posted 03-10-2011 12:09 PM                

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The Amazing Spider-Man is the first movie to be lensed in 3D using 3ality Digital's TS-5 wireless and handheld beamsplitter mirror rig.

Now in production, Columbia's reboot of the superhero saga stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen and Sally Field and is being helmed by Marc Webb. 3ality was behind the pioneering 3D concert film U2 3D, released in 2008.

The new rigs are small and lightweight and combined with wireless capabilities in order to give the cameras a lot of flexibility and mobility.

"We tested virtually every product on the market and chose 3ality Digital because we were impressed by the compact size of the TS-5," said Spider-Man director of photography John Schwartzman, who is using the rigs in configurations that include shoulder mounts for handheld and Steadicam.

"You don't get the unwanted shadowing effects during shots that sometimes appear using other 3D rigs, and the lens changes only take a few minutes," he added. "We wanted a rig that would not only deliver the best quality and performance but also one that wouldn't delay the production, so we have all the benefits of a 3D picture and we're shooting to a 2D schedule."

Steve Schklair, CEO and founder of 3ality Digital, told The Hollywood Reporter that the ability to move quickly during production is now attracting interest in the rigs from the television industry for potential episodic series production.

"The business case works once we cross the threshold of the shooting schedule," Schklair said, adding that it was necessary to prove that a one-hour episode could be filmed in a typical nine-day shooting schedule.

"Then it's just a budget discussion, which isn't a big difference. For episodics to have a year's worth of archived programs for new 3D networks at minimal additional cost, that is huge."

In recent years, 3ality has been putting a lot of attention on live 3D event coverage for television markets, working with early 3D channels such as Sky3D in the U.K.

For 3ality, the Spider-Man production also underscores a move this year toward more theatrical work. The film is slated for release on July 3, 2012.

"Marc Webb is set to take the Spider-Man movies in a new direction," Schklair said, "and shooting the picture in 3D will certainly add an exciting element."

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