3D Entertainment USA Completes 3D Live-Action Principal Photography for Air Racers 3D in California & Nevada

Written by: 3D Entertainment Distribution
Date: June 22, 2011

The film opens in 3D and 2D at IMAX® theatres in the US and other select territories beginning February 10, 2012.

Film will soar into IMAX® theatres in the US on February 10, 2012

Los Angeles (Calif.) and London (UK) – June 22, 2011 /PR NEWSWIRE/ 3D Entertainment USA, a 3D Entertainment Films company, is pleased to announce the completion of principal photography on its upcoming IMAX® theatre film, "Air Racers 3D." Produced in association with L.A.-based Pretend Entertainment and Stereoscope, the film is an in-depth exploration, as never before seen on the world's largest screens, of the fastest motor sport on Earth at the annual Reno National Championship Air Races & Air Show. The only one of its kind, the event features exceptional pilots in highly modified WWII-era fighter aircraft on closed oval race courses.

"Air Racers 3D" will take audiences into the sky in 3D and 2D at IMAX® theatres in the US and other select territories beginning February 10, 2012. The film will have its industry premiere during the Giant Screen Cinema Association's Annual Conference at the Texas State History Museum's IMAX® 3D Theatre in Austin on September 21. It will benefit from the largest promotional and educational campaigns ever created by 3D Entertainment Distribution, which is responsible for the film's theatrical marketing and all-media sales worldwide.


4K 3D camera rig with fighter aircraft on the tarmac during the filming of "Air Racers 3D" at Reno-Stead Airfield in June 2011. Photo credit: Andrew Shapter for 3D Entertainment Distribution

"After three years of production that included the filming of the 2009 and 2010 editions of the Reno Air Races, we are very excited to bring this long-awaited action-packed film to aviation enthusiasts and moviegoers around the world," said executive producers Francois Mantello and John Constantine. "'Air Racers 3D' will celebrate the science of flight and capture the thrill and excitement of this major sporting event attended by over 200,000 fans annually."

"Thanks to the use of truly unique filmmaking methods, including a state-of-the-art helicopter mounted gyro-stabilized aerial 3D camera rig, a custom wing mounted camera and 3D cameras placed inside the cockpit, we will literally put moviegoers and fans in the middle of the highly competitive action like never before," said Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques Mantello, the film's co-directors. "Viewers will soar through the air at more than twice the speed of a NASCAR race."

"The final shoot took place earlier this month at Chino Airport (California) and Reno-Stead Airfield (Nevada), where the annual races are held," added producer Raul Leckie of Pretend Entertainment. "As it is not permitted to shoot air-to-air photography during the actual races for safety reasons, we decided to re-stage them in grand fashion by assembling a spectacular array of fighter aircrafts, including the P-51 Mustang, Tigercat, Bearcat and T-6, and a cast of exceptional pilots, among them Steven Hinton Jr., Kent Pietch, Greg Poe, Stewart Dawson, Dennis Buehn, Heather Penney, Lee Behel, John Zayac, Brent Seghetti and Marilyn Dash."


A scene from "Air Racers3D" as seen through the monitors at Reno-Stead Airfield (California) in June 2011. Photo credit: Andrew Shapter for 3D Entertainment Distribution

The aerial filming unit was run by renowned member of the Motion Picture Pilots Association, helicopter pilot Kevin LaRosa. The film's aerial director of photography is critically-acclaimed David Nowell ("X-Men: First Class," "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"). Currently in postproduction in Los Angeles, the film was written by Rick Dowlearn & Christian Fry and features an original soundtrack composed by Christophe Jacquelin.

The tradition of air racing began nearly 100 years ago with World War I-era barnstormers and eventually evolved into grand racing events organized to celebrate the aviation heroics of World War II. The last of their kind, the Reno Air Races began in 1964 as a revival of these high-speed competitions celebrating horsepower, ingenuity and the piloting skills of the men who operated these planes under much more dangerous and dire circumstances. Pilots fight for position, running a tight 8-mile course marked off by ten giant pylons where flying a perfect line is critical for victory. "Fly low, go fast and turn left" is their motto.

The official website is http://www.AirRacers-theFilm.com

About 3D Entertainment Distribution & 3D Entertainment USA

Founded in 2001, 3D Entertainment Distribution is the marketing and theatrical sales arm of 3D Entertainment Films and 3D Entertainment USA. Affiliates of 3D Entertainment Films Holdings, the companies are focused on the production, postproduction, sales and theatrical distribution of innovative 3D films for IMAX® theatres and Digital 3D cinemas worldwide. The cornerstone of the Company's film catalogue is a unique underwater film trilogy presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau which grossed over USD 82 million at the box office. The Company released its fourth title, "Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World," in 2010 in 22 countries and subsequently announced a new line-up of 3D films that includes "Air Racers 3D" (February 2012), "Time: The 4th Dimension" (April 2012) starring Christopher Lloyd and Deep Roy, "Kenya 3D: Animal Kingdom" (February 2013), "Patagonia 3D: Into the Wild" and "Turtles 3D: The Last Dinosaurs." The allmedia rights to 3D Entertainment Films' first feature-length film, "Ocean World 3D," were acquired in 2009 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in North America and Wild Bunch for overseas territories. The Company maintains offices in London (UK), Los Angeles (California) and Paris (France). For more information, please visit http://www.3DEfilms.com

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