How 'Avatar' changed the rules of deliverables

4:49 PM PDT 3/25/2010 by Carolyn Giardina, AP

Postproduction push for film unprecedented

During the final months before "Avatar" was released, director James Cameron holed up in a hotel near the Fox lot. He already had led innovation with his stereo 3D and performance-capture techniques. This time, he was pushing the boundaries in presentation quality and postproduction-distribution processes, helping to shine a light on the unsung heroes of postproduction and an often overlooked but nonetheless critical challenge in theatrical exhibition.