10 Lessons The Movie Industry Can Learn From Christopher Nolan

6. And Get Rid Of 3D While Your At It

3D I'm so numb to 3D now that I basically phase it out. I despise the format and have been boycotting it since Tron Legacy proved the effect has no creative merits (director Joseph Kosinski promised a Wizard Of Oz style contrast between worlds that was disgracefully fumbled). But despite filtering out it€™s presence from cinema listings and trailer endings, I'm still painfully aware of the sheer number of 3D films we have to contend with. Hollywood (and of course the cinemas who shelled out big bucks on the technology) doesn't seem willing to slow down on this one, putting every major blockbuster and animation through the process, often in post production to cut on costs. It seems, however, that they€™re fighting a losing battle. The ratio of 3D to 2D sales is dropping rapidly; for Avatar 72% of showings were in 3D, but when The Great Gatsby hit earlier this year it was sliced to 33%. Given films can still get a billion dollars without the format (and that the only high grossing 3D re-release in recent memory was Titanic which was also available in 2D), it€™s clear audience are seeing the gimmick for what it is. €œBut how does this relate to Nolan?€ I hear you scream at your computer screens. While J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro have all fallen under the 3D boot, he€™s stood strong. Offered a rushed conversion for Inception and forcibly asked to shoot The Dark Knight Rises in 3D, Nolan has remained resolute in his stance against stereoscopy €“ it darkens and blurs the image €“ championing the high definition of IMAX instead. Maybe if a few more directors grew a spine and took his stance the effect could be dead in a few years.
Contributor
Contributor

Film Editor (2014-2016). Loves The Usual Suspects. Hates Transformers 2. Everything else lies somewhere in the middle. Once met the Chuckle Brothers.