Weta Digital was able to work on the alien mothership.

BD: What impressed and surprised you about the footage?

NB: It's definitely different from what I was expecting because, again, we didn't get to see a lot of the human stuff and the human military aspect, so I was expecting something more like Aliens. But I think all of that was there: it just isn't in the 25 minutes that we saw. What was cooler than I was expecting is the world of Pandora -- and I think that's the essence of the film, so it was pretty mind blowing.

BD: What about stereoscopic?

NB: I think it's generally intriguing. It's definitely the preferable way to go, for sure. It's a question of whether your budget can sustain it. I think if everything shifts that way, then your budget will automatically sustain it because that's how films will be made. I have an issue in an incorrectly set up theater with the luminosity of the projector sometimes. You've got to seriously jack a lot of light in there, so that annoys me. Under the right circumstances, it's great. Also, it's not going to happen anytime soon, but if we can raise the frame rate, it would be great motion because 24 is still kind of an issue for me.

BD: What are you working on next?

NB: I've got a new science fiction idea. It's really only come about in the last month or two.

BD: Can you tell us about it?

NB: No, it's my secret.

BD: Not even what kind of sci-fi?

NB: It's a similar genre to this -- sci-fi/action/drama, but it's set on another planet and the emphasis is more on action than this one.

BD: And your approach?

NB: Storytelling's a little different. It's something I've never seen before, and, actually, what I've seen in my mind I have to do some tests. But, hopefully, I can pull off what I have in my head and it's a very different style from District 9. But, of course, all of this is up on the air and it has to be greenlit and nailed down and tests need to happen.

BD: And you've potentially got Weta at your disposal.

NB: Yeah, totally, if they're available that would be awesome. But my primary guys for the next one will be Image Engine, just for how much they did for this film.

Bill Desowitz is senior editor of AWN and VFXWorld.