Scorsese goes 3D

From Slashfilm:

"Back in March, Academy Award-winning filmmaker and historian Martin Scorsese announced his approval of Digital 3D filmmaking, stating 'We see in depth, for the most part. We go to the theater — it’s in depth. Why couldn’t a film like Precious be in 3D? It should be.' Scorsese even admitted that he’d love to make a 3D film himself.

And it was only a few months earlier, we heard that Scorsese’s next film might be an adaptation of Brian Selznick’s novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret (one of the projects that has been on the director’s slate since 2007). For the last few months, it has been rumored that Scorsese might be making the 3D plunge with Hugo Cabret. But Variety now confirms that this will be a 3D production.

Scorsese has said in the past that he’s 'very excited by 3D… But if the camera move is going to be a 3D effect, it has to be for dramatic purposes – not just throwing spears at the audience. And that, maybe I can’t do that. Maybe my daughter’s generation – she’s 10 now – can think that way.'

The Aviator scribe John Logan penned the screenplay adaptation of Brian Selznick’s bestselling children’s novel. The book description for The Invention of Hugo Cabret follows:

'Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.'

So far, the film will star Sacha Baron Cohen as the inspector, Ben Kingsley as the old man, Asa Butterfield (Nanny McPhee) as the titular Hugo Cabret, and Chloe Moretz will play 'an eccentric, bookish girl' who comes into Hugo’s life as he navigates the Parisian train station where he lives.

The project will begin production in London in June 2010, and Sony will release the film on December 9th, 2011.'"

Scorsese does it SINATRA's way

From ComingSoon.net

"Universal Pictures has acquired the feature film project Sinatra from Mandalay Pictures for Academy Award® winner Martin Scorsese to direct, it was announced today.

Oscar® nominated screenwriter (Field of Dreams) Phil Alden Robinson is writing the screenplay for Sinatra based on the life of the iconic entertainer. Universal Pictures and Mandalay Pictures have been developing the project, after securing the Frank Sinatra life rights and music rights from Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE) - a joint venture of the Sinatra Estate and Warner Music Group.

'We have dreamt of making a movie about Frank Sinatra, and Marty Scorsese is undeniably the perfect vision keeper for this project,' said Chairman of Mandalay Entertainment Group, Peter Guber. President of Mandalay Pictures, Cathy Schulman added 'In addition to our excitement at having Marty in the director's chair, we are thrilled to be in business with Universal, the Sinatra estate, Warner Music Group and the talented Phil Alden Robinson on this project about one of our greatest entertainers.'

'It's an honor to be involved in this film which will celebrate the amazing life and work of Frank Sinatra,' said President of Production for Universal Pictures, Donna Langley. 'With Phil Alden Robinson writing the screenplay and Martin Scorsese at the helm, we know that this first feature motion picture adaptation of Sinatra's extraordinary life is in the best of hands.'

'My father had great admiration for the talent of the people he chose to work with, and the talented people who worked with my father had great admiration for him,' said Tina Sinatra. 'It is personally pleasing to me that this paradigm continues with Marty Scorsese at the helm of the Sinatra film.'

Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1915. Over the course of his career, he performed on more than 1,400 musical recordings, was awarded 31 gold records, received 10 Grammy Awards in addition to three special honors bestowed upon him by the Recording Industry Association of America. He appeared in 58 films winning three Oscars® and two Golden Globe awards, in addition to a lifelong legacy of humanitarian work."

Good idea. Just don't cast Leonardo DiCaprio, even though he was good in The Aviator.