Nolan to use new IMAX cameras on next film

Stephen Perera · November 1

According to articles....

https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/10/31/christopher-nolan-to-shoot-next-film-on-never-before-used-imax-equipment

Imax CEO Richard Gelfond is revealing that Christopher Nolan will be using new IMAX technology for his next film

I’m pleased to share that Chris will be utilizing new IMAX technology in the making of the film — never-before-used equipment that our teams have been developing through this past year.

Edited November 1 by Stephen Perera

Jon O'Brien · November 2

How absolutely cool is that.

You know how winemakers can't call their product "Champagne" any more unless it's a product of that region of France? They've got to call it "Sparkling wine" if it doesn't come from there ..

I propose that movies cannot be called "Films" if they aren't shot on film. So, movies shot on digital cameras should be called "Videos" which is what they are. I sort of speak in jest. Though it's true.

Jon O'Brien · November 2

For instance, Australia has a highly professional feature video industry. We don't make films any more.

Karim D. Ghantous · November 2

I think that they also need new lenses. Also, seeing as they scan in 8K, isn't it better to shoot vertical 8-perf 65mm for IMAX these days?

Jon O'Brien · November 2

2 hours ago, Karim D. Ghantous said:

I think that they also need new lenses. Also, seeing as they scan in 8K, isn't it better to shoot vertical 8-perf 65mm for IMAX these days?

They can't use Hasselblad lenses? Hmm, maybe the image circle isn't big enough.

Yes, I don't know why 15 perf is used for narrative productions, but who cares, as long as it's real film. I think vertical 5 perf is enough for any cinema - whether exhibited by digital or by film projector. But really, Nolan must know what he's doing.

Aapo Lettinen · November 2

2 hours ago, Jon O'Brien said:

They can't use Hasselblad lenses? Hmm, maybe the image circle isn't big enough.

Yes, I don't know why 15 perf is used for narrative productions, but who cares, as long as it's real film. I think vertical 5 perf is enough for any cinema - whether exhibited by digital or by film projector. But really, Nolan must know what he's doing.

15perf IMAX is used on narratives because it helps marketing the film, it stands out and people think it would be a extraordinary viewing experience so they will more likely watch it and are prepared to pay extra for the experience.

Nolan is just like everyone else, he does everything he can to help his films to gain attention and wide audiences. if it needs imaging technology exhibition circus on top of everything else, then so be it 🙂

David Mullen ASC · November 2

Nolan prefers being able to contact print and project as much 15-perf 65mm footage as possible for theaters, he only scans the IMAX negative for VFX shots. He did try a D.I. (I believe) for "Tenet" -- but "Oppenheimer" and most of his other films like "Dunkirk" have a cut 15-perf 65mm negative for making 70mm contact prints for IMAX film theaters.

Gautam Valluri · November 2

9 hours ago, Karim D. Ghantous said:

Also, seeing as they scan in 8K, isn't it better to shoot vertical 8-perf 65mm for IMAX these days?

There was also Astrovision, which was a 10-perf/70mm horizontal format, used in some science museums in Asia in the 1990s.

I suppose the cost of shooting 8/70 or 10/70 wouldn't be far off from 15/70, so why not go all out?

Jeff Bernstein · November 2

3 hours ago, David Mullen ASC said:

Nolan prefers being able to contact print and project as much 15-perf 65mm footage as possible for theaters, he only scans the IMAX negative for VFX shots.

Similar to how, as Nathaniel Grimwood told me, the VFX shots for Star Wars (1977) were shot in VistaVision?

Gautam Valluri · November 2

29 minutes ago, Jeff Bernstein said:

Similar to how, as Nathaniel Grimwood told me, the VFX shots for Star Wars (1977) were shot in VistaVision?

A lot of films used to use VistaVision for effects shots until CGI and film scanning became high quality. The idea was to counter the generational loss of optical printing by using a bigger negative. A lot of effects shots were also done on 65mm for the same reason.

David Mullen ASC · November 2

3 hours ago, Jeff Bernstein said:

Similar to how, as Nathaniel Grimwood told me, the VFX shots for Star Wars (1977) were shot in VistaVision?

No, Nolan is already shooting the non-VFX shots in the highest film format, 15-perf 65mm -- in the case of "Star Wars", the larger VistaVision negative was used for two reasons: (1) to offset the loss of sharpness and increase in grain from optical printer compositing using dupe elements; (2) to avoid using anamorphic lenses to shoot miniatures, matte paintings, and animation elements.