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Fans travel worldwide to see Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in IMAX 1570

moviesJul 14, 202643744

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is drawing cinephiles who are flying across continents to see the film on 1570 Imax prints, a format Nolan prefers and the first feature shot entirely on 1570 cameras. Only 41 cinemas worldwide can project 1570, and Imax Melbourne is the only venue in the southern hemisphere showing The Odyssey on 1570. Nolan’s production used 1570 cameras that weigh about 180 kilograms, required film stock changes every three minutes, and prompted Imax and Nolan to develop a soundproofing blimp so dialogue could be recorded on the format. The Odyssey’s 1570 reel runs more than 17 kilometres, weighs 240 kilograms, and Imax Melbourne technical manager Dan Drobik called it a "precious commodity." Imax Melbourne general manager Jeremy Fee said the venue is one of only seven 1570 sites outside North America and that people have built trips and holidays around screenings. When tickets first went on sale a year ago, Imax Melbourne sold more than 17,000 tickets in under 24 hours and has since sold over 30,000, making The Odyssey already the cinema’s eighth biggest film of all time before release. Visitors have arrived from places including Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany and Los Angeles, with some planning repeat viewings to experience Melbourne’s 32 by 23 metre 1.43:1 screen.

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