Re: [photo-3d] Legitimizing 3D Movies

[Herbert C Maxey <bmaxey1@xxxxxxxx>]

Here is what I think would be required to bring 3D "To a Theater Near
You".

1. Forget about anaglyphic. No way will the public accept red/green/blue.


2. Forget LCD - not practical because of cost and the public is not going
to accept a system that requires thought and extra equipment to view at
home. Video rental is a major factor in movies today, and having to plug
all this stuff together to watch a 2.00 rental is not acceptable. 

The system must also lend its self to television. Nothing special in
viewers is allowed if it does not allow someone who does not have the
required equipment to view the TV presentation. The FCC requires this. If
you want it on TV, you need to release a version that is compatible with
existing equipment. No, if originally in 3D it does not have to be
presented in 3D, but you must be able to watch the program on unmodified
receivers.

3. Forget the idea that new technology is required. Dual camera polarized
stereo is ideal for many reasons, it is well understood and is cost
efficient. Also forget Vectographs. Way to expensive and doubtful if it
will appear any time soon. If the projectionist understands 3D
projection, keeping strips synchronized is not a problem.

4. Forget trying to interest the public with past 3D movie efforts. For
the most part, they are not what the public wants and will kill future
efforts with 3D Movies.

5. Big Blockbusters are required. Let's face it, people today want
today's kind of movies. Big budgets and special effects, dinosaurs,
creatures from another planet. They want Terminator, they want Jurassic
Park, Mission to Mars. They want big stars, well photographed and they
need to forget the movie is in 3D.

This means they need quality plots, and none of the past 3D silliness.
Not everything needs to spill out on to the floor.

6. The public needs education as to what 3D is. The projectionists and
theater owners need education about good and bad stereo. An
infrastructure is also required. That means Training, projectors, good
screens.

7. Professional equipment. There is no doubt that Panavision, Arri, and
other professional manufacturers could develop dual strip stereo to a
high degree. If producers want to shoot in stereo, it is no problem to
develop the equipment. Stereo Photography is well understood.

8. Computers need to be developed further so the left and right eye views
can be created from the models created. Remember, much of what we see
these days is created in the computer. Not like the good old days where
large sets, grand locations and models were used. We most likely have
computer technology to do this, but time is money and generating
artifacts in a computer takes lots of time to do.

If the public can be shown great 3D, they will embrace it. These days, we
all talk about VR and the public wants VR. 3D can give this to them to
some degree. If it is well done, the public will demand 3D movies. If the
public demands stereo, it will be used more and if it is used more, it
will be further developed and on and on. I might also surmise that if we
start seeing academy award winning movies that become blockbusters, there
will most likely be still cameras developed. This is possible I think.

Bob