IMAX NEWS
Avatar Factoid #1
Friday, December 4 by Julie Brown
Did you know…?
To tell his story, James Cameron had to create technology and new production paradigms that revolutionized the filmmaking process. Foremost among these was new performance capture technology that would fully capture not only the actors’ movements for their CG incarnations, but also the full range of facial emotions and expressions. Another innovation, a virtual camera, allowed Cameron to shoot scenes within computer-generated worlds, just as if he were filming on a Hollywood soundstage. Yet another technical advance, a 3-D Fusion camera created by Cameron and Vince Pace, added to AVATAR’s already immersive experience. And Academy Award-winning visual effects house WETA Digital worked with Cameron to create a new world of unprecedented scale.
To tell his story, James Cameron had to create technology and new production paradigms that revolutionized the filmmaking process. Foremost among these was new performance capture technology that would fully capture not only the actors’ movements for their CG incarnations, but also the full range of facial emotions and expressions. Another innovation, a virtual camera, allowed Cameron to shoot scenes within computer-generated worlds, just as if he were filming on a Hollywood soundstage. Yet another technical advance, a 3-D Fusion camera created by Cameron and Vince Pace, added to AVATAR’s already immersive experience. And Academy Award-winning visual effects house WETA Digital worked with Cameron to create a new world of unprecedented scale.
AVATAR TICKETS ON SALE TO 31 DECEMBER.
Tuesday, November 17 by Julie Brown
Book your ticket now and you won't need to queue for a specific seat when seeing James Cameron's epic new feature film, AVATAR 3D (opens 16 Dec with advance screenings from 5pm).
At IMAX in Darling Harbour, we have introduced 'best available' allocated seating, which means you know exactly where you'll be sitting and your seat number is guaranteed.
That means goodbye to queuing and more time to relax with a drink or meal in surrounding Darling Harbour.
At IMAX in Darling Harbour, we have introduced 'best available' allocated seating, which means you know exactly where you'll be sitting and your seat number is guaranteed.
That means goodbye to queuing and more time to relax with a drink or meal in surrounding Darling Harbour.
Big screen? What’s the big deal?
Monday, November 9 by Mark Bretherton
With cinemas all trying to outdo each other with claims for the better cinema experience we thought it was time to revisit just what it is that makes the IMAX experience in Darling Harbour so special.
First up we have a pretty good claim – we have the world’s biggest cinema screen and that means we absolutely dwarf every other screen in Sydney (IMAX or otherwise). That’s great, but it wouldn’t be much of a claim if we couldn’t fill it with a high quality picture and we do that by being the only cinema in Sydney screening films using giant IMAX film that is of superb quality and resolution. It’s ten times bigger than your average cinema film size and of superb quality and resolution (and digital still has a very long way to come to get close to this sort of resolution!).
First up we have a pretty good claim – we have the world’s biggest cinema screen and that means we absolutely dwarf every other screen in Sydney (IMAX or otherwise). That’s great, but it wouldn’t be much of a claim if we couldn’t fill it with a high quality picture and we do that by being the only cinema in Sydney screening films using giant IMAX film that is of superb quality and resolution. It’s ten times bigger than your average cinema film size and of superb quality and resolution (and digital still has a very long way to come to get close to this sort of resolution!).
See the first images from the newly refurbished HUBBLE Space Telescope - a small screen prelude to HUBBLE 3D
Thursday, September 10 by Julie Brown
NASA today has unveiled the first images taken from the newly re-furbished Hubble Space Telescope.
At IMAX Darling Harbour, we are excited to bring you a taste of these truly breathtaking images - for now, on the small screen - but in early 2010 you'll have the chance to experience these wonders of our universe in spectacular IMAX 3D when we release the film HUBBLE 3D in its full-blown giant screen glory.
These images and captions below are provided courtesy of NASA and give you a taste of more to come...
At IMAX Darling Harbour, we are excited to bring you a taste of these truly breathtaking images - for now, on the small screen - but in early 2010 you'll have the chance to experience these wonders of our universe in spectacular IMAX 3D when we release the film HUBBLE 3D in its full-blown giant screen glory.
These images and captions below are provided courtesy of NASA and give you a taste of more to come...
Premiere Pics from Dinosaurs Alive! 3D
Monday, September 7 by Julie Brown
Dinosaurs Alive! 3D has lurched onto the giant screen and taken audiences by 3D storm here at IMAX in Darling Harbour. In this latest documentary from Giant Screen Films, producers of Egypt 3D and Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey, we embark on a truly global adventure of science and discovery as we travel back in time to the age of dinosaurs.
The film’s Australian premiere had a distinctly pre-historic theme, as guests walked the lush “green carpet” to the entrance and munched on dinosaur cookies and cup cakes before donning their 3D glasses for the show.
The film’s Australian premiere had a distinctly pre-historic theme, as guests walked the lush “green carpet” to the entrance and munched on dinosaur cookies and cup cakes before donning their 3D glasses for the show.
How does IMAX 3D actually work?
Tuesday, August 4 by Julie Brown
One of the most frequently asked questions here at the Theatre is: "How does 3D actually work?" In a nutshell, 3D film technology mimics the way our own eyes see the world, yet on a flat cinema screen. ie. When you look at an object in real life, each eye sees a slightly different view and our brain fuses these together into a single 3D image. The two lenses on the IMAX® 3D camera roughly match the distance between our eyes and so each lens 'sees' and records a slightly different view. The end result is two separate reels of film for every IMAX 3D movie (one reel with the left eye view and another reel with the right eye view). These two reels of film run simultaneously through the camera and your polarized IMAX 3D glasses fuse the two images together, creating the 3D effect on screen.
IMAX 3D filmmaking in space
Friday, June 5 by Julie Brown
A recent article in Popular Science online takes us behind the scenes on the latest film project from IMAX Corporation - HUBBLE 3D. Veteran filmmaker Toni Myers gives us an insight into the way astronauts use the giant IMAX camera to capture images of the delicate repair of the Hubble telescope.
Here's the article, by Jeremy Hsu (posted online 28.05.2009):
Filming an IMAX 3D feature about NASA's last manned mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope created challenges that even Christopher Nolan's crew never faced on the set of "The Dark Knight." Using only eight minutes of film, astronauts had to capture the essence of five long spacewalks using a custom-made IMAX camera as big as a submarine. Thankfully, IMAX director and producer Toni Myers was there to help.
Here's the article, by Jeremy Hsu (posted online 28.05.2009):
Filming an IMAX 3D feature about NASA's last manned mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope created challenges that even Christopher Nolan's crew never faced on the set of "The Dark Knight." Using only eight minutes of film, astronauts had to capture the essence of five long spacewalks using a custom-made IMAX camera as big as a submarine. Thankfully, IMAX director and producer Toni Myers was there to help.
NEW RELEASE AVATAR TICKETS. MIDNIGHT SATURDAY 30 JANUARY. BOOK NOW.
Wednesday, January 27 by Julie Brown
A new MIDNIGHT session (11.59pm) has been added to our AVATAR 3D schedule for this Saturday 30 January. Demand is extremely high for this extraordinary film, so BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment. Plenty of great seats are still available but they won't last long! The record breaking AVATAR 3D is now the world's biggest grossing film, having toppled Titanic (Avatar director James Cameron's previous film) off its pedestal earlier this year. See it at IMAX in Darling Harbour, on the world's biggest cinema screen.
INSIDE THE MAKING OF HUBBLE 3D
Wednesday, January 27 by Julie Brown
Due out in May this year, Hubble 3D promises to not only take us back into space - as only IMAX can - but also to the edge of time. That's a big call, but when you've got the combined efforts of NASA and IMAX involved, we expect only big results. Like all IMAX space films that have gone before it, Hubble 3D is actually filmed in space by the astronauts themselves.
Shooting footage in space is one thing, but doing it with giant IMAX cameras is another thing altogether. In an article in Cosmic Log online, IMAX film director Toni Myers explains some of the challenges experienced:
Shooting footage in space is one thing, but doing it with giant IMAX cameras is another thing altogether. In an article in Cosmic Log online, IMAX film director Toni Myers explains some of the challenges experienced:
BEWARE OF FAKE IMAX TICKETS
Thursday, January 7 by Julie Brown
If you are a MYMAX member, you may have recently participated in our online survey. Thanks to everyone who did provide their feedback!
As a thank you for participating, we issued survey respondents with a FREE IMAX TICKET VOUCHER like the one below:
Please note that this voucher is SINGLE USE ONLY and features a unique barcode that will be scanned at the Theatre. Do not copy and distribute this ticket to your friends or family as they will not be able to use it if it HAS ALREADY BEEN REDEEMED.
As a thank you for participating, we issued survey respondents with a FREE IMAX TICKET VOUCHER like the one below:
Please note that this voucher is SINGLE USE ONLY and features a unique barcode that will be scanned at the Theatre. Do not copy and distribute this ticket to your friends or family as they will not be able to use it if it HAS ALREADY BEEN REDEEMED.
Want to keep up-to-date with what's showing on the Big Screen? Look no further! The IMAX blog will keep you up to date with IMAX movies and events - stay tuned for trailers, behind the scenes videos and interviews on all things IMAX.
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- You'd Be Mad Not Take A Seat At The World's Biggest Tea Party
- The Surfing Scientist Catches The Ultimate Wave
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- It's Hiccup The Dragon Slayer At Imax This Easter.
- Don't Be Late! Tickets For Alice In Wonderland In Imax 3d Are On Sale Now.
- Early Hubble 3d Footage Brings A Tear To Astronaut's Eye
- New Hubble 3d Website Launch
- 2010 Education Program - New Film Announcements
- Avatar Factoid #3
- Avatar Factoid #2
