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Coming In 2012: Can DiCaprio and Lurhman Strike Gold with New Gatsby Movie?

Baz Luhrmann has never been accused of being subtle. His films (Romeo and Juliette, Moulin Rouge) are camp extravaganzas filled with anachronistic music and visual overdoses of color, so it’s no surprise that the trailer for his adaptation of “The Great Gatsby,” an American masterpiece with a reserved, grimy tone and a passive narrator, created a buzz as mercurial as the mysterious Jay Gatsby himself. Like a shot of prohibition era bathtub whiskey, reception is divided between those who are happy to have another serving of the classic, and those who are turned off by the unconventional flavor of the new direction. The title character isn’t introduced until the third chapter in the book, so his characterization up to that point is revealed by the gossip of clueless speculators.  Likewise the Internet is crawling with trolls ripping into the guts of an unfinished movie – that won’t be released until Christmas – based on a two minute put together by a marketing team with no emotional or creative input into the finished product.

This isn’t the first time F. Scott Fitzgerald’s bacchanalian portrait of the “roaring twenties “ has made an appearance on the screen. Its predecessors aren’t exactly memorable, except perhaps for the lack of chemistry between Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. Luhrmann’s version, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire, offers a refreshing perspective on the themes of greed, obsession, and opulence that defined the tale of a man, ashamed of his modest upbringing, who turns to bootlegging and other illicit activities to raise a fortune and regain the woman he lost.

Those who criticize Luhrmann for failing to replicate the serious tone of the book should keep in mind that Mr. Gatsby is ultimately brought down by his futile attempts to recreate the past. Adaptations that aren’t given the space to roam from the source material are seldom met with critical praise.

Though the film takes place in 1920s, elements of the trailer are unmistakably modern, perhaps as an attempt by Lurhmann to apply the story’s theme to a contemporary audience. It was shot in 3D with a budget that was well over a hundred million dollars, which is unusual for a film not featuring talking robots, nuclear explosions, and masked vigilantes.

Much of the criticism also comes from the trailer’s score, which features music from Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Jack White’s cover of U2’s “Love is Blindness” instead of tunes native to the time period. It’s not known yet whether Luhrmann will use modern music for the film itself, but based on his previous work, it would not be a surprise. It may not be a bad thing if he does. The book was written over fifty years ago, and chances are, much of the movie going public has not read it. Fans of the novel do not need to be persuaded to buy the ticket, but if the film hopes to turn a profit, it better attract those who aren’t familiar with it.

In any case, any press is good press, and the current uproar incited by the trailer has to be good news for the film’s producers.

Checkout the trailer below and give us your take.

Hollywood Cinematography At The Tip Of Your Iphone

      Portable Cinema


The smartphone is modern man’s new appendage. If you’ve ever left it charging on the counter, as you enter the realm of rush hour traffic, you’ve likely felt handicapped, as if someone chopped off your dominant hand for the day. Smartphones are also the fastest growing, most widely absorbed form of technology in history according to this MIT Study, so it’s no surprise that there is an entire industry devoted to making the phone an extension of the consumer.


This evolutionary climate change has infiltrated the landscape of guerilla cinematography. The quality of viral movies is surging in proportion to their popularity. Check out this short film made entirely on the Iphone.

While smartphone cameras still have their limits, the Olloclip lens kit for the iPhone is the latest tool to bring a professional edge to mobile videos. It connects to your iPhone 4/4S within seconds, and with a simple flip, you can shuffle between fisheye, wide angle, and macro lenses. It will add unique variety to the often stagnant compositions available on most phones, and it fits in the palm of your hand. The storage bag is made of a micro fiber material that doubles as a lens cleaner.

The Ollokit is the perfect companion for anyone who uses the iPhone to chronicle his/her daily escapades, but it’s also a step in the right direction for amateur photographers and videographers who use their creative innovation to compensate for small budgets. At just under seventy dollars, it’s a third of the cost of similar products, and a fraction of the cost of the phone itself!

It’s also an indication of the integrative trend of mobile technology. The future is about efficiency, portability, and customization. Check out some sample videos below.

An intro to the lens system:

http://youtu.be/74HP-_2_nD0

Check out the Micro Lens in action

This is the Fisheye 

http://youtu.be/YxWtqJy5hEg

Filmed At M3: Rick Ross – “High Definition” Music Video

Maybach Music Group Boss, Rick Ross shot the “High Definition” music video off of his Rick Forever street album at M3 Studios.

The music video features some great cameos by music industry heavyweights Pharrell Williams & Timbaland who visited the studio to appear in the music video. The music video opted for a simplistic performance driven video relying heavily on Rick Ross strong on screen presence. Which seems to work for the track.

M3 Studios state of the art facility, accommodations, infrastructure, amenities, support areas and with its knowledgeable staff its no wonder its become the top destination for brands, ad agencies, film productions, tv networks, record labels, and world class artist number one choice as the go to place for their production needs.

Another satisfied client and another successful production shot exclusively at M3 Studios Miami.

 

Movie Monday Review: The Avengers

If you went to the movies this weekend, the odds are nine to one that you saw The Avengers. Marvel’s latest hymn of adrenaline serenaded the hearts of nerds and casual fans alike, smashing opening weekend records along the way, as if the Incredible Hulk himself spiked the box office during a touchdown dance.

It became the fastest film in history to gross 200 million domestically (twelve days), set single day records for Saturday (69 million) and Sunday (50 million), and cashed a combined international check of 640 million dollars. To put it in perspective, only eleven films in history have joined the billionaire’s club. The Avengers will likely be the twelfth by month’s end. It will enter the one percent of cinema royalty where it will mingle with such monumental films as Avatar, The Dark Knight, and The Return of the King.

There were an insurmountable number of variables that went into the film’s production. A few of the more intriguing components are as follows:

The Set Pieces

The “Helicarrier” is a giant aircraft carrier with flight capabilities and a half-mile waistline. It’s iconic to the comics; so it was important to memorably highlight it on film. S.H.I.E.L.D’s floating fortress filled two of Albuquerque Studios’ soundstages (the whole production took six of eight), was as wide as half a football field, and took five months to build.

The Cameras

The film was shot using cameras on two ends of the financial spectrum. It was Seamus McGarvey’s (cinematographer) first venture into the world of digital video and he chose the Alexa by Arri. With its tonal range, clarity, and resolution, the Alexa is praised for bridging the gap between the film and digital shooting formats. It has been featured in a plethora of feature projects since its release in 2010. McGarvey used a 1.85:1 aspect ratio to account for the varying heights of the characters and the Manhattan Skyline.

With its 220 million dollar budget, splurging on elaborate set pieces, an all-star cast, and top end equipment is to be expected, but some of the film’s more intimate shots were filmed using Canon’s EOS 5D Mark 3 DSLR. With an ISO range as low as 50(L) and as high as 102400(H2), compact portability, and pristine HD quality, the Mark 3 proves that quality doesn’t require Tony Stark’s credit limit. It has also been featured in Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger.

The Marketing

Marvel’s financial success blossomed from one of the more fertile  product placement seeds in recent memory. Who among us didn’t gasp at the sight of Mjolnir (Thor’s hammer) as it crashed into the Earth after Iron Man 2? Tony Stark may have nonchalantly used  Captain America’s iconic shield as a prop, but it enchanted the audience because it foreshadowed the origins of Steve Rogers. The Avengers has already grossed more revenue than Thor, Captain America, and the two Hulk films did throughout their theatrical runs. Its presence radiated throughout the public subconscious years before its debut, and every Easter egg, and post credits scene left the audience foaming at the mouth like Pavlov’s dogs.

Filmed At M3: YMCMB Tyga’s “Rack City” Remix Music Video

Young Money Cash Money artist Tyga shot the remix to his hit song “Rack City” directed by Alex Nazari at M3 Studios.

The music video which has garnered over 3 million plays since its release, features a who’s who of hip hop, with Wale, Fabolous, Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, & Ti all adding verses to the record. The set design was crazy for this music video, from the indivual set-ups for each of the artist verses to the gladiator throne looking chair my hat goes off to the Art Director Gogo Manny for pulling off some great custom sets in a shot time span.

For productions shooting at M3 Studios we maintain a large network of relationships with film industry professionals which can assist in providing everything our clients need to produce their project. From choreography, art directions, costume, audio synching, post production, make-up and hair stylist and more our resources can assist your team. Visit our services page to learn more.

Another satisfied client and another successful production shot exclusively at M3 Studios Miami.

Filmed At M3: TV Commercial For AT&T U-Verse Featuring Mexican Pop Group Reik

AT&T shot their most recent commercial of their Latin AD campaign for AT&T U-Verse at M3 Studios, Stage C.

The tv spot features Mexican Latin Grammy Winning pop group Reik, and has recently hit the airwaves, check out the final results below!

Another satisfied client, and another successful production shot exclusively at M3 Studios Miami.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5SFyJFYKyE

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