Engadget

Peter Jackson unfazed by 'Hobbit' footage pushback, but will stick to 24 fps for trailers

Steve Dent — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:44:00 EST

Calm down, cinema-goers. It just takes time to "settle in" to the strange new ultra-realistic world of high frame-rates, according to Peter Jackson, who's been responding to audience's rather strong panning of 48fps rough cuts from his upcoming 3D epic, Hobbit. Viewers' main beefs were the surprising appearance of the higher cadence footage, which almost looked like it was shot on video, as well as blemishes on actors and sets which were all-too-visible without the crutch of motion blur. But Jackson insists that the footage lacked special effects and color correction, and that the showing was perhaps too short to judge the frame-rate -- which is why he also says there'll be no 48 fps trailer. He even adds that he's now "very aware of the strobing, the flicker and the artifacts" when he's watching regular 24fps cinema -- so the real struggle for audiences might not be adjusting to the new way, but going back to the old.

Peter Jackson unfazed by 'Hobbit' footage pushback, but will stick to 24 fps for trailers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frame rate debate rages on with 48 fps projection of 3D Hobbit footage

Steve Dent — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:51:00 EST

With his use of Red cameras, 3ality rigs, and high frame rate 3D technology, no one can accuse Peter Jackson of being stuck in the past. Need more evidence of his anti-luddism? He just gave the first projection of footage from his 3D opus "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" in its full 48 fps glory at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas. With the public having endured 80 years of 24 fps film-watching, Jackson appealed to viewers to allow their eyes to adjust to the doubled rate during the ten minute screening. But the reaction showed that public acceptance might take a while. One projectionist compared it to made-for-TV fare, and others referenced Mexican soap-operas and TruMotion. The reply to these criticisms by Jackson (and James Cameron) has always been that 3D is better suited to faster frame rates than 2D -- making it more immersive, reducing headaches and improving stereoscopy. We'll have to wait for the film's release this December to find out whether he's right, or if this attempt at high frame speeds will go the way of Showscan.

Frame rate debate rages on with 48 fps projection of 3D Hobbit footage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Peter Jackson reveals the Red Epic secrets behind The Hobbit (video)

Daniel Cooper — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:08:00 EST

Diet and filmmaking legend Peter Jackson's given us another insight into the making of the Hobbit movies, and this time he's talking about his envious collection of tech. Filming with no less than 48 Red Epic cameras at 48fps in full 5k resolution might sound fantastic, but it hasn't all been a bed of cotton candy. Two 3D cameras need to be mounted at the same "interocular" (the inch-or-so distance between your eyes) which is impossible given the size of the Epic and its lenses. The team had to hire specialist firm 3ality to build a rig where one camera shoots the action and the other is pointed vertically at a mirror. Those who would love to shoot with an Epic should also beware that the cameras naturally desaturate the action to such an extent that the makeup, costume and set design teams have to over-color everything to look natural in post production. For more interesting facts, head down past the break to catch the video in full, and try not to imagine how many years bad luck you'd get if you broke one of those mirrors during a key scene.

Continue reading Peter Jackson reveals the Red Epic secrets behind The Hobbit (video)

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Peter Jackson reveals the Red Epic secrets behind The Hobbit (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

'True Grit' cinematographer Roger Deakins makes jump to digital cameras

Brian Heater — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:21:00 EST

Sorry film diehards, another ally has bitten the dust -- and this one's a biggie. After years of dismissing digital cameras over quality concerns, Roger Deakins, the cinematographer behind The Shawshank Redemption, Revolutionary Road, and pretty much every Coen Brothers movie, has made the jump to digital. The-nine time Oscar nominee confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that he shot the forthcoming sci-fi thriller Now using an Arri Alexa digital camera and is leaning toward using one for his next film, a Sam Mendes-directed James Bond flick. I'm sure Q would approve -- not to mention James Cameron and Peter Jackson, assuming they can put down their respective RED EPIC cameras for long enough.

[Image Credit: Sony]

'True Grit' cinematographer Roger Deakins makes jump to digital cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Peter Jackson shooting The Hobbit at 48FPS, should speed up those long walking scenes

Brian Heater — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:52:00 EST

Say goodbye to blurry Orcs, because The Hobbit is going 48 frames per second. King of Kong Peter Jackson announced via Facebook that the two-part Lord of the Rings prequel will be shot at an increased frame rate, double the 24FPS that has been the industry standard for the better part of a century. Halo's non-director preemptively addressed critics of the technology, comparing it to the transition from vinyl to CDs -- which, let's face it, some folks still aren't all that psyched about. The technology, when combined with a 48FPS projector, should cut down on blur and strobe. Jackson and Warner Bros. have their fingers crossed that a sufficient number of theaters will be capable of projecting at that speed when the film opens in December 2012. We're eagerly awaiting James Cameron's reaction -- and George Lucas's inevitable Star Wars re-re-re-re-release at the new speed.

Peter Jackson shooting The Hobbit at 48FPS, should speed up those long walking scenes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The world's first shipped RED EPIC gets stolen in home break-in (update: $100k reward now offered!)

Ben Bowers — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:42:00 EST

Remember just earlier this month when OffHollywood studio head Mark Pederson became the first man to own a RED EPIC? Well, now his $58,000 über camera is gone. According to REDUSER forums, the EPIC was heisted last night along with some cash from Pederson's chalet in France while he and his family were sleeping. Pederson shares on the forum that "there was a forced entry through the front door. The thieves actually entered the master bedroom while my in-laws were sleeping, and standing a foot from their bed - emptied wallet and purse. There were 6 children and 8 adults sleeping in the house." That's a scary caper worthy of a Hollywood script for sure, but thankfully no one was hurt. Here's hoping the movie-like storyline continues now with law enforcement gumshoes actually cracking the case. In the meantime, maybe Peter Jackson can lend Pederson one of his 30 RED EPICs until his own baby returns.

Update: We just got word that RED honcho Jim Jannard is offering $100,000 to anyone who can provide information leading to the recovery of the device and a conviction of the thieves. In his words (from the RED forums): "We are now offering $100,000 for the safe return of EPIC #00006 and the rest of the system including the media with Mark's files... and the arrest and conviction of those that broke into Mark's chalet in France. We will ONLY pay this amount if there is an arrest and conviction of the parties as we are not interested to be ransomed by thieves." Now that is seriously putting your money where your mouth is!

[Thanks, Derek and Cory]

The world's first shipped RED EPIC gets stolen in home break-in (update: $100k reward now offered!) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Peter Jackson nabs thirty RED EPIC cameras to film The Hobbit, tempt you to blow your savings

Sean Hollister — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 11:55:00 EST

We're still slightly bummed that Peter Jackson never made Halo, but this should patch things up a tad -- the Lord of the Rings director will film The Hobbit in 3D entirely on thirty hand-machined RED EPIC cameras, starting early next year. That's the news straight from RED founder Jim Jannard, but that's not all, as a limited number of pre-production EPIC packages will be available to early adopters as well. $58,000 buys your deep-pocketed budding director a machined EPIC-M body, titanium PL mount, Bomb EVF and 5-inch touchscreen LCD, a REDmote, a four-pack of batteries, a charger and a solid state storage module with a four-pack of 128GB SSDs. Jannard expects to hand-assemble that first batch of 5K imagers in December or January, start the real assembly lines a month after that, and hopefully have widespread availability by NAB in April, though he's not making any promises there. That's how RED rolls. PR after the break.

[Thanks, Patrick]

Continue reading Peter Jackson nabs thirty RED EPIC cameras to film The Hobbit, tempt you to blow your savings

Peter Jackson nabs thirty RED EPIC cameras to film The Hobbit, tempt you to blow your savings originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Real life Halo Warthog goes for a test drive

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:04:00 EST

One lucky writer over at OXM got his hands on a working Warthog -- yes, of Halo fame -- and he was good enough to snap some pics for us, even though we suspect that he's actually rubbing 'em in our faces. Because seriously, this is one helluva ride. And seriously, we're like totally jealous. Based on a Nissan Patrol 4x4 truck platform and built for Peter Jackson's abandoned Halo film, this is not a prop -- rather, its a fully working beast. The six-cylinder, diesel, automatic bad boy sports full four-wheel drive, a custom chassis, and for the lucky driver they do have a set or two of United Nations Space Command Marine armor available. This vehicle is currently billeted in New Zealand, so if you're in the area stop in and ask for a ride. What could it hurt? And tell 'em Engadget sent you. More pics after the break.

Continue reading Real life Halo Warthog goes for a test drive

Filed under: Gaming, Transportation

Real life Halo Warthog goes for a test drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lord of the Rings Trilogy headed to Blu-ray?

Darren Murph — Wed, 28 May 2008 03:40:00 EST

Now that we've already got one particular trilogy on our BD radar, it's only fitting that yet another blockbuster trio hit the screen. According to PSU, Peter Jackson has stated outrightly that he is "working on a Blu-ray version of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy with Warner Bros. at the moment," and although he confessed that a release date wasn't available, we are told not to expect it anytime this year. Reportedly, the comments were divulged while chatting about the forthcoming Hobbit, and while we're undoubtedly stoked to hear the news, we can't help but feel somewhat crushed that Profile 4.0 may very well be out and about before this collection ever lands. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Image courtesy of Britannica, thanks Justin]

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Lord of the Rings Trilogy headed to Blu-ray? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 May 2008 03:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments