The Difference Between Shot With IMAX And Filmed for IMAX
A movie can be both 'Filmed for IMAX' and shot with IMAX cameras, which is why the two labels are easy to confuse. The difference lies in the camera used to capture the movie and the broader production process built around an IMAX presentation.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
IMAX's 'Shot with IMAX' and 'Filmed for IMAX' labels are often confused, but they describe different aspects of the movie production process. 'Shot with IMAX' refers to the camera used to capture the movie, while 'Filmed for IMAX' describes a broader production process built around an IMAX presentation.
Imagine you're at the movies, and you want to see a big, tall picture on the screen. That's what IMAX is all about. But did you know that there are two ways to make an IMAX movie? You can either use special cameras that take big, tall pictures, or you can use regular cameras and then make the picture bigger in a special way. It's like the difference between taking a picture with a regular camera and then making it bigger with a photo editor.
Analysis
IMAX Film Cameras vs. Digital Cameras
IMAX's own marketing generally uses the more specific phrase 'Shot with IMAX Film Cameras' rather than 'Shot with/in IMAX.' In this case, the description is literal: filmmakers captured at least some of the movie using IMAX's large-format film cameras. IMAX film cameras use a 15-perf 65mm format. The 65mm film runs horizontally through the camera, with each frame spanning 15 perforations across the film. That creates the large, tall 1.43:1 image associated with IMAX film, meaning the image is about 1.43 times as wide as it's tall.
The Odyssey: A Clear Example of 'Shot in IMAX'
A movie doesn't necessarily have to use IMAX cameras for the whole movie to receive the label. Oppenheimer, for example, was shot partly with IMAX film cameras, with those sequences expanding into the taller IMAX image in compatible theaters. The Odyssey goes further: IMAX says it is the first feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, helped by a newly-engineered camera enclosure that made synchronized dialogue scenes practical at that scale. That makes The Odyssey a clear example of what people usually mean when they say a movie was 'shot in IMAX': every frame was captured with an IMAX film camera.
Filmed for IMAX: A Broader Production Program
IMAX's 'Filmed for IMAX' program begins in pre-production, when filmmakers choose either IMAX film cameras or IMAX-certified digital cameras. During production, they shoot with IMAX's taller 1.90:1 or 1.43:1 aspect ratios in mind, while IMAX's post-production team later works with them to optimize the movie for its theaters. In 2020, IMAX launched a certification program for digital cinema cameras from manufacturers including ARRI, Panavision, RED and Sony. These aren't cameras built by IMAX, but digital cinema cameras approved for use in the 'Filmed for IMAX' workflow.
Key points
- IMAX's 'Shot with IMAX' and 'Filmed for IMAX' labels describe different aspects of the movie production process.
- IMAX film cameras use a 15-perf 65mm format to capture large, tall images.
- The Odyssey is the first feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras.
- IMAX's 'Filmed for IMAX' program includes a certification program for digital cinema cameras.
- Filmmakers can choose to shoot with IMAX cameras or use regular cameras and then make the picture bigger in a special way.
If more filmmakers choose to shoot with IMAX cameras, it could lead to more immersive and engaging movie experiences for audiences. This could also drive innovation in camera technology and filmmaking techniques.
If the cost of shooting with IMAX cameras becomes too high, it could limit the number of movies that can be made with this technology. This could also lead to a decrease in the quality of IMAX presentations, as filmmakers may be forced to use lower-quality cameras or presentation methods.
