Moments in Film History I'd Like to See
"My Dinner With André" to be Re-Released in 3D.
The 3D revolution is now complete. With the imminent re-release of the seminal, if motionless, "My Dinner With Andre" (1981, Saga Productions), the film industry announces its intention to milk the recent obsession with 3D for everything it is worth. The original, cult favorite from director Louis Malle, stars Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory, as themselves, conversing in a restaurant. That's it. They talk about other places, and fantastical goings-on, but they, and the audience, remain seated in the restaurant throughout the film. It was a minor success and has enjoyed cult status ever since, but never reached a wider audience than film critics, film students and readers of "The New Yorker."
Saga Productions believes the movie can find a new audience by introducing 3D technology. In justifying the re-release, producer Henry Zuckerman said, "I don't think viewers truly got a sense of what it was like to have Wallace Shawn poking his finger at Mr. Gregory." The director was going for a shot that just wasn't possible in 1981 with the technology available then." he added. "Now, in the point of view shots, the audience will feel as if the finger is coming right at them. It's really amazing what you can do now." Early test audiences have, indeed, been observed leaning back slightly during this scene. One audience member even shielded herself with her hands, as if Shawn's finger might strike her.
Painstaking care was taken in rendering the restaurant in three dimensions, and some scenes proved more difficult to pull off. Explained chief animator, intern Chuck, "Well, there's a scene where Shawn, because he's talking so fast, and has . . . you know, that lisp, that he spits a little in Gregory's face. It's almost imperceptible. But each of those little droplets had to be rendered, frame by frame. Not to mention the gesticulating. Geez, those guys use their hands to talk a lot."
The 3D revolution is now complete. With the imminent re-release of the seminal, if motionless, "My Dinner With Andre" (1981, Saga Productions), the film industry announces its intention to milk the recent obsession with 3D for everything it is worth. The original, cult favorite from director Louis Malle, stars Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory, as themselves, conversing in a restaurant. That's it. They talk about other places, and fantastical goings-on, but they, and the audience, remain seated in the restaurant throughout the film. It was a minor success and has enjoyed cult status ever since, but never reached a wider audience than film critics, film students and readers of "The New Yorker."
Saga Productions believes the movie can find a new audience by introducing 3D technology. In justifying the re-release, producer Henry Zuckerman said, "I don't think viewers truly got a sense of what it was like to have Wallace Shawn poking his finger at Mr. Gregory." The director was going for a shot that just wasn't possible in 1981 with the technology available then." he added. "Now, in the point of view shots, the audience will feel as if the finger is coming right at them. It's really amazing what you can do now." Early test audiences have, indeed, been observed leaning back slightly during this scene. One audience member even shielded herself with her hands, as if Shawn's finger might strike her.
Painstaking care was taken in rendering the restaurant in three dimensions, and some scenes proved more difficult to pull off. Explained chief animator, intern Chuck, "Well, there's a scene where Shawn, because he's talking so fast, and has . . . you know, that lisp, that he spits a little in Gregory's face. It's almost imperceptible. But each of those little droplets had to be rendered, frame by frame. Not to mention the gesticulating. Geez, those guys use their hands to talk a lot."
If this release is a success, Saga intends to re-release "My Dinner With Andre" for IMAX theaters. In this version, Wallace Shawn's bald spot will be the size of a putting green.
posted by Midlife Man at 9:07 PM
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