CES is all about the 3-D!

Just got back to LA from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and the buzz this year was definitely 3-D. I've attended the CES for about ten years now, and every year there is usually some company showing a 3-D monitor, or claiming to have invented a new head-mounted display, but this year, there was 3-D at almost every major manufacturer's booth. Sony, JVC, Panasonic, Toshiba, Samsung, Mitsubishi, Sharp, LG, practically every TV maker had their version of 3DTV. Some use active shutterglasses, some use circular polarized, some are embracing multiple technologies, and all are pushing it heavily. Projector manufacturers are releasing 3-D ready projectors for home theater, classroom, and business use. Players from the theatrical end of 3-D were present, as RealD and XpanD are both moving into the consumer glasses market.

In fact only one industry seemed to fall flat off the 3-D bandwagon - the camera companies. Panasonic was the only major player to show a 3-D video camera, and they are pricing it at $21,000! Fuji, of course, has their 1st gen 3-D still camera, but nobody else is joining that game - Canon's comment is "we're still investigating consumer needs." Even Sony, with their massive 3-D pavilion and live 3-D broadcasts in partnership with 3ality, had no answer regarding a consumer 3-D camera.

3-D Bluray was all over the place, despite my strong belief that optical media is a dead-in-the-water format due to VOD and digital downloads. (A friend of mine calls 3-D the "defibrillator of Bluray") And DVD is dead - not a single 3-D DVD solution to be found anywhere. In fact, almost no support for existing home 3-D solutions. This all fuels my fear of a consumer backlash against 3-D at being told by the big corporations that they need to buy completely new hardware, both HDTVs and players to enjoy the coming 3-D age, especially after being forced to buy new HDTVs or digital tuners only a year ago.

The hope is that 3-D broadcasting will drive the market, and DirecTV has already announced both a Discovery 3-D Channel and ESPN 3-D. ESPN will launch their channel with worldwide 3-D coverage of the FIFA Soccer World Cup Championships in June - the largest single undertaking of live 3-D in history. The problem is that there will be a shortage of content in the immediate future to keep these 3-D channels "live". Hopefully, indie content producers like myself will be able to fill some of that void.

Which leads me to my observation that the Big Boys are missing a very important point. I attended a number of panels, and the "3D@Home Consortium" breakfast, where industry experts spoke of the future of home 3-D, both with rosy glasses (pun intended) and with a complete ignorance of the fact that independent content exists. Apparently, in the corporate vision of the future, only the major studios have the ability to produce viable 3-D movies and television programs, and they are missing the boat here. I stood up at the consortium breakfast, and asked why nobody was addressing what I see as the three 800-pound Gorillas in the room:

- first, that consumers will not be as eager to buy into a new technology if they can't create their own 3-D movies to view on that technology,

- Second, that there needs to be a distribution pathway for independent stereographic 3-D content to enter the game,

- and third, Youtube already delivers 3-D to the home via the beta player that has been active since last summer. Eventually, that player will finish it's beta stage, and any website will become a 3-D delivery platform via a simple embed. Most of the 3-D TVs on the show floor included direct Youtube streaming via WiFi as well. Now, Google owns Youtube, and Google has an OS that will be on millions of cellphones this year, also Youtube enabled. So, follow me here, Google is poised to become the LARGEST SINGLE AGGREGATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR of 3-D content in the world - both studio, indie and consumer produced content - and no one is talking about it.

I asked why Google was not invited to the table.

I left the consortium speechless.

My Latest Article

Check out this article I wrote for MaximumPC magazine. It's in both the current print issue and on the website (although the print edition is edited slightly differently than the web version).

Elevation

Here is my latest 3-D short film, Elevation. This little micro-budget short won a 1st Place Blue Ribbon at the National Stereoscopic Association convention in July, and was invited to screen at the Directors Guild Digital Day in August.

Here on the blog, the video is posted as an anamorphically squeezed crossview. Click through the video below to get to the youtube 3-D player, with a pulldown menu to allow you to select from a number of stereoscopic viewing methods including red-cyan anaglyph and parallel. And bug youtube to add the player to video embeds!



Elevation was produced as a sketchbook assignment through Filmmakers Alliance, a cinema collective based in Los Angeles, and had to follow the following rules: Make a film that is 3 minutes long, has only one line of dialog, uses primary colors, and includes a gun, a religious symbol, and underwear.

It was shot on a twinned pair of Canon TX-1 point-and-shoot consumer cameras, using a firmware hack to provide stereoscopic synchronization tools. The post production pipeline consisted of the freeware program Stereo Movie Maker, which was used for alignment and parallax convergence adjustments, and Adobe Premiere which was used for picture and sound editing.

The entire project was completed in less than 48 hours - the 3 hour shoot took place on the evening of Wednesday, July 1, 2009, and post production was finished by Friday afternoon, July 3.

The SCSC fall 3-D Movie/Video Division meeting

The SCSC fall 3-D Movie/Video Division meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:30 P.M. in the Downtown Independent Theater 251 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 - (213) 617-1033

Click through video for Youtube 3-D player

We fell in love with the Downtown Independent Theater when the Movie Division presented more than two hours of 3-D content at the Downtown Film Festival - Los Angeles this past summer. This little gem is ultra modern, has 200 stadium-style seats, accommodates our silver screen and has a nice space just the right distance from the screen for our club projectors. Other amenities include a snack bar which includes the sale of beer and wine, convenient (paid) parking next door, and a lovely rooftop patio area ideal for socializing and sharing the latest 3-D toys. The Downtown Independent is a comfortable walk from the Pershing Square Metro station. Come into town early. There are plenty of inexpensive eateries in the area, including a nearby Yoshinoya.

There will be a $5.00 theater entrance fee. Grab a coke, beer or a glass of wine and come upstairs before the meeting. We'll try to start our meeting promptly at 7:30 in order to accommodate Metro riders.

The meeting will have a Halloween theme. You are encouraged to bring anything in 3-D you'd like to see projected on the big screen, and we will have a program of content with a "scary" theme for our enjoyment. Wear makeup and/or a costume if you can. Prizes will be awarded.

Speaking of prizes, we will be announcing plans for our next international competition ("The Seventh Ever") at the meeting, as well as sharing recent Movie Division activities (participation in the Big Bear Lake Film Festival and projection of Thomas Jane's directorial debut in his first 3-D feature, Dark Country, at the Long Beach Comic Con.

You need not be an SCSC member to attend Movie Division meetings. All are welcome. However, it is helpful if you RSVP your intention to attend so we can plan such things as the number of 3-D glasses we need and how much popcorn and drinks to have ready. (RSVP to movies3d@aol.com.)

I'm putting on an event this Tuesday!

3-DIY: Do It Yourself 3-D Movies
Short Films of the Desktop 3-D Revolution

A program of short digital 3-D movies Shown as part of the Downtown Film Festival of Los Angeles (DFFLA) Curated by John E. Hart, Chairman of the LA 3-D Club Movie Division
(Stereo Club of Southern California)

Emerging digital toolsets are driving a wave of independent production of stereoscopic motion pictures. New 3-D movies in every conceivable genre, from documentaries and avant-garde experiments, to dramatic and humorous narratives, are being made by fiercely individual filmmakers all around the world. In their hands, the 3-D film is evolving a new visual grammar for the motion picture screen.

This program, a stereoscopic showcase of short films curated by John Hart of the Stereo Club of Southern California, presents award-winning entries from the 6 international 3-D movie contests held by the LA 3-D Club Movie Division. Dedicated to independent production and the exhibition of stereoscopic movies, the LA 3-D Club unites both amateur and professional filmmakers by providing a platform for desktop 3-D movies. Learn how to make your own 3-D movies without the backing of a Hollywood studio as a panel of the filmmakers convene after the screening to discuss the new stereoscopic toolsets and their availability.

Tuesday, August 18
7:30 – 11 pm
Downtown Independent Theater
251 S. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

for tickets: http://downtownla.bside.com/2009/films

Screenings followed by panel discussion

The Program: (listed alphabetically by director’s last name)

Moving Still (2008) Colombia, 3 min. Dir: Santiago Caicedo
Come Coco (2009) Colombia, 7 min. Dir: Santiago Caicedo

Skydiving (2008) USA, 3 min. Dir: Eric Deren

Ztring Theory (2008) Norway, 5 min. Dir: Jo Eldoen

Ghost Car (2008), USA, 5 min. Dir: John E. Hart
Doggone (2009), USA, 11 min. Dir: John E. Hart

Wanderlust (Bjork video) (2008) USA, 7 min. Dir: Sean Helfritch
& Isaiah Saxon

Family Guy: Blue Harvest (2008), USA, 3 min. Dir: Sean Isroelit

Towers of Rodia (2007) USA, 14 min. Dir: Tom Koester
Ennis House (2008) USA, 6 min. Dir: Tom Koester

Elevation (2009), USA, 3 min. Dir: Eric Kurland

A Better Mousetrap (2005) USA, 2 min. Dir: Ron Labbe

Pump Action (2006) USA, 3 min. Dir: Phil McNally

Fireworks Symphony (2008) Japan, 5 min. Dir: Takashi Sekitani

Reminiscence (2007) France, 5 min. Dir: Celine Tricart

Slow Glass (2007), USA, 14 min. Dir: Ray Zone

Panel: Making Your Own 3D Movies
Moderated by Ray Zone
Panelists: Eric Kurland, Sean Isroelit, Tom Koester and John Hart

The moderator and all of the panelists have directed or produced award-winning short 3-D movies that have been shown in a variety of exhibition venues.

Rooftop wine and cheese reception to follow


for tickets: http://downtownla.bside.com/2009/films

DGA Digital Day

Today I'm giving a presentation at the Director's Guild as part of their Digital Day 2009. My talk covers the topic "3-D on a Dime" and I'll be outlining my hardware and software solutions for creating microbudget 3-D content, including a screening of my short Elevation.

My friend Ray Zone calls what I do "3-DIY" or Do-It-Yourself 3-D, and I like that so much that I'll be starting a website soon full of resources for the indie 3-D filmmaker. It'll be located at, appropriately enough,
www.3-DIY.net

Here is my powerpoint presentation from the event:

San Diego Comic-Con 2009

I've made the annual pilgimage to San Diego for Comic-Con. Some amazing 3-D content in Hall H from the studios this year. Avatar looks amazing, and I'm really looking forward to Tron:Legacy, too.

Here's some images from around the con:

NSA 2009

I'm posting from the National Stereoscopic Association 2009 Convention, in Mesa, Arizona, where I am co-chairing the Stereo Theater. In just a few hours, we open the doors to 3 full Days of 3-D content, from vintage stereocard images to the latest in independent 3-D cinema, all digitally projected in HD.

Oh, and did I mention, my short 3-D film "Elevation" will be screening this Saturday, at 11am!

If you're anywhere near Phoenix this weekend, stop in and check it out!

Frak Yes!

Last Saturday, June 13, 2009, I attended the Los Angeles Grand Performances season opener concert - Bear McCreary and the Music of Battlestar Galactica. The evening kicked off with a performance by "Brendan's Band", featuring Brendan McCreary, Raya Yarbrough, and Steve Bartek. Then Bear and the BSG orchestra took the stage and performed an amazing evening of music from the TV series. At one point Bear was even joined on stage by Katee "Starbuck" Sackhoff for a piano duet. I somehow managed to avoid the camera ban enforced by some overly zealous security guards and took many 3-D photos.

Click for a slideshow

Maker Faire 2009

This year at Maker Faire, I spent two days at my booth showing a bunch of my 3-D contraptions, including the video phantogram tabletop, live camera projection and the stereoscope PSP. I had all of the gear featured in my Make: article from last year. The newest additions to my exhibit were my homemade View Master reels made from digital 3-D photos I took at last year's Maker Faire, and my latest camera rig - the twinned Canon TX1s that I use to shoot HD video.

Overall the faire was a success - everyone who came by the booth seemed very interested and engaged, and they loved seeing themselves in 3-D on the big 6-foot screen.

We were kept so busy, that I didn't get to visit the rest of the faire and take pictures like last year. But I did manage to sneak away on Sunday to shoot video of the Diet Coke and Mentos Fountain performance done by the crazy mad scientists at Eepybird.

It's been a while...

Okay, so I haven't updated the blog since last summer - but I've been busy! I've setup a 3-D media lab in my Secret Underground Lair, and I'm working on all kinds of cool stereoscopic projects. I'm planning to go through the last 10 months of 3-D and start posting back-dated content to fill in the HUGE hole left by my neglect. Stay tuned...


...in the meantime, enjoy this short video from the setup day at Maker Faire 2009:

Last Sunday I participated in this event at Machine Project:

“A Practical Demonstration”

Part One: On Sunday July 6th at 6pm a stuntman will leap from Machine Project’s 2nd story window. We would like to invite folks to attend the leap, with a miniDV video camera (everyone’s got one nowadays, we can probably even supply you with one if you don’t). The videographers will be arranged in a large circle on the ground around the spot where the body will fall. They will document the leap and then turn over their video footage (tapes to be provided, unless you want to donate one). This footage will then be edited to create a very clumsy “Matrix” effect that suspends the stuntperson in mid-air with a 360 degree pan. We would like to get at least 40 people to film, so tell a friend.

This Friday is part two:

All day at the gallery we’ll be projecting continuous live broadcasts tracking the sun as it travels around the Earth, with help from camera-ready friends and volunteers worldwide. (We still need a volunteer cameraperson in Cape Verde if you know anyone.)

We’ll also be screening the final edited footage of our stunt jumper.

I cut together some of my own 3-D footage of the stunt jumping.

Stunts at Machine Project 3-D from Eric Kurland on Vimeo.

Siggraph meets Make:

I'll be exhibiting some of my 3-D video gear at tonight's Los Angeles Siggraph meeting. For details, click the image.

I'm Published!

Make: issue 14 has just hit the newstands, and I'm in it! I wrote an article all about my Homebrew 3-D video production tools.

You can check out the article HERE

Maker Faire wrap-up: Part 3 - My Photos

I've finally gotten all of my photos from Maker Faire aligned and uploaded. Here is a link to the collection of 3-D images from both days:

Maker Faire wrap-up: Part 2 - Workshop Photos

During Maker Faire, I did a few workshops at my booth, teaching attendees with digital cameras how to shoot stereoscopic still images with a single camera via the "cha-cha" method of taking one photo with your weight on your left foot, and one photo with your weight shifted to your right foot. This essentially gives you a matched stereo pair, as long as the subject isn't moving during the two shots. A more detailed tutorial can be found on the SCSC website.

What was really cool was that I challenged people at the booth to go out with their digital cameras and take a 3-D picture during Maker Faire, and if they brought their memory card back to my table, I would align their photo and make an anaglyph print for them to take home. Over the course of the event, I had 5 people come back with photos - one woman, who came by on Saturday with only a camera-phone, was so excited to try this that she returned on Sunday with a better camera.

So here are the efforts of some first time stereo photographers:

I'd like to add photo credits to these, so if you took one of these, please email me with your full name, and let me know which one is yours.

Maker Faire wrap-up: Part 1

Well, the Maker Faire is over now, and I'm back at home. I'm calling it a great success! Atendees seemed genuinely excited to see all of my and Perry's stereoscopic displays. My video phantogram worked perfectly!!! And I only completed it three days before the expo.

I'd like to thank everyone who came by the booth for all of the positive comments. We had a great time showing you our 3-D contraptions. I'll have a large album of 3-D photos uploaded soon. I'll also be adding links to the information and software downloads that I spoke about during the show.

And, to toot my own horn a little, Make: magazine's editor-in-chief Mark Frauenfelder awarded us an Editor's Choice Blue Ribbon!

Maker Faire Day Two

Yesterday was a blast! My video phantogram table consistently got people to react with a "Whoa!" - that's what I was going for - and I received many positive comments about the 3-D booth in general. I'm on my way over to day two now, and hope to post a wrap up with 3-D images later this week.

Maker Faire Day One

Maker Faire begins in a few hours - come by and check out the 3-D shenanigans at booth Expo Green 218. Live 3-D video projection, video Phantograms, stereo photography workshops, and some cool 3-D projects from my friend and fellow stereographer, Perry Hoberman.

Maker Day 2008

First report from San Mateo:

As a precursor to this year's Maker Faire, yesterday was Maker Day - a day of presentations and performances by some of the Makers at this years show. Today was also a day of set-up for many of the larger displays. A good time was had by all. Enjoy the photoset.