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A scene from Tim Burton's 3D movie "Alice in Wonderland" (Disney), which will soon open in local theaters |
3D Movies Creating New Paradigm Shift
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
In 2009, CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg declared that all future DreamWorks movies would be produced in 3D. Just as the introductions of sound and color revolutionized cinema, the new 3D technology would mark a new paradigm shift, he said.
And indeed James Cameron's 3D project "Avatar" became the highest grossing film of all time worldwide including in South Korea.
Three-dimensional movies have a futuristic magic about them but they have been around for a long time. British inventor William Friese-Greene is credited with first tampering with stereoscopic moving images ― the basic idea behind 3D movies ― in 1890 and the camera rig was invented to make 3D filming possible in 1900. The same year, the first public 3D movie screening took place at the Astor Theater, New York, and the market peaked in the United States during the 1950s (remember the retro paper-framed glasses with different colored lenses?).
The genre's decline however was inevitable. These films were expensive to make and technical glitches were hard to ignore; the latter problem limited the running time of most 3D films to less than 20 minutes.
The introduction of digital projectors in 2005 however was the cure-all for its Achilles' heel, along with ever-evolving developments in 3D image-making.
Following in the footsteps of "Chicken Little" (2005) and "Beowolf" (2007), DreamWorks' "Monsters vs. Aliens" (2009) scored high in the box office; only 30 percent of U.S. screenings were in 3D but they made up for 55 percent of the profit. For "My Bloody Valentine," the 3D version brought in 80 percent of the sales. "Avatar" rewrote box office history not for just the genre but for cinema as a whole.
3D Cinema in Korea
Korea saw its first 3D movie in 1968, Lee Kyu-wung's "A Man of Great Strength: Im Ggyeok-jeong." Im Kwon-taek presented "Lady in Dream" that same year.
This year live action 3D projects are going into production: sci-fi action film "Je 7 Gwang-gu" (The 7th Mine Lot) and the fantasy "Templestay" by "Haeundae" director Yun Je-kyun; maritime battle film "Areumdaun Uri" (Beautiful Us) by Kwak Kyoung-taek; and broadcaster EBS plans to convert its 2008 documentary about dinosaurs into 3D.
Local 3D technology however is still in its infancy, according to experts that gathered Wednesday to discuss the current state and future outlook of the domestic industry at the Korean Film Archive, Sangam-dong.
Making a 3D movie requires a completely new system at every level, from scriptwriting to postproduction, and Korea has no coherent system, let alone experience, they said.
"In the U.S. and Europe, research on 3D films began years ago and there are already related industries. Korea lacks the necessary infrastructure, including both human and technical resources," said a researcher at the Korean Film Council.
Jeong Il-gwon from the Electronics and Telecommunications Institute said that local CG and 3D technology lags about two years behind that of Hollywood. Korean expertise on "e-motion capture" ― the secret recipe for rendering subtle facial expressions in "Avatar" ― is quickly catching up with the U.S., but the 3D filming and editing processes remain where Hollywood was three to five years ago.
Kim Nam-su, who is producing "The 7th Photosphere," said, "No one tried making a feature length, live action 3D movie before. There are no references whatsoever, so it's starting everything from scratch."
Last year, Choe Ik-hwan (auteur of Korea's first rotoscoped film "Life Is Cool") received an 80 million won grant to make a 15-minute 3D movie. But it is considered a lab rat project.
Choe forecast that local 3D knowhow will make fast progress in the next two to three years.
But more importantly, he said, 3D movies must have a solid story and characters to make it a worthwhile experience even if viewed in 2D. Many Netizens agree that "Avatar" is only meaningful to watch in 3D.
Movies in 3D provide a new spatial experience and thus entail a different storytelling method.
The 3D craze brought on by "Avatar" seems to be more than just a passing fad; major theater chains are acting quickly to expand the number of 3D theaters. CGV has 84 screens (out of a total of 575) that project 3D, and plans to add about 100 more. Lotte Cinema has 34 3D screens (out of 411) and plan to double the number.
More importantly, measures aiming for long-term development are underway at an institutional level. Backed by the Culture Ministry, the Korean Film Council launched a 1.5 billion won test bed project. It is recruiting trainees for new technologies involved in 3D filmmaking and distribution.
This year, moviegoers can look forward to imported films in 3D: watch DreamWorks' green ogre fly under your nose in the final chapter of the series, "Shrek Forever After"; almost feel it "rain" meatballs and hamburgers in "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" (Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation); and see Johnny Depp gain an extra dimension in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" (Disney).
3D 'Avatar' Gains Extra Dimension
If 3D wasn't enough, movies are also offered in "the fourth dimension."
This reporter managed to secure a ticket to the much-talked about "Avatar" in 4D on a weekday afternoon. Tickets are sold out for screenings, which are offered only in four Seoul theaters through mid-Feburary, though slots at odd hours like 1 a.m. have a couple seats left.
A 4D movie aims to provide entertainment that is more than just audiovisual, but also provoking touch and smell. CGV Sangam introduced the world's first 4D movie theater in January 2009 and now CGV Gangbyeon, Yongsan and Yeongdeungpo offer 4D screenings.
Before the movie started the audience was advised to place belongings by the aisle and to be careful not to spill food.
The 8 million won chair had a stiff back and a footrest. When the lights dimmed, large fans installed in the ceiling blew gusts of wind and the seat swivelled left and right like an amusement park ride.
One is invited to accompany Jake, the protagonist of "Avatar," on a space ship ride, and a flurry of cold wind tickles the ear as the vessel cuts through the clouds and the seat vibrates in rhythm to the noisy descent.
The theater was equipped with four "scent machines" and a flowery aroma filled the room when Jake kicked at the soil.
A shot of air hit the left cheek when the film's heroine Neytiri pulled at her bow and arrow, and a tiny bit water splashed from the right as a monster chased Jake through the Pandoran wilderness.
And in a scene in which Jake was being beaten, this reporter initially turned around with a frown, thinking the person seated behind was kicking, when it was in fact the "tickler" effect.
The rollercoaster experience peaks through a freewheeling ride on the back of the bird-like creature ikram, with every jerk and tremor felt in the flesh.
Such extra sensory effects were repeated in five-minute intervals during the 2 hour, 42 minute film.
Tickets for the 4D screening cost 18,000 won, more than twice the price of 2D screenings (8,000 won), or the 3D Imax (13,000 won).
hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr
 FAQs About 3D Movies
Q: What kind of special tools are used to make a 3D movie?
A: The 3D effect is rendered through stereoscopic vision ― filming the subject from two different angles, each corresponding to the right and left eyes respectively, and then seeing them layered through 3D glasses. A camera rig is therefore necessary to hold together two cameras like a pair of eyes. American makers have already produced handheld rigs.
Q: How are 3D movies screened in 2D?
A: This is quite simple, only one of the left/right versions is screened for a 2D experience. Theaters offering 3D screenings are still a minority so a 2D version is almost always simultaneously released.
Q: Can 2D movies be converted into 3D?
A: Yes, but going from 2D to 3D is much more time-consuming and expensive. There are nevertheless rumors that ``Titanic'' will be re-released in 3D. Local 3D technology company Stereo Pictures Korea has been hired to convert four Hollywood 2D movies into 3D.
Q: Why do some people complain of nausea after watching a 3D movie?
A: Distance Matters. Your 3D experience depends on where you sit in the theater. The 3D effect is stronger the closer you are to the screen; there have been complaints of nausea among those who were too close whereas those seated too far away experienced less impressive visuals.
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
