3Dfool

Movie theaters showing films in 3-D are likely to see ticket sales jump an average of 65 percent over similar theaters showing the same movie in 2-d, according to a study by Nielsen PreView, unveiled at an exhibitors’ conference in Amsterdam today (Monday). The study compared theaters with a strong track record in attracting audiences for action/adventure movies. This “like-to-like comparison,” Nielsen said, demonstrated that “consumers when given a choice, will choose 3-D.” Moreover, the study found that when theatres simultaneously exhibit two movies in 3-D their ticket sales double, “indicating that one 3-D screen per theater may not be enough to satisfy consumer demand.” It also discovered that 48 percent of consumers are generally unaware that a movie may be playing in both 3-D and 2-d at separate theaters in their area.

Click here for the full report

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Funny stuff. This YouTube video is everything you imagine people really meaning, but is never said. Iv’e been on a few sets and in metting where you almost know this is going on inside people’s heads.  Too funny.

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Not that this is a new thing, but this is the first time that a high profile game is being designed from the ground up with the idea of playing it in stereoscopic 3D. Any 3D (geometric 3D engine) game can be made to be stereoscopic 3D using Nvidia’s stereoscopic drivers and shutter glasses. Back in the early 90’s there were a few games that could be played in anaglyphic mode and paper glasses like Bullfrog’s Magic Carpet.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has said that Ubisoft will be making old-fashioned 3D games which require stereoscopic glasses, as well as well as moving on to create CGI films, books and a new TV series.

Speaking to GI.biz at Ubidays 2008, Guillemot said that the Movie tie-in game of Avatar will be the companies first attempt at creating some stereoscopic gameplay, but that the game will require specific monitors in order to work.

“The deal is to build a 3D experience on top of the normal experience. Avatar will have both. It’s with glasses on a specific TV. I’ve seen it, it’s amazing,” Guillemot said.

“No. It doesn’t work on normal TVs. It means we will see an evolution on the TV. They are already in Best Buy in the US. You can already buy these TVs.”

The Ubisoft boss also said that he wanted the company to move towards making computer generated movies too and that although the first films would be produced externally, he would hope to change that in the future.

Guillemot then confirmed that this isn’t all he has planned for the French publisher either - the company is already working on a line of books and a small television series, though he wouldn’t go into further details.

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This clip from 30 Rock is great. It simply describes the phenomenon of the Uncanny Valley. This is why going for realism in CG is very difficult. The closer you are to real, the more you plummet in to the valley of repulsion. Even if you nail something as looking 100% perfect human reality. There is a lack of emotion and a connection to the real that the effect lacks, and thus we feel as there’s something not there. Even in the best moments of photo real CG like in Beowulf or Final Fantasy, it was still uncomfortable and unnerving.

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TD Vision has some interesting tech. I’m really interested in where they are going with their 2D/3D codec and how this can bring about mass media production of 3D stereoscopic films for HD home video.

Link on Engadget Clicky

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Here’s a link to a great article and interview with John Gaeta, the VFX Sup on Speed, all about the effects and look of this summers live action anime adaptation. I’m really looking forward to this one, and there’s allot of meat, pictures, and even some breakdowns of shots in this article. Enjoy!

Click here to read the interview at VRMAG

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Bjork is at it again. Wanderlust, the Icelandic’s singer’s newest photoplay is avaialble from Wired. They have the full video on its website in a whopping 188 mb file. It has to be that large to allow for the best color fidelity for anaglyph presentation. This video evokes Miyazaki influences and odd organic textures. Truly the only way to view this is in 3D. I wish they opted for a side by side version.

So click on the pic and go check it out! You will have to have your trusty red/cyan glasses.

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