Avatar

Genre: Science Fiction.

Studio: Unknown.
Production Company: Lightstorm Entertainment.

Project Phase: Dead?

Who's In It: Unknown.
Who's Making It: James Cameron (Creator, Developer).

Premise: Humanity designated the world 'Alpha Centauri B-4', but for those who've traversed the gulf between neighboring suns and arrived on its alien soil, they know it as 'Pandora'. A world filled with an incredible diversity of beautiful and deadly ammonia-breathing lifeforms...and a world that harbors a treasure almost beyond price. But just as the original Pandora's Box wrought devastation on those who would use it for their own gain, so too this world may destroy not just the Pandorans home, but ours as well.

Release Date: Unknown.

Comments: Cameron would have been pushing the envelope of filmmaking and computer technology if this idea got off the ground. It if goes through, this will be truly be the first production that utilizes seamless integration of virtual worlds and actors interacting with the 'real' ones.

Just as a side-note, the term 'avatar' is now being used as a description of a virtual person who exists only on the computer. The word was coined up by novelist Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash (which, incidentally, has been optioned for a movie.)

Rumors: Unknown.

Scoop Feedback:

August 8, 1996... Digital Domain, the special effects house in which Cameron is a partner with, is currently staffing up for the huge effort. The production is expected to start next summer following the completion of the $100 million Titanic. [Scoop forwarded by 'shape'; originally appeared in the Hollywood Reporter.]

August 8, 1996... We're told that Cameron is presently writing the idea out (as well as directing Titanic..and writing the novelization?!?) Story details are, of course, top secret. [Scoop info provided anonymously and by Christian; some information appeared on the Digital Domain homepage.]

October 6, 1996... An observation has been made about the usage of the word 'avatar', and its new usage as a term for digitally-created 'citizens'. We hope this clears up some of the confusion about the word's origin and how Neal Stephenson's usage of it has been embraced into the computer lexicon:

Salim Ali points out that 'avatar' means 'a reincarnated form of a supreme being' and is/has-been part of the Hindu lexicon for ages. Neal Stephenson used the term to describe digital programs that manifest themselves as human-like forms (a similar example is made of the present-day computer term 'daemon', which are sub-routines that can handle some tasks today. In Snow Crash, Stephenson has them materializing to users in the virtual world as literal demons.) While Stephenson didn't come up with the word avatar, the term is now being used to describe photo-realistic human images.

Salim also adds that, according to Hindu Mythology, Lord Vishnu has had 9 'avatars' and the tenth avatar is expected some time in the future. [Scoop info sent in by Salim Ali.]

December 17, 1996... An anonymous letter writer tells us that the buzz is hot at Digital Domain about what this project may be shaping into. The scooper adds, " They think they're going to turn the world on its ear.". [Scoop handed in anonymously.]

February 25, 1997... An anonymous scooper tells us that pre-production work on Avatar has begun. Test footage of a completely-realized CGI figure was created; a photo-realistic human stood up from a chair, did a summersault and then walked around the digital room. "It was amazing," reports the individual. "This film is going to be huge. I couldn't tell the difference between the CGI and a real live human being. Scary in a way. Of course these human take five days to render." [Scoop provided anonymously.]

June 17, 1997... A couple of inside people confirm the worst: Avatar has been shelved. Offically, it's been written off because Cameron has lost interest in the project, as well as test FX sequences that weren't coming along quickly enough.

Unofficially, we've heard other gossip that's supposedly contributed to the director canning the project. Rumors persist that there's been bad blood between Cameron and Digital Domain (even though he co-owns it.) We've been told that Cameron's public complains about DD being tardy delivering Titanic FX sequences have been leading to strained relations. some "For a brief time recently, there was noise about DD having to file Chapter 11. Thankfully, that doesn't look like it will be a problem, but the relationship with Cameron needs to improve, or it may be redefined in a way that is going to make DD very, VERY unhappy," one of our sources said.

Another individual said "Cameron reported a budget to the studio suits that made the budget for Waterworld look like Plan 9 From Outer Space."

"...Cameron has become incredibly anal in his attention to detail," another source wrote. "He no longer seems to have any conception of time or budgetary constraints. He's willing to tinker and edit and reshoot and drag things out for months, claiming that absolutely *everything* points to his 'artistic credibility,' and that even the slightest goof, oversight, or inaccuracy will end his career." The source also mentioned that the concept for the Avatar project changed with Cameron once DD completed its initial test footage and found that it couldn't deliver flawless CGI human characters on screen.

Word is that Cameron will announce his intention on delivering a Terminator 3 to Fox after his stint on Titanic is complete, as a means of appeasing the studio's $200+ million investment with his latest film. In our opinion, it's too bad such a monumental and groundbreaking project has fallen. [Scoops sent in by 'Pavlov', 'draven', and anonymous individuals.]

July 27, 1997... An anonymous email informs us that Avatar is "Definately still on. Don't worry." [Scoop submitted anonymously.]

November 4, 1997... This sighting happened just recently: "I live two blocks from Digital Domain in Venice, CA. I eat lunch down the street with effects artists almost everyday. A couple of weeks ago, they started wearing hats and t-shirts with an Avatar logo and title treatment. Hardly the sort of thing one would do for a 'dead' project." [Submitted anonymously.]

Was the project dead, stalled or merely in suspended animation? Or maybe the project has the potential to be so revolutionary in its concept we just wanted to let Jim have some more time to launch his Titanic. Maybe some nice DigDom/Lightstorm people will let us know what the status of the project is right now post-Titanic. Some of us would really love to see what Alpha Centauri's neighborhood looks like.

November 6, 1997... The Tuesday November 4th Entertainment Tonight had a brief clip covering Titanic launch in Japan. How this may relate to Avatar: during the dying seconds of the coverage, ET mentioned that since now James Cameron has shot on location at the bottom of the ocean, his next stage may be on-board a space shuttle to lens in outer space. That's a fairly exceptional item to drop on us since key scenes of Avatar take place in space. But what about the bill for renting a shuttle? Wouldn't that inflate the budget of the film so he'd...waitasecond. Nevermind. [Thanks to these E.T. viewers: Joe Hanna and anonymously.]

Entertainment Weekly also mentions the possibility that Avatar could be next on the director's plate. [Thank these readers: 'trumanwins', 'cpa', 'aparulek', 'platon', and anonymously.]

Finally, another scooper confirms that there are Avatar t-shirts kicking around Southern California. While munching at Universal's Hard Rock Cafe a few weeks ago the scooper's eye caught the sight of a Asian man walking wearing a black Avatar shirt walking down the street. On the front was the word 'AVATAR' in a dark green and below it were the words l'JAMES CAMERON DIGITAL DOMAIN STAN WINSTON STUDIOS'. There was also a slogan the scooper spotted on the back of the tee, something along the lines 'It Can Happen' or words to that effect. Damn! We want one! [Rendered by the 'Editor'.]

November 22, 1997... We've been told that the recent spotting of 'Avatar' t-shirts is nothing to get exicted about; according to our scoopers, they were handed out at the '96 SIGGRAPH conference in bucketloads as part of a recruiting drive. "Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar," commented one of our scoopers. [Thanks to 'Stinkfoot', 'Mace', 'jymbob' and anonymous.]

If that's the case, we're dissapointed. Is the project shelved, just for the time being? In limbo? Awaiting Cameron's final verdict as to what his next film will be?? According to this scooper, Cameron just told reporters in New York City last week at a Paramount press junket for Titanic that his next project would be Avatar. Let's hope it's true. [Reported by 'Weez']

December 2, 1997... In a recent CBS financial news report on the state of things in the effects industry (it's bad news all around: Warner Bros. shuts down its in-house FX plant, layoffs at Digital Domain), they had some shots inside Digital Domain. The head of the crew stated that the layoffs were not "strictly speaking, a financial consideration; we just outgrew ourselves." However, our scooper 'The Gline' also got a good look at an Avatar shirt on one fellow -- and the cubicle he was in was littered with a great many sculptures and designs of what he presumed were the exotic, methane breathing Pandorans from said project. "I asked friends who had seen a number of other SF movies if any of those figures rang any bells and they vehemently shook their heads. Looks like Avatar is slowly proceeding, although more or less in an 'under wraps' phase." It very well may be Cameron is trying his very best to keep the lid on the project. [Mailed to us by 'The Gline'.]

April 11, 1998... We thought we had this one up but it looks like it slipped by. When Cameron was promoting Titanic back in December '97, one of the questions asked to him in an on-line chat sponsored by Microsoft was:

"What is your next project? Will it be Avatar or Spiderman or Terminator 3?"

The latest news for Spidey and T3 exist on their web pages, but as for Avatar, Cameron responded with five words: "Avatar, I am not doing."

So, for the moment, the project is dead. Reports of Cameron still working on the film's development still continue to be reported, with the most recent one being a article The Toronto Sun ran just at the start of this month. [Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing this glaring omission out. Martin Valent, 'Snowman', Steve, 'The Gline', Mike G., 'Grond', 'Clutch', ]

As another scooper told us, "This project is dead. Jim IS NOT making it. Final. Period. Titanic's effects budget was 40 million; Avatar's effects budget would have been double Titanic's." ['S - LSE'.]

Because we missed posting up the MSN item, we searched through the CA database for any other missed opportinities Avatar-related; naturally, we found some. Although the project may never see the light of day now, we were sent a follow-up to the post that parts of the premise to Avatar may be similar to a Frank Herbert book, Destination Void. "It's been a long time since I've read the Destination Void series," this new scooper begins their message with, "but I believe the planet is also called Pandora. This planet was 'created' by a computer from the first book (Destination Void). The computer is like a god which creates this environment for the crew to learn how to worship it. The Avatar floating jelly fish with long tendrils that can cause nerve damage.

"There are so many parallels to this story that I can't see how Frank Herbert won't be credited." Well, aside from the planet's name and perhaps the shared atmosphere of the lifeforms the script for Avatar veers off into different territory. The main character of the script works for a company that is mining on Pandora and the planet is most definitely not created by a machine. [Thanks to Herbert reader Bill for the rundown.]

Another reader of the Herbert series offered us this synopsis. "Avatar sounds similar to a Frank Herbert (DUNE) novel, The Jesus Incident. Herbert's novel featured a space colony that had been harrassed for generations by incredibly hostile beasties. The planet was also called Pandora. The book centered on how politicians used the conflict with the hostile fauna to control the colonists - then a Christ-like figure offers a new way of life. Is Cameron's film another case of art imitating art?" [J. Adam Parker]

Here's an interesting report from 'Matter-Eater Lad', sent to us last year. They said they had to use "lots of booze" to loosen their tongues until they talked about this project. "The only reason it's a 'dead' project is that they do not have the technology to do it by a long shot. But Cameron still wants to do it. From what I've heard, only about five people in the entire Cameron organization have read the script. It's top, top secret stuff. Someone showed me a sketch at DD from their Research and Development department that was supposedly of one of the Avatar characters. The only way you could ever do a character like that is if it was completley digital. No costume or make-up would ever make it work. The best way I could describe it is a cross with an Anime character and comic artist Rob Liefield's drawing style. Impossibly thin legs supporting a massive torso. Very angular, with all sorts of stuff swirling around it. Only with CG could you make that character work. I also remember someone telling me that through the grapevine at DD that the story had kind of a 'fairy tale' edge to it. What that means exactly I'm not sure. But as far as I can tell, they're still working on it to make it as possibilty." [Give 'Matter-Eater Lad' our regards.]

Finally, we thought we had cleared up the confusion we made when we compared Neal Stephenson's usage of the word 'avatar' to the meaning Cameron was using, and how both were derived from Hindu mythology. But apparently not...

"Just to clue you in, the word avatar was not coined up by novelist Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash (which, incidentally, has been optioned for a movie.) It is a religious term used specifically referring to the incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form. Or as an embodiment, as of a quality or concept; an archetype: the very avatar of cunning, or a temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity: occultism in its present avatar." [Anonymous screenwriter.]

Looking back, 'coined up' was just a bad choice of words on our part. True, Stephenson never created the word but he may be the first to use it to describe a virtual being living inside a computer. Cameron's premise continues that train of thought, although the human characters in his script use telepresense to inhabit the bodies of the Pandorans.

July 19, 1998... A recent edition of The Financial Post printed an interview with DigDom Fx supervisor Rob Legato, who spoke very briefly about Avatar. The article attributed Legato with saying that Cameron is planning Avatar and "the main villain will be digitally created." Now our sources at DigDom say that just ain't true but maybe Cameron was talking about his long-term plans; the pendulum seems to swing back and forth between 'nope' and 'yup' every six months. Nevertheless, since we're big advocates of seeing this picture come to our multiplex one summers day, we thought we'd pass it along. [Credit goes out to Terrence J. Coates for subscribing to the Post.]

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