The behind-the-scenes of ‘The Creator’ was released, clearly showing the Sony FX3 as the dominant (and only?) camera on set. As demonstrated in the BTS, the advantages of the FX3 were well utilized in short and fast cuts, to deliver this ‘Vietnam- robotic sci-fi’ movie to IMAX. Explore what director Gareth Edwards has to say about his shooting style, allowed by the compactness of the FX3.
My favorite cinema is very visually driven. It’s not like a play, it’s like a dream. It’s just a pure emotion. This film’s a melting pot of movies that I grew up loving. It’s a Vietnam movie mixed with robotic sci-fi. We really went for broke. It’s just a really insane, rich, visual journey that I hope affects people in the way that I was affected when cinema blew my mind as a kid.
Gareth Edwards – Director of The Creator
The Creator BTS confirms Sony FX3 as the main camera
Now it has been confirmed, that the Sony FX3 is the main camera behind the sci-fi IMAX blockbuster, The Creator. In the behind-the-scenes featurette, you can explore Director Gareth Edwards shooting with the camera himself mostly handheld. Hence, the advantages of the Sony FX3 as a compact Cinema Line full frame camera were well utilized, as stated by Edwards: “My favorite cinema is very visually driven. It’s not like a play, it’s like a dream. It’s just a pure emotion. This film’s a melting pot of movies that I grew up loving. It’s a Vietnam movie mixed with robotic sci-fi. We really went for broke. It’s just a really insane, rich, visual journey that I hope affects people in the way that I was affected when cinema blew my mind as a kid”. Check out the behind-the-scenes below:
FX3 vs. ALEXA 65 debate
We’ve reported before about the vast discussions about using a prosumer camera to shoot an IMAX blockbuster. Many have claimed that the main camera was the ARRI ALEXA 65 and that the FX3 was a marketing stunt by Sony. Initially, it was written in IMDB Tech Spec that the film was shot on the ALEXA 65 combined with FX3. However, the ARRI 65 was deleted, and the Sony FX3 remained the main camera. After that, FX3 was deleted and the ARRI 65 was the only camera in the IMDB Tech Spec. However, DP Greig Fraser told before that he was truly impressed with the Sony FX3 as stated: “It’s an amazing prosumer camera. I’m about to use that on a film I’m shooting in Thailand (The Creator). I’m about to shoot the entire film on this camera. It’s so ridiculously that it’s so small. It has such a high ISO…in a much small camera”. It’s important to note that the actual DP was Oren Soffer. Nevertheless, according to the BTS, it looks like Edwards was responsible for many of the shots, operating the FX3 by himself. As for the ALEXA 65, ARRI stated that the ALEXA 65 was never involved in this project. So there you go — Sony FX3 all the way.
The ALEXA 65 was never involved in this project.
ARRI
First ‘IMAX movie’ shot with prosumer camera?
The Creator is the first ‘IMAX movie’ to be shot with a mirrorless camera. However, this is not the first IMAX movie to be shot on a prosumer camera. In fact, we’ve been told a very intriguing fact, that Act of Valor is the first movie that was shot on DSLR cameras, and was screened in IMAX theaters. The film was shot by cinematographer Shane Hurlbut ASC. Hurlbut contacted us and stated: “I do not want to take anything away from Greg or Oren, their work is fantastic together in this film, but wanted to set the record straight on DSLR shooting. Unfortunately, this was not the first film shot on a DSLR for IMAX, I did it in 2009 with the Canon 5D MK II for Act of Valor. We projected the film in 12 IMAX screens across the US and we were on a DSLR Budget of $8.25 Million”. We saw that movie and were amazed at how it was filmed with DSLR. It constitutes a remark on DSLR filmmaking. Anyway, we’ll continue to stay with our finger on the pulse regarding the technical aspects of The Creator. Stay tuned.
Product List
Here are the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers.
- Sony FX3 Full-Frame Cinema Camera
BTW, as a tribute to the mighty 65mm format, we’ve created the Y.M.CINEMA 65 which is a perfect gift for cinephiles — explore it on our website.
How to use dslr camera for imax projector and create movies?
I wouldn’t mind seeing more informatiom about the cinematography, such as which codec was used. If, say, it was shot with Prores RAW using the Atomos Ninja V, did it matter that the Ninja V doesn’t yet support the FX3’s true 24p frame rate?
The FX3 isn’t a DSLR, it’s a mirrorless camera.
I’d like to see a description of the workflow used for the cinematography: camera rigging (including external recorders), codec(s), grading, etc. If Prores RAW was used, was it recorded on the Atomos Ninja V? If so, was it a problem that the FX3/Ninja V combo doesn’t yet support true 24p with Prores RAW?
Sorry for this second post. When I didn’t see my original post after a number of hours, I thought it failed to go through.