OK...yeah, I guess you should be suspect of this recommendation, as I worked on the film, but I just saw NASCAR 3D last night and was very impressed.

I'm not a NASCAR fan, I've never watched a race before. But this film was fun! I've seen many 3D IMAX films before, but I think the 3D effect was handled better in this film than any I've seen before. Tastefully done...it wasn't throwing the "look I'm 3D" in your face.

Go see it and watch for my name in the credits!

I heard someone else talking about this recently. Definately going to go and see it.

i just saw a nascar show a few days ago and even the drivers were talking about how awesome this movie was. they said some of the camera angles and track pans were the best ever for their sport. most of the clips i saw looked lke they were 'staged' races, not necessarily real races.. did they do a lot of set-up shots, specifically for this movie? the closest IMAX theater to me is in san antonio(4 hrs), so looks like its time for a road-trip.

There's a mix of both actual race footage and footage that was shot specifically for the movie. In either case it's real cars, racing real fast.

(Note: there's one fx shot in the film that seems clearly an fx shot - an outside firm did that shot, and we all hated it, so don't cry to me about it if you don't like it!)

John,

There IS an IMAX theater at the Bob Bullock Museum in Austin...that may be closer...not sure how often they rotate their movies though...

From one Texan to another...

WhatFurrer

bigjohn,

NASCAR 3D IS playing at the IMAX theatre at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in downtown Austin. Will be there for a while...they do have showings during the day as well as in the evening...they are currently rotating three movies. Saw a promo for it...looks very impressive...my 12 year old son wants to go see it...maybe this weekend.

Just an update since we took my Dad to the museum on Wednesday 03/17 and noticed it was showing there...

Regards,

WhatFurrer

Please let me know what you think!

We don't get it until June...

furrer,
thanks for the info.. i will have to go check on show times.. not sure when i will be in austin again, but always seem to make it there at least 2-3 times a year. speaking of which, you up for allowing me to come audition your speakers.. i saw the pics from one of your other posts, and you have the same set-up i want.. although i wont have the SVS sub.. i will send you a PM with my email and please contact me.. i know for a fact i am coming that direction when RUSH plays in san antonio on june the 25th.. i have tried to reach austinbirdman about checking out his system, but he hasnt got back with me ..

let me know what you think..

bigjohn

BigJohn,

You have a PM.

WhatFurrer

Excellent and Enviable Job, Craig!

Went to see "NASCAR 3D" Friday of last week with my 12 year old son. We were both very impressed. We do not watch NASCAR racing at home, so I was impressed at how well it enlightened someone who really does not know the background of NASCAR or the current field of play in oval track racing.

Personal Note: I was expecting a bit more bass from the soundtrack (not your fault I'm sure) but I guess I am spoiled to my SVS 20-39 PC+ at home...I think they did not have it calibrated correctly the day we saw it because upon seeing "Texas, The Big Picture" in the same theatre a couple of weeks previous, the experience had more bass...I did hear them dinking with the sound before we sat down though...

My son-in-law is a huge Dale Earnhardt fan and will be coming to town in a couple of weeks...may see if he would be interested in seeing it. I know he would enjoy it...my daughter, on the other hand, may not...Oh well, it will be a guy thing outing.

Spiff...I was interested in one prospect of the soundtrack though. Between Warner Brothers and NASCAR, they could not arrange to secure the use of the "original" recording of "La Grange" by ZZ Top instead of a cover? A good effort made by the artist, don't get me wrong, but I was a bit disappointed when it was not Dusty and the boys...From working in broadcast TV in a previous career life, I know getting approval for use of a particular piece of music can be a daunting task sometimes...

I saw the "effects" shot you referred to and I can say that it definitely made my son jump when it happened ...It was a bit cheesy in my opinion...but hey, you gotta give 'em 3D, right?

I enjoyed the movie thoroughly and would see it again. And probably will.

Again, Excellent Job, Craig!

WhatFurrer

Thanks. I too am not a NASCAR fan, but really enjoyed it when I saw it.

As you might note...it's 12:45am and I'm at work. Now that NASCAR is done, Harry Potter has become my nightmare.

Craig, Harry Potter is children's literature that is *designed* to cause nightmares. Or worse, if you listen to the lunatic fringe. I'm already on record as enjoying the book series as much as my children do.

You better hurry up and get your work done, because I've already made arrangements to see the fruits of your labor at the Pacific Science Center IMAX during the first week of June.

My clan is giddy with excitement to see Hogwarts in Imax. And I want you to be aware that our fellowship through these forums is going to meaningfully increase my enjoyment of the film.

Me too, Craig. I've read all the books and seen the movies that have been released, and have enjoyed each immensely. I haven't heard anything about this project, so fill me in, please. Which Harry potter movie(s) are you readying for IMAX. Fortunately we have an IMAX theater here in Cleveland. I suppose it will be quite awhile before it will be viewable there, however.

What about it is causing you to see it as a nightmare; the movie itself , or the process of conversion?

Jack (Craig, please correct me if I am wrong), I believe they are releasing "The Prisoner of Azkaban" simultaneously in traditional theatre format and in Imax theatres. The Imax site had info on the film, but did not have the specific theatres listed. My local Imax theatre did, however, confirm the dates/times on their site.

Thanks Tom. I'll have to check out my local IMAX site.

Did you happen to watch the first Harry potter movie on ABC, a few days ago. It was hosted by "Harry," "Ron," and "Hermione." I was amazed (though I shouldn't be, of course) at how those kids have grown. If they keep the same cast, by the time they film the seventh and last chapter, they'll all be about 35 years old.

Craig- I caught NASCAR before it left the Bridge a few weekends ago. First off... WOW! It was so incredible that my brother and my buddy and I wanted to get back in line and see it again. And my buddy isn't even a NASCAR fan, either. He is now, though!

Beyond it being such an amazing experience, we saw about a dozen times on screen our friend who is the chief mechanich for Dale Earnhart, Jr. In 3D no less! He was in town the following weekend for the race at the CA Speedway and we told him about him being in the film, which he wasn't even aware of.

I've talked about this film so much to all my friends that we've actually planned to go see it with a big group of us at Universal City Walk next weekend. If you're not a NASCAR fan, you really will still enjoy this experience. The racing at the end of the movie put me on the edge of my seat. I can only imagine that it's the closest thing to actually driving a car at 180mph yourself. I highly recommend anyone reading this to go check this film out.

Cool. Glad you liked it.

My nightmare is keeping seven cameras simulaneously shooting 24/7. I came into work on Tuesday at 8am...left at 6:30pm, returned that night at 11:45pm, and worked straight through until 1:30pm the next afternoon. Just to get up and be at work again today at 5:00am. bleck...this Harry Potter movie better be dang good.

Craig- what exactly did you do on the NASCAR film? I know we've talked about your job before, but can you explain it a bit more for me? Just curious to hear. Which shot in the movie was the digital effects one? I need to go see it again soon, and I want to keep my eyes open for it.

And, is the new Harry Potter film going to be in 3D, too? Just curious.

Thanks again. Great, great movie!

-Kevin

He *could* tell us what goes on at Imax, but then he'd have to kill us all.

For NASCAR I film recorded all the shots that had inlaid panels of other shots. As well as the two FX shots. (One was when the tire flew out into the camera, and the other one was the cg effect showing how "drafting" works.) I wish my job were more artistic, but it's not. I just take digital data and turn it into 65mm film negative. Yawn.

Harry Potter will be 2D. Next up...Catwoman...then after that Polar Express - in 3D. 3D means twice the work. I'll have to record everything twice. That's going to be a true nightmare! I better just move a cot in here at work.

Though on the other hand...all this over time should help put money into the "new TV" fund.

In reply to:

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And I want you to be aware that our fellowship through these forums is going to meaningfully increase my enjoyment of the film.

---

Ah yes. Craig's friends -- collectively known as the Fellowship of the Dink.

hmmm...you're link won't work. Now I don't know exactly what you were getting at.

Hmmm? Works for me, Spiff.

Overview for "dink"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The noun "dink" has 2 senses in WordNet.

1. DINK -- (a couple who both have careers and no children (an acronym for dual income no kids))
2. drop shot, dink -- (a soft return so that the tennis ball drops abruptly after crossing the net)

ah...it does now. It didn't just a few minutes ago. That's kinda what I figured he was saying.

I hope I didn't leave you hanging with the thought I was making a thinkly-veiled insult, or something. DINK is a term often used in the real-estate market, so I thought it fitting due to your recent purchase.

It's good to be a DINK. Heh heh heh...

I hope I'm not revealing something without permision, but one of my friends decribes his situation as "DILDO".
Dual income, little dog only.

That's too funny!