DreamWorks going 3-D in 2009

[coda]

Studio to produce two versions of 'Aliens'

By BEN FRITZ

'Monsters vs. Aliens' will be DreamWorks Animation's first film developed in 3-D. Release is skedded for 2009.

Katzenberg

DreamWorks Animation is joining the digital 3-D wave.

Studio

plans to release all its pics in 3-D starting in 2009. That should give

a major boost to the fledgling technology now available on just a few

hundred digital cinema screens.

New digital 3-D exhibition

process, enabled largely by technology company Real D, has been gaining

significant interest in Hollywood recently. Fox will release the James

Cameron-helmed "Avatar" in 3-D in 2009, and Disney will put "Meet the

Robinsons" on about 600 digital 3-D screens this month.

DreamWorks

Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said the studio considered adding 3-D

effects to some of its 2007 and 2008 releases but wanted to produce

pics with the new exhib process in mind from the outset.

"We have

not really been enthusiastic about turning 2-D into 3-D in

post-production," Katzenberg said, referring to the way 3-D effects

have been added to pics thus far. "It doesn't begin to touch the

quality of product that is originated in 3-D."

DWA summer 2009

release "Monsters vs. Aliens" starts production this spring and will be

made with 3-D in mind from the outset. Studio will produce two

versions, with a standard version for nondigital screens, DVD and TV.

By waiting until 2009, studio will also benefit from a significantly higher availability of 3-D enabled digital screens.

"By

that time, I think that in domestic markets we will be able to release

a film entirely in 3-D," said Jim Tharp, prexy of domestic distribution

for Paramount, which releases DreamWorks Animation pics.

There are just over 500 digital 3-D screens in the U.S., but that's expected to expand to several thousand by 2009.

While

the studio is counting on its movies to be available exclusively in 3-D

in the U.S., foreign markets will likely still be installing digital

cinema systems, which are required for the new 3-D process.

Katzenberg

will be discussing the studio's 3-D plans with exhibitors this week at

ShoWest. Many in the exhibition industry have been getting excited

about digital 3-D as a way to differentiate cinemas from home theater

systems. In addition, many exhibs have been charging $1 or $2 more for

3-D films.

"This is the first thing I've ever seen that is an

actual opportunity for the movie business to become something

completely new and unreplicatable at home," observed Katzenberg.

He said production costs on DreamWorks toons will go up, but he's confident his studio will make up for it with added revenue.

After "Robinsons," next pic released on some 3-D screens will be Par's "Beowulf" this fall.

In 2008, New Line will release "Journey 3-D," the first live-action pic produced exclusively for the new technology.

Disney

is also expected to release most of its future toons in digital 3-D,

though the studio hasn't announced any definite plans beyond

"Robinsons."

DreamWorks has hired Jason Clark, an exec producer

on Sony's 3-D toon "Monster House," to head up its 3-D efforts along

with Jim Mainard, the studio's head of research and development.

It

has also tapped Phil McNally, who did 3-D work on Disney's "Chicken

Little" and "Meet the Robinsons," to oversee 3-D for "Monsters vs.

Aliens."

article link

[Parrot]

3-D has been tried so many times in the past I've lost count. It's always sucked and always will suck.

I wouldn't watch a f*@#i*# 3-D movie if you gave me $100.

[seti]

I love 3D and I hope it continues to improve. A good friend has a 3D projector and a few CalArts student films which are very cool and great examples of classic 3d.

I recently put my digiatal camera away and switch to the 3D camera Stereo Realist. My pictures from the Grand Canyon and meteor crater in Winslow, AZ are amazing.

LONG LIVE 3D

[IndyKlipschFan]

I wouldn't watch a f*@#i*# 3-D movie if you gave me $100.

hahahah Paul... I saw the Mickey Mouse Philharmonic... In 3-d does that count? It was pretty good, but I doubt like you, I would enjoy it all of the time at all with the silly glasses on!

And some things I doubt ever will be in 3-d. I can't imagine the adult industry doing this.... hahahahaahahaha Wait.. Maybe they will? YUCK!

[seti]

And some things I doubt ever will be in 3-d. I can't imagine the adult industry doing this.... hahahahaahahaha Wait.. Maybe they will?  YUCK!

Yes there are 3D porn movies.... The porn industry is always among the first to adopt new technology. Where do you think streaming media and internet conferencing were first in wide spread use on the internet.... Sad but true.

[coda]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1968277205681743066

[seti]

I watched 1953 Cat Women Of The Moon in 3D last night and my friend who is an expert in all things 3D explained alot of the problems with 3D has had. The two main problems that 3D had in the past was improper alignment of the camera when the movie was filnmed. Another problem was the theater could also have improperly setup the projectors which could give the viewers headaches. The lessons learned from improper 3d theaters, projection, and movies can allow better 3D in the future. This is precisely what is happening now technology has advanced to the point to where it is easier to film, project, and view 3D movies. The best 3D movies are ahead of us so don't write off such cool technology. If you see a 3D movie listed in the theater in the next couple years give it a chance go see it you may be suprised.

3D ROCKS!