Stereo3D Filmmaking - Your Thoughts?

[D.L. Watson]

I'm investing some money into doing stereo3D film-making from this point on. Personally, I think its where its headed much like how silent films eventually went to talkies and black and white went to color.

Personally, I enjoy a film that has been shot in 3D using a 3D setup (either a new camera system or beam-splitter). I do not believe 3D films which have been entirely converted help sell 3D as an aesthetic.

I guess I open the discussion to everyone to express their thoughts on 3D. Is it the future of cinema now that its getting closer to a point where we don't need glasses to watch? Or is it another fad that will disappear over time like the 50's generation of 3D?

Should only a certain genre of film be in 3D. Will people really want to go see a movie like "The Last Song" in 3D, or should it be reserved for blockbusters and epics?

 

[_Rok_]

I'll stick 2D, and why

I've done some stereo work on large budget studio film. I think 3D will stick around for a while longer.

On a low budget (my personal projects) require that I use a poor-man's bag of tricks to make my scenes look more expensive than they are. Unfortunately, by choosing to work in stereo my production value immediately drops. Here's why I avoid it (on a low budget):

- Visual effects immediately become more complicated (thus few shots / $)
- Hand rotoscoping can becomes almost impossible to get right.
- No forced perspective shots (so all my sets need to be full sized)
- Matte paintings need to be generated in stereo
- The 3D aesthetic that calls for a much deeper DOF.
- Need more hardware & software resources.
- Requirement for 3D presentation devices to view the work. If you are are going to present the project in a theater, then you NEED to view your dailies in a large venue (in 3D).
- No rear-projection using my HDTV outside a car window.
- No scaled cycs

My list is by no means hard-and-fast set if RULES. There are exceptions to each of them, but it all adds up the same thing: Going 3D takes time & resources that could drag a great looking 2D film, down to a so-so 3D film.