Wally Pfister

‘The Dark Knight’ Delivers Sensory Orgasm in IMAX Prologue Before ‘I Am Legend’

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:23:29 -0700

I went to screen “I Am Legend” on Wednesday to experience “The Dark Knight”.

That statement doesn’t speak grimly about my feelings for Will Smith. I was looking forward to learning his legend and I’m glad I did. The night at Chicago’s Navy Pier IMAX, though, went to its first six minutes with the Joker as the star.

A production still from “The Dark Knight” prologue.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
Before I skipped the capacity crowd awaiting entrance into the theater, I stopped to listen to people’s pre-conceived motivations for spending a chilly Wednesday evening at the movies.

People weren’t there because it was free. More important, many people weren’t talking about “I Am Legend”. The buzz king went to Nolan & Co. A few people even went so far as to say they’d consume “The Dark Knight” prologue and skip out immediately thereafter.

I spoke to the publicist running the screening moments before heading in. He was in a panic.

He just got off the phone from New York because “the prologue wasn’t going to show,” he said. At the mere quiet mention of the notion, the few critics who heard it threw their hands in the air in disgust.

I’m paraphrasing, but the publicist immediately retorted: “Don’t worry. It’ll be there now. I made sure of it.” Their nerves were calmed and I now felt vindicated after having to miss last week’s sneak peak of the prologue following yet another “The Dark Knight” viral game.

We were first treated to a trailer for “The Spiderwick Chronicles”.

The next trailer – for a film documenting a rock star – was relatively unimpressive and forgettable. Then a sweeping shot of downtown Gotham ushered in “The Dark Knight” prologue and the theater erupted in applause.

You immediately felt the difference between a typical trailer preceding the big event as this prologue is a short film in its own right. Its design is to introduce the Joker as the crazed fiend he is. He’s indeed feared, he’s indeed demented and he indeed delivers on the frenetic hype.

The story leading up to his unmasking deliberately makes his revelation deliciously climatic. You love to hate Heath and feel no remorse loving him all the while.

For this Chicagoan who has been covering the ins and outs of the film as it has taken over our Windy City, the prologue feels much like home. I’d be watching and instantly recall reporting on that courthouse and stepping foot on those very floors when I was beckoned there for jury duty.

A cameo by William Fichtner (“Go,” “Armageddon,” “Contact”) as a Gotham National Bank manager proves even in just a glimpse the power of this cast from roles as big as Heath Ledger as the Joker and Christian Bale as Batman all the way down to this small bank manager who dominates a memorable scene.

William Fichtner in “The Perfect Storm”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
Director Chris Nolan will be remembered as an innovator who made the premeditated choice to work with director of photography Wally Pfister and IMAX technicians to mark the first time in Hollywood history the larger and heavier IMAX cameras were used to film select sequences.

Rather than succumbing to the quality degradation inherent in converting traditional 35-millimeter film to the largesse of IMAX, Nolan filmed directly using the 60-millimeter, sensually orgasmic format. The wait was worth the remuneration and serves as yet another telltale sign that “The Dark Knight” will be the film of 2008.

Warner Bros. Formally Announces ‘The Dark Knight’ Prologue Before ‘I Am Legend’ in IMAX

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:44:58 -0700

We already knew about this, of course, but Warner Bros. on Wednesday released its official announcement that “The Dark Knight” prologue will be featured in its entirety before “I Am Legend” in IMAX.

Both are Warner Bros. films. “I Am Legend” opens in theaters everywhere on Dec. 14. The first showing in Chicago will be at the Navy Pier IMAX screen (700 E. Grand Ave.) at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 14. “The Dark Knight” is slated to open everywhere on July 18, 2008.

A description of the prologue surfaced on Dec. 3. The prologue will be in IMAX 2D. Wednesday’s formal announcement was made by Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman.

The following information was sent to me in a statement:

The release of the opening six minutes of the movie marks the world premiere of the first footage ever shot with extremely high-resolution IMAX cameras for a major motion-picture release.

In an unprecedented move, director Christopher Nolan employed IMAX cameras for a number of sequences in “The Dark Knight”.

In the statement, Nolan said the following on the news:

I’ve always found the IMAX format to be completely astounding in terms of the crispness and clarity of the image and sound as well as the sheer size and scope.

I knew that if you could shoot scenes of a feature film in that format – not just blow up a 35-millimeter film to fit those screens but actually to shoot with IMAX cameras – you could achieve an incredibly immersive experience.

No one had ever done it before, but with a lot of careful preparation by our director of photography (Wally Pfister) and the help of the IMAX technicians, the results are beyond our expectations.

When you watch the finished product, it’s like being on an amazing roller coaster. It’s literally larger than life.

Will Smith in “I Am Legend”.
Photo credit: IMDb
I also received this information on the topic on Dec. 10:

Beginning at 11 p.m. on Dec. 13 in the Navy Pier IMAX theater lobby, ticket-holding audience members will be invited to join in a variety of “I Am Legend”-themed games.

A series of “last-man standing” competitions will dare contestants to be the last one standing while hopping on one foot, in a hoola-hoop contest and in a battle of the wits [that tests] fans on their knowledge of Will Smith’s acting history.

Prizes will include film paraphernalia, IMAX tickets, concession-stand coupons and a few surprise items.

Though we already know it, the following plot information was included in the Dec. 12 statement:

“The Dark Knight” reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne. In the new film, Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime.

With the help of lieutenant Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets.

The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.

‘The Dark Knight’ Releases Behind-the-Scenes IMAX Featurette

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:02:21 -0700

Just in time to give thanks for Thanksgiving, “The Dark Knight” just released a new IMAX featurette that reveals fresh behind-the-scenes imagery.

Director Chris Nolan and director of photography Wally Pfister discuss why they decided to use IMAX cameras in select sequences.

They speak on the grandeur not only of the filming format but also of the heaviness of the camera itself and having to craft custom-built rigs to support them.

I’ve uploaded the IMAX featurette to YouTube and embedded it below.

Exclusive: Photos of Gotham Ships at Navy Pier From ‘The Dark Knight’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:49:16 -0700

I am publishing exclusive “The Dark Knight” photos from a Navy Pier set in Chicago designed to simulate Gotham ships. These were submitted to me anonymously.

Thorough details from the photographer follow. Warning: This can be perceived as spoiler information.

These three photos were taken on June 27, 2007 at the south end of Navy Pier. A set was built to simulate two Gotham ships.

In the center was a large area painted with “digital green” (a matte-backing paint). Above the two ships, billboards were also painted with the same paint for effects in post-production.

The scene was an evacuation scene where pedestrians and prisoners were being evacuated from Gotham City. There were two bridges the pedestrians would be crossing.

The one on the left was for the National Guard and pedestrians. The bridge on the right is where the action took place.

The premise of the scene was for the pedestrians to be crossing when all of a sudden the National Guard and Gotham City Department of Correction officers move in. They create a wall to allow the prisoners to board the boat ahead of the pedestrians.

This caused the pedestrians to scream and go crazy. Why were prisoners being evacuated ahead of them?

There were more than 600 total extras used on this day. There were pedestrians (dressed for a fall day with luggage), prisoners (dressed in orange jumpsuits), Gotham City police, the National Guard and Gotham City Department of Correction officers.

There were two cameras used for the shoot. One camera was on a jib at the end of Navy Pier. Another camera was held by director of photography Wally Pfister at the end of the bridge to shoot back at the prisoners and pedestrians.

As the shot was intendted for dusk, aerial photography was also done. Director Chris Nolan left the set to get in the helicopter for aerial shots. He returned for the end of the shoot at dusk where more takes were done. Shooting completed around 9 p.m.

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