Key facts
- Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" is the first feature shot entirely on IMAX film.
- A new IMAX camera, named The Keighley, was developed with a "blimp" muffler for dialogue scenes.
- The IMAX camera system weighed 300 pounds and required film reloads every 2.5-3 minutes.
- Nolan considers IMAX 70mm film presentations the "best possible experience" for immersion.
- He also values 70mm prints as a "fabulous presentation."
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan has long championed large-screen cinematic experiences, particularly IMAX, which he first encountered as a child. His latest film, "The Odyssey," marks a significant milestone as the first feature shot entirely on IMAX film. This achievement was made possible by the development of a "blimp" camera muffler, allowing for the capture of dialogue-heavy scenes, and a new IMAX camera named The Keighley, after long-time IMAX executives Patricia and David Keighley.
Despite the technical hurdles, such as the 300-pound camera requiring reloads every two to three minutes and the need for a mirror system for actors, Nolan's goal remains to provide audiences with an unparalleled, immersive experience. He explained that shooting on IMAX 70mm film allows the screen to "disappear," creating a 3D-like effect without glasses and filling the viewer's peripheral vision.
Nolan detailed how different aspect ratios are managed during shooting to ensure the imagery translates well across various formats, from the immersive 1.43:1 IMAX screen to cropped versions for 35mm or CinemaScope. He considers IMAX 70mm presentations, though rare and highly sought after, to be the "best possible experience," while also appreciating traditional 70mm prints as a "fabulous presentation."