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Tarantino Installing 70mm Projectors for 'The Hateful Eight' Release
by Alex Billington
June 8, 2015
Source: THR
I wouldn't expect anything less from Quentin Tarantino, the owner of a classic repertory 35mm cinema in Los Angeles (and tons of old film reels and other lost film prints). Over the weekend at the Cine Gear Expo held in Hollywood, Panavision was represented at the Paramount Theater on Paramount's lot and showed 70mm footage from Tarantino's new film The Hateful Eight. Tarantino, with his cinematographer Robert Richardson, decided this next western should be presented in 2.78:1 aspect ratio. So they decided to shoot on 65mm film stock using classic Panavision lenses. In THR's post about the event, they hint: "word on the street is that plans are underway to equip roughly 50 U.S. theaters to show the movie in 70mm". Ooh.
The last time a major 70mm release caused a stir was when Paul Thomas Anderson put out The Master in 70mm, and the few remaining cinemas that could show it definitely did so. Tarantino wants that experience again. Here's another interesting quote from the event from Panavision regarding Tarantino's desires:
"He really wants to get people back into theaters. You’re not going to get this [at home]. He did something really great to bring that [experience] back," Panavision's vp of optical engineering Dan Sasaki said of Tarantino, a vocal film proponent. "Quentin wanted an epic Western, something that hasn’t been seen in forever, that would really wow people. [When he saw this test,] he started bouncing in his seat."
The Hateful Eight (see the first photos here) is another revenge western from Tarantino, this time set in a blizzard. He filmed most of it in Colorado, on a "refrigerated" set, and this was actually the "first production since 1966's Khartoum to use Ultra Panavision 70 anamorphic lenses." Tarantino's renewed interest also caused Panavision to get back into the lenses, and THR adds that they "reworked 19 of these classic lenses for the production in just a few months". They even note that "these lenses are expected to next be used for Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One by cinematographer Greig Fraser". So there will be lots of gorgeous cinema to see coming up. It seems as if film, and these lenses, ain't so dead after all. Thanks to Tarantino.
There is still no official confirmation on the 70mm cinemas, nor is there even an official release date for The Hateful Eight yet, but we're expecting to hear more soon. It will likely be in theaters by the end of the year.
12 Comments
1
Don't forget to thank J.J and Christopher Nolan!
Zack Snyder on Jun 8, 2015
2
3
I think this is ridiculous. If you want to shoot on film, go ahead. 35mm, 70mm, IMAX 70mm...whichever. But getting theaters to go back from digital to film projection? That is going backwards. Those 50 or so theaters are just going to have to go back to digital projection in the long run for other films that aren't being shipped on film. I get it, some people prefer film, there are "aesthetic" reasons people like it. But digital cameras go up to 6.5K these days, and every aspect of capturing an image with a digital camera continues to improve. The 'film vs digital' battle isn't what it was 10 years ago. The resistance and hate that digital gets is pointless.
Chris Groves on Jun 8, 2015
4
Film projection still looks much better than digital. I'm just grateful that there are still directors that care about giving the consumer the best possible movie experience. You talk about the hate that digital gets - compare that to the hate that celluloid film gets as it is actively being killed off for economic - not artistic - reasons.
Kilian Henin on Jun 8, 2015
5
Send one 70mm projector to Sweden please.
ryderup on Jun 8, 2015
6
This is such a non issue for the vast majority of movie goers including myself. I saw The Master in 70mm then walked across the hall to get a glimpse in digital, no discernable difference.
rocky728 on Jun 8, 2015
7
LOL. I get this. Kind of like those people who like to listen to records over .FLAC files.
DAVIDPD on Jun 8, 2015
8
Just because you can't tell the difference between 70mm and DCP doesn't mean that other people can't.
Kilian Henin on Jun 9, 2015
9
He knows how to get HIS people riled up!
DAVIDPD on Jun 8, 2015
10
Film stock, digital, why not both?
AwesomeWave on Jun 8, 2015
11
Let it go Quentin, just let... it... go.
Charles Knowlton on Jun 8, 2015
12
Don't really have a preference either way, but I've always admired his complete fanaticism of cinema. His love of movies always shines through anything he does, and that's what makes his films so damned enjoyable! For me.
grimjob on Jun 8, 2015
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