Leading Off
July 28, 2011 by Andrew Schneider
I saw my first 3D movie in the middle of last month – I know that fact may make me the butt of many jokes (especially because that the movie was the final installment of the “Harry Potter” saga), but I feel like it’s worth mentioning anyway.
Being in this business, I’ve, of course, witnessed the 3D or “stereo” phenomenon before, but I’ve never availed myself of the option of watching a movie on the big screen in 3D. Why? I suppose I just never thought it was worth the extra money and while the effect was cool, I still find myself thinking it wasn’t worth the extra cash I forked over to pay for it.
Theatergoers would seem to agree with me by preference; it was opening weekend for the “Harry Potter” film but the 3D show was practically empty. I admit, this isn’t exactly a statistically significant sample, but it agrees with what news reports are saying. Hollywood is making 3D movies, but the real jury is still out.
I don’t even want to tackle 3D in the home. Sales of those sets continue to lag and the blame goes all the way from bad or poorly converted content to the price of sets and the need to wear glasses.
If you want to know more, you’ll have to read our cover story, “A New Dimension.” It starts on page 10.
Also in this issue, our extreme close-up focuses on the latest in camera tech. It starts on page 8.
Then there’s the Southeast Production Report. Our Managing Editor Kevin Jeong reached out to the production communities in Tennessee and Louisiana to learn what they’ve been up to.
We have a special Film School Confidential this month. Columbia’s Wonjung Bae was honored with a Student Academy Award for Documentary for the film “Blunt Edge.” She writes about the experience on page 22.
And who can forget our brilliant regular columnists. Dan Patton’s Revolving Door is on 16, Jon Slott’s State of Play is on 5 and Mike McNamara’s Call Sheet is on 16.
Enjoy,
AS