James Cameron's Project 880/Avatar

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Policar

Carbonite Member
It's just a rumor ( http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=9991 ) but apparently James Cameron's next film with not be Battle Angel Alita, but will be an original sci-fi project called Avatar. The script was leaked a few years back (no longer availible, sadly) but rumor has it that's it's amazing, although something of a cheesey love story a la Titanic. Whatever. I liked Titanic a lot.

It's supposed to be in 3D and made using his virtual studio. Assuming the technology is there, I'm really thrilled about this. I know not everyone is sold on 3D (including the vast majority of my friends who care about this stuff), but I am, so I'm stoaked. In my eyes, cinematography has always functioned to do two things: make stuff look cool, and add a sense of depth. Depth cues such as differences in color, lighting (back lights), camera movement, etc. have all existed to emulate 3D. Making a 2D plane look 3D is the cinematographer's main job, some would say. I'm sure there will be hitches along the way, but when sound and cinemascope were introduced it screwed aesthetic stuff up for a while, but there's no way we'd give up either now that we're used to them. Also, while your average film might not benefit from 3D, ultra-high budget sci-fi probably will. This is now my most anticipated film.

Also, I honestly think a transition to 3D is necessary. Every 20 years the film industry has introduced something to compete with radio/tv and with lower admissions, it's due again:

1895: First films.
1915: People get sick of the novelty of films, features introduced.
1925: Sound. (Competes with radio.)
1950s: Cinemascope, color. (Competes with TV.)
1970s: Sex, Violence, etc. (Competes with TV, which is now in color.)
1990s: CGI (Competes with HBO, which now has sex and violence.)
2010ish: 3D (To compete with widescreen color HDTV, DVDs, etc. etc.)

Well, maybe. Anyhow, I can't wait. Even if his next project sounded terrible I'd be first in line, and this sounds like a really good story, a cool new technology, and a good match between the two.
 
Hes got his freediving project in the works...

Be interesting if Avatar goes back into the stack.. I thought that died with the
whole Carolco fiasco.
 
You my be right. I REALLY hope his next movie is Avatar, though. That the script was pulled a few months ago is a good sign, but it's definitely no guarantee.

No freediving, please. He's got to get over his obsession with water.
 
Policar said:
No freediving, please. He's got to get over his obsession with water.
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LOL, so true.

Cameron featured in a documentary in the UK a week or two back which featured him diving too the wreck of the Titanic... WHAT A SURPRISE!!

However, as they left the wreck site, he stated that it was his last dive and he was now moving on. That pleased me so much, because IMO he is the most talented director in the history of cinema (yeah, I think he is that good) and he hasn't made a film for nearly 10 years.

Whatever he does next, I'll be first in line.
 
I still have the orginal T-Shirt for Avatar when I had an interview at Digital Domain many, many years ago. My wife doesn't understand why I call it "My Precious".
 
Not to slag....but.
Cameron is a great director but....a total p-r-i-c-k tyrant to work for.

Ask any of his past employee's that quit titanic or DD.

Personally I don't think you need to work that way with employee's to get the best/worst out of them.
 
The stories are pretty imfamous. He's up there with Michael Bay and a short list of
others :)
 
I've heard that too. I had two friends who worked grueling hours on Titanic and then got totally slammed in the credits and by cameron as well. A prick in Hollywood.. I'm shocked and appauled (funny snickering).

I do think though that 3D is a sideshow hack opperation. It's been around for so long and keeps on resurfacing... I say to just give it a break.. Same with that Virtual reality nonsense. Film is escape... Fantasy sure, why cloud it with 5 cent gimicks.
 
I think its cool that he's that way. It makes him all the more legendary....a true hollywood bastard. If thats what it takes to get what he wants then so be it....

and as for 3-d

i dont think it will be long before its no 5-cent gimmick....3-d is the future.
 
Justyn said:
I do think though that 3D is a sideshow hack opperation. It's been around for so long and keeps on resurfacing... I say to just give it a break.. Same with that Virtual reality nonsense. Film is escape... Fantasy sure, why cloud it with 5 cent gimicks.
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Almost everyone I talk with agrees with you on that one, but I'm not convinced.

Consider that sound was around for 20-30 years before its introduction but in immature forms and that it took an economic issue (WB and Fox wanted to catch up to Paramount without the investment in quality orchestas and theaters) to make it a reality. And even then it was considered a gimmick for a long while.

Widescreen and three-strip technocolor existed as mature technologies WAY before they became common, but studios needed them to differentiate film from TV. People regarded them as gimmicks at first, but now everyone loves both.

Also interesting: sound, widescreen, and color all made cutting slower since more information was presented. I think 3D will do the same. Personally, I like fast cutting. Hmm.

Anyhow, I don't think 3D is 100% perfected yet, but I saw an IMAX 3D thing a few years ago and it was a lot of fun. So I'm hopeful.
 
I don't get all this Cameron worship.

Then again I abhor Titanic.

But if he is indeed a jerk I'm even more confused why people adore him. Any director who is unprofessional with his cast and crew does not deserve to be working. The opportunity to make a feature film is a privledge not a right.
 
i think if your a filmmaking genious and youve turned out stuff like The terminator and Titanic....then it is a right.
 
How can you consider Titanic "genius filmmaking"?

Cause he implemented Cutting edge special effects into a hackneyed contrite stereotype ridden story?

Please get off it.

It is my opinion that Cameron is not a filmmaking genius. He is an excellent filmmaker when working with his particular brands of story. IE. Aliens and Terminator 2. I LOVE those movies. But genius? Let's not dumb down the meaning of the term by overusing it to describe every director who's work we love.
Fellini was a genius. I would not be so quick to put Cameron in his company.

And I don't care if you are Ingmar Bergman or Cecille B. Demille. No director anywhere has the right to demean, berate, or abuse their cast and crew. They are people who devote themselves to the vision. Just because they're being paid does not make them inferior or slaves for that matter. Which is how Cameron and other hot-headed directors seem to like to treat people.
 
Titanic is a the work of a filmmaking genious because it has the highest gross at the box office....and it got 11 oscars. which DOES mean something

If it makes him comfortable in his directing duties to berate and scream at employees and basically be an evil dictator....then fine. If you dont want to work in that enviornment then leave. Thats his style and it works for him. I respect him for it.
 
Titanic is a the work of a filmmaking genious because it has the highest gross at the box office....and it got 11 oscars. which DOES mean something
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If those are your standards for genius then I'm glad the choice is not left to you.

Titanic's genius was in its technical execution which was SUPERB. No one can deny that. However technical achievements do not make for a Genius film. And neither does the box office take.

For my part I stand firm in my opinions of Cameron and poor behavior on the part of directors. They should lead by example.
 
what DO oscars mean?

and what is YOUR standard for genious? since you are apparently the one the choice is left to...
 
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