CANNES: Vince Pace, one of the thought leader’s in 3D entertainment joined legendary filmmaker and partner, James Cameron to participate in The American Pavilion’s 3D Day during this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The two innovators of the PACE/Cameron Fusion system and leaders in 3D production participated in the panel discussion via a Skype video call from Los Angeles where James Cameron continues production on the highly anticipated 3D feature film Avatar with Pace serving as Director of Photography.
The 3D Day included two topic panels that were combined into one long panel discussion, New Dimensions for 3D: How Digital 3D Will Shape Movie Production and Distribution During The Next 20 yrs and New Technology Driving Digital 3D.
The long time misperceptions of 3D production were lifted as the two expressed the true realities of the technology, its integration, and the financial impact of stereoscopic film making. With most industry speakers touting a 20-40% monetary increase, Pace stepped up to the microphone and brought to the table Final Destination 4, which is currently in production utilizing the latest PACE/Cameron Fusion F23 System. Having budgeted only a 10% – 15% cushion, production is currently ahead of schedule and under budget.
Pace and Cameron went on to clear the air as to the number of available acquisition systems currently in market for immediate use on production.
The current Fusion System line, the world’s largest inventory of 3D systems, could easily service multiple high level feature films simultaneously. Both veterans stated that it is a matter of demand pushing the number of systems in the market, not the ability to actually produce them, and challenged film makers to join the revolution. PACE has the immediate ability to produce additional systems due to the internalized infrastructure of the proprietary technology.
Pace and Cameron have been working together since 1988 on the production of The Abyss. In 2001 Cameron came to Pace with the desire to build ‘the holy grail’ of cameras. The challenge was to design a stereoscopic acquisition system that would reinvent the entertainment experience by providing imagery that mimics the human experience.
The two thought leaders accomplished this feat by throwing out the mathematics that previously drove and hindered 3D production; replacing it with the creatively driven tool known today as the first camera in the Fusion System line — blurring the line between having seen it and having been there.
