Sky to air archive 3D footage of the Queen
Trevor McDonald’s Queen and Country, produced by Colonial Pictures, is a four part hour long series that will explore the institutions and traditions surrounding the monarchy, from Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace to the ancient ritual of Swan Upping on the Thames. It will feature classic footage from the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 that was filmed in 3D at the time and aired during Channel Four’s 3D week in 2010. ...
Sir Trevor will also be looking at the excitement which surrounds a typical royal visit and viewing unique 3D footage from 1953 – the first summer of the new queen’s reign. The institution of the Commonwealth and the role The Queen has played in its development is also part of the series. ...
TREVOR MCDONALD’S QUEEN AND COUNTRY airs in May 2012 on HISTORY and Sky 3D
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Great Digital Champion: GDC Technology’s Dr. Chong discusses alternative content and cinema innovation
As an entertainment reporter, I am not usually in awe of the A-list talent and studio execs I encounter. ...But when it came time to interview Dr. Man-Nang Chong, founder and CEO of GDC Technology, I almost completely blew it. Here was a man whose career I had followed from the turn of the 21st century. In Asia, he is known as a visionary, a father of the digital movement.
...
FJI: Is digital 3D a fad or here to stay?
Dr. Chong: 3D used in animation will stay around for the foreseeable future. For feature films other than animation, I'm not sure. 3D is good for the re-release of films. But, you know, 3D is not doing so well in some Asian countries—Korea, Japan and Singapore, for example.
As for China, while there were 500 digital systems in place in China before Avatar [2009], now there are around 10,000 screens, 9,000 all-digital with only 4,000 to 5,000 3D-enabled. That is somewhat encouraging—however, I'm not sure the Chinese understand the 3D economic model. Distributors there are very conservative. If box office is not met, the distributor has to pay. Exhibitors, of course, like that model and promote it—so why take a chance with 3D?
And by the way, GDC Tech maintains a 55% lead in the Chinese digital-cinema server market.
FJI: How do you define alternative content?
Alternative content is games, live events, etc. where full use is being made of an auditorium. ...
FJI: What does the future hold for alternative content?
Dr. Chong: The first problem that needs to be dealt with is increasing spending on alternative-content marketing. While screening windows can be rescheduled, one-day events usually cannot and become very expensive to market. Consumer behavior is not ready to accept these one-day events. It is a challenging market.
As an individual and as CEO of the company, I need to make clear that we believe in alternative content. But there are business issues that must be dealt with. While theatres can handle live concerts now, there is more infrastructure that needs to be put in place, especially here in Asia where we are missing satellite dishes and hook-ups, for example. It’s a chicken-and-egg situation.
At GDC Tech, we are looking at problems that exist, especially with building infrastructure. We need a cost-effective way to deal with them.
The switch from analog to digital will create new opportunities and consumer interest with high rental returns for the industry. But we need to take a look at new technologies that will make it easier to broadcast by satellite games like Kino, video conferencing, sports events, etc.
FJI: I understand GDC Tech is going to be introducing a new piece of equipment at CinemaCon in April.
Dr. Chong: Yes, that's right. We will be introducing our SX-3000 Standalone
Integrated Media Block (IMB). But let's wait until the show before I start pitching this new technology.
Since we were talking about 3D and alternative content here, I will tell you our full
IMB family comes integrated with RealD Live and Sensio Hi-Fi 3D, which makes receiving high-quality 3D broadcasts possible. They also provide a built-in integrated 3D receiver-decoder to seamlessly support 3D live broadcasts without requiring an additional receiver-decoder.
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Standards, studios and exhibitors must all support audio improvement
While movie theaters are under pressure to upgrade to stay ahead of rapidly improving home theater systems, most of their energy has gone to projection, not to sound....
Theater sound standards are set by the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE). But it has been more than 30 years since SMPTE set forth a recommended set of standards for theatrical sound.
The Audio Engineering Society, which normally focuses on concerts and live events, leaving the movie biz to SMPTE, is pushing hard for SMPTE to revisit theater audio standards.
McCarty, an AES member, said "This is an unprecedented moment in theatrical sound and our members feel they have something to add to the discussion." The standards established decades ago were the best SMPTE could do at the time, he said, but they didn't lay out a reliable means getting great audio to auds' ears. Today he wants to be part of making sound right, as fast as possible. ...
The Audio Engineering Society, which normally focuses on concerts and live events, leaving the movie biz to SMPTE, is pushing hard for SMPTE to revisit theater audio standards.
McCarty, an AES member, said "This is an unprecedented moment in theatrical sound and our members feel they have something to add to the discussion." The standards established decades ago were the best SMPTE could do at the time, he said, but they didn't lay out a reliable means getting great audio to auds' ears. Today he wants to be part of making sound right, as fast as possible. ...
"It's a never-ending process with new technology," says Collins. "I imagine we're all asking ourselves how much this is going to cost us because if it doesn't make financial sense, then we just can't do it."
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Global 3D Technology, Products & Applications Market Worth $227.27 Billion by 2016
According to a new market research report, "Three-Dimensional (3D) Technology Market (2011 - 2016) by Products (3D IC, 3D Printer, 3D Display - HMD, 3D Smartphone, 3D TV, 3D Digital Signage), Applications (3D Animation, 3D Printing, 3D Medical Imaging, 3D CAD, 3D Gaming, 3D Cinema) & Technology (Stereoscopy, Auto-Stereoscopy, Volumetric) Focus, Global Forecast & Analysis - Features Introduction to 4D Technology" published by MarketsandMarkets ( http://www.marketsandmarkets.com ), the total market is expected to reach $227.27 billion by 2016, at a CAGR of 15.81%.
Browse 84 tables and in-depth TOC on "Three-Dimensional (3D) Technology Market (2011 -2016) by Products, Applications & Technology, Global Forecast & Analysis -Features Introduction to 4D Technology". ...
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ICM to represent 3D firm Technica
[Philip Lelyveld comment: two strategic moves by competing, high quality companies: 3ality gets a Hollywood Agency, and Cameron Pace join the Sports Video Group. Both moves will build awareness and partnerships.]
ICM has signed 3D tech pioneer 3ality Technica for representation in film, TV and live-event production.
Percentary aims to package 3ality with filmmakers, TV series creators, producers and financiers and projects' inception.
Among the tentpoles that have recently shot or are shooting with 3ality 3D systems are "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Hobbit," "The Great Gatsby," "Prometheus," "Jack the Giant Killer," and "Oz: The Great and Powerful."
3ality founder-CEO Steve Schklair told Variety, "3D television never took off the way we thought it would. If television is going to go 3D, episodic is going to have to start moving. They (ICM) believe they can be very helpful in that." ...
ICM, said Schklair, is setting up meetings where 3ality can show productions using its gear are coming in on schedule. ...
Even episodic TV can be shot in 3D on a regular nine-day schedule, said Schklair. "We did it with 'Chuck' and that was three generations (of technology) ago." ...
See the original story here: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118051767
SRS Labs Successfully Completes Development of Multi-Dimensional Audio Specification 1.0
Multi-Dimensional Audio (MDA) is the First Surround Sound Platform That Mixes Audio for Three Dimensional Space Rather Than For Traditional Channel Configurations
MDA Platform Specification 1.0 is now available to members of the 3D Audio Alliance (3DAA), an independent CE industry organization designed to promote collaboration between member companies to create a complete ecosystem based on the revolutionary MDA platform.
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CAMERON PACE Group Expands Presence in Sports Industry
The Sports Video Group is pleased to welcome CAMERON PACE Group as a platinum sponsor. ...
“From my perspective, the whole reasoning for putting CPG together… was to really start to strategize the market and create business models that make sense,” says Pace. “We know that the effective 3D model works as an entertainment value, but it’s so important that we rally the business model together.
“I think [SVG does] an excellent job of supporting that networking and that conversation,” he continues, “and I think that’s what CPG needs to tap into if it’s going to be successful [in offering] solutions to the [sports] industry.” ...
“We needed to find something that integrated into the 2D effort, and I think CPG’s the leader in that kind of methodology,” says Pace. “It’s not about building rigs anymore. It’s about who has the best methodology approaching this market, and I really think that the company shines. Every engineer who works here, every employee of the company is trying to say, How can we come up with technology solutions that integrate [into] the existing effort?’’ ...
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DMV plans 3D licenses, shorter waits
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles plans to introduce a new electronic system for renewing and issuing licenses with features that include a laser-engraved 3-D photo of the driver.
An annual agency review presented to legislators Tuesday said the state's Next Generation Secure Driver License System will be introduced early next year. The new DMV computer system that will track driver information and generate the new licenses has been under development since 2010, paid for with the aid of federal grants.
The new system will improve security by taking customer photos first, then tracking motorists through each part of the licensing process, DMV spokeswoman Marge Howell said.
"The biggest change customers will see is the 3-D images on their licenses," Howell said. "Even though the new photos will be black and white, they will capture much more detail on every license." ...
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World’s First Glasses Free 3D Link Between London & Russia
After months of planning, attendees to the Advanced Screen Tech and Vision Perceptiontalk (part hosted by 3dfocus.co.uk) in room 211, will witness and participate in a unique interactive session with delegates at Tomsk Polytechnic University. 3D Storytelling guests will be able to see and talk to selected participants in Russia, thousands of miles away in 3D without glasses, as if looking through a futuristic portal that bends space and time (well Tomsk is seven hours ahead!).
The groundbreaking event has been made possible by many hours of hard work, a culmination of several technologies created by the R&D teams of Dimenco and Triaxes and a collaborative partnership between Ravensbourne and 3D Focus.
The event has posed a number of challenges…
- How to generate a 3D format viewable on a Dimenco glasses free 3D lenticular screen.
- How to create 28 viewpoints from a stereo pair in real time.
- How to transmit the multi-view stream in two directions, over a regular IP connection and at a high enough quality.
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LG India eyeing 50% market share in 3D home entertainment segment
[Philip Lelyveld comment: LG is a leading advocate of passive 3D technology.]
South Korean electronics giant, LG Electronics is eyeing market leadership in the 3D home entertainmentsegment in India by June 2012 with an aim to achieve 50% market share.
LG India claims to be already enjoying market leadership in 3D televisions with 40% market share, quoting GFK January 2012 figures. ...
The company on Wednesday launched a 3D home theater system which will complement large-screen LCD and LED television sets. The product has 9.1 speaker system which adds four upright 3D Speakers to the conventional 5.1 channels on a home theater system. ...
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