While Scorsese excitedly says he wants to shoot all his upcoming movies in 3D, Lee admits that he was 'very intimidated' when first using the high-definition format.
- Apr 26, 2012
AceShowbiz - Acclaimed filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Ang Lee stopped by the 2012 CinemaCon in Las Vegas to discuss their experience in creating 3D movies. While the former enthusiastically proclaimed that he would love to shoot all his film in 3D, the latter was more circumspect about the format.
During a panel on Wednesday, April 25, Scorsese shared that he's fond of working in 3D, especially after shooting well-reviewed movie, "Hugo". The Oscar winner admitted that if he could go back in time, he would have filmed all his movies, including "Raging Bull" and "Taxi Driver", in the format.
"I would have practically done all my films in 3D," Scorsese stated during the panel moderated by THR's chief film critic Todd McCarthy. "There is something that 3D gives to the picture that takes you into another land and you stay there and it's a good place to be."
The "Shutter Island" helmer said that 3D could make audience feel a stronger connection to the story and the actors in the film. He gave an example when Sacha Baron Cohen portrayed a stern station inspector in "Hugo", explaining, "He sort of came right off the screen and we sort of felt like we were little kids again."
"It's like seeing a moving sculpture of the actor and it's almost like a combination of theater and film combined and it immerses you in the story more. I saw audiences care about the people more," he added. "The minute it started people wanted three things: color, sound and depth. You want to recreate life."
On the other hand, Lee, whose first 3D movie "Life of Pi" will arrive in the U.S. this December, had a more cautious view on 3D. While admitting that he would like to recreate "Hulk" in 3D, Lee said that he had an "intimidating" experience when shooting in the hi-def format.
"I had the opposite experience. I was very intimidated," so Lee confessed. "We're still novices at this. It's hard to shoot in 3D, but it makes it more interesting. The experience is more intense." When asked how 3D will improve his upcoming film "Life of Pi", the Taiwanese filmmaker answered that it "will put you on the edge of your seat."
The helmer of 2005's critically acclaimed "Brokeback Mountain" added that the challenge in filming a 3D movie lies on the size of the cameras. "It was like operating in a refrigerator," he admitted, "but it is new and exciting for me."
While Lee promoted his first 3D movie "Life of Pi" at CinemaCon, a first look at the Tobey Maguire-starring fantasy movie has been made available for viewing pleasure. Exposing Lee's signature striking visual style, the image shows the titular character, played by Indian student Suraj Sharma, standing on a boat with a gigantic Bengal tiger.
"Life of Pi" will open nationwide on December 21. It follows Pi who is found adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.
