Definition:

depthsploitation
[depth-sploi-tey-shuhn]

As pertaining to motion pictures, describes any film that exploits, in its marketing or promotion, the use of stereoscopic (3-dimensional) filmmaking techniques.

This blog is my notepad as I research a nonfiction book spotlighting 3-D genre films of the last century. While the book will focus primarily on films from the 60's, 70's and 80's this blog has no restrictions.

All articles on this blog are copyright 2010-13 of its author,
Jason Pichonsky, unless otherwise stated.

Images are used for information purposes and remain the rights of their respective owners.


Based on a layout by: 16thday

World 3-D Expo III Update


It’s been a busy six days at the World 3-D Film Expo so far, leaving very little time to write. If you’re in Los Angeles you have to get down to Gauman’s Egyptian Theater before Sunday night. There are still a lot of incredible films to screen. And the guests have been great.

Producer, Walter Mirisch showed up to provide some insight into his low-budget venture The Maze. Director Joe Alves, producer Rupert Hitzig and location manager Carl Mazzocone substituted for the announced stars of Jaws 3-D (the crowd didn’t seem to mind a bit). Piper Laurie (Carrie) graced the theatre to talk about Dangerous Mission.  Not only did Charlotte Austin-Antelline show up to provide insight into the making of Gorilla at Large (it’s exterior carnival sequences were shot in a mere 3 days) but genre collector and ape-actor extraordinaire, Bob Burns joined her, providing insight into George Barrows’ performance (he’s the man in the gorilla suit and you’ll get to see him again in Robot Monster). Kathleen Hughes was on hand to talk about Jack Arnold’s suspense drama The Glass Web (a real treat and a newly discovered favorite of mine). She’s coming back for the It Came From Outer Space screening on Friday and will be joined by Barbara Rush. And my personal favorite was Julie Adams’ Q&A after The Creature From The Black Lagoon. I liked it so much I talked to her later in the week. You can read that interview over at the Rue Morgue website HERE. She’s also coming back on Friday for the screening of Wings of the Hawk at 3:30. Get down there and she’ll sign her book, Lucky Southern Star: Reflections From The Black Lagoon. You can also find it on her website; www.julieadams.biz.
Julie Adams in Wings of the Hawk

Some of the stand-out presentations for my deranged mind have been finally seeing The Maze in three dimensions a fun little B pic that starts off slow, but really picks up after intermission in the last half. The animation collection was really incredible. It’s a rare delight to see Donald Duck, Woody Woodpecker, Casper the Friendly Ghost and Bug Bunny in 3-D, shorts I’ve seen before, but with the added dimensions they become all the more interesting and fun. But the real draw of the animation show was being able to see Norman McLaren’s animated films, produced for the Festival of Britian, in 3-D for the first time. These are films that I’ve sought out before. They were more impressive then I had expected them to be.

The Stewardesses took on a new life at this screening as well. It’s hard to believe that the film took in $25 million when it was release and had people lined up the block. The story is virtually no-existent and while the 3-D effect is very good the cinematography is poor, yet by the time the film degenerates into horror film (saved for the last moments of the film) there is something captivating about the entire exercise. I’ll need to spend some more time with it.

More to follow…


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