Archive for the ‘Avatar’ Category
| Cameron wows Comic Con | July 26th, 2009 |
James Cameron originally wrote “Avatar” as a way to challenge the special-effects firm Digital Domain, where he served as chief executive. But it took technology 14 years to catch up with his vision of a faraway planet populated by otherwordly plants and animals where humans embody avatars just to brave the landscape.
“In the same way that I wrote ‘Terminator’ just to get a directing gig, I decided to write a story that was full of creatures and characters that would push the art of CG for that company,” he said. But after artists there said it couldn’t be done, Cameron shelved the idea.
Ten years later, when he realized technology had caught up with his cinematic visions, he dusted off the concept and helped develop technology to make it work. On Thursday, he presented world-premiere footage of his progress to more than 6,000 fans at Comic Con.
The “Titanic” director showed more than 20 minutes of footage from the film.
| James Cameron Showing Off Avatar at Comic-Con | July 18th, 2009 |
Dork Shelf has received some interesting information from a reliable source regarding the San Diego Comic Con and James Cameron’s new film Avatar.
Apparently the huge 65,000 square foot H hall at the San Diego Convention Center is being converted into a massive 3D theatre for the event. This means that not only will Cameron be showing off Avatar at Comic Con, but that it will also be presented in full 3D as the director intended it to be seen. The hour long panel on July 23rd will feature James Cameron and two of the stars of Avatar, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver.
Later that day the same hall will play host to the Future of Filmmaking panel with Cameron and Peter Jackson. We can probably expect some more footage of Avatar and possibly our first look at Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s Adventures of Tintin movie. Spielberg, Cameron and Jackson have been the biggest proponents of this new 3D tech; Comic Con will be the first real public demonstration of what they’ve been up to with the technology. Every person that has seen footage from Avatar says that it really must be seen to be believed — I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks. Will it live up to the hype?
From Dork Shelf
| Zoe Saldana: Star Trek | May 29th, 2009 |
She’s playing a Star Trek sex symbol and a 3D alien. But Zoe Saldana says it’s okay to be a geek…
You’re in Star Trek. So you’re a geek, right?
I am actually! I’m very proud to say I am a geek. But I’m kind of a cool geek. I grew up in a very sci-fi home so I’ve seen a lot of sci-fi movies, from Dune to Alien, 2001, ET, Batteries Not Included… All these films I go crazy for. But never Star Trek.
Was that why you weren’t sure whether to accept the role of Uhura?
Even though I’ve wanted to work with JJ Abrams, I was worried that it could have backfired on my career. But when JJ told me the kind of Star Trek he wanted to make, I wanted to be a Star Trek fan now. He writes amazing roles for women.
He wasn’t afraid to put you in a very short skirt either…
Oh, no, no, no… He was not afraid at all! That was a combination of JJ and the costume designer wanting to keep the trendy ’60s style of the original show.
How does it feel to be a sex symbol for Trekkies?
Oh God, I don’t know! Now I’m a sex symbol for geeks? What have I done…
| ‘Avatar’ Trailer Possibly Attached to ‘Transformers 2′ | May 21st, 2009 |
Ace Showbiz is reporting that the trailer for “Avatar” might be attached to the release of “Transformers 2″!
Words on the street are, James Cameron will unravel the trailer to his “Avatar” before “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”. Bringing up the speculation to public attention was MarketSaw, which further claimed that the trailer will be 2 minutes and 41 seconds long and shown in 3D on digital screens.
However, The Wrap has come out with a different story. Debunking this already circulating rumor, the site suggested 20 Century Fox have rejected the speculation that the trailer is attached to the “Transformers” sequel. It, on the other hand, noted that the actual trailer to be seen attached to the Michael Bay’s film is Paramount’s own “Avatar” movie, “The Last Airbender”.
“Avatar” is directed, co-produced and written also by the “Titanic” helmer James Cameron. It lines up Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez among the cast ensemble. Set to hit U.S. theaters on December 18, it centers on an ex-marine as he is thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.
I’ll be sure to let everyone know when the trailer for “Avatar” is released – let’s hope its soon!
| New Space Superstar Zoe Saldana Compares The Visions Of ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Avatar’ | April 30th, 2009 |
Zoe Saldana is sci-fi’s newest leading lady, having scored herself the lead role in two of the most highly-anticipated, big-budget sci-fi flicks of 2009. After taking on the space frontier as Uhura in J.J. Abrams’s remake of “Star Trek,” and playing Neytiri in James Cameron’s ten-years-in-development vision “Avatar,” Saldana recently dished about what is was like to work with two of Hollywood’s most innovative filmmakers – as well as two upcoming movies that seem certain to be out of this world.
“It’s amazing for an actor to work with J.J. and Jim,” Saldana gushed. “They are similar in that they are exquisite at what they do, and they are young at heart.”
When comparing the two A-list directors, Saldana said: “J.J. has made a very important place for himself in Hollywood by being an exquisite writer. And Jim has done the same by being an amazing voyager and visionary, and a great filmmaker.”
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