AVATAR BLOG

1. Production: What challenges did James Cameron have in realizing his vision?
Cameron didn't want his this movie to be viewed as a science-fiction, but rather a fantasy/adventure type movie. He also wanted to show the actors performance with having people believe that the human character they see is there Avatar as well. He didn't want to make it look like an Animation, and therefore waited until the technology caught up to his philosophy.

2. Creating the Virtual World: What was the process used in creating Pandora
Pandora was created with the intent to show both Earth's features and other worlds out there. The plant was created to show the true side of Nature and how human's don't fit into this world and plants and animals thrive in this environment. How the rain forest brights up when things run past it or touch it. Pandora was created to show the beauty of Natures.

3. Performance Capture verses Motion Capture: How has performance capture changed the film making process?
Instead of having the actors just act and someone make an animation of the movie after the fact, he had the ability to shoot the film, with the Avatars at the same time. He was able to show the actors true performances, and see how it would translate to the movie. He had them in suits with all these tracking balls on them including there face to pick up there motions. He also put a camera that hooked up to their microphones that showed there true facial expressions. There were also many cameras to pick up many details from many angles.

Avatar Earnings to Boost News Corp:

A: How much money was spent on marketing for the film?
400 Million US Dollars

B: What challenges does News Corp face in realizing profits?
Their were many people or organizations that are involved with this film it takes longer to figure out the gross amount of money the film made. Then all the people who were involved and the totals will be calculated, an we will find out the net amount the film made.

C: In your opinion, does the massive budget spent on the film effect the authenticity of its message?
I don't think that money has an effect on a films authenticity at all because money isn't what makes a film great. Just because more money was spent on a film doesn't make it better than one that is less expensive. The message of the movie doesn't make it better or worst with money. With more money you will be able to have better effects and hire better people to work on your movie, but the message isn't changed, its what the script that shows the message. Good script equals a good message.

a. Do you agree with the critic's claim that Avatar "identifies the profound spiritual bankruptcy that underlies our financial insolvency...and reminds us (to)... make new choices for the greatest good of all". Or is this film just a trite recycling of previous plots that reinforces racist stereotypes? Explain with examples from the film.

I believe that Avatar shows both ideas of "identifies the profound spiritual bankruptcy that underlies our financial insolvency...and reminds us (to)... make new choices for the greatest good of all", and recycling of previous plots that reinforces racist stereotypes. The movie shows how money equals to power and how the only reason we do somethings is to benefit from getting paid. It shows how we as human want what we want even if it cost another species life because why should we care? When, the general decides to attack Home Tree it show us that he had a ruthless attitude and had no heart. But, the movie showed us how some individuals will stand up for others, even thought the majority does what benefits themselves. In addition, the plot wasn't original, but it connected to what the movie was trying to show. It showed us how stereotypes are apart of are lively hood, and just because we're watching a movie it doesn't make the stereotypes go away.