The Dark Knight BD Live Chat with Christopher Nolan

[hegele]

I read that it took 48 hours to render a frame of Transformers when a full robot was on screen, and that was transferred in 4k at the most, it may have even been 2k. IMAX is more than twice that. Servers would be melting if they had more than one Robot in an IMAX shot. I'm sorry, i just think two years won't be enough time. I think we'll need ten more or so.

I do think IMAX is the way of the future for cinema. Much more so than 3D. It teaches the filmmakers what they need to know, to rely on practicle effects and to hold the freaking camera back so we can see the action.

It also boosts the attention for cinemaphiles to line up at theaters. I think it helps the video market too, we can't watch Avatar on blu-ray with good 3D glasses, but IMAX transfers are well worth the price of blu-ray.

 

[redfirebird2008]

I read that it took 48 hours to render a frame of Transformers when a full robot was on screen, and that was transferred in 4k at the most, it may have even been 2k. IMAX is more than twice that. Servers would be melting if they had more than one Robot in an IMAX shot. I'm sorry, i just think two years won't be enough time. I think we'll need ten more or so.

I do think IMAX is the way of the future for cinema. Much more so than 3D. It teaches the filmmakers what they need to know, to rely on practicle effects and to hold the freaking camera back so we can see the action.

It also boosts the attention for cinemaphiles to line up at theaters. I think it helps the video market too, we can't watch Avatar on blu-ray with good 3D glasses, but IMAX transfers are well worth the price of blu-ray.

I found a very interesting article about the challenges of IMAX for TDK's post-production companies. The target resolution was 8k instead of IMAX's full 18k. Due to the technical restraints, they downsized that to 5.6k for most shots, although shots of architecture (such as the helicopter shots) were left at 8k. They initially planned to chop out the 2:40:1 35mm version of the IMAX scenes at 2k (which I assume is what the rest of the film was printed at), but they went ahead and did it at 4k since the IMAX footage was at 5.6k to 8k. Anyway, I would imagine that Transformers was done at 2k. If I'm not mistaken, most CGI is done at 2k resolution. Film's maximum resolution is 8k.

http://www.studiodaily.com/filmandvideo/currentissue/9703.html

Even for a movie that didn't have much CGI, the challenge of shooting in IMAX was massive. It's probably off the charts for Transformers. I don't even know if they actually went ahead full steam with it or dropped the idea. They haven't exactly been talking about it much.

 

[iamthemovie]

So I was the one that asked the 5 people dead question. I was pretty stoked to have a question accepted, but somewhat disappointed with the answer.

 

[Maze]

First cut was 15 minutes longer.

Nolan said that ?

 

[I Am The Knight]

I doubt that.

 

[scubasteve2]

I doubt that.

Doubt that it was 15 minutes longer?

Why?

He said it in the chat. Straight from the top.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Doubt that it was 15 minutes longer?

Why?

He said it in the chat. Straight from the top.

Really? That's truly something. People kept telling us there were no deleted scenes in particular.

 

[scubasteve2]

Really? That's truly something. People kept telling us there were no deleted scenes in particular.

Yes, he said he cut nothing critical. He only "squished" scenes down to shorten the length of the film.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Yes, he said he cut nothing critical. He only "squished" scenes down to shorten the length of the film.

Hurm.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Hurm.

Must investigate further... t:

 

[scubasteve2]

I'm not lying. I have no reason to. I'm sure other people that were involved in the chat can back me up 100%.

 

[Rocker22]

Nolan did say all that.

 

[I Am The Knight]

It's OK. I'm sure quotes will come up. Potential TDK material liyng somewhere. I need five minutes ALONE.

 

[BatMatt]

original cut was 15 minutes longer but no scenes per say were eliminated, just quicker edits, shorted shots, ect. We didn't miss out on any dialogue

 

[redfirebird2008]

original cut was 15 minutes longer but no scenes per say were eliminated, just quicker edits, shorted shots, ect. We didn't miss out on any dialogue

I'm not a fan of how some of the scenes change. The quick cuts are annoying. My favorite part of the film is the transition from Joker killing Gambol to the helicopter shot of Lucious landing in Hong Kong on top of Lao's building. If there's 15 minutes to make the editing smoother, I would love to see it but I don't think we ever will.

 

[protoctista]

it's easy to cut up to 15 minutes from a 2 and a half hour movie without anyone but an editor even noticing what had gone. I was once working on a short film that came in at 20 minutes, and then we cut it down to 18 minutes and even I, the director, didn't particularly notice, apart from snappier motion and more emphasis on the subtext.

 

[protoctista]

^ if it's not in the movie it's because the editor and Nolan decided that it wasn't good material... why would you want to see it? Would you want to go through all the rushes as well?

I'm happy just to watch the final cut - we all know that is the director's cut...

 

[redfirebird2008]

^ if it's not in the movie it's because the editor and Nolan decided that it wasn't good material... why would you want to see it? Would you want to go through all the rushes as well?

I'm happy just to watch the final cut - we all know that is the director's cut...

Because the editing is way too choppy in the film during many of the scene-changes. The most glaring example is the sudden quick cut to the scene where Bruce first meets Harvey at dinner with Rachel. The quick cut leading into that scene is annoying. If there was a smoother version of the film, even if it means making it longer, I'm fine with that.

 

[byte19]

hey proto, i went thru that process as well for a short a director friend of mind made. but we noticed the edits as i was working on the score, and what was once a 20 min short was cut to around 17. i had to re cut and edit my score to make it fit but it worked out well. i'm satisfied with the cut but a longer movie doesn't hurt.....

 

[HanaBi]

Because the editing is way too choppy in the film during many of the scene-changes. The most glaring example is the sudden quick cut to the scene where Bruce first meets Harvey at dinner with Rachel. The quick cut leading into that scene is annoying. If there was a smoother version of the film, even if it means making it longer, I'm fine with that.

I agree, a lot of it feels a bit too tight to me. Just a tiny bit more breathing room would have helped - just my opinion though.

Regarding the "5 dead" question, didn't Nolan say:
"I would like to answer that. But not now."
(Or something like that?)

 

[Anita18]

I don't think that will be the case.

It's been close to a year and a half-two years now since TDK was filmed. Technology moves at a rapid pace. Industrial Light & Magic is one of the main companies working on the animation for the film and it wouldn't surprise me at all if they've already come up with the ability to do the animation at IMAX resolution. As anal as Bay is about eye candy type stuff, I can't see him being happy with a robot of sub-par quality on an IMAX screen.

Considering most special effects houses still render at 2K and full IMAX resolution is 18K, I find that very, VERY doubtful. Double Negative had a roomful of processors just to handle the few shots they did for TDK at 8K.

Unless it becomes typical to render in 35mm's full res at 8K, I don't see IMAX CG in full-res happening. Especially not for a movie coming out next year.

 

[chintai80]

regarding the question of who were the 5 killed, i think its telling that Nolan said he would answer that question on another day.

Either: (1) he has no idea or (2) this will be a plot thread carried over into the next film.

Hmmm...remember, Ramirez is still alive and she knows about Dent's transformation.

 

[RakuMon]

For those who are unaware, this is Rex Reed's TDK review:



http://www.observer.com/2008/arts-culture/bat-future

At least Nolan tells it like it is!

Thanks for the short transcript!

Believe it or not, that review from Rex Reed is actually a positive one! All things considered...

I've always been taught to use "I" in that instance. Take away "David Goyer" and it would be "I am exploring that right now." That's how I've been taught, at least.

Google seems to agree with me: http://en.allexperts.com/q/General-Writing-Grammar-680/Use-vs.htm

Dammit you Nolans, you call yourselves English majors!

As a former English teacher, Anita is right. "David Goyer and myself" is the subject of the sentence; therefore, "myself" is incorrect since "myself" is a reflexive pronoun and can't be considered a subject.

 

[BatJeff7786]

New theory for the "5 dead". Nolan is a huge fan of Blade Runner. In the original film, there is a scene where Deckard (Harrison Ford) is being briefed on some escaped androids. The officer tells him 6 escaped, on got killed escaping, so that leaves 5. But we only ever see 4 androids total throughout the movie. The 5th was a cut scene or was never filmed I believe.They later changed the line to be correct in the Final director's cut. It's possible that Nolan did this just as a "homage" to Blade Runner, since the number of people killed by Dent is irrelevant to the fact that he DID kill them anyways. Or maybe he really does have an explanation. But that's my guess if he didn't even bother to state it directly during this thing.

 

[CrackedPot]

I have a feeling that we will hear nothing official concerning the TDK sequel until Summer 09.