I realize it’s a little quiet here, but things are very busy here in the basement. The big push for full fundraising is underway and like all fundraising in tough times – there is bad news but good news on the horizon.
The quiet is because I’m in the middle of the final weeks push to get the low-budget feature film Hellphone finished which will help fund Outside In. Hellphone was created during the period when Outside In was on semi-hiatus waiting for the 64-bit version of Adobe After Effects (which I beta tested – if you missed it, the whole saga is here).
On the Outside In front, first some bad news. I was not awarded the NC Filmmaker’s Fellowship which is awarded every 2 years. My application was very strong but it appears, as in the past, the fellowship looks more at academic background (I’m a film school dropout), festival screenings/presences (applying to lots of film festival costs thousands of dollars and needless to say, I don’t enter any that cost money) and “southern/regional work”. My work is not southern or regional at all – obviously Outside In focuses on the whole universe – though perhaps I should add a banjo score.
Step two back: I had spent much time (many, many months) trying to secure full funding through a small NC based company that would acquire the technology developed for Outside In for other IMAX projects – however, they have passed in favor of doing their own film project as they did not feel Outside In has much “box office potential”. Despite the fact the Outside In is not-for-profit film, the response I’ve had locally, online and in the giant screen industry has been tremendous, so I think given its very low budget, it will be a big success. But they did not see it that way. However, I made a lot of good connections, got a chance to do some very heavy testing of IMAX film production issues which will greatly benefit Outside In.
Anyone who knows me at all realizes setbacks just motivate me all the more. I’ve already got another grant applications in the mail, two more grants upcoming this fall, two private fund-raising events in two cities where my dad has connections are being planned and a major fund-raising event in early winter here in Greensboro. And don’t forget Team 11!
And there’s more – I have some great new footage to showcase which I aim to generate some great new buzz for Outside In – some very cool “never be done before” stuff. It may seem like Outside In is taking a very long time, but just remember, the average time from start to a release in theaters for a project like this is 8 to 10 years and I’m not even halfway to that.
So, yes a couple of steps back, but good things ahead.
So, box office receipts have plunged this month despite all the new 3D movies, theaters, hype and fat increases in ticket prices. As covered here a number of times, Outside In is double 3D-less: the film uses no 3D CGI, just real photographs and also will not be presented in 3D at all. Now IMAX fans and Francis Ford Coppola are chiming in as well as Michael Bay and Christopher Nolan about why 3D is not the holy grail of filmmaking. (see links below)
I don’t think 3D will die, though, it does have a place. I really enjoyed U2:3D. The 3D in Avatar added a bit (although not much). But I see a lot of bad uses of 3D. I thought 3D actually detracted from much of Hubble 3D except for the closeup astronauts shots.
I’m not the only filmmaker pointing out that the 3D is not the future of cinema (like sound and color were), including in the giant screen IMAX world. There are some very good reasons. First, current (and for the foreseable future) a 3D image is lower resolution, much dimmer, poorer colors and full of various artifacts (ghosting, strobing etc.). So if you want the best possible image quality, 2D is way, way better. Secondly, our stereo vision is only really stereo for objects very close to us. If you add stereo 3D to distant images, they look silly. Third, shooting 3D is a pain in the butt, expensive and camera on twice as big and huge as their 2D counterparts.
Stereo photography has been around for many, many decades yet 99% of still pictures are 2D. While Hollywood may decide to try to make tons of 3D movies, I’m not sure how long the hype will last. 3D will likely settle down to some subjects (it’s a cool way for look at certain objects that are very close/small – that “reach out and touch” kind of thing). Maybe sports, cartoons, some animation, concerts…and continued use in IMAX.
In my own personal experience, the very best, most immersive cinema experience is a giant screen 2D experience, especially IMAX domes. Outside In is primarly aimed at those screens. Perhaps technology will allow 3D that brings the best of both current 2D and 3D together, but until then, 2D is still king of the big screen.
Another great TED talk – Brian Cox on “Why we need Explorers”. This one is great summary of the themes in Outside In. The best part? The images he uses are the “big moment” images in Outside In. Awesome.
Mike Malaska is a great supporter of Outside In as well as a rising star amongst amateurs making some real science noise in the Saturnian system. Check out his recent image from the Enceladus flyby.
Image credits: NASA / JPL / Space Sciences Institute / Mike Malaska
High phase crescent of Enceladus over Saturn’s rings taken on May 18, 2010 from a distance of 47,000 km by the Cassini spacecraft. Multiple frame mosaic assembled from raw images.
Been meaning to post this for a couple of days but not had a chance. These are stunning new images from Cassini of Enceladus’s icy jets and then Saturn in background. I’ve been waiting years for these – when incorporated in Outside In – will be even more amazing.
This is a very thought-provoking essay from SEED magazine worth a read. And it’s one of the first things I’ve come across that addresses the core themes in Outside In. It’s my view that answers, discoveries – actually even the right questions, are not to be found in the consumptive and internal/virtual angst-ing that is becoming the dominant activity on our planet.
And this essay makes the point that video games and virtual worlds have become a poor substitute drug for the restless exploratory nature of our species – which is a big point in Outside In. But we are not going to find any new answers to anything in Halo 4 or Gawker 3.0.
I think if you read this essay, the title of the film might be a little clearer. In other words, there is only one way for us to even ask the right questions – and that way is Outside In, not from the inside out.
As I’ve mentioned before, the animation techniques in “Outside In” requires various types of optical illusions to work. Here’s fun example of how effective a few of them are – some cool shelving for your wall. Click on the image to read the whole story.
Last minute notice but I just found out about this talk a few days ago and just heard a few minutes ago that my yet unreleased clip will be show at the end of the talk. So here’s your chance to see it.
GTCC is bringing in University of Virginia Astronomer, Dr. Anne Verbiscer who is key member of the Cassini Imaging Team to talk about Saturn’s incredible moon Enceladus which plays a key part in Outside In (and is featured in my clip.
It’s online and ready for viewing, but as reward for those who have been supporters of the film – they get to see it first. You can be a Team 11 member starting at just $1 a month, tax-deductible. Much more coolness like this coming as production on the film moves forward.
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