3D the Next Great Frontier, says DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg

ALL movies – whether they be low-budget movies, animated films or high-budget live-action blockbusters – will be made in 3D within the next five to seven years. Making this bold prediction was Mr Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO, DreamWorks Animation.

Speaking during his keynote address on the first day of the inaugural 3DX: 3D Film & Entertainment Technology Festival held in Singapore, he also said that 3D represented the next major development in the history of filmmaking.

The 3DX Festival is hosted by the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) with support from the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Economic Development Board.

Numerous leading directors in Hollywood – Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Peter Jackson – were involved in 3D projects, as “they all see 3D as the next great frontier”, said Mr Katzenberg.

Business delegates and members of the international media, including a crew from CBS News’
60 Minutes who had flown in to specially cover the 3DX Festival, were also treated to never-before-seen footage of DreamWorks’ work-in-progress 3D animated feature Monsters Vs Aliens.

In a press conference after his address, Mr Katzenberg was joined by MDA Chief Executive Officer
Dr Christopher Chia and other media luminaries Mr Greg Foster, Chairman and President, Filmed Entertainment, IMAX Corporation and Mr Mark Zoradi, President, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group.

Mr Zoradi revealed that his studio was working on 11 3D movies over the next two years.

Delegates at the conference will, over the next few days, get a chance to watch 3D movies and listen to media executives such as Mr Dan Glickman, Chairman, Motion Picture Association of America; Mr Jim Gianopulos, Chairman/CEO, Fox Filmed Entertainment; Mr Jon Landau, Producer, Avatar and Titanic; and Mr Brendan Fraser, Actor and Co-executive Producer, Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Exciting 3D Developments in Singapore

A S$10 million development fund has been set aside to encourage the creation of 3D content in Singapore.

Making this announcement at the 3DX Festival Opening Ceremony held on 19 November was Singapore’s Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts, Dr Lee Boon Yang.

"We would like to encourage and support the growth of the 3D industry as part of our media sector.  We are embarking on a multi-pronged approach to help local media companies gain a presence in the 3D content market, build a cluster of 3D professionals and develop more 3D expertise in Singapore," he said.

MDA will work closely with broadcasters, content producers and innovative media companies who are enthusiastic about 3D.

He revealed that steps have already been made to advance Singapore’s 3D industry.

“We already have a partnership between the Singapore Film Commission and filmmaker, Brian Yuzna of Komodo Films, to produce a slate of three films including Singapore’s first stereoscopic 3D digital feature, Amphibious, with post-production by Singapore’s Infinite Frameworks. Brett Leonard, who directed Denzel Washington in Virtuosity as well as made T-REX in 3D, will be helming the second film in this three-film slate.”

In addition, Leonard will be setting up a state-of-the-art stereoscopic 3D movie production facility here. This will be the first facility of its kind in the world to handle the entire creative process from pre- to post-production in 3D. The Cimarron Group – one of Hollywood’s largest and most successful entertainment marketing agencies specialising in strategic, creative and production – who supported 3DX with the creation of the festival’s collaterals, will also be setting up an office in Singapore in December.

The inaugural 3DX Festival takes place from 19 to 23 November in Singapore. For more information, visit www.3dxfestival.com

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