National Geographic to release 'U2 3D' in 3-D

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent | Washington
National Geographic Cinema Ventures (NGCV) President Lisa Truitt announced the first major international NGCV release, 'U2 3D', opening in late January 2008 in 3-D only, in REAL D, IMAX 3-D and other digital 3-D theaters worldwide.

Filmed in South America during U2's Vertigo Tour, 'U2 3D' is the first live-action movie ever shot, produced and exhibited in digital 3-D. The film captures the intimacy between band and audience in a unique, visceral way and establishes a new standard in 3-D digital technology.

Directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington, 'U2 3D' transforms a series of live concerts by one of the world's most acclaimed bands into a completely new entertainment experience. Owens, U2's visual content director for more than 15 years, and Pellington, who directed U2's "One" video, take viewers on an extraordinary cinematic journey, a quantum leap beyond traditional concert films and traditional 3-D.

'U2 3D' captivated an international audience as a work-in-progress during the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. "When the reviews came in after our screening at Cannes, we were thrilled. We wanted to use this technology to make viewers feel like they were actually at the concert and sometimes even onstage. The feedback from fans, critics and the industry was phenomenal. We have a sneaking suspicion that we have created a paradigm shift in entertainment." said Owens.

3ality Digital's Jon Shapiro, Peter Shapiro and John Modell, along with Owens, produced the 3ality Digital presentation. 3ality Digital's Sandy Climan, Michael Peyser and David Modell are executive producers.

"The opportunity to work with U2 and 3ality Digital on this groundbreaking project is fantastic. The release of this film is the most powerful expression of National Geographic's commitment to bringing unique and dynamic cinema experiences to audiences worldwide and is a natural expansion of our growing presence in theatrical distribution. We intend to mobilize our worldwide National Geographic media platforms and our extensive 3-D film distribution expertise in support of this film." said NGCV's Truitt.

Distribution of the film will be led by Mark Katz, president of NGCV distribution. Russell Schwartz, former president of marketing for New Line Cinema, will oversee the marketing of the film's release.

"'U2 3D' documents one of the world's most inspiring bands on stage. Digital 3-D is a new cinema medium that truly allows moviegoers to immerse themselves in the experience, energy and emotion of being in a prime seat at a U2 concert," said 3ality Digital CEO Sandy Climan. 3ality's David Modell added, "When National Geographic Cinema Ventures committed to distribute 'U2 3D,' we realized that we could tap into their global reach both with distribution and communication to their worldwide audience."