Editors' Picks
3D Entertainment Distribution Unveils "Air Racers 3D" at Giant Screen Cinema Association's Annual IMAX Conference
By StudentFilmmakers.com
posted Sep 20, 2011, 11:25
Film documenting the Reno National Championship Air Races will open at IMAX theatres in the US on February 10, 2012.
Film documenting the Reno National Championship Air Races will open at
IMAX theatres in the US on February 10, 2012.
(Los Angeles, Paris, and London) 3D Entertainment Distribution will host the
IMAX industry premiere of "Air Racers 3D" (September 20) during the
Giant Screen Cinema Association's Annual Conference at the Texas State History
Museum IMAX Theatre in Austin. The film takes audiences into Nevada's "Valley
of Speed" for a spectacular exploration of the fastest motorsport in the
world: the legendary Reno National Championship Air Races. It marks the first
time in the event's 48-year history that a film on the Air Races has been produced
entirely in 3D.
"Air Racers 3D" documents the highly competitive world of air racing
and features spectacular footage of highly-modified World War II-era aircraft,
including the P-51 Mustang, Corsair, Bearcat and T-6. Every September, exceptional
daredevil pilots fight for position, wingtip to wingtip, and attain speeds of
over 500 mph (805 km/h) while skimming, a mere 50 feet (15.25 m) above the ground,
around an 8-mile (13-km) oval course marked off by ten giant pylons.
"This action-packed film will be available as of February 2012 to aviation
enthusiasts and IMAX theatre moviegoers around the world," said Francois
Mantello, Chairman and CEO of 3D Entertainment Distribution. "It is a unique
celebration of excellence in flight that will enthrall audiences with the thrill
and excitement of a unique sporting event considered by many to be the NASCAR
of the air. Sadly, this presentation at Austin's Bob Bullock IMAX Theatre comes
just four days after the tragic events at this year's Races."
"Our entire production team joins us in extending our deepest sympathies
and condolences to all the families affected by last Friday's heartbreaking
accident at the Reno National Championship Air Races," said Christian Fry,
who co-directed "Air Racers 3D" with Jean-Jacques Mantello.
With a budget of USD 5 million, "Air Racers 3D" required two years
of active production. Principal 3D photography took place during the 2009 and
2010 events and was completed last June after filming air-to-air sequences using
new stereoscopic technologies, including a helicopter-mounted gyro-stabilized
aerial 3D camera rig, a custom wing mounted camera and 3D cameras placed inside
the cockpit. All six classes of racing aircraft – Biplane, Formula One,
Sport, T-6, Jet Class and Unlimited – are featured in "Air Racers
3D."
Appearing, among others, in the film are Bill Destefani's 1944 North American
P-51D Mustang, "Strega" (pilot: Steve Hinton Jr.), Rod Lewis's Grumman
Tigercat F7F-3, "Here Kitty Kitty" (pilot: Stewart Dawson), as well
as "Rare Bear", a Grumman F8F Bearcat (pilot: John Penney), Raju Mann's
1969 Aerovodochody L-29 Delfin, "Raju Grace" (pilot: Heather Penney),
and Marilyn Dash's 1974 Aerotek Pitts Special S-1S, "Ruby" (pilot:
Marilyn Dash).
The tradition of air racing began nearly 100 years ago with World War I barnstormers
and eventually evolved into grand racing events organized to celebrate the aviation
heroics of World War II. The last of their kind, the Reno Air Races began in
1964 as a revival of these high-speed competitions celebrating horsepower, ingenuity
and the piloting skills of the men who operated these planes under tremendously
perilous and dire circumstances.
"Air Racers 3D" is produced by 3D Entertainment USA and Pretend Entertainment
in association with Stereoscope. The film is directed by Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques
Mantello and features an original script written by Christian Fry and Rick Dowlearn.
The soundtrack was composed by Christophe Jacquelin. The film is executive produced
by Francois Mantello, John Constantine and Jeffery Pierce, and produced by Christian
Fry and Raul Leckie.
Resources:
http://www.airracers-thefilm.com/
http://www.3defilms.com/
www.studentfilmmakers.com © 2004-2005. All rights reserved.
A division of Welch Integrated, Inc.