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2. Filmmakers Hate 3D, Too
While it’s true that some filmmakers hate 3D, many do not – and have embraced the format. Some who used to hate 3D have come to appreciate its use – when it allows for a more immersive or memorable experience with their film.
It’s no secret that studios are encouraging (and in some cases mandating) directors make movies in 3D, but let’s not pretend that this is anything new in Hollywood. Filmmakers are subject to tremendous influence from producers and studio executives when it comes to project decisions. Creative preferences regularly bend for business reasons in casting, screenwriting, and editing, among other areas. Studio meddling can result in bad movies just as it can result in bad 3D. But that doesn’t mean that every single director that’s encouraged to use 3D is doomed to fail.
The biggest hurdle that 3D faced with directors (in both movies and television) was that the camera rigs and post-production work would get in the way of producing a quality piece of cinema. However, modern 3D camera setups are relatively compact and easy to use - meaning that in many cases 3D won’t hinder directors, camera men, cinematographers, or anyone who would otherwise be responsible for shooting a 2D project. As a result, for interested filmmakers, 3D becomes another tool that they can use to draw viewers into their story.
Of course, unlike lighting or costume design, the 3D “tool” translates into a higher price point for consumers – and directors have to make sure their use of the tool ultimately delivers a worthwhile return on viewer investment.
Don’t believe that 3D filming can be done at the same speed and quality of a 2D production? Check out Sony’s 3D on a 2D Production Test.
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NEXT: What Makes 3D Worthwhile?
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I’m not a 3D hater, and not a 3D fanboy either. I don’t think every movie needs to be in 3D, but some definitely benefit from it. I have two main complaints about 3D. One is that it seems to enhance the strobing/stutter of 24fps so it’s worse than 2D films in that regard (HFR 3D doesn’t have this limitation though – darn you Peter Jackson for spoiling me like that).
The second is that studios force 3D on us, and it can be hard to find 2D versions of a movie because theatres like to be able to charge extra too and will often only show the 3D version. One example was GI Joe Retaliation. It was delayed 8 months or so to be post-converted, so I did not want to support studio greed and refused to see it in 3D (I generally don’t want to support post conversions anyway). However, I had to really try hard to find a theatre that was showing it in 2D, and I live in a big city. I can only imagine what it’s like for people who can’t see 3D or get headaches from it.
It would be nice if there was a way to show 2D and 3D in the same theatre (e.g. glasses=3D, no glasses=2D), so people could have the best of both worlds, and wouldn’t have to complain any more. You could technically do it now by just putting 2 left frames in a set of glasses, but people would still complain about dimmed colours or having to wear them over prescription glasses.