A while back (2007) Peter Jackson directed a short film entitled Crossing the Line to test a new model of digital Cinema camera, the RED ONE. The film takes place during World War I, and was shot in two days. "Crossing the Line" was shown at NAB 2007 (the USA National Association of Broadcasters). Clips of the film can be found at Reduser.net.

The Red Digital Cinema Camera Company manufactures digital cinematography cameras and accessories for professional and cinematic use. The company's main product is the Red One, capable of recording at resolutions up to 4096 horizontal by 2304 vertical pixels, directly to flash or hard disk storage. It features a single Super 35-sized CMOS sensor and a cinematography industry standard PL mount.

The Red One does not capture at standard definition or high definition resolutions. However, as part of the process of delivering the raw image data recorded by the camera, the RedCine desktop software can downscale to these resolutions. This process yields extremely high-quality output due to significant oversampling.

On November 13, 2008, larger formats were announced, including a proposed expansion of up to 28,000 horizontal pixels, for a 261 megapixel sensor.

For comparative purposes click the image for a graphic representation of various shows the image resolution of camera outputs. Pixel range from NTSC to 28K resolution shown in comparison at one-tenth scale to other digital video formats. "K" means thousands and refers to the horizontal pixel count, rounded.

Today the much anticipated Movie Con 2 kicked off. I'm still reeling from the mind blowing Film goodness of day 1.

The BFI & Empire Magazine have pulled off another collaborative coup for film lovers. The second Movie Convention is heading to all time greatness.

Movie Con is a annual collaborative effort between the BFI & Empire Magazine. It takes place just after after Comic Con (San Diego) at the BFI on the Southbank in London. This means that the organisers can cherry pick the best of Comic Con as well add some good stuff. It's held for film fans and the core content covers forth coming features in the Super Hero, Horror, Fantasy, Sci Fi, blood and Cult genres.

Empire have a much better run down of today's schedule over here. But today's events have roused me from my Blog laziness of late and mention must be made of some of the key events:

Trailers & footage from Astroboy. Over the last 18 months I have been hearing the buzz about the animated Astroboy feature but had no real interest in this remake of a 60s Japanese TV show. After today's clips I'll be seeing this gem. It will enthrall kids & older kids alike. It had the audience oohing, aahing & laughing in all the right places.




Harry Brown Presentation. Harry Brown is a new film from British filmmaker Daniel Barber and stars Sir Michael Caine. The film is about an elderly veteran that due to circumstances decides to do something about his neighbourhood that has been over run by young yobs.

Coming across as a modern day version of Michael Winner's Death Wish with big boots, genuinely threatening yobs, knuckledusters and big guns. The clip we saw made it clear this was a quality production with outstanding performances Sir Michael and the blinding Sean Harris as a very, very scary low life (think Drexel nastier brother, the love child of Travis Bickle & Myra Hindley on crack). I recently saw Tonto Woman the brilliant short that Daniel Barber adapted from an Elmore Leonard story. He received an Oscar nomination for it. I'm looking forward to seeing Harry Brown in full as well as anything else Daniel Barber serves up. Think Peckinpah with a social conscience.



Next up the indomitable genius "Still not a Sir" Terry Gilliam showed us some mind melting clips from The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus. Seems to be a true return to form for Mr Gilliam whose tribulations of getting his film made rival anything you have seen on screen. Doctor Parnassus recaptures the magic of Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen with a dash of sensibility from The Fisher King.

* When re-watching the classic Spies Like Us keep an eye out for Terry Gilliam as Dr. Imhaus.



Kick Ass Presentation. Put together by the Stardust team & Brad Pitt, independently financed, directed by Matthew Vaughn, written by Jane Goldman (Mrs Johnathan Ross but a super talent in her own right) & Mark Millar. Kick Ass promises to turn the Super Hero genre upside down. Referencing the both comic & film super heroes, eastern sensibilities and the slacker/Clerks space. The Kick Ass clips shown deliver in the holy Triumvirate of modern super hero genre: high action, humour & blood stakes.

I was surprised thaty neither Jane Goldman or Matthew Vaughn did not pitch up but enjoyed Editor Jon Harris' presentation and chat with Christopher Mintz-Plasse (yes that's right McLovin) and Jason Flemyng. I'm slightly annoyed I didn't get a chance to quiz Flemyng about Clash of the Titans & Solomon Kane both of which I am eagerly waiting for.

The super secret screening
I guessed that this year's secret screening was going to be District 9 - D9. I have been curious about D9 for awhile Weta and Peter Jackson's name should have made this a dead cert but South African films tend to do emotional small films well and haven't really shone in the high action or sci fi genre as yet. D9 changes that - whilst being true to it's African setting it shines at being a high adventure sci fi romp that has it's roots firmly planted in complex social issues. Google "District 6" & "Africa xenophobia" for sight of the bigger picture.


Originally Jackson and Director Neil Blomkamp were to make HALO: Combat Evolved when that fell through they decided to remake an earlier Blomkamp short film "Alive in Joburg".


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* Sharlto Copley whio plays D9 lead Wikus Van De Merwe is not a trained actor and was a producer on Alive in Joburg.

Next up was Warner Bros screening of the Jonah Hex trailer. I've been waiting for this film for about 20 years.

Jonah Hex is a scarred Mad Max by way of Dirty Harry in the West that was on the wrong side during the Civil war. This makes fior an intresting character seeking redemption.

The trailer looked good but it could still go either way the newly added occult plot devices are a bit of a concern. I'm holding off on judgment for now.


Finally and "saving best for last" Robert Downey Junior & Guy Ritchie made an appearance to introduce an extended trailer for Sherlock Holmes. They were in good spirits and played off each other like a comedic duo rather than Star and Director. And well they should be in high spirits the Sherlock Holmes footage was everything it needed to be. My only query would be that it seemed fairly light and didn't really show any darkness that usually haunts Victorian era pea soap London. Possibly emulating the very successful Iron Man's formula? I'm holding thumbs.

UK Avatar Day


The 15-minute Avatar Day screenings, presented in 3D at “select cinemas and Imax theaters,” will provide regular moviegoers their first glimpse of Cameron’s highly anticipated sci-fi epic outside of footage screened last month at Comic-Con International in San Diego and Movie Con 2 at the BFI London hosted by Empire Magazine last weekend.

The big-budget sci-fi movie, conceived by Cameron 14 years ago and filmed in stereoscopic 3-D using cameras developed by the director, takes place on Pandorum, a strange and beautiful planet replete with bizarre creatures and plant life. Sam Worthington plays a paraplegic who is linked through a medical process to an “avatar,” a 10-foot-tall, blue-skinned creature that looks like Pandorum’s native Na’vi

Also rolling out on Friday’s Avatar Day:

- The official Avatar trailer, which will be shown in theaters and online. The worldwide trailer launch will be presented in all formats, including Imax 3-D, Imax 2-D, digital 3-D, digital 2-D and 35-mm 2-D, the studio said.
- 3D/lenticular one-sheet posters for the film.
- The trailer for Ubisoft’s videogame James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game.
- First look at Mattel action figures for the film’s avatar and alien Na’vi characters.

The showings will be limited to two on the 21st, except for the BFI Southbank, which is holding four.

Among the participating cinemas:

Cineworld Aberdeen
Cineworld Birmingham, Broad Street
Cineworld Brighton
Cineworld Cardiff
Cineworld Edinburgh
Cineworld Glasgow, Renfrew Street
Cineworld Sheffield
Odeon London IMAX Greenwich
Odeon London IMAX Wimbledon
Odeon Manchester Printworks
Odeon Southampton
Vue Bristol Cribbs
Vue London West End
BFI Southbank IMAX

Avatar hits theaters Dec. 18.

Friday August 21, 2009 at 1:30pm
BFI London IMAX
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk
London, England SE1 8XR

WORLD PREMIERE - Director John Landis’ classic 1981 horror, that set the standard for the modern werewolf movie, is back where it belongs. Fully restored, looking pristine and fabulous, and on the Big Screen just around the corner from where its stunning action climax was filmed in Piccadilly Circus. A brilliant meld of side splitting laughs, hair-raising terror and Rick Baker’s Oscar-winning man-into-wolf prosthetic special effects transformations, Landis’ lycanthropic masterpiece has never been bettered. David Naughton and Griffin Dunne are the two Americans backpackers attacked on the English moors by a snarling creature that changes their mortal lives forever. Jenny Agutter is the nurse Naughton moves in with before realising he’s roaming the West End committing brutal murders in werewolf disguise. One of the most influential horror movies ever in terms of gory comedy horror, Film4 FrightFest will be assembling as many of the cast and crew we can muster on the Empire stage.

The Empire Cinema
Leicester Square
London, England WC2H

Earlier this Month we were invited to the 5 Gum "Creating Sense5" launch party held in London. 5 Gum is new flavourful gum from Wrigleys. The general consensus is that 5 Gum really is a taste explosion in a chewing gum kind of way.

The launch was conducted by Vice Magazine who ran a a competition in the lead up to the event. They sent out an open call to creatives to create something that like the gum intrigues and exhilarates the senses. And when I say something, the entries could have been anything one felt would represent the gum. Award winning band Hot Chip would then select the winning talent and curate the gig. From The Vice website:

"Thursday, June 4th certainly turned out to be an unforgettable night at The Arches, London Bridge. Hot Chip's two live DJ sets - one featuring Kano - were supported by unique performances from The Penny Serenade, Raf Daddy, Planning To Rock and Noze.

Five winners of the CreatingSense5 competition, whose entries, like the 5 gum, represented and stimulated the senses. Their interactive installations including the "touch wall" and "edible forest" proved to be a huge success - with people finding more than one different use for them!"

Stand out moments for me were discovering Portuguese Sangeres beer (a almost honey tinged malty beer), hearing Planning To Rock for the first time, Hot Chip's awesome live set as well as hearing the sublime combination of Hot Chip & Kano together. Pics & videos to follow in the meantime you can see more pics from the event here!

Marc Forster joins the BFI for a very special high-definition screening of 007's last outing.

Daniel Craig reprises his role as the world's favourite secret agent in this high octane action adventure of treachery, murder and deceit. Picking up the storyline shortly after the end of Casino Royale, this is the first direct sequel in the longest running film franchise in history. Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loves, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (Judi Dench) interrogate Mr White (Jesper Christensen) who reveals the organisation that blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined... In a mission that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond allies with old friends, but with the British Government and the CIA working against him, he must kill or be killed to uncover the truth.

Early booking recommended for this evening that will no doubt whet the appetites of Bond fans everywhere for the forthcoming Cubby Broccoli season that will run throughout April and May and will include screenings of all 22 Bond films.

Quantum of Solace + Director Marc Forster in Conversation
Wednesday March 4, 2009 at 6:30pm
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road
London, England SE1 8XT

2:15 Minutes of technicolour glory.

You are cordially invited to the Sony VIP exclusive BRAVIA ‘World’s First’ LCD TV range launch on Thursday 29 January 2009 at 7pm until 11pm.

Guests will be treated to the awe-inspiring unveiling of these TV’s (the World’s thinnest (ZX1), the World’s fastest (Z4500), The World’s first wireless technology/picture frame TV (EX1) and the World’s first OLED technology TV (XEL-1), with the help of a mind-blowing, interactive and unique light installation featuring a one-off short film, while celebrity DJ Henry Holland and ‘Filthy Dukes’ spin the decks.

As Celebrities/Media and VIP guests will be in attendance, Sony have the right to refuse entry/eject to any guests deemed unruly etc.!!!

Enjoy.

U2 3D

See the band in IMAX 3D on the biggest screen in the UK.

A quantum leap beyond traditional concert films, shot during the band's visit to South America on the Vertigo Tour - the first ever all-live 3D experience.

For over 25 years, U2 have been recognised not only for their musical invention, but for their incomparable gift for reaching millions of fans through new technologies. This long standing embrace of cutting-edge technology is evident in this stunning new film. U2 3D takes viewers on an extraordinary cinematic journey, a quantum leap beyond traditional concert films, in the first ever all-live 3D experience.



Mon 19 Jan 19:00
Tue 20 Jan 21:15
Wed 21 Jan 19:00
Thu 22 Jan 21:15
Imax Theatre, London
Charlie Chaplin Walk
London, England SE1

Disney debuts the teaser trailer for TR2N at Comic-Con 08.

As always the trailer was captured by a fan on his mobile phone. The below version was further cleaned up by another fan to give us an almost watchable version.

From "http://tron2trailer.blogspot.com/" comes a breakdown of the full teaser trailer:

- The Disney logo appears and quickly seems to get digitized.

- We pan over ominous clouds into a digital city landscape only to find a man in a updated “Tron” costume. He’s on the run.

- The man jumps into a brand new 2008 version of the familiar light cycle.

- And a huge chase ensues with a pursuer in a dark mask after our racer. Unlike cycle races of old this one goes up and down AND side to side.

- The chased man is vanquished, crashing horrible. As the pursuer gets off his cycle he pulls a familiar disc from his back. The winner looks up to a previously unseen observer.

- And the observer is…Jeff Bridges! An older (and now evil) Flynn?!? He rises from a meditative state in his watchtower to see the pursuer do his bidding.

- The vanquished man pleads to his pursuer. “It’s just a game!” And then the final big reveal: the pursuer takes off his helmet and he is also Bridges, a seemingly younger Bridges!

Yes! It seems that both Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleiter are reprising their roles from the original.

Preview screening of Bolt 3D & Q&A with John Lasseter in London

Raised on the set of a hit television show, Bolt the dog believes he has amazing powers. But when he's accidentally shipped to New York City, his daredevil stunts no longer go according to plan... We present Bolt in Digital 3D (a first for BFI Southbank) and welcome John Lasseter back to NFT1 for a Q&A following the screening.

By now most have you have seen Boffswana's augmented reality prototype that can be found here. A fine example of how the real world is interacting with the virtual.



Now German agencies Buzzin Monkey and die agentour GmbH have gone step further for a Mini print/computer cross over.



To experience this first hand you'll need a printed version of the PDF from here, a webcam, and a web browser (sorry, Internet Explorer/ActiveX only) pointed here.



Hold the print ad up to your computer’s webcam, you’ll see a 3-D model of a MINI Cabrio convertible that moves as you turn the sheet of paper around.

This fan made trailer for an imagined Thundercats is impressive, in a Thundercats kind of way.



It's called Thundercats: Sword of Omens and took WormyTV the creator "about a year and a half on and off". Thundercats the film is still in pre development and expected to be in cinemas 2010.

In case you are wondering if the cast in the trailer looked familiar:

Jaga ... Robert Eddison
Panthro ... Vin Diesel
Cheetara ... Gigi Edgley
Tygra ... Hugh Jackman
Lion-O ... Brad Pitt
Snarf ... Garfield

Amazon.com are currently running a limited period sale on the 6 disc Blu Ray James Bond collection. The collection includes:

• Dr. No
• Die Another Day
• Live and Let Die
• For Your Eyes Only
• From Russia with Love
• Thunderball

Individually the collection comes in at $210 (£137). A further discount brings the cost down to $108 (£70). The new offer brings the price down to $39.94 (£26)!

To make use of this offer go here. Select the six Bond Blu-ray Discs and click "add to cart." Proceed to check-out and select "Super Saver Shipping" (or Prime shipping if you're an Amazon Prime customer).

You will get the $50 (£33) Blu-ray promotional discount as well as a "$15 (£10) best value discount" applied to your cart.

Please note you need a US delivery address for this deal & Amazon could change the terms of this promotion at any time so please check before purchasing.

Currently Amazon.co.uk is offering the 6 Blu Ray collection for £69.97.

Whilst at the BFI Southbank for a preview screening of Franklyn I discovered an interesting installation in the foyer. Turned out is was a digital Zoetrope.

From Wiki: A zoetrope is a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures.

After a bit of snooping I found out that "Onedotzero commissioned Trioka to create an entire "multi-sensory identity" for the Adventures in Motion festival, consisting of printed material, a digital trailer and an installation.

onedotzero_adventures in motion returns to London to begin a new residency at the BFI Southbank, presenting a diverse and radiant showcase of commissions, visionary new work and talent. onedotzero's energetic programming delivers a compelling mix of arts, culture and entertainment, bringing together ground breaking cinematic work, sensory installations, explosive live audiovisual and music performances, stellar screening programmes, in-depth disucssions, presentations and social events.

the festival showcases a tantalising mix of the brightest up-and-coming talents alongside world-leading creative luminaries; an international array of creators who stretch ideas of motion entertainment, where code clashes with hand crafted, street art tussles with technology and new modes of storytelling are unleashed from the small screen to the BFI IMAX. all underpinned by a theme of citystates, a creative inquiry into the idea of how we live in the modern metropolis.

They also took inspiration from the traditional technology of a Victorian zoetrope – a cylinder containing slits with a band of images on the inside; when you spin the cylinder the images blur together to give the illusion of a moving image. Troika have created a digital version of this, a cylindrical tower with an internal light; as the cylinder rotates and the light strobes, stories of people’s lives in different cities are alternately display