Gawker 
Enter your username and password.
-
posts about #houseofwax more → 
A History of the Theater Gimmicks Meant to Save Hollywood
New York, 6:06 PM
Sun Nov 29
12 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip Your Editors:
tips@gawker.com
Tipline: 646-214-8138
Editor-in-Chief:
Gabriel Snyder | Email
West Coast Editor:
Richard Rushfield | Email
Contributing Editors:
Valleywag:
Ryan Tate | Email
Media:
Hamilton Nolan | Email
Politics:
Alex Pareene | Email
Investigations:
John Cook | Email
Entertainment:
Brian Moylan | Email
Nights:
Adrian Chen | Email
Azaria Jagger | Email
Ravi Somaiya | Email
Weekends:
Foster Kamer | Email
Video Editor:
Richard Blakeley | Email
| posts about #houseofwax more → |
A History of the Theater Gimmicks Meant to Save Hollywood |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
11/07/09
Until someone figures out how to do something un-gimmicky with it it will always be just that- a gimmick. #3d
11/07/09
I'm sure that, someday, someone will come up with a way to project 3D on a screen without requiring the viewer to put on glasses. Until then, 3D's not for me. #3d
11/07/09
The better computer animated films or mocap films have succeeded to varying degrees. Is it a game changer? Eh... probably not. But something like Beowulf (an awful awful movie) had a very lovely pop up book feeling to it where every thing in frame was at it's own depth. Sure, they had a couple swords pushed into the lens, but the highlight was really just the subtle depth in every single shot. I don't think it's enough to change the industry, but it can be a fun thing to see every once and awhile. If only it were coupled with a good movie. #3d
11/06/09
Reading the wikipedia article on sensurround now, they do mention that some theater patrons actually became sick, and there were reports of property damage.
Say what you want about it, but this was one movie novelty that really brought it. 3D has always been kind of disappointing and lame, but sensurround was actually a little too much.
11/06/09
(also taking bets on how long it'll be before David Kamp gets in here to natter about Cinerama?) #3d
11/08/09
11/06/09
That being said, The Tingler is a goddamn cinematic masterpiece and you should all go watch it right now. #3d
11/06/09
11/07/09
11/06/09
11/06/09
3-D 3.0, and especially 3-D IMAX, makes me vomit. Seriously, it's some kind of inner ear thing, I literally retch. #3d
11/06/09
Personally, I'm sticking with the Mr. Magoo version.
[www.youtube.com]
11/06/09
11/06/09
My dad loves Polar Express, but I felt it would have fit better as a Halloween movie than anything related to Christmas. For getting my Christmas Carol on, I'll stick to one of the two best Christmas movies ever made: A Muppet Christmas Carol (the other best movie being Christmas Story). #3d
11/06/09
11/06/09
11/06/09
On the other hand, when it is used correctly it can be great. Like Pixar's Up or Toy Story. No gimmicky stuff, just extra depth to the movie. #3d
11/07/09
#theuncannyvalley #3d
11/06/09
"My first show was Barefoot in the Park, which was an absolute smash, but my production on the stage of Backdraft was what really got them excited. This whole idea of 'In Your Face' theatre really affected them. The conceptualization, the whole abstraction, the obtuseness of this production to me was what was interesting. I wanted the audience to feel the heat from the fire, the fear, because people don't like fire, poked, poked in their noses, you know when you get a cinder from a barbeque right on the end of your nose and you kind of make that face, you know, that's not a good thing, and I wanted them to have the sense memory of that. So during the show I had someone burn newspapers and send it through the vents in the theatre. And well, they freaked out, and 'course the fire Marshall came over and they shut us down for a couple of days" #3d
11/06/09
11/06/09
11/06/09
But still, good post. #3d
11/06/09
11/06/09
11/06/09
11/06/09
11/06/09
I watched a 4D movie (3D print combined with actual physical effects during the screening) at California Adventure where not only were you suspended in individually articulated chairs (meant they could tilt you so you'd feel g-forces based on how the camera was moving while filming), but they would spray a fine mist when the view was flying over open water, and they could spray different scents based on the environment on the screen (I only really remember the smell of ocean water and the smell of oranges). These are the sort of thing that work well for theme parks, where watching the movie is more about the experience than the film itself, but they kinda fall flat in a more general sense.
Also, I once read that being able to smell what's happening on-screen would be the death of porn movies. #3d