So, what do Robert Stack, Barbara Britton, and Nigel Bruce all have in common? They starred together in the first 3D color film in 1952, Bwana Devil, which made it into production under the title, The Lions of Gulu. This was the beginning of the “golden age” of 3D films that lasted until 1955. Horror films and science-fiction films became the mainstay for 3D filmmakers, which in turn brought a lot of favorable attention to both genres of films.
Until recently, however, 3D filmmaking had been seen as a gimmick and was unfairly equated with the low-budget filmmaking at its height of popularity, or with specialty films that often had to do with the earth, or outer space, and were shown specially in IMAX 3D theaters.
It was James Cameron, who just brought us the #1 grossing film of all time, Avatar, which was a smashing success in 3D, who changed the rules for 3D cinema in mainstream filmmaking with his 2003 films, Ghosts of the Abyss. The cameras used were the latest in HD video cameras, not film, and were built to Cameron’s specifications.
Since 2003 we’ve seen a steady rise in mainstream 3D filmmaking including, The Polar Express, Journey to the Center of the Earth, My Bloody Valentine, last year’s Avatar, and finally this year’s Clash of the Titans, the remake of the 1981 stop-action films of the same name. It’s the latest film that could be set to take credit for changing all the rules in traditional, mainstream filmmaking.
With theaters able to charge a $5 (or more) premium to show moviegoers a new release in 3D, and having no shortage of takers, 3D movies have become a very important part of the revenue equation at Hollywood’s biggest movie studios.
According to Warner distribution executive Dan Fellman, 52% of this past weekend’s total box office for Clash of the Titans came from 3D ticket sales. Some Hollywood executives say that as much as 80% of the revenues for Avatar are from 3d screenings, and already more than one-third for Alice in Wonderland.
So, does this mean that 2D filmmaking is now on the endangered list? Not quite yet, but with DVD sales continuing to decline because of the ease and availability of streaming online content, it’s a safe bet that studios will be churning out more and more 3D blockbusters in an attempt to bolster what are sometimes quite volatile numbers.
In an ever-changing world, it’s nice to know that one thing won’t change. There will never be a shortage of blockbuster Hollywood films for the smaller screens, whether in 2D or 3D. You’ll always be able to catch the latest movies on HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, IFC, and Sundance Channel, broadcast in brilliant High Definition and Dolby 5.1 Digital Surround Sound, from DIRECT TV.
Lincoln Wilder loves all things entertainment. His weekly music blog is a compilation of celebrity madness, album reviews, concert news, & sleezy celebrity drama; always written with absolute honesty and irresistible hints of sarcasm. Armed with only a laptop and Qwest high speed Internet, Wilder surfs the streams for the latest and not always greatest of the music world. If it involves music and is notable, it’s on his blog. While some call it madness, he calls it living, (not “a living,” as that would suggest compensation of some kind). Wilder does what he does purely for the joy of it, and is always open to the suggestions of his followers.
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Samsung, Sony first to the war front in the Chinese market 3D television
Not a TV manufacturers are prepared to underestimate the 3D this new trend, Acer Aspire 3000 battery but the real courage to bring it to practice the Chinese market is still only a practice of Samsung.
“Avatar” The successful launch of the 3D film industry, but now in the TV area, but also dares to conclusions: it in the end will be an essential household technology, or just a gimmick? Including Samsung, LG, Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, TCL, including many international brands are displayed on the 3D market, very high concern.
Sony or even turning it as a bargaining chip. “3D technology will give many of our products to give new life.” Exhibition in the early 2010′s CES, Sony CEO Howard Global @ Stringer (Howard Stringer) to convey the determination of the outside world seems better than all competitors. Although there are still dissenting voices within the company, but Stringer that 3D will be to revitalize the Japanese company a good opportunity. He ordered the company to promote the 3D application for each business unit – from television production unit to the film production company, to electronic games sector.
Prior to that, Sony’s television business has five consecutive years of losses, the company’s executives hope will help them usher in the dawn of 3D. “By 2012, we hope that more than half of Sony’s TV business, sales from the 3D TV, including its 3D products, including group sales volume up to 1 trillion yen (about 74 billion yuan).” Sony (China) Co., Ltd. President Nagata Haruyasu the “First Financial Weekly,” said.
If the vision can be achieved, will allow Sony to double the share of the global market, it can successfully narrow the competition between Samsung and LG gap. At present, the two South Korean companies have the old king behind them. In 2009, Samsung’s shipments in the global market has reached twice the Sony. “We plan to take 3D TV and competitors to differentiate their competition.” Nagata Ching Kang said.
Surprisingly, this time Samsung has robbed in the Sony front.
Samsung used to take the initiative to extend its accumulation in the 2D era under the edge. March 12, Samsung Times Square in New York held a 3D TV market conference, invited the Red “Avatar,” Dell Inspiron 500m battery director James Cameron to the scene to help out @.
Here a month ago, Samsung has local sales in South Korea 55-inch 46-inch and two 3D television – they listed 6 weeks, the sales reached 10,300 units, which exceeds the Samsung LED TV launched in the local results.
Then grab all the competitors, Samsung, before pushing the 3D TV has both the U.S. and China, the world’s most notable market.
April 16, Beijing’s WTO-day class to become Samsung’s 3D technology exhibition. 3D images projected on a huge audience of heads, volcano, magma and dark red block cracking presents the three-dimensional manner. “Looked up the time will not tell where people are on, where is the next.” One said.
In earlier times, Samsung China has carried out specifically for 3D TV market investigation and warm. Samsung China’s color TV sales business from the Minister of Liming Xu organized a series of early meetings of the 3D TV, the specific marketing initiatives and activities around the office from all over the situation according to plan. Samsung Suning Beijing and co-operation started in March were the activities of collecting trial experience, places limited to 50 people, the number of results on-line registration for more than 1,000.
Those who signed up will be the first 50 weeks of trial Samsung 3D TV experience, if the experience of the end of an interest in buying the Samsung Experience with machine is on sale to the user.
“This way is from our marketing LED TV before inherited.” Liming Xu on the “First Financial Weekly,” said. Samsung last year in Guangzhou and Shenyang, respectively, with the cooperation network and a local newspaper trial experience, and achieved a positive result.
In Liming Xu view, China can accept the 3D TV’s user groups should be better than last year, and recently launched a larger group of LED TV. Although it introduced 46-inch 3D LED TV than the same size TV you about 4,000 yuan, but “because the cost down, the new 3D TV than LED television was first introduced at least 10 to 20 percent price cut.”
April 20, Sony released two series of Beijing is also three models of the 3D LED backlight Dell Inspiron 8200 battery LCD TV new products, also announced that “from the lens to the living room,” the 3D strategy, at this time, Samsung’s large 3D TV New posters have been Suning appliance stores posted in 21 days in television advertising has hit the country’s major television stations over a month.
Chinese customers are more expensive 3D television enthusiasm shown by several TV manufacturers to go beyond the expected. Su Ning, deputy general manager of Beijing Historical Materialism is the “First Financial Weekly,” said the 5 @ 1 before and after the peak consumption period, Beijing sold more than 200 3D TV; GOME Electrical Appliances TV Division>> Minister Zhang Kai, also confirmed that only the A 55-inch 3D TVs sold in more than 500 nationwide, and has sold off the cargo.
The options currently on the market only three weeks, a 3D TV brand, Sony, at least until the corresponding products will be listed in June. Several products claiming to provide similar large-scale domestic manufacturers have not been shipped.
Suning Beijing Anzhen Samsung store counter, a color TV sales counter area one of the most exciting. 20 minutes after dinner time, a clerk had received four approved customers, which showed two customers purchase intention.
Liming Xu declined to give specific sales figures, saying only that the current sales are “satisfied.”
Sony will market the two in the Chinese market with Samsung 3D TV will be the same size. The Japanese company behind the more careful determination. Stringer order to successfully promote the 3D and men willing to turn against. Second half of 2008, Sony’s president for e-business Chubachi said Sony’s 3D strategy doubt, Stringer directly from the president’s seat on the latter drive down.
Accustomed to the technical excellence of this company have enough ammunition. The focus of the current competition in the 3D content production, transmission, “We sell not just products.” Sony (China) Co., Ltd. Vice President of Consumer Electronics Business Division, said Xie Biao, the content is most important. The 3D content creation is precisely Sony’s advantage, which is Sony’s full line of 3D products of the joint implementation intentions.
Sony is the only 3D experience to provide complete consumer electronics giant, the product from the Sony Pictures Entertainment, BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray players and discs, digital projector, VAIO notebooks, PS3 game consoles, Cyber-Shot camera to the kind of camera all-inclusive.
“3D film production is too slow, live 3D production methods might be able to provide HP pavilion DV6 battery more on-chip source.” March 12, Cameron told “USA Today” interview. Sony hopes to use 3D TV content production advantage, by a large number of Sony’s 3D format standard content source driving sales of Sony’s 3D television. With the 3D photography technology, Sony has successfully persuaded the PGA tournament (PGA Tour) and ESPN sports network used 3D technology to record and playback Sony event, and outside the company to promote this technology. Meanwhile, Sony and FIFA (FIFA) agreed more than 25 World Cup games will use Sony’s 3D cameras to film and broadcast professionals.
“Overseas television and film companies have prepared a lot of 3D discs and television programs in China, in June we will sell 3D TV and Blu-ray disc players to be ready when the number of 3D content.” For the Chinese market, Sony (China ) Co., Ltd. Sales Department of Consumer Electronics Display Products Division, Director of A Home Ministry said the British.
In this regard, the Samsung is much weaker and DreamWorks signed a strategic partnership agreement under this agreement the first 3D video – extended version, 3D animation, “Zemeckis,” presented to the user with 3D TV. But that deal non-exclusive.
Rich enough to deal with the content source, Samsung has introduced a more flexible technology, will now be able to receive television signals into a common 2D 3D screen is displayed. According to Samsung’s product marketing manager for China’s color TV introduced south on Samsung’s 3D television technology through automatic analysis, the ordinary picture into 10 different depth of field of 3D images. “3D effects are not as good as direct source of playing a good film, but also able to show good 3D effect.” Liming Xu said.
Sony is with their own channels and content in 3D appreciate the advantages of source, intention to establish its technology as the industry standard, and thus suppress the other 3D television producer living space. Samsung’s response strategy is to promote compatibility of development. “Just as CRT TV era, the same tube can be used to produce different brands of TV.” Liming Xu explained. Samsung panel industries in the upstream resources are sufficient to get the price of leadership. This game will be a long process.
3D TV technology is not mature enough. Of Sony (China) Co., Ltd. Vice President of Consumer Electronics Business Division, said Xie Biao, from this stage, the bare eye 3D TV there are many technical difficulties have not been compromised, “it’s viewing angle and clarity of the Sony did not meet the requirements of Because Sony has been the pursuit of quality first, but now the naked eye 3D image quality is relatively poor. “
Finished product on the market now in general use is “active shutter-style” technology, HP Pavilion ZD8000 battery which consumers watch television must rely on expensive 3D glasses. Samsung 3D TV for the two pairs of glasses were donated, and the new cost for the purchase of a pair of glasses is about 1000 yuan. At the same time, you have to beware of their symptoms of dizziness and nausea.
This June, Samsung and Sony will face war, more players are also expected to join
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The idea for 3D movies began with the concept of stereoscopy. Many adults will remember View-Masters. These devices looked like binoculars, but slides were put in and viewed for a 3D image, giving the viewer the perspective one would see if viewing the object or scenery in person. Slides had two separate pictures combined to make one picture. The two pictures are actually the same scene, but are taken from a slightly different perspective. One image is presented to the right eye while a slightly different image is presented to the left eye. Combining the imagery is perceived in such a way that appears much more realistic to our minds.
The same stereoscopy idea was used when creating 3D movies. Live 3D movies, that is those which are shot using real human actors, are simply shot using a 3D camera which has two separate angles incorporated into it. Thanks to digital technology, special effects are also easily added and able to be created in 3D while maintaining their realistic integrity. Animated 3D films are created in a similar way and digital technology is used to make movements precise and clear when viewed with 3D glasses. Anyone who has removed their glasses or goggles out of curiosity during one of these films will notice that the edges of each object or person appear blurred or etched; this is the effect created from filming from two different angles. Filming in 3D first began in the 1950s but was very unpopular because each theater venue had a different format and films may not have been suitable to fit all theaters. In the 1980s 3D movies became very popular but eventually less 3D movies were made due to the expensive equipment required to make and produce these films.
So how is it that when seated in the movie theater, a baseball coming toward the camera in a 3D film will appear to almost hit the viewer in the face causing a jolting reaction? In order to complete the equation of a 3D movie, 3D glasses are required. Anyone who remembers 3D movies from the 1980s and 90s will remember that these glasses were once made of paper with a clear blue film on one side and a clear red film on the other. Now most 3D glasses look like giant sunglasses with gray lenses that are polarized and designed to display one image to one eye and another image to the other eye. The result is identical to that of the View-Master’s stereoscopic image produced: it creates the illusion of depth dimensions on each object, as they would seem if viewing them in person. The resulting ocular illusion creates the effect of objects moving close enough to touch. It is expected in the summer of 2010 that the newly invented biodegradable version of 3D glasses will be released due to the regained popularity of 3D production and, consequently the harmful gases from burning the large amount of improperly disposed 3D glasses in the landfills.
For more information on 3D movies and television, visit http://3dbuy.com/p157668-d-technology-the-future-s-new.cfm
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Of all the fads that have come and gone, 3D movies stand out among the rest. Even the Hula Hoop, Yo-Yo and Frisbee can’t quite compare to this resilient technology. Of course, today’s youth probably think it’s brand new. A little history lesson proves otherwise.
As long ago as 1856, a fellow named J. C. d’Almeida figured out that two views of the same scene, photographed from slightly different angles (approximately two and a half inches, the distance between the average pair of eyes) could be projected using red and green slides. So, over 150 years ago, there sat an audience oohing and ahhing over the three-dimensional image, while wearing the now familiar glasses. The home version of 3D, known as the stereoscope, was all the rage. Families would gather and spend Saturday nights passing around the device, looking at 200 different views of the Grand Canyon. Exciting!
Sir Charles Wheatstone patented the first stereoscope in 1838. But a later version, made by Oliver Wendell Holmes (yes, that Oliver, lawyer, author, etc.) was more popular. It remained so, until the end of the century, when pictures that actually moved shocked the world. The Holmes Stereo Viewer was to become a prototype for the familiar View-master that’s still sold today.
In 1897, Claude Grivolas used a specially constructed camera and projector that would show prints simultaneously on the same screen by two interlinked projectors. One lens had a red filter and the other a blue one. As before, the audience would wear special glasses, only now there would be a three dimensional moving picture.
However, no matter how excited audiences seemed over the effect, it was only used for short marketing films and “attention-getters”, at events like theWorld’s Fair. That is, until “Bwana Devil” opened on the 26th of November 1952. It was based on a true story about the building of the Uganda Railway and it was a tremendous success. All the studios rushed to cash in on this new 3D popularity. Warner Brothers released the remake of “The House of Wax” in 1953 and it was a huge hit, scaring the young and old like no previous horror movie. The MGM musical, “Kiss Me Kate” was released in 3D that same year and received rave reviews. All the major studios had 3D films in the theaters during the first half of the decade, although for some, the spectacular effects couldn’tsave a weak script or bad acting. Then there were problems with the movie distributors charging more and patrons not willing to pay extra for 3D. The introduction of the wide screen, CinemaScope was less troublesome for everyone so 3D faded away.
A rediscovery of this technology is upon us, thanks to advanced computer science and digital photography (Avatar). Digital projectors are now being installed in screens so theaters can chose to project either flat or stereoscopic movies. 3D films are becoming almost as commonplace as in the ’50′s and 3D televisions are selling like hotcakes. What’s old is new again!
For more information on 3D technology, visit http://3dbuy.com/p162316-the-rise-of-d-movies-in.cfm.
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