3D has been an on and off gimmick since it was first used in the film ?The Power of Love? in 1922 (yes, 3D predates color film), popping in and out of mainstream use in the 50?s, and in the 60?s through the early 80?s. In the 90?s it became popular in theme parks, but Hollywood mostly stopped using it when it was considered a gimmick by audiences, and the films weren?t making enough money to justify the higher production cost. Some more expensive Imax films like Polar Express used it, some dirt cheap horror films as well to boost ticket sales, but it was consider a gimmick as much as it ever was until Avatar.
James Cameron?s 237 Million scifi retelling of Pocahontas completely changed the landscape. Now studios are jumping trying to get a piece of the 2.7 billion dollar pie that Avatar?s new 3D tech gave, with some huge success (Alice in Wonderland, for example has made over a Billion dollars). With the higher ticket cost of 3D films, meaning higher box offices without the need of higher viewer counts, it appears 3D is going from a gimmick to a full on cultural phenomena, reaching beyond film into TV and gaming, whether we like it or not. With the massive payouts Hollywood has been getting, nothing we say or do are going to stop them from using it, but the following are what NOT to do with the new dimension the flat cinema never really had before.
1. Don't Make A 3D Film Dark: Here are some facts, 3D makes films darker, dark things are harder to see, people go watch thus SEE movies. Logical deduction states that 3D films that are naturally dark will only get people?s ire and scorn. The Last Airbender showed how much a problem this could be. The entire CLIMAX of that film took place in a pitch black moonless night. Even with all the fire, it was impossible to see a THING. A black screen an exciting climax doesn?t make. This is one area Avatar avoided since most of it took place in the bright jungle, and when it was night Cameron filled the screen with tons of glowing plants.
2. Don?t Add The 3D In Post-Production: This has been somewhat common with films made and shot in 2D before Avatar came out (like Clash of the Titan) and added later in hopes of making the studio more money. However, it is nearly impossible to do this without making the film look blurry beyond reason. Either have the 3D done from the start, or don?t do it at all.
3. Don?t Use 3D As A Crutch To Sell More Tickets: This one has yet to really hit home yet in the modern age, but looking ahead, it is about to hit us like a truck. Between Pirahana 3D, Cat and Dogs 2, and all sorts of mid budget films advertising the 3D pretty much more then the actual movies, the immediate future is scary. Lets hope it comes and goes.
4. Don?t Change The Movie To Show Off The 3D: This is a combination of the above rules and the below, but changing the film to show off the tech is never the way to go. While 3D argueably helps draw the watcher into the movie, changing the film in ways that makes a huge arrow point towards the film and say, ?HAY! LOOK! WE HAVE 3D! ISN?T IT NEAT!? and it doesn?t make any sense in the context of the film is a death sentence. For example, in Shrek 4 Ever After, the main bad guy, Rumpelstiltskin has an army of witches in the ?It?s a Wonderful Life? esc alternate universe without explanation, nor does it make much sense in context since witches were shown as pretty neutral background characters in the first film, and the ?guy whose name is to hard to spell? never has had any contact with witches in any story he has ever been in (nor time bending universe controlling powers, but that is besides the point). However, as Moviebob said, the broom flights let them show off the 3D!
And finally?
5. Draw Us In, Don?t Push Us Out: This is the oldest mistake of 3D, and what made it a gimmick for so long. Reaching out to the audience, throwing things at them, or pointing out about the missing forth wall will break immersion more often then it will reinforce it. Up to this point, that is pretty much all directors did with the tech, giving us the terrors that was the crappiness of Jaws 3D with its almost hilariously bad ?shark crashes into glass? effect. 3D should be used to create a depth of field, make the objects INSIDE the film have depth, make it look like the people are people you could actually touch and interact with. This is what helped Coraline be such a disturbing film since you could truly believe the other Mother is real, and out to stitch your eyes shut.
And She is real, ask her?
She?s RIGHT BEHIND YOU!
MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I kid, I kid. But I hope you see my point.
James Cameron?s 237 Million scifi retelling of Pocahontas completely changed the landscape. Now studios are jumping trying to get a piece of the 2.7 billion dollar pie that Avatar?s new 3D tech gave, with some huge success (Alice in Wonderland, for example has made over a Billion dollars). With the higher ticket cost of 3D films, meaning higher box offices without the need of higher viewer counts, it appears 3D is going from a gimmick to a full on cultural phenomena, reaching beyond film into TV and gaming, whether we like it or not. With the massive payouts Hollywood has been getting, nothing we say or do are going to stop them from using it, but the following are what NOT to do with the new dimension the flat cinema never really had before.
1. Don't Make A 3D Film Dark: Here are some facts, 3D makes films darker, dark things are harder to see, people go watch thus SEE movies. Logical deduction states that 3D films that are naturally dark will only get people?s ire and scorn. The Last Airbender showed how much a problem this could be. The entire CLIMAX of that film took place in a pitch black moonless night. Even with all the fire, it was impossible to see a THING. A black screen an exciting climax doesn?t make. This is one area Avatar avoided since most of it took place in the bright jungle, and when it was night Cameron filled the screen with tons of glowing plants.
2. Don?t Add The 3D In Post-Production: This has been somewhat common with films made and shot in 2D before Avatar came out (like Clash of the Titan) and added later in hopes of making the studio more money. However, it is nearly impossible to do this without making the film look blurry beyond reason. Either have the 3D done from the start, or don?t do it at all.
3. Don?t Use 3D As A Crutch To Sell More Tickets: This one has yet to really hit home yet in the modern age, but looking ahead, it is about to hit us like a truck. Between Pirahana 3D, Cat and Dogs 2, and all sorts of mid budget films advertising the 3D pretty much more then the actual movies, the immediate future is scary. Lets hope it comes and goes.
4. Don?t Change The Movie To Show Off The 3D: This is a combination of the above rules and the below, but changing the film to show off the tech is never the way to go. While 3D argueably helps draw the watcher into the movie, changing the film in ways that makes a huge arrow point towards the film and say, ?HAY! LOOK! WE HAVE 3D! ISN?T IT NEAT!? and it doesn?t make any sense in the context of the film is a death sentence. For example, in Shrek 4 Ever After, the main bad guy, Rumpelstiltskin has an army of witches in the ?It?s a Wonderful Life? esc alternate universe without explanation, nor does it make much sense in context since witches were shown as pretty neutral background characters in the first film, and the ?guy whose name is to hard to spell? never has had any contact with witches in any story he has ever been in (nor time bending universe controlling powers, but that is besides the point). However, as Moviebob said, the broom flights let them show off the 3D!
And finally?
5. Draw Us In, Don?t Push Us Out: This is the oldest mistake of 3D, and what made it a gimmick for so long. Reaching out to the audience, throwing things at them, or pointing out about the missing forth wall will break immersion more often then it will reinforce it. Up to this point, that is pretty much all directors did with the tech, giving us the terrors that was the crappiness of Jaws 3D with its almost hilariously bad ?shark crashes into glass? effect. 3D should be used to create a depth of field, make the objects INSIDE the film have depth, make it look like the people are people you could actually touch and interact with. This is what helped Coraline be such a disturbing film since you could truly believe the other Mother is real, and out to stitch your eyes shut.
And She is real, ask her?
She?s RIGHT BEHIND YOU!
MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I kid, I kid. But I hope you see my point.
