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ASC Puts Seal of Approval on Cinerama Adventure

Thanks to the ASC and its members, writer-director Dave Strohmaier and producer Randy Gitsch have been able to bring the history of Cinerama to the big screen in the form of a critically-acclaimed documentary called Cinerama Adventure.

The ASC worked closely with the filmmakers on the documentary which focuses on the revolutionary motion picture process that brought widescreen and surround sound to the movies. The technology was utilized primarily from 1953 through 1964.

“This is a historically significant film that documents an important part of the history of our art form,” says ASC President Richard Crudo. “Many of our members have embraced and supported the completion of this film because we believe an understanding of the past is essential for paving the way to the future.”

Crudo notes with pride that the film includes the the opening credit, “Made in collaboration with the American Society of Cinematographers.”

The documentary chronicles Cinerama’s early beginnings as an aerial gunnery training simulator during World War II through to its major box-office successes and eventual abandonment in favor of 70 mm during the mid-1960s.

“ Cinerama had a major impact on the motion picture industry that has been largely forgotten or ignored,” says Strohmaier. “It forever changed the way we see and hear motion pictures. The success of the Cinerama format led to the development of other widescreen formats and stereo sound that have enhanced the possibilities of visual storytelling.”

An early video version of the documentary garnered critical acclaim in a special opening night showing at the 2002 Telluride Film Festival. The newly completed 35 mm version has been featured in many international film festivals.

Strohmaier says the film was completed with “the generous support” of companies serving the motion picture industry, including LaserPacific Media Corp., Kodak, Ascent Media, Technicolor, Crest National Digital Media Complex, Technicolor/Weddington, Dolby Labs, Riot Colors, and Hollywood Film and Video.

The film will screen during the opening weekend of the St. Louis International Film Festival on Nov. 14-15, followed by screenings at festivals in Seattle, Chicago and Denver.
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