High Definition Digital Cameras (In Hollywood)

[Canada]

George (I won't put anything out on Blu-Ray for a while) Lucas says he is surprised that more directors aren't using digital camera's vs film camera's. I would not be surprised if more director use hd digital camera so it is easier for to transfer the video to Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. Your thoughts?

As far as I know there are only a handful of film directors that have used digital cameras

1. SW:Attack of the Clones George Lucas
2. SW:Revenge of the Sith George Lucas
3. Once apon a Time in Mexico Robert Rodriguez
4. Sin City Robert Rodriguez
5. 28 Days Later Danny Boyle
6. Collateral Michael Mann
7. Miami Vice Michael Mann

and others

Does any one know if Casino Royal was shot digitally? I don't think it was.

[Banjo]

Apocalypto
Crank
Casino Royale
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Sin City
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Superman Returns

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by Canada

5. 28 Weeks Later Danny Boyle

28 Weeks Later was Juan Carlos Fresnadillo - Danny Boyle did 28 Days Later.

[Chad Varnadore]

I don't know if a digital source makes it significantly easier to transfer to home video, but digital intermediates are created for many film based movies these days as well; to allow greater flexibility in tweaking the final look (ie. artistic manipulation of the visual design and integration of digital effects). Just as many professional photographers still prefer 35mm photography, many cinematographers and directors prefer the look of film. Digital cameras will probably result in more low budget independent productions. And younger generations may lean that way over time. But, I suspect 35mm will still be the norm for years to come.

[darinp2]

I went to imdb.com, looked up Miami Vice, went to technical specs, clicked on the link for the Viper camera and got:

http://www.imdb.com/SearchTechnical?...tream%20Camera

Looks like there are a lot of TV shows, but movies too.

You can also follow the link for the Sony HDW-F900 (although it only gave the first 200 matches).

I did the same thing for Apocalypto and followed the links for the Genesis camera and got:

http://www.imdb.com/SearchTechnical?...%20HD%20Camera

--Darin

[Chad Varnadore]

I've followed the links before too and was surprised how many hits came back for the Genesis, as new as it was. That was about a year ago. It's always interesting to see how dramatically different two films using the same camera can look. Apocalypto and Click seemed to illustrate that, not just in color correction and other manipulation, but in texture.

[JToddler]

The first ever movie to be shot in digital camera using Sony cameras is Planet of the Apes starring Mark Walhberg!

[WriteSimply]

Next, starring Nicholas Cage, was shot using the Genesis. Looks great. Film's fun too.


fuad

[Chad Varnadore]

Originally Posted by SumYonGuy

The first ever movie to be shot in digital camera using Sony cameras is Planet of the Apes starring Mark Walhberg!

Apes was anamorphically shot in 35mm Panavision.

[Banjo]

Panavision Genesis HD Camera

[elwaylite]

Borat was shot with a HD camera, I was amazed how good it looked upconverted.

I also read that James Cameron is working with a imax type camera on Avatar and its supposed to be pretty awesome.

[JToddler]

Planet of the Apes Goes Digital
By Laura Rich

Issue Date: Aug 10 2001

Twentieth Century Fox looks to add audiences - and increase its box-office take - with the movie's digital release.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planet of the Apes will make a second debut in select movie theaters this weekend. Only this time, the hideous ape makeup on Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter and pals will be that much clearer thanks to a digital version of the film that is now making its way to the 32 screens worldwide that are equipped with digital projectors.
The release marks the 32nd film that has been released in digital form. Other major movies include Miramax's Spy Kids, DreamWorks' Shrek, Universal Studios' Jurassic Park III and Twentieth Century Fox's Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Fox is also the studio behind Apes.

The digital version hits theaters at a time when Hollywood is growing increasingly aware of the potential for digital piracy. The latest films to surface as potential piracy victims include American Pie 2 and Apes. A New York Times article stated that Apes was available online, but a Fox spokeswoman denied any knowledge of such copies. The American Pie 2 threat turned out to be a hoax in the form of foreign, pornographic films labeled as the teen gross-out flick. Says Jeffrey Godsick, executive VP of publicity and promotions at Twentieth Century Fox, "With security precautions taken by all parties involved, we believe that will not be an issue" in this case.

In most situations, the digital version of a film is released at the same time as its analog form. But conversion to digital happens only after a film is completed, and the $100 million Apes' production closed just barely before the deadline, according to many reports. According to Godsick, the digital version of the film is simply an added value for audiences. "It's a bit early too tell what level of awareness exists among all consumers. However, it is possible that true cinephiles will seek out this presentation."

Unfortunately, this is still not the Holy Grail. In a true digital-cinema scenario, a movie would be distributed digitally as well as shown in digital form. In this case, the movie was shipped in compact disc form by express mail to the 32 theaters. More digital projectors need to be installed before distribution channels can justify the expense of a large-scale system that would enable studios to ship movies to theaters with the click of a button.

But it is encouraging for digital cinema proponents who are hopeful that more digital content will drive the demand for the development of digital cinema.

As filmmakers such as George Lucas continue to embrace digital technology in their moviemaking, many expect digital to begin taking the place of celluloid. Ultimately, the process will save money, but currently, most studios are simply creating supplemental digital forms.

For now, Apes will simply try to increase its box-office take. Since the film opened in theaters on July 27, it has garnered $123.75 million.

[Chad Varnadore]

Originally Posted by SumYonGuy

Planet of the Apes Goes Digital
By Laura Rich

Issue Date: Aug 10 2001

Twentieth Century Fox looks to add audiences - and increase its box-office take - with the movie's digital release.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planet of the Apes will make a second debut in select movie theaters this weekend. Only this time, the hideous ape makeup on Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter and pals will be that much clearer thanks to a digital version of the film that is now making its way to the 32 screens worldwide that are equipped with digital projectors.
The release marks the 32nd film that has been released in digital form. Other major movies include Miramax's Spy Kids, DreamWorks' Shrek, Universal Studios' Jurassic Park III and Twentieth Century Fox's Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Fox is also the studio behind Apes.

The digital version hits theaters at a time when Hollywood is growing increasingly aware of the potential for digital piracy. The latest films to surface as potential piracy victims include American Pie 2 and Apes. A New York Times article stated that Apes was available online, but a Fox spokeswoman denied any knowledge of such copies. The American Pie 2 threat turned out to be a hoax in the form of foreign, pornographic films labeled as the teen gross-out flick. Says Jeffrey Godsick, executive VP of publicity and promotions at Twentieth Century Fox, "With security precautions taken by all parties involved, we believe that will not be an issue" in this case.

In most situations, the digital version of a film is released at the same time as its analog form. But conversion to digital happens only after a film is completed, and the $100 million Apes' production closed just barely before the deadline, according to many reports. According to Godsick, the digital version of the film is simply an added value for audiences. "It's a bit early too tell what level of awareness exists among all consumers. However, it is possible that true cinephiles will seek out this presentation."

Unfortunately, this is still not the Holy Grail. In a true digital-cinema scenario, a movie would be distributed digitally as well as shown in digital form. In this case, the movie was shipped in compact disc form by express mail to the 32 theaters. More digital projectors need to be installed before distribution channels can justify the expense of a large-scale system that would enable studios to ship movies to theaters with the click of a button.

But it is encouraging for digital cinema proponents who are hopeful that more digital content will drive the demand for the development of digital cinema.

As filmmakers such as George Lucas continue to embrace digital technology in their moviemaking, many expect digital to begin taking the place of celluloid. Ultimately, the process will save money, but currently, most studios are simply creating supplemental digital forms.

For now, Apes will simply try to increase its box-office take. Since the film opened in theaters on July 27, it has garnered $123.75 million.

Must have taken awhile to dig that up. However, digital projection and digital photography are two very different things. You're digitally projecting every BD movie you watch if using HDMI/DVI. That doesn't mean the movie was shot digitally either. Apes was shot on 35mm. The digital prints that were distributed to select theaters came at a later stage of post production.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0133152/technical

[WickyWoo]

Correct. This was simply a DLP projection. It was not shot digitally.

The first 100% digital major motion picture was attack of the clones

Borat was shot using consumer HD cameras and DV cameras. It was not shot on the same kinds used for films.

[chinewalker]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

The first 100% digital major motion picture was attack of the clones

My guess is that Mr. Lucas regrets not shooting this on film. Attack of the Clones may prove to be the weakest in the six part Star Wars Blu-ray box set.
Some times in 2012.....

[The Don]

Originally Posted by elwaylite

Borat was shot with a HD camera, I was amazed how good it looked upconverted.

I also read that James Cameron is working with a imax type camera on Avatar and its supposed to be pretty awesome.

funny how it was shot in HD and wasn't released on either HD format..

[The Don]

Originally Posted by chinewalker

My guess is that Mr. Lucas regrets not shooting this on film. Attack of the Clones may prove to be the weakest in the six part Star Wars Blu-ray box set.
Some times in 2012.....

I think he wanted to maximize the sales for each movie..

if he released IV,V and VI on DVD when the newer movies came out, the sales for each movie would have been considerably lower...

I wouldn't be shocked if we saw something around late 2008/early 2009...realistically..

everyone was skeptical of DVD after the consumers were snug with their VHS players...

after DVD completely took over, almost with ease...then everyone became more comfortable with dropping their movies on the format..

the only hurdle I think we need to climb is "blu-ray players sold"....we need to have at least 10 million blu-ray players sold before Lucas will drop his films...

10k seems like alot right now, but when the players drop to around 199...I think that's when you'll see people start to jump and then the next wave will be the 149 price range...

I remember when DVD players first hit around 150...that's when you started seeing them alot in someone else's house...

you'll see a faster transformation from DVD to BD because we've turned into a fast-food market and they just naturally push new things down our throats anymore....BD could be seen as DVD's equal sometime during 2009....and then surpass as the majority in 2010...

[WriteSimply]

I don't think Lucas is ready to roll his SW films on BD until the Imax 3D/Digital comes out. Then he really reels in the crowd, hopefully.

There is a lot of differences between Lucas and Cameron. Cameron is the better all-round director.


fuad