James Cameron May Shoot 'Avatar' Sequels at 120 FPS

Director Peter Jackson helped push the envelope
of frame rate technology by presenting The
Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit:
The Desolation of Smaug in the high frame rate
(HFR) of 48 frames per second, double the
industry standard of 24 FPS. Now it seems
filmmaker James Cameron may go even further
with his upcoming Avatar sequels, Avatar 2,
Avatar 3 and Avatar 4 by filming at 120 frames
per second.
Douglas Trumbull , who developed a 4K 3D
system that is shot at 120 FPS dubbed MAGI,
revealed in an interview with The Hollywood
Reporter that he has spoken with James
Cameron's producing partner Jon Landau about
using this technology on the Avatar follow-ups.
Here's what Douglas Trumbull had to say about
setting up a screening of his short film UTOFOG ,
which showcases the MAGI technology.
"I know that Cameron admired Showscan
[Trumbull 's earlier invention of a large-format
high-frame rate projection system] and that he
is a huge advocate of high frame rates [HFRs].
The use of HFRs for Avatar would be very
appropriate and very successful. I don't know if
Cameron is interested [in using MAGI for the
Avatar sequels]. He's in seclusion writing the
screenplay for Avatar . I am talking to Jon
Landau , and we plan to have a screening [of
UFOTOG ] soon."
During his keynote address at the IBC
Convention in Amsterdam earlier today, Douglas
Trumbull revealed that other filmmakers have
expressed interest in his MAGI system.
"(There are other directors) who are very
interested in this, and this will be driven by the
directors. If directors like Cameron, J.J. Abrams,
Peter Jackson want this, then I think we'll start
getting some traction."
The MAGI system shoots at 60 FPS in 4K 3D
with alternate shutter speeds, which means the
picture is delivered in sync with the alternating
left-eye/right-eye cadence. Here's what Douglas
Trumbull had to say about MAGI itself.
"It delivers extreme fluidity of motion and
amazing clarity with no strobing, no double
flickering and a viewing experience that far
exceeds conventional movie quality."
He also joked that MAGI may even change the
way Michael Bay's Transformers movies are
made.
" Michael Bay is going to make an even worse
Transformers movie because there won't be any
motion blur."
Would you like to see the Avatar sequels shot at
120 frames per second? Chime in with your
thoughts below.
Avatar was released December 18th, 2009 and
stars Sam Worthington , Zoe Saldana, Sigourney
Weaver, Stephen Lang , Joel Moore, Giovanni
Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, Laz Alonso . The film
is directed by James Cameron.