IMAX has just released the trailer of a documentary called “FLY”. Very similar to Skywalkers, this is a story about a loving couple who seek danger, specializing in Base-Jumping. The main cameras are GoPro which was attached to the jumpers. The film will be screened in IMAX theaters, which means (just like Skywalkers), a Shot on GoPro and Filmed for IMAX. This is proof that GoPro cameras are enough for the IMAX Experience.
FLY: Shot on GoPro, Filmed for IMAX
Another Shot on GoPro project has been released, very similar to Skywalkers (story-wise and camera-wise), FLY was shot mainly on GoPro cameras. The story is about base jumping, hence, the main extreme footage was taken on GoPro cameras, as you can see in the screenshots from the trailer. Explore the trailer below. Underneath we gathered the footage that show the IMAX cameras attached to the objects.
From 65mm beasts to GoPro footage
IMAX theaters are being made for movies that were shot on IMAX 65mm film cameras. That’s a fact! However, there are not enough IMAX film cameras to be utilized by everyone who wants them (although there are 9 cameras and almost zero directors that use them till 2026. Read: IMAX Should Clarify its Presentations About Movies Being Shot on 65mm Cameras). Thus, IMAX has certified a few more high-end digital cinema cameras to shoot (or film) for the IMAX screen. Then, it seems that almost every digital camera can be ‘certified’ to shoot for the IMAX, including prosumer cameras (Sony FX3-The Creator, RED Komodo – numerous movies, and so on). And now, there seems to be a new trend: Extreme documentary movies that were shot on GoPro and are being screened on the huge canvas. The most recent examples are FLY and Skywalkers.
AI: The new IMAX camera
It’s obvious that GoPro cameras don’t have enough resolution and bitrate to look sharp on an IMAX screen. Therefore, FLY and Skywalkers have ingested a lot of the IMAX’s AI algorithm in order to ‘explode’ the image so it looks good on the huge canvas (otherwise it would appear blurry). The point here is that the camera is less matter now since there’s the AI algorithm (owned by IMAX). Should IMAX pause the development of the Nex-Gen 65mm film camera? Just a thought…Feel free to throw your comments below.
