The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center introduces a new way to enjoy the IMAX experience with a Director’s Cut audio track. Much like viewing a home DVD that contains multiple tracks that allows you to hear what the director and actors have to say about the film you’re watching, IMAX has brought that feature to the big screen.
“This is something new, and right now we’re only doing it with our film ‘Wired To Win,'” said Jeremy Pyle, public relations manager for the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. “It’s ideal for someone that has already seen the movie. The first time you just enjoy the movie and then come back a second time and ask for our special audio receiver and headset, which allows you to listen to the director’s comments during the film.”
The headset is provided free for the asking with the regular price of admission, and it affords the viewers to immerse themselves into the action as seen from the filmmaker’s perspective. Academy Award-nominated director Bayley Silleck gives patrons with headsets the inside scoop on what happened during the making of the movie along with technical tips for budding filmmakers.
“Director Bayley Silleck has some fascinating comments about the challenges of filming the Tour De France in IMAX, said Pyle. “Filmmakers will be especially interested in his comments; he talks about the type of film lenses used and some of the breakthrough techniques he created for this movie. There was one time when he wanted to put the audience in the middle of the race, so he mounted an IMAX projector on the back of a BMW motorcycle and drove it into a crowd of riders to give the audience the feeling of being in the race.”
In addition to the Director’s Cut audio track, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center will soon be making changes to their screen affording the audience an enhanced viewing experience.
“In the next year or so we will be completely upgrading the IMAX system as well as adding a digital system,” said Dr. Jeffrey W. Kirsch, executive director of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. “The new screen will appear to have no seams, and that will be a big change for the audience, and we will be able to get more light on a darker screen, giving us a better contrast ratio than we have now. Over the long, long haul, digital will eventually take over, but that could take up to a decade to put into place.”
Last year IMAX in Los Angeles débuted “Polar Express” in 3-D to rave reviews; currently “Superman” is also flying off selected IMAX screens around California. However, only flat screens can accommodate the Man of Steel and subsequently he won’t be appearing at our local IMAX.
“The 3-D process is something the IMAX Company has developed; they take pre-produced films in smaller formats then up the film’s resolution to something that’s not quite IMAX but it plays well as 3-D on a flat surface,” said Kirsch. “In a dome, 3-D looks artificial so you don’t see many dome theaters playing the commercial fare for these for technical reasons. However, 3-D is a process that gives added oomph to the launch of blockbuster films, and supporting Hollywood-made films is one of IMAX’s corporate goals for the future.”
Currently there are more than 300 large format film theaters worldwide. Many of them are IMAX: 100 flat screen theaters, another 100 that can play 3-D and 75 dome theaters.
For IMAX show times, call (619) 238-1233, or visit their Web site at www.rhfleet.org.