Co-produced by Parallell Cinema and Innoventive Software, Stereo 3D Filmmaking: The Complete Interactive Course is the only alternative to expensive, long training sessions to learn stereo 3D effectively today.
Contents:
• 125 minutes of course shot in live-action stereo 3D: we explain a technique, you see the result.
• Dozens of animated diagrams
• 4 hours of Expert Insight Series from the famous 3d experts behind Alice in Wonderland, Coraline, Monsters vs Aliens, G-Force and many others
• 20 progressive and interactive exercises designed in the optically-accurate Stereo 3D Virtual Studio – based on award-winning Frameforge Previz Studio technology used by the Sony 3D Tech Center and James Cameron’s Director of Photography Vince Pace
• The Video-FAQ of Stereo 3D: experts answer the big questions of Stereo 3D
• The Stereographer’s handbook with a summary of the course
• The Stereo 3D Shooting Guide for easy reference on set

The package is available for around $400.

From the article:

“It’s mainly aimed at Sony rebuilding and consolidating its relationship with Samsung because its strategy of diversifying panel suppliers to the likes of Sharp has failed to ensure smooth supplies,” said Ricky Seo, an analyst at KB Investment & Securities.

“So, it’s like Sony coming back for more cooperation as it needs Samsung to meet its aggressive promotion of TV business, especially to get advanced panels for 3D TV production.”

Motorola 3D Android Phone - MT810

With the simple depth effect on the Nintendo 3DS coming out soon, I think we will be seeing a lot of hand-held devices utilizing the technique.  But until developers can combine gesture technology with the 3D effect, it won’t be incredibly useful.  Although it will be pretty fun to see.

How to watch 3D with incompatible glasses

No one knows whether this was done to force brand loyalty, or just out of sheer lack of foresight.  My guess is the former.  Luckily, Xpand is smart enough to have created active shutter glasses that will be compatible with pretty much any 3D television, although their glasses are a bit pricey.  Hopefully this doesn’t turn into some strange beta versus VHS war with glasses.  There are already enough 3D options out there with polarized glasses and morons jumping on the bandwagon pushing anaglyph as new technology.  Hopefully this doesn’t hurt the 3D home market too much.

Most importantly, the display requires no glasses.  Also, it is a “true volumetric image” which allows viewers to move around to gain different perspectives of the image.  Outside of entertainment, that concept alone has many applications in medical science and engineering.

The display doesn’t require any viewer dependent technology, such as eye-tracking or similar concepts.  It also uses something called “motion parallax” and “occlusion effect”, which are described as:

Motion parallax is the apparent difference in the speed or direction of moving objects produced when an object in the foreground moves relative to an object in the background. The occlusion effect is the blocking of one object by another opaque (non-transparent) object located in front, but where the hidden object can still be seen if viewed from a different angle, for example, in the side view. The combination of motion parallax and the occlusion effect eliminates the sense of imbalance and dizziness which can occur with polarized and shutter-type glasses and which are contributing to concerns over health and safety of 3D viewing.

This is the technology everyone is waiting for.  No more complaints about headaches or eyestrain or whining about wearing glasses.  The future of 3D is right around the corner.

That $200 million can go a long way helping RealD make a bigger impression in the theater and projector market. They definitely won’t be making that money back by selling glasses.

S3D Technologies will be presenting the S3D Beam Splitter Rig at the show, revealing high-end quality, functionality and design, which significantly facilitates the shooting of live stereoscopic 3D images.

The new rig offers the perfect balance between stability, rigidity and weight. It is suitable for film and digital cameras with lenses of up to 114 mm diameter and a 16 mm focal length. It possesses a state-of-the-art camera release system, which allows the operator to remove and fix cameras efficiently and fast. In addition, the operating temperatures of its electronic components range from -40ºC to 80ºC (-40ºF to 176ºF) which makes filming in a variety of locations and climates a practical possibility.

S3D Technologies is also introducing the S3D Calculator at NAB this year, which is an essential tool when shooting stereo 3D as the software enables the exact configurations of stereoscopic parameters to be sourced, based on the conditions of the set and its desired effects.

S3D Technologies is looking ahead with the development of S3D Plug-ins and the S3D Converter. The S3D Plug-ins, will be an indispensable tool to contribute to future stereo 3D projects as they also integrate the S3D Calculator’s features, allowing the user the direct import and export from production set-up parameters. S3D Converter converts footage from 2D to 3D effortlessly and will be released later in 2010.

SGO will be unveiling Mistika Version 5.0 at NAB, revealing one of the most significant software releases to date, with a brand new interface for maximum user acceptability as well as a set of stunning new stereoscopic 3D and 2D tools.

SGO is also in partnership with projectiondesign™ (http://www.projectiondesign.com/), who will be providing rigs and projectors at the show.

To enjoy an exclusive viewing of the immense power of the software and to reserve a place to view Mistika and S3D’s products, please contact SGO at marketing@sgo.es and s3d@s3dtechnologies.com for a private demonstration of one of the industry’s most advanced post production systems.

About S3D Technologies:

The company focuses on the research and development of technology to produce stereoscopic 3D films. S3D Technologies offers a diverse range of services related to stereoscopic production taking always into account the needs and specific requirements of its clients. 3D Technologies can advise you on every aspect of your stereo 3D project, be it animation or live action, from the early stages of design and development up to the very final stages. www.s3dtechnologies.com

Also, those attending the games will be able to view the game in 3D.  I know, that sounds a little obvious, since watching the game in person is three-dimensional by definition, but LG will have stereoscopic screens set up all over Lucas Oil Stadium.  It’s more of an marketing tool than useful in that situation, but it will still be fun and interesting.

Clinton Stark wrote up a good summary of the panel discussion over at SilverStarCreek.com.  I think the best quote to come out of the panel, which he highlighted, is

“A whole bunch of 3D cameras are coming, which means a whole lot of bad 3D films.”

This is probably true, but this is a good thing.  When filmmaking becomes accessible to the artistic non-studio people, we often get to see some brilliant work.  Although it is usually less than 1% of the backyard indie films that are produced.

More highlights from the discussion:

• “Don’t fatigue the audience, still important to tell a story.”
• 3D is “akin to optical illusion compared to normal cinema.”
• “When people see each other in 3D they start reaching out; there is something different about that world – not quite the same as real world”
• 3D tools have come a long way compared to the good old days (i.e. 6 months ago, now “you can change convergence in post. Rotation is easy, etc. … easily fixed now that it’s really gotten much easier to finish your movie”
• Charlotte Huggins: “These are just all fonts.” (3D)
• “Where does human vision break down from 3D to 2D and how do you apply that sports?”
• Broadcast doesn’t know how to send 3D (cable can); all setting up networks, but live television is a challenge.
• The NFL has been making 3D football for four years
• Star Wars converted; George Lucas shots were already lined up; can’t even tell it wasn’t shot in 2D

It is refreshing to see more industries finding the usefulness in 3D imagery.  I believe that 3D can easily become popular in fashion.  High-Definition has definitely helped the fashion industry when it comes to broadcast shows, especially when highlighting the subtleties in fabrics and textures often lost in traditional older broadcasts.  Stereoscopic 3D will only enhance the broadcast of fashion to an even higher level of detail.