22 - Sunday, April 7, 1996 - North Shore News nS Tech nology still star of IMAX films FRENCH FILM director Jean-Jacques = Annaud knows a thing or two about courage. By Andrew McCredie Community Editor The acclaimed director (Black and White in Color, Quest for Fire, The Name of the Kose, The Bear) chose courage as the theme of his latest film — and displayed a great deal of the trait himself in the making of Wings of Courage, the first-ever dra- matic motion picture filmed in IMAX 3D. Established directors have taken on the massive format (read; massive headache) of IMAX technology before, but Annaud is the first to integrate a dramatic story, complete with actors, onto the large (five storeys large) screen. For the French director, however, the heroic, true life story depicted in Wings of Courage inspired him to take on the challenge of first learn- ing, then using, the cutting- edge IMAX 3D technology. “| have always had a fasci- nation for people who were the first to do something, those who invent or innovate,” Annaud said. “And I have always wanted to do a movie about these particular pio- neers, the people who invent- ed the new technology — meaning those crazy young men in their flying machines.” Wings of Courage is the true story of French pilot Henri Guillaumet's ordeal in the high-altitude Andes Cordillera mountain range in 1930. Guillaumet (played by Craig Sheffer), a rookie mail ‘espilot on the Santiago de Chile- Buenos Aires route, crash- landed his bi-plane on a high- mountain pass, then walked six days over seemingly impossible terrain back to civ- ilization. Supporting Sheffer are Elizabeth McGovern as Guillaumet's wife, Val Kilmer as legendary French aviation pioneer Jean Mermoz, and Tom Hulce as aviator and writer Antoine de St. Exupery (of Le Petite Prince fame). Annaud selected the actors for two reasons: none live in Los Angeles and all are avid readers (traits, one hazards, “Shared by the Parisian diree- tor), He could have added patience and humility also. since the true stars of Wings of Courage ate the fridge-size cameras used in filming IMAX 3D. . As the first out-of-the-tab- oratory assignment for the new IMAX 3D technology, Wings of Courage placed heavy demands on both equipment and crew, Filming at 10,000 feet in late- Winter in the Canadian Rockies using traditional cameras is difficult enough, but with the tempera- mental IMAX 3D cameras the task took on Herculean pro- portions. At a special screen- ing in Vancouver in March for the crew, Annaud iook every opportunity to thank his nost- ts of courage Photo submitted CRAIG SHEFFER plays pilot Henri Guillaumet in Wings of Courage, the first-ever dramatic motion pic- ture filmed in IMAX 3D. ly Canadian crew. And for the director, using the fish-eyed lens’ format meant re-evaluating every- thing he knew about film- making. “The use of a giant screen has changed the fundamental idea (of film-making), as the a Coun spectator is so close to the screen that he cannot discern the edges.” Annaud_ says. adding that since the frame has no borders he had no use for a view-finder — iradition- ally, one of the most important tools at a director's disposal. Also. the fact that the Queen Euzascrn Taearre « Apait 10 - 14 Weowesoay ~ Fripay 8pm ° Saturoay & SUNDAY 2PM & BPM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL 2Eapasiae DUTLETS OR CALL [Groups call 684-HITS 604/280-4464 Green Tiy from Environment Canada n't top up the gas tank. Gasoline vapours will oscope when your gas tank is too full and contribute to smog. oe | IMAX camera sees every thing from the floor to the ceiling —- including the legs of the tripod it sits on — made filming the breathtaking aerial scenes more dangerous than usual. Since tight shots are essential when filming with IMAX 3D, the helicopter car- tying the massive camera hid to literally fly with its rotor above the fixed wing of the bi- plane. No lack of courage there. The demanding work paid off in full, however, as the 40- minute film attests. {t's no surprise the moun- tain and aerial shots are breathtaking (ufter all, the great outdoors is IMAX 3D's raison d'étre), But the acting scenes -— especially one in a Buenos Aires’ cantina — live up to all the boasts of the 3D experience. Forget about the hollow promises of virtual reality. Wings of Courage is the closest the movie-going pub- lic can come to “being there.” Wings of Courage plays daily at the CN Imax Theatre at Canada Place, with shaw- ings at noon, 2 pam, 3 pum. and 5 p.m., and nightly as a double feature with Survival Island at 7 and 9 p.m. Canada Place is located just west of the SeaBus terminal ‘in Vancouver, 15 minutes from the Lower Lonsdale terminal. eniadeaiaaanteeaatnestententn Orchid Show & Sale $40 Fri. April 12 Sat. April 13 OFF ONE $6 ADMISSION WITH AD 10 a.m, to 6 p.m. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun. April 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hotel Vancouver 9G0 W. Georgia, Vancouver Ne es ene mee ee ns emt Se TOY STORY (General) Matinees Fri-Sun atlas pm BABS (General) Matinees Fri-Sun 45 At Premiere Prices! 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