Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola is ready to remind fantasy movie fans why they fell in love with him in the first place with a chilling return to the horror genre, "Twixt," featuring his own twist on 3D.
Making his first return to Comic-Con International 20 years after presenting "Bram Stoker's Dracula" here, "The Godfather" director on Saturday enthralled thousands of movie buffs, both young and old, as he previewed his upcoming film that looks to be a mystery wrapped in horror.
"I've always loved the gothic romance story, the horror story...I began my apprenticeship with Roger Corman. I learned the low-budget horror film at his knee. I was assistant, which meant I washed his car every week and mowed the lawn, but I learned a tremendous amount from Roger," Coppola said.
Five-time Oscar winner Coppola, 72, whose work includes "The Godfather," writing "Patton" and making "Apocalypse Now," has for many years been selective of his directorial efforts, often choosing to work outside Hollywood's studio system where he admits he has diminished creative control.
With "Twixt," he continues to put his Coppola spin on moviemaking by using 3D technology in a way he hopes will be less cumbersome for audiences. Within the tale, he has placed on-screen cues telling audiences when to put on 3D glasses so they don't have to wear them throughout the entire film.
Coppola donned the cap of lecturer Saturday at Comic-Con, a gathering of tens of thousands of fans of all things science-fiction, fantasy and comic in books, movies and TV.
"I was a little taken aback when I heard certain studio execs say they are going to make all their films in 3D," he said, expressing reservations over new cinema technology.
He said that, while he enjoyed the high quality of a 3D movie like "Avatar," he did remove his glasses at various times. His is a similar complaint of many fans of 3D movies who have experienced eye fatigue.
Coppola also gave Comic-Con fans a sort of "dress rehearsal" for an ambitious plan that will see him screen "Twixt" in various cities accompanied by live music. He will oversee the screenings much like a conductor, and "perform the film for each audience, uniquely for them," he said.
"I want to bring life back into the movies," Coppola announced in a rather giddy fashion to the delight of audiences.