Three of this year’s lauded DPs Reflect On Their Wins, Recent Endeavors
Robert Richardson, ASCHaving won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography twice (JFK, The Aviator) didn't prepare Robert Richardson, ASC, for his recently receiving the coveted honor a third time in his distinguished career (Hugo).
"Winning the Oscar this year was virtually an out-of-body experience," reflected Richardson. "I recall little from the first moment my name was announced until I pulled a meter from my belt on an exterior shot of Django Unchained [Quentin Tarantino's latest feature] two days later."
As for the biggest creative challenge posed by the Martin Scorsese-directed Hugo, Richardson simply cited the fact that the feature was shot in 3D.
"We began testing with no experience, hence we were at square one...Furthermore, we were forced to ask if it were viable both physically but also financially to shoot in 3D or would it be best to do 3D in post. Graham King (Hugo producer) allowed us to evaluate these questions through a series of tests, then all parties sat down and conversed—and obviously the decision was to shoot in 3D."
While Richardson's longstanding collaborative relationship with Scorsese (The Aviator, Shutter Island, Shine A Light, Bringing Out The Dead, Casino) "allowed us," said the cinematographer "to move rapidly through the central questions/problems," Hugo still had a sophisticated learning curve. Asked what the most valuable lesson was that he learned from Hugo, Richardson replied, "Imagination is more valuable than experience."
However, Hugo did represent Richardson's first theatrical feature experience with ARRI's ALEXA digital camera. ...
It's been an eventful awards season for Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki, ASC, AMC, who won his second career ASC Award for feature film excellence on the strength of director Terrence Malick'sThe Tree Of Life (SHOOTonline, 2/12). The film also earned Lubezki his fifth Best Cinematography Academy Award nomination (SHOOTonline, 1/24), the previous four coming for Children of Men in 2007, The New World in '06, Sleepy Hollow in '00 and A Little Princess in '96. Alfonso Cuaron directed Children of Men and A Little Princess. Malick helmed The New World. And Tim Burton directed Sleepy Hollow. ...
"This wasn't a case of a studio trying to impose 3D on a film. 3D was essential to the storyline created by Alfonso," said Lubezki, adding, "We live in an incredible time where we have all these tools—film, RED, ALEXA, Sony cameras. We have a bigger palette. If you're like me, you can pretty much pick the camera you feel is most appropriate. If you're a new cinematographer starting out, even if you can't choose, you have access to inexpensive digital cameras that you can do very cool work with."
Having said that, Lubezki affirmed, "I hope film doesn't go away. I'm not one of those who says film is the only way. It all depends on the particular project. A lot of the work I do with Terry [Malick], though, couldn't be done on anything but film. In The Tree of Life, we shot with no movie lights. The latitude of film is what allowed us to shoot inside and capture all the detail that we needed."
Still there's room for mixing and matching. ...
Exclusive Interview: American McGee has seen the future of gaming, and it begins in China
You’ve been in Shanghai now for a while. Can you talk about how you’ve seen things evolve over there?
It’s seven years that I’ve been there. It’s been an incredible journey just to be witness to this revolution across every single facet of society there, whether it be finance, sexuality, gaming, entertainment, or whatever. It’s like a whole world that’s opening up not only internally for itself as a society, but also to the rest of the world. It’s been really amazing to witness.
When it come to games, can you talk about how you have progressed from developing hardcore PC titles to games that are for the mainstream?
The funny things is, when I went to China, one of the big things was that I wanted to be closer to what was, and is, the largest free-to-play online market in the world. I thought by virtue of being in the neighborhood, it would be a lot easier for my development team to also get involved in that business. What we had though, for the last five years, was a great struggle of trying to separate ourselves from Western development and this idea that we are Western developers. It’s only been in the last year via investment funding and a group of partners who are very much believers in online and free-to-play, that we’ve been able to finally be able to break away. It also happens to coincide with the Western market, in general, now starting to make a serious move towards social online.
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Wowfly glasses-free 3D TV debuts at the Great Hall of the People
Deputies and media representatives were attracted this year at the Great Hall of the Poeple tolive broadcast of the annual National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s PoliticalConsultative Conference on a 55-inch Wowfly glasses-free 3D TV. Placed at the media centerof People’s Daily Online, the TV displays with 3D effect, which people don’t need to wearglasses to watch.
It is the first time a glasses-free 3D TV is used to report the Congress and the Conference.Two such TV sets, one 55 inches, another 42-inch, were installed in the lobby and in the livebroadcast room to display pictures of the events live.
The 3D TV sets are produced by Zhejiang Wowfly Industrial Co.,Ltd. According to ZhangQiang, CEO, the company has focused on the research, production, sales and content supplyof glasses-free 3D displayer. As a company covering the entire production line of the industry,Wowfly provided glasses-free 3D displaying solution for companies both inside China, and inSoutheast Asia, Europe and America.
Zhang says, apart from 3D displayers, the company will introduce glasses-free 3D tabletcomputer, mobile phones and TV sets. In term of content provision, the company has realizedconversion from 2D to 3D, compatible display of glasses 3D programs, both on screen andonline, and real-time conversion from 2D to 3D. The company also has a professional team toshoot, process and compose 3D content.
With the screening of blockbuster films such as Avatar, 3D displaying technology become ahotspot. China’s Central TV station CCTV initiated a 3D channel early this year. A commonbelief in the industry is that glasses-free 3D TV is more convenient for consumers. ZhangQiang says Wowfly TV sets, tablet computers, and mobile phones will soon be available onthe Chinese market.
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The Met Comes To Athens Ohio
The Athena Grand theater, located at the Market on State in Athens, has recently announced a new affiliation with NCM Fathom. Its parent company, NCM Media Networks, links via satellite more than 15,000 digital screens in 167 markets across the country. ...
Frame is also looking at the programs of other distribution companies in order to present a wider array of entertainment opportunities. He hopes in the near future to have at least five special selections per week, including NASCAR races, boxing events and other sporting events in 3D. ...
UPCOMING EVENTS:
POSTPONED 3/26: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Has been postponed! 8:00PM Trailer
3/27: Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure LIVE 7:30PM Trailer
3/28: The Bodyguard 20th Anniversary Event 7:30PM Trailer
POSTPONED 4/4: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Has been postponed! 7:00PM Trailer
4/5: Rascal Flatts: Changed 8:00PM Trailer
4/7: The Metropolitan Opera: Manon LIVE 12:00PM Trailer
4/14: The Metropolitan Opera: La Traviata LIVE 12:55PM Trailer
4/19: Grateful Dead Meet Up 2012 7:00PM Trailer
4/25: The Metropolitan Opera: Manon ENCORE 6:30PM Trailer
5/2: The Metropolitan Opera: La Traviata ENCORE 6:30PM Trailer
5/5: Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto 9:00PM
5/7: Wagner’s Dream 6:30PM
5/9: Das Rheingold: MET Opera Ring Cycle Encore 6:30PM
5/10: This American Life LIVE! Things You Can’t Do On The Radio 8:00PM
5/14: Die Walkure: MET Opera Ring Cycle Encore 6:30PM
5/15: This American Life Things You Can’t Do On The Radio 2nd Showing 7:30PM
5/16: Siegfried: MET Opera Ring Cycle Encore 6:30PM
5/19: Gotterdammerung: MET Opera Ring Cycle Encore 12:00PM
More information for each show can also be found in our COMING SOON section.
This content comes from here: http://woub.org/2012/03/23/met-comes-athens andhere: http://athenagrand.com/
Italy Lowers Age of Use for 3D Glasses as US Continues to Avoid Restrictive Legislature
A Rome-based administrative court ruled this week that children aged three and up can attend films that require the use of 3D glasses, lowering the minimum recommended age and overturning an appeal from the consumer group Codacons.
Previously, moviegoers in Italy had to be at least six years old to use 3D glasses. In 2010, ANEC, the National Association of Film Exhibitors, requested the minimum recommended age for the use of 3D glasses be lowered, citing studies that showed now additional risks to the vision or health of moviegoers aged three to six if they used the glasses. ...
The notion of an age limit appears to be unique to Italy. There is no such rule, or any discussion about imposing such a rule, in the United States, according to Patrick Corcoran, director of media and research at the National Association of Theatre Owners. ...
See the full story here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/italian-court-lowers-3d-glasses-age-303767
Altervision 3D at The Brewery Artwalk (Los Angeles)
ALTERVISION 3D will be at The Brewery Spring Artwalk
Sat, March 31 & Sun, April 1, 2012
11am – 6pm
2100 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031
The Altervision 3D Blacklight Experience blows people’s minds!
Even the best pictures or videos can’t prepare you for the amazement you will feel once inside A3D. Put on the glasses and enter our installation and you will immediately realize just how magical a place this is.
With butterflies fluttering out from an enchanted forest, dragons dueling, the clown’s mouth through which you just walked, the tracks on the floor that seem to float in midair, the word that comes to mind is WOW! Once inside, you are immersed with childlike amazement, in this fluorescent painted black light utopia. You find yourself reaching out to touch things that appear to be within reach as you experience the three dimensional art all around you – on the walls, the floor and the ceiling. Eventually, you exit through the stargate as you leave this vibrant world behind.
The A3D installation is the perfect addition to any special event looking for a unique, interactive experience for its guests. It appeals to both young and old, alike. Corporate events, VIP areas, music/art festivals, weddings and more, are the perfect settings for A3D to transform an event into an unforgettable experience. A3D can be set up indoors or outdoors and has a footprint of approximately 25’ x 25’. The size and artwork can be customized to meet your needs. All that’s required is a electrical source, the space for the installation and of course your guests, for us to add the magic of A3D to your special event.
To inquire about booking or for any additional info, please email:
info@altervision3d.com
or call
David Knudsen 310.948.0902
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3D in Advertising – Bringing the Wow Factor to Campaigns
The Internet used to belong mainly to innovators and early adopters – the geeks among us. Eventually, we non-techies were able to log on without incurring a migraine. Today, the vast majority of us Google as often and as naturally as we blink.
So too regarding the evolution of 3D digital technology. ... Perhaps the most exciting advance is 3D’s newly-evolved autostereoscopic status. ...
If you’re an agency creative, imagine the potential and sheer fun to be had in exploring all the new avenues to highlight your brand and to astonish your clients with previously unimaginable feats of imagination. However, relatively few brands have made the 3D leap so far with Pepsi, Coke, Toyota, Lexus, Sony, Armani, Mini, and Mazda among the digital 3D pioneers.
Today, only a few dozen or so 3D commercials currently exist. Out of this batch my company, Geneva Film Co., has produced a good share including cinema 3D spots for Lexus and Sprint. So what gives? What is the hesitation among smaller agencies? ...
Considerations
As far as cost, for live-action 3D production, my estimate is 10 to 25 percent above shooting a typical spot in 2D (or a ‘flattie’). For bigger-budget campaigns, 3D will cost less because you have already invested in higher production value. Given the entire workflow is digital (acquisition to post to projection), you can expect some upfront costs here too. ...
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LG’s Mobile 3D Gaming Updates
If there is one thing we could say about LG, it's that they are the kings of bundling, and have made some great relationships to help take advantage of mobile 3D gaming with their platform. In preparation for their Optimus 3D Max, LG's press release promotes the following:
Assassin's Creed 3D, Dungeon Hunter 2 3D, James Cameron's Avatar 3D, N.O.V.A. 2 - Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance 3D, Shrek Kart 3D, BackStab 3D, Fishing Kings 3D, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus 3D, Shadow Guardian 3D and Spider-Man: Total Mayhem 3D, Order & Chaos and Splinter Cell 3D will be available through LG Smart World and will be optimized to take full advantage of the cutting-edge mobile technology in the LG Optimus 3D Max. Equipped with true 3D entertainment features with improved 2D-3D compatibility configuration, users can fully enjoy a 3D experience without 3D glasses. Users will also have the ability to convert Google Earth, Google Maps and other road views into 3D using the enhanced 3D Converter. Furthermore, 3D photos and videos captured by the Optimus 3D Max can be viewed in a single-screen mode in 2D and easily be toggled between 2D and 3D using the 3D Hot Key mounted on the side of the phone.
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See the press release here:
FREE 3D SCREEN QUALITY TEST VIDEOS
A couple of new 3D Screen Quality Test Videos are available on YouTube in 1080p format; one is in Side-by-side frame-compatible format and the other one is in Top-and-Bottom frame-compatible format. Both are sponsored by ZenMagnets. Download them in the maximum resolution before use. Detailed explanations here under.
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Femosecond Camera can peek around a corner (MIT Media Lab)
...at MIT Media Lab's Camera Culture group, Ramesh Raskar and Andreas Velten have devised a new way of capturing light bouncing from around a corner -- a femtophotography. In traditional photography, the speed of light is infinite and does not play a role. The Media Lab's femtocamera, however, has a finite amount of time light takes to travel from one surface to another, which provides useful information.
Learn more about the project here: