No 3D movies to watch?

[P3D Porter, Julie <JPORTER@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have been lurking here for the last few months. I have been thinking over
some of the discussion regarding 3D in film. I became interested in 3d durring
the late 70s early 80 revival. My parents purchaced a _Holmes_ style sterio
vewer. I was also able to see the three great films _House of Wax_, Dial M for
murder_, and _Kiss me kate_ (An art theater owner here in the bay Area I am
going to spell his name phontetically _Alan Mishan_ arranged for the left &
right prints to be united once more. There was talk that when the film was
relesed in 2d some theaters got the left print, some the right print. probably
an urban legend) Anyway I digress...
I hear a lot of discussion on Star Wars. I had the oportunity at the same time
as the above were revised to hang arround as an unpaid _apprentist_ at Sproket
systems in Marin. I was trying to worm my way into the computer division. no
luck. I did however have limited run of the almost anti computer ILM (the
motion control computers were almost looked on as a nessisary evil) The word
was resolution. It was felt that film had 8000 to 10000 lines of resolution
both directions. Kodak now claims it is closer to 2500. No CGI could come close
to this as far as price. I on the other hand tied my fortunes to Apple. I had
seen the Disney experiment of Maurice Sentack's childrens story. forget the
title _night kitchen_.
I realise none of this has to do with 3d. 3d was looked at as an orphan. My
mentor was a film editor so nearsited he had to sit within 10 feet of the
screen. He could look at 35mm film with no maginfication though. He refused to
wear glasses. He could not or would not drive a car. He was the one who told me
that ten percent of the population could not see 3d. For this reason 3d would
never be more than a curiosity.
A number of people who work in film make their weakness their strength. I have
heard that a number of cinematographars are color blind. Costume designers who
can not sew. Others like my freind (who actually worked in sound editing) were
practicaly legaly blind. This is not to say the rule but it takes a lot of
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motivation to hack it in film. I look at the credits of the big block busters
now, I do not see the names of those who were there 10 years ago. High turnover
and burnout I suspect.
I am attempting to stear this unweildy thread back to 3d and motion. There is a
TV program that reminds me of SW ST, Blakes 7, Dr Who & a lot of other SF&F
references. It is great SF and relies heavally on CGI. If you realise this is
Babylon 5. Then you probably realise where I am going. (If not I reccomend that
you watch it). It is created/produced and mostly written by one man _J. Micheal
Straczynsky(sp)_ (JMS to most). If you want to see what motivation in HW can do
take a look at his stuff. (B5 is shot wide screen HDTV, surround sound etc.)
There is a theme in B5 is which the characters have to learn to fight legends
(as we the audiance learn the characters are becoming legend).  The best way to
sell something is to make it into an (Urban) legend (look at Barbie last
christmas). The legened says that 3d is low budget horror/sex dreck. Crummy
resolution. Bad writing. low and I mean low budget. Most importantly something
nasty. Something parents should protect their kids from at all cost.(like other
things though that parents do titilating in the wrong way). It would take a
Disney/Microsoft multi hundred million marketing campaign to convince anyone
otherwise.
I wonder what whould happen if we told _Bill Gates_ that he will get blown out
of and totaly loose the 3d market share. Poor Bill he failed at something and
is not getting any money for it. Perhaps we should tell him. No?
This has gone on too long. (which I why I almost never post, I am long winded
in person too).
-julie P.
 


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