Here we go again. Peter Jackson was the first filmmaker to test the waters of higher frame rates on a major scale with "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." And the response wasn’t great, with many complaining the super high resolution had the alternate effect of making the detailed special effects extravaganza look distractingly cheap, taking viewers out of the movie, rather than immersing them in it. But filmmakers are tickled by the possibilities. James Cameron is promising to go with 48 fps for his "Avatar" sequels, Ang Lee is currently shooting his drama "Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk" in 120 fps and 3D, and now it appears Nicolas Winding Refn is getting in the game.
The film’s co-star, Jena Malone, hit Instagram this past week with a clapperboard from "The Neon Demon." A pretty normal thing, right? However, as she notes with hashtag #improbablygonnagetintroubleforthis? a quick glimpse reveals that the movie — or at least parts of it — are being shot at 60fps.
READ MORE: First Image Of Elle Fanning In Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘The Neon Demon’
The cinematographer on the picture is Natasha Braier, whose work you saw last year on David Michod‘s excellent "The Rover," which landed her on our On The Rise 2014: Cinematographers To Watch list. We’re pretty eager to see what she and Refn cook up together.
Again, it’s not clear if this movie, a horror film starring Elle Fanning and set in the world of modeling, is entirely in 60fps or not (though I’d imagine it might be visually jarring to switch back and forth), but it’s something to think about anyway. Perhaps the neon-soaked world of L.A. might be a better environment for super high-def frame rates than Middle Earth. Production has wrapped on the flick and we presume we’ll see this one on the festival circuit in 2016. [via Final Reel]
Jena Malone has some love to share from set.
Posted by The Neon Demon on Friday, May 15, 2015
