Titanic was called a Bollywood movie?

Cinemimi [Saturday, March 24, 2012] 

Jon Landau, the Hollywood producer of Oscar-winning films Titanic and Avatar, was in Mumbai this week to give Bollywood a taste of his nwe offering, Titanic 3D, 15 years after the blockbuster first sailed across internationals seas and screens. The acclaimed producer, who at the time of its worldwide release, faced some criticism about the Titanic being like a Bollywood film, spoke to Dailybhaskar.com about the re-release in 3D and other subjects concerning cinema. Landau, also laughed off the charge about Titanic being like a Bollywood production by saying, "I definitely see that point. I have been exposed to some action and comedy Indian films, but music, romance, thematic structures where people overcome odds, rising from a class structure to find love in another class structure- these are universal themes."

What made you convert Titanic into 3 D?
To bring audience, who are today hooked to computer, mobile and television screens, back to theatres with the commitment of an incredible experience with 3D. It is important for the new generation of movie goers to get acquainted with films like Titanic which created a stir 15 years ago. And for those, who saw it 15 years ago, the 3D version makes it a whole new experience.

How was the experience of re-making the film in 3 D?
While other filmmakers take six weeks to convert a film in 3D, we took 60 weeks. What further sets it apart is the fact that it cost a whopping 18 million dollars to make it an entirely new product for the audience. James Cameron kept eye on every shot.

How do you see the changing face of cinema worldwide and in India?
To have to overcome the constraints in terms of visual medium gives me immense pleasure. We had conquered the sound department long ago by switching from mono to two and finally six-tracks album. But, as far as the visual medium is concerned, we began with white screen techno colour in the 1950s, but it is due to the latest digital technology coming into the picture that we have now worked wonders on the visual front too. As long as we make a story rich in content, and the exhibitors take care of the quality in terms of good sound, seatings, we will certainly improvise at every step. Look at the potential growth that exists in India. Here, the entertainment industry is remarkable; you have so many communities which were untouched 15 years ago but, today, they are hungry for good cinema and we can cater to them with films like Titanic 3D. The number of theatres has gone up year after year, as have the admissions and India now ranks among the top 12 international territories. Titanic 3D is releasing in four Indian languages with 250 prints in 3D and 50 in 2D, and that's great that a film is watched the way the local population can enjoy it.

If you had to convert another film into 3D, which one would that be?
It would be the birth of my children (laughs). On a more serious note, regardless of the selection, the presence of the filmmaker is essential to convert his film into 3D. Like, Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson will do justice to their films if they are assigned the third dimension. After Avatar, the industry went into a pitfall where the choice to make movies in 3D directly went into the studios' kitty rather than to filmmakers. During the conversion process, technology plays a key role, but without interference by the filmmakers one can't take the film to other level. As far as the genre is concerned, 3D works best in dramatic scenes.

What promotional strategy do you have for Titanic 3D?
Titanic 3D will be promoted like any other new release. We are planning a worldwide premiere in Royal Albert Hall, London. British singer-songwriter James Blunt will perform with an orchestra and we are looking at making the event really big.