Christopher Nolan and Imax Film!

Imax format though was introduced during late 1970’s during expo and a film made on using Imax camera and film is TIGER CHILD.

Imax is very much different from Cinemascope and 70 mm formats where screen and aspect ratio are broader, the uniqueness of Imax is its Height.

Approx.  screen size of a Imax theater is 72 feet height  x 50 feet wide! The world’s largest IMAX screen currently stands in Leonberg near Stuttgart, Germany and measures 38 by 22 m (125 by 72 ft).

IMAX is a proprietary system of technically advanced high-resolution cameras, film formats, projectors, and theaters with very large screens taller than the theatrical standard. They project aspect ratio of 1.90:1.

what makes IMAX stand out is the projection. The standard uses 70mm film run through the projector horizontally. This technique produces an area that is about 8.3 times as large as the 35mm film, and around 3.4 times as large as 70 mm film run through the projector vertically. Now, many of these movies are broadcast digitally.

In 2008, IMAX introduced Digital IMAX, a lower-cost system that uses two 2K digital projectors to project on a 1.90:1 aspect ratio screen.

Imax basically was at only museums on a larger curved screen for scientific purpose, Director Christopher Nolan who visited the museum was amazed by the image quality which was better than 65mm film format.

Christopher Nolan went to Imax film corporation found out the Imax film cameras which is bulkier…and they have to use Kodak Film stock which has a size of  15 perforation for one frame ( 65mm Film – 8 perforation . Cinemascope 4 perforation – 35mm film).

Christopher Nolan a visionary shot DARK KNIGHT with Imax film cameras and also mixed with 65mm film cameras and few sequences on 35mm cameras for handheld, steadicam moves.

The 35mm images and 65mm images where blown up to Imax aspect ratio…in the final cut.  The movie became a huge block buster and world wide demand came for Imax format.

In India Prasad theatres at Hyderabad was the first in our country to introduce Imax format.

Then Digital took over film and Imax also brought digital Imax theatres and projectors ( two interlocked projectors ).

Currently there are two methods of presenting Imax format is

* Shooting with Imax Film Camera using KODAK film (15 perf) important scenes and mixing up with 65 mm film camera and film stock and releasing in Digital Imax format and Cinemascope formats for wider release.

* Shooting with Current Digital Cinema Cameras like Arri Alexa and RED and officially mastering it to Imax format by paying a royalty fee…like we do with sound to dts and dolby format. (Baahubali 2, RRR and Ponniyin Selvan 1 & 2)

Today most of the Hollywood films are shot digitally and converted to Imax format…and some films partially shot with Imax film camera and film stock.

Christopher Nolan is a visionary currently he has not shot any film with digital cameras, his recent film Oppenheimer to be released worldwide this week.

Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film ‘Oppenheimer’, which follows the theoretical physicist who oversaw the development of first atomic bomb during World War II, was shot on large format film stock on IMAX and Panavision 65mm film cameras which is projected in 70mm. These are among the highest resolution film movie cameras that exist.

Nolan told Associated Press that regarding his choice of film, ‘The sharpness and the clarity and the depth of the image is unparalleled. The headline, for me, is by shooting on IMAX 70mm film, you’re really letting the screen disappear. You’re getting a feeling of 3D without the glasses. You’ve got a huge screen and you’re filling the peripheral vision of the audience. You’re immersing them in the world of the film.’

Oppenheimer

Cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema!

*Number of shooting days -57
*Single camera setup for most of the scenes
* No monitor

* No computer generated visual effects for Atomic bomb explosion

Cameras used 

* Imax Film Camera / Panavision 65mm film camera

Film stock 

* Kodak Black and white Imax stock – few sequences ( stock # double x 5222)

* Kodak 65mm film stock run horizontally for 15 perf (Imax)

OPPENHEIMER is releasing in Imax Film Projection at America in few theatres  Imax single print weight is 267 kg and 11 miles length.

Most of the countries  releases in Digital Imax screens and Other digital wide screen formats

Article by 

CJ Rajkumar

Author/Cinematographer