The Odyssey: A New Era in Filmmaking with IMAX Technology
In an exciting development for cinema enthusiasts, Ryan Coogler has shed light on the innovative IMAX technology being utilized by director Christopher Nolan in his upcoming adaptation of “The Odyssey.”Following his Oscar-winning success with “Oppenheimer”(2023), Nolan aims to bring Homer’s classic tale of Odysseus to life with a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon as the titular hero, supported by Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, and Charlize Theron.
During an episode of The Big Picture podcast, Coogler revealed his consultation with Nolan regarding the use of IMAX film cameras. This conversation has provided insights into a new sound-sync technology that could revolutionize how dialogue is captured on set. Coogler expressed his findings about the sound-sync IMAX cameras, which promise to mitigate the traditional noise issues associated with filming in IMAX.
For this one, man, I talked to Chris [Nolan] and Emma [Thomas] about the format, when large format became something that we were discussing and thinking about. Because they had just navigated both camera packages we ended up using – we used different lenses on our System 65 package, we used Ultra Panavision 276 lens. […] He basically told me not to be scared, you know? And don’t let anybody bow down to the camera on set. He acknowledged that it’s an intimidating piece of equipment, you know, and that—because he uses a lot of handheld camerawork in his history, and those cameras, you can’t handhold, the sync-sound cameras…
Alright, so, I’m gonna nerd out. [Laughs] The catch of the IMAX camera package is that it is technically not a sync-sound camera…
Recent reviews for Coogler’s “Sinners,”his latest vampire horror film, have garnered praise, demonstrating the successful application of IMAX technology in storytelling.
Ryan Coogler Discusses the New IMAX Camera Technology
The Major Drawback of the New Camera
Despite their impressive capabilities, IMAX cameras have long been criticized for their noise levels, which hinder the recording of dialogue on set. Coogler elaborated on this issue, noting that traditionally, filmmakers have resorted to automatic dialogue replacement (ADR) to overcome this drawback. Nolan, who prefers to capture the authentic performances of his actors, has previously used software filters to minimize these interferences:
The 5-perf, 65mm camera package, the System 65, has two sync-sound camera bodies. Sync-sound. So now these sound like – actually when it’s rolling, you don’t hear anything…
Now, all of that soundproofing, because that camera’s doing a lot of work… is heavy, it’s insanely heavy. So, it becomes a 100lb camera system, with zero ergonomics. So, it is impossible to handhold the sync-sound version of that camera.
And Chris comes from the school that I also come from, the school of whatever works for the scene…
Coogler also noted that a lighter version of the System 65 is available, which allows for greater mobility but lacks the soundproofing features essential for clear dialogue capture:
…there’s another version of this camera that is the high-speed System 65 camera. Now this is essentially the same camera without the soundproofing…
Coogler summarized the advice Nolan gave him regarding the use of the new technology:
So, Chris’ advice to me was to use it like a Super 8 camera…
What This IMAX Innovation Means for The Odyssey
Will The Film Avoid a Common Nolan Complaint?
While Nolan’s films, including “Oppenheimer,”have received critical acclaim for their grand visuals and complex narratives, reviews often highlight an ongoing issue: the difficulty in understanding dialogue. Nolan prefers to retain the authenticity of on-set performances rather than relying on ADR, which some audiences find challenging.
In a 2023 interview with Insider, Nolan articulated his commitment to original performances: “I like to use the performance that was given in the moment rather than the actor revoice it later.”This approach, while creative, sometimes leads to frustration among viewers.
However, with the introduction of a new sync-sound IMAX camera for “The Odyssey,”the film may alleviate some of these dialogue clarity issues. While the weight of the camera can limit its use in fast-paced action scenes, it holds the potential for significantly improved audio quality in more static moments. As we await the film’s release, it will be fascinating to see how these advancements shape the viewing experience.
Source: The Big Picture