On the BBC's website, a series of respected directors of photography and cinematographers declare the imminent death (again) of 3D movies. This is something that could not come a moment too soon for me, since 3D glasses never converge properly for me, give me eyestrain and a headache, and are spectacularly uncomfortable when worn over my own glasses.
"From the cinematographer's perspective it may offer production value and scale to certain kinds of film. But for many movies it offers only distraction and some fairly uncomfortable viewing experiences for the audience. I haven't yet encountered a director of photography who's genuinely enthusiastic about it."
Nic Knowland's opinion of 3D is backed by another British cinematographer Oliver Stapleton, who has shot Hollywood movies such as The Cider House Rules and The Proposal.
"3D is antithetical to storytelling, where immersion in character is the goal. It constantly reminds you you're watching a screen – and it completely prevents emotional involvement. Natural human vision bears no resemblance to 3D in the cinema."
"2D doesn't reveal the smoke and mirrors of filmmaking in the same way. Of course that's partly because we're used to it, but also – it's not trying to mimic our vision.
"My goal as a cinematographer is to make the stitches in the cloth invisible. 3D says 'Look at me, I'm a picture!', 2-D simply says 'Once upon a time…'"
Has 3D film-making had its day? [Vincent Dowd/BBC]
(via /.)
