Master of all he sees, King James, stopped by G4’s Attack of the Show for their hipply named segment “Gadget Pr0n” to show off his bad-ass 3D camera. I don’t have the venomous hate for Cameron that a lot of cineasts do, but I do find him fairly unlikable to listen to talk about, well, most anything. So watching Jimbo fart around with a 3D camera while Kevin Pereira sucks up to him (which I don’t blame him for; Cameron is a big get as a guest) sounds like a shit way to begin the day. Yet I found myself quite interested in the tech on display here. Gadget Pr0n is aptly named, it would seem. And Cameron knows his tech.
G4’s cheat-sheet on the camera:
• This camera is called a mini beam splitter rig and is set up inverted to be hand-held.
• This rig was specifically created for the movie from two Sony cameras.
• Unlike most 3D cameras, the Pace doesn’t use two side by side cameras for 3D effects.
• Instead, it uses two cameras on the top and bottom to recreate how the 3D space will look on screen.
• This technology is known as “fusion 3D.”
• The beam splitter allows the two lenses to merge inside each other as the top camera can move side to side to change the interocular distance or change angles to control the convergence.
• It’s a silent and fast 9 axis motion control system.
• The rig weighs 28 lbs.
• The two cameras must be finely calibrated in order to be doing the same thing at the exact same time.
Looking at Cameron sling this thing around, I don’t know why so many filmmakers are opting for horrible post-conversion – using the camera’s unwieldy size as their reasoning. It
looks easy enough to wield to me. Or… is Cameron truly a superior
being?!
8 comments
Contrary to what's seemingly the popular opinion, I don't find Cameron unlikeable at all. He's a really intelligent talker and genuinely knows his tech, which makes him an OK guy in my book.
I sort of agree with you, swedishskinjer, but there are many times in interviews when he comes across as a bit smug and arrogant. Then again, when you've made films like Aliens, The Terminator and The Abyss, I suppose you've sort of earned that right.
Agree 100% with swedishskinjer — this snob attitude of not liking Cameron is just sour grapes toward a guy who's unbelievably successful — it always happens this way in the media. He used to be the film geek underdog and now he's the guy on top. It's always been in vogue to hate what's highly successful. The guy is the ultimate geek who pushes the envelope with his movies. We are the beneficiaries of that. To me, he's always come off as a hard ass — but a hard ass that's one of us. The guy was driving a truck for a living in his 30's. Now he's making Avatar. Why is that anything but something to cheer for?
I dont' think it's likability. He's notoriously difficult to work with. His rage had numerous people literally in tears during the filming of The Abyss, including Ed Harris. I seem to remember hearing that some of the cast of that movie will never ever work with him again. Of course, most actors are a bunch of sniveling millionaire babies, so none of this may have a whole lot of context.
Wow, all wrong. He writes terrible movies scientifically designed to appeall to the biggest, most stupid section of audience. The SciFi nerds he gets for free because, well…what else do they have? The camera tech looks fine. Can't wait to see a less cynical filmmaker make use of it to tell a great story.
Cameron is 80% ego, 10% talent and 10% douchebag. Its very, very easy to dislike him. I don't care that he used to be a janitor and a truck driver. He's not like us at all. If he were a true geek, he would be giving some of his millions to helping struggling young film makers realize their visions. After all he was one himeself once. He now completely self absorbed and each time his movies make billions he becomes more convinced he is a superior being. King of the world? More like King Douchenozzle.
I saw this on TV the other day. I've always heard stories of Cameron being a dick, but he seemed quite affable on the show, especially when he asked if it was ok for him to "geek out". Seriously though, even if he is a raging asshole, my relationship with him involves only his films. I've never met him. I probably never will meet him. I like his movies, and that's all that matters, really.
I love the amount of people that have actually spent time with the man and have worked side by side with him. Who has the ego, who is the douchebag?
I heard….. Blow it out your ass.
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.