Cameron's Avatar Official

[John Crichton 4]

James Cameron is set to direct "Avatar," his first dramatic feature since his Oscar-winning blockbuster "Titanic" in 1997, it was announced Monday by Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. Cameron will start principal photography on "Avatar" in April for a summer 2009 release.

Cameron has already spent years in research and development on the multiple processes needed to create this $200 million hybrid of live action and animation, and has already shot 10 to 11 minutes of footage. "I've been the busiest unemployed director in Hollywood," he said. "We think we're going to blow people away. We want to throw you to the back wall of the theater. My goal is to rekindle those crazy mystical moments my generation felt when we first saw '2001: A Space Odyssey,' or the next generation's 'Star Wars.' It took me 10 years to find something hard enough."

Partly through its work on six documentary features, Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment team has researched a groundbreaking mix of live-action cinematography and virtual photorealistic production techniques for "Avatar," which will feature virtual characters filmed for 3D release in a new digital 3D format.

Cameron has been lobbying for exhibitors around the country to adopt more digital projection systems. About 300-400 are in place now, he estimated, and he expects some 1,000 by year's end. He anticipates that 1,500 -2,000 digital 3D theaters will exist by the film's 2009 release. Cameron said he likes Real D cinema system that has been used for films like "Chicken Little" and "Monster House," but is open to any system that can play the film.

"Avatar" will mark a return for Cameron to the sci-fi action adventure genre. Written by Cameron, who first wrote an 80-page treatment 11 years ago, "Avatar" is the story of a wounded ex-marine who is unwillingly sent to settle and exploit the faraway planet Pandora. He gets caught up in battle for survival by the planet's inhabitants, called Na'vis, and falls in love with one of them.

Full article: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/conten...93b57ad6f2ed194

It certainly sounds ambitious, but I'm wondering what the pratcial end result of it all is, not to mention having a hard time picturing what it's going to actually be like.

[scissorhands 16]

Full article: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/conten...93b57ad6f2ed194

It certainly sounds ambitious, but I'm wondering what the pratcial end result of it all is, not to mention having a hard time picturing what it's going to actually be like.

Cameron has spent the last months in the pre-production of the film (allegedly motion-capture paid from his own pocket) , waiting for some company to produce the film. In past interviews, he claimed the movie would need $300 million to get accomplished. Nobody wanted to spend that much in one movie, hence the constant delies of the film (first set for a 2007 release). As I can see that amount has diminished to $200.

I'm expecting this one more than any film (apart from Interestellar and Indy 4).

[nightscape94 965]

Sounds like this needs a Williams score!

This film is also officially on my radar.

Tim

[HPFAN_2 0]

I need something more to get interested.

[QMM 4]

I need something more to get interested.

James Cameron directing again and in Sci-Fi is good enough for me.

Been following this for a while, glad it's finally getting started (officially)

[HPFAN_2 0]

James Cameron directing again and in Sci-Fi is good enough for me.

Been following this for a while, glad it's finally getting started (officially)

For you.

[Vaderbait1 1]

The movie sounds terrible, and the whole gimmick thing has died long ago.

[Damo 0]

If they are planning on doing something bigger and way better then 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars as a next generation...they definitely need John Williams to do the score.

[Romão 1,931]

If they set standards that high, they will most likely they will fail. Films don't become landmarks when you expect them to. They just do.

[robthehand 3]

I need something more to get interested.

It's the director of Aliens, The Terminator and Terminator 2 - Judgment Day doing another sci-fi film. That's not enough to get you interested?

[Josh500 1,602]

If they set standards that high, they will most likely they will fail. Films don't become landmarks when you expect them to.

That's true -- if it's any other director than James Cameron (or Spielberg).

[QMM 4]

SHYAMALAN'S IN IT TOO!

But not really

Oh, man, this is gonna get ugly fast.

On the same day that James Cameron announces that he’s moving ahead with his long-in-gestation AVATAR, an original sci-fi screenplay that Cameron wrote, M. Night Shyamalan and Paramount Pictures have announced that Shyamalan has signed on to produce, write, and direct a possible trilogy of films based on AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, the Nickelodeon series.

I’m not familiar with the show, but the basic description of it has always left me a little cold. Maybe there’s more to it, though, and Shyamalan obviously feels like there’s something that will take more than one movie to tell properly. Personally, I’m just interested to see what he does when working with someone else’s material, where there’s an already-existing fanbase that he has to try and please. New territory for him.

Now let the battle of the AVATARs begin!!

There's also a nice interview with Cameron over at AICN

[futuremartymcfly 0]

So this is going to be akward... two movies named Avatar, but both with different plots.

Either way, please no James Horner.

[Ollie 859]

We'll probably get stuck with Horner.

Or Brad Fiedel will make a triumphant comeback....

[nightscape94 965]

Maybe even Silvestri, since they worked with each other once before, and with pretty good results (The Abyss).

[futuremartymcfly 0]

Maybe even Silvestri, since they worked with each other once before, and with pretty good results (The Abyss).

Silvestri could be very good for the action sequences, but I don't see him working with the more dramatic portions of the film.

[robthehand 3]

Silvestri could be very good for the action sequences, but I don't see him working with the more dramatic portions of the film.

Why not?

[Romão 1,931]

I love Cameron´s work.

But am I only the one who feels this project is too much about the special effects? it´s the only thing they have been discussing.

[Sandor 459]

I love Cameron´s work.

But am I only the one who feels this project is too much about the special effects? it´s the only thing they have been discussing.

Well, since Cameron is making I'm not too worried. I love James Cameron and his vision. I'm sure it'll be amazing...!

[futuremartymcfly 0]

Silvestri could be very good for the action sequences, but I don't see him working with the more dramatic portions of the film.

Why not?

Well, I guess Silvestri hasn't had a real drama since Cast Away, and before that I can only think of Forest Gump and Contact as being noteworthy so perhaps he can still give an emotional punch, but I've felt that lately Silvestri's emotional moments have all come across as a tad exaggurative, and even cheesy; again, probably due to the fact he hasn't had a true drama since Cast Away.

[robthehand 3]

Probably due to the fact that most of the films he's done recently have been a tad exaggerative and cheesy, as well.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Recently?

I wonder why Cameron feels to need to make his films the most expensive ever made?

This will be the third time, yes?

[Red 73]

I'm excited about this. Cameron knows how to do sci-fi and action so any story of that sort would be safe in his hands, I think. 'Course, it does seem a little too ambitious for its own good.

[nightscape94 965]

I think half of the WETA people probably won't make it out of the animation room alive by the time the whole production finalizes, given the kinds of things Cameron is saying about the photorealism and CGI.

Tim