Race is on to make 3-D porn films
Published On Tue Aug 17 2010
By Raju Mudhar, Entertainment Reporter
Despite recent reports of three-dimensional backlash and poor returns for recent mainstream releases, the race to release what some claim to be the world’s first pornographic film in the 3-D format is on around the world.
In Asia, Hong Kong filmmakers are working on 3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy, set for release next May. It is reportedly based on a piece of classical Chinese erotic literature, The Carnal Prayer Mat. According to the Sunday Morning Post, the film is set to star Japanese adult actresses Yukiko Suo and Saori Hara.
Italian director Tinto Brass announced last January he would produce a 3-D remake of his 1979 erotic film Caligula. According to reports, the film was to start shooting in May.
And Hustler, Larry Flynt’s American company best known for its porn magazine, has said it is financing and producing a 3-D spoof of James Cameron’s Avatar, the movie that started Hollywood’s current 3-D craze.
Despite the salacious subject matter, the truth is that the pornographic industry has often been early adopters of new film technology, such as VCRs, which eventually helped pushed them toward mainstream acceptance. That hasn’t changed with new digital tools, as the industry is often on forefront of adopting new Internet technologies, like webcams and live-streaming.
The news about the race to make the first 3-D porn also comes on the heels of some recent mainstream 3-D releases not performing well at the box office. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, a family-oriented film directed by Brad Peyton, didn’t do well in theatres this month, and Step Up 3D has made less than the first two in the dance series, which were filmed in two dimensions.
These films’ poor showings have sparked fears in the industry, the Financial Times reported, citing the fact that 3-D films often cost up to 50 per cent more to make than 2-D versions.
“The studios and theatres are overpricing 3-D films and there’s too much out here,” Richard Greenfield, an analyst with BTIG Research told the newspaper. “They are converting all of their movies into 3D without any regard to quality.”
Talking about the budding backlash, Cameron recently told Entertainment Weekly: “The whole 3-D market kind of overheated. Everybody got a little ahead of themselves. The studios were taking movies and just slamming them into 3-D with slapdash conversions that didn’t live up to a standard of quality that would justify charging extra for the ticket. So people started feeling ripped off. . . . I think we’re in a period where it’s recalibrating the market. But even now, even after all that, the 3-D movies are still performing well above their 2-D versions.”
The Avatar director still believes in the technology, likening it to the change in movies from black-and-white to colour.
Right now though, one of those formative steps is the ability to watch something X-rated.
Race is on to make 3-D porn films - thestar.com
