Re: 3D stuff

[P3D <MarkKernes@xxxxxxx>]

Dear folks,

     Well, just thought I'd respond to a few recent posts...
      Marvin Jones gave a good response to Marc Robb's (and others')
questions about Virtual Max 3D, but since I deal with the company on a more
or less regular basis, I though I'd add a bit.
     While I suppose it's technically true that Virtual Max is merely the
"distributor" of the XXX 3D tapes, fact is, only four directors have shot the
17 tapes released so far, and all of those have been commissioned by Virtual
Max: one for the gay stuff, one for the bi stuff, another guy for the
straight hetero ones, and one director who actually shot their first
"straight" feature (Freak Club) but didn't do any others. (The "Freak Club"
guy, screen named "L.S. Talbot," - who's not credited that way on the tape,
unfortunately - was the most creative of the bunch, but had never shot 3D
before, so while he brought a lot of filmmaking experience to the project, he
brought no 3D expertise.) They occasionally talk about bringing in some new
talent, and I for one wouldn't be unhappy to see some others try the 3D
format - and they should definitely come to me for pointers.
     Marvin is quite correct that, with any luck, XXX will prime the pump for
other, non-sexually-oriented 3D tapes much as porn did in fact spur the sales
of VCRs in the '70s - and there's even a bit of evidence that this is
beginning to be the case. The Virtual Max people tell me they've had several
inquiries from mainstream sources to create such things as kiddie shows,
travelogues, etc. for the home viewing market. Only time will tell. The owner
of the company tells me that he is VERY committed to this format, and knowing
how pig-headed this guy can be, I believe him.
     I strongly advise checking out Virtual Max's 3D display at video trade
shows if they're accessible to you. They will probably be at E3 in L.A. this
weekend, the Video Software Dealers Assn. convention also here in L.A. in
early July, and several European shows over the coming months; also probably
the East Coast Video show in Atlantic City, NJ in early October, and the
Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.
---------
     On the topic of the continued existence of 3D, I notice, as particularly
absent from the discussion, the most popular 3D format I've ever heard of:
Viewmaster. Didn't just about everybody own a viewer as a kid? Now, I shoot
Realist, and my experience accords with most other posters here: I've never
taken a lenticular photo that was a bright and clear and devoid of
cardboarding as my Realist-format pairs. This goes for both my Nimslo (long
since given away to a friend when I was unable to get mailers for developing,
or even an address where to send the film) and my Nishika (which somehow
mysteriously vanished shortly after I got my Realist, and now that I know
those guys in England will develop the 4-lens format, I'm planning to search
a little harder for it.) 
     HOWEVER, I do plan to purchase a Viewmaster camera as soon as I can
afford one (though I'll probably get the cutter first, as that will decide
which camera I should get - interesting concept, isn't it?), because the idea
of sending reels to my friends for the holidays, probably chock full of views
of some young ladies in the adult video business, which will therefore cause
my friends to have to run out and buy some cheap Viewmaster viewer, appeals
to me greatly. I know how expensive it is these days to tool up to
manufacture something as complicated as a Viewmaster camera - assuming the
original Viewmaster dies can't be discovered somplace - but doesn't seem like
a logical step for someone to take?

     By the way, Dr. T need have no fear that slide film is on the way out. I
work in the adult video industry and have plenty of contact with mainstream
Hollywood, and both of those businesses would be lost without "chromes," as
slides are called in The Biz. True, slide film isn't available at 7-Elevens
or Sav-On Drugs, but most photos in magazines are NOT printed from print
film.
Also re Dr. T's recent posts, I got to see a View Magic viewer and prints for
the first time recently, and was quite impressed, particularly by one
panorama view that I would think impossible to duplicate in Realist format.
The gentleman who showed it to me hopes to publish a magazine devoted to View
Magic views in the near future, and sell viewers along with subscriptions.

And lastly, I just replaced the tungsten-filament bulb in my Star D-II viewer
from Reel 3-D with a halogen, and I must recommend that those who haven't
done this already, do so immediately! The improvement is terrific!

- Mark Kernes <markkernes@xxxxxxx>


------------------------------

End of PHOTO-3D Digest 1314
***************************
***************************
 Trouble? Send e-mail to 
3d-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
***************************