion picture.

Speaker(s):
Panelist(s):

Bill Damaschke, Co-President of Production for Feature Animation & President of LiveTheatrical, DreamWorks Animation
Dean DeBlois, Director, “How to Train Your Dragon”, DreamWorks Animation
Gil Zimmerman, Head of Layout, “How to Train Your Dragon”, DreamWorks Animation
Kathy Altieri, Production Designer, “How to Train Your Dragon”, DreamWorks Animation
Robert Holtzman, Nexon America

Tuesday, April 13

"Hubble 3-D": Filmmaking in Outer Space with IMAX Technology Tuesday, 04/13/2010 3:00pm - 3:50pm
Room N109

How did IMAX collaborate with NASA to capture the intergalactic imagery for "Hubble 3-D," the new motion picture about the final mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope? How did director/producer Toni Myers and her crew train the space shuttle Atlantis astronauts to be filmmakers and realize the movie's vision? What was the stereographic 3D capture process and how was the equipment challenged by zero gravity and "daytimes" that lasted only 45 minutes? The "Hubble 3-D" and IMAX teams look at filmmaking in outer space and at the innovations that will power IMAX into the future.

Speaker(s):
Moderator(s):

Perry Hoberman, Research Associate Professor, University of Southern California

Panelist(s):

Brian Bonnick, Executive Vice President of Technology, IMAX Coporation
David Keighley, Executive Vice President, IMAX Corporation
Larry O’Reilly, Executive Vice President of Theater Development, IMAX Corporation
Toni Myers, Director, IMAX Corporation/ “Hubble 3D”

The Twenty-First Century Camera Crew and How it Works
Tuesday, 4/13/2010 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Room N234
Produced in Association with the International Cinematographer's Guild

How do you design a digital camera crew to meet the director's and cinematographer's working style, as well as the production's pipeline needs? How does this lineup vary for a high-end motion picture versus a project destined for HDTV? Why is there a digital imaging technician if the first assistant cameraman/woman knows HD? What are the workflow options for a WYSIWYG production, where what you see is what you get, and how is it different for a project slated for significant digital intermediate color correction? Leading digital filmmakers and crew explain how to configure a twenty-first century camera team and explore the challenges they face capturing, storing and moving digital assets on set.

Andy Romanoff
David Geffner
Jason Clark
Lewis Rothenberg
Steven Poster

Wednesday, April 14

The Business and Technology of Sports Broadcasting: From Mobile Devices to 3-D
Wednesday, 04/14/2010 11:30am - 12:30pm
Room Content Theater

Produced in association with Sports Video Group

Sports broadcasters and leagues played a key part in driving HD adoption. Will the same be true for 3D and mobile video devices? Top executives from networks and leagues discuss how they are gearing up for 3D at home, the business opportunities related to reaching mobile devices like the Apple iPad and phones. What are the challenges both technically and financially? And what do their efforts mean to local stations, cable operators, and digital cinema?

Moderator(s):

Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director, Sports Video Group

Presenter(s):

PETER ANGELL, Director Production, Host Broadcast Services

Panelist(s):

George Hoover, CTO, NEP
Jerry Steinberg, SVP Field Operations, Fox Sports
KEN AAGAARD, EVP of Operations and Production, CBS Sports
Steve Hellmuth, EVP Operations and Technology, NBA Entertainment

I'll hopefully be making it to NAB this year to cover some of this stuff. Everything looks fascinating!

Chloe

Spoilers - though nothing that ain't in the trailer - follow.

"Hot Tub Time Machine" and Dreamworks "Dragon" movie are the big deals this weekend, but if it's playing near you "Chloe" is definately worth tracking down. The hook is about the same as "In The Cut" - i.e. art-film director, in this case Atom Egoyan, tackles trashy erotic thriller - but the payoff is actually quite excellent.

It's basically a "Comfortably-wealthy married women have problems too, y'know!" drama centered around Julianne Moore's Catherine, who's not dealing well with her teenage son's now-evident sex life and - more problematically - suspects her husband (Liam Neeson) of cheating. As in most stories like this, simply walking up to him and ASKING would apparently be "unrefined," so instead Catherine tracks down conspicuously-glamorous call girl Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) and pays her to "bait" the husband. What could possibly go wrong?

We've seen this story before, and thus "know" that things will spiral out of control, but there's a few character curveballs and one head-slapper plot twist (I won't divulge that one, though this is technically a remake of the French "Nathalie" from a few years back) that put it on a different level. Most of the time, "erotic thrillers" using the "bait the cheater" angle are about jealousy and envy - here, it's all about psycho-sexual transference: Catherine is deriving personal erotic satisfaction from Chloe's descriptions of her encounter's with Neeson, something the audience and Chloe pick up on before she does - in effect having an "affair" with secondhand storytelling - which escalates to the logical extreme as Catherine is compelled to "sample the wares" firsthand, taking Chloe to bed in a "holy shit!" sequence that'll make this the most inappropriately-purchased DVD since "Mulholland Drive."

This how you can tell European/Canadian erotic-thrillers from American, btw: The plot (if not Egoyan's linger long-shots) take the lesbian development entirely for granted - there's no "wait, a woman?" or "I've never done this" business at all... the film and it's characters seem to take (female) bisexuality as a "given." The real - er.. "thrust" of the story, as usual, is more about class than sex: Rich-as-hell Catherine, at the end of the day, essentially regards Chloe as an expensive tool to be used - either as agent, proxy and finally lover - then set aside. Act 3 is all about reminding Catherine et al that even a prostitute may react... "unexpectedly" to being used and discarded.

If the film gets any attention at all, it'll probably face some backlash painting it as a stereotypical "lesbian stalker" moviel but it strikes me as having more going on. It's possible to read it in basic, broad Freudian terms: Catherine is repressing her own homosexuality (she happens to be an ob-gyn, if you want to get really "broad" about it) which inflames cheating suspicions, which gives her the "excuse" to seek out Chloe. And Chloe's constant insistance on "gifting" Catherine with an ornate hairpin that had belonged to her mother seems like a pretty clear-cut same-sex-Oedipal-complex. And not for nothing does Chloe open their initial dialogue by volunteering how seldom she's contacted by single women (as opposed to couples.) But the fact that there's something more AT ALL going on is the real point of interest.

...Or you could, of course, just go to gawk at the nudity from Seyfried - who looks like a Greek statue, an absolute stunner - and Moore - who's better suited than most other actresses of her age to appear nude alongside (literally) someone who looks like a Greek statue. That works, too...

Exclusive: PHISH 3D Photos AND Previews Sell Out FAST!

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Phish's sneak preview has SOLD OUT in EVERY market (except one where the computer ordering system went down). So they then pushed the movies to larger theaters which in turn sold out in a matter of hours! Theaters were reportedly getting hundreds of calls for tickets. Word is OUT. This will be one hot commodity the week of April 30, let me tell you. Act early if you can!

Jim here. Got some exclusive stills from the upcoming PHISH 3D movie coming our way on April 30.

Great seeing the news of the concert movie ripple through the swaths of PHISH heads around the world :-) Click to zoom. Check 'em out:

Escape to the Movies: "Hot Tub Time Machine"

This week's Intermission is titled "It's Time to Forgive George Lucas": http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/moviebob/7339-Its-Time-To-Forgive-George-Lucas

New SHREK FOREVER AFTER Posters Up!

Jim here. Dreamworks Animation has released some more SHREK FOREVER AFTER posters to help feed the SHREK masses online. Have a look:

24th BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Running from March 17 to 31, the fest has many interesting films but maybe the most interesting is the film that opened the festival, The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister by James Kent that had the world premiere at the fest but will be broadcast this winter by BBC Two.

The fest has (as usual) lots of gay and not much lesbian interest films. If you want to browse the site to check the films please go here.

New films that have become must be seen are Quanto dura o Amor? (Paulista) from Brazil and Warriors of Love from Sweden/Denmark.

News about 63rd Festival de Cannes

Too early for Cannes 2010? Not really as this year will run from May 12 to 23 and as of today the first massive press release hit the waves. The news? Ridley Scott's Robin Hood will open Cannes. Starring none other than Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett the epic surely blockbuster becomes another Hollywood film to open the fest, which does not happen that often. Thankfully the film will be screened out of competition. If you feel like reading the film synopsis and watch a video go here and the trailer is at the front page of the official Cannes fest website. By-the-way, the film will be released in the USA and UK on May 14, so Cannes is the official premiere.

This year the President of the jury is none other than Tim Burton and according to Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian he's the perfect Cannes president. Here is an excerpt from his article and full article is here.

"In a way, Burton is the perfect Cannes president. He looks like every American's view of a Euro-intellectual (dishevelled, black shades), is but also a very ­Europeanised Hollywood film director, with his intensively designed and sepulchrally atmospheric Goth-type pictures, in which Depp is a regular performer. His next film, Alice In Wonderland, starring Depp as the Mad Hatter and out in two months, will underline his reputation as a film-maker with a very personal style."

Very interesting is the list with the selected 15 projects from 15 countries in the sixth edition of L'Atelier 2010, check it out.

The Ardor, Pablo Fendrik, Argentina - 3rd feature film
Zincograph, Javor Gardev, Bulgaria - 2nd feature film
Gibier d'élevage, Rithy Panh, Cambodia and France - 10th feature film
Dream and Silence, Jaime Rosales,Spain - 4th feature film
Shanghai - Belleville, Show-Chun Lee, France - 1st feature film
Liza, the Fox-Fairy, Károly Ujj Mészáros,Hungary - 1st feature film
Postcards from the zoo, Edwin, Indonesia - 2nd feature film
Khorramshahr, Massoud Bakhshi,Iran - 1st feature film
Decadent Sisters, Shinji Aoyama,Japan - 15th feature film
Les Etoiles de Sidi Moumen, Nabil Ayouch, Morocco - 5th feature film
La Jaula de Oro, Diego Quemada-Diez, Mexico - 1st feature film
Code Blue, Urszula Antoniak, Netherlands - 2nd feature film
Circles, Srdan Golubovic, Serbia - 3rd feature film
Come to my voice, Hüseyin Karabey,Turkey - 2nd feature film
Lucia, Ruben Sierra Salles, Venezuela - 1st feature film

The Livre des Projects will be available from April 15th on the Cinefondation website, so I'll be checking the projects.

April will be when the fest news will start to come and I can hardly believe that the year went by so fast, as very soon Movie On will become all about Cannes 2010 as usually happens with the "Mother of all Festivals".

Last, for the first time here,le Marché du Film poster included to light up the post.

Cheers!!!

Great New James Cameron Interview! He Talks Avatar 2, Avatar Blu-rays, and More

Michael here. Collider has an awesome new interview with James Cameron in which he goes into detail regarding the Avatar Blu-rays (which will have two new versions of the movie!), the amount of time Avatar 2 would take to make, and more.

Click here to read it.

Highlights:

On Avatar 2: The fastest we could imagine making another film is three to three and a half years, from the moment we start, and we’re not planning on starting tomorrow.

On the Avatar Special Edition Blu-ray:

You’ll be able to do a branching experience where you can select if you want to watch the basic movie, if you want to watch the movie with six minutes of footage added back in, or if you want to watch an earlier cut of the film that has 30 or 35 minutes of additional footage. It will be an unrecognizable movie. You’ll be going on a journey into a whole different version of Avatar. And some of the scenes won’t be done because we won’t have the budget to finish 20 or 30 minutes of CG stuff. We’re taking the Greatest Hits six minutes and finishing that.

Definitely go read the entire interview: it's a really good one.

Drool

I sort of liked the movie, say "sort of" as has many moments that are very darkish funny; but is uneven as in my opinion the director was not able to control the storyline and there are moments that are just too predictable and boring. Still if you like American darkish movies that play with the absurd then this is exactly the movie for you. But if you read comments around the net I beg you to not think that this is John Walters alike as this film is very far from the extraordinary Walters characters. Still I was puzzled and watched until the very end that was predictable, of course.

Tells the story of Anora (great performance by Laura Harring) that's abused by her husband and children, so she constantly day-dream about a happy romantic story. Anora's life is really miserable until a new neighbor, Imogene, arrives and turns around her life, but they fall for each other and are caught by racist Anora's husband. Anora kills her husband and the movie turns into a road movie until they reach their destination and more crazy things happen. Yes, is a dark-dark story but the film is not that dark.

The film looks and feels very low budget but I believe that performances by Harring and the actors who play her kids save the movie and make it watchable. So I don't expect much from the film beyond a crazy sometimes funny story.

The movie is total lesbian interest but it's not your regular genre film so unless you want to watch an irreverent, absurd and darkish film I suggest you stay away. Still I know that many will be curious and will watch it.

If you enjoy American indie films then I'm sure you will enjoy this Slamdance fest co-production where director Nancy Kissam won the 2007 Screenplay Competition award and the film went to win the Jury Award at the 2009 Miami Gay and Lesbian Film for Best Fiction Feature.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

LG Announces FULL LED S3DHD Televisions By May!!

Jim here. FINALLY! I have been waiting for a full LED 3D TV solution and here it is. LG's LX9500. Prices are rumored to be in the $4ooo ballpark - not cheap, but it is S3DHD at its best I am wagering.

These things are THIN!

From the press release: As the world’s first Full LED 3D TV, the LX9500 uses an innovative backlight structure to deliver spectacular pictures for the ultimate 3D experience. Illuminated by panels of LEDs directly behind the screen (the 55-inch model boasts 1,200 LEDs), the Full LED display provides images of exceptional brightness and clarify for unrivalled picture quality. Complemented by a 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and TruMotion 400Hz (480Hz), the LX9500’s mesmerizing 3D picture transports viewers right into the heart of the action.

"LG’s unique Full LED technology validates LG’s position as a global leader in 3D home entertainment," said Havis Kwon, Executive Vice President and head of the LCD division of LG. "By building a full line-up of 3D TVs and cultivating alliances with content and device providers, LG will set a higher benchmark in the global 3D TV industry."

Along with all the advantages of Full LED, the LX9500’s innovative exterior is also geared toward creating the ultimate 3D experience. With its slim and sleek INFINIA design, the LX9500 not only draws attention with its 22.3mm slim body but also boasts a 16mm super-narrow bezel that allows for fuller and more expansive 3D images that draws viewers in.

In another first for the industry, the LX9500 supports the Multi Picture Format, the 3D picture standard that enables users to create and enjoy 3D content effortlessly. On the LX9500, this means viewers can immediately see images snapped with 3D cameras without having to first convert them on their PCs.

The LX9500 employs shutter glasses (model: AG-S100) that adds depth by alternatively blocking one lens at a time in sync with the screen’s refresh rate. The glasses are comfortable enough to wear for an extended period of time and recharge via USB for up to 40 hours of uninterrupted viewing pleasure.

LG is committed to securing a dominant position in this fast growing market expected to surpass 80 million units by 2014, and aiming to achieve 25 percent share of 3D market in 2010. LG’s strategy includes plans to offer a diversified line-up of products in screen sizes from 42 inches to 150 inches utilizing both polarized and shutter type glasses and to launch a family of 3D products including LED LCD TVs, Plasma TVs, Blu-ray disc players and the world’s first Full HD 3D projectors.

Available in 47- and 55-inch versions, LG INFINIA 3D TVs will be available to consumers first in Korea followed by North America, Europe, the CIS as well as other key markets by early May.

Specifications:
- 3D TV (Shutter glasses type)
- Full LED Slim with Spot Control (Local Dimming)
- INFINIA Design: Ultra Slim Depth, Narrow Bezel, Uni-layer, Uni-color
- Full HD 1080p
- 10,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- TruMotion 400Hz (480Hz)
- Picture Wizard II
- Crystal Gradation with Varying Light (Facet)
- Invisible Speaker (10W + 10W + 5W)
- Infinite Sound
- Clear Voice II
- NetCastTM ( Broadband TV )
- SkypeTM (Video Call Function with optional Video Camera)
- Wireless AV Link
- DLNA ready (with optional DLNA Dongle)
- USB 2.0 (HD DivX, MP3, JPEG play, MPO)
- HDMI 1.4
- Intelligent Sensor
- Smart Energy Saving Plus
- ECO Flower

Must. Get. One.

Exclusive Update: BLACK FRIDAY 3D

Jim here. Ethan Terra is the president of Blood Worx Films and producer of BLACK FRIDAY 3D and I spoke with him recently about his upcoming movie.

BLACK FRIDAY 3D is about a couple viciously assaulted while vacationing over the Fourth of July weekend; authorities find Diane close to death and take her quickly to the hospital. The local authorities proceed with an in depth search that holds no evidence of the attacker. Diane's older brother Kevin enlists the help of four college friends to seek out the elusive masked murderer. The youths come across a remote lodge that holds pure hellish terror and the friends soon find themselves face to face with the infamous serial killer Tyler Hillburg.

Pre-production starts April 1 and they are already well into Pre-vis and casting. The new director and talent will be announced at Cannes and Monsterpalooza. Ethan says: "The new director is nothing short of legendary and the cast is top rate AMAZING! BF-3D official site will launch next month".

Ethan goes on to elaborate about the movie: "Black Friday 3D isn't just a horror film. BF 3D mixes say the action of Rambo 1st Blood with an arsenal of creative kills that will satisfy the fans insatiable blood lust, and a non stop compelling story, truly making BF3D the ultimate pop corn slasher!"

Sounds awesome to me.

Want a tip? WATCH THEIR SITE. They will be giving away, well... giveaways *AND* they are going to fly one lucky fan out to Toronto to be killed in the movie!

I know a little something about who else will be in BLACK FRIDAY 3D but I am not at liberty to say a thing. When the time is right - you will know! Keep it right here for exclusive updates on BLACK FRIDAY 3D...

PHISH 3D Concert Movie Coming Late April!

Jim here. Got a huge announcement for all you Phish fans out there (and I know there is a lot of them!): PHISH 3D will be hitting the S3D screens April 30 for a one week run with a limited preview of the concert movie in nine US cities on April 20.

Check out the movie's trailer below!

I found out about the movie during ShoWest and was pleasantly surprised when I saw what band was headlining. I took a photo of their poster but it was not official yet so they asked me to hold off for awhile. But now it is all out there!

From their press release: The more than two hour movie, presented by Action 3D Productions in association with Network LIVE and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., highlights Phish’s Festival 8, a three-day, eight-set, 16-hour concert in the Southern California desert.

In advance of the nationwide roll-out, exclusive preview screenings will be shown in nine cities - Boston; Burlington, VT; Chicago; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; New York; Raleigh/Durham, NC; and Washington, D.C.-- on April 20th. In addition to experiencing this special screening, fans in attendance will take home a Phish 3D movie poster. The fully immersive music and visual experience, featuring state-of-the-art 3D technology, gives viewers the sense that they are not only at the event, but on stage with the band that Entertainment Weekly has called “the biggest cult band in America.” Phish 3D features fan favorites, never before seen cover songs, and intimate footage of the band backstage and in rehearsals.

Filmed in October 2009 at the band’s Festival 8, more than 40,000 devoted fans watched as Phish combined two of their most beloved traditions — the multi-day festival and the Halloween album “costume.” The band’s highly anticipated "musical costumes" are concerts involving the performance of an entire album by another artist—in this case, Phish covered the Rolling Stones’ album Exile on Main St. Phish 3D also features songs from the band’s first ever full-length acoustic set, as well as performances taken from the six additional sets.

Tickets for the Tuesday, April 20th screenings will be available for purchase on Friday, March 26 (individual theater on-sale dates may be subject to change). Ticketing information is available at www.phish3dmovie.com or with the following theaters:

-Boston National Amusements 565 Squire Rd (781) 284-5700 Movietickets.com
-Burlington Majestic 10 190 Boxwood St (802) 878-2010 Movietickets.com
-Chicago Rosemont Theatre 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave (847) 447-1040 Movietickets.com
-Denver Movie Tavern 10 18605 East Hampden Ave (303) 680-9913 Movietickets.com
-Houston Studio Movie Grill 805 Town & Country Way (469) 693-3456 Movietickets.com
-Los Angeles Rave Motion Pictures 18 The Promenade (310) 568-9950 Movietickets.com
-New York Pavilion Theatre 188 Prospect Park West (718) 369-0836 Movietickets.com
-Raleigh Wynnsong 15 1807 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy (919) 489-9505 Fandango.com
-Washington Fairfax Corner 14 11900 Palace Way (703) 378-6550 Movietickets.com

Ticketing information for the Friday, April 30th opening of Phish 3D will be made available at www.phish3dmovie.com. Fans are encouraged to check the site for ticketing and event news frequently, as there a very limited number of seats available for this one week run.

Phish will kick off an extensive summer tour on June 11th at Toyota Park in Chicago, IL. An online ticket request period is currently underway at http://phish.portals.musictoday.com/ and will end on Friday, March 26th, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 2nd. For full details, visit phish.com



About Phish:
Since forming in Vermont in 1983, Phish has developed a large following dedicated to their legendary live shows of eclectic, free-form rock, jazz, country, bluegrass and pop. The band has sold more than 8 million albums and DVDs in the United States, including fourteen studio albums and a multitude of live shows. The ceaseless touring of guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio, drummer Jon Fishman, bassist Mike Gordon and keyboardist Page McConnell helped make them one of the top concert draws in the nation until their indefinite hiatus in the summer of 2004. Phish officially reunited in March 2009 and later released their fourteenth album, Joy, with producer Steve Lillywhite. Phish headlined the Bonnaroo Festival in June 2009 and performed a 4-night New Year's Eve run at Miami's American Airlines Arena. For more information, visit www.phish.com.

About Action 3D:
Action 3D Productions—A3D—is a privately held production company with a unique approach to capturing live alternative content events (music, sports, and theater) in digital 3D. While technology is key to the process, people are the main ingredients to creating immersive experiences for presentation in cinemas and location-based entertainment venues. A3D's biggest asset is its know-how. The company’s management team has decades of worldwide experience in entertainment presentation, business management and film production. While this team's individual accomplishments are impressive, the complementary backgrounds and skills have enabled A3D to quickly advance in creating, developing and marketing sought-after 3D entertainment for the rapidly developing suite of 3D distribution channels.

About Cinedigm:
Cinedigm is the leader in providing the services, experience, technology and content critical to transforming movie theaters into digital and networked entertainment centers. The Company is a technology and services integrator that works with Hollywood movie studios, independent movie distributors, and exhibitors to bring movies in digital cinema format to audiences across the country. Cinedigm’s digital cinema deployment organization, software, unique combined satellite and hard drive digital movie delivery network; pre-show in-theater advertising services; and distribution platform for alternative content such as CineLive® 3-D and 2-D sports and concerts, thematic programming and independent movies provide a complete suite of services required to enable the digital theater conversion. Cinedigm™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. ™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. www.cinedigm.com [CIDM-G]

About AEG Network LIVE:
Network LIVE is the industry’s largest provider of live digital entertainment, offering fans unparalleled access to the artists they want—when and how they want it—via broadband, TV, radio, wireless, theatrical and retail. AEG Network LIVE has completed successful tour and album launch campaigns for AEG Live clients including Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Prince, Linkin Park, Garth Brooks, and many others. More information on AEG Network Live can be found at http://www.networklive.com.