
Photo CC: BWChicago
English version coming soon
The L.A. Times’ Steve Zeitchik asks the question, if the current 3-D hype is affecting the way screenplays are written. The future of filmmaking that he is describing seems a bit overstated, though. For instance, he’s writing:
While [many directors and writers] express a general enthusiasm for the form, they say executives don’t always grasp all the complexities of adding that extra dimension. As the 3-D storm continues to gather, they point out that 3-D will affect much more than whether a filmgoer picks up a pair of glasses: It will change what films get made, and even the very nature of cinematic storytelling.
While it is true that the big studios are greenlighting more and more films that are a safe bet in 3-D, I don’t think, that the very nature of cinematic storytelling is at stake. It’s more a question of movie genres, and as long as Hollywood’s idea of 3-D filmmaking is limited to 3-D spectacle like action or horror, than yes, writers are forced to write mainly for the spectacle. But sooner or later the time will come, when 3-D is no longer a matter of poking things out of the screen. Even for smaller and more intimate films 3-D can be a stylistic device utilized by the director, cinematographer and editor. Thus, 3-D does not necessarily have any impact on the written word. After all, characters and plot won’t get any better, simply because they are written for 3-D.
I just like to emphasize screenwriter John August’s comment on that:
I’m currently writing a film which is designed to be black-and-white and 3-D. Reading the script, you’d never know it.
For me, I’m very excited about the first 3-D films that are not for the sake of mere spectacle. AMERICAN BACKROOM is one of those alternative 3-D projects, and I am sure, until it gets released, there will be many other films utilizing 3-D in an unexpected way. Just be open-minded, when they come along. You can read about our thoughts on the possibilities of 3-D and documentary filmmaking right here. Steve Zeitchik’s L.A. Times article still seems to be taking sides with 3-D sceptics, and – not surprisingly – is closing with the following quote:
I don’t want to watch “Precious” in 3-D.
I don’t know if that was his intention or not, but it’s funny how it stands in perfect contrast to what Martin Scorsese had to say about 3-D: “Why couldn’t a film like “Precious” be in 3-D? It should be.”
What do you think?
It’s been a bit quiet around here lately. Not because we don’t have any more to say or write about. No, the reason is one of our other projects: FREMDKÖRPER (English Title: IMPURITY), the first feature length film produced by MovieBrats (that is: us). The film was made over the course of the last two years and finally has been completed till the end of March. Reason enough to have a party.
But as always, in the final weeks up until completion, you just put in all your energy, tweaking little details up until the last minute. So, that’s why THE AMERICAN BACKROOM had to be put on hold a for the last month or so.
But here we are again, re-shifting our energy from FREMDKÖRPER back to AMERICAN BACKROOM. We have a couple news in store for you as well as several important project updates to be announced soon.
In the meantime we’ve also been featured in the German newspaper Tagesspiegel, since AMERICAN BACKROOM is one of only a few 3D projects currently in production in and around Berlin, Germany (See, we didn’t even find the time to run a short note about that one *shakehead*). If you like to read the article (it’s in German only), that ran in the printed edition of the Tagesspiegel on March 9th, you can do so right here…
And to give you a little impression of FREMDKÖRPER, here’s the official trailer:
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