{"id":107047,"date":"2019-08-20T03:12:46","date_gmt":"2019-08-20T08:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=107047"},"modified":"2019-08-20T11:45:17","modified_gmt":"2019-08-20T16:45:17","slug":"feature-middle-earth-on-glorious-70mm-celluloid-film","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2019\/08\/20\/107047-feature-middle-earth-on-glorious-70mm-celluloid-film\/","title":{"rendered":"FEATURE: Middle-earth on Glorious 70mm Celluloid Film"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>[EDITOR’S NOTE: Special to TheOneRing.net, guest contributor Vahn<\/a>\u00a0is a professional film editor and 70mm film, with his thoughts on the usage of celluloid cinematography and IMAX with “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. We thank him for his insights.]<\/p>\n

They say a picture is worth a thousand words; and in the art of motion pictures that is certainly true. Both \u201cThe Lord of the Rings\u201d and \u201cThe Hobbit\u201d trilogies have significantly revolutionized the way filmmakers today approach design, filming, editing, and visual effects. But one simply cannot understate the impact Peter Jackson\u2019s Middle-earth has had on the filming and presentations of celluloid film. To this day, celluloid film is the highest quality you can achieve for an image. The crispness of the celluloid grain are as majestic as the pixels of some of the most revolutionary paintings in the world today.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>As a young up-and-coming Film Editor myself, Jackson\u2019s Middle-earth universe has inspired me to monumental levels. Some of these inspiring artists include the brilliant editors Jabez Olsen, John Gilbert, Michael Horton, and Jamie Selkirk; including cinematographer Andew Lesnie and the incomparable composer Howard Shore. But one of the most significant ways these two trilogies have inspired me was the use of 35mm and IMAX 70mm film.<\/p>\n

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D.P. Andrew Lesnie captured the original \u201cThe Lord of the Rings Trilogy\u201d using 35mm film cameras; and to this day, the trilogy holds the record as some of the largest and longest 35mm film prints to be presented in theaters. Lesnie revolutionized digital cinematography with the use of the RED Epic cameras for \u201cThe Hobbit” Trilogy. However, there were a few lucky fans that got to experience \u201cThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey\u201d with a true IMAX 70mm film presentation. I was one of the lucky fans that got to experience the film in said format. I saw the film in a real IMAX 70mm film theatre; in the same auditorium I had my first movie going experience, which was \u201cFantasia 2000\u201d on IMAX 70mm film. Throughout the years I have come to have a strong bond with this theatre and my fiery passion for the IMAX format increased to the point of becoming one of the greatest factors in me working to become a great film editor. As I grew a bond with the theater, I was privileged to obtain IMAX 70mm film prints that had been stored up in the projection room for more than a few decades!<\/p>\n

When I was given information that certain studios didn\u2019t care to have their prints returned, I raced to the opportunity to obtain them and preserve this incredible format; and \u201cThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey\u201d was one of those said prints.<\/p>\n

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One of the many criticisms from fans on \u201cThe Hobbit” Trilogy was due to the films not capturing the same authentic and tangible feeling that the “Rings” Trilogy showcases. Whether this was conscious in the audiences\u2019 minds or not, the feeling of authenticity came from the earlier movies being captured and presented on 35mm celluloid film.<\/p>\n

When fans next revisit \u201cThe Lord of the Rings,” I urge the viewer to pay attention to the film; especially during the title card and end credit sequences. If viewed with a sharp eye, one will notice that the frame *slightly* moves up-down and side-to-side; even a few white celluloid grains will quickly pop on screen during the end credits. The “Rings” films, even though digitized, were transferred from their original 35mm presentation prints for home video; including VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital HD. Because \u201cThe Hobbit” Trilogy was shot using all digital cameras, the authentic \u201creal world\u201d look of those movies was not nearly as tangible as the LOTR movies. Which is why for fans, like me, who got the rare opportunity to experience \u201cThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey\u201d on IMAX 70mm film, it was a huge deal.<\/p>\n

We were treated to a rare and beautiful tangible presentation of the movie; which played at 24 frames-per-second and even included shorter credits due the size of the print, which was 6ft wide on a full IMAX projector plate! In fact, there were less than five true IMAX 70mm film presentations of \u201cThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey\u201d in the entire world! I had seen the film on both IMAX 70mm film and digital, and even the color of the celluloid presentation looked very close the the original \u201cThe Lord of the Rings” Trilogy color palette; the Rivendell sequence being the main standout. And being that \u201cThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey\u201d is one of the IMAX 70mm film prints I was able to acquire pieces from, showcases the undeniable truth that these latter three Middle-earth films had the potential to be presented in such a way that the criticisms of the fans would be a lot more forgiving.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n

Of course, the majority of the criticisms stem from story choices and so on. But as a young filmmaker who passionately studies the art behind the IMAX and celluloid format, I am confident that, had all the true IMAX 70mm film cinema locations had the privilege of showcasing \u201cThe Hobbit\u201d films in the IMAX film format, the fans would have felt so much more at home in this Middle-earth.<\/p>\n

The authentic visual and auditory experience for any film is significantly important; and as a filmmaker I will always stand by that opinion. Which is why, when I\u2019m not editing any projects, preserving and presenting the authentic IMAX 70mm and standard 35mm film formats are a real passion of mine. The majority of the prints I own are only partial and full trailers of other movies. There are a few films I have that are complete; but all of my prints were saved from a previous fate of utter destruction and neglect.<\/p>\n

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With \u201cThe Hobbit” Trilogy being a big part of my life and a huge inspiration for my own filmmaking endeavors, I am honored to have preserved even a fraction of \u201cThe Hobbit\u201d films on the IMAX 70mm film format to share with the world. These celluloid films I have obtained have nothing to do with the mindset of collection. Every artist has the Picasso of their heart that inspires them; some have music, other\u2019s have paintings, others have literature. For me, the honor and privilege to even own *fractions* of these many films that inspired me the most in my life are the single most powerful motivation I get to keep on working to become the film editor I was meant to become.<\/p>\n

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Having interacted with a lot of Peter Jackson\u2019s fans, I know how much these films have inspired them across the globe to become the artists they were meant to become. Conversations about the authenticity of shooting and presenting on celluloid film, within our favorite fandoms, can really spark the next step in preserving this incredible and revolutionary film format. But whether it\u2019s celluloid or digital filmmaking (which is also incredible in its own respects), the main aspect we shall preserve is the authenticity of a great story; just like the story Bilbo wrote for his nephew at Bag-End all those years ago.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

Follow Vahn’s filmmaking endeavors and IMAX 70mm film passions at @ImAFilmEditor<\/a> on Twitter.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Special to TheOneRing.net, guest contributor Vahn\u00a0is a professional film editor and 70mm film, with his thoughts…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"FEATURE: Middle-earth on Glorious 70mm Celluloid Film - Scans of Rare IMAX Prints!","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1tLoH-rQz","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107047"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107072,"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107047\/revisions\/107072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}